live or die Free Men. He adds further That Marc Anthony had receiv'd a just Punishment for his Folly who when he might have been numbred with Brutus and Cassius and Cato would joyn himself to Octavius That though they should not now be both overcome they soon would fight among themselves And in this he seems to have been no ill Prophet Now when they were at Smyrna Brutus desir'd Cassius that he might have part of the great Treasure that Cassius had heaped up because all his own was expended in furnishing out such a Fleet of Ships as was sufficient to keep all the Sea in their Power But Cassius's Friends disswaded him from this for said they it is not just that the Money which you with so much Parsimony keep and with so much Envy have got should be given to him to be disposed of in making himself Popular and gaining the favour of the Soldiers Notwithstanding which Cassius gave him a third part of all that he had and then they parted each to their several Commands Cassius having taken Rhodes behav'd himself there with very great Cruelty though at his first entry when some had called him Lord and King he answer'd that he was neither King nor Lord but the Destroyer and Punisher of a King and Lord. Brutus on the other part sent to the Lycians to demand from them a supply of Money and Men but Naucrates a Popular Man among them perswaded the City to Rebel so that some of the Country possess'd themselves of several little Mountains and Hills with a design to hinder Brutus's passage Brutus at first sent out a party of Horse which surprizing them at Dinner kill'd 600 of them and afterwards having taken all their small Towns and Villages round about he set all his Prisoners free without Ransom hoping to win the whole Nation by his Clemency But they continued obstinate fill'd with anger for what they had suffer'd and despising his Goodness and Humanity till Brutus having forc'd the most warlike of them into the City of Xanthus besieged them there Several endeavour'd to make their escape by swimming and diving under the River but were taken by Nets for that purpose let down which had little Bells at the top which gave present notice of any that was taken in them The Xanthians after that made a Sally in the Night and seizing several of the Battering Engines set them on fire but being soon perceiv'd by the Romans were beaten back to their Wall and there being a very violent Wind it forc'd the flames to the Battlements of the City with such fierceness that several of the adjoyning Houses took fire But Brutus fearing lest the whole City should be destroyed commanded his own Soldiers to assist those of the City and to quench the fire But the Lycians were on a sudden possess'd with a strange and incredible despair such a Frenzy which cannot be better exprest than by calling it a violent desire to die for both Women and Children the Bond-men and the Free those of all Ages and of all Conditions strove to force away the Soldiers that came in to their Assistance from the Walls and themselves gathering together Reeds and Wood and whatever combustible matter they could spread the fire over the whole City feeding it with whatever fuel they could and by all possible means exciting its fury so that the flame having dispers'd it self and encircled the whole City blaz'd out in so terrible a manner that Brutus being extremely afflicted at their Calamity got himself on Horse-back and rid round the Walls earnestly desirous to preserve the City and stretching forth his hands to the Xanthians begg'd of them that they would spare themselves and save their Town Yet none regarded his entreaties but by all manner of ways strove to destroy themselves not only Men and Women but even Boys and little Children with a hideous out-cry some leap'd into the fire others threw themselves from the Walls others fell upon their Parents Swords opening their breasts and desiring to be slain After the Destruction of the City there was found a Woman who had hanged her self with her young Child hanging from her Neck and the Torch in her hand with which she had fired her own House It was so Tragical a sight that Brutus could not endure to see it but wept at the very relation of it and proclaim'd a Reward to any Souldier that could save a Xanthian And it is said that an hundred and fifty only were preserv'd and that too against their wills Thus the Xanthians after a long space of years the fatal period of their Destruction being as it were accomplish'd by their desperate Courage reviv'd the memory of the Calamity of their fore-fathers who after the very same manner in the Persian War had fir'd their City and destroyed themselves Brutus after this finding the Patarians resolv'd to make resistance and hold out their City against him was very unwilling to besiege it and was in great perplexity lest the same Frenzy might seize them too But having in his power some of their Women Captives he dismiss'd them all without any Ransom who returning and giving an account to their Husbands and Fathers who were of the greatest Quality what an excellent Man Brutus was how Sober how Temperate and how Just perswaded them to yield themselves and put their City into his hands From this time all the Cities round about came in to his Power submitting themselves to him and found him gracious and merciful even beyond their hopes For though Cassius at the same time had compell'd the Rhodians to bring in all the Silver and Gold that each of 'em privately was Master of by which he rais'd a Sum of eight thousand Talents and besides that condemn'd the Publick to pay the Sum of five hundred Talents more Yet Brutus not having taken above a hundred and fifty Talents from the Lycians and having done them no other manner of injury parted from thence with his Army to Ionia Through the whole course of this Expedition Brutus did many memorable Acts of Justice in dispensing Rewards and Punishments to such as had deserved either One of which I will relate because he himself and all the Nobility of Rome were pleas'd with it above all the rest When Pompey the Great being overthrown by Caesar had fled to Aegypt and landed near Pelusium the Protectors of the young King consulted among themselves what was fit to be done on that Occasion nor could all agree in the same Opinion some being for receiving him others for driving him from Aegypt But Theodotus a Chian by birth and a Mercenary Teacher of Rhetorick then attending upon the King and for want of better Men being admitted into the Council undertook to convince 'em that both Parties were in the wrong those that counsell'd to receive Pompey and those that advis'd to send him away That in their present case one thing only was necessary to seize him and to slay him and
Orator Dromoclides proposed a Decree that the Port of Pyneum and the strong Cittadel of Munychia might be put into the power of Demetrius to use them at his own discretion which was no sooner offered than passed by unanimous suffrage of the People and Demetrius having put strong Garrisons into those two places by his own Authority placed another in the Museum to the end that those People who had shewed so much levity in their dispositions might be kept in subjection and not by their future perfidies be able to divert him from the prosecution of his other enterprizes He had not been long Master of Athens before he had formed a Design against the Lacedaemonians of which Archidamus their King being advertised he to prevent it drew out an Army and marched against Demetrius but in this wise Method of carrying War out of his own Territories he had not Fortune answerable to his Courage for he was overthrown in a Battel near the City Mantinea and Demetrius following his blow entred the Laconian Confines and in a second Battel defeated him almost within view of the City of Sparta wherein two hundred Lacedaemonians were slain and five hundred taken Prisoners and now it was esteemed almost impossible for the Virgin City of Sparta which hitherto had never submitted to a Conqueror to escape being ravished by his victorious Arms. But certainly there never was any Prince upon whom Fortune made such short turns mounting him to the Pinacles of Hope and Glory from thence to precipitate him into the utmost despair and misery To day he would be great and potent to morrow weak and broken even almost beyond the relief of Hopes or Miracles which made him sometimes in the low Ebb of his adverse condition reproach that inconstant Goddess with these verses of the Poet Aeschilus Fortune of all the Deities most vain Does lift me up to throw me down again Nor was there any period of his life in which she appeared more capricious than in this rancountre for when all things seemed so gloriously to conspire not only to the re-establishing but inlargement of his Greatness and Empire an express arrived which brought him the dismal account that Lysimachus with a mighty Army had taken all the Cities of which he was possessed in Asia Nor was this a single misfortune for at the same time he was informed that Ptolomy had subdued the whole Island of Cyprus except the City of Salamine where his Mother and Children were closely besieged and in extreme danger by which surprizing Intelligence the City of Sparta was delivered from that imminent fear and danger But yet Fortune seemed to flatter him with hopes upon another occasion treating him like the Woman in the Play of Archilocus Who Water in one cheating hand did show Whilst in the other dreadful fire did glow For Cassander King of Macedon dying and his eldest Son who succeeded him not long surviving his Father the two younger Brothers fell at variance concerning the Succession and Antipater having barbarously murthered his own Mother Thessalonice Alexander the younger Brother fearing his savage and outragious inclinations called in to his assistance Pyrrhus King of Epirus and Demetrius who was then in Peloponnesus Pyrrhus made all imaginable expedition to his succor and did it effectually but for a recompence he held a great part of the Country which he had taken from Antipater which begot a suspicion in Alexander that he had brought upon himself a dangerous Neighbour and that he might not run a greater hazard from Demetrius whose Ambition Power and Reputation among the Macedonians was such as might well create a jealousie of him this young Prince therefore posted away to the City of Deinon where he understood Demetrius was come with his Army in compliance with the request he had made him by his Letters when he arrived there he applied himself with great respects to Demetrius and returned him high acknowledgments for his readiness to assist him but withal gave him to understand that now his affairs were in so good posture that he had no occasion to give him any further trouble and thereupon invited him to an entertainment which he had provided for him in some measure to shew how sensible he was of his Favours But as Demetrius was about to go to the place of Assignation one came and whispered in his Ear that there was a train laid that in the midst of the Jollity Demetrius was to be taken off Demetrius who before began to suspect the treachery of Alexander seemed not much concerned but making only a little less haste he sent to the principal Officers of his Army commanding to draw out the Soldiers and make them stand to their Arms and ordered those of his Retinue to attend him into the very Room of the entertainment and not to stir from thence till they saw him rise from the Table In this equipage he came to Alexander and his Servants who were to have performed the Execution finding themselves overpowered had not courage to attempt any thing upon him and indeed Demetrius gave them no opportunity for he made a very short visit and pretending to Alexander that he was not at present disposed to be a good Companion in regard that he had just now received advices which obliged him by the necessity of his affairs to march away with his Army the next day he therefore desired his excuse for the present assuring him that he would do himself the honour to wait upon him when his affairs would permit him better leisure Alexander was extremely overjoyed not only at this resolution of his departure but that it appeared voluntary and without any sort of disgust for he did not know that his Plot was discovered and therefore in a Complement he would by all means accompany Demetrius unto the Confines of his Dominions when they were arrived at Larissa a City of Thessaly new Invitations passed between them which were the outward appearances of respect and civility but secretly intended for each others distructions and this young Prince who thought to avoid a second miscarriage in his design against the Life of Demetrius drew the misfortune upon himself for going to an Invitation which Demetrius had made him that he might bring him into a like security and confidence by his example he dismissed his ordinary Guards and went slenderly attended with some of his most particular Friends when they had sitten a little time Demetrius hastily arising from the Table the surprized young Prince rose also and followed him just to the door where Demetrius as he passed through only said to the Guards Kill him that follows me Which being Alexander they immediately dispatched him and such of his Friends as endeavoured to come to his Rescue one of which before he died said You have prevented us 〈…〉 t by one day It is very easie to apprehend that this action made this night pass over with great fears and disorders among the Macedonians who followed Alexander
respects and as a Man that meant well they restor'd him to the management of their publick Affairs Insomuch that when the Bones of those who had been slain at Cheronea were brought home to be solemnly interr'd Demosthenes was the Man they pitched on to make the Funeral Oration The misfortunes which befel them they did not bear with a base low or ignoble mind but as Theopompus writes in his Tragedies by the Honour and Respects shewn to their Counsellour they made it appear that they were no way dissatisfied with the Counsels he had given them The Speech therefore was spoken by Demosthenes But his decrees he would not have pass'd in his own name but made use of his Friends one after another for he look'd upon his own Genius as unfortunate and inauspicious till at length he took courage again after the death of Philip who did not long out-live his Victory at Cheronea And this it seems was that which was soretold in the last Verse of the Oracle The Vanquish'd there shall weep the Conquerour die Demosthenes had secret intelligence of the death of Philip and laying hold of this opportunity to prepossess the People with Courage and better Hopes for the future he came into the Assembly with a chearful countenance pretending to have seen a Vision from whence the Athenians were to expect some great Matters and not long after arrived the Messengers who brought the News of Philip's Death No sooner had the People received it but immediately they offered Sacrifice to the Gods and decreed that Pausanias should be crown'd Demosthenes appear'd publickly in a rich Habit with a Chaplet on his Head though it were but the seventh Day since the Death of his Daughter as 't is said by Aeschines who upbraids him upon this account and rails at him as one void of natural affection towards his Children whereas indeed he has by this means rather betray'd himself to be of a poor low Spirit and effeminate Mind while he seems to make immoderate grief and lamentation the only signs of a gentle and compassionate Nature and to condemn those who bear such Accidents with more temper and less passion For my own part as I cannot say that the Behaviour of the Athenians on this occasion was any way decent or honourable to crown themselves with Garlands to sacrifice to the Gods and all for the death of a Prince who in the midst of his Success and Victories when they were a conquered Nation had used them with so much Clemency and Humanity for it was a practice both unworthy and base to make him free of their City and to honour him while he lived and yet as soon as he fell by another's hand to set no bounds to their Jollity to insult over him dead and to sing triumphant Songs of Victory as if by their own Valour they had vanquish'd him So I must needs commend the Carriage of Demosthenes who leaving vain Tears and Lamentations to the Women made it his Business to do that which he thought most profitable for the Common-wealth And I think it the Duty of him who would be accounted to have a Soul truly valiant and fit for Government that standing always firm to the common Good and neglecting his own private Calamities and Affairs when they come into competition with the Publick he should maintain the dignity of his Character and Station much more than it is of good Actors who represent the Persons of Kings and Tyrants and yet these we see when they either laugh or weep on the Stage do not follow their own Inclinations but observe that Decorum in their Actions which the Subject requires Moreover if we ought not to leave the unfortunate forlorn and comfortless overwhelm'd with sorrow but to use some such speeches as may alleviate their Afflictions and divert their Minds with more pleasing Objects as we use to advise those who are troubled with sore Eyes to withdraw their sight from bright and offensive Colours to Green and those of a softer mixture From whence can a Man furnish himself with better Arguments of Consolation for the Afflictions of his Family than by endeavouring to attemper and allay his own private Misfortunes with the good success and recovery of his Countrey out of publick Calamities that so the better Fortune of the one may in some measure obscure and conceal the ill Circumstances of the other I have been the larger in this Digression because I observe in a Speech of Aeschines upon this Subject that he endeavours to move and soften the Minds of the People with Womanish Pity and Commiseration But now to return to my Narrative The Cities of Greece by the instigation of Demosthenes once more conspired together to make another Insurrection The Thebans whom he had provided with Arms set upon their Garrison and slew many of them the Athenians made preparations to joyn their Forces with them Demosthenes bestirr'd himself in the Pulpit and writ Letters to the Persian Officers who commanded under the King in Asia inciting them to make War from thence upon the Macedonian calling him Child and Changling But as soon as Alexander had setled affairs in his own Country and came himself in person with his Army into Baeotia down fell the Courage of the Athenians and Demosthenes grew cold So that the poor Thebans being thus deserted and betrayed by them were forced to give him Battel alone and by this means lost their City Hereupon the People of Athens were all in an uproar and in great perplexity resolved to send Ambassadors to Alexander Amongst others they made choice of Demosthenes for one but his heart failing him for fear of the King's Anger he returned back from Cithaeron and left the Embassie In the mean time Alexander sent to Athens requiring ten of their Orators to be delivered up to him as Idomeneus and Thuris have reported but as the most and best Historians say he demanded these eight only Demosthenes Polyeuctus Ephialtes Lycurgus Myrocles Damon Callisthenes and Charidemus It was upon this occasion that Demosthenes related to them the Fable wherein the Sheep are said to deliver up their Dogs to the Wolves Himself and those that were with him contending for the safety of the People he compar'd to the Dogs that defended the Flock but Alexander he called the only Wolf And withal he farther told them That as we see Corn-Masters sell their whole Stock by a few Grains of Wheat which they carry about with them in a Dish as a small Sample of the rest so you by delivering up us who are but a few do at the same time unawares surrender up your selves all together with us These things we find thus related in the History of Aristobulus the Cassandrian The Athenians were now deliberating and at a loss what to do when Demades having agreed with the Persons whom Alexander had demanded for 5 Talents undertook to go Ambassador and to intercede with the King for them
at Rome a Nation at that time in a distressed condition and very uneasie under the Roman Government These Lentulus and his party adjudging useful instruments to move and seduce Gallia to revolt admitted into the Conspiracy and they gave them Letters to their own Magistrates and Letters to Catiline in those they promised liberty in these they exhorted Catiline to set all Slaves free and to bring them along with him to Rome they sent with them to Catiline one Titus a Native of Croton who was to carry those Letters to him These being the Counsels of inconsidering Men and such as conversed together with Wine and Women Cicero pursued with industry consideration sobriety and great prudence having besides several Emissaries abroad who observed and traced with him all they did he also conferr'd privately with and confided in many who were thought engaged in the Conspiracy he knew all the discourses which passed betwixt them and the strangers and lying in wait for them by Night he took the Crotonian with his Letters the Allobroges Embassadors being in private Consult with him By break of day he summoned the Senate into the Temple of Concord where he read the Letters and examined the discoverers Junius Syllanus added that several had heard Cethegus say that three Consuls and four Pretors were to be slain Piso also a Person of Consular dignity testified other matters of the like nature and Caius Sulpicius one of the Pretors being sent to Cethegus his house found there a great quantity of Arrows Arms Swords and Daggers all newly furbished At length the Senate decreeing indemnity to the Crotonian upon discovery of the whole matter Lentulus was convicted abjured his Office for he was then Pretor and put off his Robe edged with purple in the Senate changing it for another garment more agreeable to his present circumstance He thereupon with the rest of his confederates present was committed to the Pretor in free Custody It being evening and the common People in crowds expecting without Cicero went forth to them and told them what was done and then attended with them went to the house of a Friend and near Neighbor for his own was taken up by the Women who were celebrating with secret rites the Feast of the Goddess whom the Romans call Bona or the good the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Sacrifice was annually performed to her in the Consuls house either by his Wife or Mother in the presence of the Vestal Virgins Cicero being got to his Friends house privately a few only being present fell to deliberate with himself how he should treat these Men the severest punishment and such indeed as was fit for so great crimes he was afraid and shie of executing as well from the Clemency of his Nature as also least he should be thought to exercise his authority too insolently and to treat too rudely Men of the Noblest Birth and most powerful friendships in the City and yet if he should use them more mildly he had a dreadful prospect of danger from them for there was no likelyhood if they suffered less than death they would be reconciled to him but rather adding new rage to their former wickedness break forth into all manner of insolence whilst he himself should gain thereby the repute of a cowardly and timorous Person upon other accounts not thought over valiant by the Vulgar Whilst Cicero was doubting what course to take in these matters a portentous accident happened amongst the Womens sacrificing for on the Altar where the fire seem'd wholly extinguished a great and bright flame issued forth from the Ashes of the burnt Wood at which others were affrighted but the holy Virgins call'd to Terentia Cicero's Wife and bid her hast to her Husband and command him to execute what he had resolved for the good of his Country for the Goddess had given great light to his Safety and Glory Terentia therefore as she was otherwise in her own Nature neither pitiful nor timorous but an ambitious Woman who as Cicero himself saith would rather thrust her self into his publick Affairs than communicate her domestick to him told him these things and incensed him against the Conspirators the same did also Quintus his Brother and Publius Nigridius one of his Companions in Philosophy whom he often made use of in his greatest and most weighty Affairs of State The next day a debate arising in the Senate about the punishment of these Men Syllanus being the first who was asked his Opinion said It was fit they should be all sent to Prison and there suffer the utmost Penalty to him all consented in order till it came to Caius Caesar who was afterwards Dictator he was then but a young Man and had only gain'd the Beginnings of his future Rise having directed his Hopes and Policy that way by which he afterwards changed the Roman affairs into a Monarchy his guilt was unknown to others yet to Cicero he had given many suspicions though no sufficient proof to convict him and there were some indeed that said tho' he was very near being discovered yet he had escaped him but others were of opinion that Cicero voluntarily overlookt and neglected the evidence against him for fear of his friends and power for it was very evident to every body that these would be rather a means of Caesar's escape than Caesar's guilt an occasion of their punishment When therefore it came to Caesar's turn to give his opinion he stood up and declared that the Conspirators should not be put to death but their Estates confiscated and their Persons sent to such Cities in Italy as Cicero should approve there to be kept Prisoners till Catiline was conquered To this Sentence being the most moderate and he that deliver'd it a most powerful Speaker Cicero himself gave no small weight for he stood up and turning the scale on either side he spake sometimes in favour of the former sometimes of Caesar's Sentence But all Cicero's Friends judging Caesar's Sentence most expedient for Cicero because he would incur the less blame if the Conspirators were not put to death chose rather the latter so that Syllanus also changing his Mind retracted his Opinion and said he had not declared for capital but only the utmost punishment which to a Roman Senator is Imprisonment Caesar having given his Sentence Catulus Luctatius was the first who contradicted it him Cato seconded and in his Oration cast such a vehement suspicion upon Caesar and so fill'd the Senate with anger and resolution that a Decree was pass'd for the execution of the Conspirators but Caesar opposed the confiscation of their Goods not thinking it fit that those who had rejected the mildest part of his Sentence should make use of the severest Many insisting for it he appeals to the Tribunes but they would not be ruled by him till Cicero himself yielding remitted that part of the Sentence about confiscation After this Cicero went out with
Exile and by bill interdicted him Fire and Water prohibiting any within five hundred Miles in Italy to receive him into their Houses But all others who reverenced Cicero little regarded the Decree for shewing him all kind offices they attended him in his passage But at Hipponium a City of Lucania now call'd Vibo one Vibius a Sicilian by birth who amongst many other effects of Cicero's friendship had been made Surveyor of the works when he was Consul would not indeed receive him into his house yet sent him word he would appoint a place in the Country for his reception C. Virginius the Pretor of Sicily who had made use of Cicero in his greatest necessities wrote to him to forbear coming into Sicily At these things Cicero being disheartned went to Brundusium whence putting forth with a prosperous wind a contrary gale blowing from the Sea carried him back to Italy the next day he put again to Sea and having finished his Sail to Dyrrachium and putting on shore there it is reported that an Earthquake and storm at Sea happened at the same time from whence the Southsayers conjectured his Exile would not be long for those things were Prognosticks of Change Although many visited him with respect and the Cities of Greece contended which should honour him most yet he continued disheartned and disconsolate like an unfortunate Lover often casting a look back upon Italy and indeed he was become so mean spirited contracted and dejected by his misfortunes as none could have expected in a Man so thoroughly conversant in all sorts of Learning as he was And yet he often desired his Friends not to call him Orator but Philosopher because he had made Philosophy his business but had only used Rhetorick as an instrument of Governing the Common-wealth when there was necessity for it But the desire of Glory has great power in blotting the Tinctures of Philosophy out of the Souls of Men and of imprinting the passions of the Vulgar by custom and conversation in the minds of those that govern them unless the politician be very careful so to ingage in publick affairs as to interest himself in the affairs themselves but not in the passions that are consequent to them Clodius having thus driven away Cicero fell to burning his Villa's and afterwards his City house and built in the place of it a Temple to Liberty the rest of his goods he exposed to Sale by daily proclamation but no body came to buy them By these things he became formidable to the chiefest Citizens and having got together a Body of the Commonalty let loose to all manner of insolence and licentiousness he fell foul upon Pompey inveighing against several things done by him in the Wars for these matters Pompey falling under an ill Opinion with the People began to be displeased with himself for deserting Cicero and changing his mind wholly set himself with his Friends to contrive his return and when Clodius opposed it the Senate made a Vote that no publick Matter should be decreed or acted till Cicero was recalled But when Lentulus was Consul the commotions grew so high upon this Matter that the Tribunes were wounded in the Common Hall and Quintus Cicero's Brother was left as dead and hid amongst the slain upon this the People began to change their Opinion and Annius Milo one of their Tribunes was the first who took confidence to hale Clodius by force unto Judgment Many of the Common People and of the Neighbouring Cities joyning with Pompey he went with them and drove Clodius out of the Common Hall and Summon'd in the People to pass their Vote and it is said the People never passed any Suffrage more unanimously than this the Senate also joyning with the People sent Letters of Thanks to those Cities which had received Cicero with respect in his Exile and decreed that his House Villa's which Clodius had destroy'd should be rebuilt at the publick charges Thus Cicero returned Sixteen Months after his Exile and the Cities were so glad and the Men so zealous to meet him that what Cicero boasted of afterwards viz. That Italy had brought him on her Shoulders home to Rome was rather less than the Truth And Crassus himself who had been his enemy before his Exile went then voluntarily to meet him and was reconciled to please his Son Publius as he said who was Cicero's most affectionate Friend Cicero had not been long at Rome but taking the opportunity of Clodius his absence he goes with a great company to the Capitol and there tears and defaces the Tribunitian Tables in which was recorded the Acts that were done in the time of Clodius Clodius calling him in question for this Cicero answered that he being of the Patrician Order had got the Office of Tribune against Law and therefore nothing was valid that was done by him Cato was displeased and opposed Cicero not that he commended Clodius but rather disapproved his whole Administration of Affairs yet he contended it was an irregular and violent course for the Senate to Vote the abolishing of so many Decrees and Acts in which also were the Memoirs of his Government at Cyprus and Byzantium This occasion'd a breach betwixt Cato and Cicero which tho it came not to open enmity yet it made a more reserv'd Friendship betwixt them After this Milo kill'd Clodius and being arraign'd for the Murther he chose Cicero for his Advocate The Senate fearing least the questioning of so eminent and high Spirited a Citizen as Milo might disturb the Peace of the City committed the regulating of this and such other tryals to Pompey to preside for the security of the City and of the Courts of Justice Pompey therefore went in the Night and encompassed the outward part of the Forum with Soldiers Milo fearing least Cicero being disturb'd by such an unusual sight should manage his Cause ill perswaded him to come in his Chair into the Forum and there to repose himself till the Judges were set and the Court fill'd For Cicero as it seems was not only timorous in Arms but began his pleadings also with fear and scarce left trembling and shaking in some causes in the height and forms of his Oration Being to defend Licinius Murena against the prosecution of Cato and endeavouring to out-do Hortensius who had made his plea with great applause he took so little rest that Night and was so disorder'd with much Thought and overwatching that he fell far short of his Antagonist Coming forth of his Chair to undertake the Cause of Milo and seeing Pompey placed above as in a Camp and Arms shining round about the Forum he was so confounded that he could hardly begin his Speech for the trembling of his Body and hesitance of his Tongue But Milo appear'd at the tryal brisk and confident disdaining either to let his hair grow or to put on the mourning habit which seems to be the principal cause of his condemnation And yet Cicero in these things
event of these things was inclined to go as Lieutenant with Dolabella into Syria But Hircius and Pansa being designed Consuls after Antonius good Men and Lovers of Cicero intreated him not to leave them undertaking to suppress Antonius if he were present But he neither wholly distrusting nor trusting them left Dolabella to go without him promising Hircius that he would go and spend his Summer at Athens and return again when he entred upon his Office So he took his Voyage by himself but lingring in his Passage such News came to him from Rome as is usual in such cases that Antonius repented and was strangely changed doing all things and managing Publick Affairs at the Will of the Senate and that there wanted nothing but his Presence to reduce things to a happy Settlement and therefore blaming himself for his great Cowardice he return'd again to Rome and was not deceived in his hopes at the beginning For such multitudes flock'd out to meet him that the Complements and Civilities which were paid him at the Gates and at his entrance into the City took up almost one whole day's time On the Morrow Antonius convened the Senate and summoned Cicero thither he came not but kept his Bed pretending to be ill of his Journey but the true reason seem'd the fear of some Design against him upon a suspicion and intimation given him on his way to Rome But Antonius took this Affront very hainously and sent Souldiers commanding them to bring him or burn his House but many interceding and supplicating for him he was contented only to accept Sureties for the payment of his Mulct for absence Ever after when they met they pass'd one another with silence and continued reserved till Caesar the younger coming from Apollonia entred upon the Inheritance of Julius Caesar and had a Controversie with Antonius for two thousand five hundred Myriads which he detained of that Estate Upon this Philip who married the Mother and Marcellus the Sister of this Caesar came with the young Man to Cicero and agreed with him That Cicero should assist with his utmost Power in Eloquence and Politicks with the Senate and People and Caesar give Cicero the defence of his Riches and Arms for at this time the young man had a great Party of the Veterane Souldiers of Caesar about him and Cicero 〈…〉 em'd very willing to embrace the Friendship of Caesar For it seems while Pompey and Caesar were yet alive Cicero in a Dream seem'd to summon some Sons of the Senators into the Capitol as if Jupiter design'd to declare one of them for a Governour of Rome the Citizens with curiosity running stood about the Temple and the Youths sitting in their Purple Robes kept silence On a sudden the Doors opened and the Youths arising one by one in order passed round the God who review'd them all and dismist them displeased but this Youth passing by the God stretched forth his right hand and said O ye Romans this young Man when he shall be Lord of Rome shall put an end to all your cruel Wars It is said that Cicero by this Vision in his Dream had framed the perfect Idea of the Youth and preserved it in his Mind though he did not then know him The next day going down into Campus Martius he met the Boys returning from their Exercise and the first that Cicero saw was he just so as he appear'd to him in his Dream Being astonished at it he ask'd him who were his Parents And it prov'd to be this young Caesar who had for his Father Octavius one of the most eminent Citizens for his Mother Actia the Sister of Caesar and therefore Caesar wanting Children of his own made him by Testament Heir of his Estate and Family From that time it is said that Cicero very studiously saluted the Youth whensoever he met him and he as kindly received the Civility and by Fortune he happened to be born when Cicero was Consul These were the pretended Reasons but it was principally Cicero's Hatred of Antonius and a Temper unable to resist Honour which fastned him to Caesar with an opinion of uniting Caesar's Power to his publick Designs for he had so insinuated himself into the young Man that he call'd him Father at which thing Brutus was so highly displeased that in his Epistles to Atticus he reflected on Cicero saying That it was manifest by his courting Caesar for fear of Antonius he did not intend Liberty to his Country but design'd a bountiful Master to himself Notwithstanding Brutus took Cicero's Son then studying Philosophy at Athens gave him a Command and by his Advice directed much of his Affairs At this time Cicero's Power was at the greatest height in the City and he did whatsoever he pleased for he had suppressed and driven out Antonius and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa to follow him with an Army but perswaded the Senate to decree to Caesar the Lictors and Praetorian Ensigns as fighting for his Country But after Antonius was defeated and both the Consuls slain the Forces which came from the Battel joyn'd themselves with Caesar The Senate fearing the young Man and his extraordinary Fortune endeavoured by Honours and Gifts to call off the Souldiers from him and to lessen his Power pretending there was no further need of Arms now Antonius was put to flight This giving Caesar an Affright he privately sends some Friends to intreat and perswade Cicero to procure the Consular Dignity for them both together and that he should manage the Affairs as he pleased have the Supreme Power and govern the young Man who was only desirous of Name and Glory And Caesar himself confessed That in fear of Ruine and in danger of being deserted he had seasonably made use of Cicero's Ambition perswading him to stand with him assist and joyn his Votes for the Consul-ship And thus was old Cicero wheedled and gull'd by the young Man to bring over his Suffrages and engage the Senate on his â—ide His Friends soon blamed him for it and within a little time after he himself perceived he was ruin'd by it and had betray'd the Liberty of the People for the young Man was so exalted by obtaining the Consular Authority that he bid Cicero Farewell and reconciling himself to Antonius and Lepidus united his Power with theirs and divided the Government with them as if it had been part of a common Estate Thus united they made a Schedule of above two hundred Persons who were designed to be put to Death But the Proscription of Cicero made the greatest Contention in all their Debates For Antonius was inclinable to no Agreement till he was first killed To Antonius Lepidus consented but Caesar opposed them both Their Meetings were held alone by themselves remote from Company for three days near the City of Bononia The Place where they met was over against the Camp encompassed with a River Caesar as it is said very earnestly contended for Cicero the
ease Nevertheless he returned not without the loss of many and valiant Subjects and of almost all his Horses Wherefore having imagined that he should grow little in the eyes of his people through the misfortune and ill success of this expedition he suspected that he was despis'd by some of his Nobles many of whom he slew in his rage and yet still was jealous of more For fear is the bloodiest passion in Princes whereas the bold and couragious amongst them are merciful gentle and confiding And thus the timerous and sluggish brutes are ever untractable and the most unruly whilst the Nobler being made confident by their spirit refufe not the acquaintance of their owners In process of time after Artaxerxes being very old perceiv'd that his Sons were in controversie about his Kingdom and that they made parties among his Favourites and Peers Those that were equitable among them thought it fit that as he had receiv'd it so he should bequeath it to Darius whose just inheritance it was The younger Brother Ochus who was hot and violent had indeed a considerable number of the Courtiers that espoused his interest but his chief hope was that by Atossa's means he should prepare his Father For he had smooth'd her up with the thoughts of being his Wife and Queen after the death of Artaxerxes And truly it was buzz'd abroad that before it Ochus maintain'd too great correspondence with her but secret and unknown to the King Who being willing timely to dash his Son Ochus's hopes lest he attempting the very same things his Uncle Cyrus did Wars and Contentions might again afflict his Kingdom proclaimed Darius then fifty years old his Successor and gave him leave to wear the Imperial Hat cockt up It is a Rule and usage of Persia that the Heir apparent to the Crown should beg a boon and that he that declared him so should give whatever he askt provided it were within the Sphere of his power Darius therefore requested Aspasia the most tenderly beloved Miss of Cyrus but then the Kings Concubine she was originally a Phocian born in the Country of Ionia of gentile Parents and well educated Once when Cyrus was at Supper she was led into him with other Women who when they were sat down by him though he sported and dallied and talked wantonly with them did without shyness admit that his fulsome Courtship but she stood by the Table with a graceful silence refusing to come to him when Cyrus call'd her And when his Chamberlains were going to force her towards him she said whosoever lays hands on me shall rue it so she seem'd to the company a sullen rude country thing However Cyrus being well pleas'd with her reserv'd humour laugh'd it off and said to the Man that brought the Woman dost not thou plainly see that this Woman alone of all that came with thee is truly Noble and of an impregnable Chastity After which time he began to regard her and lov'd her above all of her Sex and call'd her Aspasia the Wise But Cyrus being slain in the fight she was taken among the spoils of his Camp whom when Darius did demand no doubt he much offended his Father For the Barbarous people keep a very jealous and watchful Eye over their Carnal pleasures so that 't is death for a Man not only to come near and caress any Concubine of his Prince but likewise in his journey to make an excursion or pass over to the Coaches in which they are carried And though to gratify his Lust he had against all Law marry'd his Daughter Atossa and had beside her a Seraglio of three hundred and sixty the most exquisite beauties in his Dominions yet being importun'd for that one by Darius he urg'd that she was a free-woman and allow'd him to take her if she had an inclination to go with him but by no means to force her away against it Aspasia therefore being sent for and contrary to the King's expectation making choice of Darius he gave him her indeed being constrain'd by Law but when he had done so a little after he took her from him For he consecrated her Priestess to Diana of Ecbatane whom there they name Anitis that she might spend the remainder of her days in a strict Chastity thinking thus to punish his Son not with rigour but moderation by a revenge checquer'd with jest and earnest But he took it heinously either he was a passionate admirer of Aspasia or because he lookt upon himself as highly affronted and scorn'd by his Father Tiribazus perceiving him thus divided betwixt Lust and rage did exasperate him yet farther after he had obsâ—rv'd in his injuries a representation of his own Of which take the following account Artaxerxes having many Daughters promis'd to give Apama to Pharnabazus to Wife Rodogeune to Orantes and Amestris to Tiribazus whom alone he disappointed by marrying Amestris himself and yet was just to the other two However to make him amends he betroth'd his youngest Daughter Atossa to him But after he had being enamour'd of marry'd her too as has been said Tiribazus had an irreconciliable grudge against him who was seldom at any other time steady in his temper but uneven and inconsiderate Wherefore whether he were in the number of the choicest Favourites of his Prince or whether he were offensive and odious to him he demean'd himself in neither condition with moderation But being advanc'd he was intollerably insolent and in his degradation his deportment was not submissive and peaceable but fierce and haughty And therefore Tiribazus was to the young Prince as Oyl thrown upon a flame ever urging him and saying that in vain those wear their Hats upright who consult not the Success of their affairs and that he was ill befriended of reason if he imagin'd whilst he had a Brother who that he might have his choice of Women endeavour'd to undermine him and a Father of so rash and fickle a humour that he should by sucession insallibly step up into the Throne For he that out of fondness to a lewd Ionian female hath eluded a Law Sacred and inviolable among the Persians is not likely to be faithful in the performance of the most important promises He added too that it was not all one for Ochus not to attain to and for him to be put by his Crown since Ochus as a Subject might live happily and no body could hinder him but he being proclaim'd King must either take up the Scepter or lay down his Life These words presently inflam'd Darius That of Sophocles perhaps being generally true Ill Councel soon is at its Journeys End For the path is smooth or upon an easie descent that leads us to what we are inclin'd and for the most part of us are propense to Vice through our strangeness too and ignorance of the loveliness of Vertue And no doubt the greatness of the Empire and the jealousie Darius had of Ochus furnisht Tiribazus with materials for his remonstrance
Men. The Leontines received Dion very Honourably rewarded his Men and made them free of their City sending Envoys to the Syracusians to require them to do the Soldiers Justice and give them their Pay who in return sent back other Agents to accuse Dion But when in a full Assembly of the Leontines the matter was heard and debated the Syracusians appear'd plainly to be in fault but they refus'd to stand to the award of their Confederates huffing and disdaining to hearken to any thing but what their cajoling Leaders and popular Sycophants advis'd them to About this time Dionysius sent a Fleet under the Command of Nypsius the Neopolitan with Provisions and Pay for the Garrison The Syracusians fought him had the better and took four of his Ships but they made very ill use of their good success and for want of good Discipline to express their Joy sell to Drinking and feasting in an extravagant manner with so little regard to their main concern that when they thought themselves sure of taking the Castle they were very near losing their City Nypsius seeing all the Citizens in this disorder spending Day and Night in their drunken Revels and Debauches and their Commanders well pleas'd with the Frolick or at least not daring to contradict the riotous Crew who were Pot-valiant and not to be controul'd taking advantage of this Opportunity made a descent and storm'd their Works which having gain'd and ruin'd he attacqued the City leaving the ravage of it to the Will and Mercy of his Soldiers The Syracusians quickly saw their Folly and Misfortune but could not in the distraction they were in so soon redress it The Soldiers made miserable havock in the City putting the men to the Sword demolishing the Fortifications dragging the Women and Children with lamentable shrieks and cries Prisoners into the Castle The Commanders giving all for lost were not able to put the Citizens in any tolerable posture of defence who were confusedly mixt with the Enemy While they were in this condition and the Acradina in danger to be taken in which was all the hope they had left and every one was sensible what they wanted but no man for shame durst name Dion whom they had so ungratefully and basely dealt with Necessity at last forcing them some of the Auxiliary Troops cryed out Send for Dion and his Peloponnesians from the Leontines or we are utterly undone No sooner had they the confidence to mention his Name and it was heard among the People but they gave a shout for joy and with tears in their Eyes wished him there that they might once again see that Hero at the Head of them whose Courage and Bravery in the worst of dangers they could never forget remembring not only with what undaunted Gallantry he always behaved himself but also what courage and confidence he inspir'd them with when he led them against the Enemy They immediately therefore dispatched Archonides and Telesides of the Auxiliaries and Hellanicus with five more of the Horse who posting with all the speed they could make reach'd the City of the Leontines in the close of the Evening The first thing they did was to leap from their Horses and fall at Dion's feet with tears relating the sad condition the Syracusians were in Many of the Leontines and Peloponnesians began to throng about them guessing by their speed and the manner of their Address that there was something extraordinary in the business Dion presently call'd an Assembly and the People being gathered together in a very little time Archonides and Hellanicus came in among them and in short declared the misery and distress of the Syracusians begging the Foreign Soldiers to forget the injuries they had received and ashst the distressed who had suffered more for the wrong they had done than they themselves who received it would had it been in their power have inflicted upon them When they had made an end there was a profound Silence in the Theatre Dion then stood up and began to speak but a flood of Tears stopt his words his Soldiers were sensibly troubled at his Grief praying him to moderate his Passion and proceed When he had therefore recovered himself a little Gentlemen says he and fellow-soldiers I have called you here together to take care of your own Concerns for it will ill become me to consult my self if Syracuse be lost which tho' I cannot save from Destruction I will nevertheless hasten thither and be buried in the Ruines of my Country yet if you can find in your hearts to assist us the most inconsiderate and unfortunate of Men you may to your eternal Honour again retrieve this unhappy City But if the Syracusians can obtain no more pity nor relief from you may the Gods reward you for what you have formerly valiantly done for them and for your constant fidelity and kindness to Dion who you must remember as he deserted you not when injur'd and abus'd so he cannot now forsake his fellow-Citizens in their Afflictions and Misfortunes Before he had well ended his Speech the Soldiers with a great shout testified their readiness for the Service crying out To march immediately to the Relief of the City The Syracusian Courriers hugg'd and embrac'd them praying the Gods to shower down Blessings upon Dion and his valiant Peloponnesians When the noise was pretty well over Dion gave Orders that all should to their Quarters to prepare for their March and having resreshed themselves come compleatly Armed to their Rendezvous in the very place they now were resolving that very night to hasten to their Succour Now at Syracuse Dionysius's Soldiers as long as day continued ransacked the City and did all the mischief they could but when Night came on they retir'd into the Castle missing very few of their number at which the factious Ring-leaders taking heart and hoping the Enemy would rest content with what they had done and make no further Attempt upon them perswaded the People again to reject Dion and if he came with the Foreign Soldiers not to admit him advising them not to yield as inferior to them in point of Honour and Courage but to save their City and defend their Liberties and Properties themselves The Populacy therefore and their Leaders send Messengers to Dion to forbid him to advance but the Nobility and the Horse sent others to him to desire him to hasten his March For which reason he slack'd his pace and came forward but slowly and in the middle of the Night the Faction that was against him set a Guard upon the Gates of the City to hinder him from coming in But Nypsius made another Salley out of the Castle with a far greater number of Men than before who quite ruined what of the Rampart was left standing and fell in pell-mell to sack and ravage the City The slaughter was now very great not only of the Men but of the Women also and Children for they