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
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
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
were priuie to the contentes of the same desired no other thing but his repaire thither These letters pretily quickned Fabius insomuch as he was determined one night to haue taken parte of his armie to haue gone to them But bicause the signes of the birdes dyd promise him no good successe he left of his purpose Sone after he vnderstoode they were counterfeate letters made by Hannibals fine deuise to haue drawen him out to haue intrapped him for whom him selfe laye in persone in ambushe neere the cittie looking and waiting for his comming but the goddes who would haue him saued were only to be thāked for his happy scape Furthermore concerning the reuolte of the citties that were subject vnto them and the rising of their allies friends against them Fabius thought it farre better to intreate them curteously making them ashamed without occasion to rebell against them rather then openly to suspect them and to deale straightly with those that were so to be suspected Now for this matter it is reported that Fabius had a souldier in his campe that was a MARSIAN borne by nation a valliant man of his persone also of as noble a house as any that were of all the allies of the ROMAINES who had practised with other his fellowes of the bande he serued in to goe serue the enemie Fabius hearing of this practise he went about gaue him no ill countenaunce for it but calling him to him he sayed I must confesse there is no reckoning made of you as your good seruice doth deserue wherefore for this time sayeth he I blame the pety captaines only which in such sorte doe bestowe their good will and fauour at aduenture and not by deserte But henceforth it shal be your owne faulte if you doe not declare your minde vnto me and betweene you and me make me priuie of your lacke necessitie When he had spoken these wordes to him he gaue him a very good horse for seruice and dyd rewarde him with other honorable giftes as men of good seruice desert haue commonly bestowed on them and this dyd so encorage the souldier thenceforth that he became a very faithfull and seruiceable souldier to the ROMAINES For Fabius thought it more fit that hunters riders of horses such like as take vpon them to tame brute beastes should sonner make them leaue their sauage churlishe nature by gentle vsage and manning of them then by beating and shackling of them And so a gouernour of men should rather correct his souldier by paciēce gentlenes and clemency then by rigour violence or seueritie Otherwise he should handle them more rudely and sharpely then husbandmen doe figge trees oliue trees wilde pomegarnets who by diligent pruning and good handling of them doe alter their harde and wilde nature cause them in the end to bring forth good figges oliues pomegarnets Another time certaine captaines of his brought him worde that there was one of their souldiers which would euer goe out of the cāpe leaue his ensigne He asked them what manner of man he was They aunswered him all together that he was a very good souldier and that they could hardly finde out suche another in all their bandes as he and therewithall they tolde him of some notable seruice they had seene him doe in persone Whereupon Fabius made a diligent enquierie to know what the cause was that made him goe so oft out of the campe in the end he founde he was in loue with a young woman and that to goe see her was the cause he dyd so ofte leaue his ensigne and dyd put his life in so great daunger for that she was so farre of When Fabius vnderstoode this he sent certaine souldiers vnknowing to the souldier to bring the woman awaye he loued and willed them to hyde her in his tente and then called he the souldier to him that was a LVCANIAN borne and taking him a side sayed vnto him thus My friend it hath bene tolde me how thou hast lyen many nightes out of the campe against the lawe of armes and order of the ROMAINES but therewithall I vnderstande also that otherwise thou art an honest man and therefore I pardone thy faultes paste in consideration of thy good seruice but from henceforth I will geue thee in custodie to such a one as shall make me accompt of thee The souldier was blancke when he heard these wordes Fabius with that caused the woman he was in loue with to be brought forth and deliuered her into his hands saying vnto him This woman hereafter shall aunswer me thy bodie to be forth comming in the campe amongest vs and from henceforth thy deedes shall witnesse for the reste that thy loue vnto this woman maye be no cloke of thy departing out of the campe for any wicked practise or intent Thus much we finde written concerning this matter Moreouer Fabius after suche a sorte recouered againe the cittie of TARENTVM and brought it to the obedience of the ROMAINES which they had lost by treason It fortuned there was a young man in his campe a TARENTINE borne that had a sister within TARENTVM which was very faithfull to him and loued him maruelous dearely now there was a captaine a BRVTIAN borne that fell in loue with her and was one of those to whom Hannibal had committed the charge of the cittie of TARENTVM This gaue the young souldier the TARENTINE very good hope and waye to bring his enterprise to good effect whereupon he reuealed his intent to Fabius and with his priuitie fled from his campe and got into the cittie of TARENTVM geuing it out in the cittie that he would altogether dwell with his sister Now for a fewe dayes at his first comming the BRVTIAN captaine laye alone by him selfe at the request of the mayde his sister who thought her brother had not knowen of her loue and shortely after the young fellowe tooke his sister aside and sayed vnto her My good sister there was a great speache in the ROMAINES campe that thou wert kept by one of the chiefest captaines of the garrison I praye thee if it be so let me knowe what he is For so he be a good fellowe and an honest man as they saye he is I care not for warres that turneth all things topsi turuey regardeth not of what place or calling he is of and still maketh vertue of necessitie without respect of shame And it is a speciall good fortune at such time as neither right nor reason rules to happen yet into the handes of a good and gratious lorde His sister hearing him speake these wordes sent for the BRVTIAN captaine to bring him acquainted with her brother who liked well of both their loues and indeuoured him self to frame his sisters loue in better sorte towards him then it was before by reason whereof the captaine also beganne to trust him very muche So this young TARENTINE sawe it was very easie to winne and
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
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
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
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
fauor the SYRACVSANS by reason of the goddesse Proserpina protector and defendor of the citie of SYRACVSA to requite her for that she gaue him Cerberus the dogge porter of hell and that he did malice the ATHENIANS besides bicause they tooke the AEGESTAENS partes who came of the TROYANS whom he much hated for breaking their promise and saith with him whose city him selfe had ouerthrowen in reuenge of the wrong that Laomedon king of TROY had offered him Howbeit Timaeus shewes as much wit and iudgement in deliuering vs such toyes in an history as he doth in correcting the stile of Philistus or in condēning and railing of Plato and Aristotle But in my fansie this ambition contention to wryte or to speake more clerkely then others sheweth alwayes a base enuious minde like a scholler full of his schoole pointes But when it striueth with thinges that are past all chalenge correcting then is it extreame follie and madnes Sence therefore I may not passe ouer nor omit certaine thinges which Thucydides and Philistus haue already set downe and especially those wherein they lay open Nicias nature and qualities which the variety of his successes and fortune did couer I must lightly touch them and reporte so much as is necessary conuenient least men condemne me for slouth and negligence And in the rest I haue endeuored to gather and propounde thinges not commonly marked and knowen which I haue collected as well out of sundry mens workes auncient recordes as out of many olde antiquities and of them all compiled a narration which will serue I doubt not to decipher the man and his nature Of Nicias therefore may be sayd that which Aristotle hath wrytten of him that there were three famous citizens of ATTHENS very honest men which fauored the cōmunalty with a naturall fatherly loue Nicias the sonne of Niceratus Thucydides the sonne of Milesus and Theramenes the sonne of Agnon But of the three this last was of smallest accompt for he is flowted as a forrenner borne in the I le of CEOS and chalenged besides for inconstant inresolute in matters of state and gouernment and inclining somtimes to one faction sometime to an other he was called Cothurnus a kinde of buskin indifferently seruing for both legges and in old time was vsed of common players of tragedies Of the other two Thucydides being the elder did many good actes in fauor of the nobility against Pericles who alwaies tooke parte with the inferior sorte Nicias that was the younger had reasonable estimation in Pericles life time for he was ioyned Captaine with him and oftentimes also had charge by him selfe alone without him After Pericles death the nobility raised him to great authoritie to be as a strong bulwarke for them against Cleons insolency boldnes and with all he had the loue of the people to aduaunce and preferre him Now this Cleon in troth could do much with the people he did so flatter and dandle them like an olde man still feeding their humor with gaine but yet they them selues whome he thus flattered knowing his extreame courtousnes impudency and boldnes preferred Nicias before him bicause his grauity was not seuere nor odious but mingled with a kinde of modesty that he seemed to feare the presence of the people which made them thereby the more to loue and esteeme him For being as he was of a fearefull mistrustfull nature disposition in warres he cloked his feare with good fortune which euer fauored him alike in all his iorneys and exploytes that he tooke in hande where he was Captaine Now being much affrayed of accusers this timorous manner of his proceeding in the citie was founde to be popular whereby he wanne him the good will of the people and by meanes thereof rose daily more and more bicause the people commonly feare those that hate them aduaunce them that feare them For the greatest honor nobility can doe to the communalty is to shewe that they doe not despise them Nowe Pericles who through his perfit vertue only and force of his great eloquence ruled the whole state common wealth of ATHENS he needed no counterfeate colour nor artificiall flattering of the people to winne their fauor and good willes but Nicias lacking that and hauing wealth enough sought thereby to creepe into the peoples fauor And where Cleon would entertaine the ATHENIANS with pleasaunt toyes and deuises and could feede the people humor that way Nicias finding him selfe no fit man to worke by such encounter crept into the peoples fauor with liberality with charges of common playes and with such like sumptuousnes exceeding in cost and pleasaunt sportes not only all those that had bene before him but such also as were in his time There yet remaine monuments of his consecrating vnto the goddes as the image of Pallas in the castell of ATHENS the gilt being worne of and the chappell which is vnder the festiuall table of Bacchus for he many times had the chiefe prise in Bacchus daunses neuer went away without some game And touching this matter there goeth a reporte that at certaine playes whereof Nicias defrayed the charges one of his men came forth apon the players stage before the people apparelled like Bacchus being a goodly tall young man without any heare on his face the ATHENIANS tooke such pleasure to see him so attired that they made a clapping of their hands a long time together for ioy Therewithall Nicias stoode vp and told them that it were a shame for him to leaue the body of a man in bondage that openly was esteemed as a god and thereupon foorthwith made this young slaue a free man Men wryte also of certaine sumptuous and deuout acts he did in the I le of DELOS where the daunsers and singers which the cities of GRAECE sent thither to singe rimes and verses in the honor of Apollo were wont before to arriue disorderly and the cause was for the numbers of people that ranne to see them who made them singe straight without any order and landing in hast out of their shippes they left their apparell and put on such vestements as they should weare in procession and their garlands of flowers on their heades all at one present time But Nicias being commaunded to go thither to present the singers of ATHENS landed first in the I le of RENIA hard adioyning to the I le of DELOS with his singers his beastes for sacrifice and with all the rest of his traine carying a bridge with him which he had caused to be made at ATHENS vpon measure taken of the channell betwext the one and thother I le set out with pictures and tables with gilding with nosegayes and garlandes of triumphe and with excellent wrought tapistry which in the night he set vp vpon the channell being not very broade and the next morning by breake of the day caused his singers to passe ouer apon it singing all
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
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
thought Tiberius a wise man for that he dyed and left her behind him She remayning widow king Ptolomy made sute vnto her and would haue made her his wife and Queene But she refused and in her widowehed lost all her children but one Daughter whome she bestowed vpon the younger Scipio African and Tiberius and Caius whose liues we presently write Those she so carefully brought vp that they being become more ciuill and better conditioned then any other ROMANES in their time euery man iudged that education preuailed more in them then nature For as in the fauors and pictures of Castor and Pollux there is a certaine difference discerned whereby a man may know that the one was made for wrestling and the other for running euen so betwene these two young brethren amongest other the great likenes betwene them being both happely borne to be valiant to be temperate to be liberall to be learned and to be nobly minded there grew notwithstanding great difference in their actions and doings in the common wealth the which I thinke conuenient to declare before I proceede any farther First of all for the sauor of the face the looke and mouing of the bodye Tiberius was much more milde and tractable and Caius more hotte and earnest For the first in his orations was very modest and kept his place and the other of all the ROMANES was the first that in his oration ietted vp and downe the pulpit and that plucked his gowne ouer his showlders as they write of Cleo ATHENIAN that he was the first of all Orators that opened his gowne and clapped his hand on his thighe in his oration Furthermore Caius wordes and the vehemencie of his perswasion were terrible and full of passion but Tiberius wordes in contrary manner were mild and moued men more to compassion beeing very propper and excellently applyed where Caius wordes were full of finenes and curiositie The like difference also was betwene them in their fare and dyet For Tiberius alwayes kept a conuenient ordinarie and Caius also in respect of other ROMANES liued very temperately but in respect of his brothers fare curiously and superfluously Insomuch as Drusus on a ryme reproued him bicause he had bought certayne Dolphyns of siluer to the value of a thowsand two hundred and fiftie Drachmas for euery pownd waight And now as touching the manners and naturall disposition of them both agreeing with the diuersitie of their tongues the one being milde and plausible and the other hotte and chollerike insomuch that otherwile forgetting him selfe in his oration agaynst his will he would be very earnest and strayne his voice beyond his compasse and so with great vncomelines confound his wordes Yet finding his owne fault he deuised this remedye He had a seruaunt called Licinius a good wise man who with an instrument of Musicke he had by the which they teache men to ryse and fall in their tunes when he was in his oration he euer stoode behinde him and when he perceyued that his Maisters voyce was a litle too lowde and that through choller he exceeded his ordinary speache he played a softe stoppe behinde him at the sownde whereof Caius immediately fell from his extreamitie and easily came to him selfe agayne And here was the diuersitie betweene them Otherwise for their hardines against their enemies the iustice vnto their tennaunts the care and paynes in their offices of charge and also their continencie against voluptuousnes in all these they were both alike For age Tiberius was elder by nyne yeares by reason whereof their seuerall authoritie and doings in the common wealth fell out at sundry times And this was one of the chiefest causes why their doings prospered not bicause they had not both authoritie in one selfe time nether could they ioyne their power together the which if it had mette at one selfe time had bene of great force peraduenture inuincible Wherefore we must write perticularly of them both but first of all we must begin with the elder He when he came to mans state had such a name and estimacion that immediatly they made him fellow in the colledge of the Priest which at ROME are called Augures being those that haue the charge to consider of signes and predictions of things to come more for his valiantnes then for nobility The same doth Appius Clodius witnesse vnto vs one that hath bene both Consul and Censor also President of the Senate and of greater authoritie then any man in his time This Appius at a supper when all the Augures were together after he had saluted Tiberius made very much of him he offered him his daughter in mariage Tiberius was very glad of the offer and therewithall the mariage was presently concluded betwene them Thereuppon Appius comming home to his house at the threshold of his dore he called a lowd for his wife and told her Antistia I haue bestowed our Daughter Clodia She wondring at it ô goddes sayd she and what needed all this haste what couldest thou haue done more if thou haddest gotten her Tiberius Gracchus for her husband I know that some refer this historie vnto Tiberius father of these two men we write of and vnto Scipio the AFRICAN but the most part of writers agree with that we write at this present And Polybius him selfe also writeth that after the death of Scipio AFRICAN his friendes beeing met together they chose Tiberius before all the other younge men of the citie to marye him vnto Cornelia being free and vnpromised or bestowed apon any man by her father Now Tiberius the yonger being in the warres in AFRICAN vnder Scipio the second who had maryed his sister lying in his tent with him he found his Captaine indued with many noble giftes of nature to allure mens harts to desire to follow his valiantnes So in a short tyme he did excell all the younge men of his tyme aswell in obedience at in the valiantnes of his person insomuch that he was the first man that scaled the walles of the enemies as Fannius reporteth who sayeth that he scaled the walles with him and did helpe him to that valiant enterprise So that being present all the campe were in loue with him when he was absent euery man wished for him againe After this warre was ended he was chosen Treasorer and it was his chaunce to goe against the NVMANTINES with Caius Mancinus one of the Consuls who was an honest man but yet had the worst lucke of any Captaine the ROMANES had Notwithstanding Tiberius wisedome and valiantnes in this extreame ill lucke of his Captaine did not onely appeare with great glorye to him but also most wonderfull the great obedience and reuerence he bare vnto his Captaine though his misfortunes did so trouble and grieue him that he could not tell him selfe whether he was Captaine or not For when he was ouerthrowen in great foughten fieldes he departed in the night and left his campe The
made distribution amonge them of the money which his father had bequeathed vnto them By this meanes he troubled Antonius sorely and by force of money got a great number of his fathers souldiers together that had serued in the warres with him And Cicero him selfe for the great malice he bare Antonius did fauor his proceedings But Brutus maruelously reproued him for it and wrote vnto him that he seemed by his doinges not to be sory to haue a Maister but onely to be affrayd to haue one that should hate him and that all his doinges in the common wealth did witnesse that he chose to be subiect to a milde and curteous bondage sith by his words and writings he did commend this young man Octauius Caesar to be a good gentle Lorde For our predecessors sayde he would neuer abyde to be subiect to any Maisters how gentle or mild soeuer they were and for his owne part that he had neuer resolutely determined with him selfe to make warre or peace but otherwise that he was certenly minded neuer to be slaue nor subiect And therefore he wondred much at him how Cicero coulde be affrayd of the daunger of ciuill warres and would not be affrayd of a shameful peace and that to thrust Antonius out of the vsurped tyranny in recompence he went about to stablishe younge Octauius Caesar tyranne These were the contents of Brutus first letters he wrote vnto Cicero Now the citie of ROME being deuided in two factions some taking part with Antonius other also leaning vnto Octauius Caesar and the souldiers making port sale of their seruice to him that would giue most Brutus seeing the state of ROME would be vtterly ouerthrowen he determined to goe out of ITALY and went a foote through the contry of LVKE vnto the citie of ELEA standing by the sea There Porcia being ready to depart from her husband Brutus and to returne to ROME did what she could to dissemble the griefe and sorow she felt at her hart But a certaine paynted table bewrayed her in the ende although vntill that time she alwayes shewed a constant and pacient mind The deuise of the table was taken out of the Greeke stories howe Andromachè accompanied her husband Hector when he went out of the citie of TROY to goe to the warres and how Hector deliuered her his litle sonne and how her eyes were neuer of him Porcia seeing this picture and likening her selfe to be in the same case she fell a weeping and comming thither oftentymes in a day to see it she wept still Acilius one of Brutus friendes perceiuing that rehearsed the verses Andromachè speaketh to this purpose in Homer Thou Hector art my father and my mother and my brother And husbandeke and in all I mind not any other Then Brutus smyling aunswered againe but yet sayd he I can not for my part say vnto Porcia as Hector aunswered Andromachè in the same place of the Poet Tush meddle thou vvith vveying devvly ovvt Thy mayds their task and pricking on a clovvt For in deepe the weake constitution of her body doth not suffer her to performe in shew the valliant acts that we are able to doe but for corage and constant minde she shewed her selfe as stowt in the defence of her contry as any of vs Bibulus the sonne of Porcia reporteth this story thus Now Brutus imbarking at ELEA in LVKE he sayled directly towards ATHENS When he arriued there the people of ATHENS receiued him with common ioyes of reioycing and honorable decrees made for him He lay with a friend of his with whome he went daily to heare the lectures of Theomnestus ACADEMICK Philosopher and of Cratippus the PERIPATETICK and so would talke with them in Philosophie that it seemed he left all other matters and gaue hâ—m selfe onely vnto studye howbeit secretly notwithstanding he made preparation for warre For he sent Herostratus into MACEDON to winne the Captaines and souldiers that were vpon those matches he did also enterteyne all the younge gentlemen of the ROMANES whome he founde in ATHENS studying Philosophie amongest them he found Ciceroes sonne whome he highly praysed and commended saying that whether he waked or slept he found him of a noble mind and disposition he did in nature so much hate tyrannes Shortly after he began to enter openly into armes and being aduertised that there came out of ASIA a certaine fleete of ROMANS ships that had good store of money in them and that the Captaine of those shippes who was an honest man and his famillier friende came towards ATHENS he went to meete him as farre as the I le of CARYSTOS and hauing spoken with him there he handled him so that he was contented to leaue his shippes in his hands Whereuppon he made him a notable banket at his house bicause it was on his birth day When the feast day came that they began to drinke lustely one to another the ghests dranke to the victorie of Brutus and the libertie of the ROMANES Brutus therefore to encorage them further called for a bigger cuppe holding it in his hand before he dranke spake this alowd My destiny and Phoebus are agreede To bring me to my finall end vvith speede And for proofe hereof it is reported that the same day he fought his last battell by the citie of PHILIPPES as he came out of his tent he gaue his men for the word and signall of battell Phoebus so that it was thought euer since that this his sodaine crying out at the feast was a prognostication of his misfortune that should happen After this Antistius gaue him of the money he caried into ITALY 50. Myriades Furthermore all Pompeys souldiers that stragled vp and downe THESSALY came with very good will vnto him He tooke from Cinna also fiue hundred horsemen which he caried into ASIA vnto Dolabella After that he went by sea vnto the city of DEMETRIADE and there tooke a great deale of armor and munition which was going to Antonius and the which had bene made and forged there by Iulius Caesars commaundement for the warres against the PARTHIANS Furthermore Hortensius gouernor of MACEDON did resigne the gouernment thereof vnto him Besides all the Princes kings and noble men thereabouts came and ioyned with him when it was told him that Caius Antonius brother comming out of ITALY had passed the sea came with great speede towards the citie of DYRRACHIVM and APOLLONIA to get the souldiers into his hands which Gabinius had there Brutus therefore to preuent him went presently with a fewe of his men in the middest of winter when it snewe hard and tooke his way thorough hard and fowle contries and made such speede in deede that he was there long before Antonius sumpters that caried the vittells So that when he came neare vnto DYRRACHIVM a disease tooke him which the Phisitions call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to say a cormorant and vnsatiable appetite to eate by reason of the
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
Tenterides people of Germany Caesars horsemen put to flight The Ipes and Tenterides slaine by Caesar Sicambri a people of the Germaines Caesar made a bridge ouer the riuer of Rheyn Caesars iorney into England The death of Iulia Caesars Daughter The rebellion of the Gaules Cotta and Titurius with their armie slaine Caesar slue the Gaules led by Ambiorix The second rebellion of the Gaules against Caesar. Vercingentorix Captaine of the rebells against Caesar. * Some say that in this place is to be redde in the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the riuer Saone The Hedul rebell against the Romanes * Sequani Vercingentorix ouerthrowen by Caesar. The seege of Alexia Caesars daunger and wise policie Caesars great victorie at Alexie Alexia yelded vp to Caesar The discord betwixt Caesar and Pompey and the cause of the ciuill warres Caesars crassines The peoples voices bought at Rome for money Pompey gouerned Spain and Africk Caesar sueth the second time to be coÌ„sul and to haue his gouernment proroged Caesar bribeth the Magistrates at Rome Pompey abused by slauerers Caesars requests vnto the Senate Antonius Curio Tribunes of the people fly from Rome to Caesar Caesars doubtfull thoughts at the riuer of Rubicon The Greeke vseth this phrase of speech cast the dye Caesar tooke the citie of Arminum Caesars damnable dreame Rome in vprore with Caesars comming Pompey flyeth from Rome Labienus forsooke Caesar and fled to Pompey Domitius escaped from Caesar fled to Pompey Pompey flyeth into Epirus Silent leges inter arma Caesar taketh money out of the temple of Saturne Caesars iorney into Spayne against Pompeys Lieuetenants Caesar Dictator Caesar and Isauricus Consulls Caesar goeth into the kingdom of Epirus Complaints of the olde souldiers against Caesar. A great aduenture of Caesar. Anius â—â— Caesars daungers troubles in the Realme of Epirus Caesars armie fled from Pompey Caesars wordes of Pompeys victory Caesar troubled in mind after his losse Pompeys determination for the warre Pompey called Agamemnon and king of kings The citie of Gomphes in Thessaly Pompeys dreame in Pharsalia The securitie of the Pompeians Pompeys armie at great againe as Caesars A wonder seene in the element before the battell in Pharsalia Caesars armie and his order of battell in the fieldes of Pharsalia Pompeys army and his order of battell An ill counsel and fowle fault of Pompey The battell in the fieldes of Pharsalia Caesars strategeme Caesar ouercommeth Pompey Pompeys flight Brutus that slue Caesar taken prisoner at the battell of Pharsalia Signes tokens of Caesars victory A straunge tale of Cornelius an excellent Prognosticatos Caesars clemeÌ„cy in victory The cause of Caesars warre in Alexandria Pothinus the Euenuke caused Pompey to be slayne Cleopatra came to Caesar Cleopatra trussed vp in a mattresse and so brought to Caesar vpon Apollodorus backe The great library of Alexandria burnt Caesars swimming with bookes in his hand Caesar made Cleopatra Queene of AEgypt Caesarion Caesars sonne begotteÌ„ of Cleopatra Caesars victorie of king Pharnaces Caesar wyteth three wordes to certifie his victory Caesars iorney into Africke against Cato and Scipio Caesars troubles in Africke Alga and dogges tooth geuen to the horse to eate Caesars daungers in Africke Caesars great victorie and small losse Caesar trobled with the falling sickenes Caesar was sory for the death of Cato Caesar wrote against Cato being dead Cicero wrote a booke in praise of Cato being dead Iuba the sonne of king Iuba a famous historiographer Caesars feasting of the Romanes The muster taken of the Romanes Caesar Consull the fourth time Battell fought betwext Caesar and the young Pompeyes by the city of Mvnda Caesars victory of the sonnes of Pompey Caesar triumphe of Pompeis sonnes Caesar Dictator perpetuall The temple of clemency dedicated vnto Caesar for his curtesie Cassius and Brutus Praetors Caesars saying of death Good will of subiectes the best gard and safety for Palaces Caninius Rebilius Consull for one day Anienes Tiber flu Caesar reformed the inequality of the yeare * Mercedonius mensis intercularis VVhy Caesar was hated The feast Lipercalia Antonius being Consull was one of the Lupercalians Antonius presented the Diadeame to Caesar. Caesar saued Marcus Brutus life after the battell of Pharsalia Brutus conspireth against Caesar. Cassius stâ—roeth vp Brutus against Caesar. Predictions foreshewes of Caesars death Caesars day of his death prognosticased by a Soothsayeth The dreame of Calpurnia Caesars wife Decius Brutus Albinus perswasion to Caesar. Decius Brutus brought Caesar into the Senate house The tokens of the conspiracy against Caesar. The place where Caesar was slaine Antonius Caesars faithfull frend Casca the first that strake at Caesar. Caesar slaine and had 23. wounds apon him The murtherers of Caesar doe goe to the Capitall Caesars funeralls Cinnaes dreame of Caesar. The murther of Cinna Caesar 56. yere olde at his death The reuenge of Caesars death Cassius being ouerthrowen at the battell of Philippes slue himselfe with the selfe same sword wherewith he strake Caesar. VVonders seene in the element after Caesars death A great Comet Brutus vision A spirit appeared vnto Brutus The second appearing of the spirit vnto Brutus Demades arrogaÌ„t saying The power of vertue and fortune Aduersitie maketh men hasty Ciceroes saying of Cato the common wealth at Rome Catoes plaine maner became not the corrupt and suretie time The parâ—â—age of Phocion Phocion neuer wept nor laughed Phocions maners VVherein excellencie of speech consifieth Phocions first souldier saâ—e The victory of Chabrias and Phocion in the I le of Naxos Phocions notable sayings Aristogiton a Sycophant coward Phocion called by surname goâ—â— Phocions iorney into Euboâ—a Phocion perswadeth his Captaines to suffer the musinous souldiers cowards to depart the campe Phocions victory in Eubâ—â—a Phocion saued the citie of Byzantium PhocioÌ„ draws Philip out of Hellespont Phocion ioyned Megara vnto Athens To reioyce at any mans hurt sheweth a base mind vile nature Alexander pacified with the Athenians by Phocions meanes Phocions vertue and integrity refusing of Alexanders money Phocions house and wiues Phocus Phocions sonne what he was Phocion despiseth Harpalus money Phocion refused to defend his sonne in law in an ill cause Phocions victory of the Macedonians The Graecians ouercomeÌ„ by Antipater Phocion Ambassador vnto Antipater Xenocrates authoritie Xenocrates despised of Antipater Presages of the miseries of the Athenians The crueltie of Antipater Phocion refuseth Menyllus giftes Phocion loued pouertie The insolencie of Demades the Orator Cassander king Antipaters sonne The 〈…〉 end of Demades Polyperchon Generall of the armie of the Macedonians Polyperchon conspiracie against Phocion Nicanor to receiue then to offer an iniury Alexander the sonne of Polyperchon practiseth treason against the Athenians Phocion accused of treason Polyperchon did put Dinarchus to death Phocion sent prisoner to Athens to be condemned The furie of the Athenians against Phocion The crueltie of the Athenians vnto Phocion Phocion condemned to death The constancy and corage of Phocion being condemned
bicause mans life is so short and experience is hard and daungerous specially in matters of vvarre vvherein according to the saying of Tamathus the Athenian Captaine a man can not fault tvvice bicause the faultes are so great that most commonly they bring vvith them the ouerthrovv of the state or the losse of the liues of those that do them Therefore vve must not tary for this vvit that is vvon by experience vvhich costeth so deere and is so long a comming that a man is ofttimes dead in the seeking of it before he haue attained it so as he had neede of a seconde life to imploy it in bicause of the ouerlate comming by it But vve must make speede by our diligent and continuall reading of histories both old and nevv that vve may enjoy this happinesse vvhich the Poet speaketh of A happie wight is he that by mishappes Of others doth beware of afterchappes By the vvay as concerning those that say that paper vvill beare all things if there be any that vnvvorthily take vpon them the name of historiographers and deface the dignity of the story for hatred or fauor by mingling any vntrueth vvith it that is not the fault of the historie but of the men that are partiall vvho abuse that name vnvvorthily to couer and cloke their ovvne passions vvithall vvhich thing shall neuer come to passe if the vvriter of the storie haue the properties that are necessarily required in a storie vvriter as these That he set aside all affection be voyde of enuy hatred and flattery that he be a man experienced in the affaires of the vvorld of good vtterance and good iudgement to discerne vvhat is to be sayd and vvhat to be left vnsayd vvhat vvould do more harme to haue it declared than do good to haue it reproued or condemned forasmuch as his chiefe drift ought to be to serue the common vveale and that he is but as a register to set dovvne the iudgements and definitiue sentences of Gods Court vvhereof some are geuen according to the ordinarie course and capacitie of our vveake naturall reason and other some goe according to Gods infinite povver and incomprehensible vvisedom aboue and against all discourse of mans vnderstanding vvho being vnable to reach to the bottome of his iudgements and to finde out the first motions and groundes thereof do impute the cause of them to acertaine fortune vvhich is nought else but a fained deuice of mans vvit dazeled at the beholding of such brightnesse and confounded at the gaging of so bottomlesse a deepe hovvbeit nothing commeth to passe nor is done vvithout the leaue of him that is the verie right and trueth it selfe vvith vvhom nothing is past or to come and vvho knovveth and vnderstandeth the very originall causes of all necessitie The consideration vvhereof teacheth men to humble them selues vnder his mightie hande by acknovvledging that there is one first cause vvhich ouerruleth nature vvhereof it commeth that neither hardinesse is alvvaies happie nor vvisedom alvvaies sure of good successe These so notable commodities are euery vvhere accompanied vvith singular delight vvhich proceedeth chiefly of diuersitie and nouelty vvherein our nature delighteth and is greatly desirous of bicause vve hauing an earnest inclination tovvards our best prosperity and aduauncement it goeth on still seeking it in euery thing vvhich it taketh to be goodly or good in this vvorld But forasmuch as it findeth not vvherevvith to content it selfe vnder the cope of heauen it is soone vveary of the things that it had earnestly desired affore so goeth on vvādring in the vnskilfulness of her likings vvherof she neuer ceasseth to make a continuall chaunging vntill she haue fully satisfied her desires by attaining to the last end vvhich is to be knit to her chiefe felicity vvhere is the full perfection of all goodlines and goodnes This liking of varietie can not be better releeued than by that vvhich is the finder out and the preseruer of time the father of all noueltie and messenger of antiquitie For if vve finde a certaine singular pleasure in hearkening to such as be returned from some long voyage and doe report things vvhich they haue seene in straunge contries as the maners of people the natures of places and the fashions of liues differing from ours and if vve be sometime so rauished vvith delight and pleasure at the hearing of the talke of some vvise discreete and vvell spoken old man from vvhose mouth there flovveth a streame of speech svveeter than honnie in rehearsing the aduentures vvhich he hath had in his greene and youthfull yeares the paines that he hath indured and the perills that he hath ouerpassed so as vve perceiue not hovv the time goeth avvay hovv much more ought vve be rauished vvith delight and vvondring to behold the state of mankind and the true successe of things vvhich antiquitie hath and doth bring forth from the beginning of the vvorld as the setting vp of Empires the ouerthrovv of Monarchies the rising and falling of Kingdoms and all things else vvorthie admiration and the same liuely set forth in the faire rich and true table of eloquence And that so liuely as in the very reading of them vve feele our mindes to be so touched by them not as though the thinges vvere alreadie done and past but as though they vvere euen then presently in doing and vve finde our selues caried avvay vvith gladnesse and griefe through feare or hope vvell neere as though vve vvere then at the doing of them vvhere as notwithstanding vve be not in any paine or daunger but only conceiue in our mindes the aduersities that other folkes haue indured our selues sitting safe vvith our contentation and ease according to these verses of the Poet Lucretius It is a pleasure for to sit at ease Vpon the land and safely thence to see How other folkes are toffed on the seaes That with the blustring windes turmoyled be Not that the sight of others miseries Doth any way the honest hart delight But for bicause it liketh well our eyes To see harmes free that on our selues might light Also it is seene that the reading of histories doth so holde and allure good vvits that diuers times it not only maketh them to forget all other pleasures but also serueth very fittely to turne avvay their griefes and somtimes also to remedie their diseases As for example vve find it vvritten of Alphonsus King of Naples that Prince so greatly renovvmed in Chronicles for his vvisedom and goodnesse that being sore sicke in the citie of Capua vvhen his Phisitions had spent all the cunning that they had to recouer him his health and he savv that nothing preuailed he determined vvith him selfe to take no mo medicines but for his recreacion caused the storie of Quintus Curtius concerning the deedes of Alexander the great to be red before him at the hearing vvhereof he tooke so vvonderfull pleasure that nature gathered strength by it and ouercame the vvayvvardnes of his disease VVhereupon
hauing soone recouered his helth he discharged his Phisitions vvith such vvords as these Feast me no more vvith your Hippocrates and Galene sith they can no skill to helpe me to recouer my helth but vvell fare Quintus Curtius that could so good skill to helpe me to recouer my helth Novv if the reading and knovvledge of histories be delightfull and profitable to all other kind of folke I say it is much more for great Princes and Kings bicause they haue to do vvith charges of greatest vveight and difficultie to be best stored vvith giftes and knovvledge for the discharge of their dueties seeing the ground of stories is to treate of all maner of high matters of state as vvarres battells cities contries treaties of peace and alliances and therefore it seemeth more fit for them than for any other kinde of degrees of men bicause they being bred and brought vp tenderly and at their ease by reason of the great regard and care that is had of their persons as meete is for so great states to haue they take not so great paines in their youth for the learning of things as behoueth those to take vvhich vvill learne the noble auncient languages and the painfull doctrine comprehended in Philosophie Againe vvhen they come to mans state their charge calleth them to deale in great affaires so as there remaineth no exercise of vvit more conuenient for thē than the reading of histories in their ovvne tunge vvhich vvithout paine is able to teache them euen vvith great pleasure and ease vvhatsoeuer the painfull vvorkes of the Philosophers concerning the gouernment of common vveales can shevve them to make them skilful in the vvell ruling and gouerning of the people and contries that God hath put vnder their subiection But the vvorst is that they euer or for the most part haue such maner of persons about them as seeke nothing els but to please them by all the vvayes they can and there are very few that dare tell them the truth freely in all things vvhere as on the contrary part an history flattereth with them not but layeth open before their eyes the faults and vices of such as vvere like them in greatnesse of degree And therefore Demetrius Phalereus a man renovvmed as vvell for his skill in the good gouernment of a common vveale as for his excellent knovvledge othervvise counselled Ptolomy first king of AEgypt after the death of Alexander the great that he should often and diligently reade the bookes that treated of the gouernment of kingdomes bicause sayd he thou shalt finde many things there vvhich thy seruaunts and familiar friendes dare not tell thee Moreouer this is another thinge that suche great personages can not easily trauell out of the bounds of their dominions to goe vievv straunge contries as priuate persons doe bicause the ielousie of their estate and the regarde of their dignitie requires that they should neuer be in place vvhere another man might cōmaund them And often times for vvant of hauing seene the contries and knovven the people and Princes that are their neighbours they haue aduentured vppon attempts vvithout good ground to anoyde the vvhich the instruction they may haue by the reading of histories is one of the easiest and fittest remedies that can be found And though there vvere none other cause then onely this last surely it ought to induce Princes to the often and diligent reading of histories vvherein are vvritten the heroicall deedes of vvise and valiant men specially of kings that haue bene before them the considering vvhereof may cause them to be desirous to become like them specially vvhich vvere of stately and noble courage bicause the seedes of Princely vertues that are bred vvith them selues doe then quicken them vp vvith an emulacion tovvards those that haue bene or are equall in degree vvith them asvvell in respect of noblenes of bloud as of greatnes of state so as they be loth to giue place to any person and much lesse can find in their harts to be outgone in glory of vertuous doinges VVhereof innumerable examples might be alleaged if the thing vvere not so vvelknovven of it self that it vvere much more against reason to doubt of it than needefull to proue it Therefore a man may truely conclude that an historie is the scholemistresse of Princes at vvhose hand they may vvithout payne in vvay of pastyme vvith singular pleasure learne the most part of the things that belonge to their office Novv according to the diuersitie of the matter that it treateth of or the order and manner of vvriting that it vseth it hath sondry names giuen vnto it But yet among the rest there are tvvo chiefe kinds The one vvhich setteth dovvne mens doings and aduentures at length is called by the common name of an historie the other vvhich declareth their natures sayings and maners is properly named their liues And although the ground of them both doe cloze very neare in one yet doth the one respect more the things and the other the persons the one is more common and the other more priuate the one concerneth more the things that are vvithout the man and the other the things that proceede from vvithin the one the euents the other the consultacions betvvene the vvhich there is oftentymes great oddes according to this aunsvver of the Persian Siramnes to such as maruelled hovv it came to passe that his deuises being so politike had so vnhappy sucesse It is quod he bicause my deuises are vvholly from my ovvn inuention but the effects of them are in the disposition of fortune and the king And surely amonge all those that euer haue taken vppon them to vvrite the liues of famous men the chiefe prerogatiue by the iudgement of such as are clearest sighted is iustly giuen to the Greeke Philosopher Plutarke borne in the citie of Chaeronea in the contry of Baeotia a noble man perfect in all rare knovvledge as his vvorkes may vvell put men out of doubt if they lyst to read them through vvho all his life long euen to his old age had to deale in affayres of the common vveale as he him selfe vvitnesseth in diuers places specially in the treatise vvhich he intitled VVhether and olde man ought to meddle with the gouernment of a common weale or not and vvho had the hap honor to be schoolemaster to the Emprour Traian as is commonly beleeued and as is expressely pretended by a certaine Epistle se◠before the Latin translation of his matters of state vvhich to say the truth seemeth in my iudgement to be somevvhat suspicious bicause I find it not among his vvorkes in Greeke besides that is speaketh as though the booke vvere dedicated to Traian vvhich thinge is manifestly disproued by the beginning of the booke and by diuers other reasons Yet not vvithstanding bicause me thinkes it sagely grauely vvritten and vvell be seeming him I haue set it dovvne here in this place Plutarke vnto Traeian sendeth greeting I knovv vvell that
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
that Theseus also should enioye it after his death Whereupon they determined to make warre with them both and diuiding them selues into two partes the one came openly in armes with their father marching directly towardes the cittie the other laye close in ambushe in the village GARGETTVS meaning to geue charge vpon them in two places at one instant Nowe they brought with them an Heraulde borne in the towne of AGNVS called Leos who bewrayed vnto Theseus the secret and deuise of all their enterprise Theseus vpon this intelligence went forth and dyd set on those that laye in ambushe and put them all to the sworde The other which were in Pallas companie vnderstanding thereof dyd breake and disparse them selues incontinently And this is the cause as some saye why those of Pallena doe neuer make affinitie nor mariadge with those of AGNVS at this daye And that in their towne when any proclamation is made they neuer speake these wordes which are cryed euery where els through out the whole countrye of ATTICA Aconete Leos which is as muche to saye as Hearken O people they doe so extreamely hate this worde Leos for that it was the Herauldes name which wrought them that treason This done Theseus who woulde not liue idelly at home and doe nothing but desirous there withall to gratifie the people went his waye to fight with the bull of Marathon the which dyd great mischieues to the inhabitants of the countrye of TETRAPOLIS And hauing taken him aliue brought him through the citie of ATHENS to be seene of all the inhabitants Afterwardes he dyd sacrifice him vnto Apollo Delphias Nowe concerning Hecale who was reported to haue lodged him and to haue geuen him good enterteinment it is not altogether vntrue For in the olde time those townes and villages thereaboutes dyd assemble together and made a common sacrifice which they called Hecalesion in the honour of Iupiter Hecalian where they honoured this olde woman calling her by a diminutiue name Hecalena bicause that when she receyued Theseus into her house being then but very younge she made muche of him and called him by many prety made names as olde folkes are wont to call younge children And forasmuche as she had made a vowe to Iupiter to make him a solemne sacrifice if Theseus returned safe from the enterprise he went about and that she dyed before his returne in recompence of the good chere she had made him she had that honour done vnto her by Theseuscommaundement as Philochorus hathe written of it Shortely after this exployte there came certaine of King Minos ambassadours out of CRETA to aske tribute being nowe the thirde time it was demaunded which the ATHENIANS payed for this cause Androgeus the eldest sonne of king Minos was slayne by treason within the countrye of ATTICA for which cause Minos pursuing the reuenge of his death made very whotte and sharpe warres vpon the ATHENIANS and dyd them greate hurte But besides all this the goddes dyd sharpely punishe and scourge all the countrye aswell with barrennes and famine as also with plague and other mischieues euen to the drying vp of their riuers The ATHENIANS perceyuing these sore troubles and plagues ranne to the oracle of Apollo who aunswered them that they shoulde appease Minos and when they had made their peace with him that then the wrathe of the goddes woulde cease against them and their troubles should haue an ende Whereupon the ATHENIANS sent immediately vnto him and intreated him for peace which he graunted them with condition that they should be bounde to sende him yerely into CRETA seuen younge boyes and as many younge gyrles Nowe thus farre all the Historiographers doe very well agree but in the reste not And they which seeme furdest of from the trothe doe declare that when these yonge boyes were deliuered in CRETA they caused them to be deuowred by the Minotaure within the Laberinthe or els that they were shut within this Laberinthe wandring vp and downe and coulde finde no place to gett out vntill suche time as they dyed euen famished for hunger And this Minotaure as Euripides the Poet sayeth was A corps combynd vvhich monstrous might be deemd A Boye a Bull both man and beast it seemd But Philochorus writeth that the CRETANS doe not confesse that but saye that this Laberinthe was a gayle or prisone in the which they had no other hurre sauing that they which were kept there vnder locke and keye coulde not flye not starte awaye and that Minos had in the memorye of his sonne Androgeus instituted games and playes of prise where he gaue vnto them that wanne the victorie those younge children of ATHENS the which in the meane time notwithstanding were carefully kept and looked vnto in the prisone of the Laberinthe and that at the first games that were kept one of the Kings captaines called Taurus who was in best creditt with his master wanne the prise This Taurus was a churlishe and naughtie natured man of condition and very harde and cruell to these children of ATHENS And to verifie the same the philosopher Aristotle him selfe speaking of the common wealth of the BOTTIEIANS declareth very well that he neuer thought that Minos dyd at any time cause the children of ATHENS to be put to death but sayeth that they poorely toyled in CRETA euen to crooked age earning their liuing by true and painefull seruice For it is written that the CRETANS to satisfie an olde vowe of theirs which they had made of auncient time sent somtimes the first borne of their children vnto Apollo in the cittie of DELPHAS and that amongest them they also mingled those which were descended of the auncient prisoners of ATHENS and they went with them But bicause they coulde not liue there they directed their iorney first into ITALIE where for a time they remained in the realme of PVGLIA and afterwardes from thence went into the confines of THRACIA where they had this name of BOTTIEIANS In memory whereof the daughters of the BOTTIEIANS in a solemne sacrifice they make doe vse to singe the foote of this songe Lett vs to ATHENS goe But thereby we maye see howe perilous a thing it is to fall in displeasure and enmitie with a cittie which can speake well and where learning and eloquence dothe florishe For euer sence that time Minos was allwayes blased and disgraced through out all the Theaters of ATHENS The testimonie of Hesiodus who calleth him the most worthie King dothe nothing helpe him at all nor the prayse of Homer who nameth him Iupiters famillier friende bicause the tragicall Poets gott the vpper hande in disgracing him notwithstanding all these And vpon their stages where all the tragedies were played they still gaue forth many ill fauored wordes and fowle speaches of him as against a man that had bene most cruell and vnnaturall Yet most men thincke that Minos was the King which established the lawes and Radamanthus
the iudge and preseruer of them who caused the same also to be kept and obserued The time nowe being comen about for payment of the thirde tribute when they came to compell the fathers which had children not yet maried to geue them to be put forth to take their chaunce and lotte the citizens of ATHENS beganne to murmure against AEgeus alledging for their grieues that he who onely was the cause of all this euill was onely alone exempted from this griefe And that to bring the gouernment of the Realme to fall into the handes of a straunger his bastard he cared not though they were bereft of all their naturall children and were vnnaturally compelled to leaue and forsake them These iust sorrowes and complaintes of the fathers whose children were taken from them dyd pearce the harte of Theseus who willing to yelde to reason and to ronne the selfe same fortune as the cittizens dyd willingly offered him selfe to be sent thither without regarde taking to his happe or aduenture For which the cittizens greatly esteemed of his corage and honorable disposition and dearely loued him for the good affection he seemed to heare vnto the communaltye But AEgeus hauing vsed many reasons and perswasions to cause him to turne and staye from his purpose and perceyuing in the ende there was no remedye but he woulde goe he then drue lottes for the children which should goe with him Hellanicus notwithstanding dothe write that they were not those of the cittie which drewe lottes for the children they should sende but that Minos him selfe went thither in persone and dyd chuse them as he chose Theseus the first vpon conditions agreed betwene them that is to wit that the ATHENIANS shoulde furnishe them with a shippe and that the children should shippe and imbarke with him carying no weapons of warre and that after the death of the Minotaure this tribute should cease Nowe before that time there was neuer any hope of returne nor of safetie of their children therefore the ATHENIANS allwayes sent a shippe to conuey their children with a blacke sayle in token of assured losse Neuertheles Theseus putting his father in good hope of him being of a good corage and promising boldly that he woulde sett vpon this Minotaure AEgeus gaue vnto the master of the shippe a white sayle commaunding him that at his returne he should put out the white sayle if his sonne had escaped if not that then he should sett vp the blacke sayle to shewe him a farre of his vnlucky and vnfortunate chaunce Simonides notwithstanding doeth saye that this sayle which AEgeus gaue to the master was not white but redde dyed in graine and of the culler of scarlett and that he gaue it him to signifie a farre of their deliuerie and safety This master was called Phereclus Amaâ—siadas as Simonides sayeth But Philochorus writeth that Scirus the SALAMINIAN gaue to Theseus a master called Nausitheus and another marriner to tackle the sayles who was called Phaeas bicause the ATHENIANS at that time were not greatly practised to the sea And this did Scirus for that one of the children on whom the lott fell was his nephewe and thus muche the chappells doe testifie which Theseus buylt afterwardes in honour of Nausitheus and of Phaeas in the village of Phalerus ioyning to the temple of Scirus And it is sayed moreouer that the feaste which they call Cybernesia that is to saye the feaste of Patrons of the shippes is celebrated in honour of them Nowe after the lotts were drawen Theseus taking with him the children allotted for the tribute went from the pallace to the temple called Delphinion to offer vp to Apollo for him and for them an offering of supplication which they call Hiceteria which was an olyue boughe hallowed wreathed about with white wolle After he had made his prayer he went downe to the sea side to imbarke the sixt daye of the moneth of Marche on which daye at this present time they doe seude their younge girles to the same temple of Delphinion there to make their prayers and petitions to the goddes But some saye that the oracle of Apollo in the cittie of DELPHES had aunswered him that he should take Venus for his guyde and that he should call vpon her to conduct him in his voyage for which cause he dyd sacrifice a goate vnto her vpon the sea side which was founde sodainly turned into a ramme and that herefore they surnamed this goddesse Epitragia as one would saye the goddesse of the ramme Furthermore after he was arriued in CRETA he slewe there the Minotaure as the most parte of auncient authors doe write by the meanes and helpe of Ariadne who being fallen in fansie with him dyd geue him a clue of threede by the helpe whereof she taught him howe he might easely winde out of the turnings and cranckes of the Labyrinthe And they saye that hauing killed this Minotaure he returned backe againe the same waye he went bringing with him those other younge children of ATHENS whom with Ariadne also he caried afterwardes awaye Pherecides sayeth moreouer that he brake the keeles or bottomes of all the shippes of CRETA bicause they should not sodainely sett out after them And Demon writeth that Taurus the captaine of Minos was killed in a fight by Theseus euen in the very hauen mowthe as they were readye to shippe awaye and hoyse vp sayle Yet Philochorus reporteth that king Minos hauing sett vp the games as he was wont to doe yerely in the honour and memorye of his sonne euery one beganne to enuye captaine Taurus bicause they euer looked that he should carye awaye the game and victorie as he had done other yeres before ouer and that his authoritye got him much ill will and enuye bicause he was proude and stately and had in suspition that he was great with Queene Pasiphäe Wherefore when Theseus required he might encounter with Taurus Minos casely graunted it And being a solemne custome in CRETA that the women shoulde be present to see these open sportes and sights Ariadne being at these games amongest the rest fell further in loue with Theseus seeing him so goodly a persone so stronge and inuincible in wrestling that he farre exceeded all that wrestled there that daye King Minos was so glad that he had taken awaye the honour from captaine Taurus that he sent him home francke and free into his countrye rendring to him all the other prisoners of ATHENS and for his sake clearely released and forgaue the cittie of ATHENS the tribute which they should haue payed him yerely Howbeit Clidemus searching out the beginning of these things to thutmost reciteth them very particularly and after another sorte For he sayeth about that time there was a generall restraint through out all GRECE restrayning all manner of people to beare sayle in any vessell or bottome wherein there were aboue fiue persones except only Iason who
was chosen captaine of the great shippe Argus and had commission to sayle euery where to chase and driue awaye rouers and pyrates and to scoure the seas through out About this time Daedalus being fled from CRETA to ATHENS in a litle barke Minos contrarie to this restraint woulde needes followe him with a fleete of diuers vessels with owers who being by force of weather driuen with the coaste of SICILE fortuned to dye there Afterwardes his sonne Deucalion being marucilously offended with the ATHENIANS sent to summone them to deliuer Daedalus vnto him or els he woulde put the children to death which were deliuered to his father for hostages But Theseus excused him selfe and sayed he coulde not forsake Daedalus considering he was his neere kynseman being his cosin germaine for he was the sonne of Merope the daughter of Erichtheus Howbeit by and by he caused many vessels secretly to be made parte of them within ATTICA selfe in the village of Thymetades farre from any highe wayes and parte of them in the cittie of TROEZEN by the sufferance of Pitheus his grandfather to the ende his purpose shoulde be kept the secretlyer Afterwardes when all his shippes were readye and rygged out he tooke sea before the CRETANS had any knowledge of it in so much as when they sawe them a farre of they dyd take them for the barkes of their friends Theseus landed without resistaunce and tooke the hauen Then hauing Daedalus and other banished CRETANS for guydes he entred the cittie selfe of GNOSVS where he slewe Deucalion in a fight before the gates of the Labyrinthe with all his garde and officers about him By this meanes the kingdome of CRETA fell by inheritance into the handes of his sister Ariadne Theseus made league with her and caryed away the yong children of ATHENS which were kept as hostages and concluded peace and amytie betweene the ATHENIANS and the CRETANS who promised and sware they woulde neuer make warres against them They reporte many other things also touching this matter and specially of Ariadne but there is no trothe nor certeintie in it For some saye that Ariadne honge her selfe for sorowe when she sawe that Theseus had caste her of Other write that she was transported by mariners into the I le of NAXOS were she was maryed vnto O Enarus the priest of Bacchus and they thincke that Theseus lefte her bicause he was in loue with another as by these verses shoulde appeare AEgles the Nymphe vvas loued of Theseus vvhich vvas the daughter of Panopeus Hereas the Megarian sayeth that these two verses in olde time were among the verses of the Poet Hesiodus howbeit Pisistratus tooke them awaye as he dyd in like manner adde these other here in the description of the helles in Homer to gratifie the ATHENIANS Bolde Theseus and Pirithous stovvte descended both from godds immortall race Triumphing still this vvearie vvorlde aboute infeats of armes and many acomly grace Other holde opinion that Ariadne had two children by Theseus the one of them was named O Enopion and the other Staphylus Thus amongest others the Poet Ion writeth it who was borne in the I le of CHIO and speaking of his cittie he sayeth thus O Enopion vvhich vvas the sonne of vvorthy Theseus did cause men buylde this stately tovvne vvhich novve triumpheth thus Nowe what things are founde seemely in Poets fables there is none but dothe in manner synge them But one Paenon borne in the cittie of AMATHVNTA reciteth this cleane after another sorte and contrarie to all other saying that Theseus by tempest was driuen with the I le of CYPRVS hauing with him Ariadne which was great with childe and so sore sea sycke that she was not able to abide it In so muche as he was forced to put her a lande and him selfe afterwards returning abourde hoping to saue his shippe against the storme was forthwith compelled to loose into the sea The women of the countrye dyd curteously receyue and intreate Ariadne and to comforte her againe for she was marucilously oute of harte to see she was thus forsaken they counterfeated letters as if Theseus had wrytten them to her And when her groninge time was come and she to be layed they did their best by all possible meanes to saue her but she dyed notwithstanding in labour and could neuer be deliuered So she was honorably buried by the Ladies of CYPRVS Theseus not long after returned thither againe who tooke her death maruelous heauily and left money with the inhabitantes of the countrie to sacrifice vnto her yearely and for memorie of her he caused two litle images to be molten the one of copper and the other of siluer which he dedicated vnto her This sacrifice is done the seconde day of September on which they doe yet obserue this ceremonie they doe lay a young childe vpon a bed which pitiefully cryeth and lamenteth as women trauellinge with childe They saye also that the AMATHVSIANS doe yet call the groue where her tombe is sette vp the wodde of Venus Adriadne And yet there are of the NAXIANS that reporte this otherwise saying there were two Minoes and two Adriadnees whereof the one was maried to Bacchus in the I le of NAXOS of whome Staphylus was borne and the other the youngest was rauished and caried away by Theseus who afterwardes forsooke her and she came into the I le of NAXOS with her nurce called Corcyna whose graue they doe shewe yet to this day This seconde Adriadne dyed there also but she had no such honour done to her after her death as to the first was geuen For they celebrate the feaste of the first with all ioye and mirthe where the sacrifices done in memorie of the seconde be mingled with mourninge and sorowe Theseus then departing from the I le of CRETA arriued in the I le of DELOS where he did sacrifice in the temple of Apollo and gaue there a litle image of Venus the which he had gotten of Adriadne Then with the other young boyes that he had deliuered he daunced a kinde of daunce which the DELIANS keepe to this day as they say in which there are many turnes and returnes much after the turninges of the Labyrinthe And the DELIANS call this manner of daunce the crane as Dicaorcus sayeth And Theseus daunced it first about the altar which is called Ceraton that is to saye horne-staffe bicause it is made and builded of hornes onely all on the left hande well and curiously sette together without any other bindinge It is sayed also that he made a game in this I le of DELOS in which at the first was geuen to him that ouercame a braunche of palme forreward of victorie But when they drewe neere the coast of ATTICA they were so ioyfull he and his master that they forgate to set vp their white sayle by which they shoulde haue geuen knowledge of their healthe and safetie vnto AEgeus Who
he wanne them promising that it should be a common wealth and not subiect to the power of any sole prince but rather a populer state In which he woulde only reserue to him selfe the charge of the warres and the preseruation of the lawes for the rest he was content that euery citizen in all and for all should beare a like swaye and authoritye So there were some that willingly graunted thereto Other who had r. o liking thereof yelded notwithstanding for feare of his displeasure and power which then was very great So they thought it better to consent with good will vnto that he required then to tary his forcible compulsion Then he caused all the places where iustice was ministred and all their halles of assembly to be ouerthrowen and pulled downe He remoued straight all iudges and officers and built a towne house and a counsaill hall in the place where the cittie now standeth which the ATHENIANS call ASTY but he called the whole corporation of them ATHENS Afterwardes he instituted the greate feast and common sacrifice for all of the countrye of ATTICA which they call Panathenea Then he ordeined another feaste also vpon the sixtenth daye of the moneth of Iune for all strangers which should come to dwell in ATHENS which was called Metaecia is kept euen to this daye That done he gaue ouer his regall power according to his promise and beganne to sett vp an estate or policye of a common wealth beginning first with the seruice of the goddes To knowe the good successe of his enterprise he sent at the very beginning to the oracle of Apollo in DELPHES to enquire of the fortune of this cittye from whence this aunswer was brought vnto him O thus vvhich arte the sonne of AEgeus begott by him on Pitheus daughter deare The mightie loue my father glorious by his decree hath sayed there shall appeare a fatall ende of euery cittie here VVhich ende he vvill shall also come adovvne VVithin the vvalles of this thy stately tovvne Therefore shevve thou a valliant constant minde and let no care nor carke thy harte displease For like vnto a bladder blovven vvith vvinde thou shalt be tost vpon the surging seas Yet lett no dynte of dolours the disease For vvhy thou shalt nor perishe nor decaye nor be orecome nor yet be cast avvaye It is founde written also that Sibylla afterwardes gaue out suche a like oracle ouer the cittye of ATHENS The bladder blovven maye flete vpon the studde but cannot synke nor sticke in filthie mudde Moreouer bicause he woulde further yet augment his people and enlarge his cittie he entised many to come and dwell there by offering them the selfe same freedome and priuiledges which the naturall borne citizens had So that many iudge that these wordes which are in vse at this daye in ATHENS when any open proclamation is made All people Come ye hither be the selfe same which Theseus then caused to be proclaymed when he in that sorte dyd gather a people together of all nations Yet for all that he suffered not the great multitude that came thither tagge and ragge to be without distinction of degrees orders For he first diuided the noble men from husbādmen and artificers appointing the noblemen as iudges magistrates to iudge vpon matters of Religiō touching the seruice of the godds of them also he dyd chuse rulers to beare ciuill office in the cōmon weale to determine the lawe and to tell all holy and diuine things By this meanes he made the noble men and the two other estates equall in voyce And as the noblemen dyd passe the other in honour euen so the artificers exceeded them in number the husbandmen them in profit Nowe that Theseus was the first who of all others yelded to haue a common weale or popular estate as Aristotle sayeth and dyd geue ouer his regall power Homer self semeth to testifie it in numbring the shippes which were in the Graecians armie before the cittie of TROIA For amongest all the GRAECIANS he only calleth the ATHENIANS people Moreouer Theseus coyned money which he marked with the stampe of an oxe in memorye of the bulle of Marathon or of Taurus the captaine of Minos or els to prouoke his citizens to geue them selues to labour They saye also that of this money they were since called Hecatomboeon Decaboeon which signifieth worth a hundred oxen and worth tenne oxen Furthermore hauing ioyned all the territorie of the cittie of MEGARA vnto the countrie of ATTICA he caused that notable foure square piller to be sett vp for their confines within the straight of PELOPONNESVS and engraued thereuppon this superscription that declareth the separation of both the countries which confine there together The superscription is this VVhere Titan doth beginne his beames for to displaye euen that vvaye stands Ionia in fertile vvise allvvaye And vvhere againe he goeth a dovvne to take his rest there stands Peloponnesus lande for there I compt it vvest It was he also which made the games called Isthmia after the imitation of Hercules to the ende that as the GRECIANS dyd celebrate the feast of games called Olympia in the honour of Iupiter by Hercules ordinance so that they should also celebrate the games called Isthmia by his order and institution in the honour of Neptune For those that were done in the straights in the honour of Melicerta were done in the night had rather forme of sacrifice or of a mysterie then of games opē feast Yet some will save that these games of Isthmia were instituted in the honour memorie of Sciron that Theseus ordained them in satisfaction of his death bicause he was his cosin germaine being the sonne of Canethus and of Heniocha the daughter of Pitheus Other saye that it was Sinnis and not Sciron and that for him Theseus made these games and not for the memorie of the other Howsoeuer it was he specially willed the CORINTHIANS that they should geue vnto those that came from ATHENS to see their games of Isthmia so much place to sit downe before them in the most honorable parte of the feast place as the saile of their shippe should couer in the which they came from ATHENS thus doe Hellanicus Andron Halicarnasseus write hereof Touching the voyage he made by the sea Maior Philochorus some other holde opinion that he went thither with Hercules against the AMAZONES and that to honour his valiantnes Hercules gaue him ANTIOPA the AMAZONE But the more parte of the other Historiographers namely Hellanicus Pherecides Herodotius doe write that Theseus went thither alone after Hercules voyage that he tooke this AMAZONE prisoner which is likeliest to be true For we doe not finde that any other who went this iorney with him had taken any AMAZONE prisoner besides him selfe Bion also the Historiographer this notwithstanding sayeth that he brought her away by deceit and
stealth For the AMAZONES sayeth he naturally louing men dyd not flie at all when they sawe them lāde in their countrye but sent them presents that Theseus entised her to come into his shippe who brought him a present so sone as she was aborde he hoysed his sayle so caried her away Another Historiographer Menecrates who wrote the historie of the cittie of NICEA in the countrye of BYTHINIA sayeth that Theseus hauing this AMAZONE ANTIOPA with him remained a certaine time vpon those coasts that amongest other he had in his companie three younge brethern of ATHENS Euneus Thoas and Solois This last Solois was marueilously in loue with ANTIOPA and neuer bewrayed it to any of his other companions sauing vnto one with whom he was most familiar and whom he trusted best so that he reported this matter vnto ANTIOPA But she vtterly reiected his sute though otherwise she handled it wisely and curteously and dyd not complaine to Theseus of him Howbeit the younge man despairing to enioye his loue tooke it so inwardly that desperately he lept into the riuer and drowned him selfe Which when Theseus vnderstoode and the cause also that brought him to this desperation and ende he was very sorye and angric also Whereupon he remembred a certeine oracle of Pythia by whom he was commaunded to buyld a cittie in that place in a straunge countrye where he should be most sorye and that he should leaue some that were about him at that time to gouerne the same For this cause therefore he built a cittie in that place which he named PYTHOPOLIS bicause he had built it only by the commaundement of the Nunne Pythia He called the riuer in the which the younge man was drowned Solois in memorye of him and left his two brethern for his deputies and as gouernours of this newe cittie with another gentleman of ATHENS called Hermus Hereof it commeth that at this daye the PYTHOPOLITANS call a certen place of their cittie Hermus house But they fayle in the accent by putting it vpon the last syllabe for in pronouncing it so Hermu signifieth Mercurie By this meanes they doe transferre the honour due to the memorie of Hermus vnto the god Mercurie Now heare what was the occasion of the warres of the AMAZONES which me thinckes was not a matter of small moment nor an enterprise of a woman For they had not placed their campe within the very cittie of ATHENS nor had not fought in the very place it selfe called Pnyce adioyning to the temple of the Muses if they had not first conquered or subdued all the countrye thereabouts neither had they all comen at the first so valiantly to assaile the cittie of ATHENS Now whether they came by lande from so farre a countrye or that they passed ouer an arme of the sea which is called Bosphorus Cimmericus being frosen as Hellanicus sayeth it is hardely to be credited But that they camped within the precinct of the very cittie it selfe the names of the places which cōtinewe yet to this present daye doe witnesse it the graues also of the women which dyed there But so it is that both armies laye a great time one in the face of the other ere they came to battell Howbeit at the length Theseus hauing first made sacrifice vnto Feare the goddesse according to the counsaill of a prophecie he had receyued he gaue them battell in the moneth of August on the same daye in the which the ATHENIANS doe euen at this present solemnise the feast which they call Boedromia But Clidemus the Historiographer desirous particularly to write all the circumstances of this encownter sayeth that the left poynte of their battell bent towards the place which they call AMAZONION and that the right poynte marched by the side of CHRYSA euen to the place which is called PNYCE vpon which the ATHENIANS cōming towards the temple of the Muses dyd first geue their charge And for proofe that this is true the graues of the women which dyed in this first encoūter are founde yet in the great streete which goeth towards the gate Piraica neere vnto the chappell of the litle god Chalcodus And the ATHENIANS sayeth he were in this place repulsed by the AMAZONES euen to the place where the images of Eumenides are that is to saye of the futies But on thother side also the ATHENIANS cōming towards the quarters of Palladium Ardettus Lucium draue backe their right poynte euen to within their campe slewe a great number of them Afterwards at the ende of foure moneths peace was taken betwene them by meanes of one of the women called Hyppolita For this Historiographer calleth the AMAZONE which Theseus maried Hyppolita and not Antiopa Neuertheles some saye that she was slayne fighting on Theseus side with a darte by another called Molpadia In memorie whereof the piller which is ioyning to the temple of the Olympian ground was set vp in her honour We are not to maruell if the historie of things so auncient be founde so diuersely written For there are also that write that Queene Antiopa sent those secretly which were hurte then into the cittie of CALCIDE where some of them recouered were healed and others also dyed which were buried neere to the place called AMAZONION Howsoeuer it was it is most certain that this warre was ended by agreement For a place adioyning to the temple of Theseus dothe beare recorde of it being called Orcomosium bicause the peace was there by solemne othe concluded And the sacrifice also do the truely verifie it which they haue made to the AMAZONES before the feast of Theseus long time out of minde They of MEGARA also doe shewe a tumbe of the AMAZONES in their cittie which is as they goe frō the market place to the place they call Rhus where they finde an auncient tumbe cut infacion forme of a losenge They saye that there died other of the AMAZONES also neere vnto the cittie of CHAERONEA which were buried all alongest the litle broke passing by the same which in the olde time in mine opinion was called Thermodon is nowe named Haemon as we haue in other places written in the life of Demosthenes And it semeth also that they dyd not passe through THESSALIE without fighting for there are seene yet of their tūbes all about the cittie of SCOTVSA hard by the rocks which be called the doggs head And this is that which is worthy memorie in mine opinion touching the warres of these AMAZONES Howe the Poettelleth that the AMAZONES made warres with Theseus to reuēge the iniurie he dyd to their Queene Antiopa refusing her to marye with Phadra as for the murder which he telleth that Hercules dyd that me thinckes is altogether but deuise of Poets It is very true that after the death of Antiopa Theseus married Phadra hauing had before of Antiopa a sonne called Hippolytus or
as the Poet Pindarus writeth Demophon And for that the Historiographers doe not in anything speake against the tragicall Poets in that which concerneth the ill happe that chaunced to him in the persones of this his wife of his sonne we must needes take it to be so as we finde it written in the tragedies And yet we finde many other reportes touching the mariages of Theseus whose beginnings had no great good honest grouÌ„d neither fell out their endes very fortunate yet for all that they have made no tragedies of them neither haue they bene played in the Theaters For we reade that he tooke away Anaxo the TRâ—EZENIAN that after he had killed Sinnis and Cercyon he tooke their daughters perforce and that he dyd also marye Peribea the mother of Aiax and afterwards Pherebaea Ioppa the daughter of Iphicles And they blame him much also for that he so lightly forsooke his wife Ariadne for the loue of AEgles the daughter of Panopaeus as we haue recited before Lastely he tooke awaye Hellen which rauishement filled all the Realme of ATTICA with warres finally was the very occasion that forced him to forsake his countrye and brought him at the length to his ende as we will tell you hereafter Albeit in his time other princes of GRECE had done many goodly and notable exploits in the warres yet Herodotus is of opinion that Theseus was neuer in any one of them sauing that he was at the battell of the Lapithae against the Centauri Others saye to the contrarie that he was at the iorney of Cholchide with Iason that he dyd helpe Meleager to kill the wilde bore of Calydonia from whence as they saye this prouerbe came Not vvithout Theseus Meaning that suche a thing was not done without great helpe of another Howbeit it is certaine that Theseus self dyd many famous actes without ayde of any man and that for his valiantnes this prouerbe came in vse which is spoken This is another Theseus Also he dyd helpe Adrastus king of the ARGIVES to recouer the bodyes of those that were slayne in the battell before the cittie of THEBES Howbeit it was not as the poet Euripides sayeth by force of armes after he had ouercome the THEBANS in battell but it was by coÌ„position And thus the greatest number of the most auncient writers doe declare it Furthermore Philochorus writeth that this was the first treatie that euer was made to recouer the dead bodyes slayne in battell neuertheles we doe reade in the histories and gestes of Hercules that he was the first that euer suffered his enemies to carye awaye their dead bodyes after they had bene put to the sword But whosoeuer he was at this daye in the village of ELEVTHERES they doe showe the place where the people were buried and where princes tumbes are seene about the cittie of ELEVSIN which he made at the request of Adrastus And for testimonie hereof the tragedie AEschilus made of the ELEVSINIANS where he causeth it to be spoken euen thus to Theseus him self dothe clerely ouerthrowe the petitioners in Euripides Touching the friendshippe betwixt Pirithous and him it is sayed it beganne thus The renowne of his valliancy was maruelously blowen abroade through all GRECE Pirithous desirous to knowe it by experience went euen of purpose to inuade his countrye and brought awaye a certaine bootie of oxen of his taken out of the countrye of MARATHON Theseus being aduertised therof armed straight and went to the rescue Pirithous hearing of his comming fled not at all but returned backe sodainly to mete him And so sone as they came to see one another they both wondred at eche others beawtie and corage and so had they no desire to fight But Pirithous reaching out his hande first to Theseus sayed vnto him I make your selfe iudge of the damage you haue susteined by my inuasion and with all my harte I will make suche satisfaction as it shall please you to assesse it at Theseus then dyd not only release him of all the damages he had done but also requested him he would become his friend and brother in armes Hereupon they were presently sworne brethren in the fielde after which othe betwixt them Pirithous maried Deidamia sent to praye Theseus to come to his mariage to visite his countrye to make merye with the Lapithae He had bidden also the Centauri to the feast who being druncke committed many lewde partes euen to the forcing of women Howbeit the Lapithae chasticed them so well that they slewe some of them presently in the place draue the rest afterwards out of all the countrye by the helpe of Theseus who armed him selfe and fought on their side Yet Herodotus writeth the matter somewhat contrarie saying that Theseus went not at all vntill the warre was well begonne and that it was the first time that he sawe Hercules spake with him neere vnto the cittie of TRACHINA when he was then quiet hauing ended all his farre voyages greatest troubles They reporte that this meeting together was full of great cheere much kindnes and honorable entertainement betwene them and howe great curtesie was offred to eache other Neuertheles me thincks we should geue better credit to those writers that saye they mett many times together and that Hercules was accepted and receyued into the brotherhed of the mysteries of ELEVSIN by the meanes of the countenaunce and fauour which Theseus showed vnto him and that his purification also was thereby allowed of who was to be purged of necessitie of all his ill deedes and cruelties before he could enter into the companie of those of holy mysteries Furthermore Theseus was fiftie yeres olde when he tooke awaye Hellen and rauished her which was very younge and not of age to be maried as Hellanicus sayeth By reason whereof some seeking to hyde the rauishement of her as a haynous facte doe reporte it was not he but one Idas and Lynceus that caryed her awaye who left her in his custodie and keeping and that Theseus would haue kept her from them and would not haue deliuered her to her brethern Castor and Pollux which afterwardes dyd demaunde her againe of him Others againe saye it was her owne father Tyndarus who gaue her him to keepe for that he was affrayed of Enarsphorus the sonne of Hippocoon who would haue had her away by force But that which commeth nearest to the trothe in this case and which in deede by many authors is testified was in this sorte Theseus Pirithous went together to the cittie of LACEDAEMON where they tooke awaye Hellen being yet very younge euen as she was dauncing in the teÌ„ple of Diana surnamed Orthia they fled for life They of LACEDAEMON sent after her but those that followed weÌ„t no further then the cittie of TEGEA Now when they were escaped out of the countrye of PELOPONNESVS they agreed to drawe lots together which of them two
carye it to Ilia bicause she had diuers times prayed him to let her see and feele it to the ende she might be the more assured of her hope who promised her that one daye she should see her children againe So it chaunced vnto Amulius at that time as it commonly dothe vnto those that are troubled and doe any thing in feare or anger as a man amazed thereat to send one presently who in all other things was a very honest man but a great friende of his brother Numitors to aske him if he had heard any thing that his daughters children were aliue This persone being come to Numitors house founde him ready to embrace Remus who fell to be witnes thereof and of the good happe discouered vnto Numitor whereupon he perswaded him howe to set vpon his brother and to dispatche the matter with spede So from that time forwards he tooke their parte On thother side also the matter gaue them no leisure to deferre their enterprise although they had bene willing for the whole case was somewhat blowen abroade So Romulus then got straight a power and drewe very neere the cittie and many of the citizens of ALBA went out to ioyne with him who either feared or hated Amulius Nowe Romulus power which he brought ouer and besides those citizens was a good number of fighting men and they were diuided by hundreds and euery hundred had his captaine who marched before his bande carying litle bundells of grasse or of boughes tyed to the ende of their poles The LATINES call these bundels Manipulos whereof it commeth that yet at this daye in an armie of the Romaines the souldiers which are all vnder one ensigne are called Manipulares So Remus sturring vp those that were within the cittie and Romulus bringing in men from without the tyranne Amulius fell in suche feare and agonie that without prouiding any thing for his safety they came vpon him sodainly in his palace and slewe him Thus you heare howe neere Fabius Pictor and Diocles Peparethian doe agree in reciting the storie who was the first in mine opinion that wrote the foundation of the cittie of ROME howbeit there are that thincke they are all but fables tales deuised of pleasure But me thincks for all that they are not altogether to be reiected or discredited if we will consider fortunes straunge effects vpon times and of the greatnes also of the Romaine empire which had neuer atchieued to her present possessed power authoritie if the goddes had not frō the beginning bene workers of the same if there had not also bene some straūge cause and wonderfull foundation Amulius being nowe slayne as before after that all things were appeased and reduced to good order againe Remus and Romulus would not dwell in the cittie of ALBA being no lordes thereof nor also would be lords of it so long as their grandfather by the mothers side was aliue Wherefore after they had restored him to his estate and had done the honour and duety they ought vnto their mother they purposed to goe build a cittie in those places where they had bene first brought vp for this was the honestest culler they could pretend for their departing from ALBA Peraduenture they were enforced so to doe whether they would or not for the great number of banished men and fugitiue slaues which were gathered together by them for their strength who had bene vtterly lost and cast away if they had bene once discharged by them Therfore it was of necessitie that they should dwell by them selues separated in some place to kepe this number together and in some order For it is true that the inhabitants of the cittie of ALBA would not suffer such banished persones and runnagates to be mingled amongest them nor would receaue them into their cittie to be free among them All which appeareth sufficiently first bicause they tooke awaye women by force and so not of insolencie but of necessitie when they founde no man that would bestow any of them It is manifest also they dyd greately honour and make much of the women they had taken away before Furthermore when their cittie beganne a litle to be setled they made a temple of refuge for all fugitiues and afflicted persones which they called the temple of the god Asylaeus Where there was sanctuarie and safety for all sortes of people that repaired thither and could get into the temple for whom it was alledged they could not deliuer any bonde man to his master nor detter to his creditor nor murtherer to the iustice that was fled thither for succor bicause the oracle of Apollo the Delphian had expresslely enioyned them to graunte sanctuary to all those that would come thither for it So by this meanes in shorte space their cittie florished was repleanished where at the first foundation of it they saye there was not aboue one thousand houses as more at large hereafter shal be declared When they came nowe to the building of their cittie Romulus Remus the two brethern fell sodainely at a strife together about the place where the cittie should be builded For Romulus built ROME which is called foure square and would needes it should remaine in the place which he had chosen Remus his brother chose another place very strong of situation vpon mounte Auentine which was called after his name Remonium and nowe is called Rignarium Notwithstanding in the ende they agreed betwene them selues this controuersie should be decided by the flying of birds which doe geue a happy diuination of things to come So being sett in diuers places by them selues to make obseruation some saye that there appeared vnto Remus sixe and to Romulus twelue vulters Other saye that Remus truely sawe sixe and Romulus feigned from the beginning that he sawe twise as many but when Remus came to him then there appeared twelue in deede vnto Romulus and this is the cause why the Romaines at this daye in their diuinations and soothesayings of the flying of birds doe maruelously obserue the flying of the vulters It is true which the historiographer Herodotus Ponticus writeth that Hercules reioyced much when there appeared a vulter to him being readie to beginne any enterprise For it is the foule of the worlde that dothe least hurte and neuer marreth nor destroyeth any thing that man dothe sowe plante or set considering that she feedeth on carion only and dothe neuer hurte nor kill any liuing thing Also she dothe not praye vpon dead sowle for the likenes that is betwene them where the eagles the dukes and the sakers doe murther kill and eate those which are of their owne kynde And yet as AEschylus sayeth Needes must that fovvle accompted be most vile Most rauening and full of filthie minde VVhich doth him self continually defile by praying still vpon his propre kinde Moreouer other birdes are allwayes as a man would saye before our eyes and doe daylie shewe
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
score and three In the which is singularly to be noted for the commendation of Romulus that he him selfe dyd take then but onely one of the maydes named Hersilia that afterwardes was the only cause mediation of peace betwext the SABYNES and the ROMAINES Which argueth plainely that it was not to doe the SABYNES any hurte nor to satisfie any disordinate lust that they had so forcibly vndertaken this rauishement but to ioyne two peoples together with the straightest bondes that could be betweene men This Hersilia as some saye was maried vnto one Hostilius the noblest man at that time amongest the ROMAINES or as others write vnto Romulus him selfe which had two children by her The first was a daughter and her name was Prima bicause she was the first the other was a sonne whom he named Aollius bicause of the multitude of people he had assembled together in his cittie and afterwardes he was surnamed Abillius Thus Zenodotus the TROEZENIAN writeth wherein notwithstanding there be diuers that doe contrarie him Among those which rauished then the daughters of the SABYNES it is sayed there were founde certaine meane men carying away a marueilous passing fayer one These met by chaunce on the waye certaine of the chief of the cittie who would haue taken her by force from them which they had done but that they beganne to crye they caried her vnto Talassius who was a younge man marueilously well beloued of euery bodye Which when the others vnderstoode they were exceeding glad and they commended them in so much as there were some which sodainely turned backe againe and dyd accompanie them for Talassius sake crying out a lowde and often on his name From whence the custome came which to this daye the ROMAINES synge at their mariages Talassius like as the GRECIANS synge Hymeneus For it is sayed he was compted very happie that he met with this woman But Sextius Sylla a CARTHAGINIAN borne a man very wise and well learned tolde me once it was the crye and signe which Romulus gaue to his men to beginne the rauishement whereupon on those which caried them awaye went crying this worde Talassius and that from thence the custome hathe continued that they singe it yet at their mariages Neuertheles the most parte of authors specially Iuba thinckes it as a warning to remember the newe maried women of their worke which is to spinne which the GRECIANS call Talassia the Italian words at that time being not mingled with the Greeke And if it be true the ROMAINES vsed this terme of Talassia as we of GRECE doe vse we might by coniecture yeld another reason for it which should carie a better likelyhoode and proofe For when the SABYNES after the battell had made peace with the ROMAINES they put in an article in fauour of the women in the treatie that they should not be bounde to serue their husbands in any other worke but in spinning of wolle Euer since this custome hathe growen that those which geue their daughters in mariage and those who leade the bryde and such as are present at the wedding speake in sporte to the newe maried wife laughing Talassius in token that they doe not leade the bryde for any other work◠or seruice but to spinne wolle Thereof this hathe bene the vse to this daye that the bryde dothe not of her selfe come ouer the threshold of her husbands dore but she is hoysed pretely into the house bicause the SABYNE women at that time were so lift vp caried away by force They saye also that the manner of making the shed of the new wedded wiues heare with the Irō head of a Iaueling came vp then likewise this storie being a manifest token that these first mariages were made by force of armes and as it were at the swords poynte as we haue written more at large in the booke wherein we render and showe the causes of the ROMAINES facions and customes This rauishement was put in execution about the eightenth daye of the moneth then called Sextili◠and nowe named August on which daye they yet celebrate the feast they call Consalia Nowe the SABYNES were good men of warre and had great numbers of people but they dwelt in villages and not within inclosed walles being a thing fit for their noble courages that dyd feare nothing and as those who were descended from the LACEDAEMONIANS Neuertheles they seeing them selues bound tyed to peace by pledges hostages that were very neere allyed vnto them and seating their daughters should be ill intreated sent ambassadours to Romulus by whom they made reasonable offers and persuasions that their daughters might be deliuered vnto them againe without any force or violence and then afterwardes that he would cause them to be asked in mariage of their parents as bothe reason and lawe would require To thend that with good will and consent of all parties both peoples might contract amitie and alliance together Whereunto Romulus made aunswer he could not restore the maydes which his people had taken awaye and maried but most friendly he prayed the SABYNES to be contented with their alliance This aunswer being returned and not liked whilest the princes and communaltie of the SABYNES were occupied in consultation and about the arming of them selues Acron king of the CENINENSES a man exceeding couragious and skilfull in the warres and one that from the beginning mistrusted the ouer bolde stowte enterprises that Romulus was likely to attempt cōsidering the late rauishment of the SABYNES daughters and howe he was already greatly dreaded of his neighbours and somwhat vntolerable if he were not chasticed and brought lower first beganne to inuade him with a puissant armie and to make hotte and violent warres vpon him Romulus on th' other side prepared also and went forth to meete him When they were come so neere together that they might see one another they sent defiance to eache other prayed that two might fight man to man amiddest their armies neither of theirs to sturre a foote Bothe of them accepted of it and Romulus making his prayer vnto Iupiter dyd promise and made a vowe that if he dyd geue him the victorie to ouercome he would offer vp to him the armour of his enemie which he dyd For first he slew Acron in the field afterwards gaue battell to his men ouerthrew them also Lastely he tooke his cittie where he did no hurte nor yet displeasure to any sauing that he dyd commaūde them to pull downe their houses destroy them and to goe dwell with him at ROME where they should haue the selfe same rightes priuiledges which the first inhabitants did enioye There was nothing more enlarged the cittie of ROME then this manner of pollicie to ioyne allwayes vnto it those she had ouercome vancquished Romulus now to discharge his vowe in suche sorte that his offering might be acceptable to Iupiter and
place nowe called Armilustrium Further he neuer shewed any countenaunce to reuenge his death There are some Historiographers that write that those of the cittie of Laurentum being afeard at this murder dyd deliuer forthwith to Romulus the murderers of the ambassadours He notwithstāding dyd let them goe againe saying one murder was required by another This gaue some occasion of speache to thincke he was glad he was rydde of his companion yet the Sabynes neither sturred nor rebelled for all this but some of them were affrayed of him for the great loue they bare him other for his power he was of other for the honour they gaue him as a god continuing still in duetie obedience towards him Diuers straūgers also had Romulus valiancie in great honour as amongest other those who then were called the auncient Latines which sent ambassadours to him to make league and amitie with him He deuised to take the cittie of Fidena which was nere neighbour to Rome Some saye he tooke it vpon a sodaine hauing sent before certen horse men to breake downe the hookes hingewes with force which the gates hang by him selfe came after with the rest of his armie and stale vpon them before the cittie mistrusted any thing Other write that the Fidenates first inuaded his coūtrye and foraged vnto the very suburbes of Rome where they did great harme and howe Romulus layed an ambushe in their waye as they returned home and slewe a great number of them When he tooke their cittie he did not rase it but made a colonye of it as a place to send the ouerincrease of Rome vnto whether he sent afterwards two thousand fiue hundred Romains to inhabite there it was on the thirtenth daye of Aprill which the Romaines call the Ides of the same moneth Not long after there rose suche a great plague in Rome that men died sodainely and were not sicke the earth brought forth no fruite bruite beasts deliuered no increase of their kynde there rayned also droppes of bloude in Rome as they saye In so much as besides the euills men felt in this extremitie they fell in a marueilous feare of the wrathe of the goddes Afterwards perceiuing the like happened to the inhabitants of Laurētum then euery man iudged it was the very vengeance and heauie hand of the goddes who plagued and punished these two citties for the murder committed vpon Tatius and the ambassadours that were killed Whereupon the murderers of both sides were apprehended and executed and these plagues by and by ceased both in the one and in the other cittie Romulus besides did purifie the cities with certaine sacrifices that he deuised which they keepe still at this daye at the gate called Ferentina But before the plague ceased the Camerines came to assaulte the Romaines had ouercomen all the countrie supposing they should not be able to withstand them bicause they had bene so sore troubled with the plague Yet notwithstāding Romulus set vp on them with his army wanne the field of them in which conflict there were slaine about sixe thousand men After the battell done he tooke their cittie conueyed to Rome the one half of the inhabitants that remained After this he sent twise as many Romaines as there were naturall Cameriās left at Camerine to dwell there among them This was done the first daye of August so great was the multitude of the inhabitāts of Rome that had increased in sixteene yeres from the first foundation of the cittie Emong other spoyles he got there he caried away a charret of brasse with foure horses which he caused to be set vp in the temple of Vulcan and his owne statue vpon it and victorie crowning him with a garland triūphant His power being growen thus great his weake neighbours did submit themselues vnto him being contented to liue in peace by him His stronger neighbours were affrayed of him and enuied much his greatnes and dyd take it no good policie to suffer him thus to rise in the face of the world and thought it meete spedilie to dawnte his glorie and clippe his winges The first of the Thuscans that bent their power against him were the Veians who had a great countrie dwelled in a stronge and mightie cittie To picke a quarell to him they sent to haue redeliuered to thē the cittie of FIDENA which they sayed belōged vnto them This was thought not only vnreasonable but a thing worthy laughing at cōsidering that all the while the FIDENATES were in warre daunger the THVSCANS neuer came to their ayde but had suffered them to be slayne and then came to demaunde their lands and tenements when other had possession of them Therefore Romulus hauing geuen them an aunswer full of mockerie and derision they diuided their power into two armies and sent the one against them of FIDENA and with the other they marched towards ROME That which went against the cittie of FIDENA preuayled and killed there two thousand ROMAINES the other was ouerthrowen and discomfited by Romulus in which there dyed eight thousand VEIANS Afterwards they met againe somewhat neere the cittie of the FIDENATES where they fought a battell and all dyd confesse the chiefest exployte was done by Romulus owne hands that daye who shewed all the skill and valliantnes that was to be looked for in a worthy captaine It seemed that daye he farre exceeded the cōmon sorte of men in strength of bodye feates of armes Neuertheles that which some saye is hardely to be credited to be plaine is out of all compasse of beliefe and possibilitie For they write there were fourteene thousand men slayne at that battell that more then halfe of them were slayne by Romulus own hands the rather for that euery man iudgeth it a vaine bragge and ostentation which the MESSENIANS reporte of Aristomenes who offered in sacrifice to the goddes three hundred beastes of victorie as for so many LACEDAEMONIANS him self had slayne in the battell Their armie being thus broken Romulus suffered them to flye who by swiftnes could saue them selues and marched with all his power in good arraye towards their cittie The citizens then considering their late great losse and ouerthrowe would not hazard the daunger of withstanding him but went out all together made their humble petition sute for peace All was graunted them for a hundred yeres saue they should forgoe their territorie called Septemagium that was the seuenth parte of their countrye yeld to the ROMAINES all their salt houses by the riuers side and deliuer fiftie of their chiefest citizens for their pledges Romulus made his entrie and triumphe into ROME for them the daye of the Ides of October which is the fiftenth daye of the same moneth leading in his triumphe many prisoners taken in those warres among other the generall of the VEIANS a very auncient man who fondly behaued him selfe in his charge and shewed by his
out with it and how contrariwise he founded this temple to Minerua to giue her thanckes for healing of his eye Hereof it came that euer since the SPARTANS haue bene restrayned to carie staues in any assembly of counsell But to returne to their common repastes which the CRETANS called Andria and the LACEDAEMONIANS Phiditia either bicause they were places wherein they learned to liue soberly and straightly for in the GREKE tongue Phido is to saue and spare or els bicause their amitie and friendshippe grewe there towards one another as if they would haue called them Philitia feasts of loue by chaunging d. into L It maye be also they added the first letter as superfluous and ment to call the places Edetia bicause they dyd eate and drincke there They sat in their halles by fifteene in a companie litle more or lesse and at the beginning of euery moneth euery one brought a bushell of meale eight gallons of wine fiue pound of cheese and two pound and a halfe of figges for a man besides some litle portion of their monye to buye certaine freshe acates And ouer and aboue all this euery man when he dyd sacrifice in his house was bounde to send the best and chiefest things of his sacrifice to the halles to be eaten Likewise if any man went an hunting and killed any venison it was an order he should send a pece of the fleshe thither Hauing these two lawfull causes they might eate and drinke by them selues at home either when they sacrificed any beast to the goddes or when they came late home from hunting otherwise they were bounde of necessitie to meete in their halles at meales if they would eate any thing This order they kept very straightly a great time in so muche as king Agis on a daye returning from the warres where he had ouerthrowen the ATHENIANS and being desirous to suppe at home priuately with the Queene his wife he sent to the halles for his portion But the Polemarchi that be certaine officers assisting the Kings in the warres dyd denye him The next daye Agis left of for spight to doe the accustomed sacrifice they were wont to celebrate in the ende of euery warre whereupon they set a fine on his head and condemned him to paye it The young children also went to these repasts euen as they should goe to schooles to learne grauity and temperaunce where they heard wise and graue discourses touching the gouernment of a common weale but not of masters that were as hierlinges There they learned pretylie to playe vpon wordes and pleasauntly to sporte one with another without any broade speaches or vncomely Iestes and at others handes to beare the same againe without choller or anger For this propertie haue the LACEDAEMONIANS aboue all other to take and geue a mocke without any offence neuertheles if any mans nature could not beare it he neded but praye the partie to forbeare his iesting and so he lefte it straight And it was euer an ordinarie among them that the eldest of the companie tolde the rest that were come into the hall to meale with shewing them of the dore Sirs remember there goeth not a worde here out of this dore Euen so he that would be receyued to meale there in their companie must first of necessitie be allowed and receyued in this sorte by all the rest Euery one of them tooke a litle balle of branne or dowe to washe their handes with and without euer a word speaking they threwe it into a basen which the seruant that waited on them at the table dyd carie vpon his head he that was contented the other should be receyued in companie dyd cast in his balle as he dyd receyue it but if he misliked him then he pressed it flat betwene his fingers and threwe it in This ball of branne thus pressed flat was asmuch as a beane bored thorough and was to them a signe of condemnation If any one balle were found of this sorte the suter was reiected for they would not haue any enter into their companie that was not liked of all the rest He that thus was reiected they saye he was discadded for the basin wherein the litle balles were caried was called Caddos The best dishe they serued at these meales was that they call their blacke brothe so that when they had that the olde men dyd eate no fleshe but lefte it all to the younge men and they by them selues dyd eate the brothe There was a king of PONTVS that being desirous to taste of this blacke broth dyd buye of purpose a LACEDAEMONIAN cooke but after he had once a tasted thereof he was very angry straight The cooke then sayed vnto him and it please your grace ere one shall finde this brothe good he must be washed first in the riuer of Eurotas After they had eate and druncke thus soberly together euery one repaired home without any light for it was not lawfull for them to goe thither nor any where els with light bicause they should accustome them selues boldely to goe vp and downe the darcke and all about in the night This was the order and manner of their meales But here is specially to be noted that Lycurgus would in no wise haue any of his lawes put in writing For it is expressely set downe in his lawes they call Retra that none of his lawes should be written For he thought that which should chiefly make a cittie happie and vertuous ought throughly by education to be printed in mens heartes and manners as to haue continuaunce for euer which he tooke to be loue and good will as a farre stronger knot to tye men with then any other compulsary lawe Which when men by vse and custome through good education doe take in their childhoode it maketh euery man to be a lawe to himselfe Furthermore concerning buying and barganing one with another which are but trifles and sometime are chaunged in one sorte and sometime in another as occasion serueth he thought it best not to constrayne them to doe it by writing nor to establishe customes that might not be altered but rather to leaue them to the libertie and discretion of men which had bene brought vp in the same bothe to take awaye and to adde therein as the case and time should require But to conclude he thought the chiefest pointe of a good lawe maker or reformer of the common weale was to cause men to be well brought vp and instructed One of his ordinaunces therefore was expressely that not one of his lawes should be written Another of his deuises was against superfluous charges and expences which to auoyde he made a lawe that all roofes of houses should be made only with the axe and all gates and doores with the sawe and that without any other toole of occupation Wherein he had the like imagination as afterwards Epaminondas had when he sayed speaking of his table Such a borde neuer receyueth
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
which had happened before to a most well beloued man of the goddes Some laye Lycurgus died in the cittie of CIRRHA But Apollothemis sayeth he died in ELIDA Timaeus and Aristoxenus write he ended his dayes in CRETA And Aristoxenus sayeth further that those of the I le of CRETA doe shewe his graue in the place which they call Pergami◠by the broade highe wayes side He left one onely begotten sonne named Antiorus who died without issue so that his house and name fayled with him But his neere kinsemen and famillier friendes did set vp a company or brotherhood in memorie of him which continued a long time and the dayes wherein they assembled were called the Lycurgides There is another Aristocrates the sonne of Hipparchus who sayeth that he being dead in CRETA his friendes burned his bodie and afterwardes threwe his ashes into the sea according as he had prayed and requested them For he feared that if any parte of him should at any time haue bene brought to SPARTA the inhabitans would haue sayed he was returned againe and thereby would haue thought them selues discharged of their othe and might haue lawfully altered the lawes which he had appointed And this is the discourse and ende of Lycurgus life The end of Lycurgus life THE LIFE OF Numa Pompilius THE Historiographers differ maruelously of the time in which Numa Pompilius raigned King albeit some will deriue from him many noble houses descēded in ROME For one Clodius who wrote the booke intituled the table of time affirmeth that the auncient registers of the cittie of ROME were lost when it was taken and sacked by the GAVLES and that those which are extant at this daye be not true but were only made by men desirous to gratifie some which haue thrust in auncient houses and families of the first ROMAINES that concerne nothing them whom they ment to represent On the other side although the common opinion be that Numa was as familier friend and scholler of Pythagoras the philosopher yet some saye he was neuer learned nor had any knowledge at all in the Greeke tongue And yet mainteining that it is possible enough that he was so well borne and had suche perfection in all kind of vertue that he neuer neded any master though he had neded they had rather attribute the honour of the instructing of this King vnto some other foreane person that was more excellent then Pythagoras Other saye that Phythagoras the philosopher was long time after the raigne of Numa well nighe fiue ages after him How beit other saye there was another Pythagoras borne in SPARTA who hauing wonne the pryse of running at the games Olympicall in the sixtenth Olympiade the third yere of Numaes raigne did come into ITALIE where he kept much about Numa did assist helpe him in the gouerning ordering of his Realme By meanes whereof there be many customes yet of the LACONIANS mingled with the ROMAINES which this second Pythagoras was sayed to haue taught him Neuertheles his not confessed that Numa was borne of the SABYNES which they saye are descended from the LACEDAEMONIANS So it falleth out very hard to agree certainly of the time when Numa was and chiefly for suche as will followe the rolle or table of those which from Olympiades to Olympiades haue wonne the pryses of games Olympicall considering the rolle or table that they haue at this present was very lately published by one Hippias an Elian who deliuereth no reason or argument of necessitie why it should be taken for an vndoubted trothe which he in that sorte hath gathered Yet we will not leaue to put in writing those things worthie of memorie which we could gather by any meanes of king Numa beginning at that place which we thought to be meetest It was nowe sithence ROME was buylt seuen and thirtie yeres for so long time raigned Romulus when Romulus the fifte of the moneth of Iuly which they call the Nones of the goates made a solemne sacrifice without the cittie neere to a certaine place commonly called the goate marshe As all the whole Senate with the most parte of the people were present at this sacrifice sodainely there rose in the ayer a very great tempest and a maruelous darcke thicke clowde which fell on the earthe with suche boysterous windes stormes lightnings and thunder that the poore common people being affrayed of so fore a tempest dispersed them selues sodainely running here and there for succour and therewithall king Romulus vanished awaye in suche sorte that he was neuer after seene aliue not dead This brought the Senatours and noble men whom they called Patricians into great suspition And there ranne a fowle tale among the common people howe they had a long time borne very impaciently to be subiects to a King bicause them selues would haue had and taken vpon them some soueraine authoritie and that for this cause they had killed king Romulus Adding somewhat more vnto it howe a litle before he had vsed them more roughely and commaūded them more straightly then he was wont or accustomed Neuertheles they found the meanes to quenche all these bruites and murmurings by doing diuine honour and sacrifice vnto him as one not dead but passed to a better life To confirme this one of the noblest men among them called Proclus came in and by othe affirmed before all the people that he sawe Romulus ascending vp into heauen armed at all peces and that he heard a voyce saye from thenceforth call him Quirinus This being thus appeased there sprange vp another trouble to knowe whom they should choose in his place For the straungers which were come then from other places to dwell in ROME were not yet throughly ioyned to the naturall borne ROMAINES in so muche as the common people dyd not only wauer and stagger vp and down in opinion but the Senatours also that were many of diuers nations did enter into a suspition one of another These things notwithstāding they all agreed in this that of necessitie they must choose a King howbeit in the rest they differed much not only whom they should choose but also of what nation he should be For those which were the first founders and buylders of the cittie of ROME with Romulus could in no wise abide norsuffer that the SABYNES to whom they had diuided parte of their landes and a moytie of their cittie should attempt and presume to commaund them whom they dyd receyue and associate into their company and felowshippe The SABYNES alledged on thother side for them a good reason and such as caried great probabilitie Which was that neuer sence the death of their king Tatius they neither had in any thing disobeyed nor disquieted king Romulus but had suffered him to raigne peaceably and therefore Romulus being nowe deceased reason would that the newe King should be chosen of their nation And that albeit the ROMAINES had receyued them into their cittie they could
of maydes which both the one and the other ordeined doth agree with the rest of their education For Lycurgus would not that they should be maried till they were of good yeres and women growen to the ende that they knowing the company of man at such time as nature requireth it should be a beginning of their pleasure and loue and not of griefe and hate when she should be compelled vnto it before time agreable by nature and bicause their bodies also should be more stronge and able to beare children and to indure the mothers painefull throwes and trauell in childe bearing considering they are maried to no other ende but to beare children But the ROMAINES to the contrarie doe marye them at twelue yeres of age and vnder saying that by this meanes their bodies manners be wholy theirs which doe marye them being assured that no body els could touch them By this reason it is manifest that the one is more naturall to make them strong to beare children the other more morall to geue them the forme manner of conditiōs which a man would haue them to kepe all their life time Moreouer touching orders for educatiō of childrē that they should be brought vp instructed taught vnder the selfe same masters gouernours which should haue an eye to make them drincke eate playe and exercise them selues honestly and orderly together Numa made no more prouision for the same then the least maker of lawes that euer was and nothing in comparison of Lycurgus For Numa left the parents at libertie to vse their discretion according vnto their couetousnes or necessitie to cause their children to be brought vp as they thought good whether they would put them to be labourers carpinters founders or minstrells As if they should not frame the manners of children and facion them from their cradell all to one ende but should be as it were like passengers in one shippe which being there some for one busines other for another purpose but all to diuers endes doe neuer medle one with another but in a rough storme or tempest when euery man is affrayed of his owne life For otherwise no man careth but for him selfe And other makers of lawes also are to be borne withall if any thing hath scaped them through ignoraunce or some time through lacke of sufficient power and authoritie But a wise philosopher hauing receyued a realme of people newly gathered together which dyd contrary him in nothing whereto should he most plye his studie and indeuour but to cause children to be well brought vp and to make young men exercise them selues to the ende they should not differ in manners nor that they should be troublesome by their diuers manner of bringing vp but that they should all agree together for that they had bene trained from their childhood vnto one selfe trade and facioned vnder one selfe patterne of vertue That good education besides other commodities dyd also serue to preserue Lycurgus lawes For the feare of their othe which they had made had bene of small effect if he had not through institution and education as it were dyed in wolle the manners of children and had not made them from their nources brestes in manner sucke the Iuice and loue of his lawes and ciuill ordinaunces And this was of suche force that for the space of fiue hundred yeres more Lycurgus chieflawes and ordinaunces remained in full perfection as a deepe woded dye which went to the bottome and pearced into the tender wolle Contrariwise that which was Numaes chief ende and purpose to continew ROME in peace and amitie dyed by and by with him For he was no soner dead but they opened both the gates of the temple of Ianus which he so carefully had kept shut all his reigne as if in deede he had kept in warres there vnder locke and keye and they filled all ITALIE with murder and bloude this his godly holy and iust gouernment which his Realme enioyed all his time did not last long after bicause it had not the bonde of education and the discipline of children which should mainteine it Why maye a man saye to me here hath not ROME excelled still and preuailed more more in cheualrie This question requireth a long aunswer and specially vnto such men as place felicitie in riches in possessions in the greatnes of empire rather then in the quiet safety peace concorde of a common weale and in clemency and iustice ioyned with contentation Neuertheless howsoeuer it was that maketh for Lycurgus also that the ROMAINES after they had chaūged the state which they had of Numa dyd so maruelously increase growe mightie and that the LACEDAEMONIANS to the contrarie so soone as they beganne to breake Lycurgus lawes being of great authoritie and swaye fell afterwards to be of small accompt So that hauing lost the soueraintie commaundemēt ouer GRECE they stoode in great hazarde also to be ouerthrowen for euer But in trothe it was some diuine thing in Numa that he being a meere straunger the ROMAINES dyd seeke him to make him King and that he could so chaunge all and rule a whole cittie as he lifted not yet ioyned together without neede of any force or violence as it was in Lycurgus to be assisted with the best of the citty in resisting the cōmons of LACEDAEMON but he could neuer otherwise haue kept them in peace made them loue together but by his only wisdom iustice The ende of Numa Pompilius life THE LIFE OF Solon DIDYMVS the Grammarian in a litle booke that he wrote dedicated vnto Asclepiades touching the tables of the lawes of Solon alleageth the wordes of one Philocles in which he speaketh against the common opinion of those that haue written that Solons father was called Euphorion For all other writers agree that he was the sonne of Execestides a man but reasonably to liue although otherwise he was of the noblest and most auncient house of the cittie of ATHENS For of his fathers side he was descended of king Codrus and for his mother Heraclides Ponticus writeth she was cosin germaine vnto Pisistratus mother For this cause euen from the beginning there was great friendshippe betwene them partely for their kinred and partely also for the curtesie and beawtie of Pisistratus with whom it is reported Solon on a time was in loue Afterwards they fortuned to fall at iarre one with the other about matter of state and gouernment yet this square bred no violent inconuenience betwene them but they reserued in their hartes still their auncient amitie which continued the memorie of their loue as a great fire doth a burning flame That Solon was no stayed man to withstand beawtie nor any great doer to preuaile in loue it is manifest to all aswell by other poeticall writings that he hath made as by a lawe of his owne wherein he dyd forbid bondmen to perfume them selues or
Whereupon the men of Co sent it first to Thales in the cittie of MILETVM as being willing to graunte that vnto a priuate persone for which they had made warres with all the MILESIANS before Thales sayed he thought Bias a wiser man than him selfe and so it was sent vnto him He likewise sent it againe vnto another as to a wiser man And that other sent it also vnto another So that being thus posted from man to man and through diuers handes in the ende it was brought backe againe vnto the cittie of MILETVM and deliuered into the handes of Thales the seconde time and last of all was caried vnto THEBES and offered vp vnto the temple of Apollo Ismenian Howbeit Theophrastus writeth that first it was sent to the cittie of PRIENA vnto Bias and then vnto Thales in the cittie of MILETVM by Bias consent And after that it had passed through all their handes it was brought againe vnto Bias and lastely it was sent to the cittie of DELPHES And thus much haue the best and most auncient writers written sauing that some saye in steade of a three footed stoole it was a cuppe that king Croesus sent vnto the cittie of DELPHES Other saye it was a pece of plate which Bathycles left there They make mention also of another priuate meeting betwext Anacharsis and Solon and of another betweene him and Thales where they recite that they had this talke Anacharsis being arriued at ATHENS went to knocke at Solons gate saying that he was a straunger which came of purpose to see him and to desire his acquaintaunce and friēdshippe Solon aunswered him that it was better to seeke friēdshippe in his owne countrie Anacharsis replied againe thou then that arte at home and in thine owne countrie beginne to shew me friendshippe Then Solon wondering at his bolde ready wit enterteined him very curteously and kept him a certaine time in his house and made him very good cheere at the selfe same time wherein he was most busie in gouerning the common weale making lawes for the state thereof Which when Anacharsis vnderstoode he laughed at it to see that Solon imagined with written lawes to bridell mens couetousnes and iniustice For such lawes sayed he doe rightly resemble the spyders cobwebbes bicause they take holde of litle flies and gnattes which fall into them but the riche and mightie will breake and ronne through them at their will. Solon answered him that men doe iustly keepe all couenants and bargaines which one make with another bicause it is to the hinderāce of either partie to breake them euen so he dyd so temper his lawes that he made his cittizens knowe it was more for their profit to obey lawe iustice then to breake it Neuertheles afterwardes matters proued rather according to Anacharsis comparison then agreable to the hope that Solon had conceyued Anacharsis being by happe one daye in a common assembly of the people at ATHENS sayed that he maruelled much why in the consultations meetings of the GRECIANS wise men propounded matters and fooles dyd decide them It is sayed moreouer that Solon was somtime in the cittie of MILETVM at Thales house where he sayed that he could not but maruell at Thales that he would neuer marie to haue children Thales gaue him neuer a worde at that present but within fewe dayes after he suborned a straunger which sayed that he came but newly home from ATHENS departing from thence but tenne dayes before Solon asked him immediately What newes there This straunger whom Thales had schooled before aunswered none other there sauing that they caried a young man to buriall whom all the cittie followed for that he was one of the greatest mens sonnes of the cittie and the honestest man withall who at that present was out of the countrie and had bene a long time as they sayed abroade O poore vnfortunate father then sayed Solon and what was his name I haue heard him named sayed the straunger but I haue forgotten him nowe sauing that they all sayed he was a worthy wise man So Solon still trembling more and more for feare at euery aunswer of this straunger in the ende he could holde no longer being full of trouble but tolde his name himselfe vnto the straunger and asked him againe if he were not the sonne of Solon which was buried The very same sayed the straunger Solon with that like a mad man straight beganne to beat his head and to saye and doe like men impacient in affliction and ouercome with sorowe But Thales laughing to see this pageant stayed him and sayed Loe Solon this is it that keepeth me from marying and getting of children which is of such a violence that thou seest it hath nowe ouercome thee although otherwise thou arte stronge and able to wrestle with any Howbeit for any thing he hath saied vnto thee be of good cheere man for it is but a tale and nothing so Hermippus writeth that Patacus he which sayed he had Esops sowle reciteth this story thus Neuertheles it lacketh iudgement and the corage of a man also to be afrayed to get things necessarie fearing the losse of them for by this reckoning he should neither esteeme honour goodes nor knowledge when he hath them for feare to lose them For we see that vertue it selfe which is the greatest and sweetest riches a man can haue decayeth oftimes through sicknes or els by phisicke and potions Furthermore Thales selfe although he was not maried was not therefore free from this feare onles he would confesse that he neither loued friends kynsemen nor countrie howbeit Thales had an adopted sonne called Cybistus which was his sisters sonne For our soule hauing in it a naturall inclination to loue and being borne aswell to loue as to feele to reason or vnderstand and to remember hauing nothing of her owne whereupon she might bestowe that naturall loue boroweth of other As where there is a house or inheritaunce without lawfull heires many times straungers and base borne children doe creepe into the kinde affection of the owner and when they haue once wonne possessed his loue they make him euer after to be kynde and tender ouer them So that ye shall see many times men of such a hard and rough nature that they like not of them that moue them to marie and get lawfull children and yet afterwardes are ready to dye for feare sorowe when they see their bastardes that they haue gotten of their slaues or concubines fall sicke or dye and doe vtter wordes farre vnmeete for men of noble corage And some such there be that for the death of a dogge or their horse are so out of harte and take such thought that they are ready to goe into the grounde they looke so pittiefully Other some are cleane contrarie who though they haue lost their children forgone their friendes or some gentleman deare vnto them yet no sorowfull worde hath commen from
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
had bene in deede written by Homer Aiax that champion stovvte did leade vvith him in charge tvvelue shippes from Salamina soyle vvhich he had left at large and euen those selfe same shippes in battell did he cast and place in order for to fight vvith enmies force at last In that same very place vvhereas it seemed then the captaines vvhich from Athens came imbattelled had their men Howbeit the ATHENIANS selues thinke it was but a tale of pleasure and saye that Solon made it appeare to the iudges that Philaeus and Eurysaces both Aiax sonnes were made free denizens of ATHENS Whereupon they gaue the I le of SALAMINA vnto the ATHENIANS one of them came to dwell in a place called Brauron in the country of ATTICA and the other in a towne called MELITVM And for due proofe thereof they saye there is yet a certen canton or quarter of the countrie of ATTICA which is called the canton of the Philaeides after the name of this Philaeus where Pisistratus was borne And it is sayed moreouer that Solon bicause he would throughly convince the MEGARIANS did alleage that the SALAMINIANS buried not the dead after the MEGARIANS manner but after the ATHENIANS manner For in MEGARA they burie the dead with their faces to the East and in ATHENS their faces are towards the West Yet Hereas the Megarian denieth it saying that the MEGARIANS dyd burie them also with their faces towards the West alleaging moreouer that at ATHENS euerie corse had his owne beere or coffin by it selfe that at MEGARA they dyd put three or foure corses together They saye also there were certaine oracles of Apollo Pythias which dyd greatly helpe Solon by which the god called SALAMINA IONIA Their strife was iudged by fiue Arbitrators all SPARTANS borne that is to saye Critolaidas Amompharetus Hypsechidas Anaxilas Cleomenes Solon vndoutedly wonne great glory honour by this exployte yet was he much more honoured esteemed for the oration he made in defence of the tēple of Apollo in the cittie of DELPHES declaring that it was not meete to be suffered that the CYRRHAEIANS should at their pleasure abuse the sanctuarie of the oracle that they should ayde the DELPHIANS in honour and reuerence of Apollo Whereupon the counsell of the Amphictyons being moued with his words and persuations proclaimed warres against the CYRRHAEIANS as diuers other doe witnesse and specially Aristotle in the storie he wrote of those that wanne the Pythian games where he ascribeth vnto Solon the honour of that determination Neuertheles Hermippus sayeth Solon was not made generall of their armie as Euanthes Samian hath written For AEschines the Orator wrote no such thing of him in the chronicles of the DELPHIANS they finde that one Alcmaeon not Solon was the generall of the ATHENIANS Now the cittie of ATHENS had a long time benevexed and troubled through Cylons heynous offence euer sence the yere that Megacles gouernour of the cittie of ATHENS dyd with fayer words handle so the confederates of the rebellion of Cylon which had taken sanctuarie within the liberties of the temple of Minerua that he persuaded them to be wise and to present them selues before the iudges holding by a threede which they should tye about the base of the image of the goddesse where she stoode bicause they should not lose their libertie But when they were come to the place of the honorable goddesses so called which be the images of the furies comming downe to present them selues before the iudges the threede brake of itself Then Megacles and other officers his cōpanions layed holde on them presently saying that it was a manifest signe that the goddesse Minerua refused to saue thē So those they tooke all they could laye hands of were immediately stoned to death without the cittie-the rest which tooke the altars for refuge were slaine there also And none were saued but such as had made meanes to the gouernours wiues of the citie to intreate for them which from that time forth were euer hated of the people and commonly called the abiects and excommunicates Who being the issues of the rebelles that rose with Cylon chaunced to rise again in credit growing to great authoritie they neuer left quarrelling fighting continually with th'offpring of Megacles These factions were greatest highest in Solons time who being of authoritie seeing the people thus diuided in two par 〈…〉 he stepped in betweene them with the chiefest men of ATHENS did so persuade intreate those whom they called the abiects excōmunicates that they were contented to be iudged So three hundred of the chiefest cittizens were chosen iudges to heare this matter The accuser was Myron Phlyeian This matter was heard and pleaded by sentēce of the iudges the excommunicates were condēned Those that were aliue to perpetuall exile the bones of them that were dead to be digged vp throwen out of the confines of the territorie of ATHENS But whilest the cittie of ATHENS was occupied with these vprores the MEGARIANS wisely caught holde of the occasion deliuered and set vpon the ATHENIANS tooke frō them the hauen of NYSAEA recouered againe out of their handes the I le of SALAMINA Furthermore all the cittie was possessed with a certen superstitious feare for some sayed that sprites were come againe and straunge sightes were seene The prognosticatours also sayed they perceiued by their sacrifices the cittie was defiled with some abhominable wicked things which were of necessitie to be purged and throwen out Hereupon they sent into CRETA for Epimenides Phaestian whom they reckoned the seuenth of the wise men at the least such as will not allowe Periander for one of the number He was a holy and deuoute man and very wise in celestiall things by inspiration from aboue by reason whereof men of his time called him the newe Curetes that is to saye Prophet and he was thought the sonne of a Nymphe called Baltè When he was come to ATHENS and growen in friendshippe with Solon he dyd helpe him much and made his waye for establishing of his lawes For he acquainted the ATHENIANS to make their sacrifices much lighter and of lesse coste brought the cittizēs to be more moderate in their mourning with cutting of certaine seuere and barbarous ceremonies which the most parte of the women obserued in their mourning he ordeined certain sacrifices which he would haue done immediately after the obsequies of the dead But that which exceeded all the rest was that by vsing the cittizēs vnto holines deuotion daylie sacrifices prayers vnto the godds purging of them selues hūble offerings he wanne mens hartes by litle litle to yelde them more cōfirmable to iustice to be more inclined to cōcorde vnity It is reported also that Epimenides whē he saw the hauen of Munychia had long cōsidered of it told those about him that men were very blinde in foreseeing things to
forasmuch as the whole prouince of ATTICA was very drye and had great lacke of water being not full of riuers ronning streames nor lakes nor yet stored with any great nūber of springs insomuch as they are driuen there to vse through the most parte of the countrie water drawen out of welles made with mens handes he made such an order that where there was any well within the space of an Hippicon that euery bodye within that circuite might come and drawe water onely at that well for his vse and necessitie Hippicon is the distaunce of foure furlonges which is halfe a mile those that dwelt further of should goe seeke their water in other places where they would But if they had digged tenne yardes deepe in their grounde and could finde no water in the bottome in this case they might lawfully goe to their next neighbours well and take a pot full of water conteining six gallons twise a daye iudging it great reason that necessitie should be holpen but not that idlenes should be cherished He appointed also the spaces that should be kept obserued by those that would set or plant trees in their ground as being a man very skilfull in these matters For he ordeined that whosoeuer would plante any kynde of trees in his grounde he should set them fiue foote a sonder one from another but for the figge tree and olyue tree specially that they should in any case be nine foote a sonder bicause these two trees doe spread our their branches farre of they cannot stand neere other trees but they must needes hurte them very much For besides that they drawe awaye the same that doth nourishe the other trees they cast also a certaine moisture steame vpon them that is very hurtefull incōmodious More he ordeined that whosoeuer would digge a pytte or hole in his grounde he should digge it as farre of from his neighbours pyt as the pytte he digged was in depth to the bottome And he that would set vp a hiue of bees in his grounde he should set them at the least three hundred foote from other hiues set about him before And of the fruites of the earth he was contented they should transporte and sell only oyle out of the Realme to straungers but no other fruite or graine He ordeined that the gouernour of the cittie should yerely proclaime open curses against those that should doe to the contrarie or els he him selfe making default therein should he fined at a hundred drachmes This ordinaunce is in the first table of Solon lawes and therefore we maye not altogether discredit those which saye they did forbid in the olde time that men should carie figges out of the countrie of ATTICA and that from thence it came that these picke thanckes which bewraye accuse them that transported figges were called Sycophantes He made another lawe also against the hurte that beastes might doe vnto men Wherein he ordeined that if a dogge did bite any man he that ought him should deliuer to him that was bitten his dogge tyed to a logge of timber of foure cubites longe this was a very good deuise to make men safe from dogges But he was very straight in one lawe he made that no straunger might be made denizen and free man of the cittie of ATHENS onles he were a banished man for euer out of his countrie or els that he should come dwell there with all his familie to exercise some crafte or science Notwithstanding they saye he made not this lawe so much to put straungers from there freedome there as to drawe them thither assuring them by this ordinaunce they might come and be free of the cittie and he thought moreouer that both the one the other would be more faithfull to the common weale of ATHENS The one of them for that against their willes they were driuen to forsake their countrie the other sorte for that aduisedly and willingly they were contented to forsake it This also was another of Solons lawes which he ordeined for those that should feast certē dayes at the towne house of the cittie at other mens cost For he would not allow that one man should come often to feasts there And if any man were inuited thither to the feast and dyd refuse to come he dyd set a fine on his head as reprouing the miserable niggardlines of the one and the presumptuous arrogancy of the other to contemne despise common order After he had made his lawes he dyd stablishe them to continewe for the space of one hundred yeres and they were written in tables of wood called Axones which were made more long then broade in the which they were grauen whereof there remaine some monuments yet in our time which are to be seene in the towne hall of the cittie of ATHENS Aristotle sayeth that these tables were called Cyrbes And Cratinus also the Comicall poet sayeth in one place of Solon Dracon that Cyrbes was a vessell or panne wherein they dyd frye millet or hirse Howbeit others saye that Cyrbes properly were the tables which conteined the ordinaunces of the sacrifices and Axones were the other tables that concerned the common weale So all the counsels magistrates together dyd sweare that they would kepe Solons lawes them selues also cause them to be obserued of others throughly particularly Then euery one of the Thesmothetes which were certaine officers attēdaunt on the counsell had speciall charge to see the lawes obserued dyd solēnly sweare in the open market place neere the stone where the proclamations are proclaimed and euery of them both promised vowed openly to keepe the same lawes that if any of them dyd in any one pointe breake the said ordinaunces then they were content that such offender should paye to the temple of Apollo at the cittie of DELPHES an image of fine golde that should waye as much as him self Moreouer Solon seeing the disorder of the moneths the mouing of the moone which followed not the course of the sunne vsed not to rise fall when the sunne doth but oftetimes in one daye it doth both touche passe the sunne he was the first that called the chaunge of the moone Ene caì néa as much to saye as olde and newe moone Allowing that which appeared before the coniunction to be of the moneth past that which shewed it self after the coniunction to be of the moneth following And he was the first also in my opinion that vnderstoode Homer rightly when he sayed then beginneth the moneth when it endeth The day following the chaunge he called Neomenia as much to saye as the newe moneth or the newe moone After the twenty day of the moneth which they called Icada he reckoned not the rest of the moneth as increasing but as in the wane gathered it by seing the light of the moone decreasing vntill the thirtie day Now after his
lawes were come abroade proclaimed there came some daylie vnto him which either praised them or misliked them prayed him either to take awaye or to adde some thing vnto them Many againe came asked him howe he vnderstoode some sentēce of his lawes requested him to declare his meaning how it should be taken Wherefore considering howe it were to no purpose to refuse to doe it and againe howe it would get him much enuie ill will to yelde there unto he determined happen what would to winde him selfe out of these bryars and to flye the gronings complaints and quarrells of his cittizens For he sayeth him selfe Full harde it is all mindes content to haue and specially in matters harde and graue So to conuey him self a while out of the waye he tooke vpon him to be master of a shippe in a certaine voyage and asked licence for tenne yeres of the ATHENIANS to goe beyond sea hoping by that time the ATHENIANS would be very well acquainted with his lawes So went he to the seas the first place of his arriuall was in EGYPT where he remained a while as he him self sayeth Euen there vvhere Nylus vvith his crooked cranckes by Canobe falles into the sea banckes He went to his booke there and dyd conferre a certaine time with Psenophis Heliopolitan and Sonchis Saitan two of the wisest priestes at that time that were in EGYPT whom when he heard rehearse the storie of the Iles ATLANTIDES as Plato writeth he proued to put the same in verse dyd send it abroade through GRECE At his departure out of EGYPT he went into CYPRVS where he had great curtesy friendship of one of the princes of that countrie called Philocyprus who was lorde of a prety litle cittie which Demophon Theseus sonne caused to be built vpon the riuer of Clarie was of a goodly strong situation but in a very leane and barren coūtrie Whereupō Solon tolde him it would doe better a great deale to remoue it out of that place into a very fayer pleasaunt valley that laye vnderneath it and there to make it larger state her then it was which was done according to his persuasiō And Solon self being present at it was made ouerseer of the buildings which he dyd helpe to deuise and order in good sorte aswell in respect of pleasure as for force and defence insomuch as many people came from other places to dwell there And herein many other lordes of the countrie dyd followe th' example of this Philocyprus who to honour Solon called his cittie SOLES which before was called AEPIA Solon in his Elegies maketh mention of this foundation directing his wordes vnto Philocyprus as followeth So graunt the goddes that thou and thine offspring maye clyme to great and passing princely state long time to liue in Soles florishing And that they graunt my shippe and me good gate vvhen I from hence by seas shall take my vvaye that vvith her harpe dame Venus doe vouchesafe to vvaft me still vntill she maye conueye my selfe againe into my countrey safe Since I haue bene the only meane and man vvhich here to build this cittie first beganne And as for the meeting talke betwext him king Croesus I know there are that by distāce of time will proue it but a fable deuised of pleasure but for my parte I will not reiect nor cōndemne so famous an historie receiued approued by so many graue testimonies Moreouer it is very agreable to Solons māners nature also not vnlike to his wisedom magnanimitie although in all pointes it agreeth not with certaine tables which they call Chronicles where they haue busily noted the order and course of times which euen to this daye many haue curiously sought to correct could yet neuer discusse it not accorde all contrarieties manifest repugnaunces in the same Solon at the desire request of o went to see him in the cittie of SARDIS When Solon was come thither he seemed to be in the selfe same taking that a man was once reported to be who being borne bred vp on the mayne lande had neuer seene the sea neither farre not neere did imagine euery riuer that he sawe had bene the sea So Solon passing alongest Croesus palace meeting by the waye many of the lordes of his courte richely apparelled carying great traines of seruing men souldiers about them thought euer that one of them had bene the King vntill he was brought vnto Croesus selfe Who was passing richely arrayed what for precious stones iuells for riche cullered silkes layed on with curious goldsmithes worke all to shewe him self to Solon in most stately sumptuous magnificent manner Who perceiuing by Solons repayre to his presence that he shewed no manner of signe nor countenance of woundring to see so great a state before him neither had geuen out any word neere or likely to that which Croesus looked for in his owne imagination but rather had deliuered speaches for men of iudgement and vnderstanding to know how inwardly he much did mislike Croesus foolish vanitie base minde then Croesus commaunded all his treasuries to be opened where his golde siluer laye next that they should shewe him his riche sumptuous wardroppes although that needed not for to see Croesus self it was enough to discerne his nature condition After he had seene all ouer ouer being brought againe vnto the presence of the King Croesus asked him if euer he had seene any mā more happy than him self was Solon an̄swered him I haue that was one Tellus a cittizen of ATHENS who was a maruelous honest man had left his children behind him in good estimatiō well to liue lastly was most happy at his death by dying honorably in the field in defence of his coūtrie Croesus hearing this aunswer beganne to iudge him a man of litle witte or of grosse vnderstanding bicause he did not thincke that to haue store of gold siluer was the only ioye felicitie of the world that he would preferre the life death of a meane priuate man as more happy than all the riches power of so mightie a king Notwithstanding all this Croesus yet asked him again What other man beside Tellus he had seene happier than him self Solon aunswered him that he had seene Cleobis Biton which were both brethern loued one another singularly well their mother in such sorte that vpon a solemne festiuall daye when she should goe to the tēple of Iuno in her coche drawen with oxen bicause they taried to long ere they could be brought they both willingly yoked them selues by the necks drue their mothers coche in stead of the oxen which maruelously reioyced her and she was thought most happy of all other to haue borne two such sonnes Afterwards when they had done sacrifice to the goddesse
made good cheere at the feast of this sacrifice they went to bed but they rose not againe the next morning for they were found dead without suffering hurte or sorowe after they had receyued so much glorie honour Croesus then could no loÌ„ger bridell in his pacience but breaking out in choller sayed vnto him why doest then recken me than in no degree of happy men Solon would neither flatter him nor further increase his heate but auÌ„swered him thus O King of LYDIANS the godds haue geueÌ„ vs GRECIANS all things in a meane amongest other things chiefly a base popular wisedome not princely nor noble which considering howe mans life is subiect to infinite chaunges doth forbid vs to trust or glorie in these worldly riches For time bringeth daylie misfortunes vnto man which he neuer thought of nor looked for But when the goddes haue continued a mans good fortune to his end then we thinke that man happy and blessed and neuer before Otherwise if we should iudge a man happy that liueth considering he is euer in daunger of chaâ—ge during life we should be much like to him who iudgeth him the victorie before hande that is still a fighting maye be ouercomen hauing no suertie yet to carie it away After Solon had spoken these words he departed from the Kings presence and returned backe againe leauing king Croesus offended but nothing the wiser nor amended Nowe AEsope that wrote the fables being at that time in the cittie of SARDIS sent for thither by the King who entertained him very honorably was very sorie to see that the King had geuen Solon no better entertainement so by waye of aduise he said vnto him O Solon either we must not come to princes at all or els we must seeke to please content them But Solon turning it to the contrary aunswered him either we must not come to princes or we must needes tell them truely counsell them for the best So Croesus made light accompt of Solon at that time But after he had lost the battell against Cyrus and that his cittie was taken him self became prisoner was bounde fast to a gibbet ouer a great stacke of wood to be burnt in the sight of all the PERSIANS of Cyrus his enemie he then cried out as lowde as he could thryse together O Solon Cyrus being abashed sent to aske him whether this Solon he only cried vpon in his extreme miserie was a god or man Croesus kept it not secret from him but sayed he was one of the wise men of GRECE whom I sent for to come vnto me on a certaine time not to learne any thing of him which I stoode in neede of but only that he might witnesse my felicitie which then I dyd enioye the losse whereof is nowe more hurtefull than the enioying of the same was good or profitable But nowe alas to late I know it that the riches I possessed then were but words opinion all which are turned now to my bitter sorowe and to present and remediles calamitie Which the wise GRECIAN considering then and foreseeing a farre of by my doings at that time the instant miserie I suffer nowe gaue me warning I should marke the ende of my life and that I should not to farre presume of my selfe as puffed vp then with vaine glorie of opinion of happines the ground therof being so slippery and of so litle suertie These wordes being reported vnto Cyrus who was wiser than Croesus seeing Solons saying confirmed by so notable an example he dyd not only deliuer Croesus from present perill of death but euer after honoured him so long as he liued Thus had Solon glorie for sauing the honour of one of these Kings the life of the other by his graue wise counsaill But during the time of his absence great seditions rose at ATHENS amongest the inhabitants who had gotten them seuerall heades amongest them as those of the vallie had made Lycurgus their head The coast men Megacles the sonne of Alamaeon And those of the mountaines Pisistratus with whom all artificers craftsmen liuing of their haÌ„die labour were ioyned which were the stowtest against the riche So that notwithstanding the cittie kept Solons lawes and ordinaunces yet was there not that man but gaped for a chaunge and desired to see things in another state either parties hoping their condition would mende by chaunge and that euery of them should be better than their aduersaries The whole common weale broyling thus with troubles Solon arriued at ATHENS where euery maÌ„ did honour and reuerence him howbeit he was no more able to speake alowde in open assembly to the people not to deale in matters as he had done before bicause his age would not suffer him therefore he spake with euery one of the heades of the seuerall factions a parte trying if he could agree and reconcile them together againe Whereunto Pisistratus seemed to be more willing then any of the rest for he was curteous and maruelous fayer spoken and shewed him selfe besides very good and pittiefull to the poore and temperate also to his enemies further if any good quality were lacking in him he dyd so finely counterfeate it that men imagined it was more in him than in those that naturally had it in them in deede As to be a quiet man no medler contented with his owne aspiring no higher and hating those which would attempt to chaunge the present state of the common weale and would practise any innouation By this arte and fine manner of his he deceyued the poore common people Howbeit Solon found him straight and sawe the marke he shot at but yet hated him not at that time and sought still to winne him and bring him to reason saying oftetimes both to him selfe and to others That who so could plucke out of his head the worme of ambition by which he aspired to be the chiefest and could heale him of his greedy desire to rule there could not be a man of more vertue or a better cittizen than he would proue About this time begaÌ„ne Thespis to set out his tragedies which was a thing that much delited the people for the rarenes thereof being not many poets yet in number to striue one against another for victorie as afterwards there were Solon being naturally desirous to heare and learne and by reason of his age seeking to passe his time awaye in sportes in musicke making good cheere more then euer he dyd went one daye to see Thespis who played a parte him selfe as the olde facion of the Poets was and after the playe was ended he called him to him and asked him if he were not ashamed to lye so openly in the face of the worlde Thespis aunswered him that it was not materiall to doe or saye any such things considering all was but in sporte Then Solon beating the grounde with his staffe he
had in his hande but if we commend lying in sporte â— he we shall finde it afterwards in good earnest in all our bargaines dealings Shortely after Pisistratus hauing wounded him self and bloudied all his bodie ouer caused his men to carie him in his coche into the market place where he put the people in an vprote tolde them that they were his enemies that thus traiterously had haÌ„dled arraied him for that he stoode with them about the gouerning of the coÌ„mon weale insomuch as many of theÌ„ were maruelously offended mutined by by crying out it was shamefully done Then Solon drawing neere sayed vnto him O thou sonne of Hippocrates thou doest ill fauoredly couÌ„terfeate the persone of Homers Vlysses for thou hast whipped thy self to deceiue thy cittizeÌ„s as he did teare scratch him self to deceiue his enemies Notwithstanding this the common people were still in vprore being ready to take armes for Pisistratus and there was a generall counsell assembled in the which one Ariston spake that they should graunte fiftie men to cary holberds and mases before Pisistratus for garde of his persone But Solon going vp into the pulpit for orations stowtely inuayed against it and persuaded the people with many reasons like vnto these he wrote afterwards in verse Eche one of you ô men in priuate actes can playe the foxe for slye and subtill craft But vvhen you come vfore in all your factes then are you blinde dull vvitted and bedaft For pleasaunt speache and painted flatterie beguile you still the vvhich you neuer spye But in the ende seeing the poore people dyd tumult still taking Pisistratus parte and that the riche fled here and there he went his waye also saying he had shewed him selfe wiser than some and hardier than other Meaning wiser than those which sawe not Pisistratus reache and fetche and hardier than they which knewe very well he dyd aspire to be King and yet neuertheles durst not resist him The people went on with the motion of Ariston and authorised the same touching the graunte of halbetders limiting no number but suffered him to haue about him and to assemble as many as he would vntill such time as he had gotten possession of the castell Then the cittie was maruelously affrayed and amazed and presently Megacles and all those which were of the house of the Alemeonides dyd flye Solon who for yeares was now at his last cast and had no man to sticke vnto him went notwithstanding into the market place and spake to the cittizens whom he found there and rebuked their beastlines and faynte cowardly hartes and encouraged them not to lose their libertie He spake at that time notably and worthie memorie which euer after was remembred Before sayed he you might more easely haue stayed this present tyrannie but nowe that it is already facioned you shall winne more glorie vtterly to suppresse it But for all his goodly reasons he found no man that would hearken to him they were all so amazed Wherefore he hied him home againe and tooke his weapons out of his house and layed them before his gate in the middest of the streete saying For my parte I haue done what I can possible to helpe and defend the lawes and liberties of my countrie So from that time he betooke him selfe vnto his ease and neuer after delt any more in matters of state or common weale His friends dyd counsell him to flye but all they could not persuade him to it For he kept his house and gaue him selfe to make verses in which he sore reproued the ATHENIANS faults saying If presently your burden heauy be yet murmure not against the godds therefore The fault is yours as you your selues maye see vvhich graunted haue of mightie mars the lore to such as novve by your direction doe holde your necks in this subiection His friends hereupon dyd warne him to beware of such speaches and to take hede what he sayed least if it came vnto the tyrannes eares he might put him to death for it And further they asked him wherein he trusted that he spake so boldly He aunswered them in my age Howbeit Pisistratus after he had obteined his purpose sending for him vpon his worde and faith dyd honour and entertaine him so well that Solon in the ende became one of his counsaill and approued many things which he dyd For Pisistratus him selfe dyd straightly keepe and caused his friends to keepe Solons lawes Insomuch as when he was called by proces into the courte of the Areopagites for a murther euen at that time when he was a tyrante he presented him selfe very modestly to aunswer his accusation and to purge him selfe thereof But his accuser let fall the matter and followed it no further Pisistratus him selfe also dyd make newe lawes as this That he that had bene maymed and made lame of any member in the warres should be mainteined all his life long at the common charges of the cittie The selfe same was before decreed by Thersippus as Heraclides writeth by Solons persuasion who dyd preferre it to the counsell Pisistratus afterwards tooke holde of the motion and from thence forth made it a generall lawe TheophrasÌ„tus sayeth also it was PisisÌ„tratus and not Solon that made the lawe for idlenes which was the only cause that the countrie of ATTICA became more fruitefull being better manured and the cittie of ATHENS waxed more quiet But Solon hauing begonne to write the storie of the Iles ATLANTIDES in verse which he had learned of the wise men of the cittie of SAâ—S in EGYPT and was very necessary for the ATHENIANS grewe wearye and gaue it ouer in mid waye not for any matters or busines that troubled him as Plato sayed but only for his age and bicause he feared the tediousnes of the worke For otherwise he had leysure enough as appeareth by his verses where he sayeth I grovve olde and yet I learne still And in another place where he sayeth Novve Venus yeldes me svvete delights and Bacchus lends me comfort still the muses eke refreshe my sprights and much relieue my vveary vvill These be the pointes of perfect ease vvhich all mens mindes oftetimes doe please Plato afterwards for beawtifying of the storie and fables of the Iles ATLANTIDES was desirous to dilate them out at length as if he would by waye of speache haue broken vp a field or laye lande of his owne or that this gifte had descended to him of right from Solon He beganne to raise vp a stately fronte vnto the same and enclosed it with high walles and large squared courtes at the entrie thereof such was it as neuer any other worke fable or poeticall inuention had euer so notable or the like But bicause he beganne a litle to late he ended his life before his worke leauing the readers more sorowfull for that was left vnwritten than they tooke pleasure in that they founde written For euen as in the cittie of ATHENS the temple of
teache him any thing only to checke his nature or to facion him with good manner and ciuilitie or to studie any matter for pleasure or honest pastime he would slowly and carelesly learne of them But if they deliuered him any matter of wit and things of weight concerning state they sawe he would beate at it maruelously and would vnderstande more then any could of his age and cariage trusting altogether to his naturall mother with This was the cause that being mocked afterwardes by some that had studied humanitie and other liberall sciences he was driuen for reuenge and his owne defence to aunswer with great and stowte wordes saying that in deede he could no skill to tune a harpe nor a violl nor to playe of a psalterion but if they dyd put a cittie into his handes that was of small name weake and litle he knewe wayes enough how to make it noble stronge and great Neuertheles Stesimbrotus writeth how he went to Anaxagoras schoole and that vnder Melissus he studied naturall philosophie But herein he was greatly deceaued for that he tooke no great hede vnto the time For Melissus was captaine of the SAMIANS against Pericles at what time he dyd laye seige vnto the cittie of SAMOS Now this is true Pericles was much younger then Themistocles and Anaxagoras dwelt with Pericles in his owne house Therefore we haue better reason and occasion to beleeue those that write Themistocles dyd determine to followe Mnesiphilus Phreari◠For he was no professed Orator nor naturall philosopher as they termed it in that time but made profession of that which then they called wisedome Which was no other thing but a certen knowledge to handle great causes and an indeuour to haue a good wit and iudgment in matters of state and gouernment which profession beginning in Solon dyd continue and was taken vp from man to man as a secte of philosophie But those that came sithence haue mingled it with arte of speache and by litle and litle haue translated the exercise of deedes vnto bare and curious wordes whereupon they were called Sophisters as who would saye counterfeate wise men Nothwithstanding when Themistocles beganne to medle with the gouernment of the common weale he followed much Mnesiphilus In the first parte of his youth his hehauiour and doings were very light and vnconstant as one caried awaye with a rashe head and without any order or discretion by reason whereof his manners conditions seemed maruelously to chaunge and oftimes fell into very ill fauored euents as him self dyd afterwards confesse by saying that a ragged colte oftimes proues a good horse specially if he be well ridden and broken as he should be Other tales which some will seeme to adde to this are in my opinion but fables As that his father dyd disinherite him and that his mother for very care and sorowe she tooke to see the lewde life of her sonne dyd kill her self For there are that write to the contrary that his father being desirous to take him from dealing in gouernment dyd goe and shewe him all alongest the sea shore the shippewracks and ribbes of olde gallyes cast here and there whereof no reckoning was made and sayed to him thus the people vse their gouernours when they can serue no lenger Howsoeuer it was it is most true that Themistocles earnestly gaue himself to state and was sodainely taken with desire of glorie For euen at his first entrie bicause he would set foote before the prowdest he stoode at pyke against the greatest and mightiest persones that bare the swaye and gouernment and specially against Aristides Lysimachus sonne who euer encountered him and was still his aduersarie opposite Yet it seemeth the euil will he conceyued toward him came of a very light cause For they both loued Stesilaus that was borne in the cittie of TEOS as Ariston the philosopher writeth And after this iealousie was kindled betweene them they allwayes tooke contrary parte once against another not only in their priuate likings but also in the gouernment of the cōmon weale Yet I am persuaded that the difference of their manners conditions did much encrease the grudge and discorde betwext them For Aristides being by nature a very good man a iust dealer honest of life and one that in all his doings would neuer flatter the people nor serue his owne glorie but rather to the contrary would doe would saye counsaill allwayes for the most benefit cōmoditie of the commō weale was oftentimes enforced to resist Themistocles disapoint his ambition being euer busilie mouing the people to take some new matter in hande For they reporte of him that he was so inslamed with desire of glorie to enterprise great matters that being but a very yoōg man at the battell of Marathon where there was no talke but of the worthines of captaine Miltiades that had wonne the battell he was found many times solitarilie there alone deuising with him self besides they saye he could then take no rest in the night neither would goe to playes in the daye time nor would keepe companie with those whom he was accustomed to be familiar withall before Furthermore he would tell them that woūdred to see him so in his muses and chaunged and asked him what he ayled that Miltiades victorie would not let him sleepe bicause other thought this ouerthrow at MARATHON would haue made an end of all warres Howbeit Themistocles was of a contrary opinion and that it was but a beginning of greater troubles Therefore he daylie studied howe to preuent them and how to see to the safetie of GREECE before occasion offered he did exercise his cittie in seats of warre foreseeing what should followe after Wherefore where the cittizēs of ATHENS before dyd vse to deuide among them selues the reuenue of their mines of siluer which were in a parte of ATTICA called LAVRION he alone was the first that durst speake to the people persuade them that from thenceforth they should cease that distribution among them selues employe the money of the same in making of gallyes to make warres against the AEGINETES For their warres of all GREECE were most cruell bicause they were lords of the sea had so great a nūber of shippes This persuasion drue the citizens more easely to Themistocles minde than the threatning them with king Darius or the Persians would haue done who were farre from them not feared that they would come neere vnto them So this oportunitie taken of the hatred iealousie betwene the ATHENIANS the AEGINETES made the people to agree of the said money to make an hundred gallyes with which they fought against king Xerxes did ouercome him by sea Now after this good beginning successe he wanne the cittizēs by degrees to bende their force to sea declaring vnto them howe by lande they were scant able to make heade against their equalles whereas by their
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
the people of Themistocles which kept watche perceyuing them ranne vpon them and tooke them So Themistocles hauing escaped this daunger wondred greately at the fauour of the goddesse which had appeared vnto him In recompence whereof when he was in the cittie of MAGNESIA he built a temple vnto Dindymena and made his daughter Mnesiptolema prioresse of the same As he passed by the cittie of SARDIS for his recreation he went to visite the temples and offerings that had bene geuen there So he sawe an image of a mayden in copper in the temple of the mother of the goddes being two yeardes highe which they called the Hydrophora as much to saye as the water carier And it was a statue which him selfe had heretofore dedicated and caused to be made with the fines of those that had payed forfeytures for stealing or turning away the water course at ATHENS at suche time as he was master surueyer of the water workes and conduites there Wherfore whether Themistocles was sory to see this goodly image a prisoner in the handes of the Barbarous people or that he would showe vnto the ATHENIANS the greatnes of his credit and authoritie through all the Kings dominions he spake to the gouernour of LYDIA prayed him for his sake that he would send this image againe to ATHENS But this Barbarous gouernour was very angry with his request and tolde him he would aduertise the King thereof Then Themistocles beganne to be afeard was driuen to seeke to the gouernours women and concubines whom he got for money to intreate him and so made fayre weather againe with the gouernour But from thenceforth he tooke better garde of him selfe in all his doings greatly fearing the enuy of the Barbarous people For he progressed not vp and downe ASIA as Theopompus writeth but laye a long time in the cittie of MAGNESIA quietly enjoying the Kings gratious giftes bestowed on him where he was honoured reuerenced for one of the greatest persones of PERSIA whilest the King was els where occupied in the affayres of the highe prouinces of ASIA and had no leysure to thincke vpon those of GRECE But when newes was brought him that AEGYPT was rebelled by meanes of the fauour assistance of the ATHENIANS that the GRECIANS gallyes dyd scowre the seas euen vnto the I le of CYPRVS vnto the coastes of CILICIA that Cimon had all the sea in subiection that made him then to bende all his thoughts howe to resist the GRECIANS that their greatnes might not turne to his hurte Then commissions went out to leauy men to assemble captaines to dispatche postes vnto Themistocles at MAGNESIA with the Kings letters straightly charging him to haue an eye to the GRECIANS doings and moreouer that he should faithfully keepe his promise he had made to him But he to shewe that he neither maliced his citizens nor was moued with the desire of greatnes and authoritie he might haue growen vnto in those warres or els for that he thought the Kings expectation would proue to a greater matter then he could ende or wade through considering GRECE was full at that time of famous captaines and that Cimon amongest the rest had maruelous good fortune and that it should be a reproche to him to stayne the glorie of so many noble actes so many triumphes and so great victories as Cimon had done and wonne he tooke a wise resolution with him self to make suche an ende of his life as the same thereof deserued For he made a solemne sacrifice vnto the goddes and feasted at the same all his friends And after he had taken his leaue of them all he drancke bulles bloude as most men thincke or as other saye poyson which dispatcheth a man in foure and twenty howers and so ended his dayes in the cittie of MAGNESIA after he had liued threescore and fiue yeres and the most parte of them allwayes in office and great charge It is written that the king of PERSIA vnderstanding the cause and manner of his deathe dyd more esteeme him afterwards then he dyd before and that euer after he continued to vse his friends and familliars in very good sorte For he left children behinde him which he had of Archippa Lysanders daughter of the towne of ALOPECIA Archeptolis Polyeuctus and Cleophantus of whom Plato the philosopher maketh mētion saying that he was a good man at armes but otherwise that there was no goodnes in him His other sonnes that were elder as Neocles dyed being bitten with a horse and as for Diocles another sonne his grandfather Lysander dyd adopt him for his sonne He had many daughters of the which Mnesiptolema which he had by a seconde wife was maried vnto her halfe brother Archeptolis for they were not both of one venter An other called Italia was maried vnto one Panthides of CHIO Sybaris vnto Nicomedes an ATHENIAN And Nicomacha vnto Pharsicles Themistocles nephue vnto whom her brethern dyd mary her within the cittie of MAGNESIA after the death of their father This Pharsicles dyd bring vp ASIA which was the youngest of all his daughters Furthermore his sumptuous tumbe standeth yet in the market place of MAGNESIA But that Andocides writeth of his bones in a booke he made to his friendes is not to be credited which was that the ATHENIANS hauing founde the ashes of his bones dyd cast them vp into the ayer as a deuise to sturre vp the noble men against the people And Phylarchus in his historie much like vnto the fayned subtilties of a tragedie bringeth in I can not tell what Neocles and Demopolis for Themistocles sonnes to moue the readers with compassion Howbeit no man is so simple but will iudge it straight a very fayning and deuise Diodorus the cosmographer also in a booke he hath written of tumbes and monuments sayeth by coniecture rather then of any certen knowledge that alongest the hauen of PIROEA coming towardes the head of Alcimus there is a forelande in forme of an elbowe within the which when they haue doubled the pointe the sea is allwayes calme and there they finde a great and long foundation or base vpon the which there is as it were the forme of an altar and that is sayeth he Themistocles tumbe And he supposeth that Plato the comicall poet doth witnesse it in these verses Thy graue is set and plast comodiously vvhere passengers and marchants that come by maye visite thee and vvhere it maye regarde all such as seeke that porte to be their vvarde Somtimes also it maye reioyce to see the bloudy fights vpon the sea that be And furthermore those of MAGNESIA dyd institute certen honours vnto the issue of Themistocles which continew yet vnto this daye And in my time another Themistocles also of ATHENS dyd enjoy the same honours with whom I was familliarly conuersante in the house of Ammonius the philosopher The ende of Themistocles life THE LIFE OF Furius Camillus AMONGEST many great matters which
a certen booke he wrote of the soule that there was newes come from the West parte that an armie which came from the HYPERBORIANS had taken a cittie of GRECE called ROME situated in that country neere the great sea But I wonder not that Heraclides who hath written so many other fables lyes dyd amplifie the true newes of the taking of ROME with adding to of his owne deuise of the HYPERBORIANS by the great sea It is a most true tale that Aristotle the philosopher had certain knowledge it was taken by the GAVLES howbeit he sayeth also it was recouered againe afterwards by one called Lucius where in deede it was by Marcus Camillus not by Lucius But all this in manner is spoken by cōiecture Moreouer Brennus being entred ROME dyd appointe parte of his souldiers to besiege those which were gotten into moūt Capitoll And he with the residue of his armie marched on towards the market place where when he saw the aunciēt Senatours set so grauely in their chayers spake neuer a word nor offered once to rise though they saw their enemies come armed towards them neither chaunged coūtenance nor culler at all but leaned softely on their staues they had in their hands seeming to be nothing affrayed nor abashed but looked one vpon another he maruelously wondred at it This their so straunge manner at the first dyd so dampe the GAVLES that for a space they stoode still and were in doubt to come neere to touche them fearing least they had bene some goddes vntill suche time as one of them went boldely vnto Marcus Papyrius layed his hand fayer softely vpon his lōg bearde But Papyrius gaue him such a rappe on his pate with his staffe that he made the bloud ronne about his eares This barbarous beaste was in such a rage with the blowe that he drue out his sworde and slewe him The other souldiers also killed all the rest afterwardes and so the GAVLES continued many dayes spoyling and sacking all thinges they founde in the houses and in the ende dyd set them all a fyer and destroyed them euery one for despite of those that kept the forte of the Capitoll that would not yeld vpon their summons but valliantly repulsed them when they scaled the walles For this cause they rased the whole cittie and put all to the sworde that came in their handes young and olde man woman and childe Nowe this siege continuing long and the ROMAINES holding them out very stowtely vittells beganne to growe scante in the campe of the GAVLES in so much as they were driuen of force to seeke it abroade without the cittie Hereupon they deuided them selues whereof some remained still with the King at the siege of the Capitoll and the rest went a forraging and spoyling all the champion countrie and villages thereaboutes scattered as it were by bandes companies some here some there fearing nothing nor passing vpon watch or warde they liued in suche securitie of their victorie Howbeit the greatest company amongest them went by fortune towardes the cittie of ARDEA where Camillus dwelt liuing like a priuate man medling with no matters of state from the time of his exile vntill that present time But then he beganne not to bethinke him self as a man that was in safety and might haue escaped the handes of his enemies but rather sought to deuise and finde out all the meanes he could to subdewe them if occasion were so offered Whereupon considering that the inhabitants of ARDEA where enough in number to set vpon them although saynte harted and cowardly by reason of the slouth and negligence of their gouernours and captaines who had no manner of experience in the warres he beganne to cast out these words among the young men That they should not thinke the ROMAINES misfortune fell vpon them through the valliantnes of the GAVLES nor that their calamitie who had refused good counsaill had happened vnto them by any worke or acte of the GAVLES hauing done nothing for their parte to make them carie awaye the victorie but that they should thinke it was no other thing but fortune alone that would needes shewe her power Therefore that it were nowe a notable and honorable enterprise although somewhat daungerous to driue these straungers and barbarous people out of their countrie considering that the only ende of their victorie was but to destroye and consume as fire all that fell into their hands Wherefore if they would but only take a good lusty harte and corage vnto them he would with opportunitie and place assure them the victorie without any daunger The young men were pleased with these words of life comforte Whereupon Camillus went to breake the matter also vnto the magistrates counsellours and hauing drawen them by persuasion vnto this enterprise he armed all that were of age to carie armor would not suffer a man to goe out of the cittie for feare least the enemies which were not farre of should haue intelligēce of the same Now after the GAVLES had rōne ouer all the chāpion countrie were loden with all sorts of spoyles they did encāpe them selues negligētly in open fields neuer charged watch nor warde but hauing their full cariage of wine layed them down to slepe made no noyse at all in their cāpe Camillus being aduertised therof by his seuerall skowtes caused the ARDEANS with as litle noyse as might be forthwith to goe out into the fields hauing marched somwhat roūdly the distance betwene the cittie the cāpe of the GAVLES they came thither much about midnight Then he made his soldiers make great showtes cries the trūpets to besoūded on euery side to put a feare in their enemies who yet with all the lowde noyse they made could hardly be made to wake they were so deadly drōke Yet there were some notwithstāding that for feare to be takē tardy dyd bustle vp at this sodaine noyse coming to them selues fell to their weapons to resist Camillus which were slayne by and by The rest the greatest number of them laye here there scattered in the middest of the field without any weapon dead a sleepe starcke droncke with wine were put to the sworde neuer strake stroke Those that fled out of the campe that night which were but fewe in number were ouerthrowen also the next daye by the horse men which followed killed them as they tooke them straggling here there in the fieldes The brute of this victorie was blowen abroade incontinently through all the townes and villages thereabouts which caused many young men to come ioyne them selues to Camillus but specially the ROMAINES desired the same that had saued thē selues in the cittie of VEIES after the battell lost at ALLIA who made their mones amongest them selues there saying O goddes what a captaine hath fortune taken from the cittie of ROME What honour hath the cittie of ARDEA by
yet but a young man and was ruled altogether by Cleandrides counsell and direction whom the Ephores had placed about him to counsell direct him he sought priuilie to corrupt Cleandrides When he had wonne him sone with his money he persuaded him to drawe backe the PELOPONNESIANS out of their countrie of ATTICA and so he dyd But when the LACEDAEMONIANS sawe their armie cassed that the people were gone their waye euery man to his owne cittie or towne they were so mad at it that the King was condemned in a great some The King being vnable to aunswer his fine which was so extreme great he was driuen to absent him self from LACEDAEMON Cleandrides on the other side if he had not fled in time euen for spight had bene condemned to death This Cleandrides was Gylippus father that afterwards ouercame the ATHENIANS in SICILIA in whom it seemed nature bred couetousnes as a disease inheritable by succession from father to the sonne For he being shamefully conuicted also for certen vile partes he had played was likewise banished from SPARTA as we haue more amply declared in the life of Lysander And Pericles deliuering vp the accoÌ„pt of his charge and setting downe an article of the expense of renne talentes he had employed or should employe in needefull causes the people allowed them him neuer asking question how nor which waye nor whether it was true that they were bestowed Now there are certen writers amoÌ„g whom the philosopher Theophrastus is one who write that Pericles sent yerely vnto SPARTA tenne taleÌ„ts with the which he entertained those that were in authoritie there bicause they should make no warres with them not to buye peace of them but time that he might in the meane season with better commoditie and that leysure prouide to mainteine the warres After that as the armie of the PELOPONNESIANS were out of the countrie of ATTICA he returned again against the rebels passed into the I le of EVBOEA with fiftie sayle c fiue thousand footemen well armed there he ouercame all the citties that had taken armes against him and draue away the Hyppobates who were the most famous men of all the CHALCIDIANS aswell for their riches as for their valliantnes He draue awaye also all the HESTIAEIANS whom he chased cleane out of all the countrie and placed in their cittie only the citizens of ATHENS And the cause why he delt so rigorously with them was bicause they hauing taken a galley of the ATHENIANS prisoner had put all the men to death that were in her And peace being concluded afterwards betwene the ATHENIANS and LACEDAEMONIANS for thirtie yeres he proclaimed open warres against those of the I le of SAMOS burdening them that they being coÌ„maunded by the ATHENIANS to pacifie the quarrells which they had against the MILLESIANS they would not obaye But bicause some hold opinion that he tooke vpon him this warre against SAMOS for the loue of Aspasia it shall be no great digression of our storie to tell you by the waye what manner of woman she was what a maruelous gifte and power she had that she could entangle with her loue the chiefest rulers and gouernours at that time of the common weale and that the philosophers them selues dyd so largely speake write of her First of all it is certaine that she was borne in the cittie of MILETVM and was the daughter of one Axiochus she following the steppes and example of an olde curtisan of IONIA called Thargelia gaue her selfe only to entertaine the greatest persones chiefest rulers in her time For this Thargelia being passing fayer and carying a comely grace with her hauing a sharpe wit and pleasaunt tongue she had the acquaintaunce and friendshippe of the greatest persones of all GRECE and wanne all those that dyd haunte her company to be at the king of Persiaes commaundement So that she sowed through all the citties of GRECE great beginnings of the faction of the MEDES for they were the greatest men of power authoritie of euerie cittie that were acquainted with her But as for Aspasia some saye that Pericles resorted vnto her bicause she was a wise woman and had great vnderstanding in matters of state and gouernment For Socrates him selfe went to see her somtimes with his friends and those that vsed her company also brought their wiues many times with them to heare her talke though her traine about her were to entertaine such as would warme them by their fire AEschines writeth that Lysicles a grasier being before but a meane man and of a clubbishe nature came to be the chief man of ATHENS by frequenting the companie of Aspasia after the death of Pericles And in Platoes booke intituled Menexenus although the beginning of it be but pleasauntly written yet in that this storie is written truely that this Aspasia was repaired vnto by diuers of the ATHENIANS to learne the arte of rethorike of her Yet notwithstanding it seemeth most likely that the affection Pericles dyd beare her grewe rather of loue then of any other cause For he was maried vnto a kinsewoman of his owne and that before was Hipponicus wife by whom she had Callias surnamed the riche had afterwards by Pericles Xantippus and Paralus But not liking her companie he gaue her with her owne good will and consent vnto another and maried Aspasia whom he dearely loued For euer when he went abroad came home againe he saluted her with a kisse Whereupon in the auncient comedies she is called in many places the newe Omphale and somtimes Deianira and somtimes Iuno But Cratinus plainely calleth her whore in these verses His Iuno she him brought Aspasia by name vvhich vvas in deede an open vvhore and past all 〈…〉 of shame And it seemeth that he had a bastard for Eupotu in a comedie of his called Demosâ— bringeth him in asking Pyronides thus I praye thee is my bastard sonne yet alive And then Pyramides aunswered him A perfect man long sence he surely had bene founde if that this levvde and a naughty vvhore his vertue had not drovvnâ—e To conclude this Aspasia was so famous that Cyrus he that sought against king Artaxerxes his brother for the empire of PERSIA called Aspasia his best beloued of all his concubines which before was called Milto and was borne in PROCIDES being Hermotineus daughter And Cyrus being slayne in the field Aspasia was caried to the King his brother with whom afterwardes she was in great fauour As I was writing this life this storie came in my minde and me thought I should haue delt hardly if I should haue left it vnwritten But to our matter againe Pericles was charged that he made warres against the SAMIANS on the behalfe of the MILESIANS at the request of Aspasia for these two citties were at warres together for the cittie of Pâ—Iâ—NA but the SAMIANS were the stronger Now the ATHENIANS commaunded them
to laye a side their armes and to come and pleade their matter before them that the right might be decided but they refused it vtterly Wherefore Pericles went thither tooke awaye the gouernment of the small number of Nobilitie taking for ostages fiftie of the chiefest men of the cittie and so many children besides which he left to be kept in the I le of LEMNOS Some saye euery one of these ostages offered to geue him a talent and besides those many other offered him the like suche as would not haue the soueraine authoritie put into the handes of the people Moreouer Pissuthnes the PERSIAN lieutenant to the king of PERSIA for the good will he bare those of SAMOS dyd send Pericles tenne thousand crownes to release the ostages But Pericles neuer tooke pennie and hauing done that he determined at SAMOS and established a popular gouernment he returned againe to ATHENS Notwithstanding the SAMIANS rebelled immediatly after hauing recouered their ostages againe by meanes of this Pissuthnes that stale them awaye and dyd furnishe them also with all their munition of warre Whereupon Pericles returning against them once more he founde them not idle nor amazed at his coming but resolutely determined to receyue him and to fight for the seigniorie by sea So there was a great battell fought betwene them neere the I le of TRACIA And Pericles wanne the battell hauing with foure and fortie sayle only nobly ouercome his enemies which were three score tenne in number wherof twenty of them were shippes of warre And so following his victorie forthwith he wanne also the porte of SAMOS and kept the SAMIANS besieged within their owne cittie where they were yet so bolde as they would make falies out many times and fight before the walles of the cittie But when there arriued a newe supplie of shippes bringing a greater ayde vnto Pericles then were they shut vp of all sides Pericles then taking three score gallyes with him lanched out into the sea with intent as some saye to goe mete certen shippes of the PHOENICIANS that came to ayde the SAMIANS as farre from SAMOS as he could or as Stesimbrotus sayeth to goe into CYPRVS which me thinketh is not true But whatsoeuer was his intent he committed a foule fault For Melissus the sonne of Ithagenes a great philosopher being at that time generall of the SAMIANS perceyuing that sewe shippes were left behinde at the siege of the cittie and that the captaines also that had the charge of them were no very expert men of warre persuaded his citizens to make a salye vpon them Whereupon they fought a battell and the SAMIANS ouercame the ATHENIANS were taken prisoners and they suncke many of their shippes Nowe they being lordes againe of the sea dyd furnishe their cittie with all manner of munition for warres whereof before they had great want Yet Aristotle writeth that Pericles selfe was once ouercome in a battell by sea by Melissus Furthermore the SAMIANS to be euen with the ATHENIANS for the iniurie they had receyued of them before dyd brande them in the forehead with the stampe of an owle the owle being then the stampe of their coyne at ATHENS euen as the ATHENIANS had branded the SAMIAN prisoners before with the stāpe of Samaena This Samaena is a kynde of a shippe amongest the SAMIANS lowe afore and well layed out in the midde shippe so that it is excellent good to rise with the waues of the sea and is very swifte vnder sayle and it was so called bicause the first shippe that was made of this facion was made in the I le of SAMOS by the tyranne Polycrates It is sayed that the poet Aristophanes couertly conueying the stampe of the SAMIANS speaking merylie in a place of his comedies sayeth The Samians are great learned men Pericles being aduertised of the ouerthrowe of his armie returned presently to the rescue Melissus went to mete him and gaue him battell but he was ouerthrowen and driuen backe into his cittie where Pericles walled them in round about the cittie desiring victorie rather by time and charge then by daunger and losse of his souldiers But when he sawe that they were wearie with tract of time and that they would bring it to hazard of battell and that he could by no meanes withholde them he then deuided his armie into eight companies whom he made to drawe lots and that companie that lighted on the white beane they should be quiet make good cheere while the other seuen fought And they saye that from thence it came that when any haue made good cheere taken pleasure abroade they doe yet call it a white daye bicause of the white beane Ephorus the historiographer writeth that it was there where first of all they beganne to vse engines of warre to plucke down great walles and that Pericles vsed first this wonderfull inuention that Artemon an enginer was the first deuiser of them He was caried vp and downe in a chayer to set forward these workes bicause he had a lam◠legge and for this cause he was called Periphoretos But Heraclides Ponticus confuteth Ephorus therein by the verses of Anacreon in the which Artemon is called Periphoretos many yeres before this warre of SAMOS beganne sayeth that this Periphoretos was a maruelous tender man and so foolishly afeard of his owne shadowe that the most parte of his time he sturred not out of his house dyd sit allwayes hauing two of his men by him that held a copper target ouer his head for feare least any thing should fall vpon him And if vpon any occasion he were driuen to goe abroade out of his house he would be caried in a litle bed hanging neere the grounde for this cause he was surnamed Periphoretos At the last at nine moneths ende the SAMIANS were compelled to yeld So Pericles tooke the cittie rased their walles to the grounde he brought their shippes awaye and made them paye a maruelous great tribute whereof parte he receyued in hande the rest payable at a certen time taking ostages with him for assurance of payment But Duris the SAMIAN dilateth these matters maruelous pittiefully burdening the ATHENIANS and Pericles self with vnnaturall crueltie whereof neither Thucydides nor Ephorus nor Aristotle him selfe maketh mention And suer I cannot beleeue it is true that is writtē That he brought the captaines of the gallyes the souldiers them selues of SAMIA into the market place of the cittie of MILETVM where he made them to be bound fast vnto bordes for the space of tenne dayes at the ende of the same the poore men halfe dead were beaten downe with clubbes and their heads passhed in peces and afterwards they threw out their bodies to the crowes would not burie them So Duris being accustomed to ouerreach to lye many times in things nothing touching him seemeth in this place out of all reason to aggrauate
the calamities of his countrie only to accuse the ATHENIANS and to make them odious to the world Pericles hauing woÌ„ne the cittie of SAMOS he returned againe to ATHENS where he dyd honorably burie the bones of his slaine citizens in this warre and him self according to their manner custome made the funerall orations for the which he was maruelously esteemed In suche sorte that after he came downe from the pulpit where he made his oration the ladies gentlewomen of the cittie came to salute him brought him garlaÌ„ds to put vpon his head as they doe to noble coÌ„querers when they returne from games where they haue wonne the price But Elpinieé coming to him sayed Surely Pericles thy good seruice done deserueth garlands of triumphe for thou hast lost vs many a good and valliant citizen not fighting with the MEDES the PHOENICIANS and with the barbarous people as my brother Cimon dyd but for destroying a cittie of our owne nation and â—ynâ—ed Pericles to these wordes softely aunswered Elpinice with Archilocus verse smyling VVhen thou art olde painte not thy selfe But Ion writeth that he greatly gloried and stoode muche in his owne conceipt after he had subdued the SAMIANS saying Agamemnon was tenne yeres taking of a cittie of the barbarous people and he in nine moneths only had wonne the strongest cittie of the whole nation of IONIA In deede he had good cause to glorie in his victorie for truely if Thucydides reporte be true his conquest was no lesse doubtfull then he founde it daungerous For the SAMIANS had almost bene lordes of the sea and taken the seigniorie thereof from the ATHENIANS After this the warres of PELOPONNESVS being whotte againe the CORINTHIANS inuading thilanders of CORPHV Pericles dyd persuade the ATHENIANS to send ayde vnto the CORPHIANS and to ioyne in league with that Iland which was of great power by sea saying that the PELOPONNESIANS before it were long would haue warre with them The ATHENIANS consented to his motion to ayde those of CORPHV Whereupon they sent thither Lacedaemonius Cimons sonne with tenne gallyes only for a mockery for all Cimons familie and friendes were wholy at the LACEDAEMONIANS deuotion Therefore dyd Pericles cause Lacedaemonius to haue so fewe shippes deliuered him and further sent him thither against his will to the ende that if he dyd no notable exploite in this seruice that they might then the more iustly suspect his goodwill to the LACEDAEMONIANS Moreouer whilest he liued he dyd euer what he could to keepe Cimons children backe from rysing bicause that by their names they were no naturall borne ATHENIANS but straungers For the one was called Lacedaemonius the other Thessalus and the third Elius and the mother to all them three was an ARCADIAN woman borne But Pericles being blamed for that he sent but renne gallyes only which was but a sleÌ„der ayde for those that had requested them and a great matter to them that spake ill of him he sent thither afterwardes a great number of other gallyes which came when the battell was fought But the CORINTHIANS were maruelous angrie and went complained to the counsell of the LACEDAEMONIANS where they layed open many grieuous complaints and accusations against the ATHENIANS and so dyd the MEGARIANS also alledging that the ATHENIANS had forbidden them their hauens their staples and all trafficke of marchaundise in the territories vnder their obedience which was directly against the common lawes and articles of peace agreed vpon by othe among all the GRECIANS Moreouer the AEGINETES finding them selues very ill and cruelly handled dyd send secretly to make their moue complaintes to the LACEDAEMONIANS being afeard openly to complaine of the ATHENIANS While these things were a doing the cittie of POTIDAEA subiect at that time vnto the ATHENIANS and was built in olde time by the CORINTHIANS dyd rebell and was besieged by the ATHENIANS which dyd hasten on the warres Notwithstanding this ambassadours were first sent vnto ATHENS vpon these complaints Archidamus king of the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd all that he could to pacifie the most parte of these quarrells and complaints intreating their friendes and allies So as the ATHENIANS had had no warres at all for any other matters wherewith they were burdened if they would haue graunted to haue reuoked the decree they had made against the MEGARIANS Whereupon Pericles that aboue all other stood most against the reuocation of that decree that dyd sturre vp the people made theÌ„ to stand to that they had once decreed ordered against the MEGARIANS was thought the only original cause author of the PELOPONNESIAN warres For it is sayed that the LACEDAEMONIANS sent ambassadours vnto ATHENS for that matter only And when Pericles alledged a lawe that dyd forbid them to take away the table whereupon before time had bene written any coÌ„mon law or edict Polyarces one of the LACEDAEMON Ambassadours sayed vnto him Well said he take it not awaye then but turne the table onely your lawe I am suer forbiddeth not that This was pleasauntly spoken of the ambassadour but Pericles could neuer be brought to it for all that And therefore it seemeth he had some secret occasion of grudge against the MEGARIANS yet as one that would finely conuey it vnder the coÌ„moÌ„ cause cloke he tooke froÌ„ them the holy laÌ„ds they were breaking vp For to bring this to passe he made an order that they should send an herauld to summone the MEGARIANS to let the land alone that the same herauld should goe also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS to accuse the MEGARIANS vnto theÌ„ It is true that this ordinance was made by Pericles meanes as also it was most iust reasonable but it fortuned so that the messenger they sent thither dyed and not without suspition that the MEGARIANS made him awaye Wherefore Charinus made a lawe presently against the MEGARIANS that they should be proclaimed mortall enemies to the ATHENIANS for euer without any hope of after reconciliation And also if any MEGARIAN should once put his foote within the territories of ATTICA that he should suffer the paynes of death And moreouer that their captaines taking yerely their ordinary othe should sweare among other articles that twise in the yere they should goe with their power and destroy some parte of the MEGARIANS lande And lastly that the heraulde Anthemocritus should be buried by the place called then the gates Thriasienes and nowe called Dipylon But the MEGARIANS stowtely denying that they were any cause of the death of this Anthemocritus dyd altogether burden Aspasia and Pericles with the same alledging for proofe thereof Aristophanes verses the Poet in his comedie he intituled the Acharnes which are so common as euery boye hath them at his tongues ende The young men of our lande to dronken bybbing bent ranne out one daye vnrulily and tovvards Megara vvent From vvhence in their outrage by force they tooke avvaye Simatha noble curtisan as she dyd sporte and
playe VVherevvith enraged all vvith pepper in the nose the provvde Megarians came to vs as to their mortall foes And tooke by stelthe avvaye of harlots eke a payer attending on Aspasia vvhich vvere both young and fayer But in very deede to tell the originall cause of this warre and to deliuer the trothe thereof it is very harde But all the historiographers together agree that Pericles was the chiefest author of the warre bicause the decree made against the MEGARIANS was not reuoked backe againe Yet some holde opinion that Pericles dyd it of a noble minde and iudgement to be constant in that he thought most expedient For he iudged that this commaundement of the LACEDAEMONIANS was but a triall to proue if the ATHENIANS would graunte them and if they yelded to them in that then they manifestly shewed that they were the weaker Other contrarilie saye that it was done of a selfe will and arrogancie to shewe his authoritie and power and howe he dyd despise the LACEDAEMONIANS But the shrowdest profe of all that bringeth best authoritie with it is reported after this sorte Phidias the image maker as we haue tolde you before had vndertaken to make the image of Pallas and being Pericles friende was in great estimation about him But that procured him many ill willers Then they being desirous to heare by him what the people would iudge of Pericles they intised Menon one of the worke men that wrought vnder Phidias and made him come into the market place to praye assurance of the people that he might openly accuse Phidias for a faulte he had committed about Pallas image The people receyued his obedience and his accusation was heard opeÌ„ly in the market place but no mention was made of any theft at all bicause that Phidias through Pericles counsell deuise had from the beginning so layed on the gold vpon the image that it might be taken of wayed euery whitte WhereupoÌ„ Pericles openly sayed vnto his accusers take of the golde way it The glorie of his works dyd purchase him this enuie For he hauing graueÌ„ vpon the scutchioÌ„ of the goddesse the battel of the AMAZONES had cut out the portraiture of him self maruelous liuely vnder the persone of an olde balde man lifting vp a great stone with both his handes Further he had cut out Pericles image excelleÌ„tly wrought artificially seeming in maÌ„ner to be Pericles self fighting with an AMAZON in this sorte The AMAZONES haÌ„d being lifte vp highe holdeth a darte before Pericles face so passing cunningly wrought as it seemed to shadowe the likenes resemblaunce of Pericles and yet notwithstanding appeareth plainely to be Pericles self on either side of the portraiture So Phidias was clapt vp in prisone there dyed of a sicknes or els of poyson as some saye which his enemies had prepared for him all to bring Pericles into further suspition to geue them the more cause to accuse him But howsoeuer it was the people gaue Menon his freedome set him free for paymeÌ„t of all subsidies following the order Glycon made and gaue the captaines charge they should see him safely kept and that he tooke no hurte And about the same time also Aspasia was accused that she dyd not beleeue in the goddess and her accuser was Hermippus maker of the comedies He burdened her further that she was a hawde to Pericles and receyued citizens wiues into her house which Pericles kept And Diopithes at the same time made a decree that they should make searche and enquirie for heretickes that dyd not beleeue in the goddes and that taught certaine newe doctrine and opinion touching the operations of things aboue in the element turning the suspition vpon Pericles bicause of Anaxagoras The people dyd receyue and confirme this inquisition and it was moued also then by Dracontides that Pericles should deliuer an accompt of the money he had spent vnto the handes of the Prytanes who were treasorers of the common fines and reuenues and that the iudges deputed to geue iudgement should geue sentence within the cittie vpon the altar But Agnon put that worde out of the decree and placed in stead thereof that the cause should be iudged by the fifteene hundred iudges as they thought good if any man brought this action for thefte for batterie or for iniustice As for Aspasia he saued her euen for the verie pittie and compassion the iudges tooke of him for the teares he shed in making his humble sute for her all the time he pleaded her case as AEschines writeth But for Anaxagoras fearing that he could not doe so muche for him he sent him out of the cittie and himselfe dyd accompany him And furthermore seeing he had incurred the ill will of the people for Phidias facte and for this cause fearing the issue of the iudgement he set the warres a fyre againe that allwayes went backeward and dyd but smoke a litle hoping by this meanes to weare out the accusations against him and to roote out the malice some dyd beare him For the people hauing waightie matters in hande and very daungerous also he knewe they would put all into his handes alone he hauing wonne already suche great authoritie and reputation among them And these be the causes why he would not as it is sayed suffer the ATHENIANS to yeld vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS in any thing howbeit the trothe cannot certenly be knowen But the LACEDAEMONIANS knowing well that if they could wede out Pericles and ouerthrowe him they might then deale as they would with the ATHENIANS they commaunded them they should purge their cittie of Cylons rebellion bicause they knew well enough that Pericles kynne by the mothers side were to be touched withall as Thucydides declareth But this practise fell out contrarie to their hope and expectation that were sent to ATHENS for this purpose For wening to haue brought Pericles into further suspition and displeasure the cittizens honoured him the more and had a better affiaunce in him then before bicause they sawe his enemies dyd so much feare and hate him Wherefore before king Archidâ—mus entred with the armie of the PELOPONNESIANS into the countrie of ATTICA he tolde the ATHENIANS that if king Archidamus fortuned to waste and destroye all the countrie about and should spare his landes and goodes for the olde loue and familiaritie that was betweene them or rather to geue his enemies occasion falsely to accuse him that from thenceforth he gaue all the landes and tenements he had in the countrie vnto the common wealthe So it fortuned that the LACEDAEMONIANS with all their friends and confederates brought a maruelous armie into the countrie of ATTICA vnder the leading of king Archidamus who burning spoyling all the countries he came aloÌ„gest they came vnto the towne of ACHARNES were they incamped supposing the ATHENIANS would neuer suffer them to approche so neere but that they would giue them battell for the honour and defence of their
were maruelously offended with him he dyd what he could to comforte them and put them in harte againe but all was in vaine he could not pacifie them For by the most parte of voyces they depriued him of his charge of generall and condemned him in a maruelous great fine summe of money the which those that tell the least doe write that it was the summe of fifteene talentes and those that say more speake of fiftie talentes The accuser subscribed in this condemnation was Cleon as Idomeneus or Simmias saye or as Theophrastus writeth yet Heraclides Ponticus sayeth one Lacratidas Nowe his common grieues were sone blowen ouer for the people dyd easely let fall their displeasures towardes him as the waspe leaueth her stinge behinde her with them she hath stong But his owne priuate affayers and household causes were in very ill case both for that the plague had taken awaye many of his friendes and kinsemen from him as also for that he and his house had continued a long time in disgrace For Xanthippus Pericles sonne heire being a man of a very ill disposition and nature and hauing maried a young woman very prodigall and lauishe of expence the daughter of Isander sonne of Epilycus he grudged much at his fathers hardnes who scantly gaue him money and but litle at a time Whereupon he sent on a time to one of his fathers friendes in Pericles name to praye him to lend him some money who sent it vnto him But afterwardes when he came to demaunde it againe Pericles dyd not only refuse to paye it him but further he put him in sute But this made the young man Xanthippus so angrie with his father that he spake very ill of him in euery place where he came and in mockery reported howe his father spent his time when he was at home and the talke he had with the Sophisters and the master rethoritians For a mischaunce fortuning on a time at the game of throwing the darte who should throwe best that he that threwe dyd vnfortunately kill one Epitimius a THESSALIAN Xanthippus went pratling vp and downe the towne that his father Pericles was a whole daye disputing with Protagoras the Rethoritian to knowe which of the three by lawe and reason should be condemned for this murther The darte he that threwe the darte or the deuiser of that game Moreouer Stesimbrotus writeth that the brute that ranne abroade through the cittie howe Pericles dyd keepe his wife was sowen abroade by Xanthippus him selfe But so it is this quarrell hate betwext the father and the sonne continued without reconciliation vnto the death For Xanthippus dyed in the great plague and Pericles owne sister also moreouer he lost at that time by the plague the more parte of all his friends and kinsefolkes and those specially that dyd him greatest pleasure in gouerning of the state But all this dyd neuer pull down his contenaunce nor any thing abate the greatnes of his minde what misfortunes soeuer he had susteined Neither sawe they him weepe at any time nor mourne at the funeralles of any of his kinsemen or friendes but at the death of Paralus his younger and lawfull begotten sonne for the losse of him alone dyd only melt his harte Yet he dyd striue to showe his naturall constancie and to keepe his accustomed modestie But as he would haue put a garland of flowers vpon his head sorowe dyd so pierce his harte when he sawe his face that then he burst out in teares and cryed a mayne which they neuer sawe him doe before all the dayes of his life Furthermore the people hauing proued other captaines and gouernours and finding by experience that there was no one of them of iudgement and authoritie sufficient for so great a charge In the ende of them selues they called him againe to the pulpit for orations to heate their counsells and to the state of a captaine also to take charge of the state But at that time he kept him selfe close in his house as one bewayling his late grieuous losse and sorowe Howbeit Alcibiades and other his familiar friendes persuaded him to shewe him selfe vnto the people who dyd excuse them selues vnto him for their ingratitude towardes him Pericles then taking the gouernment againe vpon him the first matter he entred into was that he prayed them to reuoke the statute he had made for base borne children fearing least his lawfull heires would fayle and so his house and name should fall to the grounde But as for that lawe thus it stoode Pericles when he was in his best authoritie caused a lawe to be made that they only should be compted cittizens of ATHENS which were naturall ATHENIANS borne by father and mother Not long time after it fortuned that the king of EGYPT hauing sent a gifte vnto the people of ATHENS of forty thousand bushells of corne to be distributed among the cittizens there many by occasion of this lawe were accused to be base borne and specially men of the baser sorte of people which were not knowen before or at the least had no reckoning made of them and so some of them were falsely and wrongfully condemned Whereupon so it sell out that there were no lesse then fiue thousand of them conuicted and solde for slaues and they that remained as free men and were iudged to be naturall cittizens amownted to the number of fourteene thousand and fortie persones Now this was much misliked of the people that a lawe enacted and that had bene of suche force should by the selfe maker and deuiser of the same be againe reuoked and called in Howbeit Pericles late calamitie that fortuned to his house dyd breake the peoples hardened hartes against him Who thincking these sorowes smarte to be punishment enough vnto him for his former pryde and iudging that by goddes diuine iustice and permission this plague and losse fell vpon him and that his request also was tollerable they suffered him to enrolle his base borne sonne in the register of the lawfull cittizens of his familie geuing him his owne name Pericles It is the self same Pericles who after he had ouercome the PELOPONNESIANS in a great battell by sea neere vnto the Iles ARGINVSES was put to death by sentence of the people with the other captaines his companiōs Now was Pericles at that time infected with the plague but not so vehemently as other were rather more temperatly by long space of time with many alterations and chaunges that dyd by litle and litle decaye and consume the strength of his bodie and ouercame his sences and noble minde Therefore Theophrastus in his moralles declareth in a place where he disputeth whether mens manners doe chaunge with their misfortunes and whether corporall troubles and afflictions doe so alter men that they forget vertue and abandon reason that Pericles in this sicknes shewed a friende of his that came to see him I cannot tell what a
him as the cittie of CAPVA being the chiefest and greatest cittie of all ITALIE but ROME and dyd receyue Hannibal and were at his deuotion Thus we maye plainely see that as the poet Euripides sayeth it is a great mischief not onely to be driuen to make triall of friendes but proofe also of captaines wisdom For that which before they accompted cowardlines and fainte harte in Fabius immediatly after the battell they thought it more then mans reason and rather a heauenly wisdome and influence that so long foresawe the things to come which the parties selues that afterwards felt them gaue litle credit vnto before Vpon this occasion ROME reposed incontinently all their hope and truste in Fabius and they repaired to him for coūsell as they would haue ronne vnto some temple or altar for sanctuarie So as the first chiefest cause of staying the people together from dispersing them selues abroade as they dyd when ROME was taken by the GAVLES was the only opinion confidence they had in Fabius wisedome For where before he seemed to be a coward and timerous when there was no daunger nor misfortune happened then when euery man wept and cried out for sorowe which could not helpe and that all the world was so troubled that there was no order taken for anything he contrarily went alone vp and downe the cittie very modestly with a bold constant countenaunce speaking curteously to euery one and dyd appease their womanishe cries and lamentations and dyd forbid the common assemblies fonde ceremonies of lamenting the dead corse at their burialls Then he persuaded the Senate to assemble in counsell and dyd comforte vp those that were magistrates and he alone was the only force and power of the cittie for there was not a man that bare any office but dyd cast his eye vpon Fabius to knowe what he should doe He it was that caused the gates of the cittie straight to be warded and to keepe those in for going their waye that would haue forsaken the cittie He moreouer dyd appointe the time and place of mourning dyd commaund whosoever was disposed to mourne that he should doe it priuately in his owne house and to continue only but thirtie dayes Then he willed all mourning to be left of and that the cittie might be cleane from such vncleane things So the feast of Ceres falling about that time he thought it better to leaue of the sacrifices procession they were wont to keepe on Ceres daye then by their small number that were lest and sorowe of those that remained to let their enemies vnderstand their exceeding great losse For the goddes delite to be serued with glad and reioycing hartes and with those that are in prosperitie But all this notwithstanding whatsoeuer the priestes would haue done either to pacifie the wrath of the goddes or to turne awaye the threatnings of these sinister signes it was forthwith done For they dyd sende to the oracle of Apollo in the cittie of DELPHES one of Fabius kinsemen surnamed Pictor And two of the Vestall Nunnes being deflowred the one was buried aliue according to the lawe and custome and the other made her self awaye But herein the great corage and noble clemency of the ROMAINES is maruelously to be noted and regarded For the Consul Terentius Varro returning backe to ROME with the shame of his extreme misfortune ouerthrowe that he durste not looke vpon any man the Senate notwithstanding and all the people following them went to the gates of the cittie to meete him and dyd honorably receyue him Nay furthermore those that were the chief magistrates and Senators among whom Fabius was one when silence was made they commended Varro much bicause he did not despaire of the preseruation of the common weale after so great a calamitie but dyd returne againe to the cittie to helpe to reduce things to order in vsing the authoritie of the lawe and the seruice of the cittizens as not being altogether vnder foote but standing yet in reasonable termes of good recouery But when they vnderstoode that Hannibal after the battell was gone into other partes of ITALIE then they beganne to be of good chere againe and sent a newe armie and generalles to the field among which the two chief generals were Fabius Maximus and Claudius Marcellus both which by contrary meanes in manner wanne a like glorie and reputation For Marcellus as we haue declared in his life was a man of speedy execution of a quicke hande of a valliant nature and a right martiall man as Homer calleth them that valliantly put them selues in any daunger by reason whereof hauing to deale with another captaine a like venturous and valliant as him selfe in all seruice and execution he shewed the selfe boldnes and corage that Hannibal dyd Bu◠Fabius persisting still vpon his first determination dyd hope that though he dyd not fight with Hannibal nor sturre him at all yet continuall warres would consume him and his armie in the end and bring them both to nought as a commō wrestler that forceth his bodie aboue his naturall strength doth in the ende become a lame and broosed man Hereupon Possidonius writeth that the one was called the ROMAINES sworde and the other their target And that Fabius constancie and resolutnes in warres to fight with securitie and to commit nothing to hazard daunger being mingled with Marcellus heate and furie was that only which preserued the ROMAINES empire For Hannibal meting allwayes in his waye the one that was furious as a strong ronning streame founde that his army was continually turmoyled and ouerharried the other that was slowe as a litle prety riuer he founde that his army ranne softely vnder him without any noyse but yet continually by litle and litle it dyd still consume diminishe him vntill he sawe him selfe at the last brought to that passe that he was weary with fighting with Marcellus and affrayed of Fabius bicause he fought not For during all the time of these warres he had euer these two captaines almost against him which were made either Praetors Consuls or Proconsuls for either of them both had bene fiue times before chosen Consul Yet as for Marcellus Hannibal had layed an ambushe for him in the fifte and last yere of his Consulshippe where he set vpon him on a sodaine and slue him But as for Fabius he layed many baytes for him and dyd what he could by all the skill and reache he had by ambushes and other warlike policies to entrappe him but he could neuer drawe him within his daunger Howbeit at one time he put him to a litle trouble and was in good hope then to haue made him falle vpon his ambushe he had layed for him and by this policie He had counterfeated letters written and sent vnto him from the cittie of METAPONT to praye him to come to them and they would deliuer their cittie into his handes and withall that such as
turne the minde of this amarous and mercenarie man with hope of great giftes that were promised him and Fabius should performe Thus doe the most parte of writers set downe this storie Howbeit some writers saye that this woman who wanne the BRVTIAN captaine was not a TARENTINE but a BRVTIAN borne whom Fabius it is sayed kept afterwards for his concubine and that she vnderstanding the captaine of the BRVTIANS who laye in garrison within the cittie of TARENTVM was also a BRVTIAN borne and of her owne natiue countrie made Fabius priuie to her intent and with his consent she comming to the walles of the cittie spake with this BRVTIAN captaine whom she handled in such sorte that she wanne him But whilest this geate was a brewing Fabius bicause he would traine Hannibal out of those quarters wrote vnto the souldiers of RHEGIO which belonged to the ROMAINES that they should enter the borders of the BRVTIANS and laye seige to the cittie of CAVLONIA and rase it to the grounde These RHEGIAN souldiers were about the number of eight thousand and the most of them traitours and ronneagates from one campe to another and the worst sorte of them and most defamed of life were those that Marcellus brought thither out of SICILE so that in losing them all the losse were nothing to the common weale and the sorrowe muche lesse So Fabius thought that putting these fellowes out for a praye to Hannibal as a stale to drawe him from those quarters he should plucke him by this meanes from TARENTVM and so it came to passe For Hannibal incontinently went thence with his armie to intrappe them and in the meane time Fabius wēt to laye seige to TARENTVM where he had not lien six dayes before it but the young man who together with his sister had drawen the BRVTIAN captaine to this treason stale out one night to Fabius to enforme him of all hauing taken very good markes of that side of the walle the BRVTIAN captaine had taken charge of who had promised him to keepe it secret to suffer them to enter that came to assaulte that side Yet Fabius would not grounde his hope altogether vpon the BRVTIANS executing this treason but went him self in persone to vewe the place appointed howbeit without attempting any thing for that time and in the meane season he gaue a generall assault to all partes of the cittie aswell by sea as by lande with great showtes cries Then the BRVTIAN captaine seeing all the cittizens and garrison ronne to that parte where they perceyued the noyse to be greatest made a signall vnto Fabius that now was the time Who then caused scaling ladders to be brought a pace whereupon him selfe with his companie scaled the walles and so wanne the cittie But it appeareth here that ambition ouercame him For first he commaunded they should kill all the BRVTIANS bicause it should not be knowen he had wonne the cittie by treason But this bloudie policie failed him for he missed not only of the glorie he looked for but most deseruedly he had the reproche of crueltie and falsehood At the taking of this cittie a maruelous number of the TARENTINES were slaine besides there were solde thirtie thousand of the chiefest of them all the cittie was sacked and of the spoyle thereof was caried to the common store treasure at ROME three thousand talents It is reported also that when they dyd spoyle and carie awaye all other spoyles lefte behinde the recorder of the cittie asked Fabius what his pleasure was to doe with the goddes meaning the tables and their images and to that Fabius aunswered him Let vs leaue the TARENTINES their goddes that be angrie with them This notwithstanding he caried from thence Hercules statue that was of a monstruous bignes and caused it to be set vp in the Capitoll and withall dyd set vp his owne image in brasse a horse backe by him But in that act he shewed him self farre harder harted then Marcellus had done or to saye more truely thereby he made the world knowe how muche Marcellus curtesie clemencie and bowntie was to be wondred at as we haue written in his life Newes being brought to Hannibal that TARENTVM was besieged he marched presently with all speede possible to raise the seige and they saye he had almost come in time for he was with in 40. furlonges of the cittie when he vnderstoode the trothe of the taking of it Then sayed he out alowd sure the ROMAINES haue their Hannibal to for as we wanne TARENTVM so haue we lost it But after that to his friends he sayed priuately and that was the first time they euer heard him speake it that he sawe long before and now appeared plainely that they could not possibly with this small power keepe ITALIE Fabius made his triumphe and entrie into ROME the seconde time by reason of taking of this cittie and his seconde triumphe was muche more honorable then the first as of a valliant captaine that held out still with Hannibal and easely met with all his fine policies muche like the slight trickes of a cunning wrestler which caried not now the former roughenes and strength any more bicause that his armie was geuen to take their ease and growen to delicacie partely through the great riches they had gotten and partely also for that it was sore wasted and diminished through the sundrie foughten battells and blowes they had bene at Now there was one Martus Liuius a ROMAINE that was gouernour of TARENTVM at that time when Hannibal tooke it and neuertheles kept the castell still out of Hannibals handes and so held it vntill the cittie came againe into the handes of the ROMAINES This Liuius spighted to see suche honour done to Fabius so that one daye in open Senate being drowned with enuie and ambition he burst out and sayed that it was him selfe not Fabius that was cause of taking of the cittie of TARENTVM againe Fabius smiling to heare him aunswered him openly indeede thou sayest true for if thou haddest not lost it I had neuer wonne it againe But the ROMAINES in all other respects dyd greatly honour Fabius and specially for that they chose his sonne Consul He hauing alreadie taken possession of his office as he was dispatching certen causes touching the warres his father whether it was for debilitie of his age or to proue his sonne tooke his horse to come to him and rode through the prease of people that thronged about him hauing busines with him But his sonne seeing him comming a farre of would not suffer it but sent an officer of his vnto him to commaund him to light of his horse and to come a foote if he had any thing to doe with the Consul This commaundement misliked the people that heard it and they all looked vpon Fabius but sayed not a worde thinking with them selues that the Consul dyd great wronge to his fathers greatnes So he lighted straight and went
a good rounde pace to embrace his sonne and sayed vnto him You haue reason sonne and doe well to shewe ouer whom you commaund vnderstanding the authoritie of a Consul which place you haue receiued For it is the direct course by the which we and our auncesters have increased the ROMAINE empire preferring euer the honour and state of our countrie aboue father mother or children And truely they saye that Fabius great grandfather being the greatest and most noble persone of ROME in his time hauing fiue times bene Consul and had obteined many triumphes for diuers honorable and sundrie victories he had wonne was contented after all these to be his sonnes lieutenaunt and to goe to the warres with him he being chosen Consul And last of all the Consul his sonne returning home to ROME a conquerour in his triumphing charret drawen with foure horses he followed him a horse backe also in troupe with the rest thinking it honour to him that hauing authoritie ouer his sonne in the right of a father and being also the noblest man of all the cittizens so taken and reputed neuertheles he willingly submitted him selfe to the lawe and magistrate who had authoritie of him Yet besides all this he had farre more excellent vertues to be had in admiration then those already spoken of But it fortuned that this sonne of Fabius died before him whose death he tooke paciētly like a wise man and a good father Now the custome being at that time that at the death of a noble man their neerest kinseman should make a funerall oration in their prayse at their obsequies he him selfe made the same oration in honour of his sonne and dyd openly speake it in the marketplace and moreouer wrote it and deliuered it out abroade About this time Cornelius Scipio was sent into SPAYNE who draue out the CARTHAGINIANS from thence after he had ouerthrowen them in many battells and had conquered many great citties and greately aduaunced the honour and estimation of the state of ROME for the which at his returne he was asmuche or rather more honoured beloued and esteemed then any other that was in the cittie of ROME Hereupon Scipio being made Consul considered that the people of ROME looked for some great matter at his handes aboue all other Therefore he thought to take vpon him to fight against Hannibal in ITALIE he should but followe the olde manner and treade to muche in the steppes of the olde man whereupon he resolued immediately to make warres in AFRICKE and to burne and destroye the countrie euen vnto CARTHAGE gates and so to transferre the warres out of ITALIE into LIBYA procuring by all possible deuise he could to put it into the peoples heades and to make them like of it But Fabius contrarilie persuading him selfe that the enterprise this young rashe youthe tooke in hande was vtterly to ouerthrowe the common weale or to put the state of ROME in great daunger deuised to put ROME in the greatest feare he could possible without sparing speache or dede he thought might serue for his purpose to make the people chaunge from that minde Now he could so cunningly worke his purpose what with speaking and doing that he had drawen all the Senate to his opinion But the people iudged it was the secret enuie he bare to Scipioes glorie that drue him to encounter this deuise only to bleamish Scipioes noble fortune fearing least if he should happen to doe some honorable seruice as to make an end altogether of this warre or otherwise to draw Hannibal out of ITALIE that then it would appeare to the world he had bene to softe or to negligent to drawe this warre out to suche a length For my parte me thinkes the only matter that moued Fabius from the beginning to be against Scipio was the great care he had of the safetie of the cōmon weale by reason of the great daūger depending vpon such a resolution And yet I doe thinke also that afterwards he went further then he should contending to sore against him whether it was through ambition or obstinacie seeking to hinder and suppresse the greatnes of Scipio considering also he dyd his best to persuade Crassus Scipioes companion in the Consulshippe that he should not graunte vnto him the leading of the armie but if he thought good to goe into AFRICKE to make warres vpon the CARTHAGINIANS that he should rather goe him self And moreouer he was the let that they gaue him no money for maintenaunce of these warres Scipio hereupon being turned ouer to his owne credit to furnish himselfe as he could he leauied great summes of money in the citties of THVSCAN who for the great loue they bare him made contribution towardes his iorney And Crassus remained at home both bicause he was a softe and no ambitious nor contentious man of nature as also bicause he was the chiefest Prelate and highe bishoppe who by the lawe of their religion was constrained to kepe ROME Fabius seeing his labour lost that waye tooke againe another course to crosse Scipio deuising to staye the young men at home that had great desire to goe this iorney with him For he cried out with open mouth in all assemblies of the Senate people that Scipio was not contented only to flye Hannibal but that he would carie with him besides the whole force of ITALY that remained alluring the youthe with sweete baytes of vaine hope and persuading them to leaue their wiues their fathers mothers and their countrie euen now when their enemie knocked at ROME gates who dyd euer conquer and was yet neuer conquered These wordes of Fabius dyd so dampe the ROMAINES that they appointed Scipio should furnishe his iorney only with the armie that was in SICILIA sauing that he might supply to them if he would three hundred of the best souldiers that had serued him faithfully in SPAYNE And so it doth appeare euen to this present that Fabius both dyd and sayed all things according to his wonted manner and naturall disposition Now Scipio was no sooner arriued in AFRICKE but newes were brought to ROME incontinently of wonderfull exploytes and noble seruice done beyond measure and of great spoyles taken by him which argued the trothe of the newes As the king of the NVNIDIANS taken prisoner two campes of the enemies burnt destroyed at a time with losse of a great number of people armour and horses that were consumed in the same letters and postes for life ronning in the necke one of another from CARTHAGE to call Hannibal home and to praye him to hunte no longer after vayne hope that would neuer haue ende hasting him selfe with all speede possible to come to the rescue of his countrie These wonderfull great fortunes of Scipio made him of suche renowme and fame within ROME that there was no talke but of Scipio Fabius notwithstanding desisted not to make a newe request being of opinion they should send him a successour alledging no other cause
them selues out of the campe with targets of copper that made all plaine to shine with the brightnes of their steele and copper And all the hilles and mountaines thereabouts dyd ringe againe like an Eccho with the crie and noyse of so many fighting men one incoraging another In this order they marched so fiercely with so great harte burning such swiftnes that the first which were slaine at the incounter fell dead two furlonges from the campe of the ROMAINES The charge being geuen and the battell begonne AEmylius galloping to the voward of his battell perceyued that the captaines of the MACEDONIANS which were in the first ranckes had already thrust their pikes into the ROMAINES targets so as they could not come neere them with their swordes and that the other MACEDONIANS carying their targets behinde them had now plucked them before them and dyd base their pikes all at one time and made a violent thrust into the targets of the ROMAINES Which when he had considered and of what strength and force his walle and rancke of targets was one ioyning so neere another and what a terrour it was to see a fronte of a battell with so many armed pikes and steele heades he was more afeard and amazed withall then with any sight he euer sawe before Neuertheles he could wisely dissemble it at that time And so passing by the companies of his horsemen without either curaces or helmet vpon his head he shewed a noble cherefull countenaunce vnto them that fought But on the contrarie side Perseus the king of MACEDON as Polybius writeth so sone as the battell was begonne withdrewe him self and got into the cittie of PYDNE vnder pretence to goe to doe sacrifice vnto Hercules who doth not accept the fainte sacrifice of cowards neither doth receyue their prayers bicause they be vnreasonable For it is no reason that he that shooteth not should hyt the white nor that he should winne the victorie that bideth not the battell neither that he should haue any good that doeth nothing toward it nor that a naughty man should be fortunate and prosper The goddes dyd fauour AEmylius prayers bicause he prayed for victorie with his sworde in his hande and fighting dyd call to them for ayde Howbeit there is one Posidonius a writer who sayeth he was in that time and moreouer that he was at the battell and he hath written an historie conteining many bookes of the actes of king Perseus where he sayeth that it was not for fainte harte nor vnder culler to sacrifice vnto Hercules that Perseus went from the battell but bicause he had a stripe of a horse on the thighe the daye before Who though he could not very well helpe him self and that all his friends sought to persuade him not to goe to the battell yet he caused one of his horse to be brought to him notwithstanding which he commonly vsed to ryde vp and downe on and taking his backe rode into the battell vnarmed where an infinite number of dartes were throwen at him from both sides And emong those he had a blowe with a darte that hurte him somwhat but it was ouerthwart and not with the pointe and dyd hit him on the left side glawnsing wise with suche a force that it rent his coate and rased his skinne vnderneath so as it left a marke behinde a long time after And this is all that Posidonius writeth to defend and excuse Perseus The ROMAINES hauing their hands full and being stayed by the battell of the MACEDONIANS that they could make no breache into them there was a captaine of the PELIGNIANS called Salius who tooke the ensigne of his band and cast it among the prease of his enemies Then all the PELIGNIANS brake in apon them with a maruelous force furie into that place for all ITALIANS thinke it to great a shame dishonour for souldiers to lose or forsake their ensigne Thus was there maruelous force of both sides vsed in that place for the PELIGNIANS proued to cut the MACEDONIANS pikes with their swordes or els to make them geue backe with their great targets or to make a breache into them and to take the pikes with their handes But the MACEDONIANS to the contrarie holding their pikes fast with both hands ranne them thorow that came neere vnto them so that neither target nor corselet could hold out the force and violence of the pushe of their pikes in so muche as they turned vp the heeles of the PELIGNIANS and TERRACINIANS who like desperate beastes without reason shutting in them selues emong their enemies ranne wilfully vpon their owne deathes and their first rancke were slaine euery man of them Thereupon those that were behind gaue backe a litle but fled not turning their backes and only retired geuing backe towardes the mountaine Olocrus AEmylius seeing that as Posidonius writeth rent his arming coate from his backe for anger bicause that some of his men gaue backe other durst not fronte the battell of the MACEDONIANS which was so strongly imbattelled of euery side and so mured in with a wall of pikes presenting their armed heades on euerie side a man could come that it was impossible to breake into them no not so muche as to come neere them only Yet notwithstanding bicause the field was not altogether plaine and euen the battell that was large in the fronte could not allwayes keepe that walle continuing their targets close one to another but they were driuen of necessitie to breake and open in many places as it happeneth oft in great battells according to the great force of the souldiers that in one place they thrust forward and in another they geue backe and leaue a hole Wherefore AEmylius sodainly taken the vauntage of this occasion deuided his men into small companies and commaunded them they should quickly thrust in betwene their enemies and occupie the places they sawe voyde in the fronte of their enemies and that they should set on them in that sorte and not with one whole continuall charge but occupying them here and there with diuers companies in sundry places AEmylius gaue this charge vnto the priuate captaines of euery band and their lieutenaunts and the captaines also gaue the like charge vnto their souldiers that could skilfully execute their commaundement For they went presently into those partes where they sawe the places open and being once entred in among them some gaue charge vpon the flanckes of the MACEDONIANS where they were all naked and vnarmed other set vpon them behind so that the strength of all the corpes of the battell which consisteth in keeping close together being opened in this sorte was straight ouerthrowen Furthermore when they came to fight man for man or a fewe against a fewe the MACEDONIANS with their litle shorte swordes came to strike vpon the great sheldes of the ROMAINES which were very strong and couered all their bodies downe to the foote And they to the contrarie were driuen of necessitie to
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
so necessarie as to haue goodes And he aunswered them In dede they are necessarie I doo confesse it but yet for suche a one as this poore lame and blynd man that standeth by They both were a like borne to all vertue sauing that Pelopidas tooke most pleasure in exercise of his body and strength and Epaminondas in the exercise of his wit and learning So as the pastyme eche of them tooke when they were at leasure was that the one delighted to wrastle and to hunte and liked any kinde of exercise of his body and the other to heare to studie and alwaies to learne some thing of Philosophie But among all the excellent giftes and good partes in either of them and that most wanne them honor and estimation in the world they were onely commended and singulerly noted of wise men for the perfect loue and frendshippe that was euer inuyolably kept betwene them vntil their deathes hauing been ioyned togeather in so many battels warres charges of armies and otherwise in matters of state and gouernment For if a man will consider and looke into the doinges of Aristides Themistocles and Cimon of Pericles Nicias and Alcibiades how full of dissentions enuies suspicions they were one against another in gouerning the common weale and againe will consider the loue honour and kindnesse that continued alwaies betwext Pelopidas and Epaminondas no doubt they will saie these two are more worthie to be called brethren in warre as they saie and companions in gouernment then any of them we haue named before whose care and studie was alwaies rather to ouercome one another then to ouercome their enemies and the onely cause thereof was their vertue For their actes shewed they did not seeke glorie nor riches for them selues the couetousnes whereof doth allwaies breede quarrelles and enuy but both of them from the beginning fell one in loue with an other with a great kindenes and estimation of them selues to see their contrie florishe and growe to great honor through their seruice and in their time and so they reckoned all the good exploytes both of the one and the other that tended to that ende as their owne The most part of writers thinke this great and earnest loue th one did beare to an other did growe first betwene them in a iorney they made togeathet vnto MANTINIA to ayde the LACEDAEMONIANS that were at that time confederates of the THEBANS For they being both set in battell raye one hard by another among the footmen against the Arcadians that stoode before them it fortuned that the point of the battell of the LACEDAEMONIANS in the which they were gaue backe and many of them ranne away But they determyning to die rather then to flye stoode close together and fought with the enemies that came apon them vntyll such time as Pelopidas being hurt in seuen places before fell downe at the last vpon a heape of dead bodies aswell of their owne souldiers as of their enemies euen one apon an other Then Epaminondas thinking he had ben slaine stept notwithstanding before him to defend his body armor he alone fought against many being willing to die rather then to forsake Pelopidas lying amongest the dead bodies vntyl him selfe being thrust into the brest with a pyke and sore cut on his arme with a swoorde was euen ready to geue ouer when Agesipolis king of the LACEDAEMONIANS came with the other poynt of the battell in happie howre who saued both their liues past all hope Now after this battell the LACEDAEMONIANS both in wordes and deedes did curteously intreate the THEBANS as their frendes and confederates Notwithstanding in troth they beganne to feare the power and great corage of that cittie and specially the faction and associates Ismenias Androclidas had set vp where of Pelopidas also was a cōpanion bicause they thought it was populer and inclined muche to desire libertie VVhereupon Archias Leontidas and Philip al three great welthie men of the cittie of THEBES and misliking to be equall with other cittizens did perswade Phabidas a captaine of the LACEDAEMONIANS that going and comming through the contrie of BOEOTIA with an armie he would one day assaie to take the castell of THEBES called CADMEA and driuing those out of the cittie that would resist him he would put the gouernment of the state into the hands of a fewe of the noblest persones who would beat the deuotion of the LACEDAEMONIANS obey them in all thinges Phabidas brought it to passe and did worcke his feate before the THEBANS mistrusted any thing apon a holy day called THESMOPHORIA After he had wonne the castell he apprehended Ismenias and sent him to LACEDAEMON where shortly after they put him to death Pelopidas Pherenicus and Androclidas with many other saued them selues by flying and were banished THEBES by sounde of Trompet Epaminondas taried stil in THEBES and no man tutched him for they made small accompt of him bicause he was altogether geuen to his booke and though his goodwill had serued him to haue done some feate his pouertie made him vnable to doo any thing The LACEDAEMONIANS vnderstanding of the taking of the castel did straight put Phabidas out of his charge and set a fine of a hundred thowsand DRACHMES apon his head but yet they kept still the castell of CADMEA in their handes with a great garrison All the other citties and people of GREECE did wonder much at it that they should allowe the fact and punishe notwithstanding the doer So the THEBANS hauing lost their auncient libertie and being made subiect by both these Archias and Leontidas so as all hope was taken from them euer to winde out of this tyrannie or at any time to ouerthrowe it seing it was maintained and defended by the LACEDAEMONIANS and that they coulde not possibly take from them all the seigniorie and dominion they had throughout GREECE aswell by sea as by lande Leontidas and his followers notwithstanding when they vnderstoode that they who were banished frō THEBES were very wel receiued entertained of the people at ATHENS and much made of also of the nobilitie they sought secretly by treason to haue them kylled To do this feate they sent certaine men vnknowen vnto ATHENS who by treason flue Androclidas howbeit they missed the kylling of the other Furthermore the LACEDAEMONIANS wrote to the ATHENIANS that they should not receiue suche as were banished from THEBES nor that they shoulde fauor them but driue them out of their cittie as those which by their allyes were Iustly proclaimed common enemies The ATHENIANS notwithstanding being men alwaies ciuilly geuen and inclined in nature to humanitie as being borne and bred vp withall and very desyrous besides to requite the THEBANS curtesy who had bene the chiefest meanes and doers in restoring againe the populer state and gouernment at ATHENS they would by no meanes offer the THEBANS any such iniurie seing they had stablished a
the least if those thinges be to be credited which so many graue and auncient writers haue left in writing to vs touching so great and holy things The THEBANS returning backe from ORCHOMENE and the LACEDAEMONIANS on the other side returning also from LOCRIDE both at one time they fortuned both armies to mete about the citty of TEGYRA Now so sone as the THEBANS had discouered the LACEDAEMONIANS passing the straite one of them ranne sodainely to Pelopidas and tolde him Sir we are fallen into the handes of the LACEDAEMONIANS Nay are not they rather fallen into ours aunswered Pelopidas againe with these wordes he commaunded his horsemen that were in the rereward to come before and sett apon them and him selfe in the meane time put his footemen immediately into a pretie squadron close togeather being in all not aboue three hundred men hoping when he should come to geue charge with his battell he should make a lane through the enemies though they were the greater nomber For the LACEDAEMONIANS deuided them selues in two companies and euery company as Ephoreus writeth had fiue hundred mens and as Callistenes sayed seuen hundred Polybius and diuers other authors saye they were nyne hundred men So Theopompus and Gorgoleon the Captaynes of the LACEDAEMONIANS lustely marched agaynst the THEBANS and it fell out so that the first charge was geuen where the chiefetaynes or generalles were of either side with great furie on eyther parte so as both the generalls of the LACEDAEMONIANS which sett vppon Pelopidas together were slayned They being slayne and all that were about them being either hurt or killed in the fielde the rest of the armie were so amased that they deuided in two and made a lane on either side for the THEBANS to passe through them if they would But when they saw Pelopidas ment not to take the passage they offered him and that he came on still with his men to set apon those that were yet in battel raye and slue all them that stoode before him then they turned tayle and tooke them to their legges Howbeit the THEBANS did not chase them farre fearing the ORCHOMENIANS who were not farre from them and the new garrison besides that were come from LACEDAEMON not long before And this was the cause they were contented that they had ouercomed them by force and had passed through their armie in despite of them and broken and ouerthrowen them So when he had set vp markes of triumphe and spoyled their slayne enemies they returned home againe glad men for their obteyned victorie For in all the warres the LACEDAEMONIANS euer made as well with the GRAECIANS as with the barbarous people also there was neuer chronicle mencioned at any tyme that their enemies being so fewe did ouercome them that were so many nor that they were ouercome also by any number equall in battell Whereuppon they grewe so coragious and terrible that no man durst once abyde them for their onely same did so terrifie their enemies that came to fight agaynst them that they thought with no equall force to be able to performe asmuche as they had done But this battell of TEGYRA was the first that made both them and the other GREECIANS knowe that it was not the ryuer of EVROTAS alone nor the valley that lyeth betweene the tyuers of CNACION and of BABYCE that breedeth the valiant and hardy fighting men but that it is in all places else where they learne young men to be ashamed of dishonest and vyle thinges and to venter their liues for honest causet◠fearing more dishonorable reproche then honorable daunger These are the people most to be feared are most terrible also to their enemies And for the holy bād we mēcioned before it is saide Gorgidas was the first erector of the same They were three hundred chosen men entertained by the state and they alwaies kept within the castell of CADMEA and the bande was called the townes bande for at that time and specially in that part of GREECE they called the castels and great holdes in citties the townes Other say it was a bande of fooremen that were in loue one with another And therefore Pammenes pleasaunt wordes are noted saiying that Nestor coulde no skyll to set an armie in battell raye seeing he gaue the GREECIANS counsell in the ILIADES of HOMER that they should set them in battell raye euery countrie and tribe by them selues That by affections force and lynkes of kyndly loue that one might alvvaise helpe at hande that other to behoue For saide he one frende should rather be set by another that loues togeather bicause in daunger men commonly do litle regarde their contrie men or suche as are of their tribe But men that doo loue one another can neuer be broken nor ouercome for the passion of loue that entertaineth eche others affection for affection sake dothe kepe them from forsaking one another And those that are beloued being ashamed to doo any vyle or dishonest thing before those that loue them for very loue will sticke one by another to the death And sure3 the reason is good if it be true that louers doo in deede more regard them they loue though they be absent then other that be present As appeareth by the example of hym that being striken downe to the ground his enemie lifting vp his swoorde to kyll him he praied him he woulde geue him his deathes wounde before lest his frende that loued him seeing a wounde on his backe shoulde be ashamed of him It is reported also that Iolaus being beloued of Hercules did helpe and accompanie him in all his labors and quarrels Whereupon Aristotle writeth that vnto his time such as loued hartily togeather became sworne brethren one to another apon Iolaus tombe And therefore me thinkes it is likely that this bande was first called the holy bande by the selfe same reason that Plato calleth a louer a diuine frende by goddes appointment It is written also that this bande was neuer broken nor ouerthrowen before the battel of CHAERONEA After that battel Philip taking vewe of the slaine bodies he stayed in that place where the foure hundred men of that bande laye all dead on the grounde one harde by another and all of them slayne and thrust through with pikes on their brestes whereat he wondred muche and being tolde him that it was the louers bande he fel a weeping for pittie saying Wo be to them that thinke these men did or suffered any euyll or dishonest thing And to be short the misfortune of Laius that was slaine by his owne brother Oedipus was not the first originall cause of this custome that the THEBANS beganne to be in loue one with an other as the POETS write but they were their first lawmakers who perceiuing them to be a stout fierce natiō of nature they sought euen frō their youthe to make them gentell and ciuill and therefore in all their actions both of sport and earnest they
the Senate Capitolinus at the first layed in many exceptions and fained excutes to kepe him from appearing and in the end he appealed to the Tribunes of the people but they declared plainely they would not receiue his appeale nor take any knowledge of the matter At the length he was forced to aunswere the matter before the Senate and denied flatly that he attempted euer any such thinge bicause there were no witnesses to proue it against him Whereupon the Senate thought good to sende for young Marcellus who comminge before them bothe blushed and wept together The Senate seeinge shamefastnesse in him mingled with teares and a malice that coulde not be pacified without seeking other proofe they tooke it a cleare case so condemned Capitolinus presently in a great summe of money which Marcellus conuerted into siluer vessel to serue at sacrifices and so did consecrate them to the seruice of the goddes Now when the ROMAINES had ended their first warre against the CARTHAGINIANS which held them fully the space of two and twenty yeres Immediatly after that they beganne a newe warre against the GAVLES For the INSVBRIANS beinge a people deriued frō the GAVLES dwelling at the foote of the moūtaines of the ALPESON ITALIE side being able to make a good power of them selues did notwithstanding pray aide of the other GAVLES inhabiting on the other side of the mountaines they caused the GESSATES a mercenary people and hierlings to them that woulde giue pay to bring great numbers with them Truely me thinkes it was a maruelous matter and wonderfull good happe for the ROMAINES that this warre of the GAVLES came not apon thē while they were at wars with the CARTHAGINIANS that the GAVLES also had lien quiet all that while as if they had purposely sworne to set apon the conquerors expecting still an end betwene thē then to set apon the cōquerors when they had nothing to say to any other Yet the scituacion of their cōtry did trouble the ROMAINES much bicause they were so nere neighbours vnto them had warres as it were at their owne dores And so did the auncient reputacion of the GAVLES somewhat appawle the ROMAINES who as it shoulde seeme they did feare more then any other nation whatsoeuer bicause ROME had bene taken before the GAVLES Since which time a law was made that Priestes and ecclesiasticall persones should be dispenced with from going to the warres onles the GAVLES did rise against them The preparacion they made for this warre at that time did plainly show the feare they had thē of the GAVLES For the world thinkes that neuer before nor since there were so many naturall ROMAINES assembled together in fielde as were then at that present Moreouer the new come cruelty they vsed in their sacrifices doth recorde this to be true For before they neuer vsed any straunge maner in their sacrifice or barbarous facion but were fauorable in their opinions about the ceremonies of religion agreeable to the GREECIANS touching the seruice of the goddes But then they were compelled to obey certaine oracles and auncient prophecies they found wrytten in SIBYLLES bookes they buried two GREECIANS aliue in the oxe market a man a woman and likewise two GAVLES a man and a woman Vnto them they doe yet continew certaine secret anniuersaries in Nouēber that are not to be sene of euery body The ROMAINES in their first battels of this warre were often ouercommen and did ouercome but these battels were to litle purpose for ending of the warres In the yere that C. Quintius Flaminius and P. Furius Philo were Consuls and sent with great armies to make warres apon the INSVBRIANS people subiect to the state of MILANE newes were brought to ROME that there was a riuer seene in the cōtry of ROMANIA red as blood three moones also at the very same time in the city of RIMINI Furthermore the Priestes Soothsayers that had obserued considered the tokens significations of birdes on that day when these two were chosen Consuls they tolde plainly there was error in their election that they were directly chosen against all signes tokens of the birdes Thereupon the Senate wrote immediatly to the campe to them willed them to come home to depose themselues of their Consulshippe before they did attempt any thing as Consuls against the enemies The Consul Flaminius receaued the letters in time but bicause he was ready to giue battell he woulde not open them before he had first ouerthrowen his enemies spoyled their contrie as in dede he did But when he was come backe to ROME againe and had brought maruelous great spoyles with him the people for all that woulde not goe out to meete him bicause he did not presently obey the letters they wrote vnto him nor returned apon it as they commaunded him but contemptuously without any regard of their displeasure followed his owne phantasie whereupon they had almost flatly denied him the honor of triumphe For his triumphe was no sooner ended but they compelled him to giue ouer his Consulship and made him a priuate man with his companion The ROMAINES therein were so religiously bent as they would all things shoulde be referred vnto the gods good grace pleasure would suffer none to contemne the obseruations prognosticatinge of the soothsayers nor their auncient vses customes for any prosperity felicity that could happen For they thought it more necessary and profitable for benefit of the common weale that the Senate and magistrates should reuerence the ceremonies and seruice of the goddes then that they should ouercome their enemies in battell As for example Tiberius Sempronius a man as much honored and esteemed of the ROMAINES for his iustice and valliantnes as any other of his time beinge one yeare Consul did nominate elect two other for Consuls the yeare following Scipio Nasica Caius Martius These two being entred into their Consulship and sent from ROME also to their seuerall prouinces appointed them by lot Sempronius by chaunce tooke certen litle bookes in his hande where were briefly written the rules appertaining to the ceremonies of publike sacrifice and reading in them he found a certaine ordinaunce he neuer heard before And this it was That if a magistrate were set in any tent or hyred house without the citie to beholde and obserue the prognostications of birdes that vpon any sodaine occasion he were driuē to come againe into the citie before the birdes had giuen any certaine signes the second time when he returned againe to ende his obseruations there was no remedy but he must leaue his tent or first hyred house and take an other and beginne new obseruations againe Tiberius vtterly ignoraunt of his ordinaunce before had kept his obseruations twise in one selfe house and had chosen there Nasica and Martius Consulls to succeede him But when he knew he had offended
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
Consulls chayer where he gaue audience as Consull and dispatched diuerse causes when he had done so he rose out of his chayer and came downe among them standinge as a priuate persone to aunswere at the barre as other offenders and men accused suffering the SYRACVSANS to alleadge and say against him what they would Then were the SYRACVSANS blancke when they saw the maiesty of Marcellus and his stayed countenance in all thinges so that hauing founde him before a very valliant man in warres and vnconquerable they found him then a man no lesse dreadful in his Consuls robe that they hong downe their eyes and durst not looke him in the face Notwithstanding they being suborned by his enemies beganne at the length boldely to accuse him and yet with sorow and lamentacion the effect whereof was this That they beinge the ROMAINES frendes and confederates had abidden such iniuries at Marcellus handes as all other generalles neuer offred their very enemies Whereto Marcellus straight aunswered againe to the contrary That for many iniuries the ROMAINES had receiued of thē they suffred nothing but that which was vnpossible they should not suffer that resisted vntill they were taken by force and yet they might thanke them selues for any thing they suffered bicause they would not obey nor consent to reasonable capitulacions and articles of peace which he had oftentimes offered them And againe they could not alleage for their excuse that the tyrans had compelled them to make warres when they to the contrary bicause they would enter into warres were contented to be subiect to a tyran So when both parties hadde spoken their mindes the SYRACVSANS as the maneris went out of the Senate house and Marcellus also leauinge his fellowe Consull in his place in the Senate and taried without the dore attending the sentence of the Senate neuer altering his countenaunce nor wonted looke neither for feare of sentence nor for malice or anger against the SYRACVSANS quietly looking for his iudgement Afterwards when the Senators voyces were gathered together and that Marcellus was cleared by the most voyces then the SYRACVSANS fell downe at his feete weeping and besought him not to wreake his anger apon them that were present and moreouer that he would haue compassion of the residue of the citizens who did acknowledge his great grace and fauor extended to them and confessed them selues bound to him for euer Marcellus moued with pity by their intreaty he pardoned them and euer after did all the SYRACVSANS what pleasure he coulde possible For through his intreaty and request the Senate did confirme and ratifie his graunt vnto them which was that they might vse the liberty and benefit of their owne lawes and quietly enioy their goodes also which were left them To requite this special grace procured them by Marcellus the SYRACVSANS gaue him many honors among others they made a law that euer after as oft as any of Marcellus name or house came into SICILE the SYRACVSANS should kepe a solemne feast with garlands on their heades and should also sacrifice vnto the goddes After this Marcellus went against Hanniball And where all the other Consulls almost generalles after the ouerthrow at CANNES had vsed this only policie with him not to come to battell he tooke a contrarie course to them all thinkinge that tract of time whereby they thought to eate out Hannibals force was rather a direct consuming and destroying of all ITALIE and that Fabius Maximus standinge to much vpon safety tooke not the way to cure the disease and weakenes of the common weale of ROME looking to ende this warre consuming by litle and litle the strength and power of ROME committing a fearefull phisitions fault and error being afraid to heale their pacient sodainly imagining that to bring them low doth lessen the disease So first of all he went to besiege certeine great cities of the SAMNITES which were reuolted from obedience of the ROMAINES and those he wanne againe with a great prouision of corne and money he founde in them besides three thousande souldiers Hanniball left in garrison there whome he tooke prisoners Hanniball after that hauinge slaine the viceconsul Cneus Fuluius in APVLIA with eleuen Tribunis militum to wit Colonels euery one hauinge charge of a thousande footemen and ouerthrowen the greatest parte of his armies Marcellus wrote letters to ROME hoping to comforte the Senate people telling he would go thither and did warrant them he woulde driue Hanniball out of APVLIA When the ROMAINES had red his letters they were nothing the more cōforted but rather as Liuie writeth more afraid and discouraged bicause they doubted the daunger to come woulde be greater then the losse past takinge Marcellus to be a farre greater and better generall then euer was Fuluius Neuerthelesse Marcellus performing the contentes of his letters wrytten to ROME draue Hanniball out of APVLIA and made him retyre into LVCANIA And Marcellus finding him in that contry by a city called NVMISTRON lodged apon hilles and in places of strength and aduantage he camped hard by him in the valley and the next morninge he was the first that presented his enemy battell Hanniball on the other side came downe into the valley and they ioyned battell which was so cruelly fought and so long time as it coulde not be discerned who had the better For the battell being begonne at nine of the clocke in the morning it was darke night ere they gaue ouer The next morning by pepe of day Marcellus set his men againe in battell raye in the middest of all the dead bodies that lay slaine in the fielde and chalenged Hanniball to proue who should haue the field But Hanniball refused and marched his way thence so as Marcellus thereby had good leasure left him to strippe his slaine enemies and also to bury his owne souldiers When he had finished that he presently followed his enemie by the foote who layed many ambushes for him but he coulde neuer trappe him in any and in euery encounter or skirmishe they had together Marcellus hadde euer the better which wanne him great fame and credit Nowe time beinge commen about to choose newe Consulls the Senate thought good to sende rather for the other Consul that was in SICILE then to remoue Marcellus thence who had fought with Hanniball So when the other Consull was come to ROME the Senate commaunded him to name Quintus Fuluius Dictator bicause the Dictator was neither chosen by the people nor by the Senate but one of the Consuls or Praetors in open assembly of the people nameth such a one Dictator as he liketh of Wherefore it seemeth that this word Dictator came apon that word naming for Dicere in the ROMAINE tongue signifieth to name Howebeit other holde opinion that he was called Dictator bicause he commaundeth of him selfe what he will without the counsell of the Senate the voyces of the people and this seemeth to be true bicause the
licentious by reason of the victorie of MARATHON who sought that all thinges should passe by them and their authoritie beganne nowe to mislike and to be greatly offended that any priuate man should go before the rest in good fame and reputacion Whereupon they came out of all shyeres of ATTICA into the city of ATHENS and so banished Aristides with the Ostracismon disguising the enuy they bare to his glory with the name of feare of tyranny For this maner of banishment called Ostracismon or Exostracismon was no ordinary punishment for any fault or offence committed but to geue it an honest cloke they sayd it was onely a pulling downe and tying shorte of to much greatnesse and authority exceeding farre the maner and countenance of a popular state But to tell you truly it was none otherwise thē a gentle meane to qualify the peoples enuy against some priuate person which enuy bred no malice to him whose greatnes did offende them but onely tended to the banishing of him for tenne yeares But afterwardes that by practise this Ostracismon banishment was layed apon meane men and malefactors as vpon Hyperbolus that was the last man so banished they neuer after vsed it any more at ATHENS And by the way it shall not be amisse to tell you here why wherfore this Hyperbolus was banished Alcibiades and Nicias were the chiefest men of ATHENS at that time and they both were euer at square together a common thing amongest great men They perceiuing now by the peoples assembling that they went about to execute the Ostracismon were maruelously afrayed it was ment to banishe one of them wherefore they spake together and made both their followers frends with eche other and ioyned them in one tribe together insomuch when the most voyces of the people were gathered to condemne him that should be banished they founde it was Hyperbolus The people therewith were much offended to see the Ostracismon so embased and scorned that they neuer after woulde vse it againe and so left it of for euer But briefely to let you vnderstande what the Ostracismon was and after what sorte they vsed it ye are to know that at a certaine day appointed euery citizen caried a great shell in his hantle whereupon he wrote the name of him he woulde haue banished and brought it into a certeine place railed about with wodden barres in the market place Then when euery man hadde brought in his shell the magistrates and officers of the city did count and tell the number of them For if there were lesse then sixe thowsand citizens that had thus brought these shels together the Ostracismon was not full and perfect That done they layd a parte euery mans name written in these shels and whose name they founde wrytten by most citizens they proclaimed him by sounde of trompet a banished man for tenne yeares during which time notwithstanding the party did enioy all his goodes Now euery man wryting thus his name in a shell whom they would haue banished it is reported there was a plaine man of the contry very simple that coulde neither wryte nor read who came to Aristides being the first man he met with gaue him his shell praying him to wryte Aristides name vpon it He beinge abashed withall did aske the contrie man if Aristides had euer done him any displeasure No sayed the contrie man he neuer did me hurt nor I know him not but it greeues me to heare euery man call him a iust man Aristides hearing him say so gaue him no aunswere but wrote his owne name vpon the shell and deliuered it againe to the contrie man But as he went his way out of the citie he lift vppe his handes to heauen and made a prayer contrary to that of Achilles in Homer besechinge the goddes that the ATHENIANS might neuer haue such troubles in hande as they shoulde be compelled to call for Aristides againe Notwithstandinge within three yeares after when Xerxes king of PERSIA came with his army through the contries of THESSALIE and BOEOTIA and entred into the heart of the contrie of ATTICA the ATHENIANS reuoking the law of their Ostracismon called home againe all those they had banished and specially bicause they were afrayd Aristides would take parte with the barbarous people and that his example should moue many other to do the like wherin they were greatly deceiued in the nature of the man For before that he was called home he continually trauelled vp and downe perswading and incoraginge the GREECIANS to mainteine and defende their liberty After that lawe was repealed and published and that Themistocles was chosen the only Lieutenant generall of ATHENS he did alwayes faithfully aide and assist him in all thinges as well with his trauell as also with his counsaill and thereby wanne his enemy great honor bicause it stoode apon the safetie and preseruation of his contrie For when Eurybiades generall of the armie of the GREECIANS had determined to forsake the I le of SALAMINA that the gallyes of the barbarous people were come into the middest of the seas and had environned the Iles all about the mouth of the arme of the straight of SALAMINA before any man knew they were thus inclosed in Aristides departing out of the I le of AEgina with a maruelous boldenes ventred through the middest of all the barbarous shippes and fleete and by good happe gotte in the night into Themistocles tent and calling him out spake with him there in this sorte Themistocles if we be both wise it is high time we shoulde nowe leaue of this vaine enuie and spite we haue longe time borne eche other and that we should enter into an other sorte of enuy more honorable and profitable for vs both I meane which of vs two should do his best indeuor to saue GREECE you by ruling and commaunding all like Lieutenant generall and I by counselling you for the best and executing your commaundement consideringe you are the man alone that will roundliest come vnto the point that is best which is in my opinion that we shoulde hazard battell by sea within the straight of SALAMINA and that as soone as might be possible But if our frendes and confederates do let this to be put in execution I do assure you your enemies do helpe it forward For it is sayd that the sea both before and behinde vs and rounde about vs is couered all ouer with their shippes so as they that would not before shall be now compelled of force and in spite of their heartes to fight and besturre them like men bicause they are compassed in all about and there is no passage left open for them to escape nor to slie Whereunto Themistocles aunswered I am sory Aristides that herein your honesty appeareth greater then mine but since it is so that you haue deserued the honor in beginning and procuring such an honorable and commendable strife betwene vs I will
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
fortunate blessed time of GREECE and specially when shortly after it did double and treble on the sodaine For the taxe Aristides made came to about foure hundred three score talents and Pericles raised it almost vnto a third parte For Thucydides wryteth that at the beginninge of the warres of PELOPONNEEVS the ATHENIANS leauied sixe hundred talentes yearely vppon their confederates And after the death of Pericles the orators and counsellers for matters of state did raise it vp higher by litle and litle vntil it mounted vnto the summe of thirteene hundred talentes And this was not bicause the warres did rise to so great a charge by reason of the length of the same and of the losses the ATHENIANS had receiued but for that they did accustome the people to make distributions of money by hand vnto euery citizen to make them set vp games and make goodly images and to builde sumptuous temples Thus was Aristides therefore iustly honored praised and esteemed aboue all other for this iust imposition of taxes sauing onely of Themistocles who went vp and downe flering at the matter sayinge it was no mete praise for an honest man but rather for a cofer well barred with iron where a man might safely lay vp his gold and siluer This he spake to be euen with Aristides which was nothing like the sharpe girde Aristides gaue him openly when Themistocles talking with him tolde him it was an excellent thing for a Captaine to be able to know and to preuent the counsells and doinges of the enemies and so is it sayed Aristides againe not onely a needefull but an honest thinge and mete for a worthy generall of an army to be cleane fingered without bribery or corruption So Aristides made all the other people of GREECE to sweare that they woulde truely keepe the articles of the allyance and he him selfe as generall of the ATHENIANS did take their othes in the name of the ATHENIANS and so pronouncing execrations curses against them that should breake the league and othe taken he threw iron wedges red hotte into the sea and prayed the gods to destroy them euen so that did violate their vowed faith Notwithstandinge afterwardes in my opinion when there fell out great alteracion in the state and that the ATHENIANS were forced to rule more straightly then before Aristides then willed the ATHENIANS to let him beare the daunger and burden of periury and execration and that they should not let for feare thereof to do any thing whatsoeuer they thought mete or necessary To conclude Theophrastus wryteth that Aristides was not only a perfect an honest and iust man in priuate matters betwixt party party but in matters of state and concerning the common weale he did many thinges oftentimes accordinge to the necessitie of the time and troubles of the citie wherein violence and iniustice was to be vsed As when the question was asked in open counsell to know whether they might take away the gold siluer that was left in the I le of DILOS safely layed vp in the temple of Apollo to beare out the charges of the warres against the barbarous people and to bring it from thence vnto ATHENS apon the motion of the SAMIANS although it was directly against the articles of the allyance made and sworne amonge all the GREECIANS Aristides opinion beinge asked in the same he aunswered it was not iust but yet profitable Now notwithstanding Aristides had brought his citie to rule and commaund many thousandes of people yet was he still poore for all that and vntill his dying day he gloried rather to be praised for his pouertie then for all the famous victories and battells he had wonne and that plainely appeareth thus Callias Ceres torche bearer was his neere kinseman who through enemies came to be accused and stoode in hazard of life so when the day came that his matter was to be heard before the Iudges his accusers very faintly and to litle purpose vttered the offences whereof they accused him and running into other byematters left the chiefest matter spake thus to the Iudges My Lords you al know Aristides the sonne of Lysimachus and you are not ignoraunt also that his vertue hath made him more esteemed then any man else is or can be in all GREECE Howe thinke ye doth he liue at home when you see him abroade vppe and downe the city in a threde bare gowne all to tattered Is it not likely trow ye that he is ready to starue at home for lacke of meate and reliefe whom we all see quake for very colde beinge so ill arrayed and clothed And yet M. Callias here his cosin germaine the richest citizen in all ATHENS is so miserable that notwithstandinge Aristides hath done much for him by reason of his great credit and authoritie among you he suffereth him and his poore wife and children readie to begge to starue for any helpe he geueth him Callias perceiuing the Iudges more angryer with him for that then for any matter else he was accused of he prayed Aristides might be sent for and willed him to tel truely whether he had not offered him good rounde summes of money many a time and oft and intreated him to take it which he euer refused and aunswered him alwayes that he coulde better boast of his pouerty then him selfe coulde of his riches which he sayd many did vse ill and few coulde vse them wel and that it was a hard thing to finde one man of a noble minde that could away with pouertie and that such onely might be ashamed of pouerty as were poore against their willes So Aristides confirmed all he spake to be true and euery man that was at the hearinge of this matter went wholly away with this opinion that he had rather be poore as Aristides then rich as Callias This tale is written thus by AEschines the Socratian Philosopher and Plato reporteth of him also that notwithstandinge there were many other famous and notable men of ATHENS yet he gaue Aristides praise aboue them all For others sayd he as Themistocles Cimon and Pericles haue beautified the citie with stately porches and sumptuous buildinges of golde and siluer and with stone of other fine superfluous deuises but Aristides was only he that vertuously disposed him selfe and all his doinges to the furtherance of the state and common weale His iustice and good nature appeared plainely in his doinges and behauiour towardes Themistocles For though Themistocles was euer against Aristides in all things and a continuall enemy of his and that by his meanes and practise he was banished from ATHENS yet when Themistocles was accused of treason to the state hauing diuerse sharpe enemies against him as Cimon Alemaeon with diuerse other Aristides sought not reuenge when he had him at his aduantage For he neither spake nor did any thinge against him at that time to hurt him neither did he reioyce to see his enemie in misery
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
went by water when he might haue gone by lande the thirde that he had bene Idle a whole day and had done nothing Also when he saw a vicious olde man he would say to reproue him O gray bearde age bringeth many deformities with it helpe it not besides with your vice And to a seditious Tribune of the people that was suspected to be a poysoner and would needes passe some wicked law by voyce of the people he woulde say o young man I know not which of these two be worse to drinke the drugges thou geuest or to receiue the lawes thou offerest An other time being reuiled by one that ledde a lewde and naughty life go thy way sayd he I am no man to scolde with thee For thou art so vsed to reuile and to be reuiled that it is not daynty to thee But for my selfe I neuer vse to heare scolding and much lesse delite to scolde These be his wise sayinges we finde written of him whereby we may the easilier coniecture his maners and nature Now when he was chosen Consull with his frend Valerius Flaccus the gouernment of SPAYNE fell to his lott that is on this side of the riuer of BAETIS So Cato hauinge subdued many people by force of armes and wonne others also by frendly meanes sodainly there came a maruelous great army of the barbarous people against him had enuironned him so as he was in maruelous daunger either shamefully to be taken prisonner or to be slaine in the fielde Wherefore he sent presently vnto the CELTIBERIANS to pray aide of them who were next neighbours vnto the marches where he was These CELTIBERIANS did aske him two hundred talentes to come help him but the ROMAINES that were about him coulde not abide to hyer the barbarous people to defende them Then Cato tolde them straight there was no hurt in it nor any dishonor vnto them For sayed he if the fielde be ours then we shall pay their wages we promised with the spoyle and money of our enemies and if we loose it then our selues and they lye by it beinge left neither man to pay nor yet any to aske it In the ende he wanne the battel after a sore conflict and after that time he hadde maruelous good fortune For Polybius wryteth that all the walles of the cities that were on this side the riuer of BAETIS were by his commaundement rased all in one day which were many and full of good souldiers Him selfe wryteth that he tooke moe cities in SPAYNE then he remained there dayes and it is no vaine boast if it be true that is written that there were foure hundred cities of thē Now though the souldiers vnder him had gotten well in this iorney and were riche yet he caused a pounde weight of siluer to be geuen to euery souldier besides sayinge he liked it better that many should returne home with siluer in their purses then a few of them with golde only But for him selfe he affirmed that of all the spoyle gotten of the enemies he neuer had any thinge sauinge that which he tooke in meate and drinke And yet sayth he I speake it not to reproue them that grow riche by such spoiles but bicause I woulde contende in vertue rather with the best then in money with the richest or in couetousnes with the most vertuous For not only he him selfe was cleare from bribes and extorcion but his officers also vnder him kept the same course In this Spanish iorney he had fiue of his seruauntes with him whereof one of them called Pauus bought three younge boyes that were taken in the warres when the spoile was solde to them that would geue most So Cato knew it But Pauus being afrayed to come neere his maister hong him selfe and then Cato solde the boyes againe and put the money made of them into the treasory chestes of sauing at ROME Now while Cato was in SPAYNE Scipio the great that was his enemy sought to hinder the course of his prosperitie and to haue the honor of conqueringe all the rest of SPAYNE he made all the frendes he could to the people to be chosen in Catoes place He was no sooner entred into his charge but he made all the possible spede he could to be gone that he might make Catoes authority ceasse the sooner Cato hearing of his hasty comminge tooke only fiue ensignes of footemen and fiue hundred horsemen to attende vpon him home with the which in his iorney homeward he ouercame a people in SPAYNE called the LACETANIANS and tooke sixe hundred traytors also that were fled from the ROMAINES campe to their enemies and did put to death euery mothers childe of them Scipio storming at that sayd Cato did him wrong But Cato to mocke him finely sayed it was the right way to bringe ROME to florish when noble borne citizens would not suffer meane borne men and vpstarts as him selfe was to go before them in honor and on the other side when meane borne men woulde contende in vertue with those that were of noblest race and farre aboue them in calling For all that when Cato came to ROME the Senate commaunded that nothing shoulde be chaunged nor altered otherwise then Cato had appointed it whilest he was in his office So that the gouernment for which Scipio made such earnest sute in SPAYNE was a greater disgrace vnto him then it was vnto Cato bicause he passed al his time office in peace hauing no occasion offered him to doe any notable seruice worthy memory Furthermore Cato after he had bene Consul and hadde graunted to him the honor to triumphe did not as many others doe that seeke not after vertue but onely for worldly honor and dignity Who when they haue bene called to the highest offices of state as to be Consulls and haue also graunted them the honor to triumphe do then leaue to deale any more in matters of state dispose them selues to liue merely and quietely at home and not to trouble them selues any more Now Cato farre otherwise behaued him selfe For he would neuer leaue to exercise vertue but beganne a freshe as if he had bene but a young nouesse in the world and as one greedy of honor and reputacion and to take as much paines and more then he did before For to pleasure his frends or any other citizen he would come to the market place and pleade their causes for them that required his counsell and go with his frendes also into the warres As he went with Tiberius Sempronius the Consul and was one of his Lieutenants at the conquest of the contry of THRACE and vnto the prouinces adioyning to the riuer of DANVBYE apon those marches After that he was in GREECE also Collonell of a thowsande footemen vnder Manius Aquilius against king Antiochus surnamed the great who made the ROMAINES as much afrayed of him as euer they were of enemy but Hanniball For when he had conquered all the regions
and prouinces of ASIA which Seleucus Nicanor enioyed before had subdued many barbarous and warlike nations he was so proude harted as he would nedes haue wars with the ROMAINES whom he knew to be the only worthy men and best able to fight with him So he made some honest show and pretence of warres saying it was to set the GREECIANS at liberty who had no cause thereof considering they liued after their owne lawes and were but lately deliuered from the bondage of kinge Philip and of the MACEDONIANS through the goodnesse of the ROMAINES Notwithstandinge he came out of ASIA into GREECE with a maruelous great army and all GREECE was straight in armes and in wonderfull daunger bicause of the great promises and large hopes the gouernours of diuerse cities whome the kinge had wonne and corrupted with money did make vnto them Whereupon Manius dispatched Ambassadors vnto the cities and sent Titus Quintius Flaminius amonge others who kept the greatest parte of the people from rebellinge that were easily drawen to geue care to this innouation as we haue expressed more amply in his life and Cato beinge sent Ambassador also perswaded the CORINTHIANS those of PATRAS and the AEGIANS and made them sticke still to the ROMAINES and continued a long time at ATHENS Some say they finde an oration of his wrytten in the Greeke tongue which he made before the ATHENIANS in commendacion of their auncesters wherein he sayd he tooke great pleasure to see ATHENS for the beauty and statelinesse of the city But this is false For he spake vnto the ATHENIANS by an interpreter though he coulde haue vttered his oration in the Greeke tongue if he had bene disposed but he did like the lawes and customes of his owne contrie and the ROMAINE tongue so well that he laughed at them that would praise and commend the Greeke tongue As he did once mocke Posthumius Albinus who wrote an history in the Greeke tongue praying the readers in his preface to beare with him if they founde any imperfection in the tongue mary sayd Cato he had deserued pardon in deede if he hadde bene forced to haue wrytten his story in the Greeke tonge by order of the states of GREECE called the counsel of the Amphictyōs They say the ATHENIANS wondered to heare his redy tongue For what he had vttered quickely in few words vnto the interpreter the interpreter was driuen to deliuer them againe with great circūstances many words So that he left them of this opinion that the GREECIANS words lay all in their lippes and the ROMAINES wordes in their heades Now kinge Antiochus kept all the straightes and narrow passages of the mountaines called THERMOPYLES beinge the ordinary way and entry into GREECE and had fortified them as well with his army that camped at the foote of the mountaine as also with walles and trenches he had made by hande besides the naturall strength fortification of the mount it selfe in sundry places and so he determined to remaine there trusting to his owne strength and fortifications aforesayed and to turne the force of the warres some other way The ROMAINES also they dispayred vtterly they should be able any way to charge him before But Cato remembringe with him selfe the compasse the PERSIANS hadde fetched about before time likewise to enter into GREECE he departed one night from the campe with parte of the army to proue if he could finde the very compasse about the barbarous people had made before But as they climed vp the mountaine their guide that was one of the prisoners taken in the contrie lost his way and made them wander vp and downe in maruelous steepe rockes and crooked wayes that the poore souldiers were in maruelous ill taking Cato seeing the daunger they were brought into by this lewde guide commaunded all his souldiers not to sturre a foote from thence and to tary him there and in the meane time he went him selfe alone and Lucius Manlius with him a lustie man and nimble to climbe apon the rockes and so went forwarde at aduenture takinge extreame and vncredible paine in as much daunger of his life grubbing all night in the darke without moone light through wilde Olyue trees and high rockes that let them they coulde not see before them neither could tell whether they went vntill they stumbled at the length vppon a litle pathe way which went as they thought directly to the foote of the mountaine where the campe of the enemies lay So they set vppe certeine markes and tokens vppon the highest toppes of the rockes they coulde choose by view of eye to be discerned furthest of vpon the mountaine called Callidromus And when they had done that they returned backe againe to fetche the souldiers whom they led towardes their markes they had set vp vntill at the length they founde their pathe waye againe where they putte their souldiers in order to marche Now they went not farre in this pathe they founde but the way failed them straight and brought them to a bogge but then they were in worse case then before and in greater feare not knowinge they were so neere their enemies as in deede they were The day began to breake a litle and one of them that marched formest thought he hearde a noyse and that he saw the GREEKES campe at the foote of the rockes and certeine souldiers that kept watch there Whereupon Cato made them stay willed only the FIRMANIANS to come vnto him and none but them bicause he had founde them faithfull before and very ready to obey his commaundement They were with him at a trise to know his pleasure so Cato said vnto them My fellowes I must haue some of our enemies taken prisoners that I may know of them who they be that keepe that passage what number they be what order they keepe howe they are camped and armed and after what sorte they determine to fight with vs The waye to worke this feate standeth apon swiftnes and hardines to runne apon them sodainely as Lyons doe which beinge naked feare not to runne into the middest of any hearde of fearfull beastes He had no sooner spoken these wordes but the FIRMANIAN souldiers beganne to runne downe the mountaine as they were apon those that kept the watch and so setting apon them they beinge out of order made them flie and tooke an armed man prisoner When they had him they straight brought him vnto Cato who by othe of the prisoner was aduertised howe that the strength of their enemies armie was lodged about the persone of the kinge within the straight and valley of the said mountaine and that the souldiers they saw were sixe hundred AETOLIANS all braue souldiers whome they had chosen and appointed to keepe the toppe of the rockes ouer king Antiochus campe When Cato had heard him making small accompt of the matter as well for their small number as also for the ill order they kept he made the
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
towardes the city but scattering wise abroade in the fieldes in euery place he caused the trompet to sound the retreate Then he commaunded the chase to be followed no further for that all the contry thereabout was full of thicke woddes and groues very ill for horsemen and also bicause there were many brookes vallies and quauemyres which they should passe ouer he encamped him selfe presently being yet broade day And so fearinge least his enemies would in the night time draw vnto the city one after an other and by couples he sent a great number of ACHAIANS laid them in ambush amongest the brookes and hilles neere about it which made great slaughter of Nabis souldiers bicause they came not altogether in troupes but scatteringly one after an other as they fled one here an other there and so fell into their enemies handes as birdes into the fowlers net These acts made Philopoemen singularly beloued of the GREECIANS and they did him great honor in all their Theaters and common assemblies Whereat Titus Quintius Flaminius of nature very ambitious and couetous of honor did much repine and was enuious at the matter thinking that a Consul of ROME should haue place honor amongest the ACHAIANS before a meane gentleman of ARCADIA And he imagined he had deserued better of all GREECE then Philopoemen had considering howe by the onely proclamation of an heraulde he had restored GREECE againe to her auncient liberty which before his comminge was subiect vnto kinge Philip and vnto the MACEDONIANS Afterwardes Titus Quintius made peace with the tyran Nabis Nabis was shortely after very traiterously slaine by the AETOLIANS Whereuppon the citie of SPARTA grew to a tumult and Philopoemen straight taking the occasion went thither with his army and handeled the matter so wisely that partely for loue and partely by force he wanne the city ioyned it vnto the tribe of the ACHAIANS So was he maruelously commended and esteemed of the ACHAIANS for this notable victory to haue wonne their tribe and communalty of famous a city and of so great estimacion For the city of SPARTA was no smale encrease of their power and being ioyned as a member of ACHAIA Moreouer he wan by this meanes the loue and good will of all the honest men of LACEDAEMON of the hope they had to finde him a protector and defender of their liberty Wherefore when the tyran Nabis house and goodes were solde as forfitted to the state they resolued in their counsell to make him a present of the money therof which amounted to the summe of sixe score talents and sent Ambassadors purposely vnto him to offer it him Then Philopoemen shewed himselfe plainely to be no counterfeate honest man but a good man in deede For first of all there was not one of all the LACEDAEMONIANS that durst presume to offer him this money but euery man was afrayed to tell him of it and euery body that was appointed to do it made some excuse or other for them selues Notwithstandinge in the ende they made one Timolaus to take the matter vpon him who was his familiar frend and also his hoste And yet the same Timolaus when he came vnto MEGALIPOLIS was lodged entertained in Philopoemenes house did so much reuerence him for his wise talke and conuersation for his moderate diet and iust dealing with all men that he sawe there was no likely possibility to corrupt him with money so as he durst not once open his mouth to speake to him of the present he had brought him but founde some other occasion to excuse the cause of his comminge vnto him And beinge sent vnto him againe the second time he did euen as much as at the first time And making a third proofe he ventured at the last to open the matter vnto him and told him the good will the city of SPARTA did beare him Philopoemen became a glad man to heare it and when he had heard all he had to say to him he went him selfe vnto the citie of SPARTA There he declared vnto the counsell that it was not honest men and their good frends they should seeke to winne and corrupt with money considering they might commaund their vertue vpon any occasion without cost vnto them but that they should seeke to bribe naughty men with money and such as by seditious orations in counsell did mutine and put a whole citie in vprore to the ende that hauing their mouthes stopped with giftes they should trouble them the lesse in the common wealth For said he it is more necessarie to stoppe your enemies mouthes and to sowe vp their lippes from libertie of speaking then it is to keepe your frendes from it So noble a man was Philopoemen against all couetousnesse of money Shortely after the LACEDAEMONIANS beginning to stirre againe Diophanes who was then General of the ACHAIANS beinge aduertised of it beganne to prepare to punish them The LACEDAEMONIANS on the other side preparinge for the warres did set all the contry of PELOPONNESVS in armes Hereupon Philopoemen sought to pacifie Diophanes anger declaring vnto him that king Antiochus and the ROMAINES being at warres together at that present time and they both hauing puisant armies one against an other in the middest of GREECE it was meete for a good Generall and wise gouernor to haue an eye to their doings to be carefull of the same and to beware that he did not trouble or alter any thinge within his contry at that instant but then rather to dissemble it and not to seeme to heare any fault whatsoeuer they did Diophanes would not be perswaded but entred the territories of LACEDAEMON with a great army and Titus Quintius Flaminius with him and they together marched directly towardes the city of SPARTA Philopoemen was so madde with their doings that he tooke apon him an enterprise not very lawfull nor altogether iust neuerthelesse his attempt proceeded of a noble minde and great corage For he got into the citie of SPARTA and beinge but a priuate persone kept out the General of the ACHAIANS the Consull of the ROMAINES for entring the city when he had pacified all troubles and seditions in the same he deliuered it vp againe as it was before into the handes of the communaltie of the ACHAIANS Neuerthelesse him selfe being afterwardes Generall of the ACHAIANS did compell the LACEDAEMONIANS to receiue those home againe whom they had banished for certaine faultes and did put foure score naturall borne citizens of SPARTA vnto death as Polybius wryteth Or three hundred and fifty as Aristocrates an other historiographer reciteth Then he pulled downe the walles of the city and rased them to the grounde and tooke away the most parte of their territories and gaue them to the MEGALOPOLITANS All those whome the tyrannes had made free denizens of SPARTA he compelled them to departe the contry of LACEDAEMON and forced them to dwell in ACHAIA three thousand only excepted who would
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
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
selfe same instant serued the ITALIANS horse in the like manner so as both their horses fell dead to the ground Howbeit Pyrrus men that were about him saued him presently and flew the ITALIAN in the fielde although he fought it out right valliantly The ITALIANS name was Oplacus borne in the city of FERENTVM and was Captaine of a bande of men of armes This mischaunce made kinge Pyrrus looke the better to him selfe afterwardes and seeinge his horsemen geue backe sent presently to hasten his footemen forward whom he straight set in order of battell and deliuering his armor and cloke to one of his familiars called Megacles and being hidden as it were in Megacles armor returned againe to the battell against the ROMAINES who valiantly resisted him so that the victory depended longe in doubt For it is sayd that both the one side and the other did chase and was chased aboue seuen times in that conflict The chaunginge of the kinges armor serued very well for the safety of his owne persone howebeit it was like to haue marred all and to haue made him loose the fielde For many of his enemies set vppon Megacles that ware the kings armor and the partie that slue him dead and threw him starke to the grounde was one Dexius by name who quickely snatched of his head peece tooke away his cloke and ranne to Leuinus the Consul crying out alowde that he had slaine Pyrrus and withall shewed foorth the spoyles he supposed to haue taken from him Which being caried about through all the bands openly shewed from hand to hand made the ROMAINES maruelous ioyfull and the GREECIANS to the contrary both afeard and right sorowfull vntill such time as Pyrrus hearing of it went and passed alongest all his bandes bare headed and bar 〈…〉 holdinge vp his hande to his souldiers and geuinge them to vnderstande with his owne voyce that it was him selfe The elephantes in the ende were they in deede that wanne the battell and did most distresse the ROMAINES for their horses seeing them a farre of were sore afrayed and durst not abide them but caried their masters backe in despite of them Pyrrus at the sight thereof made his THESSALIAN horsemen to geue a charge apon them whilest they were in this disorder and that so lustely as they made the ROMAINES flie and susteine great slaughter For Dionysius wryteth that there dyed few lesse then fifteene thowsand ROMAINES at that battell But Hieronymus speaketh onely of seuen thowsande And of Pyrrus side Dionysius wryteth there were slaine thirteene thowsande But Hieronymus sayth lesse then foure thowsande howebeit they were all of the best men of his army and those whome most be trusted King Pyrrus presently hereupon also tooke the ROMAINES campe which they forsooke and wan many of their cities from their allyance spoyled and ouercame much of their contry Insomuch as he came within six and thirty mile of ROME whither came to his aide as confederates of the TARENTINES the LVCANIANS the SAMNITES whom he rebuked bicause they came to late to the battel Howbeit a man might easily see in his face that he was not a litle glad and proude to haue ouerthrowen so great an army of the ROMAINES with his owne men and the aide of the TARENTINES onely On thóther side the ROMAINES hartes were so great that they would not depose Leuinus from his Consullshippe notwithstandinge the losse he had receiued and Caius Fabricius sayed openly that they were not the EPIROTES that had ouercomen the ROMAINES but Pyrrus had ouercome Leuinus meaning thereby that this ouerthrow chaunced vnto them more through the subtilty and wise conduction of the Generall then through the valliant feates and worthines of his army And hereuppon they speedily supplied their legyons againe that were minished with other newe souldiers in the dead mens place and leauied a fresh force besides speaking brauely and fiercely of this warre like men whose hartes nothinge appawled Whereat Pyrrus maruelinge much thought good first to send to the ROMAINES to proue if they would geue any eare to an offer of peace knowing right well that the winning of the city of ROME was no easie matter to cōpasse or attaine with that strength he presently had and also that it would be greatly to his glory if he could bring them to peace after this his valliant victory And hereupon he sent Cineas to ROME who spake with the chiefest of the city and offred presentes to them and their wiues in the behalfe of the king his master Howbeit neither man nor woman would receiue any at his handes but aunswered all with one voyce that if the peace might be general to all they all priuately woulde be at the kinges commaundement and woulde be glad of his frendshippe Moreouer when Cineas had talked in open audience before the Senate of many curteous offers and had deliuered them profitable capitulacions of peace they accepted none nor shewed any affection to geue care vnto them although he offered to deliuer them their prisoners home againe without raunsome that had bene taken at the battell and promised also to aide them in the conquest of ITALIE requiring no other recompence at their handes sauing their goodwills only to his master assurance for the TARENTINES that they should not be annoyed for any thinge past without demaunde of other matter Neuertheless in the ende when they had hearde these offers many of the Senators yeelded and were willinge to make peace alleaginge that they had already lost a great battell and howe they looked for a greater when the force of the confederates of ITALIE should ioyne together with king Pyrrus power But Appius Claudius a famous man who came no more to the Senate nor delt in matters of state at all by reason of his age and partely bicause he was blinde when he vnderstoode of king Pyrrus offers and of the common brute that ranne through the city howe the Senate were in minde to agree to the capitulacions of peace propounded by Cineas he could not abide but caused his seruantes to cary him in his chayer apon their armes vnto the Senate dore his sonnes and sonnes in law taking him in their armes caried him so into the Senate house The Senate made silence to honor the comming in of so notable worthy a personage and he so soone as they had sette him in his seate beganne to speake in this sorte Hitherunto with great impacience my Lordes of ROME haue I borne the losse of my sight but now I would I were also as deafe as I am blinde that I might not as I doe heare the 〈…〉 rte of your dishonorable consultacions determined vpon in Senate which tende to subscribe the glorious fame and reputacion of ROME What is now become of all your great and mighty bragges you blased abroade through the whole worlde that if Alexander the great himselfe had come into ITALIE in the time that our fathers had bene in
letter were these Caius Fabricius and Quintus AEmylius Consuls of ROME vnto king Pyrrus greeting You haue oh king made vnfortunate choise both of your frendes and of your enemies as shall appeare vnto you by reading of this letter which one of yours hath wrytten vnto vs for you make warres with iust and honest men and do your selfe trust altogether the wicked and vnfaithfull Hereof therfore we haue thought good to aduertise you not in respect to pleasure you but for feare least the misfortune of your death might make vs vniustly to be accused imagining that by trechery of treason we haue sought to end this warre as though by valliantnesse we coulde not otherwise atchieue it Pyrrus hauing red this letter and proued the contentes thereof true executed the Phisitian as he had deserued and to requite the aduertisement of the Consulls he sent Fabricius and the ROMAINES their prisoners without payinge of raunsome and sent Cineas againe vnto them to proue if he could obtaine peace Howbeit the ROMAINES bicause they would neither receiue pleasure of their enemies and least of all reward for that they consented not vnto so wicked a deede did not only refuse to take their prisoners of free gift but they sent him againe so many SANNITES and TARENTINES And furthermore for peace and his frendshippe they would geue no eare to it before the warres were ended and that he had sent away his army againe by sea into his kingdome of EPIRVS Wherefore Pyrrus seing no remedy but that he must needes fight an other battell after he had somewhat refreshed his army drewe towardes the citie of ASCVLVM where he fought the seconde time with the ROMAINES and was brought into a maruelous ill grounde for horsemen by a very swift running riuer from whence came many brookes and deepe marishes insomuch as his elephantes could haue no space nor ground to ioine with the battel of the footemen by reason wherof there was a great number of men hurt and slaine on both sides And in the ende the battell being fought out all day longe the darke night did seuer them but the next morninge Pyrrus to winne the aduantage to fight in the plaine field where he might preuaile with the force of his elephantes sent first certaine of his bandes to sease vpon the naughty ground they had fought on the day before And by this policy hauing brought the ROMAINES into the plaine field he thrust in amongest his elephants store of shot and slingmen and then made his army marche being very well set in order with great furie against his enemies They missinge thother dayes turninges and places of retyre were now compelled to fight all on fronte in the plaine fielde and striuing to breake into the battell of Pyrrus footemen before the elephantes came they desperately preaced in apon their enemies pykes with their swordes not caring for their owne persones what became of them but only looked to kill and destroy their enemies In the ende notwithstandinge after the battell had holden out very long the ROMAINES lost it and they first beganne to breake and flie on that side where Pyrrus was by reason of the great force and furie of his charge and much more through the violence of the elephantes against which the ROMAINES valliantnes nor corage coulde ought preuaile but that they were driuen to geue them place much like the rage of surging waues or terrible tremblinge of the earth rather then tary to be troden vnder feete and ouerthrowen by them whome they were not able to hurte againe but be by them most greuously martyred and their troubles thereby yet nothinge eased The chase was not long bicause they fled but into their campe and Hieronymus the historiographer writeth that there died six thowsande men of the ROMAINES and of Pyrrus parte about three thowsande fiue hundred and fiue as the kinges owne Chronicles doe witnesse Neuerthelesse Dionysius makes no mencion of two battells geuen neere vnto the city of ASCVLVM nor that the ROMAINES were certainely ouerthrowen howbeit he confirmeth that there was one battell only that continued vntil sunne set and that they scarcely seuered also when night was come on Pyrrus being hurte on the arme with a speare and his cariage robbed and spoiled by the SAMNITES besides And further that there died in this battell aboue fifteene thowsande men as well of Pyrrus side as of the ROMAINES parte and that at the last both the one and the other did retyre And some say that it was at that time Pyrrus aunswered one who reioyced with him for the victory they had wonne if we winne an other of the price quod he we are vtterly vndone For in dede thē had he lost the most parte of his army he brought with him out of his realme and all his frendes and Captaines in manner euery one or at the least there lacked litle of it and besides that he had no meanes to supplie them with other from thence and perceiued also that the confederates he had in ITALIE beganne to waxe colde Where the ROMAINES to the contrary did easily renue their army with freshe souldiers which they caused to come from ROME as neede required much like vnto a liuely spring the head whereof they had at home in their contry and they fainted not at all for any losses they receiued but rather were they so much the more hotly bent stowtely determining to abide out the warres what euer betyde And thus whilest Pyrrus was troubled in this sorte newe hopes and newe enterprises were offred vnto him that made him doubtful what to do For euē at a clap came Ambassadors to him out of SICILIA offering to put into his handes the cities of SYRACVSA of AGRIGENTVM and of the LEONTINES and beseeching him to aide them to driue the CARTHAGINIANS out of the I le thereby to deliuer them from all the tyrannes And on the other side also newes was brought him from GREECE howe Ptolomie surnamed the lightning was slaine and all his army ouerthrowen in battell against GAVLES and that now he shoulde come in good hower for the MACEDONIANS who lacked but a king Then he cursed his hard fortune that presented him all at once such sundry occasions to doe great thinges and as if both enterprises had bene already in his hande he made his accompt that of necessitie he must loose one of them So long debating the matter with him selfe which of the two wayes he should conclude vppon in the ende he resolued that by the warres of SICILIA there was good meane to attaine to the greater matters considering that AFRICKE was not farre from them Wherefore disposinge him selfe that way he sent Cineas thither immediatly to make his way and to speake to the townes and cities of the contry as he was wont to doe and in the meane time left a strong garrison in the city of TARENTVM to kepe it at his deuotion wherewith the TARENTINES were very angry For
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
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
being to he compared in iustice valliancy and greatnes of corage with the most excellentest GREECIANS in his time dyed shortly after in a battell by sea which he lost vppon the Iles ARGINVCES Wherefore the consederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS seeing that their state was in declining they all together sent an Ambassade vnto SPARTA by whom they made request to the counsell that they would send Lysander againe for their Admirall promising that they would do all things with better corage goodwill vnder his conduction then they would vnder any other Captaine they could sende them So much did Cyrus also wryte vnto them But bicause there was an expresse law forbidding that one man should be twise Admirall and besides they being willing to graunt the request of their confederats made one Aracus their Admirall but in effect gaue Lysander the whole authoritie of all thinges Who was maruelous welcome vnto them and specially vnto the heades and rulers of cities which long before had wished for his comming bicause that by his meanes they hoped to make their authority greater and altogether to take away the authority from the people But they that loued plaine dealing and open magnahimitie in the manners of a gouernor and generall when they came to compare Lysander with Callicratidas they founde that Lysander had a fine subtill head and did more in warres with his policy and subtiltie then by any other meanes And moreouer that he estemediustice when it fell out proffitable and tooke profit for iustice and honestie not thinking that plaine dealing was of better force then crafte but measuring the value of the tone and thother by the profit that came out of them and mockinge of them that sayed that the race of Hercules should not make warres with craft and subtilty For sayd he when the lyons skin will not serue we must help it with the case of a foxe And hereunto agreeth that which they wryte he did in the citie of MILETVM For his frendes and familiars to whome he had promised aide for destruction of the peoples authority and to driue their enemies out of the city they hauing chaunged their mindes and being reconciled vnto their aduersaries he openly made great showe of gladnes and seemed as though he would helpe to agree them together but secretly being alone he tooke them vp sharply and told them that they were cowards to doe it and did procure them to the contrarie to set apon the people And then when he vnderstoode that there was commocion among them in the citie he ranne thither sodainly as it were to appease it But when he was also comen into the citie the first he met with of them that would alter the state of gouernment and take the authority from the people he fell out withall and gaue them rough wordes commaunding with extreamitie that they should fellow him as though he would haue done some great punishment And againe meeting with them on the contrary parte he willed them also that they should not be afrayed nor dout that any man should doe them hurte where he was This was a wicked and malicious practise of him to stay the chiefest of them that were most affected to the popular faction to the ende that afterwardes he might put them all to death as he did For they that trusting to his words remained quiet in the city were all put to death Moreouer Androclidas touching this matter hath left in wryting that which Lysander was wont to say by the which it appeareth that he made very litle reckening to be periured For he sayd that children should be deceiued with the play of kayles and men with others of men following therein Polycrates the tyran of SOMOS but without reason for he was a lawfull Captaine and the other a violent vsurper of tyrannicall power Furthermore it was not done like a true LACONIAN to behaue him selfe towardes the goddes none otherwise then towardes men but rather worse more iniuriously For he that deceiueth his enemy breaketh his othe to him sheweth plainly that he feareth him but that he careth not for god Cyrus therefore hauing sent for Lysander to come to SAâ—DIS to him gaue him money largely and promised him more and bicause he would more honorably shewe the good will he had to gratifie him tolde him that if the kinge his father would geue him nothing yet he would geue him of his owne And furthermore wheÌ„ all other meanes fayled to helpe him with money that rather then he should lacke he would melt his owne chayer to make money of which he sate in when he gaue audience in matter of iustice being altogether of gold and siluer And to be shorte when he was going into MEDIA to the king his father he gaue Lysander power to receiue the taxes and ordinary tributes of the cities vnder his gouernment and made him Lieutenaunt of all his contry And lastly bidding him farewell praied him that he woulde not geue battell by sea vnto the ATHENIANS vntil he returned from the courte and that before his comming againe he woulde haue authoritie to leauie a greate nomber of shippes aswell out of PHOENICIA as out of CICILIA Wherfore whilest Cyrus was in his iorney Lysander not being able to fight with his enemies with like nomber of shippes nor also to lye still and doe nothing with so good a number of gallyes went and scowred the seas where he tooke certaine Ilandes and robbed also AEGINA and Sâ—LAMINA From thence he went landed on the firme lande in the contrye of ATTICA and did his dutie there vnto Agis king of LACEDAEMONIA who came purposely from the forte of Decelea to the sea side to see him bicause their armye by lande also shoulde see what power they had by sea and howe it ruled more by sea then they woulde Neuertheles being aduertised that the fleete of the ATHENIANS followed harde after him he tooke an other course to flye backe againe into ASIA by the Iles and returninge againe founde all the country of HELLESPONT without men of warre So he laied siege before the citie of LAMPSACVS and did assault it with his gallies by sea and Thorax being come thither also at the selfe same time in great hast with his armie by land gaue thassault on his side Thus was the citie taken by force which Lysander left to the spoile of the souldiers Now in the meane time the fleete of the ATHENIANS which was a hundred and foure score saile came to an ancker before the citie of ELEVNTE in the contrie of CHERRONESVS and newes being broughte them that the city of LAMPSACVS was taken they came with all spede possible vnto the citie of SESTOS where getting freshe acates and vittelles they coasted all alongest the coast vnto a certaine place called the goates riuer directly ouer against the fleete of their enemies which lay yet at ancker before the citie of LAMPSACVS Now there was a captaine
was slaine at that time moe Captaines than in all the other warres of GREECE together all which were at the length brought to ende and determined by the good wisedome and conduction of one onely man And therefore some thought that this great ouerthrowe was geuen by the gods and sayd that at the departure of Lysanders fleete out of the hauen of LAMPSACVS to get set apon the fleete of the enemies they perceaued ouer Lysanders galley the two fires which they call the starres of Castor and Pollux the one on the toneside of the galley and the other on thother side They say also that the fall of the stone was a token that did signifie this great ouerthrow For about that time as many hold opinion there fell out of the ayer a maruelous great stone in the place they call the goates riuer which stone is seene yet vnto this day holden in great reuerence by the inhabitauntes of the citie of CHERRONESVS It is sayd also that Anaxagoras did prognosticate that one of the bodies tyed vnto the vaulte of the heauen should be pluckt away and should fall to the ground by a slyding shaking that should happen For he sayd that the starres were not in their proper place where they were first created considering that they were heauy bodies and of the nature of stone howebeit that they did shine by reflection of the fire elementory had bene drawen vp thither by force where they were kept by the great violēce of the circuler motion of the element euen as at the beginning of the world they had bene stayed let from falling downe beneath at that time when the separation was made of the colde and heauy bodies from the other substaunce of the vniuersal world There is an other opinion of certaine Philosophers where there is more likelyhoode then in that For they say that those which we call falling starres be no fluxions nor deriuacions of the fire elementorie which are put out in the ayer in a manner so soone as they be lighted nor also an inflammation or cōbustion of any parte of the ayer which by her to ouermuch quantity doth spread vpwardes but they are celestiall bodies which by some slackenes of strength or falling from the ordinary course of heauen are throwen and cast downe here beneath not alwayes in any parte of the earth inhabited but more ofter abroade in the great Occean sea which is the cause that we do not see them Notwithstanding Anaxagoras words are confirmed by Damachus who writeth in his booke of religion that the space of three score and fifteene yeares together before that this stone did fall they saw a great lumpe of fier continually in the ayer like a clowde inflamed the which taried not in any one place but went and came with diuerse broken remouings by the driuing whereof there came out lightnings of fire that sell in many places and gaue light in falling as the starres do that fall In the end when this great body of fire fell in that parte of the earth the inhabitants of the contrie after that they were a litle boldened from their feare and wonder came to the place to see what it was and they found no manner of shew or appearaunce of fire but only a very great stone lying vpon the ground but nothing in comparison of the least parte of that which the compasse of this bodie of fire did shew if we may so name it Sure herein Damachus wordes had neede of fauorable hearers But againe if they be true then he vtterly comuteth their argumentes that maintaine that it was a peece of a rocke which the force of a boysterous winde did teare from the toppe of a mountaine and caried in the ayer so long as this hurle winde continued but so soone as that was downe and calme againe the stone fell immediatly Neither doe we say that this lightning bodie which appeared so many dayes in the element was very fire in deede which comming to dissolue and to be put out did beget this violent storme and boysterous wind in the element that had the force to teare the stone in sunder to cast it downe Neuertheles this matter requireth better discourse in some other booke then this But now to our story Whē the three thowsand ATHENIANS that were taken prisoners at that ouerthrow were condemned by the counsell to be put to death Lysander calling Philocles one of the Captaines of the ATHENIANS asked him what paine he would iudge him worthy of that gaue the citizens so cruell wicked counsell Philocles being nothing abashed to see him selfe in that miserie aunswered him Accuse not them that haue no iudge to heare their cause but since the goddes haue geuen thee grace to be conqueror doe with vs as we would haue done with thee if we had ouercome thee When he had sayd so he went to washe him selfe and then put on a fayer cloke vpon him as if he should haue gone to some feast and went lustely the formest man to execution leading his contrie men the way as Theophrastus wryteth After this done Lysander with all his fleete went by all the cities of the sea coast where he commaūded so many ATHENIANS as he founde that they should get them to ATHENS letting them vnderstand that he would not pardone a man of them but put them all to death as many as he found out of their city And this he did of policie to bring them all within the precinct of the walles of ATHENS bicause he might so much the sooner famish them for lacke of vittells for otherwise they would haue troubled him sore if they had had wherewithall to haue maintayned a long siege But in all the cities as he passed by if they were gouerned by the authority of the people or if that there were any other kinde of gouernment he left in euery one of them a LACEDAEMONIAN Captaine or gouernor with a counsell of tenne officers of them that had bene before in league and amity with him the which he did as well in the cities that had euer bene confederates and frendes vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS as in them that not long before had bene their enemies So he went sayling all alongest the coastes fayer and softely making no haste stablishing in manner a generall principality ouer all GREECE For he did not make them officers that were the richest the noblest or honestest men but such as were his frendes out of those tribes which he had placed in euery citie to them he gaue authority to punish and reward such as they liked of and would be present him selfe in persone to helpe them to put those to death whome they would execute or otherwise expulse or banish their contrie But this gaue the GREECIANS small hope of good or gratious gouernment vnder the rule of the LACEDAEMONIANS Wherefore me thinkes that Theopompus the comicall Poet doted when he compared the
LACEDAEMONIANS vnto tauerners wines saying that they had geuen the GREECIANS a tast of the sweete drinke of libertie and that afterwardes they had mingled it with vineger For the tast they gaue the GREECIANS of their gouernment from the beginning was very sharpe vnto them bicause Lysander tooke the rule and authority of gouernment out of the peoples handes and gaue it vnto a fewe of the boldest and most seditious men in euery citie Thus hauing spent a great time in this voyage to make these alterations he sent newes before to LACEDAEMON that he was comming with two hundred saile He spake also with the kinges Agis and Pausanias in the contry of ATTICA perswading him selfe that he should winne the city of ATHENS at the first assault But when he saw his expectation failed that the ATHENIANS did valliantly resist him he returned once againe with his fleete into ASIA where he made an end of chaunging and altering the maner of gouernment through euery city in equall maner stablishing a counsell of tenne officers only in euery one of them putting euery where many citizens to death and banishing many also Among others he draue all the SAMIANS out of their contry and restored againe all them that had bene banished before and the city of SESTOS also being yet in the ATHENIANS handes he tooke it from them And furthermore he would not suffer the naturall SESTIANS to dwell there but draue them away and gaue their citie their houses and landes vnto shippe maisters officers of gallies and galley slaues that had bene in the warres with him But therein the LACEDAEMONIANS were against him and this was the first thing that they did forbid him for they restored the SESTIANS against his will vnto their landes and goodes againe But as the GREECIANS were very much offended to see the partes Lysander played so were they all very glad againe to see these others which he afterwardes did For he restored the AEGINITES againe to their landes and houses who had bene put form them a long time He restored also the MELIANS and the SCIONAEIANS to their landes againe which the ATHENIANS had gotten from them and draue out the ATHENIANS Furthermore Lysander being aduertised that the citizens and inhabitantes of ATHENS were pinched sore for lacke of vittells he returned againe and came into the hauen of PIRAEA by meanes whereof he kept the citie so straight that he made them yeelde vppon such condicions as he him selfe would Howbeit there are certaine LACEDAEMONIANS that say Lysander wrote vnto the EPHORES the city of ATHENS is taken And that the Ephori wrote againe vnto him it is well that it is taken But this is but a tale deuised to make the matter seeme better for in deede the capitulacions which the Epâ—â—ri sent vnto him were these The Lordes of the counsell of LACEDAEMON haue thus dereed that ye doe rase the fortification of the hauen of PIRAEA That ye do ouerthrow also the long wall that ioyneth the hauen to the citie That ye yeelde vp and redeliuer all the cities which ye doe holde and content your selues with your liues and contry only This doing ye shall haue peace so that ye performe our demaundes That ye shall receiue those which are banished for the number of shippes ye shall dispose of them as we shall will you The ATHENIANS agreed vnto the articles contained in that bill following the counsell of Theramenes the sonne of Agnon Who when a young orator called Cleomenes did openly aske him in anger if he were so bold to dare to doe or say any thing contrary vnto that which Themistocles had done before time to assent vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS that the walle which he built in despite of them should by their coÌ„maundement now be rased he aunswered him openly againe young man my frend I doe nothing contrary to Themistocles doinges For like as he heretofore did build the walle for the safety and benefit of all the citizens and people that were in ATHENS at that time euen so doe we that are here nowe for the selfe same cause plucke it downe and rase it And if it be true that walles doe make cities happy then it must needes follow that the city of SPARTA which neuer had any walles should be the vnfortunatest of all other So Lysander hauing receiued all the ATHENIANS shippes but twelue the walles of the city also to vse them at his pleasure on the sixteenth day of march on which day in olde time the ATHENIANS had wonne the battell by sea within the straight of SALAMINA against the king of PERSIA he counselled them straight to chaunge the forme of their gouernment The people could not brooke that motion and were maruelously offended withall Whereuppon Lysander sent to declare vnto them that they had broken the articles of the peace made betwene them for that their walles were yet standing the tenne dayes being expired in which they had promised to ouerthrowe them and therefore that he would once againe referre it to the determination of the counsell howe they should be vsed that had broken the articles and couenaunts of the first peace Other say that immediatly he referred it vnto the deliberacion of the counsell of their confederates that is to say whether they should altogether destroy the city and make the inhabitantes thereof slaues and bondmen or no. In this counsell it is reported that there was a THEBAN called Erianthus whose opinion was that they should vtterly rase the city make the contry a desert so that it should neuer after serue for other thing but for pasturage of beastes But during this dyet counsell there was a banket made whereunto all the Captaines and chiefe officers of the army being bidden there was a PHOCIAN a singer of songes that sang the entry of the Chorus to the tragedy of Electra made by the Poet Euripides which beganne in this sorte Electra noble Daine and daughter to a king Euen Agamemnon king of Greece vvhose fame so vvide did ring I come novv to your courtes vvhich lye both vvide and vvast By spoyle of vvarres depopulate destroyed and disgrust These words moued all the hearers with coÌ„passion so that the most parte of them thought it were too great a sinne to destroy so noble a city which brought forth so many famous wise men great persones Wherefore Lysander when the ATHENIANS had submitted theÌ„ selues altogether to his will caused all the women players of pipes or shalmes to come out of the city and gathered all those together which he had in his owne campe also and with the sound of their instruments he made the walles and fortifications of the city of ATHENS to be pulled downe to the very ground and set all their gallies on fire burnt them in the presence of the confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS who daunced and played in the meane season with garlandes of flowers on their heades in token that
that day was a beginning of their full and perfect liberty Immediatly after he chaunged also the state of the gouernment establishing a counsell of thirty Magistrates in the city and other tenne also in the hauen of PIRAEA hauing all equall and like authority and therewithall made Callibius a gentleman of SPARTA Captaine of the castell there and left a good garrison of the LACEDAEMONIANS with him This Callibius one day lift vp his staffe he had in his hande to strike Autolycus withall a strong made man to wrestle whereuppon Xenophon the Philosopher made his booke in olde time called Conuiuium But Autolycus that was a cunning wrestler hauing all the sleights of wrestling sodainly tripped Callibius with his legge and lifting him vp at the armes ende cast him to the ground Howbeit Lysander was not angry with Autolycus for it but reproued Callibius telling him that he should haue remembred if he had bene wise that he had the gouernment ouer free men and not of bonde men Notwithstanding shortly after the thirty gouernors of the city to satisfie Callibius put this Autolycus to death When Lysander had done all these things he tooke sea againe and went into the contry of THRACIA and sent by Gylippus before vnto SPARTA who had bene Captaine and generall of the SYRACVSANE in SICILIA all the golde and siluer that was left in his handes with all the presentes besides which had bene priuately geuen him and with the crownes also that had bene presented him which were maruelous in number as it is to be thought for that many came to present him considering the great power he had and that in maner he was chiefe and sole prince of all GREECE This Gylippus did rippe the seames of euery bagge in the bottome where the money was and tooke a good summe out of euery of them and afterwardes sowed them vp againe not thinking that there had bene a border vppon euery bagge apon the which was declared the number and kindes of gold and siluer that were therein Now when he was come to SPARTA he hid the money he had stolen vnder the house eauinges and went deliuered the bagges he had brought into the handes of the Ephori shewing them Lysanders scale which he had set to euery one of them The Ephori hauing opened the bagges told the money found that the summe agreed not with the borders of the contentes and yet coulde not tell where the fault was But a seruaunt of Gylippus told them in darke wordes saying that vnder the tyles of his masters house there lay a great number of owles Nowe the greatest parte of the coyne of golde and siluer which was curraÌ„t through GREECE was stamped with the marke of an owle by reason of the ATHENIANS Thus Gylippus after so many noble exploytes done in warres committing so shameful vile a dede was banished out of his coÌ„try of LACEDAEMONIA But the wisest men of SPARTA and so deepest iudgement fearing the power of golde and siluer and seeing by proofe of Gylippus doinges that it had such power to make one of their chiefest men to fall through couetousnes they greatly blamed Lysander for bringing of it into LACEDAEMON beseeching the Ephori that they would send all this golde and siluer out of SPARTA as a plague prouocation and wicked baite to make them do euill declaring vnto them that they should vse no other money but their owne only Whereupon they referred all to the wisedome and determination of the counsell Theopompus wryteth that Sciraphidas was he that did moue the counsel of the Ephori in it Howbeit Ephorus calleth him Phlogidâ—â— who was the first that spake against it in the counsell that they should not admit nor receiue into the city of SPARTA any money of golde or siluer but should onely content them selues with their owne contry iron coyne the which first of all comming from the fire redde hotte was quenechd with vineger to th end they should be forged no more nor employed vnto any other vse For it was so eager and brittle by meanes of this temper that they coulde no more conuert it to any other purpose and beside it was very heauie and vnhandsome to remoue considering that a great heape and quantitie of it was but of small value And it seemeth they did vse of olde time containe litle iron money and in some places copper money called Obelisci from whence the small peeces of money now extant are called Oboli whereof six make a Drachma so termed for that it was as much as the hand could gripe Neuerthelesse at the earnest sute of Lysanders frendes that stoode against it and held hard with him it was decreed in the counsell that the money should remaine in the city and ordained that it should be currant onely but for that fayres of the common wealth And if it were found that any priuate man did either locke vp or kepe any money that he should suffer death for it as if Lycurgus when he made his lawes feared gold and siluer and not the couetousnes and auarice which the golde and siluer bringeth with it The which was not taken away so much prohibiting priuate men to haue it as it was ingendred only by a common tolleracion of getting it For the profit which they sawe it brought withall made it to be esteemed and desired For it was vnpossible they should despise a thing priuately for vnprofitable which they saw reckened of commonly as a thing very necessary and that they should thinke it would not serue their turne priuately seeing it so commonly esteemed and desired But we are rather to thinke that priuate mens manners are conformed according to the common vses and customes of cities then that the faultes and viâ—â— of priuate men doe fill cities and common weales with ill qualities And it is more likely that the partes are marred corrupted with an infection of the whole when it falleth out ill then that the partes corrupted should drawe the whole vnto corruption For to the contrary the faultes of a parte destroyed which might be preiudiciall vnto the whole are oftentime â—â—â—dressed and corrected by thother partes whole and entier But they that tooke this resolucion in their counsell at that time to haue money in the common wealth made feare of punishment and of the law to be the outward watchmen of citizens houses to keepe that no money should come in to them But all this while they made no inwarde prouision to kepe the entry of their soules from all passion greedy desires of money by to the contrary they made them all to haue a couetous desire to be rich as if it were a great and honorable thing But for that we haue hertofore in other places reproued the LACEDAEMONIANS And moreouer Lysander caused a statue of brasse to be made like him selfe of the spoile he had gotten of the enemies to set it vp in the citie of
together Lysander prayed him he would write an other letter vnto the Lordes of SPARTA contrary to his first how that he had done him no hurt at all and that he had no cause to complaine of him but he did not remember that he was a CRETAN as the common prouerbe sayeth that could deceaue an other CRETAN For Pharnabazus hauing promised him that he would performe his desire wrote letter openly purporting the effect of Lysanders request but behinde he had an other of contrary effect so like on the out side vnto the other that by sight no man could discerne those froÌ„ the other And when he came to put his seale he chaunged the first with the last that was hidden gaue it him When Lysander came vnto SPARTA he went as the maner is straight to the pallace where the Senate kept and gaue his letters vnto the Ephores thinking that by theÌ„ he should haue bene cleared from all daunger of the greatest accusations they could haue burdened him withall bicause that Pharnabazus was very well thought of of the Lords of LACEDAEMONIA for that he did euer shew him selfe willing and ready to helpe them in all their warres more then any other of the kinges Lieutenauntes of PERSIA The Ephori hauing read this letter they shewed it vnto him Then did Lysander plainly see that the common prouerb was true That Vlysses vvas not subtill alone Thereuppon he went home to his house maruelously troubled But within few dayes after returning to the pallace againe to speake with the Lords of the counsell he told them that he must needes make a voyage vnto the temple of Iupiter Ammon to discharge certaine sacrifices which he had vowed and promised to him before he had wonne the battells Some say that in deede Iupiter Ammon appeared to him in a dreame as he did besiege the city of the APâ—â—ODIANS in the contry of THRACIA and that by his commaundement he raised the siege and charged them of the city that they should thanke Iupiter Ammon and doe sacrifice vnto him by reason whereof they thinke that he ment good faith when he sued for licence to make this voyage into LIBYA to performe the vowes which he had made But the most parte did certainely beleue that he made sure to goe this iorney for a cloke and colour only to absent him selfe bicause he feared the Ephores and that he coulde not endure the yoke and subiection which he must abide remaining at home neither could like to be commaunded And this was the true cause of his sute to goe this voyage much like vnto a horse taken out of a freshe posture and goodly meadowes to bring him into a stable make him to be iorneyed as he was before Neuerthelesse Ephorus writeth an other cause the which I will recite hereafter In the end Lysander hauing hardly obtained licence tooke shippe and crossed saile But during his absence the kinges of LACEDAEMON remembring that he kept all the cities at his commaundement by meanes of the frendes he had in euery city whom he had made chiefe gouernors of the same that by their meanes he came in maner to be absolute prince ouer all GREECE they tooke vppon them to redeliuer the gouernment of the townes and cities againe into the handes of the people and also to put downe his frendes whome he had stablished there And hereupon fell out great insurrection againe For first of all they that were banished from ATHENS hauing surprised and taken the castell of Phyla apon the sodaine did set apon the thirty gouernors tyrans whom Lysander had placed there and ouercame them in battell Whereuppon Lysander straight returned to SPARTA perswaded the LACEDAEMONIANS to referre the gouernment to the number of a few and to punish the insolency of the people So by his procurement they sent first a hundred tallents vnto the thirty tyrans for an aide to maintaine this warre and appointed Lysander him selfe generall But the two kinges of SPARTA enuying him and fearing least he should take the city of ATHENS againe they determined that one of them would go Whereupon Pausanias went thither immediatly who in apparaunce seemed to maintaine the tyrannes against the people but in effect he did his indeuor to appease this warre for feare least Lysander by meanes of his frends and followers should once againe come to haue the city of ATHENS in his power the which he might easily doe And thus hauing agreed the ATHENIANS againe one with an other and pacified all faction and commocion among them he pluckt vp the roote of Lysanders ambition But shortly after the ATHENIANS rebelling againe against the LACEDAEMONIANS Pausanias him selfe was reproued bicause he yelded so much to the boldnes and insolency of the people which were brideled and restrained before by the authority of the small number of gouernors and to the contrary they gaue Lysander the honor to be generall who ruled not in this rebellion to please mens mindes and to content them neither with fond ostentation of glory but seuerely for the profit and commodity of SPARTA It is true he would geue great wordes and was terrible to them that resisted him As he aunswered the AEOIVES one day who contended for their confines with the LACEDAEMONIANS and seemed to alleage the best reasons Euen they sayd he that shall proue the stronger hereby shewing theÌ„ his sword shal be they that shal pleade their cause best for their confines An other time when a MEGARIAN had tolde his minde boldly enough in open counsell he aunswered him thy wordes good frend had neede of a city meaning therby that he was of too meane a towne to vse so great words And to the BOEOTIANS also who were in dout to professe them selues frends or enemies he sent vnto theÌ„ to know if he should passe through the contry with his pykes vpwardes or downewardes And when the CORINTHIANS also were reuolted from their allyance he brought his army harde vnto their walles but when he sawe his men were afrayed and made cursey whether they should goe to the assault or not by chaunce spying a hate comming out of the towne ditches he sayd vnto theme Are ye not ashamed to be afrayed to goe and assault your enemies that are so cowardly and slothfull as hares doe keepe their formes at ease within the circuite of their walles Now king Agis being deceased he left behinde him his brother Agesilaus and his supposed sonne Leotychides Wherefore Lysander that had loued Agesilaus aforetime gaue him counsell to stande for the right of the crowne as lawefull heire and next of the blood discending of the race of Hercules bicause it was suspected that Leotychides was Alcibiades sonne who secretly had kept Timea Agis wife at what time he was banished out of his contry and came then to remaine in SPARTA And Agis selfe also concluding by reckening of the time of his absence that his wife coulde not be with childe by him
made reckening of Leotychides and had openly shewed it all the rest of his life time that he did not acknowledge him for his sonne vntill such time as falling sicke of that disease whereof he died he was caried to the city of HERAEA And there lying in his death bed at the humble sute of Leotychides himselfe and partely at the instant request of his frendes who were importunate with him he did acknowledge Leotychides for his sonne in the presence of diuers whome he prayed to be witnesses vnto the Lordes of LACEDAEMON of his acceptation and acknowledging of him to be his sonne Which they all did in fauor of Leotychides For all that Agesilaus tooke it apon him by the support and maintenaunce of Lysanders fauor Howebeit Diopithes a wise man and knowen to be skilfull in auncient prophecies did great hurt to Agesilaus side by an auncient oracle which he alleaged against a defect Agesilaus had which was his lamenes O Spartan people you vvhich beare high havvty hartes And looke a loft take heede I say looke vvell vnto your martes Least vvhiles you stande vpright and guide your state by grace Some halting kingdom priuily come creeping in a pace By that meanes might you moue great troubles carke and care And mischiefes heape vpon your head before you be avvare And plonged should you be euen ouer head and eares VVith vvast of vvarres vvhich here on earth doth perish many teares Many by occasion of this oracle fell to take Leotychides parte but Lysander declared vnto them that Diopithes did not conster the meaning of the oracle well For God sayed he cared not whether he halted of one legge or no that should come to be king of LACEDAEMON but in deede the crowne and kingdome should halte and be lame if bastardes not lawfully begotten should come to raigne ouer the true naturall issue and right line of Hercules By these perswasions Lysander with his great countenaunce and authority besides wanne all men to his opinion so that Agesilaus by this meanes was proclaimed king of LACEDAEMON This done Lysander beganne straight to counsell him to make warres in ASIA putting him in hope that he should destroy the kingdome of PERSIA and should come to be the greatest man of the world Moreouer he wrote vnto his frendes in the cities of ASIA that they should send vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS to require king Agesilaus for their generall to make warres against the barbarous people Which they did and sent Ambassadors purposely vnto SPARTA to sue that they might haue him the which was no lesse honor procured vnto Agesilaus by Lysanders meanes then that he did in making him to be chosen king But men ambitious by nature being otherwise not vnapt nor vnfit to commaunde haue this imperfection that through the iealousie of glory they doe commonlie enuie their equalles the which doth greatly hinder them for doing any notable thinges For they take them for their enemies enuying their vertue whose seruice and meanes might helpe them to doe great matters Thus Agesilaus being chosen generall of this enterprise tooke Lysander with him in this iorney amongest the thirty counsellers which were geuen vnto him to assist him and made speciall choyce of him as by whose counsell he hoped most to be gouerned and to haue him neerest about him as his chiefest frende But when they were arriued in ASIA they of the contry hauing no acquaintaunce with Agesilaus seldome spake with him or but litle and to the contrary hauing knowen Lysander of long time they followed him and waited vppon him to his tent or lodging some to honor him bicause they were his frendes others for feare bicause they did mistrust him Euen much like as it falleth out oftentimes in the Theaters when they play tragedies there that he that shall play the person of some messenger or seruaunt shal be the best player and shall haue the best voyce to be heard aboue all others and to the contrary that he which hath the royall bande about his heade and the scepter in his hande a man doth scant heare him speake Euen so fell it out then for all the dignitie due vnto him that commaundeth all was shewed only vnto the counseller and there remained to the king no more but the royall name only of a king without any power Therefore me thinkes that this vndiscreete and importunate ambition of Lysander did well deserue reproofe perhappes to make him only to be cōtented with the second place of honor next vnto the king But for Agesilaus againe through extreame couetousnes and iealousie of glory to cast Lysander altogether of and to set so light by his frende and benefactor that surely became not him neither For first of all Agesilaus neuer gaue Lysander occasion to doe any thinge neither did commit any matter of weight vnto him that might be honorable for him but which is worst of all if he perceiued that he had taken any mens causes in hand and that he did fauor them he did alwayes sende them backe againe into their contry denying their sute without that they coulde obtaine any thing they sued for lesse then the meanest persones that could haue come extinguishing Lysanders credit by litle and litle and taking from him all authority by this meanes Wherefore Lysander perceiuing howe he was thus refused and reiected in all thinges seing that the countenaunce and fauor which he thought to shew vnto his frends fell out hurtfull vnto them left of to solicite their matters any more and prayed them to forbeare to come vnto him or to followe him but to go to the king and vnto those that could doe them better pleasure then him selfe and specially those that honored them When they heard that many desisted to trouble him any more in matters of importaunce but not to doe him all the honor they could and continued still to accompanie him when he went out to walke or otherwise to exercise him selfe the which did aggrauate and increase Agesilaus anger more against him for the enuy he bare vnto his glory And where he gaue very honorable charge commission in the warres oftentimes vnto very meane souldiers to execute or cities to gouerne he appointed Lysander surueyor generall of all the ordinary prouision of vittells and distributer of flesh And then mocking the IONIANS that did honor him so much let them go now sayd he and honor my flesh distributer Wherefore Lysander seeing it high time to speake went vnto Agesilaus and tolde him in few wordes after the LACONIAN manner Truely Agesilaus thou hast learned well to abase thy frendes In deede sayed he againe so haue I when they wil be greater then my selfe and to the contrary they that maintaine and increase my honor and authority it is reason that I esteeme of them Yea mary sayd Lysander but perhappes I haue not done as though sayst Yet I pray thee geue me such an office as I may be least hated most
vnto him as if he had bene in deede Apolloes sonne and that he should openly read them in the presence of many witnesses And among the rest of the prophecies that he should read that specially for the which this long paltry fained drift was framed touching the kingdome of LACEDAEMONIA that it was better and meerelier for the SPARTANS they should choose them for their kinges whome they found the meetest men of all their magistrates But when Selenus was come of full age and brought into GREECE of purpose to performe this practise all the mistery was marde by the fainte heart of one of the players and companions of Lysander who holpe him to countenaunce this deuise who when the matter should haue taken effect shroncke for feare and let the misterie alone This notwithstanding nothing was bewrayed in Lysanders life time till after his death For he dyed before king Agesilaus returned out of ASIA being fallen into warres with BOEOTIA before his death or rather hauing him selfe made GREECE to fall into warres They doe reporte it other way and some lay the fault apon him other apon the THEBANS and other apon then both and they burden the THEBANS withall bicause they did vtterly ouerthrowe the common sacrifices which Agesilaus made in the city of AVLIDE And they say also that Andrâ—â—des and Amphitheus did raise this warre among the GREECIANS being before corrupted with money by the king of PERSIA to bring warres apon the LACEDAEMONIANS in GREECE and beganne to inuade and destroy the contry of the PHOCIANS Other say that Lysander was very angry with the THEBANS bicause they onely of all other their confederates did aske the tenth parte of all the spoyle which was wonne in the warre against the ATHENIANS and that they were not pleased that Lysander had sent the money away vnto SPARTA But aboue all Lysander did malice them most bicause they were the first that made way for the ATHENIANS to be deliuered from thop pression of thirty tyrannes whom he had stablished gouernors in ATHENS and in whose fauor to make them to be dreaded the more the LACEDAEMONIANS had ordained by a common edict that they that were banished and did flee from ATHENS might lawefully be taken and apprehended in what place soeuer they fled vnto and that whosoever should resist or let them to do it they should be proclaimed rebells open enemies vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS Againe to contrary this edict the THEBANS made an other very like meete for the glorious dedes of Bacchus and Hercules their auncestors for whom it was made that euery house and city through the contry of BOEOTIA should be open for the ATHENIANS that would come thither that he that would not helpe a banished man from ATHENS against him that would take him away by force should be fined and amerced at a talent And also if there were any souldiers that went vnto ATHENS through the contrie of BOEOTIA that the THEBANS should not see nor heare it This was no dissimulation to speake of that they should ordaine thinges with so gentle wordes and so meete for the people of GREECE and then that the dedes should not aunswer vnto their edicts proclamations For Thrasybulus and his fellowes of the conspiracie who kept the castell of Phyla they departed from THEBES with armor and money and the THEBANS did helpe them to beginne and practise their enterprise so secretly that it was not discouered These were the causes why Lysander was so earnestly bent against the THEBANS his choller being so extreame by reason of his melancholines that grewe dayly apon him more and more through his age he solicited the EPHORES so that he perswaded them to sende a garrison thither and him selfe taking the charge of them vndertooke the iorney straight with his men But afterwardes they sent kinge Pausanias also with an army thither who was to fetche a great compasse about to enter into the contrie of BOEOTIA by mount Cithaeron and Lysander shoulde goe to meete him through the contry of PHOCIDES with a great company of souldiers besides Now as Lysander went he tooke the city of the ORCHOMENIANS who willingly yeelded them selues to him as soone as he came thither From thence he went to the city of LEBADIA which he spoyled from thence he wrote vnto king Pausanias that departing from PLATEES he should march directly to the city of ALIARTE where he would not faile to meete him the next morning by breake of day at the towne walles These letters were intercepted by certaine skowtes of the THEBANS who met with the messenger that caried them Thus the THEBANS hauing intelligence of their purpose left their citie in custodie vnto the ATHENIANS who were come to aide them and departed out of THEBES about midnight and marched all night with great speede that they came to ALIARTE in the morning a litle before Lysander and put halfe their men into the citie Now for Lysander he was determined at the first to keepe his men apon a hill which is nere to the city and there to tary the comming of king Pausanias But afterwards when he sawe that the day was farre spent and that he came not he could tary no lenger but arming him selfe after he had made an oration vnto the confederates which he had brought with him he marched on with his men in battell ray longer then large by the high way that went vnto the city In the meane season the THEBANS that were left without the city leauing ALIARTE on the left hande did set vppon Lysanders rerewarde of his army against the fountaine called Cissusa where the Poets faine that the nurses of Bacchus did washe him when he came out of his mothers wombe bicause the water that commeth out of it though it be very clere and sweete to drinke hath notwithstanding I can not tell by what meanes a collour like wine and not farre thence there grow great plenty of Styrap trees The which the ALIARTIANS do alleage to proue that Radamanthus heretofore dwelt in that parte doe shew his sepulchre there yet to this day which they call Alea. And hard by that also there is the monumeÌ„t of Alemena which was buried as they say in that place was maried to Radamanthus after the death of Amphitryon But the THEBANS who were within the city with the ALIARTIANS stirred not vntill they sawe that Lysander with the first of his troupe was neere vnto the towne walles then opening the gates on the sodaine they made a salie out vpon Lysander slue him with his soothsaier a few other bicause the most part of the voward fled into the streÌ„gth of the battell Howbeit the THEBANS gaue theÌ„ not ouer so but followed theÌ„ so valiantly that they brake their order made theÌ„ all flie through the mouÌ„taines after they had slaine three thousand of theÌ„ in the field so were there three hundred THEBANS also slaine there who
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
his sword brake in two and yet notwithstanding that he saw him selfe naked diformed of a sword did not for all that giue back but stoode still to it kept the place so long till through him the city was takeÌ„ all apon the talke of these old men So Sylla caused the wall to be pulled downe betwene the haueÌ„ of Piraea the holy haueÌ„ hauing before made the breach very plaine entred into the city about midnight with a wonderfull fearefull order making a maruelous noise with a nuÌ„ber of hornes souÌ„ding of trompets all his army with him in order of battel crying to the sack to the sack kill kill For he had geuen them the towne in spoyle and to put all to the sword The souldiers therefore ran through the streetes with their swords drawen making an vncredible slaughter so that to this daye they be not acknowen nor doe not declare what nomber of persons were slaine but to shew the greatnes of the murder that there was committed the place is yet extaÌ„t to be seene where the blood ranne For besides them that were slaine through all the city the blood of them only that were slaine in the market stede did wet all the ground of Ceramicus euen vnto the very place called Dipylon and some say also that it ranne by the gates into the suburbes of the citie But if the multitude of the people that were slaine in this sorte were great much more or so many at the least it is sayd were those that slue theÌ„ selues for the sorrow coÌ„passion they had to see their coÌ„try in such pityful state supposing certainly that their city was now come to vtter ruine destruction This opinioÌ„ made the noblest men of the city to dispaire of their owne safety feared to liue any lenger bicause they thought they should finde no mercy no moderacion of cruelty in Sylla Notwithstanding partely at the requeâ—â—es of Midias and Calliphon who were banished men from ATHENS and fell at Syllaes feete vpon their knees and partely also at the requests of the ROMAINE Senators that were in his campe who prayed him to pardon the body of the city and the rather for that he had already quenched the thirst of his rauening mind sufficiently well after that he had somwhat sayd in praise of the auncient ATHENIANS he concluded in the end to geue the greater number vnto the smaller and the liuing to the dead Sylla wryteth him selfe in his commentaries that he tooke the city of ATHENS on the very selfe day of the calendes of march which commeth to agree with the first day of the moneth that we call Anthesterion on the which day by chaunce many thinges are done at ATHENS in memory of Noes flood and of the vniuersall destruction of the whole world that was in olde time by rage of waters falling out euen in that very moneth When the city was thus taken the tyran Aristion fled into the castell where he was besieged by Curio whome Sylla left there of purpose about that matter And after he had a great time kept it at the last constrained thereunto for lacke of water yelded The castell was no sooner geuen vp but immediatly by goddes prouidence the weather miraculously altered For the selfe same day and at the very selfe instant that Curio caried the tyran Aristion out of the castell the element being very fayer and clere the clowdes sodainly gathered together there fell such a maruelous glut of raine that all the castell was full of water Shortly after also Sylla hauing gotten the hauen of Piraea burnt the greatest parte of the buildinges amongest others was the arsenall and armory which Philo in old time had caused to be built being of â— straunge and wonderfull edifice In the meane time Taxilles one of the Lieutenaunts of king Mithridates comming from THRACIA and MACEDON with a hundred thowsand footemen tenne thowsand horsemen and foure score and tenne thowsand carts of warre all armed with sythes sent vnto Archelaus to ioyne with him lying yet at ancker in the hauen of Munychiâ— and not willing to leaue the sea nor come to fight with the ROMAINES but seeking rather to draw these warres out in length and to cut of all vittells from his enemies Sylla vnderstanding this drift better then him selfe departed out of the contry of ATTICA a very barren soyle and in deede not able to keepe him in time of peace and went into BOEOTIA wherein most men thought he committed great error to leaue ATTICA which is a very hard contry for horsemen and to go into BOEOTIA a plaine champion and so much the rather bicause he knew well enough that the chiefest strength of the barbarous people consisted in their horsemen and their armed cartes with sythes But to auoyd famine and lacke of vittells as we haue sayd he was compelled to seeke battell Furthermore he had an other cause also that made him afrayed and compelled him to go and that was Hortensius a famous Captaine and very valliant also who brought him aide out of THESSALIE and the barbarous people lay in waite for him in his way in the straight of Thermopyles And these were the causes that made Sylla take his way into BOEOTIA But in the meane time Caphis that was our contry man deceiuing the barbarous people guided Hortensius an other way by mount Parnassus and brought him vnder the city of TITHORA which was not then so great a city as nowe at this present it is but was a castell only scituated vpon the point of a rocke hewen all about whether the PHOCIANS in olde time flying king Xerxes comming vpon them retyred them selues for their safety Hortensius lodged there and there did also both defend and repulse his enemies so long as day light lasted and when the night came on got downe through very hard stony wayes vnto the city of PATRONIDE where he ioyned with Sylla who came to meete him with all his power Thus being ioyned together they camped vpon a hill that standeth about the middest of the plaine of Elatea the soyle was very good and well replenished with great store of trees and water at the foote of the same The hill is called Philobaeotus the nature scituacion whereof Sylla doth maruelously commend When they were camped they seemed but a handfull in the eye of their enemies and no more were they in deede for they had not aboue fifteene hundred horse and lesse then fifteene thowsand footemen Whereupon the other Captaines their enemies against Archelaus minde brought out their bandes into the field and filled all the valley and plaine thereabouts with horsemen with cartes with shieldes and targettes so that the ayer was euen cut a sunder as it were with the violence of the noyse cries of so many sundry nations which altogether did put themselues in battell ray The sumptuousnes of their furniture
not Muraena but went againe to his reliefe and finding that he on his side had also put the enemies to flight followed with him the chase of them that fled There was a maruelous slaughter made in that field of the barbarous people and many of them supposing to haue recouered their campe were slaine by the way so as of all that infinite multitude of fighting men there escaped only tenne thowsande who saued them selues by flying vnto the city of CHALCIDE Sylla for his parte wryteth that he could make reckening of no more but fourteene of his souldiers onely that were slaine whereof there came two againe to him the same night Wherefore in the markes of triumphe which he set vp for tokens of that victory he caused to be wrytten on the toppe thereof Mars victory and Venus signifying thereby that he had ouercome in these warres as much by good fortune as by force policie orâ—â—â— shall discipline These markes of triumphe were set vp for the battell which he wanne â—â—â—e plaine field in that place where Archelaus beganne to flie euen vnto the riuer of Molus. 〈…〉 he set vp an other also in the toppe of mount Thurium where the barbarous people wonder vpon behinde and there is wrytten in Greeke letters that the valliant deedes of Omoloidâ—â— and Anaxidamus gaue way to the winning of this victorie Sylla for the ioy of this great woâ—â—e battell caused musitians to play in the city of THEBES where he builded a stage for all the musitians neere vnto the fountaine OEdipus and certaine noble GREECIANS were appointed iudges of that musicke whom he caused to be sent for out of other cities bicause he â—â—â—tally hated the THEBANS insomuch as he tooke from them halfe their landes which he consecrated vnto Apollo Pythias and Iupiter Olympias appointing that of the reuenue thereof they should redeliuer and pay backe the money which he had taken and caried away from one of their temples Sylla after this hauing intelligence that Flaccus one of his enemies was chosen Consull at ROME and had passed the sea Ionium with an army vnder pretext to make wâ—â—â—â— against king Mithridates but in deede to make warre with him selfe tooke his iorney towards TRESSALIE to meete him But when he was in the citie of MELITEA there came newests him out of all partes that there was a new and second army of the kings arriued no lesse than the first the which spoyled and destroyed all the contry which he had left behinde him For Dorylaus one of king Mithridates Lieutenauntes was arriued in the city of CHALCIDE with a great fleete of shippes hauing brought thither with him foure score thowsand fighting men the best trained the best armed and appointed souldiers that were in all his kingdom of POâ—TVS in ASIA and from thence went into BOEOTIA had all that contry at commaundement and sought to fight with Sylla notwithstanding that Archelaus alleaged many reasons to â—â—â—swade him from it and furthermore gaue it out in euery place that so many thowsandes of souldiers coulde not haue bene cast away in the first battell without some notable treasâ—â— Whereupon Sylla returned with all possible speede made Dorylaus know before many dayes passed ouer his head that Archelaus was a wise man and knew well enough the worthines and valliant corage of the ROMAINES And Dorylaus hauing had but a litle proofe only in certaine light skirmishes which he made against Sylla about TILPHOSSION in THESSALIE him selfe was the first that could say then it was not for them to hazarde battell but rather to draw on the warres in length and supplant the ROMAINES with charge expence And yet notwithstaÌ„ding the commodity of the great large plaine that lyeth all about ORCHOMENE where they were encamped gaue great encoragement to Archelaus who iudged it a very fit place to gâ—â—â— battell in specially bicause he was the stronger of horsemen in the field For of all the plaâ—â—â— that are within the contry of BOEOTIA the greatest largest of them is the plaine nere to the city of ORCHOMENE which is altogether without trees and runneth out in length vnto the marisses where the riuer of Melas disperseth it selfe abroade The head of the same riuer is not farre from the city of ORCHOMENE that riuer only of all other riuers in GREECE from the very head whence it commeth is nauigable and hath besides an other singular property that it riseth swelleth euen in the longest sommer dayes as the riuer of Nilus doth and bringeth forth the selfe same plantes and trees sauing that they beare no frute neither are they so great as those of AEgypt This riuer hath no longe course bicause that the most parte of the waâ—â—â— runneth into lakes and marisses couered with brambles and briars and there is but a very liâ—â—e parte of it that falleth into the riuer of Cephisus in the place where the redes grow that they make good flutes withal When they were camped one nere to an other Archelaus lay quietly and sturred not But Sylla presently cast great trenches from one side to an other to stoppe the way against their enemies that they could not come into that great plaine where they might haue taken what ground they would for their men of armes and haue driuen the ROMAINES into the marisses The barbarous people not being able to endure that so soone as their Captaines had geuen them liberty discharged with such a fury that they did not scatter theâ— that wrought in Syllaes trenches but put the most parte of their gard also that stoode in battell ray to defend them in a maruelous feare who also beganne to flie Which Sylla perceiuing lighted straight from his horse and taking an ensigne in his hande ran through the middest of his men that fled vntill he came to his enemies doth crying out sayeth mo ahead â—â—â—â—yâ—â—ol 〈…〉 souldiers mine honor commaundeth me to dye here and therefore 〈…〉 thy nâ—â—â—s â—â—keth you where you forsooke your Captaine remembere that you â—â—nsever it what 〈…〉 uoâ—e They were so ashamed at these wordes than he made a hero 〈…〉 besides that â—â—â—e came two cohortes vnto him from the right wing of his battell who â—ndoâ— his leading gaue such a hotte charge vpon their enemies that they fled foorthwith opoâ—laâ— That done Sylla â—e â—â—red with his men and made them dine and therupon by and by â—â—â—hem againe 〈…〉 â—hes to enclose his enemies campe who then came out in better order then they did before There was Diogenes Archelaus wiues sonne slaine fighting valliantly before them also the right wing of their battell And the bowe men being pressed so neere by the ROMAINE 〈…〉 their bowes would doe no good looke their arrowes in their handes in stead of sworde and strake their enemies with them to force them to gaue backe vntil such time as at the 〈…〉 they were all driuen into their campe where they passed that night
burnt at a tryce and the fire going out fell a great shower of raine that held on till night so that it seemed good fortune following him euen to his ende did also helpe his obsequies after his death His tombe is to be seene in the fielde of Mars and they say that he him selfe made his owne epitaphe that is wrytten vpon it which was that no man did euer passe him neither in doing good to his frendes nor in doing mischiefe to his enemies THE COMPARISON OF Sylla with Lysander NOw that we haue at large also set forth the life of the ROMANE let vs come to compare them both together In this they are both a like that both of them grew to be great men rising of thē selues through their owne vertue but this only is proper to Lysander that all the offices dignities which he attained vnto in the common wealth were layed apon him through the peoples good wills and consents For he compelled them to nothinge neither vsurped he any extraordinarie authoritie vppon them contrarie to lawe for as the common saying is VVhere partialitie and discorde once doe raigne There vvicked men are most esteemde and rule vvith greatest gaine As at that time in ROME the people being corrupted and the state of gouernment vtterly subuerted and brought to nought to day there rose vp one tyranne to morow an other And therefore we may not wonder if Sylla vsurped and ruled all when such fellowes as Glaucia and Saturninus did both banish and driue out of ROME such men as Metellus was and where also in open assembly they slue Consuls sonnes in the market place and where force of armes was bought sold for gold and siluer with the which the souldiers were corrupted where they made new lawes with fire and sword and forced men to obey the same Yet I speake not this in reproache of him that in such troublesome times founde meanes to make him selfe the greatest man but to shew that I measure not his honesty by the dignity he grew vnto in so vnfortunate a city although he became the chiefe And as touching him that came from SPARTA at what time it florished most and was the best gouerned common weale he in all great causes and in most honorable offices was reputed for the best of all bests and the chiefe of all chiefes Wherefore it happened that the one resigned vp the authority to his contry men the citizens which they had geuen him who also restored it to him againe many and sundry times for the honor of his vertue did alwayes remaine and made him iustly accompted for the worthiest man Where the other being once only chosen generall of an army remained tenne yeares continually in warres and hostilitie making him selfe by force sometime Consull somtime vice Consull and somtime Dictator but alwayes continued a tyranne In ede Lysander attempted to chaunge and alter the state of gouernment in his contrie howbeit it was with greater lenity and more lawfully then Sylla did For he sought it by reason and good perswasion not by the sword neither would he make a chaunge of the whole at one selfe time as Sylla did but sought only to reforme the election of kinges The which thing according to nature doubtlesse seemed very iust that he which was the best amongest good men should be chosen king of that citie which was the chiefe ouer all GREECE not for her nobility but for her vertue only For like as a good hunter doth not seeke for the whelpe of a good dogge but for the good dogge him selfe not a wise man of armes also the colte that commeth of a good horse but the good horse him selfe Euen so he that taketh vpon him to stablish a civill gouernment committeth a fowle fault if he looke of whom his Prince should be borne and not what the Prince him selfe should be considering that the LACEDAEMONIANS them selues haue depriued diuerse of their kinges from their crowne and realme bicause they were not Princely but vnprofitable and good for nothing Vice although it be in a noble man yet is it alwayes ill of it selfe but vertue is honored for her selfe alone and not bicause she is placed with nobility Now for the wronges and iniuries they both committed the one did worke only to pleasure his frendes and the other to offend them to whom he was bounden For it is certaine that Lysander did great wronges to gratifie his familliars and the most parte of them whom he put to death was to establish the tyrannicall power of certaine his frendes Where Sylla sought for spite to take away his army from Pompey and the Admirality from Dolobelle which he him selfe geuen caused Lucretius Offella to be slaine openly in his owne sight bicause he sought to be Consull for recompence of the good seruice he had done for which cruelty of his causinge his owne frendes to beslaine in such sorte he made euery man a feard of him Furthermore their behauiors touching couetousnes and pleasure doth shew that the intent of the one was the desire of a good Prince and the other that of a tyranne For we doe not finde that Lysander for all his great Princely authority did euer vse any insolency or lasciuiousnes in his deedes but alwayes auoyded as much as a man might the reproache of this common prouerbe Lyons at home and Foxes abroade He led such a true LACONIAN life straightly reformed in all poyntes Where Sylla could neuer moderate his vnlawfull lustes neither for pouerty when he was young nor yet for age when it came vpon him But whilest he gaue lawes to the ROMANES touching matrimoniall honestie and chastitie him selfe in the meane time did nothing but follow loue and commit adultries as Salust wryteth By meanes whereof he so much impouerished ROME and left it so voyde of gold and siluer that for ready money he sold absolute freedome vnto the cities their confederates yet was it his dayly study to confiscate and take for forfeit the richest and most wealthiest houses in all the whole citie of ROME But all this spoyle and hauoke was nothing in comparison of that which he dayly cast away vpon his ieasters flatterers What sparing or measure may we thinke he kept in his giftes at priuate banckets when openly in the day time all the people of ROME being present to see him sell the goodes which he had caused to be confiscate he made one of his frendes and familiars to trusse vp a great deale of household stuffe for a very litle price And when any other had out bidden his price that the crier had cried it out a lowde then was he angry and sayd My frendes I haue great wrong done me here not to suffer me sell the spoile I haue gotten at mine owne pleasure and dispose it as I list my selfe Where Lysander contrarily sent to the common wealth of SPARTA with other money the very presentes that were geuen to
vnto the castell accompanied with his younge familiars and companions caryinge a bitte of a bridle in his hande to consecrate vnto the goddesse Minerua signifyinge thereby that the citie had no neede of horsemen at that time but of mariners and sea-men And after he had geuen vp his offering he tooke one of the targettes that honge vppon the wall of the temple and hauinge made his prayer vnto Minerua came downe to the hauen and was the first that made the most parte of the citizens to take a good harte to them and coragiously to leaue the land and take the sea Besides all this he was a man of a goodly stature as Ion the Poet testifieth and had a fayer curled heare and thicke and fought so valliantlie at the day of the battell that he wanne immediatly great reputacion with the loue and good will of euerie man So that many were still about him to encorage him to be liuely and valliant and to thinke thence foorth to doe some actes worthie of the glorie that his father had gotten at the battel of MARATHON And afterwardes so soone as he beganne to deale in matters of state the people were maruelous glad of him and were wearied with Themistocles by meanes whereof Cimon was presently aduaunced and preferred to the chiefest offices of honor in the citie being very well thought on of the common people bicause of his soft and plaine nature Moreouer Aristides also did greatlie furder his aduauncement bicause he sawe him of a good gentle nature and for that he would vse him as a countrepease to controll Themistocles craft and stowtnesse Wherefore after the MEDES were fled out of GREECE Cimon being sent for by the ATHENIANS for their generall by sea when the citie of ATHENS had then no manner of rule nor commaundement but followed kinge Pausanias and the LACEDAEMONIANS he euer kept his contrie men and citizens in maruelous good order in all the viages he made and they were readier to doe good seruice then any other nation in the whole armie whatsoeuer And when kinge Pausanias had practised with the barbarous people to betraye GREECE had wrytten also to the kinge of PERSIA about it and in the meane time delt very cruelly and straightly with the confederates of his contry and committed many insolent partes by reason of the great authority he had through his foolish pride whereof he was full Cimon farre otherwise gently entertained them whom Pausanias iniured and was willing to heare them So that by this his curteous manner the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing no eye to his doinges he stale away the rule and commaundement of all GREECE from them brought the ATHENIANS to be sole Lordes of all not by force and cruelty but by his sweete tongue and gracious manner of vsing all men For the most parte of the confederates being no lenger able to away with Pausanias pride and cruelty came willingly and submitted them selues vnder the protection of Cimon and Aristides who did not only receiue them but wrote also to the counsell of the Ephores at LACEDAEMON that they should call Pausanias home for that he dishonored SPARTA and put all GREECE to much trouble and warres And for proofe hereof they say that king Pausanias being on a time in the citie of BYZANCâ— sent for Cleonice a young maiden of a noble house to take his pleasure of her Her parents durst not keepe her from him by reason of his crueltie but suffered him to cary her away The young gentlewoman prayed the groomes of Pausanias chamber to take away the lightes and thinking in the darke to come to Pausanias bed that was a sleepe groping for the bed as softly as she could to make no noyse she vnfortunately hit against the lampe and ouerthrew it The falling of the lampe made such a noyse that it waked him on the sodaine and thought straight therewithall that some of his enemies had bene comen traiterously to kill him wherupon he tooke his dagger lying vnder his beddes head and so stabbed it in the young virgine that she dyed immediatly vpon it Howbeit she neuer let Pausanias take rest after that bicause her spirite came euery night and appeared vnto him as he would faine haue slept and spake this angrily to him in verse as followeth Keepe thou thy selfe vpright and iustice see thou feare For vvoe and shame be vnto him that iustice dovvne doth beare This vile fact of his did so stirre vp all the confederates hartes against him that they came to besiege him in BIZANTIVM vnder the conduction of Cimon from whom notwithstanding he escaped and secretly saued him selfe And bicause that this maidens spirite would bene let him rest but vexed him continually he fled vnto the city of HERACLEA where there was a temple that coniured dead spirites there was the spirite of Cleonice coniured â—o pray her to be contented So she appeared vnto him told him that he should be deliuered of all his troubles so soone as he came to SPARTA signifying thereby in my opinion the death which he should suffer there Diuers wryters do thus reporte it Cimon being accompanied with the confederates of the GREECIANS which were come to him to take his parte was aduertised that certaine great men of PERSIA allyed to the king himselfe who kept the city of EIONE vpon the riuer of Strymon in the contrie of THRACIA did great hurt and damage vnto the GREECIANS inhabiting thereabouts Vpon which intelligence he tooke the sea with his armie and went thither where at his first comming he vanquished and ouerthrewe the barbarous people in battell hauinge ouerthrowen them drave all the rest into the city of EIONE That done he went to inuade the THRACIANS that dwelt on the other side of the riuer of Strymon who did commonly vittell them of EIONE and hauing driuen them to forsake the contrie he kept it and was Lord of the whole him selfe Whereupon he held them that were besieged at EIONE so straightly from vittells that Butes the king of PERSIABS Lieutenaunt dispayringe of the state of the citie set fire on the same and burnt himselfe his frendes and all the goodes in it By reason whereof the spoyle taken in that citie was but small bicause the barbarous people burnt all the best thinges in it with them selues howebeit he conquered the contrie thereaboutes and gaue it the ATHENIANS to inhabite being a verie pleasaunte and fertyle soyle In memorie whereof the people of ATHENS suffered him to consecrate and set vp openly three Hermes of stone which are foure square pillers vpon the toppes of the which they set vp heades of Mercurye vpon the first of the three pillers this inscription is grauen The people truely vvere of corage stovvte and fierce VVho hauing shut the Medes fast vp as stories do rehearce VVithin the vvalled tovvne of Eione that tyde VVhich on the streame of Strymon stands they made them there abide The force of
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
great while together before any man marked it Cimon at the last spied it by chaunce and as he was looking of them to marke what they did the minister of the sacrifice brought the beastes liuer that was sacrificed to shew him whereof the biggest end that they call the head was lacking and this they iudged for a very ill token Notwithstanding hauing all things readie for preparation of this iorney so as he could not well goebacke he launched into the sea and hoysed sayle and sending three score of his gallies into EGYPT sayled with the rest vpon the coast of PAMPYTLIA Where he wanne a battell by sea of the king of PERSIA ouercomming the gallies of the PHENICIANS and the CILICIANS and conquered all the cities thereabouts making the way very open to enter into EGYPT For he had no small thoughtes in his minde but reached to high enterprises and determined vtterly to destroy the whole Empire of the mighty kinge of PERSIA and specially for that he vnderstoode Themistocles was in maruelous credit and reputacion amōgest the barbarous people bicause he had promised the king of PERSIA to lead his armie for him and to doe him notable seruice whensoeuer he shoulde haue occasion to warre with the GRAECIANS It is thought this was the chiefe cause that made Themistocles poison himselfe bicause he dispaired that he could not performe that seruice against GRAECE which he had promised assuring him selfe that it was no easie matter to vanquishe Cimon corage and good fortune who lay at that time with his armie all alongest the I le of CYPRVS promising him selfe great matters at that instant But in the meane season Cimon sent certaine of his men vnto the oracle of Iuppiter Ammon to aske him some secret question for no man euer knew neither then nor since for what cause he had sent them thither neither did they also bring backe any aunswere For they were no sooner come thither but the oracle commaunded them straight to returne saying vnto them that Cimon was then comming to him So Cimons men receiuing this aunswere left the oracle and tooke their iorney backe to the seawardes Now when they were commen againe to the GRAECIANS campe which at that present lay in EGYPT they heard that Cimon was departed this worlde and reckoninge the dayes sence his death with the instant of their aunswere receiued by the oracle that Cimon was then comming vnto him they knew straight that darkely he had signified his death vnto them and that at that very time he was with the goddes He dyed at the siege of the citie of CITIVM in CYPRVS as some reporte or else of a hurte he receiued at a skirmishe as other holde opinion When he dyed he commaunded them that were vnder his charge to returne into their contry againe and in no case to publishe his death which commaundement was so wisely and cunningly handeled that they all came home safe and not an enemie nor any of their confederates that once vnderstoode any thing of it So was the armie of the GRAECIANS gouerned and led by Cimon though him selfe was dead the space of thirtie dayes as Phanodemus wryteth But after his death there was no GRAECIAN Captaine that did any notable thing worthie of fame against the barbarous people bicause the Orators and gouernors of the chiefest cities of GRAECE stirred them vp one against an other and there was no man that would once steppe in as a mediator to make peace betwene them And thus the GRAECIANS now did one destroy and spoyle an other by ciuill warre amongest them selues which happely gaue the king of PERSIA leasure and time to restore him selfe againe and contrarily was cause of such vtter ruine and destruction of the whole power and force of GRAECE as no tongue can well expresse In deede a long time after kinge Agesilaus came with an armie of the GRAECIANS into ASIA and beganne a small warre against the Lieutenauntes of the king of PERSIAES gouernors of the lower contries of ASIA But before he could doe any notable exployte he was called home againe by occasion of newe troubles and ciuill warres risinge amonge the GRAECIANS and compelled to returne into his contrie leauing the treasorers of the king of PERSIA raising of subsidies and taxes vpon the cities of the GRAECIANS in ASIA although they were confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereas in the time that Cimon gouerned they neuer sawe any of the kinges sergeauntes at armes or commissioner that brought any letters pattentes or commaundement from the king or any souldier that durst come neere the sea by fortie furlonges The tombes which they call vnto this present day Cimonia doe witnesse that his ashes and bones were brought vnto ATHENS Neuerthelesse they of the citie of CITIVM doe honor a certaine tombe which they say is Cimons tombe bicause that in a great dearth and barrennes of the earth they had an oracle that commaunded them not to neglect Cimons as the Orator Nansicrates writeth it but to honor and reuerence him as a god Such was the life of this GRAECIAN Captaine The end of Cimons life THE LIFE OF Lucius Lucullus AS for Lucullus his grandfather was a Consull and so was Metellus surnamed Numidirus bicause of his conquest of NVMIDIA his vncle by the mothers side His father notwithstanding was conuict of fellony for robbing the treasure of the state whilest he was officer and Caecilia his mother was reported to haue led an vnchast life But for Lucullus selfe before he bare office or rule in matters of state the first thing he towched and tooke in hande for the cause of his contrie was thaccusation of Seruilius the soothsayer who before had accused his father for that he also had delt falsely in his office and deceiued the common wealth And this the ROMANES thought very well handled of him insomuch as a pretie while after there was no other talke in ROME but of that matter as though it had bene a notable valliant acte done by him For otherwise though priuately they had no iust occasion yet they thought it a noble deede to accuse the wicked and it pleased them as much to see the young men put lawe breakers in sute as to see a notable good course of a dogge at a hare Howebeit there followed such sturre and bandinge vppon this sute that some were verie sore hurte and other slaine in the market place but in fyne Seruilius was cleared and quite dimissed Lucullus was verie eloquent well spoken and excellently well learned in the Greeke and Latin tongue insomuch as Sylla dedicated vnto him the commentaries of all his doings which himselfe had collected as to one that could better frame a whole historie thereof and cowche it more eloquētly together in wryting For he had not only a ready tongue to vtter that he would speake and pleade his matters with great eloquence as other be seene to doe hauing matters of
a very hotte and fertile soyle where there is a great city and maruelously replenished with inhabitauntes who call it NISIBIS and the GRAECIANS call it ANTIOCH of MYGDONIA In that city Gouras was Gouernor who was Tigranes owne brother but for experiēce in engines of battery and for sufficiencie and skill in such matters there was Callimachus also he that so maruelously troubled Lucullus before at the siege of the city of AMISVS Lucullus placing his campe before this city besieged the same by all such meanes as might enforce it and that so valliantly that in very shorte time he tooke it by assault And as for Gouras who submitted him selfe to Lucullus mercie he was very curteously intreated But for Callimachus he would not once heare him speake notwithstanding that he promised if they would saue his life he would tell them of coffers full of great treasure hidden which no man knew but him selfe onely But Lucullus commaunded them to bring him with gyues to receive the punishment he had iustly deserued for setting the city of AMISVS a fire and taking from him the meane to shewe the GRAECIANS his goodnesse affection and liberality towardes them Vntill this present time it might be truely sayd that good fortune euer fauored followed Lucullus in all his enterprises and affayres but from that time forwards it was quickely seene that the fauorable blast of fortune failed him he did all his things with so great payne and all that he did fell out contrarie vnto him and to very ill purpose In deede he did euer shew the valiancy pacience and great corage that should be in a valliant Generall or Lieutenaunt of an armie But his exployts and doinges had neuer after that easie grace nor shining glory they were wont to haue but to the contrary he was like to haue lost all that he had wonne before through the misfortunes that fell vpon him and for the brawles and vaine contention he had with his people to no purpose But the worst was that they make him selfe thonly author of all these euills bicause he could not or would not entertaine the goodwill of the multitude of his souldiers thinking that whatsoeuer a Generall or any other officer of state or calling doth to please and content them he hath vnder his charge is to dishonor him selfe and to geue cause vnto his souldiers to despise his authoritie But that which made most against him was this that he gaue no estimation to gentlemen and men of like quality to him selfe but disdained them and thought them vnworthy to be equall with him For these they say were his faultes and imperfections but otherwise that he wanted no vertues nor naturall giftes good condicions that could be possibly wished for or desired For he was a talle gentleman of goodly presence well spoken wise and discreete as well in matters of gouernment as in warres and as well to perswade the people in peace as to encorage his souldiers in warre Salust wryteth of him that his souldiers began to mislike with him euen from the first entry into these warres bicause he made them lye out two winters together in the field one after an other the one before the city of CIZICVS and the other before the city of AMISVS And euen as much did the other winters following vexe and trouble them For either they lay in their enemies contry or else if they lay in their frendes yet he made them campe abroade in the field and shrowd them selues in their tentes for Lucullus neuer entred with his army into any city or confederate towne of GRAECE Now if the souldiers of them selues misliked Lucullus the coūsellers at ROME that were his enemies and enuied his prosperity and glory gaue them yet greater occasions to mutine against him For they cōtinually accused him to the people in their orations that he drew out this warre in length purposely bicause he would alwayes haue occasion to rule meanes to get hauing in his hands in maner all CILICIA ASIA BITHYNIA PAPHLAGONIA GALATIA PONTVS ARMENIA and all the prouinces and regions as farre as to the riuer of Phasis and yet he had not long before spoyled the Princely houses of Tigranes as if he had bene sent thither only to sack and spoyle and not to destroy ouercome those kings And they say that it was Lucius Quintius one of the Praetors that spake these wordes It was he also that most moued the people to take order that Lucullus should be called home other sent to succeede him in the charge gouernmēt of the contries he had subdued By the selfe same meane it was also ordained that diuers which were vnder his charge should be dispersed with all for their othes and licenced to leaue the warres when they thought good But besides those such like great causes there was yet an other more daungerous plague that most ouerthrew Lucullus proceedings passing all the other euills being put together and that was Publius Clodius a wicked licentious and a harebrainde man He was Lucullus wiues brother and she was so light of her body that Clodius her brother was accused of incontinencie with her This Clodius being at that time in Lucullus campe caried not that estimacion and credit he thought him selfe worthy of For he tooke him selfe equall with the best and would needes haue bene holden for chiefe when in deede there were many of farre better desert he being noted both for a vitious and ill disposed person Whereupon he beganne for spight to suborne the bandes called FIMBRIANS and to stirre them vp against Lucullus sowing sweete and pleasaunt wordes amongest the souldiers which being wonted therunto looked still to be flattered For they were those whom Fimbria had procured to kill the Consull Flaccus and choose him in his steede for their Captaine By reason whereof they gaue good care to Clodius words and called him a noble Captaine and a louer of souldiers For when he spake vnto them he made as though he had pittied them for that they should neuer see an end of their great paynes and warres but should miserably consume their dayes in fighting continually sometime with one nation and sometime with an other and that they wandered through all the contries of the world receiuing no worthy reward of so long and painfull seruice seruing only to gard Lucullus cartes camells loden with plate and vessell of golde and siluer and other pretious stones Where the souldiers that had serued vnder Pompey tooke nowe their ease at home in their contry with their wiues and children and were landed men dwelling in goodly fayer cities as rich burgeses and wealthy citizens and yet they had not driuen Mithridates and Tigranes out of their kingdomes into desert places vnhabitable nor had destroyed the Princely houses of ASIA but only made a litle warre in SPAYNE against those that were banished in ITALIE against
least the same signified that all the goodly preparation of this army the which was set out with such pompe brauery would come to nothing Now for Nicias that he spake against this warre in open counsell whilest they were deliberating apon it and that he was not caried away with any vaine hope nor puffed vp with the glory of so honorable a charge to make him chaunge his minde therein surely he shewed him selfe an honest man wise and constant But when he saw plainly that he could by no perswasions remoue the people from the enterprise of this warre neither yet by sute nor intreaty get him selfe discharged from being a Captaine thereof but that they would in any case make him one of the heades of the army then was it out of time to be fearefull and still geuing backe turning his head so oft like a child to looke apon his gallie behinde him and euer to be telling that no reason could be heard in determining of this iorney For in deede this was enough to discorage his companions to marre all at their first setting out where to say truly he should sodainly haue set apon his enemies haue gone to it with a lusty corage to haue assayed fortune But he tooke a cleane contrary course For when Lamachus thought good at their first comming to goe straight to SYRACVSA and to geue them battell as neere the walles as might be that Alcibiades on the other side was of opinion first of all to goe about to winne the cities that were in league with the SYRACVSANS and after that they had made them rebell then to goe against the SYRACVSANS them selues Nicias to the contrary spake in counsell and thought it better to goe on fayer and softly deserying the spastes of SICILE round about to view their gallies and preparation so to returne straight to ATHENS againe leauing only a few of their men with the EGESTANS to helpe to defende them But this from the beginning maruelously cooled the corage of the souldiers and quite discoraged them Shortly after also the ATHENIANS hauing sent for Alcibiades to aunswere to certaine accusations Nicias remaining Captaine with Lamachus the other Captaine in sight but Nicias selfe in power and authority the Lieutenaunt generall of all the army still vsed delayes running vp and downe and spending time so long in consultation till the souldiers were left without both hope and corage and the feare thenemy had of them at their first comming to see so great an army was now in maner cleane gone Yet Alcibiades being in the army before he was sent for from ATHENS they went with three score gallies to SYRACVSA of the which they placed fifty in battell ray out of the hauen and sent the other â—enne into the hauen to discouer which approaching neere the city caused an Herauld to make open proclamation that they were come thither to restore the LEONTINES to their landes and possessions and tooke a shippe of the enemies in the which among other thinges they founde tables wherein where wrytten the names of all the inhabitants of SYRACVSA according to their tribes and houses These tables were kept farre from the citie in the temple of Iupiter Olympian but at that time they had sent for them to know the number of men of seruice and of age to beare weapon The same tables being taken by the ATHENIANS and caried to the generalls of the army the soothsayers seeing this long rolle of names at the first misliked it fearing least the prophecy had bene fulfilled which promised them that the ATHENIANS one day should take all the SYRACVSANS Howebeit it is reported this prophecy came to passe in an other exployte wheÌ„ Callippus ATHENIAN hauing slaine Dion wan also the city of SYRACVSA Now when Alcibiades was gone from the campe Nicias bare all the sway and commaunded the whole army For Lamachus though otherwise he was a stowre man an honest man and very valliant of his handes and one that would not spare him selfe in time of neede neuerthelesse he was so poore and miserable that euen when he was in state of a Generall gaue vp an accompt of his expences he would not sticke to put into his bookes so much for a gâ—wne and so much for a payer of pantophles Where Nicias authority reputacion contrarywise was of an other maner of out as well for other respectes as for his riches and for the honor of many noble thinges which he had done before As one namely which they tell of him that on a time being a Captaine with others and sitting in counsell with his companions in the counsell house at ATHENS about the dispatch of certaine causes he spake vnto Sophocles the Poet then present amongest them and bad him speake first and say his opinion being the oldest man of all the whole company Sophocles aunswered him againe in deede I confesse I am the oldest man but thou art the noblest man and him whom euery man regardeth best So hauing at that time Lamachus vnder him a better Captaine man of warre then him selfe was yet by being so slow to imploy the army vnder his charge by deferring of time still and houering about SICILE as farre from his enemies as he could he first gaue the enemies time and leasure to be bold without feare of him And then going to besiege HYBLA being but a polting litle towne and raising the siege without taking of it he fell into so great contempt with euery man that from thenceforth no man almost made any more reckoning of him At last he retyred vnto CATANA with his army without any other exployte done â—saying that he tooke HYCCAPA a baggadge village of the barbarous people and where it is sayd 〈…〉 courtisane was borne and that being then a young gerle she was sold among other persoâ—â— and afterwardes caried into PELOPNNESVS And in fine the sommer being farre spent Nicias was informed that the SYRACVSANS had taken such corage to them that they would come and enterprise the charge apon them first and that their horsemen were approached already before his campe to skirmish with them asking the ATHENIANS in mockery if they were come into SICILE to dwell with the CATANIANS or to restore the LEONTINES to their landes againe Hereupon with much a do Nicias determined to goe to SYRACVSA and bicause he would campe there in safety and at ease without hasard he sent one of CATANA before to SYRACVSA to tell them as if he had bene a spye that if they would sodainly come and set apon the campe of the ATHENIANS take all their cariage he wished them to come with all their power to CATANA at a day certaine which he would appoint them For the ATHENIANS sayd he for the most parte are within the city wherein there are certaine citizens which fauoring the SYRACVSANS haue determined so soone as they heare of their coÌ„ming to keepe the gates of the
withall but two dishefulls of barley for their breade and one of water for eche man a day In deede many of them were conueyed away and sold for slaues and many also that scaped vnknowen as slaues were also solde for bondmen whom they branded in the forehead with the printe of a horse who notwithstanding besides their bondage endured also this paine But such their humble pacience and modesty did greatly profit them For either shortly after they were made free men or if they still continued in bondage they were gently intreated and beloued of their masters Some of them were saued also for Euripides sake For the SICILIANS liked the verses of this Poet better than they did any other GRAECIANS verses of the middest of GRAECE For if they heard any rimes or songes like vnto his they would haue them by hart one would present thē to an other with great ioy And therfore it is reported that diuers escaping this bondage and returning againe to ATHENS went very louingly to salute Euripides to thanke him for their liues and told him how they were deliuered from slauery only by teaching them those verses which they remembred of his workes Others tolde him also how that after the battel they scaping by flight wandering vp and downe the fieldes met with some that gaue them meate drinke to sing his verses And this is not to be maruelled at weying the reporte made of a shippe of the city of CAVNVS that on a time being chased in thether by pyrates thinking to saue thē selues within their portes could not at the first be receiued but had repulse howbeit being demaunded whether they could sing any of Euripides songes and aunswering that they could were straight suffered to enter and come in The newes of this lamentable ouerthrow was not beleued at the first when they heard of it at ATHENS For a straunger that landed in the hauen of PIRAEA went and sat him downe as the maner is in a barbers shoppe thinking it had bene commonly knowen there beganne to talke of it The barber hearing the straunger tell of such matter before any other had heard of it ranne into the city as fast as he could and going to the gouernors tolde the newes openly before them all The magistrates thereupon did presently call an assembly and brought the barber before them who being demaunded of whom he heard these newes could make no certaine reporte Whereupon being taken for a forger of newes that without ground had put the city in feare and trouble he was presently bound and layed on a wheele wheron they vse to put offenders to death and so was there tormented a great time vntill at last there arriued certaine men in the city who brought too certaine newes thereof and told euery thing how the ouerthrow came So as in fine they found Nicias wordes true which now they beleued when they sawe all those miseries light fully apon them which he long before had prognosticated vnto them The end of Nicias life THE LIFE OF Marcus Crassus MArcus Crassus was the sonne of a Censor who had also receiued the honor of triumphe but him selfe was brought vp in a litle house with two other of his brethren which were both maried in their fathers mothers life time and kept house together Whereuppon it came to passe that he was a man of such sober and temperate dyet that one of his brethrē being deceased he maried his wife by whom he had children For women he liued as continent a life as any ROMANE of his time notwithstanding afterwardes being of riper yeares he was accused by Plotinus to haue deflowred one of the Vestall Nunnes called Licinia But in troth the cause of that suspicion grew thus Licinia had a goodly pleasaunt garden hard by the suburbes of the city wherewith Crassus was maruelously in loue and would faine haue had it good cheape and vpon this only occasion was often seene in speeche with her which made the people suspect him But foras much as it seemed to the iudges that his couetousnes was the cause that made him follow her he was clered of thincest suspected but he neuer lest followinge of the Nunne till he had got the garden of her The ROMANES say there was but that only vice of couetousnes in Crassus that drowned many other goodly vertues in him for mine owne opinion me thinkes he could not be touched with that vice alone without others since it grew so great as the note of that only did hide and couer all his other vices Nowe to set out his extreame couetous desire of getting naturally bred in him they proue it by two manifest reasons The first his maner and meanes he vsed to get and the seconde the greatnes of his wealth For at the beginning he was not left much more worthe then three hundred talentes And during the time that he delt in the affayers of the common wealth he offered the tenthes of all his goodes wholly vnto Hercules kept open house for all the people of ROME and gaue also to euery citizen of the same as much corne as would kepe him three monethes yet when he went from ROME to make warre with the PARTHIANS himselfe being desirous to know what all he had was worth founde that it amounted to the summe of seuen thowsande one hundred talentes But if I may with license vse euill speeche wryting a troth I say he got the most parte of his wealth by fire and blood raising his greatest reuenue of publicke calamities For when Sylla had takē the citie of ROME he made portesale of the goods of them whom he had put to death to those that gaue most tearming them his booty onely for that he would the nobility and greatest men of power in the citie should be partakers with him of this iniquity and in this open sale Crassus neuer lest taking of giftes nor bying of thinges of Sylla for profit Furthermore Crassus perceiuinge that the greatest decay commonly of the buildinges in ROME came by fire and falling downe of houses through the ouermuch weight by numbers of stories built one apon an other bought bondme that were masons carpinters and these deuisours and builders of those he had to the number of fiue hundred Afterwardes when the fire tooke any house he would buy the house while it was a burning and the next houses adioyning to it which the owners folde for litle being then in daunger as they were and a burning so that by proces of time the most parte of the houses in ROME came to be his But notwithstanding that he had so many slaues to his workemen he neuer built any house from the ground sauing his owne house wherein he dwelt◠saying that such as delighted to builde vndid them selues without helpe of any enemy And though he had many mynes of siluer many ploughes and a number of hyndes and plowmen to followe the
them but then they sacked burnt all that came in their way euen vnto the riuer of Eurotas and hard adioyning vnto SPARTA and no man durst come out to resist them For Agesilaus as Theopompus wryteth would not suffer the LACEDAEMONIANS to goe out to fight against such a tempest and furie of warre but hauing fortified the middest of the citie and garded euery end of the streetes with souldiers he paciently bare all the bragges and threates of the THEBANS which challenged him out to fight and bad him come into the fielde to defende his contrie that onely was the cause of all these their calamities hauing him selfe procured this warre If this went to Agesilaus hart no lesse grieuous were these troubles to him that rose within the citie As the cries and running toe and froe of the old men which were mad to see that they did before their eyes and of sely women also which no grounde nor place could hold but ranne vp and downe as straught of their wittes to heare the noise the enemies made and to see the fire which they raised all the fieldes ouer Much more sorowefull also did this make him when as he bethought him selfe that entring into his kingdom at such time as the citie of SPARTA was in the greatest prosperitie that euer it was he now saw his honor eclipsed and the glorie of his kingdom ouerthrowen and the rather for that him selfe had often auaunted that LACONIAN women had neuer seene the smoke of any enemies campe And as they say of Antalcidas one day that he answered an ATHENIAN that contended with him about the valliantnesse of one an others nation alleaging for him selfe that the ATHENIANS had often driuen the LACEDAEMONIANS from the riuer of Cephesus It is true said the LACONIAN but we did neuer driue you from the riuer of Eurotas The like aunswere made a meane man of SPARTA to one of the ARGIVES that cast him in the teeth there are diuers of your LACONIANS buried in the contrie of ARGOLIDE so are there none of yours sayd he buried in LACONIA It is reported that Antalcidas being one of the Ephori at that time did secretly sende his children into the I le of CITHAERA fearing least the citie of SPARTA should be taken Agesilaus perceiuing that the enemies forced to passe ouer the riuer to enter the citie he stoode to defend the middle parte of the citie being the hiest place of the same and there had his men sette in order of battell Now at that time by chaunce the riuer of Eurotas was swelled greater then of ordinarie by reason of the snowe waters that fell aboundantly which troubled more the THEBANS with the coldnes then roughnes of the same in passing it ouer Some shewing Agesilaus how Epaminondas marched formost before his battell he beheld him a great while and his eye was neuer of him saying neuer a word but this onely O what a noble fellowe is that Epaminondas hauing done all that he could possible to geue the LACEDAEMONIANS battell euen within the citie selfe of SPARTA that he might there haue set vp some tokens of triumphe he could neuer intise Agesilaus to come out of his forte wherefore he was driuen in the ende to departe thence and so went to destroy all the rest of the contrie There fell out a conspiracie of two hundred men in SPARTA who of long time had had an ill meaning with them and tooke that quarter of the citie where the temple of Diana stoode called Issorium a place of strong scituacion and ill to distresse Hereuppon the LACEDAEMONIANS in furie would straight haue set apon them But Agesilaus fearing great mutinie and sturre apon it commaunded that no man should sturre and him selfe vnarmed in a poore gowne went thither crying out to them that had taken that strength Sirs ye haue not obeyed my commaundement This is not the place I appointed you to assemble in neither all of you in one place for I willed you to disperse your selues some one way some an other way shewing them the quarters of the citie The traitors hearing these wordes were glad as thinking that their intent was not bewraied and so leauing that strength went into those partes of the citie that he had shewed them Agesilaus then bringinge others thether possessed the forte of Issorium and tooke fifteene of those conspiratours and put them to death the next night followinge Howebeit then there brake out an other conspiracie farre greater than the first of the SPARTANS them selues which were secretly gotten together into a house to make some sodaine sturre and garboyle and to punish them in so great a trouble it was hard on thother side to neglect it the conspiracie was ouer daungerous Agesilaus hauing consulted with the Ephori did put them all to death without any iudgement of lawe neuer SPARTANS before them suffering death without due order of law Againe whereas diuers of their neighbours of the Ilotes them selues whom they had billed in their bandes for souldiers stale away and ranne to their enemies which did much discorage them that remained he warned his men that they should euerie day goe to their couches where they lay and that they shoulde take away their armour that were fled and hide it bicause they should not knowe the names of them that were fled in this sorte Now for the departure of the THEBANS some say that they went out of LACONIA by reason of the winter that came on whereuppon the ARCADIANS discharged their bandes and euerie one departed his way in disorder Others also holde opinion that they continued there three monethes together during which time they destroyed the most parte of the contrie Theopompus wryteth notwithstanding that the Captaines of the THEBANS hauing determined to departe there came one Phrixus a SPARTAN vnto them sent from Agesilaus who brought them tenne talents that they should departe out of their contrie Thus had they money geuen them to defraye their charges homewardes to doe that which they them selues had long before determined to haue done And yet doe I wonder howe it is possible that all other historiographers knewe nothing of this and that Theopompus onely could tell of it All doe acknowledge truely that Agesilaus onely was the cause that the citie of SPARTA was saued who leauing his ambition and selfe will being passions borne with him did wisely foresee their safetie Neuerthelesse after this great ouerthrowe he could neuer raise SPARTA againe to her former greatnesse For like as a whole bodie which hauing acquainted it selfe continually with a moderate diet with the least disorder doth surfet presently and so putteth all in daunger euen so Lycurgus hauing framed a perfect state of gouernment in the common wealth of SPARTA to make her citizens liue in peace and amitie together when they did enlarge it by great kingdomes and realmes the which the good lawemaker thought vnmeete to continue happie life they were straight
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
hurt and if he would not goe of him selfe then they cast him ouer the bord by force and sent him packing These rouers and sea pirates had all the sea Mediterraneum at commaundement insomuch there durst not a marchant looke out nor once traffique that sea And this was the only cause that moued the ROMANES fearing scarsity of vittells and a great dearth to send Pompey to recouer the signory againe of the sea from these pirates The first man that moued it might be decreed that Pompey should not be only Admirall or Generall by sea but should haue absolute power to commaunde all manner of persons as he thought good without any account to be made of his doinges in his charge was Gabinius Pompeys frend The summe to this decree gaue him full power and absolute authority of all the sea from Hercules pillers and of the maine land the space of foure hundred furlong from the sea For the ROMANES dominions at that time in few places went further then that notwithstanding within that compasse were many great nations mighty kings Furthermore it gaue him power to choose of the Senate fifteene Lieutenauntes to geue vnto euery one of them seuerall prouinces in charge according to his discretion and also to take money out of the treasure of the Generall receiuers of the state to defray the charges of a fleete of two hundred saile with full power besides to leauy what men of warre he thought good and as many galliots and mariners as he listed This law when it had bene read once ouer among them the people confirmed it with very good will. Yet the noble men and chiefe of the Senate thought that this authority did not only exceede all enuy but also that it gaue them apparant cause of feare to geue such absolute power vnto a priuate person Whereupon they were all against it but Caesar who fauored the decree not so much to pleasure Pompey as the people whose fauor he sought The noble men fell maruelously out with Pompey and at the length one of the Consulls was very hotte with him and told him he looked to follow Romulus steppes but peraduenture he would come shorte of that end he made Thereupon the people thought to haue killed him After that Catulus stoode vp to speake against this edict The people at the first heard him quietly bicause he was a worthy man Then he began without any shew of enuy to speake many goodly thinges in the praise of Pompey and in fine aduised the people to spare him and not to venter in such daungerous warres one after an other a man of so great accompt as they ought to make of him If ye chaunce to loose him sayd he whom haue you then to put in his place The people then cried out your selfe Then perceiuing that he lost his labor seeking to turne the people from their determination he left it there and sayd no more Roscius rose next after him to speake but he could haue no audience When he saw that he coulde not be heard he made a signe with his fingers that they shoulde not geue Pompey alone this authority but ioyne an other with him The people being offended withall made such an outcrie vppon it that a crow flying ouer the market place at that instant was striken blinde fell downe amongest the people Whereby it appeareth that fowle falling out of the ayer to the ground do not fall for that the ayer is broken or pearced with any force or fury but bicause the very breath of the voice when it commeth with such a violence as it maketh a very tempest in the ayer doth strike ouercome them Thus for that day the assembly brake vp and nothing past and at the day appointed when this decree should passe by voyces of the people Pompey went abroad into the contry There being aduertised that the decree was past for the cōfirmation of his charge he returned againe that night into the citie bicause he would auoyde the enuie they would haue borne him to haue seene them run out of all partes of the city vnto him to haue waited on him home The next morning he came abroad and sacrificed to the goddes and audience being geuen him at an open assembly he handled the matter so that they gaue him many thinges besides to enlarge his power almost doubling the preparation set downe and appointed at the first decree For he ordained that the common wealth should arme him fiue hundred shippes they leauied for him sixe score thowsand footemen and fiue thowsand horsemen and chose besides foure and twenty Senators which had euery one of them bene Generalls of armies and two generall Treasorers also While thinges were thus a preparing the price of vittels fell by chaunces which reioyced the people so much that they stucke not to say that the name of Pompey only had already ended this warre This notwithstanding he deuided all the sea betwene the lands into thirteene regions and in euery of them he appointed a certaine number of his shippes and moreouer one of his Lieutenauntes ouer them Thus hauing dispersed his power all abroade he brought all the pirates shippes that were in a fleete together within his daunger and when he had taken them he brought them all into a docke Now for them that had dispersed them selues betimes or that otherwise could scape his generall chase they fled all into CILICIA as bees into the beehiue against whom he would needes go him selfe in person with three score of his best shippes Howbeit he cared not though he went not before he had scoored all the THVSCANE sea the coastes of LYBIA SARDINIA SICILE and of CORSICA of all these theeues which are wont to keepe thereabouts and this he did within forty dayes space taking infinite paines both him selfe and his Lieutenaunts Now when one of the Consulls called Piso did all the best he could to hinder Pompeys preparation and had discharged his ower men for that he enuied Pompeys prosperity Pompey sent his shippes before to make towardes ITALIE to arriue at the city of BRVNDVSIM He in the meane time went through TEVSCANE to ROME where so soone as his comming was knowen all the people ran out to meete him as if he had bene absent a long time and that which made the people more ioyfull to see him was the sodaine chaunge of victals vnlooked for that dayly came to the towne out of all partes But Piso went neere to be depriued of his Consulshippe for Gabinius had the decree wrytten and ready to present to the people But Pompey would not suffer it So hauing gently brought all to passe as he desired he went vnto the city of BRVNDVSIVM and there tooke sea and hoysed sayle Now though his hasty voyage and shortnesse of time made him passe by many good cities without comming into them notwithstanding he would not so passe by the city of ATHENS but landed there and after he had
sacrificed to the goddes returned to imbarke againe At this going out of the city he red two wrytinges that were made in his praise the one within the gate which sayd thus The humblier that thou doost thy selfe as man behaue The more thou doost deserue the name of god to haue And the other wryting was without the gate which sayd VVe vvisht for thee vve vvayt for thee VVe vvorship thee vve vvayt on thee Nowe bicause Pompey hauing taken certaine of these rouers by sea that kept together did vse them gently when they required pardon and hauing their shippes and bodies in his power did them no hurt at all their other companions being in good hope of his mercy fled from his other Captaines and Lieutenauntes and went and yeelded them selues their wiues and children into his handes Pompey pardoned all them that came in of them selues and by that meanes he came to haue knowledge of the rest and to followe them where they went whome he tooke in the ende but knowinge that they deserued no pardon they hid them selues Yet the most parte and the richest of them had conueyed their wiues children and goodes and all other their family vnmeete for warres into strong castells and litle townes apon mount Taurus and such men as were able to cary weapon imbarked and lay before a city of CORACESIVM where they taried Pompey and gaue him battell first by sea and there were ouercome and afterwardes they were besieged by lande Howebeit shortly after they prayed they might be receiued to mercie and thereuppon yeelded their bodies townes and Ilandes which they had fortified and were hard to haue taken and worse to haue approached Thus was this warre ended and all the pirates in lesse then three monthes driuen from the sea wheresoeuer they were He wanne also a great number of other shippes besides foure score and tenne gallies armed with copper spurres And touching the men whom they had taken who were in number aboue twenty thowsand persones he did not only consider whether he should put them to death but also thought it no wise parte on thother side to let them goe at liberty to gather force againe being so great a number of them as in deede they were and all poore men and souldiers Therefore weying with him selfe that man by nature is â—â—â— borne a wild or sauage beast but contrarily becommeth a brute beast chaunging nature whâ— he falleth to vice and againe is made tame and ciuill in time chaunging place and maner of life as brute beastes that being wilde by nature doe also become gentle and tractable with gentler vsage by continuance he determined to draw these pirats from the sea into thupland and to make them feele the true and innocent life by dwelling in townes and manuring the ground Some of them therefore he placed in certaine small townes of the CILICIANS that were scant inhabited were very glad of theÌ„ geuing them land to keepe them with The city of the SOLâ—ANS also that not long before had bene destroyed by Tigranes the king of ARMINIA being desirous to replenish that againe he placed many of them there He bestowed diuers also in the city of DYMA in the contry of ACHAIA which at that time lacked inhabitants and had great store of very good land Now therefore his enemies reproued him greatly and for that he did in CRETA they that were his best and greatest frendes misliked him For Metellus that gentle person a cosen to that Metellus which was his colleague and made warres in SPAYNE with him against Sertorius was sent Praetor into CRETA before Pompey was chosen Generall against the pirates This CRETA next vnto CILICIA was euen a seconde denne of pirates Metellus finding there a great number of these theeues tooke many of them and put them to death euen all that came to his handes Then such as had scaped from him being straightly besieged sent vnto Pompey to pray him of pardon and to take them to mercie declaringe vnto him that the I le of CRETA was within the precinct of his charge bicause all partes of that region from the sea came iust within the coÌ„passe limited him on the land Pompey pardoning them apon their submission wrote vnto Metellus commaunded him to leaue of his warre and therewithall charged all the cities that they should not obey Metellus commaundementes After that he sent Lucius Octauius one of his Lieutenauntes who entred into the townes Metellus besieged and fought for the pirates This made Pompey not only hated enuied but derided also for that vnder his name he had protected such vile theeues that had neither God nor law and geuen them his authority to saue their liues for a litle enuie and emulacion he bare vnto Metellus And therefore they rightly reproue Achilles and say that he shewed not the parte of a wise man but of a young foole besides him selfe for desire of glory making a signe to the GRAECIANS forbidding them to strike at Hector to th end that as Homer sayd Least he too late should to the battell runne VVhen others had the honor of it vvonne But Pompeys fact was worse then this For he fought for the coÌ„mon enemies of the world and only to depriue a ROMANE Praetor of triumphe who had done great good seruice to haue destroyed them This notwithstanding Metellus left not of his warre for Pompeys letters but hauing taken the pirates by assault he put them to death and afterwardes hauing done Octouius open shame through his campe he let him goe When newes came to ROME that the pirates warre was brought to good end that Pompey hauing no other seruice in hand went visiting the cities vp downe one Manilius a Tribune of the people put forth an other decree vnto them of this effect That Pompey taking all the army Lucullus had the prouinces vnder his gouernment with al BITHYNIA which Glabrio kept should go make warre vpon the kings Tigranes and Mithridates keping in his handes notwithstanding all his iurisdiction and army by sea in as royall maner as he had it before In fine this was euen to make one man Monarke and absolute Prince of all the ROMANE Empire For by this second decree he had all these contries not named in his former commission added to amplifie his authority as PHRYGIA LYCAONIA GALATIA CAPPADOCIA CILICIA high COLCHIDA and ARMENIA with all the armies and forces with the which he had ouercomen those two mighty kinges Then the Senate stucke not so much at the iniurie that was offered vnto Lucullus depriuing him of the honor of his doinges to geue it to an other that should rather succeede him in honor of triumphe then in daunger of warres knowing that they did him too manifest iniury shewed them selues too vnthankefull but that which most griued them was to see Pompeys power established in a plaine tyranny Hereuppon therefore one of them perswaded and encoraged an other stowtly to withstand
though his master Pompey was but meanly housed till his third Consullshippe Howbeit afterwardes he built that famous stately Theater called Pompeys Theater and ioyned vnto that also an other house as a penthouse to his Theater farre more sumptuous and stately then the first and yet no more then needed Insomuch as he that was owner of it after him when he came into it he marueled and asked where abouts it was that Pompey dyned supped These thinges are reported thus Now the king of the ARABIANS that dwelt also at the castell called Petra hauing neuer vntill that time made any accompt of the ROMANES army was 〈…〉 greatly affrayed of them and wrote vnto Pompey that he was at his deuotion to doe what he would commaunde him Pompey thereuppon to proue him whether he ment as he 〈…〉 brought his army before this castell of Petra Howebeit this voyage was not liked of many men bicause they iudged it was an occasion found out to leaue following of Mithridates against whom they would haue had him rather haue bent his force being an auncient enemy to ROME and that beganne to gather strength againe and prepared as they heard say to lead a great army through SCYTHIA and PANNONIA into ITALIE But Pompey thinking he should sooner minishe his power by suffering him to goe on with warres then that he should otherwise be able to take him flying would not toyle to follow him in vaine And for these causes he would needes make warres in other places and linger time so long that in the end he was put by his hope For when he was not farre from the castell of Petra had lodged his campe for that day as he was riding and managing his horse vp and downe the campe postes came stinging to him from the realme of PONTVS and brought him good newes as was easily to be discerned a farre of by the heades of their iauelings which were wreathed about with laurell boughes The souldiers perceiuing that flocked straight about him but Pompey would make an ende of his riding first before he red these letters Howbeit they crying to him and being importunate with him he lighted from his horse and returned into his campe where there was no stone high enough for him to stand vppon to speake vnto them and againe the souldiers would not tary the making of one after the manner of their campe which men of warre doe make them selues with great turnes of earth laying one of them vppon an other but for hast earnest desire they had to heare what newes there was in the letters they layed together a heape of saddells one apon an other and Pompey geuing vp of them colde howe Mithridates was dead and had killed him selfe with his owned handes bicause his sonne Pharnaces did rebell against him and had wonne all that which his father possessed wryting vnto him that he kept it for him selfe and the ROMANES Vpon these newes all the campe ye may imagine made wonderfull ioy and did sacrifice to the goddes geuing them thankes were as mery as if in Mithridates person alone there had dyed an infinite number of their enemies Pompey by this occasion hauing brought this warre more easily to passe then he hoped for departed presently out of ARABIA and hauing speedily in few dayes passed through the contries lying by the way he came at length to the city of AMISVS There he founde great presents that were brought vnto him from Pharnaces and many dead bodies of the kinges blood and amongest the rest Mithridates corse which could not well be discerned by his face bicause they that had the carying of his body had forgotten to drie vp the braine neuerthelesse such as desired to see him knew him by certaine skarres he had in his face For Pompey would is no wise see him but to auoide enuy sent him away vnto the city of SYNODE He wondred much at the maruelous sumptuons riche apparell and weapons that he ware The scaberd of his sword which cost foure hundred talents was stolen by Publius and sold to Ariarathes Also a hatte of Mithridates of wonderfull workemanshippe being begged of Carus his foster brother was secretly geuen to Faustus the sonne of Sylla without Pompeys priuity But afterwards when Pharnaces vnderstoode of it he punished the parties that had imbezelled them Pompey hauing ordered all things and established that prouince went on his iorney homewards with great pompe and glory So comming vnto MITYLENE he released the city of all taxes and paymentes for Theophanes sake was present at a certaine play they yearely make for gain or where the Poets report their workes contending one with an other hauing at that time no other matter in hande but Pompeys actes and ieâ—stes Pompey like exceeding well the Theater where these playes were made and drew a modell or platforme of it to make a statelye then that in ROME As he passed by the city of RHODES he would nedes heare all the Rethoritians dispute and gaue euery one of them a talent Posidonius hath written the disputation he made before Pompey against Hermagoras the Rethoritian vpon the theame and proposition Pompey selfe did geue them touching the generall question Pompey did the like at ATHENS vnto the Philosophers there For he gaue towards the reedifying of the city againe fifty talents So he thought at his returne home into ITALIE to haue bene very honorably receiued and longed to be at home to see his wife and children thinking also that they long looked for him that the god that hath the charge geuen him to mingle fortunes prosperity with some bitter soppe of aduersity layed a blocke in his way at home in his owne house to make his returne more sorowfull For Mutia his wife had in his abscence played false at tables But Pompey being then farre of made no account of the reportes nor tales that were tolde him Howbeit when he drewe neerer into ITALIES and that he was more attentiue to geue eare to the ill reportes he heard then he sent vnto her to tell her that he refused her for his wife wryting nothing to her at that time neither euer after told the cause why he had forsaken her Notwithstanding in Ciceroes Epistles the cause appeareth Furthermore there were rumors ranne abroade in ROME which troubled them sore being geuen out that he would bring his armie straight to ROME and make him selfe absolute Lord of all the ROMANE Empire Crassus thereuppon either for that he beleued it in deede to be true or as it was thought to make the accusation true and the entry towardes Pompey the greater conueyed him selfe his family and goodes sodainely out of ROME So Pompey when he came into ITALIE called all his souldiers together and after he had made an oration vnto them as time occasion required he commanded them to feuer them selues euery man to repaire home to apply his busines remeÌ„bring to mete at
of Pompeys bodie were afterwards brought vnto his wife Cornelia who buried them in a towne of hers by the citie of ALBA THE COMPARISON OF Pompey with Agesilaus NOw that we haue declared vnto you the liues of Agesilaus and Pompey let vs compare their maners and condicions together which are these First Pompey-came to his honor and greatnesse by his integritie and so aduanced him selfe and was a great aide vnto Sylla doing many noble exploits helping him to rid those tyrans out of ITALIE who held it in bondage But Agesilaus vsurped the kingdom of LACEDAEMON against the law of gods and men condemning Leotychides for a bastard whom his brother auowed to be his lawfull sonne and contemned besides the oracle of the gods which gaue warning of a lame king Furthermore Pompey did honor Sylla while he liued and when he was dead gaue his body honorable buriall in despite of Lepidus and maried his daughter vnto Faustus the sonne of Sylla Agesilaus contrarily did dishonor Lysander apon light occasion but Pompey had done no lesse for Sylla than Sylla had done for him Lysander on thother side had made Agesilaus king of LACEDAEMON and Lieutenant generall of all GRAECE Thirdly the iniuries that Pompey did vnto the common weale were done of necessitie to please Caesar and Scipio both of them his fathers in law Agesilaus also to satisfie his sonnes loue saued Sphodriaes life that had deserued death for the mischiefe he had done the ATHENIANS and he willingly also tooke parte with Phoebidas not secretly but openly bicause he had broken the peace made with the THEBANS To conclude what hurt Pompey did vnto the ROMANES either through ignorance or to pleasure his frends the same did Agesilaus vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS through anger selfe wil in renuing warre with the BOEOTIANS apon a full peace concluded If we shall reckon of the fortune of the one and the other in the faultes they committed Pompeis fortune vnto the ROMANES was vnlooked for But Agesilaus would not suffer the LACEDAEMONIANS to auoyd the lame kingdom though they knew it before For though Leotychides had bene proued a bastard ten thowsand times yet had not the race of the Eurytiontides failed but they could haue fouÌ„d an other lawfull king among them that should haue gone vpright had not Lyfaâ—der fauoring Agesilaus kept the true meaning of the oracle from the LACEDAEMONIANS On tother side againe for matters of gouernment there was neuer such an excellent deuise found out as was done by Agesilaus to helpe the feare and daunger the LACEDAEMONIANS were in for those that fled at the battell of LEVCTRES when he counselled them to let the law sleepe for that day Neither can any man matche Pompeis with the like who to shew his frends what power he was of did breake the lawes which him selfe had made For Agesilaus being driuen of necessity to abolish the law to saue the life of his citizens found such a deuise that the law was not hurtfull to the common wealth neither yet was put downe for feare it should doe hurt I must needes commende this for a great vertue and ciuility in Agesilaus who so soone as he receiued the Scytala or scrowle of parchement from the Ephori returned into his contrie and left the warre of ASIA He did not as Pompey who made him selfe great to the benefit of the common wealth and for the common wealthes sake did forsake such honor and so great authoritie as neuer Captaine before him but Alexander the great had the like in those partes But now to other matter Touching their battells and exploytes in warres the multitude of victories and triumphes that Pompey obtained and the great armies that he led Xenophon him selfe if he were aliue could not compare Agesilaus victories vnto his although for the singular vertues and qualities he had in him for recompence thereof he had libertie graunted him to wryte and speake of Agesilaus what he thought good Me thinkes also there was great difference betwext Pompey and Agesilaus in their equitie and clemencie towardes their enemies For whilest Agesilaus went about to conquer THEBES and vtterly to race and destroy the citie of MESSINA the one being an auncient citie of his contrie and the other the capitall citie of BOEOTIA he had almost lost his owne citie of SPARTA for at the least he lost the commaundement and rule he had ouer the rest of GRAECE The other contrarily gaue cities vnto pirates to dwell in which were willing to chaunge their trade and maner of life and when it was in his choyse to lead Tigranes king of ARMENIA in triumphe at ROME he chose rather to make him a confederat of the ROMANES saying that he preferred perpetuall honor before one dayes glorie But since it is reason we should geue the first place and honor of the discipline of warres vnto a Captaine of the greatest skill and experience in warres the LACEDAEMONIAN then leaueth the ROMANE farre behind For first of all Agesilaus neuer forsooke his citie though it was besieged with three score and ten thowsand men and that there were very fewe within the same to defende it the which also a litle before had been ouerthrowen at the battell of LEVCTRES And Pompey on thother side hearinge that Caesar with fiue thowsand footemen onely had taken a towne in ITALIE fled from ROME in verie feare And therein he can not be excused of one of these two either that he fled cowardly for so few men or else that he had a false imagination of more For he conueyed his wife and children away but he left all the rest without defence and fled where in deede he should either haue ouercome valliantly fighting for defense of his contrie or else haue receiued the condicions of peace which the conquerors should haue offered him For he was a citizen and allied vnto him For he that thought it an vntollerable thing to prolong the tearme of his gouernment or to graunt him a second Consulshippe did now geue him oportunitie suffering him to take the city of ROME to say vnto Metellus the Tribune the rest that they were all his prisoners Sith therefore it is the chiefest point of an excellent Captaine to compell his enemies to fight when he findeth him selfe the stronger and also to keepe him selfe from compulsion of fight when he is the weaker Agesilaus excelling in that did euer keepe him selfe inuincible Caesar also had great skill therein to keepe him selfe from daunger being the weaker and againe could tell howe to compell Pompey to hazard battell to his vtter destruction by lande where he was the weaker and by this meanes he made him selfe Lorde of the treasure vittells and also of the sea which his enemies had in their handes without fighting That which they alleage in his excuse is that which most doth comdemne him specially for so great and skilfull a Captaine For as it is likely enough that a young Generall
of an armie may easily be brought from his wife and safe counsell with rumor and tumult of a few fearefull men that should perswade him it were a shame and dishonor for him if he did otherwise yet were this no straunge matter but a fault to be pardoned But for Pompey the great whose campe the ROMANES called their contrie and his tent the Senate and called all the Praetors and Consuls that gouerned at ROME rebells and traitors to the common wealth of ROME who coulde excuse him who was neuer seene commaunded by other then him selfe but had bene alwayes chiefe Captaine and Generall in any warre he made and euer had the vpper hand but that he was drawen on by the scoffes of Faonius and Domitius to hazard battell to endaunger the whole Empire and liberty of ROME only for feare they should call him king Agâ—memnon Who if he had so much regarded present infamie he should haue fought from the beginning for defence of the citie of ROME and not to haue taken example of Themistocles policie by flying and afterwards to thinke it a shame as he did to lye in THESSALIE a time without fighting Neither did God appoint them the fieldes of Pharsalia for a Theater or close campe of necessitie to fight which of them shoulde haue the Empire of ROME Further there was no Heraulde to summone him to fight as there are at games of price where he must aunswere to his name and come and fight or else to loose the honor of the crowne vnto an other But there were infinite other fieldes and townes and as a man woulde say the whole earth which the commoditie of his armie by sea gaue him choyse to conquer if he would rather haue followed the steppes of Fabius Maximus of Marius of Lucullus or of Agesilaus him selfe who did paciently abide no lesse tumultes within the citie selfe of SPARTA when the THEBANS went to summone him to come out to fight for all the rest of his contrie And in AEGYPT also he did abide many false accusations against him wherewith the king him selfe did burden him praying him alwayes to haue a litle pacience In fine hauing followed the best counsell which he had determined with him selfe from the beginning he saued the AEGYPTIANS against their willes and furthermore he did not only keepe the citie of SPARTA from so great a daunger but did also set vp tokens of triumphe in the same against the THEBANS whereby he was not compelled at that time to lead them out to the slaughter and besides that gaue his citizens occasion to obtaine victorie afterwardes Hereupon Agesilaus was highly praised of them whose liues he had saued against their wills And Pompey contrarily was blamed by them selues through whom he had offended yet some say that he was deceiued by his father in law Scipio For he meaning to keepe the most parte of the money to him selfe which he had brought out of ASIA did hasten and perswade Pompey to geue battell telling him that there was no money left The which though it had bene true a worthie Captaine should not so lightly haue bene brought into error vpon a false accompt to hazard him selfe to loose all Thus may we see what both of them were by comparing them together Furthermore for their iorneys into AEGYPT the one fled thither by force the other willingly went thither with small honor for moneys sake to serue the barbarous people with intent afterwards to make warre with the GRAECIANS Lastly in that which we accuse the AEGYPTIANS for Pompeys sake for the like matter doe they againe accuse Agesilaus For the one was cruelly put to death betrayed by them whom he trusted Agesilaus forsooke them which trusted him and went to the enemies hauing brought aide to fight against them The end of Pompeys life THE LIFE OF Alexander the great HAuing determined in this volume to write the life of king Alexander of Iulius Caesar that ouercame Pompey hauing to speake of many things I will vse none other preface but only desire the readers not to blame me though I do not declare al things at large but briefly touch diuers chiefly in those their noblest acts most worthy of memory For they must remember that my intent is not to write histories but only liues For the noblest deedes doe not alwayes shew mens vertues and vices but ofteÌ„times a light occasion a word or some sporte makes mens naturall dispositions and maners appeare more plaine then the famous battells wonne wherein a slaine tenne thowsand men or the great armies or cities wonne by siege or assault For like as painters or drawers of pictures which make no accompt of other partes of the bodie do take resemblaunces of the face and fauor of the countenauce in the which consisteth the iudgement of their maners disposition euen so they must geue vs leaue to seeke out the signes and tokens of the minde only and thereby shewe the life of either of them referring you vnto others to wryte the warres battells and other great thinges they did It is certaine that Alexander was discensed from Hercules by Caranus and that of his mothers side he came of the blood of the AEacides by Neoptolemus They say also that king Philip his father when he was a young man fell in fancie with his mother Olympias which at that time also was a younge maiden and an orphane without father or mother in the I le of SAMOTHRACIA where they were both receiued into the misterie and fraternity of the house of the religious and that afterwards he did aske her in mariage of her brother Arymbas with whose consent they were maried together The night before they lay in wedded bed the bride dreamed that lightning fell into her belly and that withall there was a great light fire that dispersed it selfe all about into diuers flames King Philip her husband also shortly after he was maried dreamed that he did seale his wiues belly and that the seale wherewith he sealed left behinde the printe of a Lyon. Certaine wisards and soothsayers tolde Philip that this dreame gaue him warning to looke straightly to his wife But Aristander TELMECIAN aunswered againe that it signified his wife was conceiued with childe for that they doe not seale a vessell that hath nothinge in it and that she was with childe with a boy which should haue a Lions hart It is reported also that many times as she lay asleepe in her bed there was seene a serpent lying by her the which was the chiefest cause as some presuppose that withdrewe Philips loue and kindnes from her and caused him that he lay not so oft with her as before he was wont to doe either for that he feared some charme or enchauntment or else for that he thought him selfe vnmeete for her company supposing her to be beloued of some god Some do also report this after an other sort as in this
left the one and riding straight to Roesaces who was excellently armed he gaue him such a blow with his launce that he brake it in his hand and straight drew out his sword But so soone as they two had closed together Spithridates comming at toe side of him raised him selfe vpon his stirroppes and gaue Alexander with all his might such a blow of his head with a battell axe that he cut the creast of his helmet and one of the sides of his plume and made such a gash that the edge of his battell axe touched the very heare of his head And as he was lifting vp his hand to strike Alexander againe great Clitus preuenting him thrust him through with a partisan and at the very same instant Roesaces also fell dead from his horse with a wound which Alexander gaue him with his sword Now whilest the horsemen fought with such furie the squadron of the battell of footemen of the MACEDONIANS had passed the riuer and both the battells beganne to march one against the other The PERSIANS stucke not manfully to it any long time but straight turned their backes and fled sauing the GRAECIANS which tooke paie of king Darius they drew together vpon a hill and craued mercy of Alexander But Alexander setting vpon them more of will and then discretion had his horse killed vnder him being thrust through the flancke with a sword This was not Bucephal but an other horse he had All his men that were slaine or hurt at this battell were hurte amongest them valliantly fighting against desperate men It is reported that there were slaine at this first battell twenty thowsand footemen of these barbarous people two thowsand fiue hundred horsemen Of Alexanders side Aristubulus writeth that there were slaine foure and thirty men in all of the which twelue of them were footemen Alexander to honor their valliantnes caused euery one of their images to be made in brasse by Lysippus And bycause he would make the GRAECIANS partakers of this victorie he sent vnto the ATHENIANS three hundred of their targettes which he had wonne at the battell and generally vpon all the other spoiles he put this honorable inscription Alexander the sonne of Philip and the Graecians excepting the Lacedaemonians haue vvonne this spoile apon the barbarous Asians As for plate of gold or siluer also purple silkes or other such precious ware which he gat among the PERSIANS he sent them all vnto his mother a few except This first victorie of Alexander brought such a sodaine chaunge amongest the barbarous people in Alexanders behalfe that the citie selfe of SARDIS the chiefe citie of the Empire of the barbarous people or at the least through all the lowe contries and coastes apon the sea they yeelded straight vnto him sauing the cities of HALICARNASSVS and MILETVM which did still resist him howbeit at length he tooke thē by force When he had also conquered all thereabouts he stood in dout afterwards what he were best to determine Sometime he had a maruelous desire whotly to follow Darius wheresoeuer he were and to venter all at a battell An other time againe he thought it better first to occupy himselfe in conquering of these low contries to make him selfe strong with the money and riches he should finde among them that he might afterwardes be the better able to follow him In the contrie of LYDIA neere vnto the citie XANTHVM they say there is a springe that brake of it selfe and ouerflowing the banckes about it cast out a litle table of copper from the bottome vpon the which were graued certen carectes in olde letters which said that the kingdome of the PERSIANS should be distroyed by the GRAECIANS This did further so encorage Alexander that he made hast to cleere all the sea coast euen as farre as CILICIA and PHOENICIA But the wonderfull good successe he had runninge alongest all the coast of PAMPHILIA gaue diuers historiographers occasion to set forth his doinges with admiration saying that it was one of the wonders of the worlde that the furie of the sea which vnto all other was extreame roughe and many times would swell ouer the toppes of the highe rockes vpon the cliffes fell calme vnto him And it appeareth that Menander him selfe in a comedie of his doth witnesse this wonderfull happynes of Alexander when merily he sayeth O great Alexander hovv great is thy state For thou vvith thy selfe mayst that iustly debate If any man lyuing I list for too call He commeth and humbly before me doth fall And if through the sourges my iorney doe lye The vvaues giue me vvay and the Sea becomes drye Yet Alexander him selfe simply writeth in his epistles without any great wonder that by sea he passed a place called the ladder and that to passe there he tooke shippe in the citie of PHASELIDES There he remained many dayes and when he saw the image of Theodectes PHASELITAN standing in the market place he went in a daunce thither one euening after supper and cast flowers and garlandes apon his image honoring the memorie of the dead though it seemed but in sporte for that he was his companion when he lyued by meanes of Aristotle and his philosophie After that he ouercame also the PISIDIANS who thought to haue resisted him and conquered all PHRYGIA besides There in the citie of GORDIVS which is said to be the auncient seate of king Midas he saw the charret that is so much spokē of which is bound with the barcke of a comell tree and it was told him for a trothe of the barbarous people that they beleued it as a prophecy that whosoeuer could vndoe the bande of that barcke was certenly ordeyned to be king of all the world It is commonly reported that Alexander prouing to vndoe that bande and finding no endes to vndoe it by they were so many folde wreathed one within the other he drew out his sword and cut the knot in the middest So that then many endes appeared But Aristobulus writeth that he had quickly vndone the knot by taking the bolt out of the axtree which holdeth the beame and body of the chartet and so seuered them a soonder Departing thence he conquered the PAPHLAGONIANS CAPPADOCIANS and vnderstood of the death of Memnon that was Darius generall of his army by Sea and in whom was all their hope to trouble and withstand Alexander whereupon he was the bolder to goe on with his determination to leade his army into the highe contries of ASIA Then did king Darius him selfe come against Alexander hauing leauied a great power at SVSA of six hundred thowsand fighting men trusting to that multitude and also to a dreame the which his wisards had expounded rather to flatter him then to tell him truly Darius dreamed that he saw all the armie of the MACEDONIANS on a fire and Alexander seruing of him in the selfe same attier that he him selfe wore when he was one of the chamber
not tell where there came crowes vnto them that did guide them flying before them flying fast when they saw them follow them and stayed for them when they were behind But Callisthenes writeth a greater wonder then this that in the night time with the very noise of the crowes they brought them againe into the right waie which had lost their waie Thus Alexander in th end hauing passed through this wildernes he came vnto the temple he sought for where the prophet or chiefe priest saluted him from the god Hammon as from his father Then Alexander asked him if any of the murtherers that had killed his father were left aliue The priest aunswered him and bad him take heede he did not blaspheme for his father was no mortall man Then Alexander againe rehersing that he had spoken asked him if the murderers that had conspired the death of Philip his father were all punished After that he asked him touching his kingdome if he would graunt him to be king ouer all the world The god aunswered him by the mouth of his prophet he should and that the death of Philip was fully reuenged Then did Alexander offer great presentes vnto the god and gaue money large to the priests ministers of the temple This is that the most parte of writers doe declare touching Alexanders demaund and the oracles geuen him Yet did Alexander him selfe write vnto his mother that he had secret oracles from the god which he would onely impart vnto her at his retorne into MACEDON Others saie also that the prophet meaning to salute him in the Greeke tongue to welcome him the better would haue said vnto him O Paidion as much as deere sonne but that he tripped a litle in his tongue bycause the Greeke was not his naturall tongue and placed an s for an n in the latter ende saying O Pai dios to wit O sonne of Iupiter and that Alexander was glad of that mistaking Whereupon there ranne a rumor straight among his men that Iupiter had called him his sonne It is said also that he heard Psammon the philosopher in EGYPT and that he liked his wordes very well when he saide that god was king of all mortall men For ê™ he he that commaundeth all things must needes be god But Alexander selfe spake better and like philosopher when he said That god generally was father to all mortall men but that particularly he did elect the best sorte for him selfe To conclude he shewed him selfe more arrogant vnto the barbarous people and made as though he certainly beleued that he had bene begotten of some god but vnto the GRAECIANS he spake more modestly of diuine generation Porin a letter he wrote vnto the ATHENIANS touching the citie of SAMOS he said I gaue ye not that noble free citie but it was geuen you at that time by him whom they called my Lord father meaning Philip. Afterwardes also being striken with an arrow and feeling great paine of it My frendes said he This blood which is spilt is mans blood and not as Homer said No such as from the immortall gods doth flovv And one day also in a maruelous great thunder when euery man was afraid Anaxarcbus the Rethoritian being present said vnto him O thou sonne of Iupiter wilt thou doe as much no said he laughing on him I will no be so fearefull to my frends as thou wouldest haue me disdaining the seruice of fishe to my borde bycause thou seest not princes heades serued in And the report goeth also that Alexander vpon a time sending a litle fishe vnto Hephes 〈…〉 Anaxarchus should saye as it were in mockery that they which aboue others seeke for 〈…〉 with great trouble and hazard of life haue either small pleasure in the world or els 〈…〉 as others haue By these proofes and reasons alleaged we maie thinke that Alexander lead no vaine nor presumptuous opinion of him selfe to thinke that he was otherwise begotten of a god but that he did it in policie to kepe other men vnder obedience by the opinion conceiued of his godhead Retorning out of PHOENICIA into EGYPT he made many sacrifices feastes and precessions in honor of the goddes sondry daunces Tragedies and such like pastimes goodly to behold not onely for the sumptuous serring out of them but also for the good will and diligence of the setters forth of them which striued euery one to exceede the other For the kings of the CYPRIANS were the setters of them forth as at ATHENS they dâ—aâ—â— by lot a citizen of euery tribe of the people to defraie the changes of these pastimes These kinges were very earnest who should doe best but specially Nicocreon king of SALAMDAâ—â—â— CYPRVS and Pasicrates Lord of the citie of SOLES For it fell to their lot to fournish run of the excellentest plaiers Pasicrates fournished Athenodorus and Nicocreon Thessalus whom Alexander loued singulerly well though he made no shew of it vntill that Athenodorus was declared victor by the iudges deputed to geue sentence For when he went from the plaies he told them he did like the iudges opinion well notwithstanding he would haue bene extented to haue geuen the one halfe of his realme not to haue seene Thessalus ouercome Athenodorus being condemned vpon a time by the ATHENIANS bycause he was not in ATHENS at the feastes of Bacchus when the Comedies and Tragedies were plaied and a fine set of his head for his absence he besought AlexaÌ„der to write vnto them in his behalfe that they would release his penalty Alexander would not so doe but sent thether his money whereof he was condemned and paide it for him of his owne purse Also when Lycon SCALPHIAN an euedlent stage player had pleased Alexander well and did foiste in a verse in his comedy conteining a petition of tenne talents Alexander laughing at it gaue it him Darius at that time wrote vnto Alexander and vnto certen of his frendes also to pray him take tenne thousand tallentes for the raumson of all those prisoners he had in his handes and for all the contrie landes and signories on this side the riuer of Euphrates and one of his daughters also in mariage that from thence forth he might be his kinsman and frend Alexander imparted this to his counsell Amongest them Parmenio said vnto him if I were Alexander ê™ he surely I would accept this offer So would I in deede ê™ Alexander againe if I were Parmenio In fine he 〈…〉 againe vnto Darius that if he would submit him selfe he would vse him courteously if not that then he would presently marche towardes him But he repented him afterwardes when king Darius wife was dead with childe For without dissimulation it greeued him much that he had lost so noble an occasion to shew his courtesie and clemencie This notwithstanding he gaue her body honorable buriall sparing for no cost Amongest the Eunuches of the queenes chamber there was one Tireus taken prisoner among the
Alexander to pray him to come and aide him bicause there was yet a great squadron whole together that made no countenaunce to flie Somewhat there was in it that they accused Parmenio that day to haue delt but stackely and cowardly either bicause his age had taken his corage from him or else for that he enuied Alexanders greatnes and prosperity who against his will be dame ouer great as Callisthenes sayd In fine Alexander was angry with the second message and yet told not his men truely the cause why but faining that he would haue them leaue killing and bicause also night came on he caused the trompet sound retreate and so went towards his army whom he thought to be in distresse Notwithstanding newes came to him by the way that in that place also they had geuen the enemies the ouerthrowe and that they fled euery way for life The battell hauing this successe euery man thought that the kingdom of the PERSIANS was vtterly ouerthrowen and that Alexander likewise was become only king of all ASIA whereupon he made sumptuous sacrifices vnto the goddes and gaue great riches houses lands and possessions vnto his frendes and familliars Furthermore to shewe his liberalitie also vnto the GRAECIANS he wrote vnto them that he would haue all tyrannies suppressed through out all GRAECE and that all the GRAECIANS should liue at libertie vnder their owne lawes Particularly also he wrote vnto the PLATAEIANS that he woulde reedifie their citie againe bicause their predecessors in time past had geuen their contrie vnto the GRAECIANS to fight against the barbarous people for the defence of the common libertie of all GRAECE He sent also into ITALIE vnto the GROTONIANS parte of the spoyle to honor the memory of the valliantnes and good will of Phayllus their citizen who in the time of the warres with the MEDES when all the GRAECIANS that dwelt in ITALIE had forsaken their naturall contrie men of GRAECE it selfe bicause they thought they could not otherwise scape went with a shippe of his vnto SALAMINA which he armed and set forth at his owne charges bicause he would be at the battell and partake also of the common daunger with the GRAECIANS such honor did Alexander beard vnto prowes that he loued to reward remember the worthy deedes of men Then Alexander marching with his army into the contry of BABYLON they all yeolded straight vnto him When he came into the contrie of the ECEATANIANS he marueled when he saw an opening of the earth out of the which there came continuall sparkes of fire as out of a well that hard by also the earth spued out continually a kinde of mawnd or chalkie clay somwhat lyquid of such aboundaunce as it seemed like a lake This maund or chalke is like vnto a kind of lyme or clay but it is so easie to be sette a fire that not touching it with any flame by the brightnes only of the light that commeth out of the fire it is set afire doth also set the ayer a fire which is betwene both The barbarous people of that contrie being desirous to shewe Alexander the nature of that Naptha scattered the streete that led to his lodging with some of it Then the day being shut in they fired it at one of the endes and the first droppes taking fire in the twinckling of an eye all the rest from one end of the streete to the other was of a flame and though it was darke and within night lightned all the place thereabout Alexander being in bath at that time and waited apon by a page called Steuen a hard fauored boy but yet that had an excellent sweete voyce to sing one Athenophanes an ATHENIAN that alwayes nointed bathed the king much delighted him with his pleasaunt conceites asked him if he would see the triall of this Naptha apon Steuen for if the fire tooke and went not out then he would say it had a wonderfull force and was vnquencheable The page was contented to haue it proued apon him But so soone as they had layed it on him and did but touche it only it tooke straight of such a flame and so fired his body that Alexander him selfe was in a maruelous perplexitie withall And sure had it not bene by good happe that there were many by ready with vessells full of water to put into the bath it had bene vnpossible to haue saued the boy from being burnt to nothing and yet so he escaped narrowly and besides was sicke long after Now some apply this Naptha vnto the fable of Medea saying that therwith she rubbed the crowne and lawne she gaue vnto the daughter of Creon at her mariage so much spoken of in the tragedies For neither the crowne nor the lawne could cast fire of them selues neither did the fire light by chaunce But by oyling them with this Naptha she wrought a certain aptnes to receiue more forcibly the operation of the fire which was in place where the bridesate For the beames which the fire casteth out haue ouer some bodies no other force but to heet and lighten them But such as haue an oyly drie humor and thereby a simpathy and proportionable conformitie with the nature of the fire it easily enflameth and setteth a fire by the forcible impression of his beames Howbeit they make a great question of the cause of this naturall force of Naptha or whether this liquid substance and moyst humor that taketh fine so easily doth come of the earth that is fatty and apt to conceiue fire For this contrie of BABYLON is very hot insomuch as oftentimes batley being put into the ground it bloweth it vp againe as if the earth by vehement inflammacion had a strong blast to cast it out and men in the extreamest heate of the sommer doe sleepe there vpon great leather budgets filled full of fresh water Harpalus whom Alexander left there his Lieutenaunt Gouernor of that contry desiring to set forth and beawtifie the gardens of the kings pallace walkes of the same with all maner of plantes of GRAECE he brought all the rest to good passe sauing Iuie only which the earth could neuer abide but it euer dyed bicause the heate and temper of the earth killed it and the Iuie of it selfe liketh fresh ayer and a cold ground This digression is somwhat from the matter but peraduenture the reader will not thinke it troublesome howe hard soeuer he finde it so it be not ouer tedious Alexander hauing wonne the city of SVSA he found within the castell foure thowsand talentes in ready coyne gold and siluer besides other infinite treasure and inestimable amongest the which it is sayd he found to the value of fiue thowsand talentes weight of purple HERMIONA silke which they had safe locked vp kept that â—â—ace of two hundred yeres saue ten and yet the colour kept as freshe as if it had bene newly 〈…〉 Some say that the
cause why it was so well kept came by meanes of the dying of it with â—â—nie in silkes which before had bene dyed redde and with white oyle in white silkes For these are silkes seene of that colour of as long a time that keepe colour as well as the other And writeth furthermore that the kinges of PERSIA made water to be brought from the riuer of Nylus and Ister otherwise called Danubie which they did locke vp with their other treasure for a confirmation of the greatnes of their Empire and to shew that they were Lordes of the world The wayes to enter into PERSIA being very hard of passage and in maner vnpassable both for the illnes of the wayes as also for the gard that kept them which were the choisest men of PERSIA Darius also being fled thither there was one that spake the Greeke and PERSIAN tongue whose father was borne in the contry of LYCIA his mother a PERSIAN that guided Alexander into PERSIA by some compasse fetched about not very long according to the Oracles aunswere of Alexander geuen by the mouth of Nunne Pythias when he was a child that a LYCIAN should guide and lead him against the PERSIANS There was then great slaughter made in PERSIA of the prisoners that were taken For Alexander him selfe wryteth that he commaunded the men should be put to the sword thinking that the best way to serue his turne It is sayd also that there he found a maruelous treasure of gold and siluer in readie money as he had done before in the citie of SVSA the which he caried away with all the rest of the kinges rich wardroppe and with it laded tenne thowsande moyles and fiue thowsande cammells Alexander entring into the castell of the chiefe citie of PERSIA saw by chaunce a great image of Xerxe's lye on the ground the which vnwares was throwen downe by the multitude of the souldiers that came in thronging one apon an other Thereupon he stayed and spake vnto it as if it had bene aliue saying I can not tell whether I should passe by thee and let thee lye for the warre thou madest somtime against the GRAECIANS or whether I should list thee vp respecting the noble minde vertues thou haddest In th end when he had stoode mute a long time considering of it he went his way and meaning to refresh his weary army bicause it was the winter quarter he remained there foure monethes together The reporte goeth that the first time that Alexander sate vnder the cloth of state of king Darius all of rich golde Demarathus CORINTHIAN who first beganne to loue him euen in his father Philippes time burst out in teares for ioy good old man saying that the GRAECIANS long time dead before were depriued of this blessed happe to see Alexander set in king Xerxes princely chaier After that preparing againe to goe against Darius he would needes make mery one day and refresh him selfe with some bancket It chaunced so that he with his companions was bidden to a priuate feast priuately where was assembled some fine curtisans of his familiars who with their frendes taried at the banket Amongest them was that famous Thais borne in the contry of ATTICA then concubine to Ptolomy king of AEGYPT after Alexander death She finely praising Alexander and partely in sporting wife began to vtter matter in affection of her contrie but yet of greater importance than became her mouth saying that that day she founde her selfe fully recompenced to her great good liking for all the paines she had takeÌ„ trauelling through all the contries of ASIA following of his armie now that she had this sauor good happe to be mery and pleasaunt in the prowde and stately pallace of the great kings of PERSIA But yet it would doe her more good for a recreation to burne Xerxes house with the fire of ioy who had burnt the city of ATHENS and her selfe to geue the fire to it before so noble a Prince as Alexander Bicause euer after it might be said that the women following his campe had taken more noble reuenge of the PERSIANS for the wronges and iniuries they had done vnto GRAECE than all the Captaines of GRAECE that euer were had done either by lande or sea When she had sayd Alexanders familiars about him clapped their hands and made great noise for ioy saying that it were as good a deede as could be possible and perswaded Alexander vnto it Alexander yeelding to their perswasions rose vp and putting a garland of flowers apon his head went formest him selfe and all his familliars followed after him crying and dauncing all about the castell The other MACEDONIANS hearing of it also came thither immediatly with torches light and great ioy hoping that this was a good signe that Alexander ment to returne againe into MACEDON and not to dwell in the contrie of the barbarous people sith he did burne and destroy the kings castell Thus and in this sorte it was thought to be burnt Some writers thinke otherwise that it was not burnt with such sport but by determination of the counsell But howsoeuer it was all they graunt that Alexander did presently repent him and commaunded the fire to be quenched straight For his liberality that good will and readines to geue increased with his conquestes and when he did bestowe giftes of any he would besides his gift euer geue them good countenance on whom he bestowed his grace and fauor And here I will recite a few examples thereof Aristo being Collonell of the PAEONIANS hauing slaine one of his enemies he brought him his head and sayd such a present O king by vs is euer rewarded with a cuppe of golde Yea q Alexander smyling apon him with an emptie cuppe But I drinke to thee this cuppe full of good wine and doe geue thee cuppe all An other time he met with a poore MACEDONIAN that led a moyle loden with gold of the kings and when the poore moyle was so weary that she could no lenger cary her burden the moyleter put it apon his owne backe and loded him selfe withall carying it so a good pretie way howbeit in th ende being ouerloden was about to throwe it downe on the ground Alexander perceiuing it asked him what burden he caried When it was tolde him well q he to the moyletter be not weary yet but carie it into the tent for I geue it thee To be short he was angrier with them that would take nothing of him then he was with those that would aske him somewhat He wrote also vnto Phocion that he would take him no more for his frend if he would refuse his giftes It seemed that he had geuen nothing vnto a young boy called Serapion who euer did serue them the ball that played at tenis bicause he asked him nothing Wherefore the king playing on a time this young boy threw the ball to others that played with him and not to him selfe The
GEDROSIA he staied there also certein daies to refresh his army with feasting bāketing It is said that one day whē he had dronke hard he went to see the games for daunsing amongst thē the games which a yong man called Bagoas had set forth with whō Alexander fel in liking bare the bel This Bagoas being in his daunsing garmēts came through the Theater sat him downe by Alexander The MACEDONIANS were so glad of it that they showted clapped their hands for ioy crying out alowde to kisse him So that in fine he toke him in his armes kissed him before them all Thither came Nearchus his Admiral vnto him who made report what he had sene done in his nauigatiō Alexander was so glad of that as he was desirous to saile by sea him self so entring into the sea oceanum by the mouth of Euphrates with a great fleete of ships to cōpasse in all the coasts of ARABIA AFRICKE thēce into Mare Mediterraneū by the straights of the pillers of Hercules To this intēt he built a great nūber of ships in the city of THAPSACVS sent for mariners shipmasters pilots out of al parts But now the difficultie of the iorney which he tooke apon him for the cōquest of INDIA the daunger he was in whē he fought with the MALLIANS the nūber of his mē which he lost besides which was very great al these things cōsidered together making mē beleue that he should neuer return with safetie they made all the people which he had cōquered bold to rise against him gaue his gouernors Lieuetenants of prouinces occasion to cōmit great insolēcies robberies exactiōs of people To be short it put al his kingdom in broile sedition Insomuch as Olympias Cleopatra rising against Antipater they deuided his gouernmēt betwene thē Olympias chosing for her the kingdō of EPIRVS Cleopatra the kingdō of MACEDON Which whē Alexander had heard he said his mother was the wisest for the realme of MACEDON would neuer haue suffred a womā to raigne thē Therupon he sene Nearchus back again to the sea determining to fil all the sea coasts with warre As he trauelled through the cōtries farre frō the sea he put his capteines gouernors to death which had reuolted against him of those he slue Oxyarthes one of Abulites sonnes by his own hād rōning him thorow with a pike And whē Abulites self also had brought Alexāder iij thowsād talēts only without any other prouisiō made for vittels for his army he made him put the money before his horse which would not once touch it Then sayd he vnto him I pray thee to what purpose serueth this prouisiō therwithal immediatly cōmitted him to prisō As he came through the cōtry of PERSIA he first renued the old custō there which was that as often times as the kings did return home frō any far iorney they gaue vnto euery womā a crown a peece It is said therfore that for this cause some of their natural kings many times did not returne again into their cōtry that Ochus amōgst others did not so much as once returne back again willingly banishing him self out of his cōtry of niggardlines because he would not be at this charg After that Cyrus tomb king of PERSIA being toūd brokē vp he put him to death that did it although he were a MACEDONIAN of the citye of PELLA and none of the meanest called Polymachus Whē he had red the inscriptiō writtē apō it in the Persian tōgue he would needes also haue it writtē in the Greeke tōgue this it was O mā vvhat so thou art vvhēcesoeuer thou cōmest fro I knovve thou shalt come I am Cyrus that conquered the Empire of Persia I pray thee enuy me not for this litle earth that couereth my body These words pearced Alexanders hart whē he cōsidered the vncertainty of worldly things There also Calanus the INDIAN Philosopher hauing had a flyxe a litle while praied that they would make him a stacke of wod such as they vse to burne dead bodies on then rode thither a horse back after he had made his praier vnto the godds he cast those sprincklings apon him which were vsed to be sprinckled at the funerals of the dead Then cutting of a locke of his heare before he went vp on the wodstacke he bad al the MACEDONIANS that were there farewel shooke them by the hands praying thē that day to be mery and drinke freely with the king whom he would see shortly after in the citye of BABYLON When he had said these words he layd him down vpon the wodstack couered his face neuer sturred hand nor foote nor quinched when the fire tooke him but did sacrifice him self in this sort as the maner of his contry was that the wise men should so sacrifice thēselues An other INDIAN also who followed Iulius Caesar did the like many yeares after in the citye of ATHENS there is his tombe yet to be seene cōmonly called the INDIANS tombe When Alexander came from seing this sacrifice of Calanus he did bid diuers of his frends Capteines to supper to him there did bring forth a crown for a reward vnto him that drank best He that drank most of al other was one Promachus that drank foure gallons of wine wan the crown worth a talent but he liued not aboue three dayes after And of other also that fell in sport to quaffing who should drink most there died of thē as Chares writeth one forty persons of an extreme cold that tooke thē in their dronkennes wine When they were in the citie of SVSA he married certein of his frends him self also married Statira one of king Darius Daughters disposing also of the other PERSIAN Ladies according to their estate and birth vnto his best frends He made also a solemne feast of cōmon mariages amongst the MACEDONIANS of thē that had ben maried before At which feast it is writtē that nine thowsand persons sitting at the bords he gaue vnto eueryone of them a cup of gold to offer wine in honor of the gods And there also amongst other wōderful gifts he did pay al the dets the MACEDONIANS ought vnto their creditors the which amounted vnto the summe of tenne thowsand talents sauing a hundred thirty lesse Wherupon Antigenes with one eye falsely putting in his name amongest the number of the detters bringing in one that said he had lent him money Alexander caused him to be paid But afterwards when it was proued to his face that there was no such matter Alexander then was so offended with him that he banished him his court depriued him of his captainship notwithstanding that he had before shewed him self a valiant mā in the warrs For whē he was but a yong man he was shot into the eye before the city of
persons at this battel After this exployte Caesar left his armie amongest the SEQVANES to winter there he him selfe in the meane time thinking of th affayres at ROME went ouer the mountaines into GAVLE about the riuer of Po being parte of his prouince which he had in charge For there the riuer called Rubico deuideth the rest of ITALIE from GAVLE on this side the Alpes Caesar lying there did practise to make frendes in ROME bicause many came thither to see him vnto whom he graunted their sutes they demaunded and sent them home also partely with liberall rewards and partely with large promises and hope Now during all this conquest of the GAVLES Pompey did not consider how Caesar enterchaungeablie did conquer the GAVLES with the weapons of the ROMANES and wanne the ROMANES againe with the money of the GAVLES Caesar being aduertised that the BELGAE which were the warlikest men of all the GAVLES and that occupied the third parte of GAVLE were all vp in armes and had raised a great power of men together he straight made towardes them with all possible speede and founde them spoyling and ouerrunninge the contrie of the GAVLES their neighbours and confederates of the ROMANES So he gaue them battell and they fighting cowardly he ouerthrew the most parte of them which were in a troupe together slue such a number of them that the ROMANES passed ouer deepe riuers and lakes a foote vpon their dead bodies the riuers were so full of them After this ouerthrow they that dwelt neerest vnto the sea side and were next neighbours vnto the Ocean did yeeld them selues without any compulsion or fight whereupon he led his army against the NERVIANS the slowtest warriers of all the BELGAE They dwelling in the woode contrie had conueyed their wiues children and goods into a maruelous great forrest as farre from their enemies as they could and being about the number of sixe score thowsand fighting men and more they came one day and set apon Caesar when his armie was out of order and fortifying of his campe litle looking to haue fought that day At the first charge they brake the horsemen of the ROMANES and compassing in the twelfth seuenth legion they slue all the Centurions Captaines of the bands And had not Caesar selfe taken his shield on his arme and flying in amongest the barbarous people made a lane through them that fought before him the tenth legion also seeing him in daunger ronne vnto him from the toppe of the hill where they stoode in battell and broken the ranckes of their enemies there had not a ROMANE escaped a liue that day But taking example of Caesars valliantnes they fought desperatly beyond their power and yet could not make the NERVIANS flie but they fought it out to the death till they were all in manner slaine in the field It is wrytten that of three skore thowsand fighting men there escaped only but fiue hundred and of foure hundred gentlemen and counsellers of the ROMANES but three saued The Senate vnderstanding it at ROME ordeined that they shoulde doe sacrifice vnto the goddes and keepe feastes and solemne processions fifteene dayes together without intermission hauing neuer made the like ordinaunce at ROME for any victorie that euer was obteined Bicause they saw the daunger had bene maruelous great so many nations rising as they did in armes together against him and further the loue of the people vnto him made his victory much more famous For when Caesar had set his affaires at a stay in GAVLE on the other side of the Alpes he alwayes vsed to lye about the riuer of Po in the winter time to geue direction for the establishing of thinges at ROME at his pleasure For not only they that made sure for offices at ROME were chosen Magistrate by meanes of Caesars money which he gaue them with the which bribing the people they bought their voyces and when they were in office did al that they could to increase Caesars power and greatnes but the greatest chiefest men also of the noblitie went vnto LVKE vnto him As Pompey Crassus Appius Praetor of SARDINIA and Nepos Proconsull in SPAYNE Insomuch that there were at one time sixe score sergeaunts carying roddes and axes before the Magistrats and aboue two hundred Senators besides There they fell in consultacion and determined that Pompey Crassus should againe be chosen Consuls the next yere following Furthermore they did appoint that Caesar should haue money againe deliuered him to pay his armie and besides did proroge the time of his gouernment fiue yeares further This was thought a very straunge an vnreasonable matter vnto wise men For they thē selues that had taken so much money of Caesar perswaded the Senate to let him haue money of the cōmon treasure as though he had had none before yea to speake more plainly they compelled the Senate vnto it sighing lamēting to see the decrees they passed Cato was not there then for they had purposely sent him before into CYPRVS Howbeit Faonius that followed Catoes steppes when he sawe that he could not preuaile not withstande them he went out of the Senate in choller and cried out amongest the people that it was a horrible shame But no man did hearken to him some for the reuerence they bare vnto Pompey and Crassus and others fauoring Caesars proceedinges did put all their hope and trust in him and therefore did quiet them selues and sturred not Then Caesar returning into GAVLE beyonde the Alpes vnto his armie founde there a greate warre in the contrie For two great nations of GERMANIE had not long before passed ouer the riuer of Rheyn to conquer newe landes and the one of these people were called IPES and the other TENTERIDES Now touching the battell which Caesar fought with them he him selfe doth describe it in his commentaries in this sorte That the barbarous people hauing sent Ambassadours vnto him to require peace for a certaine time they notwithstanding against lawe of armes came and sette apon him as he trauelled by the way insomuch as eight hundred of their men of armes ouerthrewe fiue thowsande of his horsemen who nothinge at all mistrusted their comming Againe that they sent him other Ambassadours to mocke him once more but that he kept them and therewith caused his whole armie to marche against them thinklng it a follie and madnesse to keepe saith with such trayterous barbarous breakers of leagues Canutius wryteth that the Senate appointing againe to doe newe sacrifice processions and feastes to geue thankes to the goddes for this victorie Cato was of contrarie opinion that Caesar should be deliuered into the handes of the barbarous people for to pourge their city and common wealth of this breache of faith and to turne the curse apon him that was the author of it Of these barbarous people which came ouer the Rheyn being about the number of foure hundred thowsand persons they
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
at that time did set foorth an excellent and perfect kalender more exactly calculated then any other that was before the which the ROMANES doe vse vntill this present day and doe nothing erre as others in the difference of time But his enemies notwithstanding that enuied his greatnes did not sticke to finde fault withall As Cicero the Orator when one sayd to morow the starre Lyra will rise yea sayd he at the commaundement of Caesar as if men were compelled so to say and thinke by Caesars edict But the chiefest cause that made him mortally hated was the couetous desire he had to be called king which first gaue the people iust cause and next his secret enemies honest colour to beare him ill will. This notwithstanding they that procured him this honor dignity gaue it out among the people that it was written in the Sybilline prophecius how the ROMANES might ouercome the PARTHIANS if they made warre with them and were led by a king but otherwise that they were vnconquerable And furthermore they were so bold besides that Caesar returning to ROME from the citie of ALBA when they came to salute him they called him king But the people being offended and Caesar also angry he said he was not called king but Caesar. Then euery man keeping silence he went his way heauy and sorowfull When they had decreed diuers honors for him in the Senate the Consulls and Praetors accompanied with the whole assembly of the Senate went vnto him in the market place where he was set by the pulpit for orations to tell him what honors they had decreed for him in his absence But he sitting still in his maiesty disdaining to rise vp vnto them when they came in as if they had bene priuate men aunswered them that his honors had more neede to be cut of then enlarged This did not onely offend the Senate but the common people also to see that he should so lightly esteeme of the Magistrates of the common wealth insomuch as euery man that might lawfully goe his way departed thence very sorrowfully Thereupon also Caesar rising departed home to his house and tearing open his doblet coller making his necke bare he cried out alowde to his frendes that his throte was readie to offer to any man that would come and cut it Notwithstanding it is reported that afterwardes to excuse this folly he impured it to his disease saying that their wittes are not perfit which haue his disease of the falling euil when standing of their feete they speake to the common people but are soone troubled with a trembling of their body and a sodaine dimnes and guidines But that was not true For he would haue risen vp to the Senate but Cornelius Balbus one of his frendes but rather a flatterer would not let him saying what doe you not remember that you are Caesar and will you not let them reuerence you and doe their dueties Besides these occasions and offences there followed also his shame and reproache abusing the Tribunes of the people in this sorte At that time the feast Lupercalia was celebrated the which in olde time men say was the feast of sheapheards of heard men and is much like vnto the feast of the LYCâ—IANS in ARCADIA But howesoeuer it is that day there are diuers noble men sonnes young men and some of them Magistrats them selues that gouerne then which run naked through the city striking in sport them they meete in their way with leather thonges heare and all on to make them geue place And many noble women and gentle women also goe of purpose to stand in their way and doe put forth their handes to be striken as schollers hold them 〈…〉 to their schoolemaster to be striken with the ferula perswading them selues that being with childe they shall haue good deliuerie and also being barren that it will make them to conceiue with child Caesar sate to beholde that sport apon the pulpit for orations in a chayer of gold apparelled in triumphing manner Antonius who was Consull at that time was one of them that ranne this holy course So when he came into the market place the people made a lane for him to runne at libertie and he came to Caesar and presented him a Diadeame wrethed about with laurell Whereuppon there rose a certaine crie of reioycing not very great done onely by a few appointed for the purpose But when Caesar refused the Diadeame then all the people together made an outcrie of ioy Then Antonius offering it him againe there was a second shoute of ioy but yet of a few But wheÌ„ Caesar refused it againe the second time then all the whole people showted Caesar hauing made this proofe found that the people did not like of it and thereuppon rose out of his chayer and commaunded the crowne to be caried vnto Iupiter in the Capitoll After that there were set vp images of Caesar in the city with Diadeames vpon their heades like kinges Those the two Tribunes Flauius and Marullus went and pulled downe and furthermore meeting with them that first saluted Caesar as king they committed them to prison The people followed them reioycing at it and called them Brutes bicause of Brutus who had in old time driuen the kings out of ROME that brought the kingdom of one person vnto the gouernment of the Senate and people Caesar was so offended withall that he depriued Marullus and Flauius of their Tribuneshippes and accusing them he spake also against the people and called them Bruti and Cumani to witte beastes and fooles Hereuppon the people went straight vnto Marcus Brutus who from his father came of the first Brutus and by his mother of the house of the Seruilians a noble house as any was in ROME and was also nephew and sonne in law of Marcus Cato Notwithstanding the great honors and fauor Caesar shewed vnto him kept him backe that of him selfe alone he did not conspire nor consent to depose him of his kingdom For Caesar did not onely saue his life after the battell of Pharsalia when Pompey fled and did at his request also saue many men of his frendes besides but furthermore he put a maruelous confidence in him For he had already preferred him to the Praetorshippe for that yeare and furthermore was appointed to be Consul the fourth yeare after that hauing through Caesars frendshippe obtained it before Cassius who likewise made sure for the same and Caesar also as it is reported sayd in this contention in deede Cassius hath alleaged best reason but yet shall he not be chosen before Brutus Some one day accusing Brutus while he practised this conspiracy Caesar would not hear of it but clapping his hande on his bodie told them Brutus will looke for this skinne meaning thereby that Brutus for his vertue deserued to rule after him but yet that for ambitious sake he woulde not shewe him selfe vnthankefull nor dishonorable Nowe they that desired chaunge
man Phocion replied againe then let him giue me leaue to be that I seeme am whilest I liue The Messengers would not so leaue him but followed him home to his house where they saw his great husbandrie thriftines For they found his wife her selfe baking and he him selfe drewe water before them out of the well to wash his feete But then they were more earnestly in hand with him than before and prayed him to take the kings present and were offended with him saying it was a shame for Alexanders friend to liue so miserably and beggerly as he did Then Phocion seeing a poore old man goe by in a threede bare gowne asked them whether they thought him worse then he No God forbid aunswered they againe Then replied he againe he liues with lesse then I do and yet is contented and hath enough To be short said he if I should take this summe of money and occupy it not it is as much as I had it not on thother side if I occupy it I shall make all the citie speake ill of the king and me both So this great present was sent backe from ATHENS whereby he shewed the GRAECIANS that he was richer that needed not such golde siluer then he that gaue it him But when Alexander wrote againe vnto Phocion that he did not reckon them his friendes that would take nothing of him Phocion notwithstanding would not take the money but onely requested him for his sake that he would set these men at libertie which were kept prisoners in the citie of SARDIS for certeine accusations layde against them Echecratides the Rhetorician Athenodorus borne in the citie of IMBROS and two CORINTHIANS Demaratus and Spartus Alexander presently set them at libertie and sent Craterus into MACEDON commaunding him to giue Phocion the choyce of one of these foure cities of ASIA which he liked best CIOS GERGITHA MYLASSIS ELEA sending him worde that he would be much more angrier with him now if he did refuse this offer then he was at the first But Phocion would neuer accept any one of them and Alexander shortly after dyed Phocions house is seene yet at this day in the village of MELITA set forth with plates of copper but otherwise very meane and without curiositie For his wiues he maryed there is no mention made of the first sauing that Cephisodotus the image grauer was her brother But for his second wife she was no lesse famous at ATHENS for her honestie and good housewiuerie then Phocion for his iustice and equitie And for proofe thereof it is reported that the ATHENIANE beeing one daye assembled in the Theater to see newe tragedies played one of the players when he shoulde haue comen apon the scaffolde to haue played his parte asked the setter forth of the playes the apparell of a Queene and certeine Ladyes to wayte vppon her bycause he was to playe the parte of the Queene The setter forth of the playes denying him the player went awaye in a rage and left the people staring one at another and woulde not come out vpon the stage But Melanthius the setter forth of the playes compelling him brought him by force on the stage and cryed out vnto him Doost thou not see Phocions wife that goeth vppe and downe the citie with one mayde onely wayting on her and wiâ—â— thou playe the foole and marre the modestie of the women of ATHENS The people hearing his wordes filled all the Theater with ioye and clapping of handes The same Ladye when a certaine gentlewoman of IONIA came to ATHENS to see her and shewed her all her riche iewells and precious stones she had she aunswered her agayne all my riches and iewells is my husband Phocion who these twenty yeares together hath continually beene chosen generall for the ATHENIANS Phocions sonne telling his father on a tyme that he was desirous to contend with other younge men for the victorie who should cunningliest leape out and gette vppe agayne into the charretts or coches running their full course at the feastes Panathenaea at ATHENS his father was contented he shoulde not that he was desirous his sonne shoulde haue the honor of the victorie but bicause by this honest exercise he should growe to better manner for that he was a dissolute younge man and much giuen to wine Yet he wanne the victorie at that tyme and there were diuers of his fathers friendes that prayed him to doe them that honour that they might keepe the feast of this victorie in their houses Phocion denyed them all but one man and him he suffered to shewe his good will vnto his house and went thither him selfe to supper to him Where amongest many fine and superfluous thinges prepared he found passing bathes of wine and sweete smelling spices to washe the feete of the bydden guestes as they came to the feast Whereuppon he called his sonne to him and asked him howe canst thou abyde Phocus that our friend should thus disgrace thy victorie with excesse But bicause he would withdrawe his sonne from that licentious life he brought him to SPARTA and placed him there amonge younge boyes brought vppe after the LACONIAN discipline The ATHENIANS were much offended at it to see that Phocion did so much despise his owne contrie manner and facions Also when Demades the Orator one daye sayde vnto Phocion why doe we not perswade the ATHENIANS to liue after the LACONIAN manner As for me sayde he if thou wilt make one to sette it forwarde I am ready to be the first man to moue the matter In deede q Phocion thou art a meete man to perswade the ATHENIANS to liue LACONIAN like in common together at their meales and to prayse Lycurgus straight lawe that art thy selfe commonly so perfumed and fine in thy apparell Another tyme when Alexander wrote letters vnto ATHENS to sende him some shippes and that the Orators perswaded them not to graunt him the people called vppon Phocion chiefly to saye his opinion then Phocion tolde them plainely me thinkes ye must eyther make your selues the strongest in warres or beeing the weaker procure to be friendes vnto the stronger Pythias a newcome Orator beeing full of tongue and impudent would still make one to speake in euery matter Wherefore Phocion sayde vnto him good goddes will this noues neuer leaue babling And when Harpalus king Alexanders Lieuetenant of the prouince of BABYLON fledde out of ASIA and came to ATTICA with a greate summe of golde and siluer straight these men that solde their tongues to the people for money flocked about him like a sight of swallowes And he stucke not to giue euery one of them a peece of money to baste them with for it was a trifle to him considering the great summes of money he brought But to Phocion him selfe he sent vnto him seuen hundred talents and offered him selfe and all that he had into his handes of trust But Phocion gaue him a sharpe aunswer and tolde him that he woulde
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
Phaonius a very friende of his Caesars harte beeing then lift vppe for that he had brought his first purpose to passe beganne nowe to preferre an other lawe to diuide all CAMPANIA and the countrye called TERRA DI LAVORO the lande of labour vnto the poore needy people of ROME and no man stoode against him but Cato Whereuppon Caesar made his officers to take him from the pulpit for orations to cary him to prison All this made not Cato stowpe nor leaue his franke speeche but as he went he still spake against this edicte and perswaded the people to beware of them that preferred suche lawes All the Senate and the beste sorte of Citizens followed Cato with heauy hartes shewing by their silence that they were offended and angrye for the iniurye they did vnto him beeing so worthy a man Insomuch as Caesars selfe perceiued that the people were offended with it and yet of ambition stomacke he looked alwayes when Cato would haue appealed vnto the people So when he saw that Cato ment no such matter at length ouercomen with shame and dishonor he him selfe procured one of the Tribunes to take Cato from the Sergeaunts In fine all Caesars practise tended to this ende that when he had wonne the peoples fauor by such lawes they should then graunt him the gouernment of all the GAVLESâ— aswell on this side as beyond the mountaines and all ILLYRIA with an armie of foure legions for the space of fiue yeares notwithstanding that Cato told the people before that they them selues with their own voyces did set vppe a tyrant that one day would cut their throats They did also chuse Publius Clodius Tribune of the people which was of a noble house a thing directly contrary to the law But this Clodius had promised them so that they would helpe him to banish Cicero out of ROME to do all that he could for them Furthermore they made Calphurnius Piso Caesars wifes father and Gabinius Paulus a man wholly at Pompeys commaundement as they write which knew his life and manners Consuls the next yeare following Now notwithstanding they had the rule of the common wealth in their owne handes and that they had wonne parte of the citie with brybes and the other parte also with feare yet they were both affraid of Cato when they considered what trouble they had to ouercome him which they did very hardly notwithstanding and to their great shame beeing driuen to vse force and yet thought they should neuer haue done it Furthermore Clodius vtterly dispaired that he could possibly banish Cicero so longe as Cato was there So deuising wayes howe to doe it when he had taken possession of his office he sent for Cato and beganne to tell him that he thought him the honestest and iustest man of ROME and that he was ready to performe it to him by deede For where many made sute vnto him to be sent into CYPRVS to make warre with king Ptolomy he thought none so worthy as him selfe and therefore for the goodwill he bare him he was very willing to offer him that pleasure Cato strayght cryed out with open mowth that this was a deuise to intrappe him not to pleasure him Then Clodius prowdly and fiercely aunswered him well seeing thou wilt not goe with good will thou shalt goe then against thy will and so he did For at the first assemblye of the citie be caused the people to graunt his commission for his iorney thither but they neyther appoynted him shippes nor souldiers nor any other Ministers to goe with him sauing two Secretaries onely of the which the one of them was a very villayne and arrant theefe and the other one of Clodius followers Besides all this as if they had appoynted him but litle to doe in CYPRVS agaynst Ptolomy he made them commaunde him after that to goe and restore the outlawes and benished men of the citie of BYZANTIVM vnto their coutrye and goodes agayne of purpose onely to keepe Cato farre enoughe from ROME whylest continued Tribune Cato beeing driuen by necessitie to obeye he counselled Cicero whome Clodius pursued to beware that he made no sturre agaynst him for feare of bringing ROME into ciuill warre and murther for his sake but rather to absent him selfe that he might an other tyme preserue his contrye After that he sent his friende Canidius before into CYPRVS vnto Ptolomye to perswade him to bee quiet without warre declaring vnto him that he shoulde nether lacke honour nor riches for the ROMANES woulde graunt him the priesthoode of Venus in the citie of PAPHOS Cato in the meane tyme remayned in the I le of RHODES preparing him selfe there and abyding his aunswer In the tyme of these sturres Ptolomy king of AEGYPT for a certen offence and discorde with his subiectes departing out of ALEXANDRIA sayled towardes ROME hoping that Caesar and Pompey with a greate armie woulde restore him to his crowne and kingdome agayne He beeing desirous to see Cato sent vnto him supposing he woulde come at his sending for Cato by chaunce was occupyed at that tyme about some busines and badde the Messenger will Ptolomy to come to him if he woulde see him So when Ptolomy came he nether went to meete him nor rose vppe vnto him but onely welcomed him and badde him sitte downe It amazed the king at the first to see vnder so simple and meane a trayne suche a statelines and maiestie in Catoes behauior But when he hearde him boldely talke with him of his affayres and suche graue talke from him reprouing his follye he had committed to forsake suche princely pleasure and wealth to goe and subiect him selfe vnto suche dishonour suche extreame paynes and suche passing greate giftes and presents as he shoulde throwe awaye to satisfie the couetousnes of the rulers at ROME the which was so unsatiable that if all the Realme of AEGYPT were conuerted into siluer to giue amonge them it woulde scarce suffice them in respect whereof he counselled him to returne backe with his nauye and to reconcile him selfe agayne with his subiectes offering him selfe also to goe with him to helpe to make his peace Then Ptolomy comming to him selfe and repenting him of his follye knowing that Cato tolde him truely and wisely he determined to followe his counsell had not his friendes turned his mynde to the contrarye So when Ptolomy came to ROME and was driuen to wayte at the gates of the Magistrates that were in authoritie he sighed then and repented his follye for that he had not onely despised the counsell of a wise man but rather the Oracle of a god Furthermore the other Ptolomy that was in CYPRVS a happye turne for Cato poysoned him selfe Cato beeing also informed that he lefte a wonderfull summe of money behynde him he determyned to goe him selfe vnto BYZANTIVM and sent his Nephewe Brutus into CYPRVS bicause he durst not truste Canidius so farre Then hauing restored the banished men vnto the peoples sauour agayne
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
the bare name of a gouernor But in deede the perfect good and honest man should neuer couer outward glory but as a meane to bringe him to noble attempts whereby he might procure the better credit of his doings And for a younge man that coueteth honor by vertue giue him leaue a litle to glory in his well doing for as Theophrastus sayth vertue buddeth and florisheth in youth and taketh fast roote by prayses giuen as wit corage groweth in them But ouermuch praise is daungerous in euery person but chiefly in ambicious gouernors For if they be men of great power it makes them commit many desperat partes for they wil not allow that honor proceedes of vertue but that honor is vertue it selfe But in deed they should say as Phocion did vnto Antipater that requested an vnlawfull matter of him Thou canst not said he haue Phocion a friend and a flatterer both This or the very like may be sayd vnto the people you can not both haue one a Maister and a seruaunt that can commaunde and obey together Or els the mischiefe spoken of in the tale of the Dragon must needes happen which was the taile on a time fell out with the head and complained saying it would an other while go before would not alwaies come behind The head graunted the taile which fell out very ill for it not knowing howe to guide the heade and besides that the head thereby was tormented euery way beeing compelled against nature to follow that part and member which could nether heare nor see how to guide it The like matter haue we seene happen vnto many which in the administracion of the common wealth did seeke to please the humors of the multitude For when they haue once put their heads vnder their girdles to please the common people which without cause reason doe soone rebell they can by no possible meanes afterwards bridle their furie insolencie Now the reason that made vs to enter into discourse against the ambition and vaine glorye amongest the people was the consideracion I had of their greate power remembring the misfortunes of Tiberius and Caius Gracchi bothe the which comming of a noble house and hauing bene maruelous well brought vp maneging also the affayres of the common wealth with a good desire were notwithstanding in the ende cast away not so much through couetousnes of glorye as for feare of dishonor which came also of no base mind For they hauing receiued great pleasures and friendships of the people were ashamed to be indetted to them and therefore earnestly sought to exceede the people in good will by new decrees and deuises which they preferred for common benefit and the people also for their partes contended to honor them the more by how much they striued to shewe them selues thankefull So with like strife on either side they go gratifie the common people and the people also to honor them were vnwares so entangled with publike causes that they could no more follow the common prouerbe which sayth Although our deedes discent from equitie Yet can vve not desist vvith honestie This thou shalt easily finde by the declaracion of the historie With these we doe compare two other popular men both kinges of LACEDAEMON Agis and Cleomenes For they as the Gracchi seeking to increase the power of the common people and to restore the iust and honest gouernment againe of the common wealth of LACEDAEMON which of long time had bene out of vse did in like manner purchase the hate of the nobilitie which were loth to lose any part of their wonted couetousnes In deed these two LACONIANS were no brethreÌ„ borne but yet did both follow one selfe course forme of gouernment which had beginning in this sort After that couetousnes of gold and siluer crept againe into the citie of SPARTA and with riches couetousnes also and miserie and by vse voluptuousnes and licentious life SPARTA then was void of all honor and goodnes and was long time drowned in shame and dishonor vntill king Agis and Leonidas came to raigne there Agis was of the house of the Eurytiontides the sonne of Eudamidas the sixt of lineall descent after Agesilaus who had beene the greatest Prince of all GRAECE in his time This Agesilaus had a sonne slaine in ITALY by the MESSAPIANS called Archidamus before the citie of MANDONIVM Archidamus had issue two sonnes Agis and Eudamidas that was king who succeeded his brother Agis whom Antipater slue before the citie of MEGALIPOLIS and left no children behind him Eudamidas begat Archidamus which Archidamus begat another Eudamidas which Eudamidas also begat Agis whose life we now write of Leonidas also the sonne of Cleonymus was of the other familie of the Agiades the right of succession after Pausanias who slue Mardonius the kings Lieuetenant general of PERSIA in a battell fought before the citie of PLATâ—â—S This Pausanias had a sonne called Plistonax and Plistonax also an other called Pausanias who flying from SPARTA vnto the citie of TEGEA his eldest sonne Agesipolis was made king in his fathers roome who dying without issue his yonger brother Cleombrotus succeeded him in the kingdoÌ„ Cleombrotus had two sonnes Agesipolis and Cleomenes of the which Agesipolis raigned not long king and dyed without issue Then Cleomenes his brother who was king after him had two sonnes Acrotatus the elder that dyed in his fathers life time and Cleonymus the yonger which suruiued him and was not king but one Areus his Nephewe the sonne of Acrotatus This Areus dyed before the citie of CORINTHE who hauing an other Acrotatus to his sonne he succeeded him in the kingdome He also dyed at a battell before the citie of MEGALIPOLIS and was slayne there by the tyrant Aristodemus leauing his wife great with childe She beeing brought to bedde after his death of a sonne whome Leonidas the sonne of Cleonymus taught and brought vp the childe dying very young the crowne by his death was cast apon Leonidas him selfe Howbeit his maners conditions neuer liked the people For though all men generally were corrupted through the coÌ„mon wealth and cleane out of order yet Leonidas of all other exceeded deforming most the auncient LACONIAN life bicause he had bene long time brought vp in Princes houses followed also Seleucus Court from whence he had brought all the pride and pompe of those Courts into GRAECE where law reason ruleth Agis on the contrary part did not onely farre excel Leonidas in honor and magnanimitie of mind but all other almost also which had raigned in SPARTA from the time of Agesilaus the great So that when Agis was not yet twenty yeare old and being daintily brought vp with the finenes of two women his mother Agesistrata and Archidamia his grandmother which had more gold and siluer then all the LACEDAEMONIANS els he began to spurne against these womanish delights pleasures in making him selfe fayer to
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
and minstrells that came from MESSINA he sette vp a stage within the enemies contrie made a game of 40. Minas for the victor and sate a whole day to looke apon them for no pleasure he tooke in the sight of it but more to despite the enemies withall in making them see how muche he was stronger then they to make such a Mayegame in their owne contrie in despite of them For of all the armies otherwise of the GRAECIANS or kinges in all GRAECE there was no armie onely but his that was without players minstrells fooles and iugglers for his campe only was cleane of such rabble and foolerie and all the young men fell to some exercise of their bodies and the old men also to teache them And if they chaunced to haue any vacant time then they would pleasauntly be one merie with an other in geuing some pretie fine mocke after the LACONIAN manner And what profit they got by that kinde of exercise we haue written it at large in Lycurgus life But of all these things the king him selfe was their schoolemaister and example shewing him selfe very temperate of life and plaine without curiositie no more then any priuate souldier of all his campe the which were great helpes vnto him in his enterprises he made in GRAECE For the GRAECIANS hauing cause of sute and negociacion with other kings and Princes did not wonder so much at their pompe and riches as they did abhorre and detest their pride and insolencie so disdainfully they would aunswere them that had to doe with them But contrarily when they went vnto Cleomenes who was a king in name and deede as they were finding no purple robes nor stately mantells nor rich imbrodered beddes nor a Prince to be spoken to but by messengers gentlemen vshers and supplications and yet with great a doe and seeing him also come plainly apparelled vnto them with a good countenaunce and curteously aunswering the matters they came for he thereby did maruelously win their harts and good wills that when they returned home they said he only was the worthy king that came of the race of Hercules Now for his dyet at his bord that was very straight and LACONIAN like keping only three bords and if he chaunced to feast any Ambassadors or other his frendes that came to see him he then added to two other bords and besides made his men to see that his fare should be amended not with pastrie and conserues but with more store of meate and some better wyne then ordinarie For he one day reproued one of his frendes that bidding straungers to supper he gaue thē nothing but blacke broth browne bread only according to their LACONIAN maner Nay said he we may not vse straungers so hardly after our maner The bord being taken vp an other litle table was brought with three feete whereupon they set a bolle of copper full of wyne and two siluer cuppes of a pottell a peece and certaine other fewe siluer pottes besides so euery man dranke what they lifted and no man was forced to drinke more then he woulde Furthermore there was no sporte nor any pleasaunt song soung to make the companie merie for it needed not For Cleomenes selfe would entertaine them with some pretie questions or pleasaunt tale whereby as his talke was not seuere and without pleasure so was it also pleasaunt without insolencie For he was of opinion that to winne men by gifts or money as other kings and Princes did was but base and cloynelike but to seeke their good wills by curteous meanes and pleasauntnes and therewith to meane good faith that he thought most fit and honorable for a Prince For this was his minde that there was no other difference betwext a frend and hyerling but that the one is wonne with money and the other with ciuility good entertainment The first therefore that receiued king Cleomenes into their citie were the MANTINIANS who opened him the gates in the night and helping him to driue out the garrison of the ACHAIANS they yeelded them selues vnto him But he referring them to the vse and gouernment of their owne lawes and libertie departed from thence the same day and went vnto the citie of TEGEA Shortly after he compassed about ARCADIA and came vnto PHERES in ARCADIA determining one of the two either to geue the ACHAIANS battell or to bring Aratus out of fauor with the people for that he had suffred him to spoyle and destroy their contry Hyperbatas was at that time Generall of the ACHAIANS but Aratus did beare all the sway and authoritie Then the ACHAIANS comming into the field with all their people armed and encamping by the citie of DYMES neere vnto the temple of Hecatombaum Cleomenes going thither laye betwext the citie of DYMES that was against him and the campe of his enemies which men thought a verie vnwise parte of him Howebeit valliantly prouoking the ACHAIANS he procured them to the battell ouerthrew them made them flie and slue a great number in the field and tooke many of them also prisoners Departing from thence he went and set apon the citie of LANGON and draue the garrison of the ACHAIANS out of it and restored the citie againe vnto the ELIANS The ACHAIANS being then in verie hard state Aratus that of custome was wont to be their Generall or at the least once in two yeares refused now to take the charge notwithstanding the ACHAIANS did specially pray and intreate him the which was in ill act of him to let an other steere the rudder in so daungerous a storme and tempest Therefore the ACHAIANS sent Ambassadors vnto Cleomenes to treate peace vnto whome it seemed he gaue a verie sharpe aunswere After that he sent vnto them and willed them only to resigne the signiorie of GRAECE vnto him and that for all other matters he would deale reasonably with them and presently deliuer them vp their townes prisoners againe which he had taken of theirs The ACHAIANS being glad of peace with these condicions wrote vnto Cleomenes that he shoulde come vnto the citie of LERNA where the dyet and generall assemblie shoulde be kept to consult thereupon It chaunced then that Cleomenes marching thither being very hotte dranke cold water and fell of suche a bleeding withall that his voyce was taken from him and he almost stifled Wherefore he sent the ACHAIANS their chiefest prisoners home againe proroging the parlament till an other time and returned backe to LACEDAEMON It is supposed certainly that this let of his comming to the dyet was the onely cause of the vtter destruction of GRAECE the which otherwise was in good way to haue risen againe and to haue bene deliuered from the present miseries and extreame pride and couetousnes of the MACEDONIANS For Aratus either for that he trusted not Cleomenes or for that he was affrayed of his power or that he otherwise enuied his honor prosperitie to see him risen to such
incredible greatnes in so short a time and thinking it also too great shame and dishonor to him to suffer this young man in a moment to depriue him of his great honor power which he had possessed so long time by the space of thirtie yeares together ruling all GRAECE first he sought by force to terrifie the ACHAIANS and to make them breake of from this peace But in fine finding that they litle regarded his threats that he could not preuaile with them for that they were affrayed of Cleomenes valliantnesse and corage whose request they thought reasonable for that he fought but to restore PELOPONNESVS into her former auncient estate againe he fell then into a practise farre vnhonest for a GRAECIAN verie infamous for him selfe but most dishonorable for the former noble acts he had done For he brought Antigonus into GRAECE and in his age filled the contrie of PELOPONNESVS with MACEDONIANS whom he himselfe in his youth had driuen thence had taken from them the castell of CORINTHE and had alwayes bene an enemie of the kinges but specially of Antigonus of whom before he had spoken all the ill he coulde as appeareth in his wrytings saying that he tooke maruelous paines and did put him selfe into many daungers to deliuer the city of ATHENS from the garrison of the MACEDONIANS and yet notwithstanding he brought them armed with his owne hands not into his contrie only but into his owne house yea euen into the Ladies chambers closets disdaining that the king of LACEDAEMON discending of the blood royall of Hercules who setting vp againe the auncient maner of life of his contrie did temper it as an instrument of musicke out of tune and brought it to the good auncient and sober discipline and DORICAN life instituted by Lycurgus should be called and wrytten king of the SICYONIANS and of the TRICCAEIANS And furthermore flying them that were contented with browne bread and with the plaine course capes of the LACEDAEMONIANS and that went about to take awaye riches which was the chiefest matter they did accuse Cleomenes for and to prouide for the poore he went and put him selfe and all ACHAIA vnto the crowne and diadeame the purple robe and prowde imperious commaundementes of the MACEDONIANS fearing least men should thinke that Cleomenes coulde commaunde him Furthermore his follie was such that hauing garlands of flowers on his head he did sacrifice vnto Antigonus sing songs in praise of his honor as if he had bene a god where he was but a rotten man consumed away This that we haue written of Aratus who was indued with many noble vertues a worthy GRAECIAN is not so much to accuse him as to make vs see the frayelty and weakenes of mans nature the which though it haue neuer so excellent vertues can not yet bring forth such perfit frute but that it hath euer some mayme and bleamishe Now when the ACHAIANS were met againe in the citie of ARGOS to hold the session of their parlament before proroged and Cleomenes also being come from TEGEA to be at that parlament euerie man was in hope of good peace But Aratus then who was agreed before of the chiefest articles of the capitulacions with Antigonus fearing that Cleomenes by fayre words or force would bring the people to graunt that he desired sent to let him vnderstand that he should but come him selfe alone into the citie and for safetie of his person they would geue him three hundred ostages or otherwise if he would not leaue his armie that then they would geue him audience without the citie in the place of exercises called Cyllarabium When Cleomenes had heard their aunswere he told them that they had done him wrong for they should haue aduertised him of it before he had taken his iorney and not now when he was almost hard at their gates to sende him backe againe with a flea in his care Thereuppon he wrote a letter vnto the counsell of the ACHAIANS altogether full of complaintes against Aratus On thother side also Aratus in his oration to the counsell inueyed with bitter wordes against Cleomenes Thereuppon Cleomenes departing with speede sent a Herauld to proclaime warres against the ACHAIANS not in the city of ARGOS but in the city of AEGION as Aratus wryteth meaning to set apon them being vnprouided Hereuppon all ACHAIA was in an vprore for diuers cities did presently reuolt against the ACHAIANS bicause the common people hoped after the diuision of lands and the discharging of their dettes The noble men also in many places were offended with Aratus bicause he practised to bring the MACEDONIANS into the contrie of PELOPONNESVS Cleomenes therefore hoping well for all these respectes brought his armie into ACHAIA and at his first comming tooke the citie of PALLENA and draue out the garrison of the ACHAIANS and after that wanne also the cities of PHENEVM and PENTELIVM Now the ACHAIANS fearing some treason in CORINTHE and SYCIONE sent certaine horsemen out of the citie of ARGOS to keepe those cities The ARGIVES in the meane time attending the celebracion of the feast at the games Nemeca Cleomenes thinking which fell out true that if he went to ARGOS he should finde the citie full of people that were come to see the feastes and games and that assailing them vppon the sodaine he shoulde put them in a maruelous feare brought his armie in the night hard to the walls of the citie of ARGOS and at his first comming wanne a place they call Aspis a verie strong place aboue the Theater and ill to come vnto The ARGIVES were so amazed at it that no man would take apon him to defende the citie but receiued Cleomenes garrison and gaue him twentie ostages promising thenceforth to be true confederates vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS vnder his charge and conduct The which doubtles wanne him great fame and increased his power for that the auncient kings of LACEDAEMON could neuer before with any policie or deuise winne the citie of ARGOS For king Pyrrhus one of the most valliantest and warlikest Prince that euer was entring the citie of ARGOS by force could not keepe it but was slaine there and the most parte of his armie wherby euery man wondred greatly at the diligence counsell of Cleomenes And where euery man did mocke him before when Cleomenes sayd that he would follow Solon and Lycurgus in making the citizens goods common and discharging all dets they were then clerely perswaded that he onely was the cause and meane of that great chaunge which they sawe in the corage of the SPARTANS who were before so weake and out of hart that they hauing no corage to defend them selues the AETOLIANS entring LACONIA with an armie tooke away at one time fiftie thowsand slaues Whereuppon an old man of SPARTA pleasauntly sayd at that time that their enemies had done them a great pleasure to ridde their contrie of LACONIA of suche a rabble of rascalls Shortly after they
no meanes suffer the MEGALOPOLITANS to accept this gracious offer of Cleomenes nor also to leaue their alliance with the ACHAIANS telling them that he ment not to geue them their citie againe but to take them also with their citie and therefore draue Thearidas and Lysandridas out of MESSENA that moued this practise It was that Philopoemen that afterwardes was the chiefest man of the ACHAIANS and that wanne suche fame and honor among the GRAECIANS as we haue particularly declared in his life This worde being brought to Cleomenes who had kept the city from spoyling vntill that time he was then so thorowly offended that he gaue the goods in praye to the souldiers sent away their goodly tables images and pictures vnto SPARTA and defaced the chiefest partes of the citie and then returned home againe being affrayed of Antigonus and the ACHAIANS Howebeit they sturred not bicause of the parlament that was kept at that time in the citie of AEGIVM where Aratus being in the pulpit for orations and holding his gowne a long time before his face the people maruelling at it willed him to tell what he ayled he answered them MEGALIPOLIS is taken and rased by Cleomenes The ACHAIANS being amazed at the sodainnes of this great losse straight brake of their parlament and assemblie But Antigonus thinking to ayde them sent presently for all his garrisons who being long a comming he willed them to stay where they were and he him selfe taking a fewe souldiers with him went vnto the citie of ARGOS Therefore the seconde enterprise of Cleomenes seemeth at the first sight a verie rashe and desperate attempt howebeit Polybius wryteth that it was an attempt of greate wisedome and policie For Cleomenes vnderstanding that the MACEDONIANS were dispersed in garrisons in diuers places and that Antigonus lay all the winter in the citie of ARGOS with a certeyne number of footemen that were straungers he inuaded the contrie of the ARGIVES with his armie perswading him selfe that either Antigonus woulde for shame come and fight with him or if he did not that then he shoulde put him in disgrace with the ARGIVES which in deede came so to passe The ARGIVES seeinge their contrie spoyled by Cleomenes were in a maruelous rage and gatheringe together at Antigonus lodginge they cryed out vnto him either to goe into the fielde and fight with the enemie or else if he were affrayed to resigne hi office of Generall of GRAECE vnto others that were vallianter than him selfe But Antigonus like a wise and excellent Captayne thinkinge it a dishonour to him rashely to put him selfe in daunger and his frendes also though he were prouoked with many iniuries and opptrobrious wordes woulde not goe into the fielde but stoode constant in his first determination Then Cleomenes hauing brought his armie hard to the walles of the citie of ARGOS and spoyled and destroyed the contrie rounde about without letter or daunger he safely returned home againe Within a while after Cleomenes beinge aduertised that Antigonus was come vnto TEGEA with intent to inuade the contrie of LACONIA he goinge an other way with his armie vnwitting to his enemies they wondered when they saw him in the morning by the citie of ARGOS spoylinge their contrie and cuttinge downe their corne not with sickles and knyues as other doe vse but with long poles in forme of Sythes that the souldiers as they went sportingewise did ouerthrowe and spoyle it But when they came to the place or exercises in the suburbes called Cyllabaris certaine of the souldiers goinge about to haue sette it afire Cleomenes woulde not suffer them and tolde them that what he had done at MEGALIPOLIS it was rather angrily then honestlie done Now Antigonus presentlye returninge backe againe beinge minded first to haue gone directly to the citie of ARGOS but sodainely alteringe his minde did campe vpon the toppe of hilles and mountaynes Cleomenes seeminge not to be affrayed of him sent Herauldes to him to desire the keyes of the temple of Iuno and then after he had done sacrifice he woulde departe his waye Thus mockinge Antigonus after he had sacrificed vnto the goddesse vnder the temple that was shut vp he sent his armie vnto PHLIVNTA and hauinge driuen awaye the garrison out of OLOGVNTA he came vnto the citie of ORCHONENVM hauinge not onely incouraged his citizens but gotten euen amongest the enemies them selues a fame also to be a noble Captaine and worthie to manage greate affaires For euerie man iudged him to be a skillfull souldier and a valliant Captaine that with the power of one onely citie did mainteine warre against the kingdom of MACEDON against all the people of PELOPONNESVS and against the treasure of so greate a king and withall not onely to keepe his owne contrie of LACONIA vnfoyled but farre otherwise to hurte his enemies contries and to take so many greate cities of theirs But he that sayed first that money was the sinewe of all thinges spake it chiefly in my opinion in respect of the warres Demades the Orator sayed on a time when the ATHENIANS commaunded certaine gallies shoulde be put out of the arsenall into the sea and presently rigged and armed with all possible speed though they lacked money he that rules the prowe must first see before him Meaning munition and vittells must be prouided before the shippes be sette out And it is reported also that the auncient Archidamus when the confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS at the beginninge of the warre of PELOPONNESVS required that they might be sessed at a certaine rate aunswered the charges of warre haue no certeyne stinte For like as wrestlers that exercise their bodies continuallie in games are better able to wrestle and ouerthrowe them with tyme that haue no strength but onely arte and slight euen so Kinge Antigonus who by the greatnesse of his kingdome did defraye the charge of this warre did wearie and ouercome Cleomenes at the length bicause he lacked money bothe to paye the straungers that serued him and also to mayntayne his owne citizens For otherwise doubtlesse the time serued his turne well bicause the troubles that fell apon Antigonus in his realme did make him to be sent for home For the barbarous people his neighbours in his absence did spoyle and destroye the realme of MACEDON and speciallie the ILLYRIANS of the high contrie that came downe then with a greate armie whereupon the MACEDONIANS being spoyled and harried on all sides by them they sent poste vnto Antigonus to pray him to come home If these letters had bene brought him but a litle before the battell as they came afterwardes Antigonus had gone his waye and left the ACHAIANS But fortune that alwayes striketh the stroke in all weightiest causes gaue suche speede and fauour vnto time that immediatly after the battell was fought at SELASIA where Cleomenes lost his armie and citie the verie messengers arriued that came for Antigonus to come home the which made the
day by chaunce walking vpon the sandes he sawe Nicagoras landing out of his shippe being newly arriued and knowing him he curteously welcomed him and asked what wind had brought him into AEGYPT Nicagoras gently saluting him againe tolde him that he had brought the king excellent horse of seruice Cleomenes smiling told him thou haddest bene better haue brought him some curtisans daunsers for they would haue pleased the king better Nicagoras faintly laughed at his aunswer but within few dayes after he did put him in remembraunce of the land he sold him and prayed him then that he would helpe him to money telling him that he would not haue prest him for it but that he had susteyned losse by marchandise Cleomenes aunswered him that all his pension was spent he had of the king Nicagoras being offended with this aunswer he went and told Sosibius of the mocke Cleomenes gaue the king Sosibius was glad of this occasion but yet desiring further matter to make the king offended with Cleomenes he perswaded Nicagoras to write a letter to the king agaynst Cleomenes as though he had conspired to take the citie of CYRENA if the king had giuen him shippes money and men of warre When Nicagoras had written this letter he tooke shippe and hoysed sayle Foure dayes after his departure Sosibius brought his letter to the king as though he had but newly receiued it The king apon sight of it was so offended with Cleomenes that he gaue present order he should be shut vp in a great house where he should haue his ordinary dyet allowed him howbeit that he should keepe his house This grieued Cleomenes much but yet he was worse affraid of that which was to come by this occasion Ptolomy the sonne of Chrysermus one of the kings familliers who had oftentimes before bene very conuersant and famillier with Cleomenes and did franckly talke together in all matters Cleomenes one daye sent for him to praye him to come vnto him Ptolomy came at his request and familliarly discoursing together went about to disswade him from all the suspicions he had and excused the king also for that he had done vnto him so taking his leaue he left him not thinking that Cleomenes followed him as he did to the gate where he sharply tooke vp the souldiers saying that they were very negligent and careles in looking to such a fearefull beast as he was so ill to be taken if he once scaped their handes Cleomenes heard what he sayd and went into his lodging againe Ptolomy knowing nothing that he was behind him and reported the very wordes againe vnto his friendes Then all the SPARTANS conuerting their good hope into anger determined to be reuenged of the iniurie Ptolomy had done them and to dye like noble SPARTANS not tarying til they should be brought to the shambles like fat weathers to be sold and killed For it would be a great shame and dishonor vnto Cleomenes hauing refused to make peace with Antigonus a noble Prince and warrier to tary the kinges pleasure till he had left his dronckennes and daunsing and then to come and put him to death They beeing fully resolued hereof as you haue heard king Ptolomy by chaunce went vnto the citie of CANOBVS first they gaue out in ALEXANDRIA that the king minded to set Cleomenes at libertie Then Cleomenes friendes obseruing the custom of the kings of AEGYPT when they ment to set a prisoner at libertie which was to send the prisoners meate and presents before to their supper did send vnto him such manner of presents so deceiued the souldiers that had the keeping of him saying that they brought those presents from the king For Cleomenes him selfe did sacrifice vnto the goddes and sent vnto the souldiers that kept him parte of those presents that were sent vnto him and supping with his friendes that night made mery with them euery man being crowned with garlands Some say that he made the more haste to execute his enterprise sooner then he would haue done by meanes of one of his men that was priuye vnto his conspiracie who went euery night to lye with a woman he kept and therefore was affraid lest he would bewray them Cleomenes about noone perceiuing the souldiers had takē in their cuppes and that they were a sleepe he put on his coate and vnripping it on the right shoulder went out of the house with his sword drawen in his hand accompanied with his friends following him in that sort which were thirty in all Amongest them there was one called Hippotas who being lame went very liuely out with them at the first but when he saw they went faier and softly bicause of him he prayed them to kil him bicause they should not hinder their enterprise for a lame man that could doe them no seruice Notwithstanding by chaunce they met with a townes man a horsebacke that came hard by their dore whome they pluckt from his horse and cast Hippotas vppon him and then ranne through the citie and cryed to the people libertie libertie Now the people had no other corage in them but onely commended Cleomenes and wondred at his valiantnes but otherwise to follow him or to further his enterprise not a man of them had any hart in them Thus running vp and downe the towne they met with Ptolomy the same whome we sayde before was the sonne of Chrysermus as he came out of the Court Whereuppon three of them setting on him slue him presently There was also another Ptolomy that was gouernor and Lieuetenant of the citie of ALEXANDRIA who hearing a rumor of this sturre came vnto them in his coche They went and met him and first hauing driuen away his garde and souldiers that went before him they pluckt him out of his coche and slue him also After that they went towards the castell with intent to set all the prisoners there at libertie to take their part Howbeit the gaylers that kept them had so strongly locked vp the prison dores that Cleomenes was repulsed and put by his purpose Thus wandring vp and downe the citie no man neither came to ioyne with him nor to resist him for euery man fled for feare of him Wherefore at length being weary with going vp and downe he turned him to his friends and sayd vnto them it is no maruell though women commaund such a cowardly people that flye in this sort from their libertie Thereuppon he prayed them all to dye like men and like those that were brought vp with him and that were worthy of the fame of his so noble deedes Then the first man that made him selfe be slayne was Hippotas who dyed of a wound one of the younge men of his company gaue him with a sword at his request After him euery man slue them selues one after another without any feare at all sauing Panteas who was the first man that entred the citie of MEGALIPOLIS He was a faier younge man and had bene
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
did willingly resigne the kingdom vnto his brothers sonne Charilaus and being afrayd also that if the young child should chaunce to miscary they would suspect him for his death he exiled him selfe out of his owne contry a long time trauelling vp and downe and returned not to SPARTA againe before Charilaus had gotten a sonne to succeede him in his kingdom But we can not set another GRAECIAN by Lycurgus comparable vnto him We haue declared also that amongest Cleomenes deedes there were many other greater alteracions then these and also many other breaches of the lawe So they that doe condemne the manners of the one and the other say that the two GRAECIANS from the beginning had an aspyring minde to be tyrannes still practising warres Whereas the two ROMANES onely euen by their most mortall enemies could be blamed for nothing els but for an extreame ambition and did confesse that they were too earnest and vehement aboue their nature in any strife or contencion they had with their aduersaries and that they yelded vnto that choller and passion as vnto ill windes which brought them to doe those thinges they did in the ende For what more iust or honest intent could they haue had then the first was had not the riche men euen through stowtnes and authoritie to ouerthrow the lawes brought them against their wills into quarrell the one to saue his life the other to reuenge his brothers death who was slayne without order iustice or the authoritie of any officer Thus thou maiest thy selfe see the difference that was betwene the GRAECIANS and ROMANES and nowe to tell you plainly my opinion of both I think that Tiberius was the stowtest of the foure that the younge king Agis offended least and that for boldnes and corage Caius came nothing neare vnto Cleomenes THE LIFE OF Demosthenes HE that made the litle booke of the praise of Alcibiades touching the victorie he wanne at the horse rase of the Olympian games were it the Poet Euripides as some thinke or any other my friende Sossius sayde that to make a man happy he must of necessitie be borne in some famous citie But to tell you what I thinke hereof douteles true happines chiefly consisteth in the vertue and qualities of the minde being a matter of no moment whether a man be borne in a pelting village or in a famous citie no more then it is for one to be borne of a fayer or fowle mother For it were a madnes to thinke that the litle village of IVLIDE being the least part of the I le of CEO the whole Iland of it selfe being but a small thing and that the I le of AEGINA which is of so smal a length that a certaine ATHENIAN on a time made a motion it might be taken away bicause it was but as a strawe in the sight of the hauen of Piraea could bring forth famous Poets and excellent Comediants and not breede an honest iust and wise man and of noble corage For as we haue reason to thinke that artes and sciences which were first deuised and inuented to make some thinges necessary for mens vse or otherwise to winne fame and credit are drowned and cast away in litle poore villages So are we to iudge also that vertue like a strong and frutefull plant can take roote and bringe forth in euery place where it is graffed in a good nature and gentle person that can patiently away with paines And therefore if we chaunce to offend and liue not as we should we can not accuse the meanenes of our contry where we were borne but we must iustly accuse our selues Surely he that hath taken vpon him to put forth any worke or to write any historie into the which he is to thrust many straunge things vnknowen to his contry and which are not ready at his hand to be had but dispersed abroad in diuers places and are to be gathered out of diuers bookes and authorities first of all he must needes remaine in some great and famous citie throughly inhabited where men doe delight in good and vertuous thinges bicause there are commonly plenty of all sortes of bookes and that perusing them and hearing talke also of many things besides which other Historiographers peraduenture haue not written of and which will cary so much more credit bicause men that are aliue may presently speake of them as of their owne knowledge whereby he may make his worke perfect in euery poynt hauing many and diuers necessary things conteyned in it But I my selfe that dwell in a poore litle towne and yet doe remayne there willingly least it should become lesse whilest I was in ITALY and at ROME I had no leysure to study and exercise the Latine tongue aswell for the great busines I had then to doe as also to satisfie them that came to learne Philosophie of me so that euen somewhat too late and now in my latter time I began to take my Latine bookes in my hand And thereby a straunge thing to tell you but yet true I learned not nor vnderstood matters so much by the words as I came to vnderstand the words by common experience knowledge I had in things But furthermore to knowe howe to pronownce the Latin tongue well or to speake it readily or to vnderstand the signification translations and fine ioyning of the simple words one with another which doe bewtifie set forth the tongue surely I iudge it to be a maruailous pleasant and sweete thing but withall it requireth a long and laborsome study meete for those that haue better leysure then I haue that haue young yeares on their backes to follow such pleasure Therefore in this present booke which is the fift of this work where I haue taken vpon me to compare the liues of noble men one with another vndertaking to write the liues of Demosthenes and Cicero we will consider and examine their nature manners and condicions by their acts and deedes in the gouernment of the common wealth not meaning otherwise to conferre their workes and writings of eloquence nether to define which of them two was sharper or sweeter in his oration For as the Poet Ion sayth In this behalfe a man may rightly say The Dolphynes in their proper soyle doe play The which Caecilius litle vnderstanding being a man very rashe in all his doings hath vnaduisedly written and set forth in print a comparison of Demosthenes eloquence with Ciceroes But if it were an easie matter for euery man to know him selfe then the goddes needed haue giuen vs no commaundement nether could men haue said that it came from heauen But for my opiniō me thinks fortune euen from the beginning hath framed in maner one self mowld of Demosthenes and Cicero and hath in their natures facioned many of their qualities one like to the other as both of them to be ambitious both of them to loue the libertie of their contry and both of them very feareful
in any daunger of warres And likewise their fortunes seeme to me to be both much alike For it is harde to finde two Orators againe that being so meanely borne as they haue comen to be of so great power and authoritie as they two nor that haue deserued the ill will of kings noble men so much as they haue done nor that haue lost their Daughters nor that haue bene banished their contries that haue bene restored againe with honor and that againe haue fled and haue bene taken againe nor that haue ended their liues with the libertie of their cōtry So that it is hard to be iudged whether nature haue made them liker in manners or fortune in their doings as if they had both like cunning workemaisters striued one with the other to whome they should make them best resemble But first of all we must write of the elder of them two Demosthenes the father of this Orator Demosthenes was as Theopompus writeth one of the chiefe men of the citie and they called him Machaeropoeus to wete a maker of sworde blades bicause he had a great shoppe where he kept a number of slaues to forge them But touching AEschynes the Orators report of his mother who said that she was the Daughter of one Gelo◠that fled from ATHENS beeing accused of treason and of a barbarous woman that was her mother I am not able to say whether it be true or deuised of malice to doe him despite Howsoeuer it was it is true that his father died leauing him seuen yeare olde and left him reasonable wel for his goods came to litle lesse then the value of fifteene talents Howbeit his gardians did him great wronge for they stale a great parte of his goods them selues and did let the rest runne to naught as hauing litle care of it for they would not pay his schoolemaisters their wages And this was the cause that he did not learne the liberall sciences which are vsually taught vnto honest mens sonnes and to further that want also he was but a weakling very tender and therefore his mother would not much let him goe to schoole nether his masters also durst keepe him too hard to it bicause he was but a sickly childe at the first and very weake And it is reported also that the surname of Battalus was giuen him in mockery by other schooleboyes his companions bicause of his weaknes of bodye This Battalus as diuers men doe report was an effeminate player on the flute against whom the Poet Antiphanes to mocke him deuised a litle play Others also doe write of one Battalus a dissolute Orator and that wrote lasciuious verses and it seemeth that the ATHENIANS at that time did call a certaine part of mans body vncomely to be named Battalus Now for Argas which surname men say was also giuen him he was so called either for his rude and beastly maners bicause some Poets doe call a snake Argas or els for his maner of speech which was very vnpleasant to the eare for Argas is the name of a Poet that made alwayes bawdy ill fauored songs But hereof enough as Plato said Furthermore the occasion as it is reported that moued him to giue him selfe to eloquence was this Calistratus the Orator was to defend the cause of one Oropus before the Iudges and euery man longed greatly for this daye of pleading both for the excellencie of the Orator that then bare the bell for eloquence as for the matter and his accusation which was manifestly knowen to all Demosthenes hearing his schoolemasters agree together to goe to the hearing of this matter he prayed his schoolemaster to be so good as to let him goe with him His Maister graunted him and being acquainted with the keepers of the hal dore where this matter was to be pleaded he so intreated them that they placed his scholler in a very good place where being set at his ease he might both see and heare all that was done and no man could see him Thereuppon when Demosthenes had heard the case pleaded he was greatly in loue with the honor which the Orator had gotten when he sawe howe he was wayted vpon home with such a trayne of people after him but yet he wondred more at the force of his great eloquence that could so turne and conuey all thinges at his pleasure Thereuppon he left the studie of all other sciences and all other exercises of witte and bodye which other children are brought vp in and beganne to labor continually and to frame him selfe to make orations with intent one day to be an Orator amonge the rest His Maister that taught him Rethoricke was Isaeus notwithstanding that Isocrates also kept a schoole of Rethoricke at that time either bicause that beeing an orphane he was not able to paye the wages that Isocrates demaunded of his schollers which was ten Minas or rather for that he founde Isaeus manner of speeche more propper for the vse of the eloquence he desired bicause it was more finer sutler Yet Hermippus writeth notwithstanding that he had red certayne bookes hauing no name of any author which declared that Demosthenes had bene Platoes scholler and that by hearing of him he learned to frame his pronunciation and eloquence And he writeth also of one Cresibius who reporteth that Demosthenes had secretly redde Isocrates workes of Rethoricke and also Alcidamus bookes by meanes of one Callias SYRACVSAN and others Wherefore when he came out of his wardeshippe he beganne to put his gardians in sute and to write orations and pleas against them who in contrary manner did euer vse delayes and excuses to saue them selues from giuing vp any accompt vnto him of his goods and patrimony left him And thus following this exercise as Thucydides writeth it prospered so well with him that in the ende he obtayned it but not without great paynes and daunger and yet with all that he could doe he could not recouer all that his father left him by a good deale So hauing now gotten some boldnes and being vsed also to speake in open presence and withall hauing a feeling and delight of the estimation that is wonne by eloquence in pleading afterwards he attempted to put forward him selfe and to practise in matters of state For as there goeth a tale of one Laomedon an ORCHOMENIAN who hauing a grieuous paine in the splene by aduise of the Phisitions was willed to runne long courses to helpe him and that following their order he became in the end so lusty nymble of body that afterwards he would needes make one to ronne for games in deede grew to be the swiftest runner of all men in his time Euen so the like chaunced vnto Demosthenes For at the first beginning to practise oratorie for recouerie of his goods and thereby hauing gotten good skill and knowledge how to pleade he afterwards tooke apon him to speake to the people
as if he had red some historie poynted as it were with his finger vnto all the whole assembly the notable great seruice worthy deedes the which the CHALCIDIANS had done in former times for the benefit and honor of GRAECE And in contrary maner also what mischief inconuenience came by meanes of the flarterers that altogether gaue them selues to curry fauor with the MACEDONIANS With these and such like perswasions Demosthenes made such sturre amongest the people that the Orator Lamachus being affraid of the sodaine vprore did secretly conuey him selfe out of the assembly But yet to tell you what I thinke Demosthenes in my opinion facioning him selfe euen from the beginning to followe Pericles steppes and example he thought that for other qualities he had they were not so requisite for him and that he would counterfeate his grauitie and sober countenance and to be wise not to speake ouer lightly to euery matter at all aduentures Iudging that by that manner of wisedom he came to be great And like as he would not let slippe any good occasion to speake where it might be for his credit so would he not likewise ouer rashely hazard his credit and reputacion to the mercy of fortune And to proue this true the orations which he made vppon the sodaine without premeditation before doe shewe more boldnes and courage then those which he had written and studied long before if we may beleeue the reports of Eratosthenes Demetrius PHALERIAN and of the other comicall Poets For Eratosthenes sayd that he would be often caried away with choller aud sutie Demetrius also sayth that speaking one daye to the people he sware a great othe in ryme as if he had bene possessed with some diuine spirit and sayd By sea and land by riuers springes and Ponds There are also certaine comicall Poets that doe call him Ropoperperethra as who would say a great babbler that speaketh all thinges that commeth to his tongues ende Another mocked him for too much affecting a figure of Rethoricke called Antitheton which is opposicion with saying Sic recepit sicut cepit which signifieth he tooke it as he found it In the vse of this figure Demosthenes much pleased him selfe vnles the poet Antiphanes speaketh it of pleasure deriding the coūsel he gaue the people not to take the I le of HALONESVS of king Philip as of gift but to receiue it as their owne restored And yet euery body did graunt that Demades of his owne naturall wit without arte was inuincible and that many times speaking vpon the sodaine he did vtterly ouerthrow Demosthenes long studied reasons And Aristo of the I le of CHIO hath written Theophrastus iudgement of the Orators of that time Who being asked what maner of Orator he thought Demosthenes he aūswered worthy of this citie Then again how he thought of Demades aboue this citie said he The same Philosopher writeth also that Polyeuctus SPHETTIAN one of those that practised at that time in the common wealth gaue this sentence that Demosthenes in deede was a great Orator but Phocions tongue had a sharper vnderstanding bicause in fewe wordes he comprehended much matter And to this purpose they say that Demosthenes him selfe said also that as oft as he saw Phocion get vp into the pulpit for orations to speake against him he was wont to say to his friends see the axe of my words riseth And yet it is hard to iudge whether he spake that in respect of his tongue or rather for the estimacion he had gotten bicause of his great wisedome thinking as in deede it is true that one word only the twinckling of an eye or a nod of his head of such a man that through his worthines is attained to that credit hath more force to perswade then all the fine reasons deuises of Rethoricke But now for his bodily defects of nature Demetrius PHALERIAN writeth that he heard Demosthenes him selfe say being very olde that he did helpe them by these meanes First touching the stammering of his tongue which was very fat and made him that he could not pronounce all syllables distinctly he did helpe it by putting of litle pybble stones into his mouth which he found vpon the sands by the riuers side so pronounced with open mouth the orations he had without booke And for his smal and soft voice he made that lowder by running vp steepe and high hills vttering euen with full breath some orations or verses that he had without booke And further it is reported of him that he had a great looking glasse in his house and euer standing on his feete before it he would learne and exercise him selfe to pronounce his orations For proofe hereof it is reported that there came a man vnto him on a time and prayed his helpe to defend his cause and tolde him that one had beaten him and that Demosthenes sayd agayne vnto him I doe not beleeue this is true thou tellest me for surely the other did neuer beate thee The playntif then thrusting out his voyce alowde sayde what hath he not beaten me yes in deede q Demosthenes then I beleeue it now for I heare the voyce of a man that was beaten in deede Thus he thought that the sound of the voyce the pronunciation or gesture in one sort or other were thinges of force to beleeue or discredit that a man sayth His countenance when he pleaded before the people did maruailously please the common sorte but the noble men and men of vnderstanding found it too base and meane as Demetrius Phaleritus sayde amonge others And Hermippus writeth that one called AEsion beeing asked of the auncient Orators and of those of his tyme aunswered that euery man that had seene them would haue wondred with what honor reuerence and modestie they spake vnto the people howbeit that Demosthenes orations whosoeuer red them were too artificiall and vehement And therefore we may easily iudge that the orations Demosthenes wrote are very seuere and sharpe This notwithstanding otherwhile he would giue many pleasant and witty aunswers apon the sodain As when Demades one day sayd vnto him Demosthenes will teach me after the common prouerbe the sowe will teach Minerua He aunswered straight againe This Minerua not long since was in Collytus streete taken in adulterie A certain theefe also called Chaleus as much to say as of copper stepping forth to saye somewhat of Demosthenes late sitting vp a nights and that he wrote and studied the most part of the night by lampe light in deede q Demosthenes I know it grieues thee to see my lampe burne all night And therefore you my Lords of ATHENS me thinkes you should not wonder to see such robberies in your citie considering we haue theeues of copper and the walles of our houses be but of claye We could tell you of diuers others of his like wittie and pleasant aunswers but these may suffice for this present and therefore we
intituled vnto Formio and Stephanus for the which he was iustly reproued For Formio pleaded against Apollodorus with the oration which Demosthenes selfe had made for him which was euen alike as if out of one selfe cutlers shoppe he has solde his enemies swords one to kil another And for his knowen orations those which he made against Androtion Timocrates and Aristocrates he caused them to giue them vnto others when he had not yet delt in matters of state For in deede when he did put them forth he was not passing seuen or eight and twenty yeare olde The oration which he made against Aristogiton and the other also of libertie against Ctesippus the sonne of Cabrias he spake them as he saith him selfe or as others write openly vnto the people bicause he intended to mary Chabrias mother Howbeit he did not but maried a SAMIAN womaÌ„ as Demetrius Magnesius writeth in his booke he made intituled Synonyma and in that he wrote against AEschines where he accuseth him that he delt falsely when he was Ambassador It is not knowen whether it was euer recited or not although Idomeneus writeth that there lacked but thirtye voices onely to haue quit AEschines But in this me thinkes he spake not truely and doth but coniecture it by that the one the other haue sayd in their orations against the crowne in the which nether the one nor the other doe say precisely that this accusation proceeded to iudgement But let other that lyst decide this doubt Now before the warre beganne it was euident enough to which parte Demosthenes would incline in the common wealth For he would neuer leaue to reproue and withstand Philippes doings Therefore he being more spoken of in Philippes Court then any man els he was sent vnto him the tenth person with nyne others in ambassade Philippe gaue them all audience one after an other howbeit he was more carefull and circumspect to aunswer Demosthenes oration then all the rest But otherwise out of that place he did not Demosthenes so much honor nor gaue him so good entertainment as to his other companions For Philip shewed more kindes and gaue better countenance vnto AEschines and Philocrates then vnto him Wherefore when they did highly praise Philip and sayd that he was a well spoken Prince a fayer man and would drinke freely and be pleasant in company Demosthenes smyled at it and turned all those thinges to the worst saying that those qualities were nothing commendable nor meete for a king For the first was a qualitie meete for a pleader the second for a woman and the third for a sponge In fine warres falling out betwene them bicause Philip of the one side could not liue in peace the ATHENIANS on the other side were still incensed stirred vp by Demosthenes daily orations Whereupon the ATHENIANS first sent into the I le of EVBOEA the which by meanes of certaine priuate tyrannes that had taken the townes became subiect againe vnto Philip following a decree Demosthenes had preferred so went to expulse the MACEDONIANS againe After that also he caused them to send ayde vnto the BIZANTINES vnto the PERINTHIANS with whom Philip made warre For he so perswaded the ATHENIANS that he made them forget the malice they did beare vnto those two nations the faults which either of both the cities had committed against them in the warres touching the rebellion of their confederats he caused them to send them ayde which kept them froÌ„ Philips force power Furthermore going afterwards vnto all the great cities of GRAECE as Ambassador he did so solicite perswade them that he brought them all in manner to be against Philip. So that the army which their tribe should find at their common charge was fifteene thowsand footemen all straungers and two thowsand horsemen besides the Citizens of euery citie which should also serue in the warres at their charge and the money leauied for the maintenance of this warre was very willingly disturbed Theophraâ—tus writeth that it was at that tyme their confederats did pray that they would set downe a certaine summe of money what euery citie shoulde paye and that Crobylus an Orator shoulde make aunswer that the warre had no certaine maintenance inferring that the charges of warre was infinite Now all GRAECE being in armes attending what should happen and all these people and cities being vnite in one league together as the EVBOEIANS the ATHENIANS the CORINTHIANS the MEGARIANS the LEVCADIANS and the CORCYRIAETANâ— the greatest matter Demosthenes had to do was to perswade the THEBANS also to enter into this league bicause their contry confined and bordered with ATTICA besides their force and power was of great importance for that they caried the fame of all GRAECE at that time for the valliantest souldiers But it was no trifling matter to winne the THEBANS and to make them breake with Philip who but lately before had bound them vnto him by many great pleasures which he had done to them in the warre of the PHOCIANS besides also that betwixt ATHENS THEBES by reason of vicinitie there fell out daily quarells and debates the which with euery litle thing were soone renued This notwithstanding Philippe being prowde of the victorie he had wonne by the citie of AMPHISSE when he came and inuaded the contry of ERATIA and was entred into PHOCIDE the ATHENIANS were then so amased with it that no man durst occupie the pulpit for orations neither could they tell what way to take Thus the whole assemblie standing in a doubt with great silence Demosthenes onely step vp and did agayne giue them counsell to seeke to make league and alliance with the THEBANS and so did further encourage the people and put them in good hope as he was alwayes wont to doe Then with others he was sent Ambassador vnto THEBES and Philippe also for his parte sent Ambassadors vnto the THEBANS Amyntas and Clearchus two gentlemen MACEDONIANS and with them Daochus Thessalus and Thrasydaeus to aunswer and withstande the perswasions of the ATHENIAN Ambassadors Thereuppon the THEBANS beganne to aduise them selues for the best and layd before their eyes the miserable frutes and calamities of warre their woundes being yet greene and vncured which they gotte by the warres of PHOCIDE Notwithstanding the great force of Demosthenes eloquence as Theopompus writeth did so inflame the THEBANS courage with desire of honor that it trode vnder their feete all manner of considerations and did se rauishe them with the loue and desire of honestie that they cast at their heeles all feare of daunger all remembrance of pleasures receiued and all reason perswading the contrary This acte of an Orator was of so great force that Philippe forthwith sent Ambassadors vnto the GRAECIANS to intreate for peace and all GRAECE was vppe to see what would become of this sturre Thus not onely the Captaines of ATHENS obeyed Demosthenes doing all that he commaunded them but the gouernors also
with the ATHENIANS But Demosthenes in contrarie maner ioyning with the Ambassadors sent from ATHENS into euerie quarter to solicite the cities of GRAECE to seeke to recouer their libertie he did aide them the best he coulde to solicite the GRAECIANS to take armes with the. ATHENIANS to driue the MACEDONIANS out of GRAECE And Phylarchus writeth that Demosthenes encountered with Pytheas wordes in an open assemblie of the people in a certain towne of ARCADIA Pytheas hauing spoken before him had said like as we presume alwaies that there is some sickenesse in the house whether we doe see asses milke brought so must that towne of necessitie be sicke wherein the Ambassadors of ATHENS doe enter Demosthenes aunswered him againe turning his comparison against him that in deede they brought asses milke where there was neede to recouer health and euen so the Ambassadors of ATHENS were sent to heale and cure them that were sicke The people at ATHENS vnderstanding what Demosthenes had done they so reioyced at it that presently they gaue order in the fielde that his banishment should be reuoked He that perswaded the decree of his reuocation was called Damon PAEANIAN that was his nephew and thereupon the ATHENIANS sent him a galley to bring him to ATHENS from the city of AEGINA So Demosthenes being arriued at the hauen of Piraea there was neither Gouernor Priest nor almost any townes man left in the city but went out to the hauen to welcome him home So that Demetrius MAGNESIAN wryteth that Demosthenes then lifting vp his handes vnto heauen sayed that he thought him selfe happie for the honor of that iorney that the returne from his banishment was farre more honorable then Alcibiades returne in the like case had bene For Alcibiades was called home by force he was sent for with the good will of the citizens This notwithstanding he remained still condemned for his fine for by the law the people coulde not dispence withall nor remit it Howbeit they deuised a way to deceiue the lawe for they had a manner to geue certaine money vnto them that did prepare and sette out the aulter of Iupiter sauior for the day of the solemnitie of the sacrifice the which they did yearely celebrate vnto him so they gaue him the charge to make this preparacion for the summe of fifty talents being the summe of the fine aforesayd wherin he was condemned Howbeit he did not long enioy the good happe of his restitucion to his contry and goodes For the affaires of the GRAECIANS were immediatly after brought to vtter ruine For the battell of Cranon which they lost was in the moneth Munichyon to wit Iulie and in the moneth Boedromion next ensuing to wit August the garrison of the MACEDONIANS entred into the forte of Munichya And in the moneth Pyanepsion to wit the October following Demosthenes died in this maner When newes came to ATHENS that Antipater and Craterus were comming thither with a great armie Demosthenes and his frends got out of the towne a litle before they entred the people by Demades perswasion hauing condemned them to dye So euery man making shift for him selfe Antipater sent souldiers after them to take them and of them Archias was Captaine surnamed Phygadotheras as muche to say as a hunter of the banished men It is reported that this Archias was borne in the citie of THVRIES and that he had bene sometimes a common player of tragedies and that Polus also who was borne in the citie of AEGINES the excellentest craftes maister in that facultie of all men was his scholler Yet Hermippus doth recite him amongest the number of the schollers of Lacritus the Orator And Demetrius also wryteth that he had bene at Anaximenes schoole Now this Archias hauing founde the Orator Hyperides in the citie of AEGINA Aristonicus MARATHONIAN and Himeraus the brother of Demetrius the PHALERIAN which had taken sanctuary in the temple of Aiax he tooke them out of the temple by force and sent them vnto Antipater who was at that time in the citie of CLEONES where he did put them all to death and some say that he did cut of Hyperides tongue Furthermore hearing that Demosthenes had taken sanctuarie in the I le of CALAVRIA he tooke litle pinnasies and a certaine number of THRACIAN souldiers being comen thither he sought to perswade Demosthenes to be contented to goe with him vnto Antipater promising him that he should haue no hurt Demosthenes had a straunge dreame the night before and thought that he had played a tragedie contending with Archias and that he handled him selfe so well that all the lookers on at the Theater did commende him and gaue him the honor to be the best player howbeit that otherwise he was not so well furnished as Archias and his players and that in all maner of furniture he did farre exceede him The next morning when Archias came to speake with him who vsing gentle wordes vnto him thinking thereby to winne him by fayer meanes to leaue the sanctuarie Demosthenes looking him full in the face sitting still where he was without remouing sayd vnto him O Archias thou diddest neuer perswade me when thou playedst a play neither shalt thou nowe perswade me though thou promise me Then Archias began to be angrie with him and to threaten him O sayd Demosthenes now thou speakest in good earnest without dissimulacion as the Oracle of MACEDON hath commaunded thee for before thou spakest in the clowdes and farre from thy thought But I pray thee stay a while till I haue written somewhat to my frendes After he had sayd so he went into the temple as though he would haue dispatched some letters and did put the ende of the quill in his mouth which he wrote withall and bit it as his maner was when he did vse to write any thing and held the ende of the quill in his mouth a pretie while together then he cast his gowne ouer his head and layed him downe Archias souldiers seeing that being at the dore of the temple laughing him to scorne thinking he had done so for that he was affrayed to dye called him coward and beast Archias also comming to him prayed him to rise and beganne to vse the former perswasions to him promising him that he would make Antipater his frende Then Demosthenes feeling the poyson worke cast open his gowne and boldly looking Archias in the face sayd vnto him Nowe when thou wilt play Creons parte and throwe my bodie to the dogges without further graue or buriall For my parte O god Neptune I do goe out of thy temple being yet aliue bicause I will not prophane it with my death but Antipater and the MACEDONIANS haue not spared to defile thy sanctuarie with blood and cruell murder Hauing spoken these wordes he prayed them to stay him vp by his armeholes for his feete began alreadie to faile him and thinking to goe forward as he past by the author of Neptune he
by this meanes he got him out of the daunger of his office of Tribuneship for that yeare he made fayer weather with him as though he ment to reconcile him selfe vnto him and tolde him that he had cause rather to thinke ill of Terentia for that he had done against him then of him selfe and alwayes spake very curteously of him as occasion fell out and sayde he did thinke nothing in him nether had any malice to him howbeit it did a litle grieue him that being a friend he was offered vnkindnes by his friend These sweete wordes made Cicero no more affraied so that he gaue vp his Lieuetenancie vnto Caesar and beganne againe to pleade as he did before Caesar tooke this in such disdaine that he hardened Clodius the more against him and besides made Pompey his enemie And Caesar him selfe also sayd before all the people that he thought Cicero had put Lentulus Cethegus and the rest vniustly to death and contrary to lawe without lawfull tryall and condemnation And this was the fault for the which Cicero was openly accused Thereuppon Cicero seeing him selfe accused for this facte he chaunged his vsuall gowne he wore and put on a mourning gowne and so suffering his beard and heare of his head to growe without any coeming he went in this humble manner and sued to the people But Clodius was euer about him in euery place and streete he went hauing a sight of raskalls and knaues with him that shamefully mocked him for that he had chaunged his gowne and countenance in that sort and oftentimes they cast durt and stones at him breaking his talke and requests he made vnto the people This notwithstanding all the knights of ROME did in manner chaunge their gownes with him for companie and of them there were commonly twenty thowsand younge gentlemen of noble house which followed him with their heare about their eares were suters to the people for him Furthermore the Senate assembled to decree that the people should mourne in blacks as in a common calamitie But the Consuls were against it And Clodius on thother side was with a band of armed men about the Senate so that many of the Senators ranne out of the Senat crying tearing their clothes for sorow Howbeit these men seeing all that were nothing the more moned with pity and shame but either Cicero must needes absent him selfe or els determine to fight with Clodius Then went Cicero to intreat Pompey to ayde him But he absented him selfe of purpose out of the citie bicause he would not be intreated and laye at one of his houses in the contry neare vnto the citie of ALBA So he first of all sent Piso his sonne in lawe vnto 〈…〉 to intreate him and afterwardes went him selfe in person to him But Pompey beeing tolde that he was come had not the harte to suffer him to come to him to looke him in the face for he had bene past all shame to haue refused the request of so worthy a man who had before shewed him suche pleasure and also done and sayde so many thinges in his fauor Howbeit Pompey beeing the sonne in lawe of Caesar did vnfortunately at his request forsake him at his neede vnto whome he was bownde for so many infinite pleasures as he had receyued of him afore and therefore when he hearde saye he came to him he went out at his backe gate and woulde not speake with him So Cicero seeing him selfe betrayed of him and nowe hauing no other refuge to whome he might repayre vnto he put him selfe into the handes of the two Consuls Of them two Gabinius was euer cruell and churlishe vnto him But Piso on thother side spake alwayes very curteously vnto him and prayed him to absent him selfe for a tyme and to giue place a litle to Clodius furie and paciently to beare the chaunge of the tyme For in so doing he might come agayne another tyme to be the preseruer of his contry which was nowe for his sake in tumult and sedition Cicero vpon this aunswer of the Consul consulted with his friendes amonge the which Lucullus gaue him aduise to tary and sayd that he should be the stronger But all the rest were of contrary opinion and would haue him to get him away with speede for the people would shortly wishe for him agayne when they had once bene beaten with Clodius furie and folly Cicero liked best to followe this counsell Whereuppon hauing had a statue of Minerua a long tyme in his house the which he greatly reuerenced he caried her him selfe and gaue her to the Capitoll with this inscription Vnto Minerua Protector of ROME So his friends hauing giuen him safe conduct he went out of ROME about midnight and tooke his way through the contry of LVKE by lande meaning to goe into SICILE When it was knowen in ROME that he was fledde Clodius did presently banishe him by decree of the people and caused billes of inhibition to be sette vppe that no man should secretly receiue him within fiue hundred myles compasse of ITALY Howbeit diuers men reuerencing Cicero made no reckoning of that inhibition but when they had vsed him with all manner of curtesie possible they did conduct him besides at his departure sauing one citie onely in LVKE called at that tyme HIPPONIVM and nowe VIBONE where a SICILIAN called Vibius vnto whome Cicero before had done many pleasures and specially amonge others had made him Maister of the workes in the yeare that he was Consul would not once receyue him into his house but promised him he woulde appoynt him a place in the contry that he might goe vnto And Caius Virgilius also at that tyme Praetor and gouernor of SICILE who before had shewed him selfe his very greate friende wrote then vnto him that he shoulde not come neare vnto SICILE This grieued him to the harte Thereuppon he went directly vnto the citie of BRVNDVSIVM and there imbarked to passe ouer the sea vnto DYRRACHIVM and at the first had winde at will but when he was in the mayne sea the winde turned and brought him backe agayne to the place from whence he came But after that he hoysed sayle agayne and the reporte went that at his arryuall at DYRRACHIVM when he tooke lande the earth shooke vnder him and the sea gaue backe together Whereby the Soothesayers enterpreted that his exile shoulde not be longe bicause both the one and the other was a token of chaunge Yet Cicero notwithstanding that many men came to see him for the goodwill they bare him and that the cities of GRAECE contended who shoulde most honor him he was alwayes sadde and could not be merie but cast his eyes still towardes ITALY as passioned louers doe towardes the women they loue shewing him selfe faynte harted and tooke this aduersitie more basely then was looked for of one so well studied and learned as he And yet he oftentimes praied his friends not to call him Orator
one of his Heraulds that his father had sent him in happy hower to deliuer the ATHENIANS from all their garrisons and to restore them againe to their auncient libertie and freedom to enioye their lawes and auncient gouernment of their forefathers After the proclamacion made all the common people straight threwe downe their weapons and targets at their feete to clappe their handes with great showtes of ioy praying him to land and calling him alowde their Sauior and benefactor Now for them that were with Demetrius PHALERIAN they all thought good to let the stronger in although he performed not that he promised and also sent Ambassadors vnto him to treate of peace Demetrius receiued them very curteously and sent with them for pledge one of the dearest friends his father had Aristodemus MILESIAN Furthermore he was not careles of the health and safety of Demetrius PHALERIAN who by reason of the chaunge and alteracion of the gouernment of the common wealth at ATHENS stoode more infeare of the people of ATHENS than of his enemies Therefore Demetrius regarding the same and vertue of the man caused him to be conueyed according to his desire vnto THEBES with good and sufficient safe conduct And for Demetrius him selfe although he was very desirous to see the citie he saide he would not come into it before he had first restored it vnto her auncient libertie and freedom and also driuen away the garrison thence and thereuppon he cast trenches round about the castell of MVNYCHIA In the meane season bicause he would not be idle he hoysed sayle and coasted towards the citie of MEGARA within the which Cassander also kept a strong garrison Demetrius busily following these matters was aduertised that Cratesipolis surnamed Polyperchon who had bene Alexanders wife a Lady of passing fame and beauty and lay at that time in the citie of PATRAS would be glad to see him he leauing his armie within the territorie of the MEGARIANS tooke his iorney presently vnto her with a few of his lightest armed men and yet the stale from them and made his tent to be set vp a good way from them bicause this Ladie might not be seene when she came vnto him Some of his enemies hauing present intelligence thereof came and set vpon him before he knew it Demetrius was so scared that he had no further leysure but to cast an ill fauored cloke about him the first that came to hand and disguising him selfe to flie for life and scaped very hardly that he was not shamefully taken of his enemies for his incontinencie But though they missed him they tooke his tent and all his money in it After that the citie of MEGARA was taken and won from Cassanders men where Demetrius souldiers would haue sacked all howbeit the ATHENIANS made humble intercession for them that they might not be spoyled Demetrius thereuppon after he had driuen out Cassanders garrison he restored it againe to her former libertie In doing that he called to mind the Philosopher Stilpo a famous man in MEGARA though he liued a quiet and contemplatiue life He sent for him and asked him if any of his men had taken any thing of his Stilpo aunswered him they had not For q he I sawe no man that tooke my learning from me This notwithstanding all the slaues of the citie were in manner caried away Another time Demetrius making much of him as he was going his way saide vnto him well Stilpo I leaue you your citie free It is true O king q he for thou hast left vs neuer a slaue Shortly after he returned againe vnto ATHENS and layde seege to the castell of MVNICHIA the which he tooke and draue out the garrison afterwards rased it to the ground After that through the intreatie and earnest desire of the ATHENIANS who prayed him to come and refresh him selfe in their citie he made his entry into it and caused all the people to assemble and then restored vnto them their auncient lawes and libertie of their contry promising them besides that he would procure his father to sende them a hundred and fiftye thowsand busshells of wheate and as much woode and tymber as should serue to make them a hundred and fiftie gallies Thus the ATHENIANS through Demetrius meanes recouered the Democratia again to wit their populer gouernment fifteene yeares after they had lost it and liued all the time betwene their losse and restitucion from the warre called Lamiacus warre and the battell that was fought by the citie of CRANON in the state of Oligarchia to wit vnder the gouernment of a fewe gouernors in sight but in truth a Monarchie or kingdome bicause they were vnder the gouernment of one man Demetrius PHALERIAN that had absolute authoritie ouer them But by this meanes they made their sauior and preseruer of their contry Demetrius who seemed to haue obteined such honor and glory through his goodness and liberalitie hateful and odious to all men for the ouergreat and vnmeasurable honors which they gaue him For first of all they called Antigonus and Demetrius kings who before that time had alwayes refused the name and the which among all other princely honors and prerogatiues graunted they that had deuided betwene them the Empire of Philip and Alexander durst neuer once presume to chalenge nor to take vppon them So vnto them only they gaue the style and names of the goddes sauiors and tooke away their yearely Maior whome they called Eponymos bicause they did shew the yeares of olde time by the names of them that had bene Maiors Furthermore in stead thereof they ordeyned in the counsell of the citie that there should yearely be chosen one by voyces of the people whom they should name the Priest of their Sauiors whose name they should write and subscribe in all publike graunts and couenants to shewe the yeare and besides all this that they should cause their pictures to be drawen in the veyle or holy banner in the which were set out the images of their goddes the patrones and protectors of their citie And furthermore they did consecrate the place where Demetrius first came out of his coche and there did set vp an aulter and called it Demetrius aulter comming out of his coche and vnto their tribes they added two other the ANTIGONIDES and the DEMETRIADES Their great counsell at large which they created yearely of fiue hundred men was then first of all brought into sixe hundred bicause euery tribe must needes furnishe of them selues fifty counsellers But yet the straungest acte and most new found inuention of flattery was that of Stratocles being the common flatterer and people pleaser who put forth this decree by the which it was ordeined that those whome the common wealth should send vnto Antigonus and Demetrius should in stead of Ambassadors be called Theori as much to say as ministers of the sacrifices For so were they called whome they
had bene very famillier with Demetrius Him Seleucus sent immediately vnto Demetrius to will him to be of good chere and not to be affrayd to come to the king his Maister for he should find him his very good friend So soone as the kings pleasure was knowen a few of his Courtiers went at the first to meete him but afterwards euery man striued who should goe meete him first bicause they were all in hope that he should presently be much made of and growe in credit with Seleucus But hereby they turned Seleucus pitie into enuie and gaue occasion also to Demetrius enemies and spitefull men to turne the kings bowntifull good nature from him For they put into his head many doubts and daungers saying that certainly so soone as the souldiers sawe him there would grow great sturre and chaunge in their campe And therefore shortly after that Apollonides was come vnto Demetrius being glad to bringe him these good newes and as others also followed him one after another bringing him some good words from Seleucus and that Demetrius him selfe after so great an ouerthrow although that before he thought it a shamefull part of him to haue yeelded his body into his enemies hands chaunged his mind at that time and began then to grow bold to haue good hope to recouer his state againe behold there came one of Seleucus Captaines called Paâ—sanias accompanied with a thowsand footemen horsemen in all who compassed in Demetrius with them and made the rest depart that were come vnto him before hauing charge giuen him not to bring him to the Court but to conuey him into CHERRONESVS of SYRIA whether he was brought and euer after had a strong garrison about him to keepe him But otherwise Seleucus sent him Officers money and all things els meete for a Princes house and his ordinary fare was so delicate that he could wishe for no more then he had And furthermore he had places of libertie and pleasure appointed him both to ride his horse in and also pleasaunt walkes and goodly arbors to walke or sit in fine parkes full of beasts where he might b 〈…〉 moreouer the king suffered his owne houshold seruaunts that followed him when he fled to remaine with him if they would And furthermore there daily came some one or other vnto him from Seleucus to comfort him and to put him in hope that so soone as Antiochus Stratonice where come they would make some good agreement and peace betwene them Demetrius remaining in this estate wrote vnto his sonne Antigonus and to his friends and Lieutenants which he had at CORINTHE ATHENS that they should giue no credit to any letters written in his name though his seale were to them but that they should keepe the townes they had in charge for his sonne Antigonus and all the rest of his forces as if him selfe were dead When Antigonus heard the pitifull captiuitie of his father he maruelous greeuously tooke his hard fortune wearing blackes for sorrow and wrote vnto all the other kings but vnto Seleucus specially beseeching him to take him as a pledge for his father that he was ready to yeld vp al that he kept to haue his fathers libertie The like request did many cities make vnto him and in manner all Princes but Lysimachus who promised Seleucus a great summe of money to put Demetrius to death But Seleucus who of long time had no great fancie to Lysimachus but rather vtterly despised him did then thinke him the more cruell and barbarous for this vile and wicked request he made vnto him Wherefore he still delayed time bicause he would haue Demetrius deliuered by his sonne Antiochus and Stratonices meanes for that Demetrius should be bownd to them for his deliuerie and for euer should acknowledge it to them Now for Demetrius as he from the beginning paciently tooke his hard fortune so did he daily more and more forget the miserie he was in For first of al he gaue him selfe to riding and hunting as farre as the place gaue him libertie Then by litle and litle he grew to be very grosse and to giue ouer such pastimes and therewithall he fell into dronkennes and dyeing so that in that sort he passed away the most part of his time as it should seeme either to auoid the greuous thoughts of his hard fortune which came into his mind when he was sober or els vnder culler of dronkennes and eating to shadow the thoughts he had or els finding in him selfe that it was that manner of life he had long desired and that through his vaine ambition and follie till that time he could neuer attayne vnto greatly turmoyling and troubling him selfe and others supposing to find in warres by sea land the felicitie and delight which he had found in ease and idlenes when he nether thought of it nor loked for it For what better ende can euill and vnaduised kings and Princes looke for of all their troubles daungers and warres who in deede deceiue them selues greatly not onely for that they followe their pleasure and delights as their chiefest felicitie in steede of vertue and honest life but also bicause that in truth they can not be mery and take their pleasure as they would So Demetrius after he had bene shut vp in CHERRONESVS three yeares together by ease grossenes dronkennes fell sicke of a disease whereof he dyed when he was foure and fiftye yeare old Therefore was Seleucus greatly blamed and he him selfe also did much repent him that he so suspected him as he did and that he followed not Dromichetes curtesie a barbarous man borne in THRACIA who had so royally and curteously intreated Lysimachus whom he had taken prisoner in the warres But yet there was some tragicall pompe in the order of his funerall For his sonne Antigonus vnderstaÌ„ding that they brought him the ashes of his bodie he tooke sea with all his shippes and went to meete them to receiue them in the Iles and when he had receiued them he set vp the funerall pot of golde in the which were his embers vppon the poope of his Admirall galley So all the cities and townes whereby they passed or harbered some of them did put garlands of flowers about the pot others also sent a number of men thether in mourning apparell to accompany and honor the conuoye to the very solemnitie of his funeralls In this sort sayled all the whole fleete towards the citie of CORINTHE the pot being plainely seene farre of standing on the toppe of the Admirall galley all the place about it being hanged about with purple and ouer it the diademe or royall band and about it also were goodly younge men armed which were as Pensioners to Demetrius Furthermore Xenophantus the famousest Musition in that time being set hard by it played a sweete and lamentable songe on the flute wherewithall the ores keeping stroke and measure the sownd did meete with a
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
had no other helpe but his mother he might haue had of her what he would haue taken and desired Againe to shew that of him selfe he had abilitie enough we neede but alleage the souldiers and straungers he gaue pay vnto in diuers places as Xenophon wryteth For he brought them not all together into one armie bicause he desired to kepe his enterprise as secret as he could but he had frendes and seruaunts that leauied them in diuers places and vnder diuers colours And furthermore he had his mother alway about the king that cleered all suspicions conceiued against him He him selfe also on the other side whilest he made these preparacions wrote verie humbly vnto his brother somtime asking somwhat of him and an other time accusing Tisaphernes all to blinde the king to make him thinke that he bent all his malice and spite against him besides that the king of his owne nature was somwhat dull and slow which the common people thought to proceede of his curtesie and good nature At his first comming to the crowne he followed the first Artaxerxes goodnes and curtesie by whom he had his name For he gaue more easie audience vnto suters he did also more honorably reward recompence those that had deserued well he vsed such moderacion in punishing offendors that it appeared he did it not of any malicious minde and desire of reuenge nor yet of will to hurte any man When he had any thing geuen him he tooke it as thankefully as they offered it him and did as willingly and frankely also geue againe For how litle a thing soeuer was offered him he tooke it well And it is reported that one Romises on a time presented him a maruelous fayer pomegarnet By the sunne sayd he this man in a short time of a litle towne would make a great citie he that would make him gouernor of it Another time there was a poore laborer seing euery mā giue the king a present some one thing some another as he passed by them he hauing nothing at hand to giue him ranne to the riuers side tooke both his hands full of water and came and offred it him King Artaxerxes was so glad of it that he sent him in a cuppe of massy gold a thowsand Darecks which were peeces of gold so named bicause the image of Darius was stamped vpon them And vnto one Euclidas a LACEDAEMONIAN that presumed to giue him bold words it pleased him to aunswer him by one of his Captaines thou mayst say what thou lyst and I as king may say and doe what I lyst Another time as he was a hunting Tiribazus shewed the king his gowne that was all to tattered well sayd the king and what wouldest thou haue me to doe Tiribazus aunswered him I praye your grace take another and giue me that you haue on The king did so and told him Tiribazus I giue thee my gowne but I commaund thee not to weare it Tiribazus tooke it and cared not for the kings commaundement that he should not weare it not that he was any euill disposed man but bicause he was a fond light headed fellowe that cared for nothing thereuppon he straight put the kings gowne on his backe and not contented therewith he did besides set on many iewells of gold which kings onely are wont to weare and womens trinckets and ornaments Therewithal euery man in the Court murmured at him bicause it was a presumption directly against the lawes and ordinaunces of PERSIA Howbeit the king did but laugh at it tolde him I giue thee leaue Tiribazus to weare those womens gawdes as a woman and the kings robe as a foole Furthermore where the manner was in PERSIA that no person sate at the kings bord but his mother and wife of the which his mother sate vppermost his wife lowermost Artaxerxes made his two brethren Ostanes and Oxathres sit at his owne bord But yet he pleased the PERSIANS best of all bicause was content his wife Statyra should sit openly in her charter and that she might be seene and reuerenced by the other Ladyes of the contry And this made him singularly beloued of the people Now such as desired innouation and chaunge and that could not away with quite life they gaue out that the Realme of PERSIA required such a Prince as Cyrus that was liberall of nature giuen to armes greatly rewarded his seruaunts and that the greatnes of the Empire of PERSIA stoode in neede of a king whose mind was bent to high attempts and noble enterprises So. Cyrus thereuppon began to make warre vpon his brother not onely trusting vnto them that were of the lowe contries about him but hoping of those also in the high prouinces neare vnto the king Furthermore he wrote also vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS to pray them to send him men of warre promising to giue the footemen they sent horses and the horsemen coches landed men whole villages and to those that had villages to giue them cities Besides all this that for the ordinary wages of them that should serue him in this warre he would not pay them by accompt but by full measure and boasting largely of him selfe he sayd he had a greater mind then his brother that he could better away with hardnes then he that he vnderstoode magick better then he and that he could drinke more wine then he and cary it better And that the king his brother in contrary manner was so womanishe and fearefull that when he went a hunting he durst scarce get vp vpon his horse backe and when he went to the warres he would hardly take his charriot When the LACEDAEMONIANS had red his letters they sent a litle scrowle vnto Clearchus commaunding him to obey Cyrus in any thing he would commaund him So Cyrus did set forward to make warre against his brother hauing leauied a great number of fighting men of barbarous nations and of GRAECIANS litle lesse then thirteene thowsand men sometime aduertising one cause sometime another why he leauied such a multitude of men But his purpose could not be long dissembled for Tisaphernes went him selfe vnto the Court to bringe newes of his attempt Then all the Court was straight in an vprore withall Many men also did accuse the Queene mother for the practise of this warre all her friends seruaunts were vehemently suspected to be conspyrators with Cyrus but the greatest thing that troubled Parysatis most was Queene Statyra her Daughter in lawe who stormed maruelously to see this warre begon against king Artaxerxes her husband and incessantly cryed out on her O where is the faith thou vowedst by othe whereto are thy intercessions come thou madest for the pardon of his life who now conspyreth his brothers death By sauing of his life art not thou now the cause of this warre and troubles we see at hand After this reproch and shame receiued by Statira Parysatis being a cruell and malicious woman of nature
to geue the goddes thankes for his comming as for some wonderful great good happe chaunced vnto his seigniory Furthermore the wonderfull modestie and temperaunce that was begon to be obserued in feast and bankets the Court cleane chaunged and the great goodnes and clemencie of the tyran in all thinges in ministring iustice to euerie man did put the SYRACVSANS in great good hope of chaunge and euerie man in the Court was verie desirous to geue him selfe to learning and Philosophie So that as men reported the tyrannes pallace was full of sande and dust with the numbers of studentes that drewe plattes and figures of Geometrie Shortlie after Plato was arriued by chaunce the time was comen about to doe a solemne sacrifice within the castell at whiche sacrifice the Heraulde as the manner was proclaimed alowde the solemne prayer accustomed to be done that is woulde please the goddes long to preserue the state of the tyrannie and that Dionysius being harde by him sayd vnto him what wilt thou not leaue to curse me This worde grieued Philistus and his companions to the harte thinkinge that with time by litle and litle Plato would winne suche estimacion and great authoritie with Dionysius that afterwardes they shoulde not be able to resist him considering that in so short a time as he had bene with Dionysius he had so altered his minde and courage And therefore they nowe beganne not one by one nor in hugger mugger but all of them with open mowth together to accuse Dion and sayed that it was easie to be seene howe he charmed and inchaunted Dionysius through Platoes eloquence to make him willing to resigne his gouernment bicause he woulde transferre it to the handes of the children of his sister Aristomaché Others seemed to be offended for that the ATHENIANS hauing comen before into SICILIA with a great armie both by sea and land they were all lost and cast away and could not win the city of SYRACVSA that now by one only Sophister they vtterly destroyed and ouerthrewe the Empire of Dionysius perswading him to discharge the ten thowsand souldiers he had about him for his garde to forsake the foure hundred gallies the ten thowsand horsemen and as many moe footemen to goe to the Academy to seeke an vnknowen happines neuer heard of before and to make him happy by Geometry resigning his present happines and felicitie to be a great Lord to haue money at will and to liue pleasauntlie vnto Dion and his Neuewes By such like accusations and wicked tongues Dionysius began first to mistrust Dion and afterwardes to be openly offended with him and to frowne vpon him In the meane time they brought letters Dion wrote secretlie vnto the Gouernors of the citie of CARTHAGE willing them that when they would make peace with Dionysius they shoulde not talke with him vnlesse he stoode by assuring them that he would helpe them to set things in quietnes that all should be well againe When Dionysius had red these letters with Philistus had taken his aduise counsel what he should do as Timaeus said he deceiued Dion vnder pretence of recoÌ„ciliacioÌ„ making as though he ment him no hurt saying that he would become frends again with him So he brought Dion one day to the sea side vnder his castell and shewed him these letters burdening him to haue practised with the CARTHAGINIANS against him And as Dion went about to make him answere to cleere himself Dionysius would not heare him but caused him to be taken vp as he was and put into a pinnase commaunded the marines to set him a lande vpon the coast of ITALIE After this was done and that it was knowen abroad in the citie euerie man thought it a cruell parte of Dionysius insomuche that the tyrans pallace was in a maruelous pecke of troubles for the great sorowe the women made for the departure of Dion Moreouer the citie selfe of SYRACVSA began to looke about them looking for some sodaine great chaunge innouation for the tumult vprore that would happen by meanes of Dions banishment and for the mistrust also that all men would haue of Dionysius Dionysius considering this and being affrayed of some misfortune he gaue his frendes and the women of his pallace comfortable words telling them that he had not banished him but was contented that he should absent him selfe for a time being affrayed that in his sodaine angry moode he might peraduenture be compelled to do him some worse turne if he remained bicause of his obstinacie and selfewill Furthermore he gaue vnto Dions frends two shippes to carie as much goodes money and as many of Dions seruauntes as they woulde and to conuey them vnto him vnto PELOPONNESVS Dion was a maruelous rich man for the pompe of his seruice and sumptuous moueables of his house they were like vnto the person of a tyran All these riches Dions frendes brought abord vpon those shippes and caried them vnto him besides many other rich gifts which the women and his frends sent vnto him So that by meanes of his great riches Dion was maruelouslie esteemed among the GRAECIANS who by the â—iches of a banished citizen coniectured what the power of a tyranne might be But now concerning Plato when Dion was exiled Dionysius caused him to be lodged in his castell and by this meanes craftilie placed vnder cloke of frendshippe an honorable garde about him bicause he shoulde not returne into GRAECE to seeke Dion to tell him of the iniurie he had done vnto him Howbeit Dionysius often frequenting him companie as a wilde beast is made tame by companie of man he liked his talke so well that he became in loue with him but it was a tyrannicall loue For he woulde haue Plato to loue none but him and that he shoulde esteeme him aboue all men liuing being readie to put the whole realme into his handes And all his forces so that he woulde thinke better of him then of Dion Thus was this passionate affection of Dionysius grieuous vnto Plato For he was so drowned with the loue of him as men extreamelie gealous of the women they loue that in a moment he woulde sodainly fall out with him and straight againe become frendes and pray him to pardon him And to say truelie he had a maruelous desire to heare Platoes Philosophie but on the other side he reuerenced them that did disswade him from it and told him that he woulde spoyle him selfe if he entred ouerdeepelie into it In the meane time fell out warre and thereuppon he sent Plato againe away promising him that the next spring he woulde sende for Dion him But he brake promise therein and yet sent him his reuenues and prayed Plato to pardon him though he had not kept promise at his time appointed For he alleaged the warre was the cause and that so soone as he had ended his warre he woulde sende for Dion whome in the meane
maried vnto an other man. Now then sith fortune hath made thee Lord of vs all what iudgement giuest thou of this compulsion Howe wilt thou haue her to salute thee as her Vncle or husbande As Aristomaché spake these wordes the water stoode in Dions eyes so he gently and louingly taking his wife Areta by the hand he gaue her his sonne and willed her to goe home to his house where he then remained and so deliuered the castell to the SYRACVSANS He hauing this prosperous successe and victorie would not reape any present benefite or pleasure thereby before he had shewed him selfe thankefull to his frends geuen great gifts also vnto the confederats of SYRACVSA and speciallie before he had geuen euerie one of his frends in the citie and his mercenarie souldiers the straungers some honorable reward according to their deserts exceeding his abilitie with magnanimitie of minde when he him selfe liued soberly and kept a moderate dyet contenting him with any thing that came first to hand Euery man that heard of it wondered at him considering that not only all SICILIA and CARTHAGE but generallie all GRAECE looked vpon his great prosperitie and good fortune thinking no man liuing greater then him selfe nor that any Captaine euer attained to such fame and wonderfull fortune as he was come vnto This notwithstanding Dion liued as temperatly and modestly in his apparell and also in his number of seruauntes and seruice as his bord as if he had liued with Plato in the Academy at ATHENS and had not bene conuersant amongest souldiers and Captaines which haue no other comfort nor pleasure for all the paines and daungers they suffer continuallie but to eate and drinke their fill and to take their pleasure all day long Plato wrote vnto him that all the world had him in admiration But Dion in my opinion had no respect but to one place and to one citie to wit the Academy and would haue no other Iudges nor lookers into his doinges but the schollers of the same who neither wondered at his great exploytes valliantnes nor victorie but only considered if he did wiselie and modestlie vse this fortune he had and could so keepe him selfe within modest boundes hauing done so great thinges Furthermore touching the grauetie he had when he spake to any bodie and his inflexible seueritie which he vsed towards the people he determined neuer to alter or chaunge it notwithstanding that his affaires required him to shew curtesie and lenitie and that Plato also reproued him for it and wrote that seueritie and obstinacie as we sayd before was the companion of solitarines But it seemeth to me that Dion did vse it for two respectes The first bicause nature had not framed him curteous and affable to winne men secondly he did what he could to drawe the SYRACVSANS to the contrarie who were ouerlicentious spoyled with too much flattery for Heraclides began againe to be busie with him First of all Dion sending for him to come to counsell he sent him word he would not come and that being a priuate citizen he woulde be at the common counsell amongest others when any was kept Afterwards he accused him for that he had not ouerthrowen and rased the castell and also bicause he would not suffer the people to breake open the tombe of Dionysius the elder to cast out his bodie bicause he sent for counsellers to CORINTHE and disdained to make the citizens his companions in the gouernment of the common wealth In deede to confesse a troth Dion had sent for certaine CORINTHIANS hoping the better to stablish the forme of a common wealth which he had in his minde when they were come For his minde was vtterly to breake the gouernment of Democratia to wit the absolute gouernment and authoritie of the people in a citie not being as it were a common wealth but rather a fayer and market where thinges are solde as Plato sayth and to stablishe the LACONIAN or CRETAN common wealth mingled with a Princely and popular gouernment that should be Aristocratia to wit the number of a fewe noble men that shoulde gouerne and direct the chiefest and waightiest matters of state And for that purpose he thought the CORINTHIANS the metest men to help him to frame this cōmon wealth cōsidering that they gouerned their affaires more by choosing a few number of the nobilitie then otherwise and that they did not referre many thinges to the voyce of the people And bicause he was assured that Heraclides would be against him in it all that he could and that otherwise he knewe he was a seditious a troublesome and light headed fellow he then suffered them to kill him who had long before done it if he had not kept them from it so they went home to his house and slue him there The murther of Heraclides was much misliked of the SYRACVSANS howbeit Dion caused him to be honorablie buried and brought his bodie to the grounde followed with all his armie Then he made an Oration him selfe to the people and told them that it was impossible to auoyde sedition and trouble in the citie so long as Dion and Heraclides did both gouerne together At that time there was one Callippus an ATHENIAN a familiar of Dions who as Plato sayth came not acquainted with Dion through the occasion of his studie in Philosophie but bicause he had bene his guide to bring him to see the secret misteries and ceremonies of the sacrifices and for such other like common talke and companie This notwithstanding Callippus did accompanie him in all this warre and was verie muche honored of him and was one of the first of all his frendes that entred into SYRACVSA with him and did valliantlie behaue him selfe in all the battells and conflicts that were fought This Callippus seeing that Dions best chiefest frends were all slaine in this warre that Heraclides also was dead that the people of SYRACVSA had no more any heade and besides that the souldiers which were with Dion did loue him better then any other man he became the vnfaithfullest man and the veriest villan of all other hoping that for reward to kill his frend Dion he should vndoubtedly come to haue the whole gouernment of all SICILIA and as some doe reporte for that he had taken a bribe of his enemies of twentie talentes for his labor to commit this murther So he began to practise to bribe and to subborne certaine of the mercenarie souldiers against Dion and that by a maruelous craftie and suttle fetch For vsing commonly to report vnto Dion certeine seditious wordes spoken peraduenture by the souldiers in deede or else deuised of his owne head he wan such a libertie and boldnes by the trust Dion had in him that he might safely say what he would to any of the souldiers and boldly speake euill of Dion by his owne commaundement to th end he might thereby vnderstand
the better whether any of the souldiers were angry with him or wished his death By this pollicy Callippus straight foūd out those that bare Dion grudge that were already corrupted whom he drew to his conspiracy And if any man vnwilling to geue eare vnto him went and told Dion that Callippus would haue intised him to conspire against him Dion was not angrie with him for it thinking that he did but as he had commaunded him to doe Now as this treason was practising against Dion there appeared a great and monstruous ghost or spirit vnto him By chaunce sitting late one euening all alone in a gallerie he had and being in a deepe thought with him selfe sodainly he heard a noyse and therewith casting his eye to th end of his gallery being yet day light he saw a monstrous great woman like vnto one of the furies shewed in playes and saw her sweeping of the house with a broome This vision so amazed and affrighted him that he sent for his frends and told them what a sight he had seene and prayed them to tarie with him all night being as it were a man beside him selfe fearing least the spirite woulde come to him againe if they left him alone of the which notwithstanding he neuer heard more afterwards Howbeit shortly after his sonne being growen to mans state for a certaine light anger he had taken when he was but a boy he cast him selfe hedlong downe from the toppe of the house and so was slaine Dion being in this state Callippus went on still with his treason and spred a rumor abroade among the SYRACVSANS that Dion seeing him selfe nowe destitute of children was determined to send for Apollocrates Dionysius sonne to make him his heire and successor being cosin germaine to his wife and his sisters daughters sonne Then began Dion his wife and sister to mistrust Callippus practises and they were told of it by diuers sundrie and manifest proofes But Dion being sorie as I suppose for Heraclides death and inwardlie taking that murther in very euill part as a fowle blot to his life and doings he sayd he had rather dye a thowsand deaths and to offer his throate to be cut to any that would rather then he would liue in that miserie to be compelled to take heede as well of his frends as of his enemies Callippus then seeing the women so busie and inquisitiue of his doings fearing least he should be bewrayed he came weeping vnto them and told them it was nothing and that he was readie to assure them of it by any maner of way they would deuise The women then willed him to sweare by the great othe which was in this maner He that must take this othe commeth into the temple of the goddesses Thesmophores which are Ceres and Proserpina And after certaine sacrifices done he putteth on the purple chaplet of the goddesse Proserpina holding a burning torch in his hand and sweareth in this maner Callippus hauing done all these ceremonies and made the oth in forme as I haue told you he made so light accompt of the goddesses that he taried no lenger to do the murther he had determined but till the very feast day of the goddesse should come by whom he had sworne and slue him on the day of the feast of Proserpina Nowe I doe not thinke that he chose that day of sette purpose knowing right well that he did alwayes sinne against her what time soeuer he had killed his brother being by his meanes speciallie admitted to the societie and brotherhoode with him of the fraternity and misteries of Ceres Proserpina Of this conspiracie there were diuers For as Dion was set in his chamber talking with his frends where there were many beddes to sit on some compassed the house round about others came to the dores and windowes of his chamber and they that should doe the deede to dispatche him which were the ZACYNTHIAN souldiers came into his chamber in their coates without any sword But when they were come in they that were without did shut the dores after them and locked them in least any man shoulde come out and they that were within fell vpon Dion and thought to haue strangled him But when they saw they could not they called for a sworde Neuer a man that was within durst open the dores though there were many with Dion For they thought euery man to saue their owne liues by suffering him to be killed and therefore durst not come to helpe him So the murtherers taried a long time within and did nothing At length there was one Lycon a SYRACVSAN that gaue one of these ZACYNTHIAN souldiers a dagger in at the window with the which they cut Dions throate as a weather they had holden a long time in their handes euen dead for feare The murther being executed they cast his sister and wife great with childe into prison and there the poore Ladie was pitiefullie brought to bedde of a goodly boy the which they rather determined to bring vp then otherwise to doe any thing with the childe Their keepers that had the charge of them were contented to let them do it bicause Callippus began then a litle to grow to some trouble For at the first after he had slaine Dion he bare all the whole sway for a time and kept the citie of SYRACVSA in his hands wrote vnto ATHENS the which next vnto the immortall goddes he was most affrayed of hauing defiled his handes in so damnable a treason And therefore in my opinion it was not euill spoken that ATHENS is a citie of all other that bringeth forth the best men when they geue them selues to goodnes the wickedest people also when they doe dispose them selues to euill as their contrie also bringeth foorth the best honnie that is and hemlocke in like maner that quickely dispatcheth a man of his life Howbeit the gods and fortune did not suffer this treason and wicked man to raigne long hauing comen to the gouernment of a realme by so damnable a murther but shortly after they gaue him his payment he had deserued For Callippus going to take a litle towne called CATANA he lost the citie of SYRACVSA whereupon he sayd that he had lost a citie and got a cheese-knife Afterwards he went to assaile the MESSENIANS and there he lost a great number of his men and amongest them were slaine those that killed Dion Now Callippus finding no citie in all SICILIA that woulde receiue him but that they all did hate and abhorre him he went to take the citie of RHEGIO in ITALIE There being in great distresse and neede of all thinges and not able to maintaine his souldiers he was slaine by Leptines and Polyperchon with the selfe same dagger wherewith Dion before was slaine the which was knowen by the facion being short after the LACONIAN daggers and also by the workemanshippe vpon it that was very excellently wrought
cold and paynes he had taken This sicknes chaunceth often both to men beasts that trauaile when it hath snowen Either bicause the naturall heate being retyred into the inward parts of the body by the coldnes of the ayer hardening the skinne doth straight disgest and consume the meate or els bicause a sharpe suttell wind comming by reason of the snow when it is molten doth pearce into the body and driueth out the naturall heate which was cast outward For it seemeth that the heate being quenched with the cold which it meeteth withall comming out of the skinne of the body causeth the sweates that follow the dissease But hereof we haue spoken at large in other places Brutus being very faynt and hauing nothing in his campe to eate his souldiers were compelled to goe to their enemies comming to the gates of the citie they prayed the warders to helpe them to bread When they heard in what case Brutus was they brought him both meate and drinke in requitall whereof afterwards when he wanne the citie he did not onely intreate and vse the Citizens thereof curteously but all the inhabitants of the citie also for their sakes Now when Caius Antonius was arriued in the citie of APOLLONIA he sent vnto the souldiers thereabouts to come vnto him But when he vnderstoode that they went all to Brutus and furthermore that the Citizens of APOLLONIA did fauor him much he then forsooke that citie and went vnto the citie of BVTHROTVS but yet he lost three of his enseignes by the way that were slayne euery man of them Then he sought by force to winne certaine places of strength about BYLLIS to driue Brutus men from thence that had taken it before and therefore to obtayne his purpose he fought a battell with Cicero the sonne of Marcus Tullius Cicero by whome he was ouercome For Brutus made the younger Cicero a Captaine and did many notable exploytes by his seruice Shortly after hauing stolen vpon Caius Antonius in certein marishes farre from the place from whence he fled he would not set on him with furie but onely road round about him commaunding his souldiers to spare him his men as reckoning them all his own without stroke striking and so in deede it hapned For they yelded them selues and their Captaine Antonius vnto Brutus so that Brutus had now a great army about him Now Brutus kept this Caius Antonius long time in his office and neuer tooke from him the markes and signes of his Consulship although many of his friends Cicero among others wrote vnto him to put him to death But when he sawe Antonius secretly practised with his Captaines to make some alteracion then he sent him into a shippe and made him to be kept there When the souldiers whome C. Antonius had corrupted were gotten into the citie of APOLLONIA and sent from thence vnto Brutus to come vnto them he made them aunswer that it was not the maner of ROMANE Captaines to come to the souldiers but the souldiers to come to the Captaine and to craue pardon for their offences committed Thereuppon they came to him and he pardoned them So Brutus preparing to goe into ASIA newes came vnto him of the great chaunge at ROME For Octauius Caesar was in armes by commaundement and authoritie from the Senate against Marcus Antonius But after that he had driuen Antonius out of ITALY the Senate then began to be affrayd of him bicause he sued to be Consul which was contrary to the law and kept a great army about him when the Empire of ROME had no neede of them On the other side Octauius Caesar perceiuing the Senate stayed not there but turned vnto Brutus that was out of ITALY and that they appoynted him the gouernment of certaine prouinces then he began to be affrayd for his part and sent vnto Antonius to offer him his friendship Then comming on with his armye neare to ROME he made him selfe to be chosen Consul whether the Senate would or not when he was yet but a strippling or springal of twenty yeare old as him selfe reporteth in his owne commentaries So when he was Consul he presently appoynted Iudges to accuse Brutus and his companions for killing of the noblest person in ROME and chiefest Magistrate without law or iudgement and made L. Cornificius accuse Brutus and M. Agrippa Cassius So the parties accused were condemned bicause the Iudges were compelled to giue such sentence The voyce went that when the Herauld according to the custom after sentence giuen went vp to the chaier or pulpit for orations proclaymed Brutus with a lowd voyce summoning him to appeare in person before the Iudges the people that stoode by sighed openly and the noble men that were present honge downe their heads durst not speake a word Among them the teares fell from Publius Silicius eyes who shortly after was one of the proscripts or outlawes appoynted to be slayne After that these three Octauius Caesar Antonius and Lepidus made an agreement betwene them selues and by those articles deuided the prouinces belonging to the Empire of ROME amonge them selues and did set vp billes of proscription and outlary condemning two hundred of the noblest men of ROME to suffer death and among that number Cicero was one Newes being brought thereof into MACEDON Brutus being then inforced to it wrote vnto Hortensius that he should put Caius Antonius to death to be reuenged of the death of Cicero and of the other Brutus of the which the one was his friend and the other his kinsemen For this cause therefore Antonius afterwards taking Hortensius at the battell of PHILIPPES he made him to be slayne vpon his brothers tombe But then Brutus sayd that he was more ashamed of the cause for the which Cicero was slayne then he was otherwise sory for his death and that he could not but greatly reproue his friendes he had at ROME who were slaues more through their owne fault then through their valliantnes or manhood which vsurped the tyranny considering that they were so cowardly and faynt harted as to suffer the sight of those things before their eyes the report whereof should onely have grieued them to the hart Nowe when Brutus had passed ouer his army that was very great into ASIA he gaue order for the gathering of a great number of shippes together aswell in the coast of BITHYNIA as also in the citie of CYLICVM bicause he would haue an army by sea and him selfe in the meane time went vnto the cities taking order for all things and giuing audience vnto Princes and noble men of the contry that had to doe with him Afterwards he sent vnto Cassius in SYRIA to turne him from his iorney into AEGYPT telling him that it was not for the conquest of any kingdom for them selues that they wandred vp and downe in that sort but contrarily that it was to restore their contry againe to their libertie and that the
tell how to vse them he had chosen of good men he made them become euill so that neither the one nor the other coulde be the parte of a wise man For Plato him selfe reproueth him for that he had chosen suche men for his frendes that he was slaine by them and after he was slaine no man woulde then reuenge his death And in contrarie maner of the enemies of Brutus the one who was Antonius gaue his bodie honorable buriall and Octauius Caesar the other reserued his honors and memories of him For at Millayne a citie of GAVLEON ITALIE side there was an image of his in brasse verie like vnto him the which Caesar afterwardes passing that way behelde verie aduisedly for that it was made by an excellent workeman and was verie like him and so went his way Then he stayed sodainly againe and called for the Gouernors of the citie and before them all tolde them that the citizens were his enemies and traitors vnto him bicause they kept an enemie of his among them The Gouernors of the citie at the first were astonied at it and stowtlie denyed it and none of them knowing what enemie he ment one of them looked on an other Octauius Caesar then turning him vnto Brutus statue bending his browes sayd vnto them this man you see standing vp here is he not our enemie Then the Gouernors of the citie were worse affrayed then before could not tel what answere to make him But Caesar laughing and commending the GAVLES for their faithfulnes to their frendes euen in their aduersities he was contented Brutus image should stand still as it did THE LIFE OF Aratus CHrisyppus the Philosopher my frend Polycrates being affrayed as it seemeth of the euill sound of an auncient prouerbe not rightlie as it was spoken and in vse but as he thought it best he wrote in this maner VVhat children do their auncetors commend But those vvhom fortune fauors to the end But Dionysodorus TROEZENIAN reprouing him doth rehearse the prouerbe rightly as in deede it is VVhat children do their auncetors commend But those vvhose life is vertuous to the end Saying that this prouerbe stoppeth their mouthes who of them selues are vnworthie of praise and yet are still boasting of the vertues of their auncesters whose praise they hiely extoll But affore those that as Pindarus sayth Do match their noble auncetors in provvesse of their ovvne And by their frutes commend the stocke vvhence they them selues are grovvne As thy selfe that conformest thy life vnto the examples and maners of thy vertuous auncesters it is no small good happe for them often to remember the noble deedes of their parentes in hearing them spoken of or otherwise for them selues oftentimes to remember some notable doings of their parents For in them it is not for lacke of commendable vertues that they report others praise and glorie but in ioyning their owne vertues to the vertues of their auncesters they do increase their glorie as inheriting their vertuous life as challenging their discent by blood Therefore hauing wrytten the life of Aratus thy contrie man and one of thy auncesters whose glorie and greatnesse thou doest not blemishe I doe sende it vnto thee not that I thinke but that thou hast more diligentlie then any man else searched out all his deedes and sayings But yet bicause that thy two sonnes Polycrates and Pythocles reading and still hearing some thing reported might be brought vp at home by the example of their auncesters whose deedes shall lye before them to followe For he loueth him selfe more then he regardeth perfit vertue or his credit that thinketh him selfe so perfit as he neede not follow any others example The citie of SICYONE after it fell from her first gouernment of the optimacie and nobilitie which is proper to the cities of the DORIANS like an instrument out of tune it fell into ciuill warres and seditious practises through the Orators of the people and neuer ceassed to be plagued with those troubles and miseries alway chaunging new tyrannes vntill that Cleon being slaine they chose Timoclidas and Clinias their Gouernors two of the noblest men of greatest authoritie in all the citie Now when the common wealth beganne to grow to a certeine state of gouernment Timoclidas dyed and Abantidas the sonne of Paseas pretending to make him selfe Lord of the citie he slue Clinias and put to death some of his parentes and frendes draue away others and sought also to put his sonne Aratus to death that was then but seuen yeare old But in this hurly burly and tumult Aratus flying out of his fathers house among them that ranne away and wandering vp and downe the citie being scared and affrayed finding no man to helpe him by good fortune he gotte into a womans house called Soso which was Abantidas sister and wife vnto Periphantus his father Clinias brother She being of a noble minde and iudging that the childe Aratus by Gods prouidence fledde vnto her hidde him in her house and in the night secretlie sent him vnto the citie of ARGOS Now after that Aratus had scaped and was safe from this daunger from that time there bred in him a vehement malice against tyrannes the which still increased in him as he grewe in yeares So he was vertuouslie brought vp in the citie of ARGOS with his fathers frends and perceiuing with him selfe that he waxed bigge and strong he disposed his bodie to diuers exercises and became so excellent in them that he contended in fiue manner of exercises and oftentimes bare the best away And in his images and statues he appeared in face ful and well liking as one that fed well and the maiestie of his countenaunce argueth that he vsed suche exercise and suche commonly are large eaters From whence it came that he did not geue him selfe so muche to pleading as peraduenture was requisite for a Gouernor of a common wealth Howebeit some doe iudge by his Commentaries he wrote that he had an eloquenter tongue then seemed vnto some bicause he wrote them in hast hauing other busines in hand and euen as things came first into his minde But afterwards Dinias and Aristotle Logitian slue Abantidas who did commonlie vse to sit in the market place to heare their matters and to talke with them And this gaue them good meanes and oportunitie to worke their seate they did After Abantidas death his father Paseas possessed the tyrannie whom Nicocles afterwardes slue also by treason and made him selfe tyranne in his place It is reported that this Nicocles did liuelie resemble the countenaunce of Periander the sonne of Cypselus as Orontes PERSIAN was very like vnto Alcmaeon the sonne of Amphiaraus and an other young LACEDAEMONIAN vnto Hector of TROYA whom Myrsilus wryteth was troden vnder mens feete through the ouergreat presse of people that came to see him when they hearde of it This Nicocles was tyranne foure monethes together in the which
ACHAIANS were fighting already within the suburbs and gates of the citie against the first that resisted whome they slue They being broken put to flight made the rest so affraid that were gathered together to ayde them that they wist not what to doe In this tumult and great hurly burly there was one of the Ladies a prisoner that was the Daughter of Epigethes one of the noblest men of the citie and she a maruelous goodly woman and passing fayer who being set in the temple of Diana whether a Captaine had brought her that had chosen her for him selfe and had put his burganet on her head she sodainely ranne to the gate of the temple with the burganet on her head when she heard the noyse of them that sought to see them fight The Citizens seeing her in that array found her the goodlier to behold and of greater maiesty then any worldly creature The enemies on the other side were so affraid to see her thinking she had bene some spirit that not a man of them duâ—â—t once defend them selues So the PALLENIANS say that the image of Diana all the rest of the tyme is kept locked vp and no body toucheth it and that when the Nunne that keepeth it doth cary it elswhere no man dare looke on it but euery man turneth his eyes away bicause the sight of it is not onely fearefull and hurtfull vnto men but it also killeth the frute of the trees it passeth by and maketh them barren This was the cause that then troubled the AETOLIANS mindes so muche bicause the Nunne remouing the image of the goddesse Diana she turned it towards them Howbeit Aratus in his commentaries maketh no mention of this at all but onely writeth that when he had defeated the AETOLIANS following them in chase he entred hand ouer head with them that fled into the citie out of the which he draue them and slue seuen hundred of them This noble victory hath bene esteemed amonge the chiefest afterwards and the paynter Timanthes hath drawen and set it forth in table very liuely This notwithstanding bicause diuers Princes and people did immediatly prepare force against the ACHAIANS Aratus presently made peace with the AETOLIANS by the practise of Pantaleon who bare great swaye and authoritie amongest them Furthermore Aratus being desirous to set the ATHENIANS at libertie he sodainly attempted to take the hauen of PIRAEA for the which the ACHAIANS reproued him bicause he had broken the peace they had made with the MACEDONIANS But Aratus in his commentaries doth stowtely denye that it was he and layeth the fault vpon Erginus by whose meanes he wanne the castell of the Acrocorinthe saying that it was he that of his owne minde did set a scaling ladder to the wall and that his ladder breaking vnder him he fled vpon it and perceyuing he was followed neare by the enemies he styll cryed out Aratus as if he had bene there and by this pollicye mocked his enemies and saued him selfe Howbeit me thinkes this aunswer is not true For it is not credible that Erginus a priuate souldier and a SYRIAN borne shoulde haue so greate an enterprise in his head vnles it had bene by Aratus consent and commaundement who had giuen him men tyme and meanes to vndertake it And this appeared playnely afterwardes For Aratus did not attempt it twyse or thryse onely but oftener then so as those that extreamely desire a thinge to take the hauen of PIRAEA on the sodaine not giuing ouer for once fayling but rather imboldening him selfe agayne with good hope bicause he mist it but litle and that he came so neare the taking of it And another tyme also amongest others flying through the playne of THRIASIA he brake his legge and was driuen to haue many incisions to heale it so that he was a longe tyme together caryed in his lytter to the warres After that king Antigonus was deade and that Demetrius his sonne succeeded him in the kingdome he attempted then more earnestly then euer before to set the citye of ATHENS at libertye making small accompt of the MACEDONIANS Aratus therefore beeing ouerthrowen in battell neare vnto PHYLACIA by king Demetrius Lieuetenant called BITHYS and the rumor running straight abroad that Aratus was deade or at the least that he was taken prisoner one named Diogenes Captaine of the hauen of PIRAEA wrote a letter vnto CORINTHA and commaunded the garrison of the ACHAIANS that kept it to deliuer the towne for Aratus was deade But he by chaunce was at the selfe same tyme in CORINTHE so that they which brought the letters went home with a mocke without their purpose and made all the companye meary Furthermore king Demetrius him selfe sent a gallye out of MACEDON to bringe Aratus bound vnto him The ATHENIANS them selues also to please the MACEDONIANS exceeding all lightnes of flatterye ware garlands of their heads a whole day together in token of common ioy when newes was brought them of Aratus death Aratus was so mad in his minde to heare this that he brought his armye presently against them euen to the very suburbes of the Academy Notwithstanding at their earnest requests he did no hurt there And afterwardes the ATHENIANS acknowledging his valliantnes when king Demetrius dyed it tooke them in the heads to recouer their libertie againe So Aratus though that yeare another man was generall of the ACHAIANS and that he kept his bedde lying sicke of a longe disease yet to further this he was caried to ATHENS in alytter and so perswaded Diogenes Captaine of the garrison there that for the summe of a hundred and fifty talents towards the which Aratus gaue of his owne twenty talents he made him deliuer the ATHENIANS the hauen of PIRAEA the castell of MVNYCHIA the I le of SALAMINA and the castell of SVNIVM After this the AEGINETES the HERMIONIANS and the moste parte of ARCADIA it selfe did presently ioyne with the ACHAIANS so that the MACEDONIANS beeing occupied with warres at that tyme in other places agaynst their neighbours the power of the ACHAIANS maruelously increased hauing also the AETOLIANS their confederates Then Aratus to performe his olde promise and being angrie to see the citie of ARGOS being so neere neighbour vnto them yet kept in bondage he sent vnto Aristomachus to perswade him to be contented to set his citie againe at libertie and to ioyne it to the tribe of the ACHAIANS as Lysiadas had done his towne of MEGALIPOLIS and rather too like to be made a Generall with honor and praise of so great and famous a state as the ACHAIANS then tyran of one only citie hated and euerie hower of the night and day in daunger of his life Aristomachus gaue care to his perswasions and sent vnto Aratus telling him that he had neede of fiftie talentes to discharge the souldiers he had about him The money was straight prepared And Lysiadas that was at that time Generall of the ACHAIANS and that
by the officers to see that Galba did lament the miseries calaminities they endâ—red as if they had bene done vnto him selfe So when any slaunderous rymes were made against Nero which were song vp and downe in euerie place he would neither forbid them not yet was offended as Neroes officers were Therefore he was maruelouslie beloued in the contrie with them that were acquainted with him bicause he was then in the eight years of his gouernment as Proconsul amongest them at which time Iunius Vindex being Propraetor of GAVLE rebelled against Nero who as it is reported had written vnto Galba before he entred into open action of rebellion But Galba did neither beleue him nor also accuse bewray him as diuers others which were gonernors of armies prouinces did who sent Vindex letters vnto Nero which he him selfe had written vnto them so did as much as in them lay to bindet the enterprise who afterwards being of the conspiracy did confesse they were traitor to them selues as much as vnto him Howbeit when Vindex afterwards had proclaimed opening against Nero he wrote againe vnto Galba praied him to take the Imperiall crowne vpon him and to become the head of a strong and mightie bodie which were the GAVLES that lacked nothing but a head and Gouernor being a hundred thowsand fighting men ready armed and might also leauie a great number more of them Then Galba consulted thereuppon with his frends among them some were of opinion that he should stay a while to see what change and alteracion would grow at ROME vpon this sturre Howbeit Titus Iunius Captaine of the Praetorian band said vnto him O Galba what meaneth this so doutfull a deliberacion Be not we wise men to call in question whether we shall allowe of Vindex frendship or accuse him Yea and with armes persecute him that desired rather to haue thee Emperour then Nero tyranne ouer the estate of ROME Afterwardes Galba by bills set vp euerie where appointed a day certaine to enfranchise suche as woulde make sure for it This rumor flying straight abroad he gathered a great number of souldiers together that were verie willing to rebell and he was no sooner gotten vp into the tribunall or chaire of state but all the souldiers did salute him by the name of Emperour Howbeit he was not content with this name at the first but accusing Nero and lamenting the deathes of the noblest men whome he had cruellie put to death he promised that he would imploy his best wit and discression to the seruice and benefit of his contrie neither naming him selfe Caesar nor Emperour but only Lieutenant to the Senate and state of ROME Now that Vindex did wiselie to call Galba to be Emperour Nero him selfe in his doings doth witnesse it Who hauing alwayes made a countenance as though he passed not for Vindex that he wayed not the rebellion of the GAVLES when it was told him that Galba was called Emperor he being theÌ„ at supper for spight he ouerthrew the table Moreouer though the Senate had iudged Galba an enemie yet Nero to be pleasaunt with his frends made as though he was nothing affrayed of it and said this newes made all for him bicause he stoode in neede of money also that it was a happy occasion offred him to helpe him withall For sayd he we shall soone haue all the GAVLES goodes as the spoyle of a iust warre after we haue once againe ouercomen and conquered them and moreouer Galbaes goods also would quickly be in his hands that he might sell them considering that he was become his open enemy So he presently commaunded Galbaes goods should be openly sold to them that would giue most Galba vnderstanding that did also by sound of trompet sell all Neroes goods he had in all the prouince of SPAYNE and did also finde more men readier to buy then there were goods to sell. Daily men rose against Nero in euery contry who tooke Galbaes parte Clodius Macer only excepted in AFRICK and Verginius Rufus in GAVLE both of them hauing charge of legions appointed for the safe keping of GERMANY and both of them did follow seueral directions by them selues varying in minde intent For Clodius Macer hauing robbed much put diuers men also to death through his cruelty couetousnes he shewed plainly that he swamme betwene two waters as one that could neither let go his charge nor yet kept it Verginius also on the other side being Generall ouer great mighty legions who had sundry times called him Emperour did in maner force him to take vpon him the name and Empire he notwithstanding did euer aunswere them that he neither minded to take the Empire vpon him nor yet to suffer any other to do it then such as the Senate should choose and call vnto the same This at the first somwhat amazed Galba But when both the armies of Vindex and Verginius in spight of their Captaines who could not stay nor keepe them backe no more then cochmen can keepe backe the horse with their bridells were ioyned in a great battell together where were slaine twenty thowsand GAVLES in the field and Vindex also slue him selfe shortly after it was geuen out that the conquerors after so great a victory obtained would coÌ„pell Verginius to take vpon him to be Emperour or else that they would take Neroes part againe Then Galba being not a litle perplexed wrote vnto Verginius perswaded him to ioyne with him to hold vp the Empire liberty of the ROMANES thereupon fled straight into a city of SPAYNE called COLONIA rather repeÌ„ting him of that he had done wishing for his wonted peaceable quiet life wherwith he was brought vp then otherwise occupying him selfe about any necessary or proffitable thing for the furtherance of his enterprise Now it was about the beginning of sommer and one day towards euening there came to Galba one of his slaues infranchised a SICILIAN borne that was comen froÌ„ ROME in seuen daies who vnderstanding that Galba was alone went presently to his chamber dore opened it coÌ„ming in against the wils of the groomes of the chamber that stood at the dore he told him that Nero being yet aliue but sene no more first the people of ROME then the Senate had proclaimed him Emperor that immediatly after newes came that Nero was dead the which he hardly beleuing notwithstanding went thither him selfe saw his body layed out vpon the ground then made towards him with all speede to bring him these newes These newes maruelously reuiued Galba and a multitude of men thronged straight about his dore which began to be coragious seing him liuely againe although the speede of the Messenger seemed incredible Howbeit two dayes after Titus also arriued with certaine other of the campe who told Galba perticulerly what the Senate had decreed in his behalfe So this Titus was called to great
that it was a good occasion offered them to kill all Caesars enemies at a clappe Hereupon all ROME was straight in armes looking immediatly after to be sacked and spoyled of all that euer they had and the people ranne vp and downe the pallace here and there Otho him selfe also being in great feare and distresse For men might easelie see he was affrayed bicause of his ghestes he had bidden not for him selfe seeing them all amazed with the matter for feare not speaking a word vnto him but staring on him still and speciallie those that came and brought their wiues with them to supper So Otho sodainly sent the Captaines vnto the souldiers commaunded them to speake with them to pacifie them as well as they could and therewithall he made them take away the borde and conueyed his ghestes out of his pallace by secret posternes So they saued them selues passing through the souldiers a litle before they entred into the hall where the feast was kept crying out and asking what was become of Caesars enemies So the Emperour rising from his bedde he pacified them with gentle wordes the teares standing in his eyes and thereby at length he sent them all away The next morning he liberallie bestowed vpon euery souldier a thowsande two hundred and fiftie Drachmas and then he went into the market place there gaue great commendacion to the common people for their readie good wills they had shewed vnto him howbeit he said there were some among them that vnder colour and pretext of honestie did commit many lewde partes and made his goodnesse and grace towards them to be euill spoken of and their constancie and faith also to be misliked of and prayed them his griefe might be theirs and that the offendors might be punished They all confirmed his words and bad him alowde he should doe it So Otho thereuppon caused two of them only to be apprehended supposing no man would he greatlie offended with the punishment of them and then went his way Those that loued and trusted him marueled much to see this chaunge Other were of opinion that it stoode him vpon to doe so to winne the souldiers harts bicause of the warre at hand Now newes came flying to him out of all partes that Vitellius had taken vpon him the authoritie to be Emperour and posts came to him one in an others necke to tel him that numbers of people came in daily to submit them selues vnto Vitellius Others tolde him also how the legions remayning in PANONIA DALMATIA and MYSIA had chosen Otho Immediatly after frendly letters were brought him also from Mutianus and Vespasianus the one of them being in SYRIA and the other in IVDEA with great and mightie armies Whereuppon Otho geuing credit vnto them wrote vnto Vitellius and bad him beware how he meddled with any deeper enterprise then became a priuate souldier and that he would geue him golde and siluer enough and a great citie where he might liue quietly and take his pleasure Vitellius gently aunswered him at the first and sported with him but afterwards they falling out one with an other spiteful letters were sent betwext either parties one of them reproaching an other not falsely but fondly and foolishly detecting eche others vices For in deede it was hard to iudge which of them two was most licentiously geuen most effeminate least skilfull poorer or most indetted before Nowe at that time they talked of wonderful signes that had bene sene howbeit they were but flying tales there was no man to iustifie them But in the Capitoll there was the image of Victorie set vppon a triumphing chariot the which euery bodie saw did let slacke the reynes of the bridles of the horses which she had in her handes as though she could not stay them any more The statue of Caius Caesar also within the Iland which standeth in the middest of the riuer of Tiber at ROME without any earthquake or storme of winde turned of it selfe from the West to the East the which as it is reported chaūced about the time that Vespasian began to take vpon him to be Emperour Many also tooke the ouerflowing of the riuer of Tiber for an euil signe For in deede it was at that time of the yeare when riuers do swell most yet was it neuer so great before neither had it euer done so much hurt as it did at that time For it had ouerflowen her bankes and drowned the most parte of the citie and specially the corne market insomuche that they suffered famine many dayes after in ROME In all this sturre newes came that Cecinna and Valeus two of Vitellius Captaines had taken the mountaines of the Alpes and moreouer in ROME Dolabella a noble man was suspected by the Praetorian souldiers that he practised some treason Now Otho either bicause he was affrayed of him or of some other he sent him to the citie of AQVINVM promising him he shoulde haue no other hurte Then choosing the choyces◠gentlemen which he would take with him among others he tooke Lucius the brother of Vitellius and did not depriue him of any iot of his honor and dignitie Moreouer he was verie carefull to see his wife and mother safe that they shoulde not be affrayed of them selues Besides all this he appointed Flauius Sabinus Vespasians brother Gouernour of ROME in his absence and did it for Neroes sake who had affore geuen him the same honor and authoritie the which Galba had taken from him or els to make Vespasian see that he loued trusted him So he taried behinde at BRESSELLE a citie standing vpon the riuer of Po and sent his armie before vnder the conduct of Marius Celsus of Svvetonius Paulinus and of Gallus and Spurina all noble and great personages howbeit they could not haue their wills to rule the armie as they woulde bicause of the insolencie and stubbornes of the souldiers who would haue no other Captaines but the Emperour only saying that he and none other should commaund them In deede the enemies souldiers also were not muche wiser not more obedient to their Captaines but were braue and lustie vpon the selfe same occasion howbeit they had this aduantage ouer the other that they could tell how to fight and were all well trained in the warres and could away with paines and hardnes and neuer shronke from it Whereas the Praetorian souldiers that came from ROME were fine mealed mouthed men bicause they had bene long from the warres had liued at ease in ROME and taken their pleasure in banketing playes and therefore in a brauery and iolity they would needes haue men thinke that they disdained to do what their Captaines commaunded them as men that were too good to do it and not that they were fine fingered and loth to take paines So that when Spurina would haue compelled them he was in daunger of death and scaped verie narowly that they slue him not For they stucke not to
of either side for those they should take would serue them to no good purpose But after they were slaine one to be layed on heapes so by another that is a hard thing to iudge But now to the matter The newes of this ouerthrowe came first but obscurely vnto Otho a common thing in a matter of so great importance but afterwardes when some that were hurt came and brought him certen newes of it it was no maruell then to see Othoes friendes and familliers to comfort him who prayed him to be of good cheere and not to be discoraged for that Howbeit the wonderfull great loue and good will which the priuat souldiers shewed vnto him at that time did passe and exceede all speech and education For they forsooke him not nether went they to submit them selues to their enemies the conquerors nether tooke they any regard of them selues to see their Emperour in that dispayre but all of them ioyntly together went vnto his lodging and called him their Emperour Then he came out and they fell downe at his feete as men represented in a triumphe lying on the ground kissed his hands with the teares ronning downe their cheekes and besought him not to forsake and leaue them to their enemies but to commaund their persons whilest they had one droppe of blud left in their bodies to doe him seruice All of them together made this petition to him But amongest others there was a poore souldier drawing out his sword sayd vnto him know O Caesar that all my companions are determined to dye in this sort for thee and so slue him selfe But all these lamentable things did neuer melt Othoes hart who looking with a stowte countenaunce round about him and casting his eyes euery where spake vnto them in this maner I thinke this a more happy day for me my fellowes then that in the which you first chose me Emperour to see you loue me so well and doe me such honor with so great shew of loyaltie But yet I beseech you not to deny me of a greater fauor which is to dye valliantly and honorably for the safetie of so many honest men as you be and so good Citizens of Rome If by your election you made me worthy to take vpon me the Imperiall crowne I must now needes shewe my selfe an Emperour not sparing to spend my life for your and my contries safetie I am certen that the victorie is not altogether myne enemies For newes are come vnto me that our armies of MYSIA and PANNONIA are in their way comming to vs and that they are not farre of from the Adriatick sea ASIA SYRIA and AEGYPT and the legions that make warre in IVRY are all ours The Senate taketh our parte and our enemies wiues and children be in our handes But this warre is not against Annibal nor Pyrrhus nor againste the CIMBRES to fight who should be owners of ITALY but it is againste the ROMANES them selues For in this ciuill warre both the Conqueror and vanquished doe offend their contrye for where the Conquerors haue benefit the contry and common wealth alwayes receyueth losse Assure your selues I had rather dye then raigne Emperour considering also that my life with victorie can not so much benefit the ROMANES as the sacrifice of the same may doe my contry good for the peace and quietnes of my contry men keeping ITALY thereby from seeing such another battell as this hath bene So when he had made this oration vnto them and put those by that would haue disswaded him the contrary he commaunded all the Senators and his friendes that were present to auoyde Then he wrote letters to them that were absent and also vnto the cities wherethrough they passed to vse them very curteously and to see them safely conueyed Then came his Nephewe Cocceius to him who was yet but a younge boye and he did comfort him and bad him not to be affrayd of Vitellius for he had safely kept his mother wife and children and had bene as carefull of them as if they had bene his owne and that he would not yet adopt him for his sonne though he was desirous to doe it vntill such tyme as he sawe the ende of this warre to th end that if he ouercame he shoulde quietly raigne Emperour with him and if he were ouercome that for adopting of him he woulde not be cause of his death But this one thinge onely I commaunde and charge thee my sonne euen as the last commaundement that I can giue thee that thou doe not forget altogether nether ouer much remember that thyne Vncle hath bene Emperour When he had tolde him this tale he heard a noyse at his dore they were the souldiers that threatned the Senators which came from him and woulde kill them if they did not remayne with him but would for sake their Emperour Vpon this occasion he came out once againe among them being affrayd least the souldiers would doe the Senators some hurt and made the souldiers giue backe not by intreating of them nor speaking curteously to them but looking grymly on them and in great rage insomuch that they all shroncke backe and went away for feare So when night came he was a thirst and dranke a litle water and hauing two swordes he was prouing a great while which had the best edge In the ende he put by the one and kept the other in his armes Then he began to comfort his seruaunts and liberally to giue out his money amonge them to some more to some lesse not prodigally throwing it away without discretion as being another mans money but discreetely gaue to euery man according to his desert Then after he had dispatched them away he laid him down to sleepe al the rest of the night that the groomes of his chamber heard him snort he slept so sowndly In the morning he called one of his infranchised bondmen whom he had commaunded to helpe to saue the Senators and sent him to see if they were all safe gone So when he vnderstoode that they were all gone and that they had all they would come on said he then vnto him looke to thy selfe I reade thee and take heede the souldiers see thee not if thou wilt scape with life for sure they will kill thee thinking thou hast holpen me to kill my selfe So assoone as his infranchised bondman was gone out of his chamber he toke his sword with both his hands and setting the poynt of it to his brest he fell downe vpon it seeming to feele no other payne sauing that he fetched a sighe whereby they that were without knewe that he had done him selfe hurt Thereuppon his friendes made straight an outcry and all the campe and citie was incontinently full of teares and lamentacion The souldiers sodainly ran with a great noyse to his gates where they bitterly bewayled and lamented his death falling out with them selues that they were such Villaines so slenderly to haue garded their
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
that ought to be among citizen would beare For this manner of banishment for a time called Ostracismon was no punishment for any faulte committed but a mitigation and taking away of the enuie of the people which delited to plucke downe their stomaks that to much seemed to exceede in greatnes and by this meanes they tooke awaye the poyson of his malice with diminishing his glorie and honour So Themistocles being banished ATHENS went to dwell in ARGOS In this meane season Pausanias trecchery fell out which gaue his enemies occasion to lye heauie on his backe But he which became his accuser was partener of the treason was one called Leobotes Alemeons sonne borne in a village called AGRAVLA Besides this the SPARTANS also dyd sit on his skirtes charged him forely For Pausanias neuer before reuealed to Themistocles the treason he had purposed although he was his very familiar friende But after he sawe Themistocles was banished and dyd take his exile very vnpaciently then Pausanias was bolde to open his treason to him to procure him to take his parte and shewed him the letters the king of PERSIA had written to him and all to sturre him vp against the GRAECIANS as against vngratefull and vnnaturall people Howbeit Themistocles shooke him of and tolde him plainely he would be no partener of his treason Notwithstanding he neuer reuealed it to any liuing creature nor disconered the practise he intended hoping either he would haue geuen it ouer or that shortely it would appeare by some other meane considering he so fondly aspired to things of great daunger and without purpose or possibilite After Pausanias was condemned and had suffered paynes of death for the same they found amongest his papers certaine writings and letters which made Themistocles to be very sore suspected Whereupon the LACEDAEMONIANS on the one side cried out of him and his enemies and ill willers at ATHENS accused him on th' other side To the which he made aunswer by letters from the beginning and wrote vnto the people it was not likely that he who sought all the wayes to rule and was not borne to serue neither had any minde thereto would euer haue thought in his heade to sell his owne libertie and the GRAECIANS also vnto the Barbarous people their enemies Notwithstanding this purgation of his the people by the procurement of his enemies sent to apprehende him and to bring him before the states of all GRAECE to be iudged by that counsaill Whereof Themistocles hauing intelligence in time he dyd conuey him selfe into the I le of CORPHV bicause the citie there was greatly beholding to him for a certen pleasure in time paste he had done them For they being at sute and strife with the CORINTHIANS he tooke vp the matter betweene them and gaue iudgement on their side condemned the CORINTHIANS to paye them twēty talents damages and did set downe an order that they should occupie the I le of LEVCADE in cōmon together as ground that had bene inhabited with the people aswell of the one cittie of the other From thence he fled to Epirus whether being followed by the ATHENIANS the LACEDAEMONIANS he was compelled to venter him selfe vpon a doubtfull and very daungerous hope For he went to yelde him selfe into the hands of Admetus king of the MOLOSSIANS Who hauing heretofore made certen requestes vnto the ATHENIANS and being shamefully denied them by meanes of Themistocles who then was at his chiefest height and authoritie the King was maruelously offended with him and it was a clere case in deede that if he could then haue layed handes on him he would haue bene reuenged of him throughly Howbeit feeling the present miserie of his exile he thought he might lesse feare the Kings olde quarrell and displeasure then the freshe hate enuie of his contriemen Whereupon he went vnto king Admetus trusting to his mercie and became an humble suter to him in a straunge extraordinarie sorte For he tooke the Kings litle young sonne in his armes and went and kneeled downe before the altar in his chappell which humble manner of suinge the MOLOSSIANS take to be most effectuall and such as they dare not denie nor refuse Some saye that Queene Phthia her selfe the Kings wife dyd enforme him of this their country custome and manner brought her litle sonne also neere vnto the altar Other write also that it was Admetus him selfe that taught shewed him this inforcing manner of petition only for a cloke to excuse him selfe to those that should come to demaunde Themistocles of him that by duetie of religion he was so straightly bounde restrained that he might not deliuer him out of his protection In this meane time Epicrates Acharnian founde the meanes secretly to conuey Themistocles wife and children out of ATHENS dyd send them priuelie vnto him whereupon he was afterwards accused put to death vpon Cimons accusation motion as Stesimbrotus writeth Who not remembring those matters I knowe not howe or making as though Themistocles had not remembred him selfe doth saye that Themistocles sayled into SICILE where he sought to mary Hierons daughter the tyranne of SYRACVSA promising him if he would let him haue her he would assure him to conquer all GRECE for him and to bring them vnder his obedience But Hieron refusing this offer Themistocles went from thence into ASIA but that is not likely For Theophrastus writeth in his booke intituled of Kingdomes that Hieron hauing sent certain running horses to the feast of games Olympicall hauing set vp a maruelous riche and sumptuous tent there Themistocles made an oration to the GRECIANS declaring vnto them how they should teare the tyrannes tente in peces and not to suffer his horses to ronne with other swifte and light horses and to cary away the price in those holy games Thucydides againe declareth howe he went vnto the other sea and imbarked in the cittie of PYDNE being knowen of neuer a man in the shippe vntill such time as the winde beganne to carie them into the I le of NAXOS which the ATHENIANS by chaunce dyd besiege at that time where being afeard to be set on lande he was forced to bewraye him self to the master of the shippe the masters mate and wrought them what with fayer wordes and what with threates by saying he would accuse them to the ATHENIANS that they dyd not ignorantly receiue him in but hiered for money so as he compelled them to sayle on further and to cary him into ASIA As for his goodes his friendes saued the most parte of them and sent them into ASIA to him But for those that came to light and were confiscate vnto the state Theopompus writeth they dyd amounte to the value of one hundred talents And Theophrastus sayeth but to foure score talents only So that all his goodes was not worth three talents when he beganne to gouerne the state of the common weale when he came vnto the
cittie of CVMA he perceyued that all the coastes by sea were layed for him to apprehende him and that he had many spyalls vpon him among the which these were two speciall noted men Ergoteles and one Pythodorus the reward being very great for men that sought their gayne any waye they could For the king of PERSIA had proclaymed by sound of trūpet two hundred talēts to him that brought him Themistocles Whereupon he fled vnto a litle towne of AEOLIA called AEGES where no liuing bodie knewe him but his host only called Nicogenes who was the richest man of all the AEOLIANS and knewe all the noble men of authoritie that were about the king of PERSIA Themistocles continued hidden certen dayes in his house in which time on a night after the feast of a sacrifice one Olbius schoolemaster to Nicogenes children by some secret working of the goddes sodainely fell besides him selfe and beganne to singe these verses out alowde Doe thou beleeue vvhat so the night tells and geue thy voyce thy counsell and conceipts Vnto the night in darcksomnes that dvvells thereon also thy victorie avvaits The next night following Themistocles being fast asleepe in his bed dreamed that a snake wounde it selfe round about his bellie and glided vpwardes to his necke vntill it touched his face and sodainely then it became an eagle and imbraced him with his winges and so at length dyd lifte him vp into the ayer and caried him a maruelous waye of vntill he thought he sawe a golden rodde suche as Herauldes vse to carie in their handes whereupon the eagle dyd set him and so was deliuered of all this feare and trouble he thought him selfe in The trothe was Nicogenes had this deuise in his heade howe he might bring him safe to the king of PERSIAES courte The Barbarous nations for the most parte and specially the PERSIANS are of a very straunge nature and maruelous iealous ouer their women and that not onely of their wiues but also of their bonde women and concubines which they keepe so straightly locked vp that no man euer seeth them abroade at any time but are allwayes like housedoues kept within doores And when they haue any occasion to goe into the country they are caried in close coches couered all about that no man can looke into them Themistocles was conueyed into one of these coches drest after this manner and had warned his men to aunswer those they met by the waye that asked whom they caried howe it was a young GRECIAN gentlewoman of the countrie of IONIA which they caried to the courte for a noble man there Thucydides and Charon Lampsacenian saye he went thither after the death of Xerxes and spake with his sonne there But Ephorus Dino Clitarchus Heraclides and many other write that he spake with him selfe Yet notwithstanding it appeareth that Thucydides wordes doe best agree with the chronicles tables recording the succession of times although they be of no great certaintie Themistocles being come nowe to the swordes pointe as it were and to the extremitie of his daunger dyd first present him selfe vnto one Artabanus Colonell of a thousand footemen and sayed vnto him Syr I am a GRECIAN borne and desire to speake with the King I haue matters of importance to open to his maiestie and such as I knowe he will thanckefully receyue Artabanus aunswered him in this manner My friend syr straunger the lawes and customes of men are diuers and some take one thing for honest others some another thing but it is most honestly for all men to keepe and obserue the lawes and manners of their owne countrie For you GRECIANS haue the name to loue libertie and equalitie aboue all things for vs amongest all the goodly lawes and customes we haue we esteeme this aboue the rest to reuerence and honour our King as the image of the god of nature who keepeth all things in their perfect life and state Wherefore if thou wilt facion thy selfe after our manner to honour the King thou mayest both see him and speake with him but if thou haue another minde with thee then must thou of necessitie vse some thirde persone for thy meane For this is the manner of our countrie the King neuer geueth audience to any man that hath not first honoured him Themistocles hearing what he sayed aunswered him againe My lord Artabanus the great good will I bear vnto the King and the desire I haue to aduaunce his glorie and power is the only cause of my present repaire vnto his courte therefore I meane not only to obey your lawes since it hath so pleased the goddes to rayse vp the noble empire of PERSIA vnto this greatnes but will cause many other people also to honour the King more then there doe at this present Therefore let there be no staye but that my selfe in persone maye deliuer to the King that I haue to saye vnto him Well sayed Artabanus whom then shall we saye thou arte For by thy speache it seemeth thou art a man of no meane state and condition Themistocles aunswered him as for that Artabanus none shall knowe before the King him selfe Thus doth Phanias reporte it But Eratosthenes in his booke he wrote of riches addeth further howe Themistocles had accesse vnto this Artabanus being recommended to the King by a woman of ERETRIA whom the King kept Themistocles being brought to his presence after he had presented his humble duety and reuerence to him stoode on his feete and sayed neuer a worde vntill the King commaūded the interpreter to aske him what he was and he aunswered Maye it please your maiestie ô noble King I am Themistocles the Athenian a banished man out of my country by the GRECIANS who humbly repayreth to your highnes knowing I haue done great hurt to the PERSIANS but I persuade my self I haue done them farre more good then harme For I it was that kept the GRECIANS backe they dyd not follow you whē the state of GRECE was deliuered from thraldome and my natiue country from daunger and that I knew I stoode then in good state to pleasure you Nowe for me I finde all mens good willes agreable to my present misery and calamitie for I come determined most humbly to thancke your highnes for any grace and fauour you shall shewe me also to craue humble pardone if your maiesty be yet offended with me And therfore licence me most noble King to beseche you that taking mine enemies the GRECIANS for witnesses of the pleasures I haue done the PERSIAN nation you will of your princely grace vse my harde fortune as a good occasion to shewe your honorable vertue rather then to satisfie the passion of your heate and choller For in sauing my life your maiestie saueth an humble suter that put him selfe to your mercie and in putting me to death you shall ryd away an enemy of the GRECIANS Hauing spoken thus these words he sayed further That the goddes
he did wonderfull great hurt to the citie and had almost lost it the AETOLIANS comming on a sodaine who were like to haue taken it Nowe Aratus was come to the state of a stripling and was greatlie esteemed for the noble house he came of and also for the great courage they founde in him which was no small matter and besides that he had a maiestie in his countenaunce being wiser then was looked for in a young man of his yeares Therefore the banished men from the citie of SICYONE repaired vnto him before any other man Nicocles for his parte also was not carelesse of his doinges but had an eye euer to see what Aratus intended although he litle mistrusted any suche bolde enterprise nor so daungerous an exployt of him but did onely coniecture that he did stirre vp the kings which had bene his dead fathers frendes And so in deede Aratus tooke that course But when he saw that Antigonus still delayed his promises and did alwayes tract time and that the hope of aide from king Ptolomy of AEGYPT was too farre of at length he determined to vndertake to destroy the tyranne him selfe So he first consulted with Aristomachus and Ecdelus of the which the one was banished from SICYONE and the other an ARCADIAN from the citie of MEGALIPOLIS a Philosopher and a valliant man of his hands and had bene scholler to Arcesilaus the Academicke in the citie of ATHENS These two men being contented to ioyne with Aratus he practised with other of the banished men also of the which there were some that were ashamed not to be partakers of his hope noble attempt and so did also ioyne with him Howbeit the most part of them did not only refuse to enter into that practise but further went about to disswade Aratus from his enterprise saying that for lacke of knowledge and experience he vnderstoode not the daunger in vndertaking such a matter altogether so vnlikelie Nowe as Aratus was thinking in his minde to keepe a certaine place in the territory of SICYONE from whence they might make warre with the tyrannes there came a prisoner vnto them out of the citie of ARGOS that had broken prison from the tyranne of SICYONE and was brother vnto Xenocles one of the banished men He being brought by the same Xenocles vnto Aratus told that in the place whereby he had saued him selfe the grounde within was almost as high as the toppe of the wall the which in that parte ioyned vnto high stonie places and that without the wall the height was not so great but that it was easelie scalable with ladders When Aratus heard that he sent two of his men Seuthas and Technon with Xenocles to viewe the wall being determined if it were true rather to proue secretlie to execute his pretended enterprise and quickely to put it to a venter then to beginne a long warre and to prepare an open armie he being a priuate man to goe against the power of a tyranne Xenocles being returned againe to Aratus after he had measured the height of the wall he reported that the place was not vnscalable but yet very hard to come to it vndiscouered bicause of certeine litle curst curres a gardiner kept hard by the wall which would neuer leaue barking Howbeit Aratus would not leaue of his enterprise so Now it was not straunge to see euerie man prepare them selues of armor and weapon bicause at that time there were great robberies and cruell murthers committed by high wayes and one would assault an other but for the ladders Euphranor that was a carpenter and maker of engines did not sticke to make them openlie bicause his common occupation did take away all suspition why they were made For this carpenter was him selfe also a banished man from SICYONE as the residue were Furthermore Aratus frendes he had in ARGOS of those fewe men they had did euerie man of them lende him tenne men and armed thirtie of his owne men beside them Aratus him selfe also did hyre some pretie number of souldiers by the practise of Xenophilus whome the Captaines of the theeues did furnish him They were geuen to vnderstand that they should be ledde to the territorie of SICYONE to take a pray of cattell and coltes of the king and they were sent before some one way some an other with commaundement all to meete together at the tower of Polygnotus where they shoulde tarie So he sent Caphesias also before without any weapons with foure companions with him who shoulde come to this gardiners house in the night like straungers and trauellers to lye in his house and to locke him vppe and his dogges bicause they had no other deuise to get in but that way But in the meane time there were certaine spialls of Nicocles the tyranne discouered that walked vp and downe the citie making no countenaunce of any matter to see what Aratus did Wherefore Aratus went out of his house early in the morning as his manner was and walked to the market place with his frendes Then he went to the shewe place or place of exercises and there stripped him selfe annoynted him and wrestled and in the ende tooke certaine of the young gentlemen home with him that were wont to make merie and to passe the time away with him and immediatly after one of his seruauntes was seene in the market place carying of garlandes of flowers An other was seene also buying of linckes and torches and an other hyering of these common dauncing and singing women which followe feastes and bankets with their instruments Nicocles spialls seeing that were deceiued for one of them laughing on an other sayd that they might easely see by that there was nothing more fearefull and timerous then a tyran considering that Nicocles being Lord of so great a citie was affrayed of a young stripling that spent all that he could rappe tend to keepe him in his banishment vpon vaine bankets and feasts at noone dayes And thus were the tyrans spialls finely mocked Aratus selfe departed immediatly after dinner out of ARGOS went vnto his souldiers whom he had appointed before to mete him at the tower of Polygnotus led them straight vnto NEMEA There he told them openly his full intent and purpose hauing before made an Oration vnto them to encourage them and also made them maruelous fayer promises Then he gaue them for their watche word Apollo fauorable and so went directly to the citie of SICYONE marching with great speede at the first bicause of the going downed of the Moone and afterwardes slackened his pace a litle so that they had Moone light all the way as they came and the Moone went not downe vntill they were come to the gardiners house that was harde by the wall So Caphesius whome he had sent before vnto the gardiners house came to meete with Aratus and brought him word that he could not take the dogges bicause they ranne away howbeit that he had