having accused him for ill management in the Government of Babylon Wherefore he was called Demetrius Soter a name given him by the Babylonians After this seeing himself setled in the Kingdom he sent to Rome a Crown of Gold worth ten thousand Crowns as an acknowledgement of his having been civily treated in quality of a Hostage and moreover delivered to them Leptines who had slain Octavius The Senate accepted the Crown but as if the crime had concerned all the Syrians they would not content themselves with the punishment of Leptines After this Demetrius drove Ariarathes out of the Kingdom of Cappadocia and received a thousand Talents for setling in it Holophernes said to be his Brother though it were the Romans intention that both Brothers should be Kings alike but sometime after they were both expelled and Ariobarzanes likewise by the Forces of Mithridates King of Pontus upon which cause with some others began the War with Mithridates Never was there a greater nor in which there were so many strange revolutions or so many Nations concerned besides that it lasted forty years during which time the Palace of the Kings of Syria oft-times changed its Master though they were still of the same Race There happened likewise during that time many broils and mutations in divers Kingdoms The Parthians who for a long time had been revolted from the Family of the Seleucides added to their Estates Mesapotamia which they cut off from the Kingdom of Syria Tigranes Son of Tigranes having subdued the neighbouring Nations which had every one their King and causing himself to be called King of Kings made War upon the Seleucides who would not submit And Antiochus sirnamed the Pious being not able to resist him he became Master of all the Provinces of Syria on this side Euphrates as far as Egypt and of Cilicia besides which was likewise under the Dominion of the Seleucides Magabates commanded in the name of the King his Master in all their Estates newly conquered with a powerful Army for fourteen years together but after that Mithridates overcome by Lucullus sought refuge in the Court of Tigranes Magabates went with his Army to the assistance of his King and in the mean time Antiochus Son of the Pious retook Possession of his Kingdom with applause of all Syria Lucullus who waged the first War with Tigranes and drove him out of his new Conquests disturbed not the King of Syria in the Possession of the Kingdom of his Fathers but Pompey Successor to Lucullus after having defeated Mithridates suffred Tigranes to remain King of Armenia but for Antiochus though he had never disobliged the Romans yet he despoiled him of his Kingdom and indeed it was easie for a great Army to oppose a King unarmed not but that he had another pretence for 't was alledged that it was not just that Syria whose Kings of the Seleucian Race were expelled by the Arms of Tigranes should rather return to them again than to the Romans who were Conquerers of the same Tigranes himself Thus were Cilicia Syria as well the higher as lower Phaenicia and Palestine added to the Roman Empire without fighting and with them all the Countries between Euphrates and Egypt There remained only the Jews to be subdued by force and Pompey performed it sent their King Aristobulus Prisoner to Rome and rased the Walls of Ierusalem a very great and a holy City in that Country Ptolemy the first King of Egypt had before done the same Vespasian likewise took and pillaged it and the last time it was taken was by Adrian in our days wherefore the Jews pay more Tribute by the Pole than for the Goods which they posses and for the Syrians and Cilicians they pay the hundredth part Pompey having conquered all the Nations that had been formerly under the Seleucides gave to some particular Kings as also to the Gallogreeks of Asia and for the others he confirmed in their Tetrarchies the Ancient Kings that had faithfully served the Romans in the War against Mithridates Some years after all these Estates were reunited to the Roman Empire every one in his time but the principal part under the Empire of Augustus Caesar. Now Pompey being departed from Syria left his Government to his Quaestor Scaurus to whom the Senate sent Marcus Philippius for Successor and after him Marcellinus Lentulus both these Praetors who during the two years that each had the government of this Province were obliged several times to come to blows with the neighbouring Arabs who made incursions into the Province wherefore afterwards there were Proconsuls sent into Syria who had the same power with the Consuls in matters of War Gabinius was the first that came with an Army when Mithridates King of Parthia driven from his Kingdom by Orodes his Brother was re-established by the assistance of the Arabs At the same time Ptolemy the Eleventh King of Egypt being expelled likewise by his Subjects by force of Money prevailed with Gabinius to resettlâ— him in Alexandria and suspend the War with Parthia He did it and by force constrained the Alexandrians to return to the obedience of their King But Gabinius was by the Senate condemned to banishment for having without express Orders passed into Egypt and having undertaken a War which was thought to be unfortunate being forbid by the Sybills Verses To Gabinius succeeded as I think Crassus who going to make War with the Parthians was defeated by the loss of his whole Army After him L. Bibulus had this Government during whose time the Parthians made an irruption into this Province and in the time of Saxa who was his Successor extended their Arms as far as Ionia the Romans being then diverted by the Civil Wars But we shall more amply treat of all these Matters in the Book of the Wars against the Parthians this being only designed for the Wars in Syria What therefore I have said is only to make known in what manner Syria came under the Roman Dominion and how it was reduced under the form of a Province Nor will it be much from the purpose to insert something of what passed from the time of the Macedonians till it was brought under the Roman Rule Alexander having overcome the Persians was King of Syria and not only of Syria but also of all the Countries whither he carried his Arms. After the death of Alexander who left two Sons the one yet a little Infant and the other in the belly of his Mother The Macedonians pressed forward by the love they bore to the Blood of Philip chose for their King Aridaeus the Brother of Alexander who yet was not esteemed over wise changing the name of Aridaeus into that of Philip but that only for the that Alexanders Children were in their minority for they gave Guards to the Mother whilst she was great with Child Mean while the Captains of the Macedonians and principally Perdiccas under the authority of this Philip divided the conquered Nations into
same reason into Africa where by reason of the fertility of the Soyl a Colony was appointed to be established and Inhabitants expresly sent thither that the City being disburthened the Senate might in some measure be delivered from popular Seditions The Tribunes set out the place of their Habitation among the Ruins of Carthage without consideration that Scipio when he demolished it had decreed it to remain eternally desert with Imprecations against all those who should attempt to rebuild it They likewise made account to bring over six thousand Inhabitants more than were appointed by Ordinance of the Senate to gain so much the more the people's good grace From thence they returned to Rome with design to gather together from all parts of Italy those six thousand persons destined for Carthage But those who stayed in Africa to lay the first Foundations to that Colony having writ to the City that the Wolves had tore away the Mark set by the Tribunes the Augurs declared it Sacrilege to send Inhabitants thither and the Senate published an Assembly to consult of the Abrogation of the Law in what related to that Colony Whereupon Gracchus and Fulvius having likewise lost this hope ran like mad men through the Streets crying out that the Prodigy of the Wolves was a lye of the Senate's The most resolute of the people took their parts and armed they came to the Capitol where the Tribes were in Convocation to give their Votes touching the Colony After the people were assembled and Fulvius had begun to speak Gracchus who to that end had ordered his people to follow attempted to go up to the Temple of Iupiter but being hindred by those who knew he had some ill design he returned no more into the Assembly but retreated into the Porch waiting an opportunity to engage the adverse Party Mean while a certain man of the people called Attilius who sacrificed under the same Porch seeing him moved went to accost him and whether knowing any thing or having some suspition or else only by way of entertainment besought him to have compassion of his Country Whereupon seeming troubled as if he had been discovered and looking awry upon the man one of his followers without receiving any Command or staying for a Signal but judging by his Master's Countenance that it was time to strike and that by beginning first he would be the more obliged to him drew his Sword and run Attilius into the Belly Whereupon a great cry being raised when the dead body was seen upon the Pavement all the people were affrighted and every man fled from the Temple as fast as he could Gracchus went into the Assembly to give an account of this Action but when none would hear his Justification but all looked upon him as impious and irreligious Flaccus and he troubled to have lost the opportunity of executing their design went to their several Homes whither others of the same Faction retired to them The rest of the people as it happens in a publick Tumult being about midnight got together in Arms in the place Opimius one of the Consuls who was left in the City at break of day places Guards in the Capital gives order to call together the Senate and himself seizes on the Temple of Castor ano Pollux which stood in the heart of the City that he might be in readiness whatever should happen Things disposed in this order the Senate sent to summon Gracchus and Flaccus to come and give an account of their Actions but they having betaken themselves to Arms hastned to seize on the Mount Aventine hoping if they made themselves Masters of that place the Senate would not refuse some conditions of Peace They endeavoured likewise to raise the Slaves under promise of Liberty but in vain So they fortifyed themselves in Diana's Temple with those people they had from whence they sent Quintus the Son of Flaccus to the Senate to treat of an Accommodation Answer was given they should lay down their Arms and come themselves and then they should be heard but that upon any other terms they should send no more But Quintus again returning contrary to this Declaration made him by the Senate Opimius no more considering him as a Deputy commands him to be Arrested and at the same instant gave Order to march against Gracchus who fled over the wooden Bridge to the other side of Tiber into a certain Thicket followed only by one Slave to whom because he would not fall alive into his Enemies hands he presented his throat Flaccus escaped into a Shop of one of his Friends where his Pursuers lost him but because they knew not which House he was run into they threatned to burn the whole Street Whereupon he who had received him not having the heart to deliver him up himself gave notice to another who discovered him So he was taken and slain upon the place The two heads were brought to Opimius who paâ—ed for them their weight in Gold Their Houses were pillaged by the people and their Fellow-Confederates strangled in the Prison by the Consul's Order As for Quintus the Son of Flaccus they gave him leave to chuse his death After which the usual Ceremonies for purging the City polluted by these Massacres were performed and by Decree of the Senate the Temple of Concord was built in the place The second Sedition of the Gracchi ending in this manner soon after a Law was made by which it was permitted to any to sell their Lands contrary to the defence made by the elder Gracchus so that the Poor were soon thrust out by the Rich of all that they possessed in the Country either by Power or Money till such time as Spurius Borius absolutely abolished the Law of Lands leaving the Country in possession of the ancient Masters on condition of paying a Tribute to the People and the Money arising thereby to be divided by head which was a great comfort to the Poor and a Remedy against unpeopling the Country Thus Gracchus Laws very advantagious to the Commonwealth if they could have been executed being once shaken another Tribune of the People took off the Tribute so that there remained nothing to the poor People Hence proceeded it that the Country became depopulated Soldiers grew scarce the Revenue of the Roman People diminished Military Establishments were reduced the Laws lost their Authority ano Men ceased to do Justice And this was fifteen years after the Publication of the Law concerning Lands About the same time the Consul Scipio caused the Theatre begun by L. Cassius to be demolished though almost brought to perfection whether he thought it might breed new matter of Sedition or whether he thought it not for the Commonwealths good to accustom the People to the Grecians Voluptuousness And the Censor Q. Cecilius Metellus did all he could to expel Glaucia and Apuleius Saturninus who had been Tribune out of the Senate for their debauched life but his Colleague opposing it he could not
THE HISTORY OF APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA IN Two Parts THE First Consisting of the Punick Syrian Parthian Mithridatick Illyrian Spanish Hannibalick Wars THE SECOND Containing Five BOOKS OF THE Civil Wars OF ROME Made English by I. D. LONDON Printed for John Amery at the Peacock against S. Dunstan's Church in Fleet-street 1679. TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE EARL OF OSSORY c. May it please your Lordship COuld I as truly boast I had performed your Commands in making Appian English as I can that I attempted it by your Command I should with much more confidence than now I dare present it to your Lordship for the least flattering imagination that I were able to make this excellent Historian speak as well and prove as pleasing to yoâ—r Lordship in ours as he does in any other foreign Language would be apt to create in me a confidence pardonable only in those who are successful in their obedience and whose Performances are equal to their Wishes But since the knowledge of my own weakness forbids me to entertain any such thoughts I come with all humility to lay at your Lordships feet not the effects of my well doing but of my good will and though I am sufficiently sensible of my want of power to give height to my desires yet I rest satisfied in this that Experience hath taught me your Lordship can never want goodness to accept of my intentions And whilst you have so much of that Heaven about you I can fear little damage from any Earthly Defects of mine And whilst your Lordship is pleased to own Appian and undertake his protection in this Humble Dress of mine what doubt can I harbour of his finding a happy Reception in the World You who have been so great an Example of the main subject he treats of Military Prowess You who have so seasonably pressed your self forward both in Naval and Landâ— Service for the Glory of your King and Country that no Example of Roman Bravery could ever reach to You whom if Appian himself were still alive he would be proud of the opportunity of exceeding all he has done in one of his greatest Excellencies by giving a Character of so illustrious a Worthy For I dare leave it to any impartial Reader of this Age to judge whether any of his Descriptions of those Hero's whose Actions he writes comes not short in many points of what justly might be said of your Lordship or if any there be sure I am none but the two great Scipios can pretend to claim any Parallel You like them have uninteressed fought for your Country and in this have exceeded them that when your Glory was already at that height made you the envy of ill men you still thrust your self into those hazards makes you the Admiration of all that have either Goodness or Honour which together with your other excellent Qualities deservedly entitles you to that Attribute once given to the Emperour Titus of being The Delight of all Humane Kind But why should I strive to tell the World what they already know and what none will dispute with me 'T is an Honour too great for me that your Lordship has by laying this Command upon me given me an occasion to publish the hearty desire I have to acknowledge all your Lordships Favours and to assume a liberty few men living but would be proud to share in of declaring my self My Lord Your Lordships Most Humble most Faithful And most Obedient Servant I. D. TO THE READER THough this History be so excellent in it self both as to its Method and Original Style that it needs no Preface to recommend it yet such is the invincible power of Custom that a loose Sheet must be cast away to usher it among the people and I cannot be so stubborn to disoblige them in so trivial a matter and though I know it is no purpose to say any thing of my self since all I can say will not stop the least censure yet for others satisfaction I will speak something of my Author and this Book as 't is his He was though Native of Alexandria a Roman Citizen and for his exquisite parts and Learning so much respected in his time that he was successively Advocate to two Emperours of Rome an Employment which gave him the opportunity of having at his command the prime Records of the Empire which it is possible first put him upon composing this History for by several hints in these Books of his we find the use he made thereof and especially of the private Memoirs of Augustus Caesar written with his own hand which he tells us he had seen and whereby possibly he â—as enabled so exactly to discourse of those intricate causes of disgust between young Caesar and Anthony which he does in his Civil Wars and which possibly he had been much more large upon in his History of Egypt had not that among others unfortunately been lost For he began his History from the Infancy of the Roman-State his first Book treating of their Affairs under their Kings and so continued it not by hudling all their Actions together according to an exact series of time but by composing a particular Book of every great and renowned War in any Province or Country without intermingling it with the Affairs of any other Country farther than the necessity of the Story required till at length he concluded with the Battel of Actium and Conquest of Egypt which was the last Province reduced under the Roman Power and with which the whole Empire became entirely settled in peace under the Government of Caesar Augustus And certainly all the mighty Actions of so great and glorious a people as those of Rome compiled by so excellent an Author must needs have been a Woâ—k worthy of the World but whether it were the pleasure of Fate to make us sensible that all things sublunary are subject to decay or as the French Translator will have it a just punishment from Heaven for the Roman Pride Avaâ—ice and Cruelty that no eâ—tire â—istory of all their prodigious Undertakings should be transmitted to Posterity this fell under fate of most Roman Histories and of thirty two Books written by Appian nineteen have been eaten up by devouring time and thirteen only preserved to our days viz. the Punick Syrian Parthian Mithridatick Illyrian Gallick and that too but a fragment Spanish and Hanniballick War with five Books of the Civil Wars all which are here made English True it is that in the Latine Copy with the Annot. Var. there are several fragmenrs of other Wars managed by the Roman People but so utterly imperfect that the translating of them would have given little or no satisfaction to the Reader I have but one thing more to add that is notwithstanding our misfortunes in being deprived of so great a part of this noble History we may take occasion to admire the excellent method and contrivance of Appian his composure being such that though so many of his Books
followed white Oxen then Elephants and after them the Captive Carthaginian and Numidian Captains Before the General marched the Ushers in Purple Robes with a Chore of Musick and Satyrs girt after the Tuscan manner having on their heads crowns of Gold who advanced in order singing and dancing These Satyrs they called Ludions by reason as I imagine that the Tuscans wore formerly the Lydian habit In the midst of all these people was a certain man clad in a long purple Robe adorned with Bracelets and Chains of Gold who with ridiculous postures derided the enemies After followed in train certain men with perfumes and next appeared the General mounted on a Chariot richly carved he had on his head a Crown of Gold set about with Precious Stones his vesture was a purple robe and in one hand he bore an Ivory Scepter and in the other a branch of Laurel which at Rome is the mark of victory There were in the same Chariot with him divers Children and Maidens and on Horses that drew it were mounted young men of his relations All about it marched the guards the Secretaries and Esquires who were followed by the Soldiery marching in order with abundance of Laurels and those who had done any eminent Service wearing the military Recompenses they had received They have all free liberty in these occasions either to praise their Captains pass their jests upon them or if they please to condemn their actions for a Triumph is a thing of absolute freedom and men are priviledged to say any thing In this manner Scipio ascended the Capitol and the Pomp over magnificently treated his Friends in the Temple according to custom Such was the end of the second Punick War which began in Spain and was finished in Africa by a Treaty concluded about that time when the Greeks account the hundred forty fourth Olympiad Sometime after Masanissa sworn Enemy to the Carthaginians having siesed a part of their Territory presuming as much on the Friendship of the Romans as any right he pretended to it they sent deputies to Rome to supplicate the Senate to put a stop to the Enterprizes of that Prince Commissioners were sent to determine the difference but with Orders to advance that Kings interests as high as they could possibly Thus Masanissa was maintained in the possession of what he had taken and made likewise a peace with the Carthaginians which lasted about fifty years During which Carthage enjoying a solid peace and being much improved in men and riches by reason of the fruitfulness of the soil and commodiousness of the Harbors The minds of men as is usual were transported with prosperity and the City was divided into three Factions the Roman the Popular and the Royal. Each of which had for head the most considerable men of the Nobility both for dignity and virtue Hanno the Great stood for the interest of the Romans Hannibal Opsar sided with Masanissa And Amilcar called the Samnite and with him Carthalon were heads of the Popular Faction These last seeing the Romans engaged in a War in Celtiberia and Masanissa hard put to it to defend himself against other Spaniards obliged Carthalon who then in quality of Lieutenant General was going his Circuit to fall at unawares upon Masanissa's Camp then pitched in that Country about which they had been at difference which he did and having taken and slain some of the Kings Troops raised the Country of Lybia against the Numidians There followed some other skirmishes between the two parties till such time as the Romans once more sent Commissioners to make Peace with Orders like the former to do secretly all they could in favor of the King Who made use of this cunning to confirm Masanissa in the possession of what he had before siesed upon They gave no sentence nor took so much as any cognizance of the difference for fear lest Masanissa should seem to have lost his cause they only placed themselves between the two Camps parted them and gave order to both sides to lay down Arms. Some time after Masanissa renewed the War upon a pretence he had to a Country called Lysoa where there were large Champians and fifty good Towns The Carthaginians had again recourse to the Senate and people of Rome they promised to send Deputies upon the place to determine this affair but the Deputation was delay'd till such time as probable conjectures might be made that Masanissa had the advantage Then Commissioners were dispatched and among others Cato who being arrived upon the places contended for required the parties to give them full power to judge the difference as Arbitrators To which Masanissa who found himself the stronger and confided in the Romans easily agreed but the Carthaginians made a difficulty of it and not without reason for they remembred well that in former sentences they had not done them justice and alleged that the accommodations made by the authority of Scipio needed no correctors provided they were observed by one Party and the other Whereupon the Commissioners who would not be Judges but by consent of parties returned without doing any thing But observing in their journy how excellently the Land was cultivated and that the Country abounded in all things they were astonished especially to see Carthage it self so soon recovered of those losses so lately sustained by Scipio's Victory Insomuch that being returned to the City they declared it a fault in the people of Rome not to have a more watchful eye upon Carthage they had so anciently been jealous of and which upon a sudden was so easily restored to such power Cato himself said the Liberty of the people of Rome could never be secured whilst Carthage subsisted Which being proposed in the Senate it was resolved to make War upon the Carthaginians but that the design should be kept secret till opportunity presented 'T is said that Cato hereafter ceased not in open Senate to declare the Necessity of demolishing Carthage but Scipio Nasica quite contrary argued that it was to be left in a condition that the ancient Discipline which began to decay might be maintained in vigor by the fear they would still stand in of that City Mean while in Carthage the Popular Faction suppressed the Royal condemning to banishment about fifty of the Principal and making the people swear never to admit their return nor so much as suffer it to be spoke of The Exiles made their retreat to Masanissa to oblige him to a War He was before sufficiently inclined to it wherefore he sent Gulussa and Micipsa two of his sons to Carthage to solicite the return of those who had for his sake been banished But when they presented themselves at the Gates Carthalon forbid their entrance for fear lest the tears of the Exiles kindred should work upon the people and besides Amilâ—ar the Samnite laid an ambush for Gulussa upon his return which â—lew some of his attendants and put him to flight This gave occasion to Masanissa to besiege
the City of Horoscopa with the taking of which he had a mighty desire to begin the rupture To it 's relief went the Carthaginians with twenty five thousand Foot and four thousand Horse of the City under the command of Asdrubal then General of their forces to whom joyned Assasis and Suba two of Masanissa's Major Generals who deserting the two young Princes went over to the Carthaginian party with six thousand horse Asdrubal with this additional force goes and encamps near the King and had often and successful skirmishes But Masanissa acting with the cunning of a Great Captain retired by little and little as if he had given ground till such time as he had drawn him into a great barren plain encompassed on all sides with Mountains and deficient in all necessaries to subsist on Here facing the enemy he encamped in the midst of the Plain while Asdrubal siesed on the Eminencies whereby he thought he had the greater advantage On the morrow the battel was designed when young Scipio who afterwards took Carthage and who at present was only Lieutenant to Lucullus who made War in Celtiberia came to seek out Masanissa to demand some Elephants The King who was desirous that day to take some repose that he might go the fresher to the battel sent some horse to meet him and gave orders to some of his sons to receive him Day being come he drew up his Army in battel being now fourscore and eight years old yet a strong and vigorous Souldier who according to the custom of the Country mounted on horse back without saddle or other covering equally acting in the duty of General and Soldier for the Numidians are lustiest of all the people of Africa and live longer then any others which is perhaps occasioned because the Winter is not so sharp in this Country nor the heats so violent as in India and Ethiopia and for the same reasons are their Cattel stronger and greater The men lie all abroad and harden themselves by continual labor they drink little Wine feed very sparingly and with much sobriety Masanissa having drawn up his Army in Order Asdrubal did the like for to him there were joyned many people of the Country Scipio being on the top of a Hill as on a Theatre saw all this Battel and was after heard to say that though he had been in an infinite number of fights there was never any in which he took so much delight for he had never seen any other wherein either his person was in security or that there were a hundred and ten thousand Combatants Or to express it more gloriously he said that before him were never found but two Spectators in a like occasion which were in the time of the Trojan Wars Iupiter on the top of Mount Ida and Neptune on Samothracia They fought from Morning till Night with great slaughter of men on both sides however the advantage seem'd Masanissa's Whom Scipio came to meet as he returned to his Camp congratulating the happy success of his Arms and for his part he received Scipio as the Son of his Friend with all possible demonstrations of kindness The Carthaginians having notice of his coming requested him to make peace between Masanissa and them which he having yielded to brought them to a Conference the Articles of the Treaty were that the Carthaginians should release to the King all the Country that lies about the Empories and should promise him two hundred Talents ready money and eight hundred more payable at a certain term But when Masanissa besides all this demanded the Fugitives they would not hear him speak of it so they parted without doing any thing and Scipio returned into Spain with the Elephants Masanissa seeing his Enemies Camp seated on an Eminence or round Hill besieged them in such a manner that no Provisions could be brought to them nor was the bringing all there was none to be had and he himself procured them with much difficulty and what he had was fetch'd from afar off and in very small quantities Asdrubal at first thought that with the Forces he had he could disingage himself when he pleased and open himself a passage through the midst of his Enemies But because his Stores were better furnish'd than theirs he hoped Masanissa might be reduced to a necessity of demanding Peace and besides he was the less concerned because he had heard that Deputies were coming from Rome to end their differences This was true but these Deputies had Orders to determine the Affairs if Masanissa was overcharged but to highten his courage if they foundâ— him the stronger which Orders they punctually executed Mean while the Famine entred Asdrubal's Camp in such manner that the Soldiers weaken'd with Hunger were not able to repulse the Enemy first they kill'd the Beasts of carriage after that their Horses for service and at last were reduced to such extreme necessity that they boiled the very Reins of the Bridles for a sustenance There supprised them likewise an infinite number of Diseases increased by their bad Food by the idleness of the Soldiers and the season of the year for there was a great number of men inclosed within a small compass of ground during the greatest heats of Summer which were excessive in Africa And because through the want of Wood even to dress their Food they had been forced to burn their very Bucklers Now not having the means to carry their dead Bodies out of the Camp because of the strict Guard Masanissa kept and destitute of Fuel to burn them the Plague daily increased with the stink of the dead Carcases in the midst of which they were forced to abide Hunger had already consumed the greatest part when the rest hopeless of safety were forced to deliver up the Fugitives to Masanissa to oblige themselves to pay him yearly five thousand Talents of Silver for fifty years and to cause those they had banished to return notwithstanding their Oath to the contrary It was likewise agreed that the Soldiers which remained should march out only with one Coat and pass under the Yoke Which being executed Gulussa remembring how a little before he had been affronted sent the Numidian Horse after the Carthaginians who not able to make resistance disarmed as they were and not having strength enough to fly of fifty eight thousand men very few recovered Carthage of which number was Asdrubal with some of the Nobility This is what passed in the War between Masanissa and the Carthagians which was soon after followed by the third and last Punick War The people of Carthage weakned by the losses they had sustained in this War stood yet in fear of Masanissa who was nigh with a great Army and besides doubted not but the Romans who had testified their disaffection to them upon all occasions would lay hold of this under pretence that the Carthaginians had made War upon Masanissa the Friend and Ally of the Roman people And indeed their conjecture was not
and how the Romans reduced Syria to the form of a Province XVII The State of the Affairs of Syria from Alexander the Great till Seleucus Nicanor came to be King XVIII His Life and Actions XIX The History of the Marriage of Antiochus with Stratonice and the death of Seleucus XX. Continuation of the Descendants of Seleucus to Antiochus the Great and a short recapitulation of his Successors ANtiochus King of Syria Babylon and of many other Countries was the Son of Seleucus Grand-child of Antiochus and the sixteenth Successor from that Seleucus who after the Death of Alexander reigned in that part of Asia confining on the Euphrates This Prince made the first proof of his Arms against the Medes the Parthians and other people revolted from his Predecessors where he signaliz'd himself by so many Heroick Actions that he gained the sirname of Great Afterwards the success of his first Enterprizes and that glorious Title raising his courage he despoiled Ptolemy Philopator King of Egypt yet but an Infant of the lower Syria and part of Cilicia and after that setting no bound to his designs he transported the War towards the Hellespont into Etolia and Ionia where he claimed a right by virtue of his being King of Asia because formerly those Countries had been under the Dominion of the Kings of Asia From thence passing into Europe he became Master of Thrace constraining those who offered to resist to pay him obedience He likewise fortified the Chersonesus and rebuilt Lysimachia which Lysimachus King of Thrace after Alexander had built as a Cittadel to keep the people in subjection and which after his death the Thracians had demolished Antiochus undertook to repeople it making those Inhabitants which went out of it return redeeming those that were in slavery and drawing thither many new ones giving them Sheep and Oxen and Iron to Till the Ground He was very desirous with all possible expedition to put this City in a condition and to make it the seat of that War he had resolved on because he believed that in all Thrace there was no place more proper to be made a Magazine of Corn and other Provisions A great number of people had already surrendred unto him aud received the Garrisons for fear of his Arms when those of Smyrna Lampsacus and many others who would not submit to his Yoke sent their Deputies to Flaminius the Roman General who a little before had in a great Battel defeated Philip of Macedon in Thessaly for in those times and before the Affairs of Greece and Macedon were exremely embroiled as we have related in the Greek Histories There were many deputations on one part and the other between Antiochus and Flaminius but without any effect for the Romans and Antiochus had for a long time been distrustful of one another The Romans were of opinion that this King grown now so powerful would not after so many happy successes consent to Peace and Repose and that Prince saw that the Romans only could oppose his designs there being small likelyhood they would ever suffer him to establish a Dominion in Europe Yet hitherto there was no occasion given of a breach when the Ambassadors of Ptolemy Philopater came to Rome to complain that Antiochus had dispoiled him of Syria and Cilicia The Senate and people of Rome were very glad that this occasion presented and presently sent their Ambassadors to Antiochus under pretence of reconciling the two Kings but indeed to observe the designs of Antiochus and oppose them as much as they could possible Cneus chief of this Embassie required of the King That he would not hinder Ptolemy who was a friend of the people of Rome from enjoying what had been left by his Fathers and that he should leave in liberty those Cities which formerly belonged to Philip of Macedon saying it was not reasonable that he should take to himself what the people of Rome had conquered To this he added That they were astonished he should come from Medea to the Sea-costs of Asia with so great a Fleet and so powerful an Army and already begin to trouble Europe by building of Cities and making himself Master of Thrace and that there was great appearance all these were but preparations to another War The King made answer That his Predecessors had formerly possessed Thrace but being busied elsewhere it had been usurped from them and that now that he had leisure he would recover the Possession and had rebuilt Lysimachia for the Residence of his Son Seleucus For the rest he would leave the Cities of Asia in liberty provided they would own the Obligation from him and not from the people of Rome But for what respects Ptolemy said he I am his Kinsman and shall suddenly be his Father-in-law and then shall take care to act in such a manner as he shall give you thanks for the good office you have done him but let me in my turn be astonished too not being able to comprehend by what right the people of Rome meddle with the Affairs of Asia since I meddle not with those of Italy Thus they parted without doing any thing save threatning one another Some time after a report was spread that Ptolemy Philopater was dead which made Antiochus to take his way towards Egypt with design to seize that Kingdom which the death of that King might make an easie Conquest Being at Ephesus Hannibal driven from Carthage by the calumnies of his Enemies who had accused him to the Romans as factious and likely to trouble the Peace now between them came to salute him and offer him his service and as he had the Reputation of a great Captain the King received him with muchâ— kindness and kept him near his person Being gone as far as Lycia he understood that Ptolemy was yet living whereupon he quitted the design of Egypt out of hopes that he might easily seize Cyprus and to that intent he embarqued for that Island but was surprized with so furious a Tempest near the River Sara that he lost a great number of his Ships and many of his Friends Mariners and Soldiers and the rest of his Fleet being carried by the Storm to Seleucia in Syria he there caused his Ships to be repaired which were much out of order and celebrated the Nuptials of his Children Antiochus and Laodice whom he had before made enter into contract of Marriage At length having absolutely resolved on a War with the Romans he endeavoured to ally himself to the Kings his Neighbours by Marriage He sent Cleopatra sirnamed Syra to Ptolemy in Egypt and gave her in Dower the lower Syria which he had formerly usurped from him hoping thus to appease that young man that he might attempt nothing on that side during the War He sent likewise Antiochida to Ariarathes King of Cappadocia and the last to Eumenes King of Pergamus But that King knowing the design he had of making War upon the Romans and that it was only for that end
Satrapies or Governments and the Brother and Children of Alexander being sometime after dead the Satrapes or Governours became Kings Laomedon was the first that was placed in the Government of Syria by the favour of Perdiccas and of Antipater who after Perdiccas had the Government of the Kingdom As soon as he had taken possession Ptolemy who was Governour of Egypt came into Syria with a Fleet and offered this Governour a great sum of Money to put it into his hands that it might serve as a Rampier to Egypt and that from thence he might invade Cyprus But not able to obtain any thing that way he took Laomedon himself Prisoner who afterwards corrupting his Guards fled to Alcetas in Caria Thus Ptolemy siesed upon Syria where having staid for some time he left Garrisons and returned into Egypt As for Antigonus he was Governour of Phrygia Lycia and Pamphilia and besides when Antipater went into Europe he left him superintendent General of all Asia So that Eumenes Governour of Cappadocia being declared Enemy of the Macedonians he went and besieged him and understanding that he had made a private escape from the place pursued him and slew him in the way to Media whither he had designed to flee for refuge from whence returning to Babylon he was magnificently received by Seleucus then Governour there But Seleucus having condemned to death one of his Captains without acquainting him with it he demanded of him an account of the Publick Moneys which so much perplexed Seleucus that not able to resist Antigonus he retired to Ptolemy into Egypt Antigonus hereupon deposed Blitor Lieutenant Governour of Mesopotamia from his charge because he had assisted Seleucus in his retreat Soon after he reduced under his obedience the Province of Babylon Mesapotamia and all the Nations from Media to the Hellespont insomuch that the other Governours not enduring he should siese on so many Countries to their prejudice entred into a League against him Seleucus was the principal Author of it and Ptolemy Lysimachus Governour of Thrace and Cassander who commanded in Macedon after the death of his Father signed to it They forthwith sent Deputies to Antigonus to demand the restoration of those Lands he had siesed on and to produce the publick Moneys to be divided amongst them He made a mock of the Deputation whereupon the Confederates declared War against him This nothing daunted him but on the contrary he beat out those Garrisons Ptolemy had placed in Syria and made himself Master of Phaenicia and lower Syria till then under the obedience of Egypt Thence he went to the Cicilian Ports leaving Demetrius his Son only two and twenty years of age in Gaza with an Army to oppose the designs of Ptolemy but Ptolemy defeated him in a great Battel and forced him to flee to his Father Seleucus was presently sent by the Confederates to Babylon to reposses himself of his Government Ptolemy having to this effect given him a thousand Foot and three hundred Horse this was a Body utterly uncapable of forcing so great a City but the inclinations the Babylonians had for him made him be received and his Forces soon increased prodigiously Antigonus incensed against Ptolemy overcame him in a Sea Fight which was fought near the Island of Cyprus where his Son Demetrius commanding the Army were so puft up with this Victory that they proclaimed both Father and Son Kings It is true there was no person left of the Blood Royal Aridaeus the Son of Philip being dead as were likewise Olympia's and the Children of Alexander Ptolemy's Army hereupon gave him likewise the Title of King lest his loss should make him seem to yield to the Victor Thus different success occasioned the like event The others presently followed the Example and of Governours made themselves Kings Thus Seleucus became King of Babylon and Media killing afterwards with his own hand in combat Nicator whom Antigonus had placed in the Government of that Province he had afterwards many Wars as well against the Macedonians as the Barbarians and among the others two against the Macedonians The last of which was against Lysimachus King of Thrace and the first against Antiochus then fourscore years old when the Battel was fought near Ipsa a City of Phrygia where that brave old Man discharging the part of a General and Soldier together lost his life After his death the Confederate Kings divided amongst them his Estates of which Seleucus had for his share all those Lands that lie between Euphrates and the Sea and from the Sea as far as Phrygia in the main Land which vastly augmented his Dominion And he moreover losing no opportunity of making himself greater being equally powerful in Eloquence and Arms conquered Mesopotamia Armenia and Cappadocia sirnamed Seleucidia and besides those became Master of the Persians Parthians Bactrians Arabs Tapyrians Sogdiens Arachoses Hyrcanians and other Nations fronting upon the River Indus which had been subdued by Alexander So that except that King no Prince ever possessed so great a Country in Asia for all the Lands from the confines of Phrygia to the River Indus were under his obedience He went likewise to make War with Androcotes King of the Indians that inhabit beyond the River and returned not till an Alliance was contracted between them which was followed by Peace True it is that whilst Antigonus lived he possessed but some part of this for the greatest share came to him after his death They say that being in Alexander's Army in his expedition into Asia and yet but a private Soldier he consulted the Oracle of Didymea concerning his return to which he was answered Take leave of Europe and possess Asia That in Macedon there of a sudden appeared on his Fathers Hearth a great flame which no body was seen to kindle and that his Mother was advertised in a Dream to give the first Ring she should find to Seleucus to wear for that he should Reign in that place where by chance he let it fall and that she found one of Iron with an Anchor engraven thereon which was lost about Euphrates 'T is said likewise that as he walked about Babylon he stumbled upon a stone which having caused to be taken up there was found an Anchor underneath which troubled much the Southsayers who would have had this Prodigy to be a presage of delay But Ptolemy the Son of Lagus who accompanied him said it was rather a sign of stedfastness wherefore when Seleucus attained to the Royalty he bore an Anchor engraven in his Ring Some likewise have assured us that whilst Alexander was yet living and in his presence there happened another presage of the future greatness of Seleucus for after he was returned from the Indies being embarqued upon the Euphrates to go visit the Marshes of Babylon with intent to make Channels to water the Champion of Syria his Diadem was by the wind carried of his Head and set upon a heap of Reeds near the the Sepulcher of an
sent the Ashes to Antiochus who caused a magnificent Monument to be raised for him in Seleucia on the Sea and built a Temple in Honour of him which was called Nicatorion As for Lysimachus 't is said that he was one of Alexanders Guard of the Body and that one day having a long time followed the King on foot who was on Horse-back he grew so weary that to ease himself he laid hand on the Horse tail and by chance was pricked in a Vein of his Forehead by the point of Alexanders Javelin which hung behind the Crupper from whence there issued so much Blood that that Prince having nothing else bound it up with his Diadem which being afterwards restored to that Prince all bloody Aristander the South-sayer foretold that the wounded person should be a King but should always Reign in Wars and Troubles And indeed he ruled forty years comprising the time when he assumed but the quality of Governour and at last was slain at the age of seventy years with his Arms in his Hand his Vanquisher Seleucus not long out living him Lysimachus being slain a Dog he had loved staid a long time by the Body and defended it from the Birds and Beasts till such time as Thorax of Pharsalia finding it gave it Burial Though some there be that say that he was buried by a Son of his called Alexander whom fear had made seek a refuge with Seleucus when Lysimachus put to death Agathocles his other Son and that his Body having a long time been sought after was at length found by means of a Dog quite putrefied and was buried by the Inhabitants of Lysimachia in a Temple which was afterwards called Lysimachion Thus dyed also at the same time two Kings of equal stature and of an extraordinary strength of Body one at the age of seventy years and the other three more fighting in person to their very death After Seleucus his death his Sons succeeded in his Kingdom of Syria the first of which was Antiochus sirnamed Soter who fell in love with his Mother-in-Law and afterwards repulsed the Gauls who had made an irruption out of Europe into Asia The second was another Antiochus born of the same Woman he whom the Milesians called God because he had delivered them from Timarchus their Tyrant but this God dyed of Poison given him by his Wife He had married two whom he equally loved Laodice and Berenice Daughters of Ptolemeus Philadelphus one of which two to wit Laodice gave him his death as she did soon after to her Sister Berenice and her Child Ptolemy the Son of Philadelphus revenged this crime by the death of Laodice and marched into Syria as far as Babylon which gave occasion to the Parthians seeing the House of the Seleucides in trouble to shake off the Yoke of their Dominion To this Man sirnamed God succeeded in the Kingdom of Syria Seleucus his Son by Laodice who was called Callinicus and after Callinicus his two Sons Seleucus and Antiochus one after the other the Eldest of which having neither health nor strength enough to keep his Army in awe was poisoned by his Domesticks having reigned only two years and for Antiochus who was sirnamed the Great it was he who had War with the Romans the History of which we have now wrote We have likewise spoke of his two Sons who reigned both one after the other Seleucus twelve years without doing any thing considerable nor indeed had the power by reason of his Fathers former losses and Antiochus only two years during which he took prisoner Artaxias King of Armenia and undertook an expedition into Egypt against Ptolemy the Sixth one of those two Sons whom their Father lately dead had left for his Successors As he lay encamped near Alexandria Popilius the Roman Deputy came into his Camp with Letters whereby he was commanded to depart the Kingdom of the Ptolemies After he had read them and said he would consider of them Popilius made a Circle upon the Ground about him with a Rod he had in his hand bidding him consider before he went out thence which so terrified him that he presently departed the Realm and because in his way he plundered the Temple of Venus in Elymais he dyed of a rottenness of the Lungs He left a Son nine years old called Antiochus Eupator of whom we have spoken as also of Demetrius his Successor who being Hostage in Rome escaped into Syria where having taken possession of the Kingdom the Syrians gave him the name of Soter which the Sons of Nicator had before born There was one Alexander raised Arms against him falsely saying he was of the Race of the Seleucides and being supported by Ptolemy King of Egypt out of the hate he bore to Demetrius he drove him out of his Kingdom he dying in Exile his Son called likewise Demetrius reconquered it and because he had Vanquished this Seleucus who was not of the Family of the Seleucides he was called by the Syrians Nicator like the first Seleucus from whom the Kings of Syria were descended And endeavouring to follow his Example he undertook an expedition against the Parthians where being taken Prisomer he lived a long time in the Court of Phraates and married Rhodogune that Kings Sister Mean while a Domestick of the former King 's called Diodotus seeing the Throne of Syria without a King siesed on it to advance therein a Child named Alexander the Son of that bastard Alexander and a Daughter of Ptolemyes and soon after having made away his Pupil had the boldness to make himself King changing the name of Diodotus into that of Tryphon Antiochus Brother of the Prisoner Demetrius hearing at Rhodes of his Brothers Captivity and all the disorders succeeding it returned into his Country where with much labour he reduced this Tryphon and having put him to death advanced with his Army against Phraates to oblige him to release his Brother whom he presently sent to him out of a fear the Parthian at that time had of War yet this stopt him not from pursuing his design and engaging in Battel with the Parthian wherein being overcome he slew himself Demetrius returned to his Kingdom was murdered by his Wife Cleopatra enraged at the second Marriage with Rhodogune the news of which had before been the cause that during the Captivity of her Husband she had married with her Brother Antiochus she had two Sons by Demetrius Seleucus and Antiochus sirnamed Grypus and by Antiochus another Antiochus called the Cyzycenian of whom Grypus she caused to be brought up at Athens and the Cyzycenian at Cyzica As for Seleucus who had caused himself to be crowned immediately after the death of his Father she killed him her self with an Arrow whether it were she were fearful he should revenge his Fathers death or that she had conceived a hate against the whole Family Seleucus being dead the Kingdom descended to Grypus who forced his Mother to drink a Poison she had prepared for him Thus
them some suspition of Treason which was confirmed when Ambassadors from Artabasus came to acquaint the Consul that their King being engaged in a War against Orodes who had invaded his Country could not send him any assistance but that he advised him to turn his Arms that way and to joyn with the Armenians to give battel to the Parthians or if that were not his judgment at least so to order his march that he took care not to engage in the plains where the Horse should have too much advantage but that he should as much as he could draw towards the Mountains To all which Crassus who would not write a word in Answer to the king brutishly and like a Man in Choler made Answer That he was not now at leisure to think of the affairs of Armenin but that at his return he would Chastise Artabasus for his treachery Whereupon Cassius and those that were of his mind grew angry but without saying a word to Crassus who would not listen to any good counsel given him they fell to reviling Agbarus with a thousand reproachful words What niischievous Devil brought thee hither thou most villanous of all mankind said they to him by what Witchcraft or Inchantments hast thou been able to perswade Crassus to take his march through these vast Solitudes a road more proper for a Numidian Robber then a Roman General But he being cunning entertained them still with fair words exhorting them to have a little patience and encourageing the tired Soldiers to march and with flattering smiles telling them What do you think you are marching now through Campania or do you hope to find here Fountains Rivers Shades Baths and continual Inns Remember pray remember that you pass now by the confines of Arabia and Syria Thus Agbarus treated the Romans as if he had been their Paedagogue and before his Treason was discovered he left them not by stealth but by consent of the Consul whom he made believe he went to give Orders about things necessary and to create some disorder in the Enemies Camp 'T is said that that day Crassus came forth not in a Purple Robe according to the manner of the Roman Generals but cloathed in Black which yet he went and changed as soon as he perceived it and that some Ensigns pitcht in the ground stuck so fast that those who were to carry them could scarcely pull them out at all which Crassus did but laugh He Commanded presently to March and earnestly urged the Legions to follow the Horse when some of his Scouts coming in brought word that others of their fellows had been slain by the Enemy and they had hardly escaped and that there was a dreadful multitude following them at the heels with resolution to fight This news amazed the whole Army but especially Crassus who began to draw his Army into Battel but with a great deal of Irresolution First according to Cassius advice he drew up his Legions at length extending them as far as ever he could that the Enemy might not surround them and placing his Horse on the wings but afterwards changing his mind he formed his Legions into a Battel of four Fronts each of which he covered with twelve Cohorts each Cohorts strengthened by a squadron of Horse that all four might be equally defended by the Horse One of the wings he gave in charge to Cassius the other to his Son and kept himself in the main battel Marching in this Order they gained a River called Balissa which though neither deep nor large was very welcome to the Soldiers who had had so toilsome a March through heat and dust most of the Officers advised not only the refreshing the Soldiers but resting that night there to the intent that making the best discovery they possibly could of the number and posture of the Enemy they might be the better able to encounter the next Morning but young Crassus and his Horsemen calling out for the Battel the Consul again re-incouraged commanded that those who had a mind to take any repast should eat without stirring from their Ranks and scarcely had he allowed them to take what Food was necessary but he marched forward the Army not slowly and often halting as is usually done by those who would preserve their Men for the Fight but upon the gallop and all in a breath till such time as the Enemy appeared sooner than they looked for them but neither in any great numbers nor in a posture to give any terrour to the Romans for the main Body of the Army was hid by these Vant-curriers who by Surena's order had with loose Coats covered their Armour But when they drew nearer and that the Enemies had given Signal of Battel there was heard throughout the whole Plain a dreadful noise for the Parthians use in War neither Horns or Trumpets but knowing well that of all the Senses the Ear is most capable of affecting the Mind and stirring up the Passions they beat all at once through the whole Army certain Drums whose hollowness makes dreadful roaring which in some measure imitates Thunder This noise having begun to terrifie the Romans the Parthians threw off their loose Coats and shewed their Armour of polished Steel whose brightness dazled the eyes and they were discovered to be mounted on Horses barbed and covered with plates of Iron and Copper Surena made a show above all the rest the Magnificence of whose habit seemed somewhat effeminate and disagreeable to the high Reputation he had gained but in this he followed the Custom of the Medes who go to Battel painted and curled whereas the Parthians tuck up their Hair on their Foreheads to make them appear more formidable At first they charged on the Spur with Lances in their Rests against the Front of the Roman Battel to try to break it but having observed the Legionary Bucklers joyned so close and their Ranks fast locked together they retired and as if they had disbanded and quitting their Ranks wheeled about the Roman Army Crassus sent against them his light armed Men who went not far for the Soldiers soon finding themselves overwhelmed and beaten down with showrs of Arrows ran to save themselves among the Ranks of the Legions bringing amongst them great confusion and disorder especially when it was perceived that those were discharged with such a violence that they equally wounded those that were armed and those that were not And now the Parthians began to fight at a distance with Flights of Arrows from all sides which were never shot in vain for the Romans were so closed together that though the Parthians would they could not well have mist them and their Bows being great and strong and managed by vigorous Arms made no slight Wounds Insomuch that the Romans were already hard put to it If they stood firm without quitting Ranks they were wounded and if they pressed to assault the Enemy they could not reach them and yet were wounded still for the Parthians discharged their
desire to live he would not have come to put himself into their hands However he sent the Riscones Brothers to spie into their designs and discover their number but Surena caused them to be arrested and forthwith advancing with the Chief Men of his Army all mounted on Horse-back towards Crassus And how said he coming near him A Roman General on Foot and we on Horse-back and at the same instant commanded a Horse to be brought him Crassus having answered That neither one nor the other did amiss in that since each came to the Conference after the manner of his Country Surena said That the Peace was already concluded between Orodes and the people of Rome and that there wanted nothing but putting the Articles in Writing which they would do on the River side For you Romans said he do not usually remember your Treaties very well and at the same instant he gave him his hand Thereupon the Roman called out to bring his Horse To which Surena said there was no need of it For see added he one which the King has sent you and forthwith one was brought ready Bridled with a Bitt of Gold upon which the Footmen mounted him and placed themselves on both sides to make him advance forward whereupon Octavius first of all laid hands upon the Horse Bridle to stop him and one of the Tribunes called Petronius and after him all the rest placed themselves about the Consul to hinder his going farther and to pull away from about him those that would have led him forward Insomuch that thus pushing and shoving one another they came at last to blows Octavius drawing his Sword slew one of the Barbarian Horsemen but another slew him with a blow behind Petronius had no offensive Arms but having received on his Cuirass the thrusts made at him withdrew himself from the bustle without any wound As for Crassus he was slain by one Maxarthes a Parthian though some say it was done by another and that Maxarthes as soon as he was down cut off his head and his right hand but all these are conjectures for of all those that were present some were slain upon the place and the rest nimbly regained the Hill before which the Parthians appeared and called out on the part of Surena that since Crassus was punished all the rest might come down in safety Some yielded themselves others fled away by night of which few escaped being most taken and slain by the Arabs 'T is said that in this expedition there were twenty thousand Soldiers slain and ten thousand taken Prisoners Surena sent Crassus Head and Hand to Orodes into Armenia and himself having beforehand caused a Rumour to be spread abroad at Seleucia that he brought Crassus alive he prepared a certain ridiculous Entry which in Mockery he called a Triumph To this purpose he took one of the Prisoners called Caius who much resembled Crassus and having cloathed him in a Womans Robe and taught him to answer to those who called him either Crassus or Emperour made him enter on Horseback into the City before him marched mounted on Camels Trumpets and Lictors carried Rods with Purses fastned to them and Axes to which were tyed the Heads of Romans newly cut off He was followed by the Curtisans of Seleucia playing on Instruments and singing infamous and ridiculous Songs of the faintheartedness and cowardise of Crassus more becoming a Woman than a Man Such was the publick Spectacle but having in particular assembled the Senate of Seleucia he exposed to them the lascivious Fable of Aristides the Milesian which indeed had been found among Rustius his Baggage from whence he took an ample Subject to declaim against the Romans who even in time of War could not abstain from uncleaness but brought their Books along with them The Seleucians upon this took occasion to admire the Wisdom of Aesop in his Fable of the Wallet seeing that Surena carried open in the Pouch before the Sensualities of the Milesians and kept shup up in that behind the Sybaritick or Effeminate Wantonness of the Parthians bringing along himself in his Train multitudes of Coaches full of Concubines and his first appearance being like that of Hydra dreadful and terrible where nothing was to be seen but Horses and Lances and Bows whilst his tail ended in Cimbals and Songs and continual Debauches of Women not but that Rustius was to be condemned but the Parthians are in the wrong to blame what comes from Miletum since most of the Family of the Arsacides who have been their Kings were born of Milesian and Ionian Curtisans Whilst these things passed Orodes was reconciled with Artabasus having married his Son Pacorus to the Armenians Daughter which was followed by Feastings Rejoycing and Debauches They acted likewise Greek Comedies for Orodes was not ignorant of the Greek Tongue nor of Letters and for Artabasus he composed both Tragedies Orations and Histories part of which have been preserved to our times When Crassus Head was brought to the entrance of the Court they were at Table and a Comedian called Iason the Trâ—llian was reciting some Verses of the part of Agave in the Bacchides of Euripides which much delighted the Company At the same instant Sillaces entred the Room where they were at Meat and making a profound Reverence threw down the Head in the middle of the Hall which being taken up by the Parthians with shouts and general rejoycing the King commanded the Officers they should make room for Sillaces at the Table which they did then Iason giving one of the Players upon the Flute his part to play the Funerals of Pentheus and himself taking the Head of Crassus as if he had entred in a fury began as loud as his voice would reach to sing these Verses From the Chase we bring to you Tender Venison fat and good Which was taken in this Wood. All the Company were pleased at this Spectacle but one accident pleased them more for when at every Couple the Choire answered singing 'T is to me the Honour 's due and that one of the Actors danced to it Maxarthes for he likewise was at the Feast leaped from the Table and took the Head out of his hands that held it as having more right to it than any other Whereupon the King made him Presents according to the Custom of the Country and gave Iason a Talent Thus Crassus his Expedition ended in a Tragedy However Orodes received soon after a punishment equal to his cruelty as Surena did first what his so many violated Oaths deserved for the King soon after made him away out of the Envy he bore to his Glory and for Orodes being fallen sick of the Dropsie after that his Son Pacorus had been slain in fight against the Romans Phraates his other Son gave him Poyson which the force of the Distemper expelled so that the King grew better upon it whereupon Phraates would no more trust to Poyson but taking a shorter way strangled his Father Sometime
took the Field with a powerful Army to come against the Romans and having intelligence that they had left behind the Waggons and Engines he sent a great Body of Horse who cut in pieces Stratianus and ten thousand Foot that he Commanded And after having taken the Engines slew a great quantity of others of which number was the King Polemon which disheartned and not without reason those who had engaged in Anthony's party dismayed at so mournful a beginning Insomuch that Artabasus King of Armenia who had been the Principal cause of this War giving over all those hopes he had conceived of the Romans retired with his Army into his own Country And now the Parthians having sent relief into the City with a thousand injurious threats reviled the Romans so that Anthony that he might not let the courages of his Men cool in the Idleness of a Siege took with him ten Legions three Praetorian Cohorts and all his Cavalry to go and gather in Provisions and Forrage hoping the Enemy would come to oppose him and so he might gain an opportunity to Fight After his first days march the Parthians appeared and he seeing that they began to enlarge their Battail round about the Roman Camp with design to cut off his way of return he Commanded to Sound a March and to pack up the Tents as if he were preparing to discamp and not to Fight which done he caused his Army to March before the Enemies in form of a Crescent with Orders to the Cavalry to charge as soon as the Vanguard was advanced that so the Legions at the same time might come to the Charge The Parthians mean while admired the Excellent Order of the Roman Army seeing the Soldiers pass along keeping their Ranks and Brandishing their Piles without making the least noise but as soon as the Signal was given and the first shout made the Roman Horse pressed forward to Charge the Parthians and came in so close to them that they could no more make use of their Arrows Yet they stood their ground for some time till the Legionary Soldiers runing in with their shouts and the noise of their Bucklers so horribly affrighted the Horses of the Enemy that they turned Tail without striking blow Anthony hoping that this battel would end the War or at least give a good stroke towards Victory pursued them hard But when the Infantry had driven them before them fifty furlongs and the Horse had followed them thrice as far and that they found but thirty Prisoners and not above fourscore slain their courages fell at the consideration of how few they had destroyed in this victory in comparison of the Numbers they had lost at the defence of the Carriages Next Morning they advanced to go and force Phraates his Camp but meeting in their march at first with a few Parthians after that with a greater Number and at last with the whole Army who as if they had not been beaten the day before came to the charge and assailed them on all sides they with much pains and difficulty recovered their Camp where the Medes whom they besieged having stormed the Palisado and driven off those that defended it Anthony fell into such a passion that he decimated all those had quitted their Posts he drew them off by Decuries or Tens and making them draw Lots condemned the unfortunate to death and instead of Wheat gave only Barley Bread to the rest This War was troublesome to both parties and each feared more grievous consequences For Anthony could no longer go abroad to seek Provision or Forrage without having some of his People slain or wounded and Phraates who knew well that the Parthians would rather endure any thing than to keep the Field all Winter out of their own Country was afraid left if the Romans continued the War his People would forsake him the Air already growing cold by reason of the Autumnal Equinox Wherefore he made use of this Artifice Some Parthians known to the Romans meeting them forraging treated them kindly letting them go away with their burthens and praising their valor which their King himself admired and that with reason for indeed they were the most valiant Men in the World and then by degrees drawing nearer they blamed Anthony that he would not make peace with the King and spare the lives of so many brave people whom he only suffered to lose time and without giving them opportunity of Fighting made them wait for two cruel Enemies Famine and Winter and that in such places as their March would be difficult though the Parthians themselves were their Guides This being several times reported to Anthony he began to be more tractable yet he would not send to the Parthian till he had caused inquiry to be made of these honest Barbarians whether it were by their Kings Order they had spoke to the Roman Soldiers which when they had assured it was conjuring them not to have the least fear or jealousie he dispatched one of his Friends to the King to demand the Ensigns and the Captives that he might not seem to be content with an honourable Retreat only to which answer was returned That he should not speak of that but that Peace and a safe Retreat should be granted him on condition he would speedily depart which he did few days after Though he were very Eloquent in all Assemblies whether Civil or Military yet shame and sadness would not let him now speak to his Army himself He gave Commission to Domitius Aenobarbus to take his place and to exhort the Soldiers to be couragious some took it ill thinking he did it in scorn but the greater part knowing the cause the easilier composed themselves to his thoughts As he was designing with himself to return the way he came through the naked Deserts a certain Mardian of whose Courage and Fidelity the Romans had trial in the Fight for defence of the Engines and who knew the manner of the Parthians living came to him and advised him to take his March by the Foot of the Mountains which lay on the right hand and not to expose his Army loaden with Arms to such infinite numbers of Archers on Horse-back in Plains so vast and without any covert for that Phraates had no other design but to fall upon him when by fair words he had made him leave his Trenches and therefore he offered himself both to lead them a shorter way and in which they should find abundance of whatever was necessary for the Soldiers Anthony proposed this in Council not seeming to distrust the Peace agreed on by the Parthians but telling them he should be well satisfied to take a shorter way by which they should find good Villages and that nothing else was to be done but to take good security of the Mardian And he of himself desired he might be bound till they had reached Armenia and thus bound put himself at the Head of the Army and led them two days
Kingdom XXV Pompey's Conquests in Asia XXVI Mithridates returns with new Forces and prepares to renew the War XXVII His Son Pharnaces conspires against him his Death and Elogy XXVIII Pompey settles the Asian Affairs returns to Rome and enters in Triumph MIthridates being dead after having maintained War against the Romans for two and forty years they added to their Empire Bithynia Caappdocia and all the Neighbouring Nations bordering on the Euxine Sea and as the putting an end to this War raised their Courage so they subdued as a confequence to it all the rest of Cilicia the Provinces of Syria which are Phoenicia Coelosyria and Palestine with all the Upland nigh the Euphrates which were never possessed by Mithridates They imposed Tributes presently on some of these people but subjected not others to it till some time after As for Paphlagonia Galatia Phrygia the Mysia contiguous to it together with Lydia Ionia Caria and other parts of Asia which depended on the Kingdom of Pergamus with the old Greece and Macedon of which Mithridates was seised they reduced them under their obedience and imposed Tributes on several Nations that had never before paid them any 'T is for these Reasons as I imagine they esteemed this War of such importance to them that they termed this Victory so Magnificent and that they gave which remains to this our age that General under whose Conduct they had performed all these brave Actions the sirname of Great because of the great numbers of Provinces he either restored to their Empire or added by Conquest besides also for the length of this War and the Generosity of Mithridates who was both powerful and indefatigable as he sufficiently made appear for he had more than four hundred Ships of his own and hath somteimes had in Arms fifty thousand Horse and two hundred and fifty thousand Foot with all Engines of War and Arms necessary for so great a Multitude He was likewise supported by the Kings and Soveraigns of Armenia Scythia and all those Nations inhabiting from Pontus and the Palus Maeotis to the Thracian Bosphorus He was sent likewise to make Alliance with some of the principal men of Rome who were then engaged in a troublesome Civil War and some of which had siesed on Spain he treated with the Gauls that on that side he might desturb Italy He likewise filled the Sea from Gallicia to the Pillars of Hercules with Pyrates who disturbing Navigation and hindring Traffick between the Cities caused for a long time great scarcity of Provisions In short he did and attempted all that was possible Insomuch that all the people from the East to the West found themselves or sent Auxiliary Troops or were tormented by the Corsaires or by their Neighbours or else for their Neighbours sakes So many different interests there were in this War The Romans alone gain'd advantage by it For after it was finished they extended their Empire from the West as far as Euphrates I could not possibly divide by Provinces what passed in each because the most considerable Actions were done at the same time and are link'd one within another But I have treated of them apart where ever they would admit of a separation The Greeks are of opinion that the Thracians who went to the Wars of Troy under Rhaesus their Captain being by night slain by Diomedes as Homer says retired themselves to the Mouth of the Euxine Sea where there is but a small strait to pass over into Thrace but for want of Shiping a part of them staid there and called the Country Bebrycia and the rest pass'd over above Byzantium to the place where the Bithynian Thracians inhabit near the River Bithyas from whence being forced by Famine they returned to Bebricia whose name they changed and called it Bithynia from the name of the River they had left and that name did perpetuate in their Descendants there not being very great difference between Bithynia and Bebricia This is the opinion of some Others say that Bithys the Son of Iupiter and Thrace was the first King of Thrace and Bithynia who gave names to these Regions I was willing to say thus much of Bithynia by way of Preface and I believe it likewise necessary being writing the Roman History to say somewhat of the nine and forty Kings that Reigned in this Kingdom before the Romans became Masters of it Prusias sirnamed the Hunter had married the Sister of Perseus King of Macedon However when the War happened between the Romans and his Wives Brother he remained Neuter and yet after Perseus was taken Prisoner he went and presented himself before the Roman Captains in his Gown and Slippers with a Hat on and his Head shaven just like those Slaves to whom their Masters had given liberty by will and to all this ridiculous dress he had a villanous aspect and was very low of stature when he came near the Captains he told them in Latin I am the freed man of the people of Rome at which they burst out in a laughter and sent him to the City and he appearing the same ridiculous Creature at Rome obtained favour Not long after being fallen at variance with Attalus King of that part of Asia which lyes about Pergamus he in hostile manner invaded his Country which being come to the Senates knowledge Deputies were sent to him forbidding him to proceed any farther in a War against Attalus Friend and Allie of the people of Rome and when he seemed somewhat unwilling to obey the Deputies vigorously charged him either to comply with the Orders of the Senate or come only with a thousand Horse upon the Frontier where Attalus expected him with a like number to decide the difference by Combat he despising the small numbers that were with Attalus and hoping by this means easily to defeat him sent some of his before to give notice that he would be suddenly at the place appointed with his thousand Horse but he came with his whole Army as if he were to give Battel Attalus and the Roman Commissaries who had intelligence of it escaping several ways he came and took their Baggage which they were forced to leave behind and went and besieged a City called Nicephoria took it rased it and set fire on their Temples After which he pursued Attalus so close that he block'd him up in Pergamus Hereupon the Senate sent other Commissaries who ordered him to pay all the damages Attalus had sustained in this War which so terrified him that he obeyed retired and for interest delivered up immediately to Attalus twenty Ships with Decks and agreed to pay him at a certain day five hundred Talents of Silver according to the Order of the Commissaries He was very cruel and therefore hated by his Subjects but his Son Nicomede was extremely beloved wherefore his Father growing jealous sent him to sojourn at Rome from whence hearing that he was there likewise in good esteem he gave him Commission to demand of the Senate a
certain Village of Cappadocia many others came in to him and whilst the Macedonians were engaged in other Affairs made himself Master of Cappadocia and all the Nations neighbouring on Pontus At length having mightily extended his Dominion he left to his Children a great scope of Country over which they Reigned one after another till this Mithridates who had War with the Romans But both the Kingdoms of Pontus and Cappadocia having been joyntly possessed by the Successors of the first Mithridates it is of importance to know how they came divided and who were Kings of Pontus and who of Cappadocia The first under whom the change began was Mithridates Euergetes who only stiled himself King of Pontus hating the Cappadocians and treating them like a conquered Country He had made an Alliance with the people of Rome and did effectually send them Auxiliary Shipping against the Carthaginians There succeeded him his Son of the same name with two sirnames Eupator and Dionysius whom the Romans commanded to quit Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes who had put himself under the protection of the people of Rome and seemed to have more right to that Kingdom than the other It 's possible too that being jealous of the greatness of Mithridates Monarchy they were glad of this pretence to divide it However it were the King obey'd But Socrates sirnamed Chrestus Brother of Nicomedes the Son of the first Nicomedes and Grandchild to Prusias the same that had been confirmed in his Kingdom of Bithynia by the Decree of the Senate having some controversie with his Brother was assisted by Mithridates who sent him with an Army into Bithynia where he seised on the Kingdom and at the same time Mithraas and Bagoas having driven Ariobarzanes out of the Kingdom of Cappadocia wherein the Romans had established him placed Ariarathes in his stead So that the Romans found themselves obliged to restore Nicomedes and Ariobarzanes each to his Kingdom To this purpose they sent their Commissaries of whom Manius Aquilius was the Chief and gave Orders to L. Cassius who commanded in that part of Asia with a little Army to assist them and likewise gave the same commands to Eupator himself but he who had still a pretence to Cappadocia and remembred that not long since the Romans had despoiled him of Phrygia as we have said in our History of the Affairs of Greece would not concern himself However Cassius and Manius with those Forces Cassius had and what they could raise in Phrygia re-established Nicomedes in Bithynia and Ariobarzanes in Cappadocia and afterwards counselled them both to make incursions into Mithridates his Country and to pick with him any occasion of War assuring them that the Romans assistance should not be wanting yet neither of them durst attempt so powerful an Enemy but when the Commissaries again pressed them to it Nicomedes who owed a great sum of Money to the Commissaries and the Captains by the agreement made for his re-establishment and had likewise formerly taken up great sums at interest from the Romans setled in Asia who now called them in invaded as it were whether he would or no the Territories of Mithridates pillaging all as far as the Gates of the City of Amestris without any opposition For though the King of Pontus had very good Forces ready yet he still gave ground that he might make his tale the better But Nicomedes being returned with a booty of inestimable value Mithridates sent Pelopidas to the Roman Captains and Commissaries and though he knew they wished for the War and had been the cause of this invasion he took no notice of it expecting greater and more worthy causes of the War that was preparing He gave him in charge only to speak of that Friendship and Alliance he and his Father had with the People of Rome But said Pelopidas instead of Protecting him you have taken from him Phrygia and Cappadocia of which this last was the inheritance of his predecessors and left to him by succession from his Father and the other the recompense of his Victory over Aristonicus a recompense he received from your General or rather which he bought with his mony and now you suffer Nicomedes to stop up his passage from Pontus and spoil all his Country as far as the Gates of Amestris Not but that the King was as you know sufficiently powerful and too well prepared to resist him but he would have you eye witnesses of what has passed And now you have seen it Mithridates your Friend and Allie begs you in quality of his Friends and Allies for those are the Terms of the Treaty to succour those Nicomedes thus wrongs or at least impeach his farther violence To this the Deputies from Nicomedes made Answer That it was not at this instant only that Mithridates had laid Ambushes for him that he had made Socrates his Brother to enter in Hostile manner into his Kingdom who but for him had been quiet and yielded to the right of Primogeniture in his Elder Brother 'T is most true Gentlemen said the Chief of this deputation Mithridates alone stirr'd up that young Man to make War against him whom the Senate and People of Rome had made King of Bithynia To whom do you think this injury was meant more than to you and though by your Edict the Kings of Asia are forbid to meddle with Europe he with the same injustice has seised several places in the Chersonesus all these Actions are but Signals of the violence he intends to you You may if you please wait for the effects for what mean his great preparations as if the War were already Declared Why so many Auxiliary Troops of Thracians Scythians and so many other Neighboring Nations He allies himself with the King of Armenia sends Agents into Egypt and Syria to solicite the Alliance of those Kings has already three hundred Ships of War fitted and is still building more having fetcht from Phoenicia and Egypt Mariners and Pilots such mighty preparations are never made against Nicomede but against you He is exceeding angry too that having bought Phrygia of one of your Generals that suffered himself to be over-reacht you have commanded him to restore it as goods unjustly got And as much vexed he is that you have given Cappadocia to Ariobarzanes and fearing lest your power should encrease from day to day the complaints he makes to you serve him only for a pretence to Arm and assault you as soon as he shall find an occasion but it will be your wisdom not to stay till he openly declares himself your Enemy Consider more his actions than his words and for pretences of feigned friendship do not forsake your true friends nor suffer those ordinances you have made concerning our Kingdoms to be scorned and made invalid by one that is a common Enemy to us both After the Deputy had thus spoken Pelopidas again desired the Romans to be judges of the complaints made by Nicomedes And for what remains said he you
Inhabitants having recourse to Sylla he promised to come and sent to Fimbria not to do any injury to those who had yielded to him praising them for being returned into the friendship and alliance of the Roman people Notwithstanding he required to be likewise received into their City being likewise of Rome and telling them I know not what of that ancient Kindred of which the Ilians boast At last he entred by force slew all he met with set on fire the City and particularly put to several sorts of death those who went to Sylla on the behalf of the City He had neither respect to the sacred places nor to those had fled thither for refuge but burnt the Temple of Minerva with a great multitude of people who had retired thither as to a Sanctuary He rased the very Walls which he went round about next day to see if any part were left standing Thus was that City worse treated by a Man who took thence his Original then it had formerly been by Agamemnon for he left not a house nor a Temple nor a Statue standing Some there are that believe that the Image of the Goddess which is called Palladium was now found whole after the removal of the Rubbish wherewith it was covered but there is more reason to believe it was taken away by Diomedes and Ulysses in the time of the Trojan War This Massacre of the Ilians happened about the end of the hundred and third Olympaid and it is thought to be about one thousand and fifty Years between this sack of Troy and that of Agamemnon Now Mithridates receiving advice of the defeat at Orchomene and considering that since his first sending an Army into Greece he had lost such vast Multitudes in so short a time wrote to Archelaus that he should conclude a Peace upon the fairest terms he could get He therefore demanded a conference with Sylla which being granted he told him Sylla the King Mithridates your Fathers friend and yours was forced by the avarice of those who had the Command before you to make the War But having now experienced your Valour he demands a Peace provided what you shall desire of him be just Whereupon Sylla who had neither Fleet nor Money receiving nothing from Rome since his Enemies had declared him Enemy of the State and having already spent all the Silver of the Temples of Pythia Olympia and Epidaurum for which he had engaged half the Lands confiscated from the Thebans beâ—ause of their continual Rebellions and who besides all this was impatient to transport that Army fresh and every way compleat to Rome against his Enemies consented to his Peace by telling him Archelaus Mithridates should have sent Ambassadors to Rome to complain of the injuries he had received but instead of that he himself injured others entring in hostile manner into their Territories plundring their Treasures as well Publick as Sacred seising on the Goods of those he had put to death and showing no more faith nor goodness to his own friends then to us destroying many of them and murdering the Tetrarchs his familiars who had all their throats cut in one night with their Wives and Children though they were not guilty so much as of a design As for what regards us he rather made appear his inveterate hatred then any necessity he had to make War when he let loose his rage against the Italians in Asia by a thousand sorts of Torments sparing neither Age Sex nor Quality So much hate does this man bear to the Latin Name who calls himself my Fathers Friend but never remembred that friendship till I had slain him a hundred and sixty thousand men Wherefore we have no reason to trust you any more However for your sake I promise he shall obtain favour from the Senate and People of Rome if it be in good earnest that he ask it but if he still feign I advise you Archelaus to consider the present estate of his affairs and your own how he treats his Friends and how we have dealt with Eumenes and Massanissa At these words Archelaus interrupted him angry that he should tempt him and telling him he was not a man to betray Forces intrusted to his charge but that he really hoped for peace if Sylla demanded only just things Whereupon Sylla after some moments Silence Provided said he Archelaus that Mithridates put into our hands all the Fleet he has restore the Generals Deputies and other Prisoners deliver up the Runaway's and fugitive Slaves send back to their Cities those of Chios and others transported to the Euxine Sea withdraw his Garrisons from all places where he has planted them save only those he had before the Peace was broke pay the Expence of this War which he has been the cause of and content himself with the Kingdom of his Ancestors I hope to prevail so far that the Roman people shall forget the Offences they have received Archelaus hearing these conditions began presently to withdraw his Garrisons and about the rest wrote to the King Sylla that he might not in the mean while loose any time went and spoiled the Countries of the Henetians Dardanians and other Neighbouring Nations who made delay incursions into Macedon by that means exercising his Soldiers Mithridates Deputies returning some time after agreed to all save only about Paphlagonia but added that they could have had better terms from the other General Fimbria Whereupon Sylla offended at that comparison made answer that that word should cost Fimbria dear and that as soon as he came into Asia he would see whether Mithridates stood in need of Peace or War Whereupon he caused his Army to take their March through Thrace that he might bring them to Cypsela having sent Lucullus before to Abydos for he was now returned having often very narrowly escaped falling into the hands of Pyrates However he had brought with him a kind of Fleet of Ships which he had been furnished with at Cyprus Phoenicia Rhodes and in Pamphilia with which he had pillaged all the Coast as he came along and skirmished with Mithridates his Fleet Sylla therefore parting from Cypsela and Mithridates from Pergamus met together and began a new conference being drawn out into the Field with few followers in the sight of both Armies Mithridates began his discourse with the alliance which he and his Father had with the people of Rome complained of the injuries he had received from the Roman Generals and Commissaries who had established Ariobarzanes in Cappadocia taken from him Phrigia and favored by their dissimulation the Violences of Nicomedes And all this said he for Money which they received sometimes from me and sometimes from my Enemies for there is nothing you Gentlemen of Rome may so justly be reproached with as love of Money In short your Generals being come to make War against me whatever I have done in my own defence ought rather to be attributed to necessity then to any deliberate purpose
been already totally overcome The Sacrifices performed he marched forward with two chosen Legions and five hundred Horse to make War upon Tigranes because he would not deliver up Mithridates to him As soon as his Army had passed the Euphrates he went on without doing any injury to the Barbarians save only making them pay contribution for the people of these Countries were Enemies to War and would not engage themselves in the differences between Tigranes and Lucullus No one durst give advice to Tigranes of Lucullus design for one unhappy man that adventured but to speak of it was hanged up as a disturber of the publick Peace but at last when he saw he came on he sent Mithrobarzanes before with two thousand Horse to oppose his march and gave orders to Manceus to make hast to Tigranocerta to defend that place This King as we have said before had caused this City to be built for the Glory of his Name and to the intent that he might people it with Persons of Quality and Condition had by Edict declared that all moveables were not brought thither should be confiscated The Walls were fifty Cubits high at the foot of which there were Stables quite round He had likewise in the Suburbs built a most stately Palace with magnificent Gardens and a great number of Channels full of Fish with Parks for Beasts and some distance from thence a strong and beautiful Citadel All these things he committed to Manceus Guards whilst he on all sides levyed Forces to compose an Army Mean while Lucullus meeting with Mithrobarzanes soon defeated him and gave him chase and Sextilius having shut up Manceus in Tigranocerta pillaged the Royal Palace without the Walls besieged the City planted his Batteries and set the Miners to work Whilst Sextilius was busied at this siege Tigranes had gathered together two hundred and fifty thousand Foot and fifty thousand Horse about six thousand of which he sent to Tigranocerta who opening a passage through the midst of the Roman Army rescued from thence the Kings Concubines and carried them away with them For his part he marched against Lucullus with the rest of his Forces where Mithridates came to him and advised him not to come to a set battel with the Romans but to keep the Field with his Horse and wast all the Country round about their Army so that if possible he might serve him in the same manner as Lucullus had done his Army before Cysica and destroy them without fighting But the Barbarian laughing at this advice continued his March always in order of Battel and seeing the small number of the Romans said in a Jeer If they be Ambassadors they are a great many but if they be Enemies they are very few Lucullus having taken notice of a Hill behind Tigranes Army gave order to his Cavalry to go charge the Enemy in Front and to betake themselves to flight as soon as they had drawn them on to a Battel to the end the Barbarians might break their Ranks to pursue them whilst he with the Infantry taking a compass went and gained the Hill without being perceived by the Enemy When he saw them scattered and in disorder in chase of his Horse as if they had already been victorious and their Baggage remaining at the foot of the Hill he crying out the Victory is ours fellow Soldiers went down and first of all charged upon the Train and Baggage Horses who forthwith betaking themselves to flight pressed upon the Foot and the Foot did the like upon the Horse so that the whole Army was immediately in a rout for on one side the Roman Horse turning head against those who had separated themselves from the main Body to pursue them cut them in pieces and on the other side the Baggage Horses as if they had been thrust forward overthrew all they met with and the whole multitude pressing one upon another by reason of their great number without knowing the reason of the disorder the Romans made a wonderful slaughter Not a man stopt now to plunder for Lucullus had expresly forbid it with severe threats on the transgressors Wherefore trampling under foot Collars and Chains of Gold they followed the Massacre for the space of sixscore Furlongs till night coming on they returned back and spoiled the dead by permission then given them by Lucullus After this defeat Manceus Governour of Tigranocerta disarmed all the Mercenary Greek Soldiers in the City having entertained some suspicion of them Wherefore they fearing to be likewise made Prisoners got them Clubs and trooped together so that they parted not one from another either marching or standing still And when Manceus came to charge them with some armed Barbarians they wrapt their left Arm in their Coats instead of Bucklers and running desperately into the midst of their Enemies slew a great number whose Arms they divided amongst them when they thought they had Arms enough to serve their turn they went and seised upon some Towers that flanked the Walls from whence they called to the besiegers and helping them to mount upon the Wall made them Masters of the City Thus Tigranocerta newly built whither out of meer vanity Inhabitants were forced to come form all parts became a prize and enriched the Army with a most prodigious booty Tigranes and Mithridates in the mean time gave orders to set on foot another Army of which Mithridates had the command because the other thought him more capable being instructed by the experience of so many losses they sent likewise to demand assistance from the Parthians but Lucullus having likewise dispatched to that King to request him to assist him with his Forces rather than the others or at least to be but a looker on he in particular promised both parties but kept his word neither with one nor the other There was no City but Mithridates set on work to forge Arms nor scarce a person in Armenia capable to bear them but came and enrolled himself in these new Levies But he thought it not best to employ such a multitude he chose only seventy thousand Foot and half as many Horse of the ablest Men and dismissed the rest And after having distributed them into Companies and Regiments almost according to the Italian Discipline he gave it in charge to the old Pontick Soldiers to exercise them They were no sooner in the Field but Lucullus appeared resolved to fight but Mithridates kept firm upon an Eminence where he had posted himself with all his Foot and the greatest part of his Horse and Tigranes being gone with the rest to charge the Romans who were forraging abroad was defeated which gave liberty to the Romans for the future to fetch Corn without any fear to forrage in the very face of Mithridates and to draw nearer to his Camp At last the Kings were resolved to block up Lucullus in the midst between them to this end Tigranes took the Field but the dust discovering his March the General who
knew their design drew off the flower of his Horse with Orders to go as far as they could to meet the Armenian and to charge him before he could put his people in order Mean while he did all he could to draw Mithridates to a battel he attempted the making a Ditch round about the Hill but he could not oblige him to descend till Famine beginning to afflict both Armies they all retreated without doing any thing Tigranes into the heart of Armenia and Mithridates into what was left him of the Kingdom of Pontus with four thousand Men of his own and as many of Tigranes Lucullus followed them in the Rear but being himself oppressed with want of Provision he returned back again and Mithridates having made a swifter March than could be imagined surprised Fabius whom the Consul had left to command there and forced him to betake himself to flight after having five hundred of his Men slain yet he returned to the charge strengthed with the assistance of all the Slaves that followed the Army to whom he gave their liberty and held out the fight all that day till such time as Mithridates wounded with the blow of a Stone on the Knee and with an Arrow below the Eye was suddenly carried out of the Battel This occasioned the passing away of some days without fighting whether the Enemies were in pain for the Kings health or whether their wounds required rest However it were the King was soon cured being drest with medicaments composed of the Poyson of Serpents by the Agbares Scythians by Nation who for this purpose always followed the Court. To Fabius succeeded Triarius who brought a new Army of Lucullus his Forces with which he presently marched against Mithridates but as they were ready to engage both sides were forced to part there arising such a furious Tempest as had never being seen in the memory of man it threw down the Tents of both Camps carryed the Beasts of Burthen out of the way and likewise took up some Soldiers and threw them among the Precipices Upon the Rumour of Lucullus his coming Triarius desirous to do some memorable action whilst he commanded went about break of day to make an assault upon Mithridates Out-guards They sought a long time with equal Fortune but at last the King making an onset with the Wing in which he was began to overcome broke the Romans and drove their infantry into a miry Valley where the Soldiers not able to stand upright suffered themselves to be killed without any resistance After which pursuing his advantage he fell into the Rear of the Cavalry to whom he gave chase with much eagerness when a Roman Centurion Galloping by his side as if he had been one of his Train gave him a great wound with his Sword in the thigh for he was doubtful if he should have struck him in the Reins he should not have pierced his Armour The Roman was presently cut in pieces by the Guards and Mithridates carried into the Rear of his Army However they ceased not pursuing the Victory which had been much greater had not those who were about the King caused the retreat to be sounded This surprised those who followed the Chase and troubled them strangely for they were fearful left some misfortune were happened elsewere till such time as the thing being known they came and gathered in Throngs about the wounded King in the midst of the Plain where Timotheus his Chirurgion having stopt the blood showed them him standing as Alexander was in the Indies shown to the Macedonians who were in fear for his safety Mithridates himself would needs be drest upon the Arlop of a Ship to the end every one might see him where being somewhat recovered he reproved those who had caused the Retreat to be sounded and the same day caused his Army to march towards the Roman Camp which they for fear had already deserted there were found among the dead four and twenty Tribunes and one hundred and fifty Centurions nor ever did the Romans in one only defeat loose so many Officers After this Victory the King retired into Armenia called the less carrying along with him all Provisions that he could transport and corrupting what he left left if Lucullus came into that Country he should make use of them At the same time a certain Roman Senator called Attilius who for fear left process should be made against him had escaped to Mithridates and had by him been received with all possible demonstrations of friendship was convict of a plot against his person Yet he would not out of respect to his former Dignity let him be put to the Torture but was content to let him suffer an ordinary death but his accomplices were cruelly tormented save only those of his freed man to whom he had communicated his design whom the King let go because they had only obeyed their Master As for Lucullus he soon was come up to Mithridates and was now upon the point to engage with him when the Proconsul of Asia sent to proclaim through all the Province that the Senate blamed Lucullus for having spun out the War so long and therefore dismissed the Army injoyning the Soldiers not to stay any longer upon pain of confiscation of their Goods The news of this Ordinance being come to the Camp most began to file off there remaining only with Lucullus some poor Wretches who having nothing to loose feared no confiscations Thus Lucullus no more then those before him could not make an end of this War for the Allies being revolted in Italy and the City afflicted with Famine by reason that the Pyrates were Masters of the Sea it was not thought proper to embroyl themselves in so great a War till they were delivered from the present Inconveniences Mithridates having advice hereof entred into Cappadocia and began to reestablish himself in his own Kingdom which the Romans dissembled till such time as the Sea was cleared of Pyrates but after the Pyrates were defeated by Pompey and that he was come into Asia they renewed the War against Mithridates giving that great Captain Commission to be their General Wherefore what this great man acted on the Sea before he bore Arms against Mithridates making a part of that expedition and not relating to another History I am of the mind to make a Summary recital of it in the place Mithridates at the beginning of his first War against the Romans having made himself Master of Asia because Sylla was then imployed in Greece about Affairs of importance believing that his Dominion there would be of no long durance spoiled all that Country and continued all those Cruelties we have related He likewise at the same time sent forth Pyrates who at first coasting up and down with a few small Barques only got some booty but the War growing hot they encreased in Number and fitted out great Ships and afterwards finding a sweetness in the vastness of their gain whether the King
places Thus Pompey cleared the Seas without fighting and his Lieutenants every one in their Quarter took all the Corsairs that haunted there After this he went into Cilicia with a great number of Soldiers and Workmen and store of Engines believing he should be put to the assaulting after sundry manners those Forts built upon such high Rocks But the renown of his name alone and the vastness of his preparations struck such a terror into the Pyrates that they believed they should make the better composition if they yielded without fighting Those who were in the two largest Forts called Crague and Anticrague were the first who submitted at discretion and after them all those who held the Mountains of Cilicia one after another yielded themselves with great quantities of Arms either already furnished or else only begun in the Shops besides a great number of Ships some half built others ready to sail with Copper Iron Canvas Cordage and divers others Materials which they had gathered together for their use There were found also many Captives which they kept there some for Ransome others to labour in their works Pompey burnt all their unwrought Materials carried the Ships along with him and sent the Captives home many of whom found that their Funerals had been performed their friends believing them dead As for the Pyrates who appeared not to have engaged themselves in this kind of life but because they had lost their substance by the War he assigned them for their dwellings Malle Adane Epiphania and such other Cities as were but thinly inhabited in the upper Cilicia some of them likewise he sent to Dima in Achaia Thus the War against the Pyrates which all Men thought would have been long was ended in a few days by Pompey There were seventy two Ships taken three hundred yielded up with sixscore Towers Forts and others places of retreat and about ten thousand slain of those who stood out upon their Defence After this so expeditious victory the success of which exceeded all Mens hopes the Senate and People of Rome in acknowledgement of the great Service done by Pompey conferred on him signal Honors They gave him the Commission of the War against Mithridates continued to him the same Power to make Peace and War and at his own Arbitrement to declare Friends and Enemies to the People of Rome those whom he should think Worthy and over and above all this made him Generalissimo of all their Forces out of Italy Never before had the People of Rome given so much Power to one Man at once which possibly was the Reason why they called him GREAT for as to any thing else the other Generals had before left but little to do in this War Pompey then having Assembled the Forces of Asia went and encamped on the Frontiers of Mithridates Estates who had at present a very gallant Army composed of thirty thousand Foot and three thousand Horse all chosen Men raised upon his own Lands for the defence of his Kingdom Lucullus had not long before spoiled all that Country so that victuals were still scarce which made many of Mithridates Soldiers run into the Roman Army and though the King inflicted cruel punishment upon those were surprised in the attempt throwing some headlong down the Rocks squeezing out others eyes and burning some alive so that fear kept many of them in their duty yet did his Army by little and little wast by reason of the scarcity Which occasioned his sending Ambassadors to Pompey to demand upon what conditions he might have peace to which the Roman answered by delivering up the Runaways and yielding himself at discretion The King having reported this answer to the Revolters and seeing them terrified at it swore he never would have peace with the Romans because of their cruelty Nor would consent to any thing but what should be for the Common good of those had done him Service Whereupon Pompey having laid a party of Horse in Ambush sent the rest to skirmish with Mithridates Camp with Orders to give ground after the first charge as if they had been surprised with fear till such time as having drawn the Enemy into the Ambush they charged them both together And indeed the Romans put them to the Rout and might possibly have entred the Camp in the Rear of those that fled if Mithridates fearing the disorder had not drawn out his Foot and placed them in Order before the Camp which forced them to a retreat This was the first Engagement of Horse between the two parties At length the King oppressed for want of provisions returned into the heart of his Kingdom in hopes that the Enemy could not subsist in that ruined Country at least without much inconveniency But Pompey presently discamped and bringing in provisions along with him marched as far as the Eastern parts of the Kingdom where he caused a Line to be drawn of one hundred and fifty furlongs in length fortified with many Forts to inclose the King and cut of his passage to fetch in Corn and Forrage Mithridates gave no hindrance to this work either out of fear or out of imprudence which ordinarily precedes Calamity and soon found himself once more reduced to such want that he was forced to kill all the beasts of burthen to sustain his Army keeping only the Horses of Service With infinite trouble he made a shift to subsist thus for fifty days and afterwards with great silence made his escape by night through difficult ways On the morrow Pompey overtaking him fell upon his Rear-guard but the King notwithstanding all the Counsel of Friends would not give Battel but contenting himself to oppose the Romans with some Horse to keep him off gained towards Evening the Forrests which served him for Retreat The next day he possessed himself of a Village fortified with Rocks on all sides to which there was but one Avenue in which he placed four Regiments for Guard directly opposite to which the Romans went and pitched their Camp that so the King might have no way to escape On the morrow the two Armies betook themselves to their Arms very early and those which had the Guard on one Party and the other began the skirmish Some of the Kings Horsemen alighting from their Horses without Command went to assist their Infantry but seeing a great party of the Roman Cavalry come forward to the charge they all at once set a running towards the Camp to take their Horses that they might return to fight against the Romans on equal terms But those who were still above and ready to descend in a posture of fighting seeing these People run with great cries and in disorder and not knowing the reason believing that the Camp being taken on the other side they fled themselves likewise threw down their Arms and betook themselves to flight and because the way was narrow the croud was so great that they overthrew and tumbled one another down the Precipices Thus the Army
him being recovered he found all his Forces in a condition to march being composed of sixty Regiments of six hundred Men each besides multitudes of all sorts of People with quantity of Ships and strong places which his Captains had sieised upon during his distemper He therefore passed over a part of his Army to Phanagoria another Merchant City situate on the other side of the Strait to the end he might on both sides be Master of the passage Pompey was still in Syria but a certain Inhabitant of Phanagoria called Castor whom Tryphon the Kings Eunuch had formerly put to the Torture killed the Eunuch as he entred and began to cry out Liberty The people presently rose upon it and though the Fortress was guarded by Artaphernes and other Children of Mithridates yet they brought Wood round about it and set it on fire which so affrighted Artaphernes Darius Xerxes Oxathres and Eupator the Kings Sons that they yielded themselves They were all very beautiful but they were all but Children except only Artaphernes who might be forty years old there staid in the Fortress only one of their Sisters called Cleopatra who would not go out and whose generosity so much pleased the King that he sent Brigantines which brought her off All the Castles thereabouts which Mithridates had lately surprized followed the Example of Phanagoria Chersoneses Theodozia Nymphaea and other fortified Cities above in the Pontick Sea did the like insomuch that the King seeing so many revolts and not placing any confidence in the Fidelity of an Army most of whom went to the War by Constraint besides the great Exactions he had made to bring this Army on foot and his own unfortunate condition in which Estate a Prince can have no reliance on the Faith of his Subjects he sent some Eunuchs into Scythia with his daughters to give them in Marriage to the Kings of that Country entreating them to come to his succour with all the Force they had He had appointed these Eunuchs a guard of five hundred Soldiers for the Conduct of these Princesses but scarce had they lost sight of Mithridates but they slew the Eunuchs who by virtue of the power they had over the Kings Spirit had always tyrannized over them and carried the Ladies to Pompey The King though he had lost so many Children so many strong places nay indeed his whole Kingdom nor had now any hopes of aid from the Scythians abated not at all the fierceness of his courage nor entertained any thoughts that were mean or suitable to his present Calamity He formed a design to march into Gaul and stir up that people to Arms with whom he had to that purpose before hand made a league and entred into alliance thinking with them to cross the Alps and fall upon Italy where he had hopes many people would joyn with him out of the hate they bore the Romans for he had heard tell how Hannibal making Wars within Spain had laid the same design and succeeded and after so daring an attempt made himself formidable to his Enemies besides he had intelligence that almost all their allies in Italy were revolted against them out of a general hate and had a long time bore Arms against them and likewise favored to their prejudice the Gladiator Spartacus a vile fellow Upon these hopes he was ready to take his march towards Gaul if the Army terrifyed with such prodigious boldness had not made abortive these magnificent Designs The Soldiers seeing he had a mind to lead them so far off to encounter people they could not defend themselves from in their own Countrey thought that Mithridates despairing of his own Affairs thought it more honourable to die generously like a King then to lie idle and do nothing However they said nothing but received his orders without any murmuring for this King was a man of no mean Soul nor despisable in the very midst of Calamity Things being in this Estate Pharnaces the most beloved of all his Sons and whom he had often designed his Successor in the Kingdom laid a design against his life whether it were that he thought this expedition might prove prejudicial to his Affairs and blast the hopes he yet had the Romans would grant him pardon which he was sure they would absolutely refuse if his Father went to ravage Italy or whether it were for other reasons or else out of an impatient desire to reign His Complices being taken and put to torture Monophanes perswaded Mithridates that being ready to march it was not convenient to put to death a Son he had so tenderly loved that such disorders would happen during the War and would end with the War insomuch that he suffered himself to yield and pardoned his Son But Pharnaces being affrighted with some private intelligence given him and knowing that the Army had an aversion for this Expedition went by night and conferred with the Principal of the Roman Fugitives whose Tents were not far from the Kings aggravating to them the danger they ran into which was not unknown to them if they went into Italy and making them great Promises if they would stay with him he prevailed with them to forsake Mithridates At the same time he sent some of his people to the neighbouring Tents to make the same Proposition to the Officers who likewise gave him their word Morning being come the Runawayes began to shout all together to which those who were encamped next them answered in the same tone after them all the Army even to the very Fleet did the like It 's possible they were not all of the Conspiracy but those who were not engaged followed the others out of a natural facility men have to despise the miserable and to affect Novelty And some too not knowing the number of the Conspirators believed the whole Army concerned and believing themselves alone unable to resist such a Multitude shouted with the rest more for fear then good will Mithridates wakened by these cries sent some to them to know what they desired to whom they returned answer they demanded his Son for their King a young man for an old one overswayed by his Eunuchs and a Murderer of many of his Children Captains and Friends Having heard this return He came out to speak to them and in the mean time a Troop of his Guards going to joyn with the Runa wayes they told them they would not receive them unless to gain belief amongst them they would do some notable action and at the same time showed them the King They then killed his Horse seeing him dispose himself to flight and then as if they had done what was desired of them called Pharnaces King and some one having taken out of a Temple a certain Band of Parchment tyed it about his head instead of a Diadem the Old man seeing all this from a high Gallery whither he had escaped sent several Messengers one after another to his Son to desire security for his retreat but
multitude of other Persons with Governments and likewise with great Sums of Money He built also Cities Nicopolis in Armenia the less as a Monument of his Victory Eupatoria in the Kingdom of Pontus which Mithridates Eupator had called by his name when he founded it and afterwards had rased it for opening its Gates to the Romans which Pompey afterwards rebuilding from the ground called Magnopolis He reedifyed likewise Mazaca a Citie of Cappadocia which had been demolished during the War and repaired divers others which were ruined or decaying in divers places of Pontus Palestine the lower Syria and Cilicia in which last is scituated that City formerly called Soly and at present Pompeiopolis which he peopled for the most part with Pyrates He found in the City of Talauris where Mithridates Magazines were two thousand Vessels of Onichit is bound about with Gold quantity of Flagons Cups Tables and Seats all perfectly beautiful There were likewise such vast numbers of Bridles and Saddles enriched with Gold and precious Stons that the Questor was thirty daies in receiving and counting them One part of these precious moveables came to Mithridates by succession from Darius the Son of Histaspes having passed from hand to hand to the several Successors of the Kings of Persia unto him Cleopatra had taken another part out of the Treasures of the Ptolemies and given them in keeping to the Inhabitants of the Isle of Coos from whence Mithridates had brought them and the rest that King had bought and stored together himself being very curious of rich moveables Towards the end of Winter Pompey distributed rewards to his Victorious Soldiers fifteen hundred Attick Drams to every Soldier And to the Tribunes and Centurions proportionably so that it is said the whole Sum of this distribution amounted to sixteen thousand Talents After this he went from Ephesus to Italy by Sea and dismissing his Army at Brundusium returned to Rome And by this popular action astonished the Romans as if they had seen a Miracle The whole City went forth to meet him the youngest a great way and others according to their Age and after all came the Senate themselves admiring the prodigious greatness of the actions he had done For never before him had any person defeated so powerful an Enemy nor added so many Provinces to the Roman Empire or extended their Dominion to the Euphrates And in like manner he entred in Triumph in in a more Magnificent manner then ever any had done before in the five and thirtieth year of his age The Pomp lasted two days for it required a great deal of time for the passing by of so many different People Ponticks Armenians Cappadocians Cilicians the several Nations of all Syria Albanians Heniochians Acheans Scythians and Iberians He brought likewise into the Ports seven hundred Ships compleatly fitted and sent into the City Chariots laden with Gold and Rarities of inestimable price among which was the Table of Darius the Son of Histaspes the Chair and Scepter of Eupator with his Figure of Massie Gold eight foot high and yet was only the Breast and Head and seven hundred thousand five hundred and ten Talents of Silver Money There were likewise a great number of Waggons laden with Arms and some with Ship Beaks After followed a multitude of Captives and Pyrates chained and habited every one according to the fashion of his Country before the Triumphal Chariot marched the Satrapes Captains and Sons of Kings some Captives others Hostages to the number of four hundred twenty four Among whom was Tigranes the Son of Tigranes five Sons of Mithridates Artaphernes Cyrus Oxathres Darius and Xerxes and two Daughters Orsabaris and Eupatra and among the rest Olthalces and Aristobulus King of Colchis and the Jews the Tyrants of Cilicia and the Queens of Scythia Three Iberian Generals two of the Albanians with Menander of Laodicea who commanded Mithridates Horse Those absent were carried in Picture Tigranes and Mithridates fighting giving ground and flying Mithridates besieged his secret flight by night his death and with him his two Daughters companions of his misfortune there were shown likewise the Pictures of his Children of both Sexes that dyed before him and the Figures of the Gods adored by the Barbarians adorned after the manner of their Country and neer to them a fair Table with this Inscription Ships of War taken eight hundred Cities built in Cappadocia eight in Cilicia and Caelosyria twenty in Palestine Seleucia Kings overcome Tigranes of Armenia Artoces of Iberia Oreses of Abania Darius of the Medes Areta of the Nabathaeans and Antiochus Commagenes Then appeared Pompey on a Chariot all glittering with precious Stones clad as some say in the Coat of Alexander of Macedon but if that may be believed 't is likely it was found among Cleopatra's Movables which the Inhabitants of the Isle of Coos delivered to Mithridates At last after the Chariot marched the Officers of the Army who had served him in this expedition some on Horseback others on foot who all together conducted their General to the Capitol When he was arrived there he put not to death any of the Captives as all who triumphed before him had done but sent them back into their own Countries at the publique charge except only the Kings and Kings Children of whom he not long after put to death Aristobulus and after him Tigranes As for Pharnaces he in the mean time kept the Inhabitants of Phanagoria blockt up till such time as Famine made them resolve to give him Battel however the King granted their pardon and without injuring any of them was content to take Hostages Sometime after he took Sinope and desirous to make himself Master of Amisa he made War upon Calvisius who then Commanded the Roman Forces in the Country in the time that Caesar and Pompey were engaged against each other and at last the Romans being elsewhere busied he was driven out of Asia by Asander upon a particular Quarrel He had likewise to do with Iulius Caesar as he returned from Aegypt after the Rout of Pompey which happened about that Mount where his Father had beaten Triarius and being beaten escaped to Sinope with a thousand Horse whither Caesar wanting leasure to follow him sent Domitius to whom he yielded the City who after he was come out with his Cavalry according to the Articles of Peace agreed between them caused all the Horses to be killed which did not well please the Horsmen with whom Shipping himself he retired by Sea to the Kingdom of Pontus As soon as he came there he assembled a great number of Sâ—ythians and Sarmatians and made himself Master of Theodotia and Panticapea but Asander renewing the War with him his Horsemen being dismounted and not used to fight on foot were beaten and Pharnaces showing himself the only man of Valour was slain after having received many wounds the fiftieth year of his Age and fifteenth of his Reign in Bosphorus C. Caesar gave his Kingdom
to Mithridates of Pergamus who had served him well in Aegypt but at this day all those people are free and there are yearly Praetors sent into the Kingdoms of Pontus and Bithynia Caesar confirmed all those who had received favours from Pompey in the Estates and Governments he had given them though he complained they had taken part with their Benefactor to his Prejudice save only the priest-hood of Commanes which he took from Archelaus to give to Nicomedes But some time after not only these Estates but also all that C. Caesar and M. Anthony had given to others were reunited to the Roman Empire after that Augustus became Master of Aegypt for the Romans let slip no opportunity to enlarge their Empire Wherefore having extended it by the Mithridatick War from the Euxine Sea to the sandy Desarts of Aegypt and from the Pillars of Hercules which are in Spain to the Euphrates It was not without reason they called this Victory great or gave to Pompey who made all these Conquests the Title of Greaâ— they possessed likewise all Africa as far as Cyrene it self which was given them by the Testament of Appion the last King of that Countrey who was a Bastard of the Race of the Lagides so that to have the whole Circuit of the Mediterranian Sea they wanted only Aegypt which was their last Conquest The end of the fourth Book of the Romans War with Mithridates APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars IN ILLYRIA PART I. BOOK V. The Argument of this Book I. DEscription of Illyria and those who first inhabited it II. Apollo 's Chastisement of the Illyrians Sacriledge III. The Romans War with Agron King of Illyria IV. Their Wars against Demetrius and against Genthius V. Against the Ardians Palarians Iapodes Segestians and Dalmatians VI. The affairs of C. Caesar with the Dalmatians and other Nations of Illyria VII Beginning of Augustus Conquests in Illyria VIII His War against the Iapodes and the Siege of Metulia IX His Wars against the Segestians and Paeonians X. His Expedition against the Dalmatians and the siege of Promona XI The Conclusion of this History THE Illyrians according to the opinion of the Greeks are the People that inhabit above Macedon and Thrace from the Charnians and the Thesprotes as far as the Ister and this is the Length of Illyria its breadth extends from Macedon and the Mountains of Thrace as far as the Paeonians and the Ionian Sea and the end of the Alps. It contains five days Journey in breadth and its length is thrice as much as the Greeks report the Romans after measuring it found it six thousand Furlongs long and twelve hundred broad and assure us that it took its name from Illyrius Polyphemus and that Polyphemus the Cyclops had three Sons by Galatea Celtus Illyrius and Gallus who going out of Sicily gave their Names to the Celtes Illyrians and Galatians of which Nation they made themselves Kings and indeed this opinion seems to me the most probable of all They say likewise that Illyrius had sons Achilles Autarius Dardanus Medus Taulantius and Perhebius and Daughters Partha Daorta Dazera and others from whom are descended the Taulantians Perhebians Achilleians Autarians Dazeretians and Darsians That Autarius had two Sons Pannonius or rather Paeonius and Scordiscus from which Paeonius came Triballius who all three gave their names to three Nations as we learn in Ancient Records Illyria therefore as we find to this day by several Publick Testimonies in that great Countrey was formerly possessed by the Scordisks and Triballians who continually made War till such time as those that remained of the Triballians went away to the Getes above the Ister And this Nation which to the time of Philip and Alexander had a great reputation is at this day so utterly decayed that there scarce remains to us the memory of its name The Scordicks are likewise much weakned for being subdued by the Romans they retreated within the Isles of the River Ister However sometime after a party returned and inhabited a Corner of Paeonia Wherefore the Scordisks are to this day reckoned among the Paeonians The Autarians who likewise possessed a good tract on the Sea Coast were likewise driven out by the Ardians After that the Liburnians who were esteemed excellent Seamen came and setled themselves in a part of Illyria from whence they scoured all the Ionian Sea plundring all the Ships they met with and because they had Ships very swift and extreamly light the Romans call Vessels that excel in swiftness Liburnicks 'T is said that Apollo's anger was the cause of the utter destruction of the Autarians and that they going with those Celtes that are called Cimbrians to besiege the City of Delphos were forthwith defeated and took their flight in disorder some of them not staying till the battel began by reason of the Rain Tempest and Thunder which terrified them Those who returned found their whole Country covered with infinite multitudes of Frogs who stinking poisoned the Rivers with their putrefaction and that at last the Earth casting forth Malignant Vapors bred a cruel Plague in Illyria This Malady siesed chiefly on the Autarians who leaving their Country carried the Contagion along with them so that no person durst receive them after three and twenty days travel they stopt in a marshy and unhabited Country and built Cities on the Confines of the Basternes As for the Celtes Apollo sent into their Country such Earthquakes as swallowed up whole Cities at once and that this Calamity ceased not till they as well as the others had quitted their habitations and come into Illyria where finding the Associates of their crime extreamly weakned by the Plague which had swept away the greatest part of them they easily overcame them but the Contagion siesing likewise upon them by their touching of infected Cloths they departed thence and for change of air went as far as the Pyrenaeans Afterwards taking their way towards the East the Romans who were fearful lest the Celtes with whom they had several times been engaged should once more pass the Alps and fall into Italy sent against them their Consuls who were defeated with their whole Army This defeat of the Consuls and the dreadful name of the Celtes struck a terror throughout all Italy till such time as having chosen Marius General who had lately gained a great Victory against the Lybians Numidians and Marusians they overcame the Cimbrians and afterwards had the better of them in several Engagements as we have set down in the recital of the Roman Wars against the Gauls So that weakned by such vast effusion of blood and grown hopeless of settling themselves in any other place they again recovered their Ancient Seat after having done much mischief and suffered innumerable losses And here ended Apollo's punishment of the impiety of the Illyrians and Celtes Yet this deterred them not from afterwards committing other Sacriledges for at another
time part of those two Nations and especially the Scordisks Medes and Dardanians made inroads into Macedonia and likewise into Greece robbing many Temples and assaulting that of Delphos where they again lost a great Number of their People Two and thirty years after the first Battel between the Romans and the Celtes during which they had several Engagements the Romans who had already conquered Greece and Macedon declared War against them for the like Sacriledge and gave L. Scipio the Command of their Armies The Fame has reached even to our times that their Neighbors were the Companions of their Impiety but remembring the punishment of the Autarians of whom not one was left alive in Illyria left them to Scipio's mercy without giving them any assistance And that Scipio having cut in pieces all the Scordisks except a small Number who saved themselves on the other side of Ister and on the Isles of that River suffered himself to be bribed with the Sacred Gold and for it made an Alliance with the Medes and Dardanians which gave occasion to some Historians of Italy to write that this corruption was the cause of all the Civil Wars wherewith the Romans were tormented from Scipio's time till the Establishing of the Monarchy These were the Greeks opinions of the Illyrians on which I was willing to enlarge my self As for the Romans they reckon with them not only the People we have spoken of but likewise the Paeonians which are beyond them and the Rhetians the Naricks and the Mysians which inhabit in Europe and also all the Neighboring People which lie on the right hand of Ister whom they distinguish as the Hellens and the Greeks by particular Names but in General call them all Illyrians This opinion which they have held from the beginning and persist in it till our times hath been the cause that they have not yet found out the limits of those Nations and that they set the bounds of Illyria from the Springs of Ister far as the people upon the Pontick Sea where they levy Tribute I know not well in what manner the Romans subdued them So in writing the affairs of Gaul I have declared that I could not gain a sufficient and ample knowledge of the beginnings and occasions of these Wars wherefore I have exhorted those who had the better knowledge of the Affairs of Illyria to write the History of them In the mean time I shall present the publick with such things as are come to my knowledge Agron King of that part of Illyria situate on the Gulf of the Ionian Sea once possessed by Pyrrhus and his Successors became likewise Master of a Corner of Epyrus and with that of Corcyra Epidamnum and Pharos under pretence of protecting them And being at Sea to sieze upon the rest of Ionia a certain Island called Issa revolted from him to submit to the Romans and at the same time sent Deputies to Rome to complain of the oppressions they had suffered under Agron As they returned they were assaulted by the Illyrians who slew their Deputy called Calemporus and a Roman Commissary who according to the opinion of some was Carnicanus which struck such despair into the rest of their Company that they all slew themselves The Romans as it said took this occasion to declare War against the Illyrians and assaulted the Illyrians both by Sea and Land Mean while Agron died leaving only a Son yet under age called Pina and to oblige his Wife to take care of the Child though she were not his Mother left her Regent of the Kingdom Demetrius to whom Agron had given the Government of Pharos having likewise siezed upon Corcyra delivered both to the Romans who then kept the Sea with a Fleet they afterwards drew Epidamnum to their party and the Issians and Epidamnians being besieged by the Illyrians they sent an Army to their relief who made the Illyrian forces raise their sieges and return home but some of them called the Atintanes went and submitted to the Romans This occasioned Agrons Wife to send Ambassadors to Rome restoring the Captives and Fugitives and demanding pardon by remonstrating that what was past ought to be imputed to Agron and not to her to which the Senate answered that Corcyra Pharos Issa and Epidamnum as also those Illyrians called Atintanes belonged now to the Roman Empire That they would leave to Pina all the remainder of that Country possessed by his Father and receive him into the Alliance of the Roman People on condition he medled not with any of the rest nor suffered the Illyrians to sail to the Island of Issa save only with two boats unarmed These conditions the Ambassadors accepted and this was the first War and the first Peace between the Romans and those of Illyria After this the Romans set at liberty Corcyra and Apollonia and rewarded Demetrius for his treason because of the advantage they had gained by it not but that they hated his Infidelity of which they themselves soon after found the effects For when the Romans and the Celtes were engaged one against the other about the River Eridanus Demetrius who thought they had their hands full beginning not to be so much afraid of them as before went about to lord it at Sea and made himself Master of the Istrians and forced the Atintanes to revolt against the Romans but they as soon as they had made Peace with the Celtes set out a Fleet to Sea and took the Corsairs who were joyned with Demetrius and the revolted Illyrians As for Demetrius he at first escaping to Philip King of Macedon and afterwards retreating into the Country and committing Pyracies on the Ionian Sea 's with some few Ships they slew him at last and utterly ruined Pharos his Country as an Abettor of his mischiefs But for the Illyrians they pardoned them for Pina's sake who had kindly received them This was the second War and second Peace with the Illyrians Now in the pursuit of this History I shall neither respect time nor order but content my self to write the affairs of every particular Illyrian Nation as far as I have learnt them The Romans having sent their Armies into Macedon against Perseus who then possessed that Kingdom by succession from Philip Genthius another King of Illyria prevailed with by the Macedonians Money entred into an Alliance with him and engaged himself in this War He forthwith stirred up the Illyrians against the Romans and laid in Irons those Ambassadors they sent under pretence they were not come within his Lands as Ambassadors but as Spies Wherefore Anitius the Roman Praetor being then at Sea took some of that Kings Ships and afterwards Landing in his Country defeated him and afterwards so closely besieged in a place that he only asked for quarter Upon which the Praetor returning answer that he could grant him no other terms then surrendring at discretion he desired three days to consider of it which being
it came to the Vote Gracchus had those of the two first Tribes Whereupon the rich men cryed out that it was not allowed by Law to continue the same dignity in the same Person and Rubrius Tribune of the people whom Lot made President of the Assembly making a demur upon it Mummius the Successor of Octavius obliged him to resign his place and suffer him to gather the Votes but the rest of the Tribunes maintained that Lots ought again to be drawn for the Preheminence and that Rubrius Resignation could not be made but in equal favour of all the Tribunes In this Contest Gracchus seeing his Party the weakest adjourned the Assembly till the morrow and finding his Affairs grow desperate before he was dismissed of his Charge he spent the rest of that day in the place in mourning having his Son with him whom he recommended to all he met as foreseeing himself likely to perish by the violence of his Enemies The Rabble moved to compassion for the man and withal judging that there must be no more talk of Equality between them and the other Citizens but they must resolve to suffer the Tyrannick Rule of the Rich if they forsook their Protector in the danger he was in for their sakes they carryed him to his house in the evening and wished him to be couragious next morning Hereupon he took heart and assembling before it was day those of his Faction gives them a word in case there should be occasion to fight and so seizes on the Capitol and place of Assembly The rich men by the joyning of some Tribunes with them having hindred Votes to be taken about his Continuation he gave to his Party the Signal agreed upon between them whereupon they rose with great clamour and straightway fell to blows some gathering about his Person as his Guards and others tucking up their Robes snatching the Rods out of the Lictors hands and untying them drave all the rich Men out of the Assembly with many blows and wounds in so much that the Tribunes affrighted fled and the Priests shut up the Temple The terror of those who ran flying up and down filled all the City with disorder and uncertain rumors Some said Gracchus had taken the Tribuneship from his Colleagues which seemed the more credible because none of them appeared in publick And others that without expecting the people's Votes he had created himself Tribune Mean while the Senate assembled in the Temple of Faith And surely it is to me a wonder that neither now nor afterwards it entred into the thoughts of any of the Fathers to propose the saving way of a Dictator so often tryed in the like Commotions After a short Consultation they ascended the Capitol led by Cornelius Scipio Nasica High Priest who having cryed aloud that all who loved the safety of the Commonwealth should follow him cast one of the Skirts of his Robe over his shoulder and over his head whether for a sign to assemble the multitude or to give them Signal of Battel or to testifie his respect to the Gods in concealing from them the design he had in his heart Being come to the Capitol and Gracchus people having made way for that great Man at the head of the Senate those that followed him snatcht the Clubs out of their Enemies hands and getting pieces of Forms which they broke or any thing that might serve for offence they fell upon the others with so much fury that they drove the greatest part of them down the Precipices and slew Gracchus himself near the Temple Gates before the Statues of their Kings with a great number of his followers whose bodies were in the night cast into Tyber Thus ended Gracchus Son to a Father that had been twice Consul and to Cornelia Daughter to Scipio the Affrican He was slain being Tribune and in the Capitol serving his Country but with too much violence And this Riot the most infamous we have upon Record was committed in the sacred place where Magistrates are chosen His death wrought two different effects in men's minds some rejoyced and others mourned for many lamented not less their own condition than his calling the present State not the Republick but the Insolence of the victorious Party whilst others believing they had nothing more to fear found themselves at the top of their wishes All this happened in the time of that War when Aristonicus fought with the people of Rome for the Empire of Asia After Gracchus death Appius being likewise deceased Fulvius Flaccus and Papirius Carbo together with the young Gracchus undertook to cause the Law about Lands to be put in Execution And when the ancient Possessors stood off what they could to hinder the Arpentage or Division of Lands they caused Proclamation to be made that whosoever would might summon them before them which gave Rise to numberless difficult Law-Suits for all contiguous Lands that either had been sold or divided fell into dispute to know how they were sold or divided no Writing of Sale appearing and many having lost the Possession of what was let out to them by Division and besides whatever did appear done by contract was very doubtful And moreover in making a general Survey in order to a new Division some who had sowed or otherwise improved their Farms were transplanted to a corner that at present lay Fallow and others from Arable to a Wast Clay or Marshy Ground For from the first there had been no very exact Division made of the Lands gained from the Enemy And because it was enacted that Lands so set out should be tilled by the Possessors some that were more diligent had advanced upon their Neighbours and so confounded the Bounds Besides time having changed the face of places it was no easie matter to discover the Incroachments of the rich Men though they were very great In a word by the often change of Dwellings all things were in confusion and disorder The Italians tired with their Law-Suits and feeling themselves oppressed with the Execution of Judgments that they might be no longer subject to these Injustices besought Cornelius Scipio the African to undertake their Protection They had served him so well in many occasions of War that he could not refuse them his Assistance He therefore went to the Senate where at first dash he struck not directly at the Law for fear to offend the people but having touched somewhat upon the difficulty of the Affair he moved that the cognizance of such Causes as should happen might be taken from the Tribunes as Men suspected and others be sent in their stead His Opinion being found very just the Senate confirmed it by Decree and gave the Commission to Tuditanus then Consul But he having undertaken a business which he found very difficult taking for a pretence the War of Illyria went into that Province and no man longer acknowledging the Triumvirs for Judges all matters were at a stand This lost Scipio in the hearts of
General sent to Cosconius that he should either pass the River and he would retire or that he should retire and himself would pass the River that they might come to a Battel Cosconius chose rather to retire and as soon as Trebatius was passed defeated him pursuing his routed Men to the River side where most of them were drowned So that the Enemy lost fifteen thousand men and the rest with Trebatius escaped into Canusa Cosconius after this Victory went to spoil the Countries of Larinate Venusa and Pouilla and assaulting the Pediculi in two days became Master of all the Nation who came and submitted themselves His Successor Cecilius Metellus to whom he delivered up the Army defeated those of Pouilla in a Battel where Popedius one of the Authors of the Rebellion being killed the Remainder of his Forces came by Bands to submit to the Conqueror Thus the War of the Allies continued with much heat until in the end all Italy obtained the Right of free Citizens of Rome save only the Lucanians and the Samnites who notwithstanding soon after were admitted as well as the rest and distributed by Tribes as we have said before for fear they should have more Votes than the ancient Citizens being indeed more numerous About the same time there arose another Tumult in the City about Debts for some exacted the Interest of money lent with more rigor than was permitted by the ancient Laws For it seems the Romans as well as the Greeks abhorred Usury as a Trade ruinous to the Poor and an occasion of Law-Suits and Enmities The Persians themselves had no better opinion of it and made the difference but very small between the practice of it and cheating and lying Notwithstanding because Usury was now permitted by a Custom introduced some years past the Creditors had some Right to demand it but the Debtors delayed Payment under pretence of Wars and Tumults Some there were likewise that seeing themselves oppressed by the Usurers threatned to have them condemned in a Fine Asellio the Pretor Judge of these matters did all he could to compose all Differences but not being able to compass it he left them to the Law after having explained to the other Judges as in a difficult matter what was Right and what was Custom Whereupon the Usurers who could not endure mention should be made of the old Laws got rid of the Pretor in this manner One day as he sacrificed in the Temple of Castor surrounded with a great Croud of people as is ordinary some one having thrown a Stone at him he set down the Cup and began to â—ly towards the Temple of Vesta but being prevented by others who stopt his passage he ran into a Tavern to hide himself where they cut his throat In this Confusion many who thought he had escaped into the Cloister of the Vestals pursuing him with too much heat of passion ran into those places where men cannot enter without Sacrilege Thus was Asellio the Praetor killed in exercising his Office clad in the holy Habit of Cloth of Gold worn only on solemn Festivals about two of the Clock in the middle of the place and offering a Sacrifice The Senate caused to be published by sound of Trumpet that they would give to whoever should discover the Authors of this Murder a Reward in Money if a Free Man his Liberty if a Slave and Pardon if one of the Accomplices Yet they could never gain any intelligence of it for the Usurers took a course to stifle even the Memory of this Riot which we may likewise reckon among the Tumults of the City It was followed by those Differences which happened between the Chiefs of the Factions who as in open War assailed each other with formed Armies each proposing no less price of his Victory than his Country of which he pretended to become Master It was immediately after the War of the Allies that these Dissentions took Birth and thus they began After that Mithridates King of Pontus and other Countries had seized on Bythinia Phrygia and the neighbouring Asia as we have said in one of our former Books Sylla then Consul obtained for his part of the Government the Province of Asia with Commission for the War against Mithridates Before his departure from the City Marius who thought there would be more profit than danger in this War and besides spurred forward with a desire to Command engaged by a World of Promises P. Sulpitius Tribune of the People to serve him in this Affair and at the same time put the new Citizens in hopes to raise them to an Equality with the old ones in their Votes and cause them to be distributed among the ancient Tribes By doing them this kindness he laboured for himself of which though he made no shew yet was it only for his own ends he sought their favour Sulpitius presently made a Law which if it had passed had given Marius the whole Authority in the Commonwealth so much would the New Citizens have out-voted the Old by reason of their numbers The old ones who perceived it opposed it with all their might and at last upon this difference they grew to so much heat as to come to handy Strokes and Stones The mischiefs increasing the Consuls fearing lest in the Assembly which was nigh at hand they should come to the last Extremities ordained Feasts for several days like to the solemn ones with intent to prolong the time of the Assembly and the danger wherewith the City was threatned But Sulpitius without having regard to the Feasts gave order to those of his Faction to meet forthwith upon the place with Arms under their Gowns to make use of upon occasion even against the Consuls themselves And prepared in this manner he began to declare against these Feasts as unlawful commanding Sylla and Q. Pompey to revoke them at that very moment that the People might pass their Suffrages concerning the Laws This discourse raised a great Tumult Swords were drawn as before was agreed on and the Points presented to the Consuls who would not yet give way to it till such time as Pompey luckily and nimbly getting away Sylla withdrew under pretence to go and consider of it Mean while Pompey Son to the Consul and Son in Law to Sylla for having spoken something I know not what too freely was slain by Sulpitius Faction and Sylla returning in a small time after revoked the Feasts and at the same instant went away for Capua where his Army lay with design to march from thence into Asia against Mithridates for as yet he knew not the Plot laid against him The Feasts being revoked and Sylla gone Sulpitius passed the Law about which so much stir had been made and withal instead of Sylla gave Commission to Marius to make War against Mithridates Sylla having advice hereof resolved to defend his Commission with Arms And to this end draws together his Soldiers who hoped as well as he every man to
to Minturnum where as he slept in a Room into which there came not a spark of light the Magistrate of the City fearing the Decree of the Roman People whilst on the other side he himself could not resolve to kill a man who had been six times Consul and done such great things gave it in commission to a certain Gaul he met by chance whom he furnished with a Sword to that purpose But this man as report goes drawing near Marius's Bed in the dark grew fearful because he imagined he saw a flame dart out of his eyes and when he raising himself up cryed out Darest thou kill Caius Marius The Gaul astonished fled hastily out of the Chamber roaring with a loud voice that he could not kill Marius Whereupon the Magistrate who before with much inward trouble had resolved upon the action was now touched with a sense of Religion besides he remembred the presage which when Marius was yet an Infant promised him the seventh Consulship For 't is said there fell upon his Bosom seven Eaglets whereupon the Divines foretold that he should seven times obtain supreme Honour Those of Minturnium seriously weighing this and judging what had happened to the Gaul came from above forthwith led Marius out of the Town to a place where he might be in greater safety who knowing that Sylla's Horsemen sought after him left that place and went towards the Sea-side through By-ways till he found a small Cabbin into which he entred and laid himself down among the Leaves to repose himself a little he had not lain there long but he heard a noise which made him creep closer under the leaves but then the noise increasing he leaped into a Fisher-boat which lay there by chance out of which he put an old Fellow that was the Master of it and then cutting the Boat-rope which fastened it and hoisting Sail left himself to Fortune he was carried to a certain Isle where he saw by accident pass by a Ship in which he knew some of his Friends with whom he went into Africa yet he could not land being hindred by Sextus Governour of that Province because of his being declared Enemy so he was forced to spend that Winter on the Numidian Sea The news whereof being come to Cethegus Granius Albinovanus Lectorius and those others condemned by the same Judgment and who leaving the City with Marius the Son had taken Sanctuary in the Court of Mandrestal King of Numidia they embarqued and came to Marius being themselves likewise jealous lest that King should deliver them to the Enemy They wanted neither good will nor courage to assault their Country after Sylla's example but because they had yet no Army they waited only an opportunity Mean while Sylla who was the first ever made himself Master of the City by Arms contenting himself with being revenged on his Enemies without doing any violence to the other Citizens sent his Army before to Capua and resumed the charge of Consul But the Faction of the Fugitives and principally the rich with some well monied women no longer standing in fear of Arms desired the return of their Citizens so that they spared neither pains nor cost nor the attempting the lives of the Consuls themselves for they thought their design would never take effect so long as they lived As for Sylla he might be safe in the midst of that Army granted him by the Senate to make War upon Mithridates who would not forsake him though his Consulate were expired but for Pompey his Colleague he was in great danger so the people took compassion of him and gave him the Government of Italy with the Army then commanded by Cn. Pompey This mightily troubled Cneus yet when Quintus was come to the Army and on the morrow began to exercise his Command the other submitted to him as a private man but a short time after all the Soldiery being crowded about the Consul under pretence of hearing what he said he was slain and upon the action every one flying a several way Cn. came in feigning to be mightily troubled as at a Villany committed against all Right and Justice However his anger lasted not long but he presently resumed the Command of the Army When the Consuls death was known in the City Sylla began to be fearful of himself and after walked not the Streets without a good company of Friends who deserted him not by night but not staying long after he departed for Capua and thence took his march towards Asia After this the Friends of those Banished supported by the authority of Cinna Successor to Sylla in the Dignity of Consul began to let the new Citizens know the design Marius had to mingle them among the ancient Tribes to the intent that not giving their Votes last they might have as much power in the Common-wealth as others which was the first cause of Marius and the other Exiles return The ancient Citizens opposed it all they could upheld by Octavius the other Consul while Cinna stood for the new suspected to have been corrupted by three hundred Talents he had received Now those of Cinna's Party came to the place armed with Swords under their Gowns where with loud cries they began to demand their being mixed among the other Tribes but the best part of the people came in like manner armed about Octavius who attended in his House what would be the issue of this Tumult They brought him word that the greatest part of the Tribunes opposing the Demand the new Citizens had with Swords driven them from the Rostrum upon report of which he hastens by the Via Sacra followed by a good company of men of Valour and like a Torrent falls in upon the Assembly passes over the Bodies of those that first encountred him disperses the multitude and after having terrified the contrary Party returns to the Temple of Castor and Pollux without doing any more for his Colleagues sake to whom he bore respect But those which followed him without staying for his command threw themselves upon the new Citizens and after the killing of many pursued the rest to the City Gates Cinna who confident in the multitudes of the Countrymen had promised himself Victory when he perceived courage had made the lesser number victorious he ran through the City and called the Slaves to liberty but when he saw no person joyn with him he went out to the Neighbouring Cities to whom the Right of Freedom had been granted as Tibur Praeneste and others as far as Nola and after having solicited them to revolt began to raise money to defray the Expence of the War Whilst he made preparation for the execution of his Designs C. Milonius Q. Sertorius and another C. Marius Senators of the same Faction came to him But the Senate declared Cinna for having forsaken the Common-wealth in imminent danger and called the Slaves to Liberty to have forfeited his Freedom of the City and Dignity of Consul and substituted
and Cassius Tribunes go to Caesar who receives them as Friends X. Caesar passing the Rubicon strikes a general terrour into Rome XI Pompey leaves Rome goes to Capua the Consuls and most of the Senate follow him He carries over his Forces to Dyrrhachium which he makes his Seat of War XII Caesar comes to Rome thence goes to Spain to make War with Petreius and Afranius XIII Curio goes to Africa is defeated and slain XIV Caesar appeases a Mutiny of his Army at Placenâ—ia and prepares to pass into Epire. XV. Pompey having made his Preparations makes a Speech to his Army and sends Garrisons into Thessaly XVI Caesar after encouraging those Forces he finds at Brundusium goes over Sea in Winter and takes some places XVII Caesar endeavouring to seize Dyrrhachium is prevented by Pompey XVIII Caesar endeavouring to come over Sea himself to fetch the Remainder of his Forces out of Italy being driven â—ack by Storm sends Posthumus in his stead XIX Anthony being landed with the rest of Caesar's Forces in Dalmatia some light Skirmishes happen XX. Pompey gains a great Victory over Caesar. XXI Caesar retreats with his Army into Thessaly and encamps about Pharsalia XXII Pompey hopes to overcome him by Famine without fighting XXIII At length he yields to give him Battel XXIV Number of the Forces on both sides XXV Pompey and Caesar encourage their Armies XXVI They draw into Battel and give Orders XXVII The Battel of Pharsalia XXVIII Pompey escapes into Egypt where he is murdered XXIX Caesar follows revenges his death and thence goes against Pharnaces in Asia XXX He returns to the City where after appeasing his mutinous Soldiers he resolves on his Expedition into Africa XXXI He defeats Scipio and the rest of Pompey's Party XXXII The death of Cato at Utica and the end of the African War XXXIII Caesar returns to the City triumphs and rewards his Soldiers XXXIV He goes into Spain and puts an end to the whole War XXXV He returns to the City where he takes on him the Sovereign Authority XXXVI Lays a Design of War against the Parthians and is thereupon slain in the Senate XXXVII Brutus and Cassius retire to the Capitol XXXVIII They treat an Accommodation with Lepidus and Anthony XXXIX Question put in the Senate if they ought to be justified which Anthony with much Artifice opposes XL. He comes to the place of Orations where the People applaud him he speaks against Brutus and Cassius in open Senate XLI Piso about to produce Caesar's Will Brutus and Cassius endeavour to justifie their Action XLII They descend from the Capitol but are forced to leave the City Caesar's Funeral Honours celebrated XLIII His Elegy and Comparison between him and Alexander THe Dominion of Sylla and all those things which passed afterwards in Spain under the Conduct of Sertorius and Perpenna were followed by divers Commotions till the Civil War of Caesar and Pompey which ended by the death of Pompey after which Caesar himself was slain in the Senate as may be seen in this Second Book of the Civil Wars Now when Pompey had cleared all the Seas of Pyrates than whom a greater Number was never seen in the Memory of Man brought to his end Mithridates King of Pontus and reduced his Kingdom and those other Countries he had conquered into what Form he pleased Caeser was yet but a very young Man he was Eloquent Capable of great things Hardy Presumptuous Ambitious beyond his Power and being yet but Aedile and Praetor was run prodigiously in debt to gain the favour of the People which is usually given to the most prodigal Catiline now likewise appeared at Rome being of one of the best Families of the City but of no sound Wisdom and besides of an ill Reputation being suspected to have committed a Parricide on his own Son that he might espouse Aurelia Oristilla whom he was in Love with and who would not contract Marriage with him as long as he had Children He was with all this a great Friend of Sylla's and very affectionate to his Party Being fallen into Poverty by his ambitious Profuseness and yet considerable among many powerful Persons as well Men as Women he set himself to demand the Consulate as a Step to raise him to the Tyranny But he fell from his hopes most Men having conceived an ill Opinion of him because they perceived him affect an Authority not fit to be suffered in a Free City Being then refused the Consulate which was given to Cicero a Man well spoken of and very eloquent he began to mock at the Suffrages of the People who had chosen this Consul whom out of Raillery he called New Man for they had got a custom to give that name to those who rendred themselves Illustrious not by the Glory of their Ancestors but their own proper Vertue and because that he was not born in the City they said that he was an Inmate like those that lie in hired Lodgings After that time he medled no more with the Government of the Commonwealth judging that it exposes Men to Trouble and Envy and sets them not a Round higher towards mounting to the Tyranny Notwithstanding he drew great Summs of Money from many of those Women who weary of their Husbands hoped to get rid of them if any Change happened in the State and with some Senators a quantity of Roman Knights Plebeians Slaves nay very Strangers formed a Conspiracy to seize on the Commonwealth But his greatest Confidents in this Affair were Cornelius Lentulus and Cethegus at that present Proetors of the City He sent likewise throughout all Italy people to solicite those who being enriched in Sylla's time had ill spent what they had ill got and would be very well content to reach at such another Fortune He sent C. Manlius to Fesulae and others to the Marches of Ancona and into Pouilla secretly to levy Soldiers The first advice of all these secret Preparations was given to Cicero by Fulvia a Woman of Quality with whom Q. Curius one of the Conspirators expelled the Senate for his scandalous life was deeply in Love He boasted to his Mistress that in a short time she should see him a great Lord. Already the noise of the Attempts of those who had been sent throughout all Italy increased when the Consul set Guards in the City and sent certain Persons of Quality to the suspected Places But Catiline though no one durst yet arrest him because the business was not absolutely discovered was fearful lest Delay should increase the Suspition and hoping that the greatest diligence would be most advantageous to him sent Money before to Fesulae gave Order to the Conspirators to kill Cicero and be night to set fire on divers Quarters of the City and he causing Rods and Axes to be bore before him as a Pro-Consul and raising Soldiers all the way he passed goes to find out Caius Manlius with design to fall upon the City as soon as it should be set on fire
much the more the good Grace of the Citizens he gave them often the Divertisements of Shows and Chases by which he ran in debt every where much beyond what he was worth every day surpassing himself in the Magnificence of his Gifts and the Profuseness of his Largesses At last he brought Matters so about that they gave him the Government of the Gauls as well on this side as beyond the Mountains for five Years with fonr Legions After having obtained it knowing that he must be a long time absent from the City and that Envy has more power than Favour he gave his Daughter in Marriage to Pompey not but that they were already very good Friends but he was fearful left the too great Success of his Arms might stir up Envy even in a Friend Moreover he designed for Consuls the Year following the stoutest of his Faction A. Gabinius one of his greatest Confidents and L. Piso his Father in Law with whom he had lately Allyed himself Cato perpetually crying out that these Marriages tended to a Tyranny and for Tribunes of the People he nominated Vatinius and Clodius Pulcher. This Clodius was infamous for having slipped into the Sacrifices of the good Goddess where none but Women ought to enter in which place he had layed a Blemish upon the Chastity of Caesar's own Wife who yet never expressed any Resentment because this Man was beloved by the People but however he repudiated his Wife there were some who afterwards made him come to a Tryal as a Prophaner of Sacred Things Cicero pleaded his Accusation and Caesar himself was called in as a Witness but he deposed nothing against him On the contrary he advanced him to this Office of Tribune in hate to Cicero who frequently used to blame the Union of these three Men as tending to the Ruin of the Publick Liberty Nor thought he much to pardon one of his Enemies the Affront he had received so he might be revenged of another who had only offended him in suspecting he had an ill Design so much was his Ambition more violent than his Love And yet there is some appearance that Caesar received the first Obligation from Clodius who served him with all his Credit and Interest when he demanded the Government of the Gauls However it were this is what passed in Caesar's Consulate which being expired he went into the Province in Quality of Pro-Consul After his departure from the City Clodius caused Cicero to be called to Judgment for having contrary to Law put to death Cethegus and Lentulus before they were condemned But he bore this Accusation with as much Cowardice as he had shewed Courage in the Noble Action he did for he went through the Streets with his Beard grown his Hair unkembed clad in a sad Colour and begging of every one he met to assist him he was not ashamed to be importunate with People that were utterly unknown to him in so much that having no regard to Decency whilst he would have moved Compassion he made himself ridiculous and that Man who all his life had managed others Affairs with so much Courage suffered himself to fall into the Excess of Fear in his own Cause It is reported the like happened to Demosthenes in Athens and that Orator who had so bravely defended so many accused being accused himself chose rather to fly than to defend himself before the Judges In like manner Cicero seeing that Clodius whom he followed through the Streets in the posture of a Suppliant derided his Prayers and Submissions and reviled him with words lost all hope and resolved to go into a Voluntary Exile whither many of his Friends followed him the Senate having given him Letters of Recommendation to all Kings and Sovereigns where he designed to make his Retreat Whereupon Clodius demolished his Houses as well in the City as the Country and became so fierce and arrogant that he esteemed himself equal to Pompey the most powerful Man of that time in the City Wherefore Pompey made an Agreement with Milo his Colleague a Man of Enterprize to whom he promised the Consulate to serve him against Clodius and obliged him to propose to the People the Return of Cicero believing that being returned he could talk no more of the present Estate of the Commonwealth that he would have in mind the benefit newly received and be always ready to oppose the designs of Clodius Thus Cicero banished by Pompey's means was by the favour of the same Pompey again recalled to his Country about sixteen Months after his departure and his Houses both in City and Country were rebuilt at the Publick Charge When he returned there went such a Concourse to meet him at the Gates that the whole Day was scarce enough for their Complements which happened also to Demosthenes when after his Exile he was received into Athens Mean while Caesar glorious for the great things he had done in Gaul and Brittany as we have said speaking of the Affairs of Gaul and loaden with vast Riches repassed into Cisalpine Gaul that he might a little refresh his Army wearied with continual War As soon as he was arrived there and that he had sent store of Silver to a great many Persons in the City the Officers of the Common-wealth for that Year together with all the other Governors of Provinces and Generals of other Armies came to salute him so that there was sometimes sixscore Rods about his Person There came likewise more than two hundred Senators some to thank him for Favours received some to get Money of him or something else of that kind For now he alone could do all things having so many Forces at his Service and so much Money in his Coffers and besides he was always ready to oblige all the World Pompey and Crassus the Companions of his Power being come as well as others to see him they consulted together about their Affairs and agreed that Pompey and Crassus should take the Consulate and should prolong to Caesar the Government of Gaul for other five Years after which they parted At the time for Election of Consuls Domitius Aenobarbus standing up Competitor with Pompey and the day of Nomination being come they came both before Day to the place where the Assembly is held and after some sharp words fell to blows In the Tumult he that carried the Light before Domitius received a Wound with a Sword upon which all his People fled and he with much hazard escaped to his House Pompey's Robe was also brought home bloody so much danger did they both run in this sudden Broil Crassus and Pompey having obtained the Consulate gave Caesar according to their promise the Government of Gaul for five Years longer and between themselves they divided the Provinces and the Armies Pompey had the Governments of Spain and Africa whither he sent Friends to command in his place and he stayed in the City And Syria with all the Neighbouring Countries remained to Crassus for his
great War with his five thousand Men and seise of some places of Italy were commodious for him first he sent before to Rimini some Centurions and Men who were to enter the City as Passengers and then all of a sudden to seise on that City the first that offers it self coming from Gaul and himself in the Evening going out as if he had found himself ill after a Feast leaves his Friends and mounting in a Chariot drove himself the same way followed at a distance by his Cavalry when he came to the Banks of Rubicon he stopped some time looking upon the water and thinking of the calamities he went about to be the cause of if he passed that River in Arms. At length turning to those of his Train My Friends said he if I pass not this River immediately it will be to me the beginning of all misfortunes and if I do pass it I go to make a world of people miserable and therewithal as if he had been pressed forward by some Divinity he drave into the stream and crossing it cries with a loud voice The Lot is cast From whence continuing on his way with speed he seised on Rimini by break of day and all in an instant places Garrisons in all the good places of that Country which he reduced either by force or favour Mean while as it happens in these unexpected Allarms the whole Country was filled with people flying the Countrymen forsaking their Habitations and nothing was to be heard but Cries and Lamentations and Groans yet no man knew from whence this disorder came but all imagined that Caesar was upon them with all his Forces The Consuls receiving the news gave not Pompey who perfectly understood War leisure to prepare himself and take his own time they began to press him to be gone out of the City and make Levies of Forces in Italy as if Rome had been in immediate danger of being taken and plundered And the Senate surprised with so unlooked for an irruption were terrified and began to repent they had not accepted those reasonable conditions offered by Caesar but this was not till fear had opened their eyes and led them back from Partiality to Reason for now men talked of a great many Prodigies and extraordinary Signs which had appeared in the Heavens that it had rained Blood in many places that in others the Statues of the Gods had sweat that many Temples had been struck with Thunderbolts that a Mule had engendred besides an infinite of other things which seemed to foretel the change of the present state and the ruine of the Common-wealth so as it should never be re-established wherefore they made Vows and Prayers as in a publick Consternation And the people remembring again the miseries they had suffered because of the Dissentions of Sylla and Marius cryed out that they ought to take away the Command as well from Caesar as from Pompey since that was the only means to prevent a War Cicero himself was of opinion that Deputies should be sent to Caesar to treat an Accommodation but the Consuls absolutely opposed it Favonius quipping at Pompey because of a word he had once said with too much arrogance Bid him stamp on the ground with his Foot and see if any armed Men would rise To which Pompey answered You will want none so you will follow me and are not troubled to leave the City and Italy it self if there be occasion for people of courage said he do not make liberty consist in the possession of Lands and Houses they cannot want in any place they come to and if they lose not their courage will soon recover their Houses and Lands After having said these words and protested he would hold him for an Enemy that out of fear to lose what he possessed deserted the Common-wealth in extreme danger he went out of the Palace and soon after out of the City to joyn the Army that was at Capua The Consuls followed him presently but the other Senators weighted it a little longer and spent all the night in the Palace without resolving any thing and at length as soon as it was break of day the greater part followed the same way after Pompey Mean time Caesar having reached at Corfinium L. Domitius whom they had sent for his Successor with four thousand Men of which he had already lost a part he besieged him in the City from whence endeavouring to escape the Inhabitants stopped him at the Gate and brought him to Caesar to whom the Remainder of his Forces yielded themselves he received them kindly that he might draw others by their example and without doing any wrong to Domitius he suffered him to go whither he pleased with all his Equipage hoping by this courtesie to oblige him to take his Party yet without hindring him from going to find out Pompey These things being done in such an instant Pompey on the other side marches from Capua to Nucera and from Nucera to Brundusium that he might from thence pass to Epire where he designed to establish the Seat of the War he writ to all Provinces and those that commanded them to Kings themselves to Sovereigns and particular Cities that with all convenient speed they should send him what Forces they could supply him with in which every one laboured with all his power He had his own particular Army in Spain ready to march at his first command and for those Legions he had with him he gave one part of them to the Consuls whom he sent before into Epire they embarquing at the same time at Brundusium happily crossed the Gulf and landed at Dyrrachium which some by mistake think to be Epidamnum for Epidamnus King of the Barbarians who inhabited those Countries built near the Sea the City to which he gave his own name and Dyrrachus his Grand-son by his Daughter whom they said was begot by Neptune added to this City a Port which they call Dyrrachium This Dyrrachus being in War with his Brother Hercules returning from Erythrea assisted him on condition to have a part of the Country for his reward Hence comes it that the Dyrrachians call him their Founder as having part in the Lands which they possessed not that they disavow Dyrrachus but they are well pleased out of vanity to derive their original from a God rather than a Man 'T is reported that in the Fight Hercules ignorantly slew Ionius the Son of Dyrrachus and after having payed him all Funeral Honours threw the Body into the Sea which from him was called Ionian Some Phrygians having deserted their Country seised afterwards on this and on the City it self where they remained a long time till after them the like was done by the Taulantieni who are a people of Illyria and again by the Liburnians another Nation of Illyria who used to rob their Neighbours in very swift Brigantines which the Romans afterwards making use of called Liburnicks The Dyrrachians chased away by the Liburnians having called
Province of Gaul He likewise distributed Corn to the People then much straitened with Famine and at the request of the same people consented to the return of the Exiles except only of Milo But when they demanded a Release of their Debts into which they had been forced to run by reason of the Wars and Tumults it being impossible for them to pay because the inheritances they might otherwise sell to clear themselves were now valued at nothing he absolutely refused it yet he created Censors to put a value on things to be sold and ordered that the Creditors should take them as ready Money and in part of so much of their Debts as they should be valued at That done about the depth of Winter he sent Commissaries of War to all his Armies to bring them to the Rendezvous he had appointed at Brundusium and departed from a City in the Month of December without staying for the first day of the next year as his Quality of Conful obliged him The people went out in great crowds to attend him both to pay him that Honour and to beg of him to make a reconciliation with Pompey for it was mre than likely that which soever of the two got the Victory would become Master of the Common-wealth and he by great journies went on towards Brundusium Pompey on the other side without any intermission caused Ships to be built Forces to be raised Money to be gathered in and having taken forty of Caesar's Ships in the Superiour Sea waited for his passing over Mean while he continually employed his Soldiers in some exercise where himself was still present and in person began any work even beyond what his age seemed to give leave to which gained him all Mens Hearts who thronged in from all parts as to some Spectacle to see his Exercises Caesar's Forces were composed of ten Legions and for Pompey he had five Legions which went over out of Italy with their Horse two of which remained of Crassus's Forces which he had led against the Parthians and some part of those who went into Egypt under Gabinius all amounting to eleven Legions of Italians and about seven thousand Horse besides the Auxiliary Troops of Ionia Macedon Peloponnesus Boeotia the Archers of Crete and the Slingers of Thrace he had likewise some Gaul and Galatian Horse and Comagenians sent him by Antiochus Cilicians Cappadocians and some Soldiers of Armenia the less Pamphylia and Pisidia He designed not to make use of all these Strangers to bear Arms but destined the greatest part of them to labour in the Trenches and other Works wherein he would not employ the Italians that he might not divert them from the Exercise of Arms. These were his Land Forces for the Sea he had six hundred long Ships fitted and armed for War a hundred of which besides Seamen were filled with Roman Soldiers on whom was the chiefest relyance besides a great many Ships of Burthen which carried his Ammunition and Provisions the Command of all this Fleet was committed to several Vice-Admirals over all whom M. Bibulus was Admiral Things thus prepared he caused all the Senators and Knights he had with him to assemble together and at the Head of his Army thus spake to them The Oration of Pompey THe Athenians Gentlemen formerly deserted the Walls of their City when they fought in the defence of their Liberty because they thought the Men composed the City and not the Buildings by which means they soon recovered them and in a short time after built them much more beautiful than before Our Predecessors likewise went out of Rome when the Gauls like a Torrent invaded them and Camillus returning with them from Ardea regained it in the same condition they had left it In a word those that are wise think their Country every where where they can preserve their liberty These examples and the hopes of a like success have obliged us to come hither not to forsake our Country but the better to prepare our selves to defend it and to revenge it's cause upon him who having a long time designed to oppress it is become Master of it by their means whom he hath with gifts corrupted He I say who being by you declared Enemy to the Common-wealth hath by his audacious Enterprises invaded the authority of the Senate and Roman People and given the government of your Provinces to those of his Faction to some that of the City and to others that of Italy Iudge after this what violence and cruelty he will forbear to exercise towards his Country if we be so unhappy to let our selves be overcome He who commits such insolencies in the beginning of a War whereof he fears the event and whilst he is liable to receive the punishment of his Crimes which is what we ought to wish and hope to see by the Divine Assistance for he hath in his Party none but Wretches corrupted by the Money he hath drawn out of our Province of Gaul who chose rather to be his Slaves than to live equally with other Citizens for my part I never was wanting nor shall not be wanting to expose my self to all sorts of Dangers I offer my self to perform the Function of General or Soldier and if I yet have the same good fortune and the same experience which hitherto have made me every where victorious I beseech the Gods they may prove advantageous to my Country and that I may not be less happy now when the Dispute is whether I shall prevent it's being oppressed than when I extended the Bounds of its Empire We have reason to have confidence in the protection of the Gods and in the Iustice of our Cause for never can any be more just and honest to whoever loves his Country and the Common-wealth Besides those great preparations we have made both by Sea and Land and the Forces will come in to us from all parts as soon as the War is begun is sufficient to encourage us for all the Levant Nations as far as those bordering on the Euxine Sea whether Greeks or Barbarians are of our side and all the Kings of those people who are either the Romans Friends or Allies or mine will send us Soldiers Arms Provisions and all things necessary Let us go then and give to our Country the assistance it merits which your Virtue exacts from you and my good Fortune demands from me but remember always Caesar's Pride and with readiness to obey my Orders Pompey's last words were followed by a general acclamation of the whole Army Senators and other persons of Quality who all desired him to lead them whither he thought fit But he considering that it was the very worst season of the year and besides imagining that Caesar impeded in the City the creation of Consuls would not attempt to cross a Sea usually tempestuous before the end of Winter gave order to those commanded the Sea Forces to guard the passage and sent his Army into Garrisons in Thessaly
therefore proposed to him either Egypt or King Iuba the later they thought not of sufficient Reputation but all counselled his Retreat into Egypt They alledged that it was not far off that it was a Powerful Kingdom an Excellent Country where he would want neither Shipping nor Provisions nor Money and whose Kings though yet but Minors were obliged to serve him because of the good Offices he had done their Father So by those Reasons he was perswaded to bend his Course towards Egypt There was at present a Division in the Royal Family Cleopatra who before reigned joyntly with her Brother Ptolemy being driven out now raised Forces about Syria and Ptolemy her Brother was encamped near Mount Cassia on the Frontiers of Egypt to hinder her Re-entry into the Kingdom It happened that the Wind drove Pompey into that place who seeing so great an Army on the Shore stopped and because he judged as it proved true that the King was there he sent one to give him advice of the Cause of his coming and to remember him of his Friendship with his Father He was yet but thirteen Years of Age and had for Overseers Achillas in what concerned Affairs of War and Photinus the Eunuch for the Treasury Those began to consult betwixt them what they should do in this Conjuncture and having called to counsel with them Theodatus the Rhetorician School-Master to the Infant King He proposed to them an execrable Advice which was to cut off Pompey to gain the favour of Caesar Which being resolved on under pretence that in that place the Sea was full of Shoals so that greater Vessels could not approach they sent him a wretched Boat in which there were some Officers of the Royal House and with them a certain Roman Soldier called Sempronius who now bore Arms in Egypt but had formerly served under Pompey He presented him his hand on the Part of Ptolemy inviting him to enter and go with him to his Friend who waited for him Mean while the Army was drawn up in Battel on the Sea Shore in the midst of which appeared the King clad in his Royal Robes as if to do Honour to his Guest Though Pompey had already some cause to distrust considering this Army in Battel the pittifulness of the Boat that the King came not in Person to meet him nor sent any Person of Quality yet he went into the Skiff repeating to himself these Lines of Sophocles To Tyrants Courts the Valiant and the Brave Though free they enter soon become their Slave When he saw that after he was got some distance from his Ships no Person spoke to him his suspition increased Wherefore either knowing Sempronius for a Roman or a Soldier that had served under him or conjecturing it because he only stood up according to the Discipline of the Romans which permits not Soldiers to sit before their General he said turning towards him Surely I have known you Fellow Soldier Which Sempronius having acknowledged as soon as he turned away he gave him the first blow which was followed by many others that took away his Life His Wife and Friends seeing afar off this Murther began to cry out and lifting up their hands to Heaven imploring the Gods Revengers of violated Hospitality with all speed took their Flight Photinus's People cut off Pompey's Head which he kept to present to Caesar when he should arrive in Egypt out of hopes of a great Reward but he revenged this Murther as became him Some one having found the Trunk of his Body buried it upon the Sea-Shore raising over it a little Tomb upon which some other wrote this Inscription Scarce should a Temple to hold that suffice Which huddled in a little Sand here lies This Sepulchre being in process of time quite covered over with Sand the Emperour Adrian visiting that Country caused it in these our times to be sought for and after having found it with the Copper Images which the Inhabitants of these Coasts had dedicated to Pompey which were fallen with age in the ruines of a Temple he caused the Rubbiâ—â— to be removed made the Sepulchre visible and set up the Images Thus ended this great Man his days after having fortunately put an end to many Wars of great Importance and augmented the Roman Empire by which he got the Title of Great Never before had he been vanquished and from his very youth began to be happy in all his undertakings for from the three and twentieth to the eight and fiftieth year of his age he had in effect the power of a King though he took upon him only the quality of a private Citizen because of the dispute for preheminence between him and Caesar. Lucius Scipio his Father-in-law and all the rest of the persons of Quality that escaped from the Battel of Pharsalia retired to Corcyra where they had of purpose left Cato with other Forces and three hundred Galleys There having divided the Fleet among Pompey's chief Friends Cassius sailed towards Pontus to engage Pharnaces to take up Arms against Caesar Scipio and Cato went into Africa relying upon those Forces Varus had and the assistance they hoped for from Iuba King of the Moors And Pompey's Eldest Son with Labienus Scapula and another part of the Army went by great Journeys to Spain with design to draw that Province to their Party to raise other Forces of Spaniards Celtiberians and even of Slaves and to make the greatest Preparations they possibly could so great were yet the Wrecks of Pompey's Power which by a prodigious blindness he deserted and fled The Soldiers in Africa offered Cato the chief Command but he refused it because there were there present Lieutenants of Consular Quality and he had never arrived to higher Dignity in the City than the Charge of Pretor Wherefore L. Scipio being chosen General of that Army he laboured likewise in these Quarters to encrease and exercise his Forces so that there were raised at the same time two powerful Armies against Caesar one in Africa and the other in Spain He for his part stayed at Pharsalia but two days after the Victory that he might sacrifice to the Gods in the Field of the Battel and suffer the Soldiers take some repose tired with the Toil of that Great Day He likewise granted Liberty to the Thessalians who had served him faithfully upon this Occasion And the Athenians coming to demand his Pardon he forgave them with these words How often must the Glory of your Predecessors with-hold you from falling down those Precipices whither your own faults lead you The third day he marched towards the East whither he understood Pompey was fled As he passed the Hellespont upon little Boats for want of Ships in the middle of the Strait Cassius in his way to Pharnaces suddainly comes up with a great number of Gallies and though he might with so many Bottoms have easily defeated his Enemy who was infinitely the weaker yet such was the prodigious good Fortune
of Caesar that the other was so extremely surprized thinking he was come of purpose to meet him that of his own accord he yielded himself into his Hands demanded Pardon and delivered up to him the Fleet so powerful was the Opinion only of Caesar's continual Happiness for I can find out no other Cause and am of Opinion that in all the Dangers he ever encountred his good Fortune never served him to better purpose than now when Cassius a Warlike Man having seventy Gallies meeting him by chance so ill prepared durst not attempt to fight him and yet after he had setled himself in the Supreme Power in the City he who out of a Cowardly faint-heartedness yielded to him in his Passage killed him in the height of his Prosperities which proves the more that Cassius terrifyed in that manner yielded only to the Fortune that advanced Caesar. Thus escaping beyond his Hopes as soon as he was landed the Ionians Etolians and other Nations inhabiting that great Peninsula which is called Asia Minor sent Deputies to him to crave his Pardon which he granted And understanding that Pompey was gone towards Egypt he sailed towards Rhodes whence without staying for his Army whom he had ordered to rendezvouz in this Island he embarked on Cassius his Gallies and those of Rhodes with those Forces he had and towards the Evening went to Sea He told no body whither he designed but only gave Order to the Pylates to follow the Admiral 's Light by Night and the Flag by Day And when he was in the Main Sea he commanded the Master of his Galley to stear towards Alexandria where he arrived the third Day after The King's Tutors who were still about Mount Cassia came forthwith to receive him And having at his Arrival but few People about him he remained for some time without doing any thing In the mean time he civilly received all such as visited him walked often about the City under pretence of being pleased to view it went often to Philosophy Schools where standing he would hear the Professors and by this manner of living he gained the Favour and Esteem of all the People of Alexandria But when his Army was arrived he put to death Achillas and Photinus for their Villany committed on the Person of Pompey and Theodotus then escaping him Cassius after finding him in Asia caused to be hanged The Alexandrians hereupon taking Arms and the King's Army coming to oppose Caesar they fought in several Engagements with divers Success as well about the Palace as the adjoyning Shores so that once Caesar pressed hard upon by the Enemy threw himself into the Sea and escaped them by swimming and his Coat-Armour falling into the Egyptians hands they hung it up in the place appointed for Trophies But in the end in the last Battel fought near the Nile where the King was in Person Caesar remained Conqueror He spent nine Months in all these Affairs till such time as he setled Cleopatra in the Kingdom of Egypt instead of her Brother and made a Progress with her upon the Nile followed by four hundred Vessels to see the Country or perhaps being in love with that Woman but we will speak of those things in writing the Affairs of Egypt When they would have presented to him Pompey's Head he would not see it and commanded it should be interred in the Suburbs where he consecrated a Chappel to the Goddess Nemesis which in our time when the Emperor Trajan made cruel War upon them the Jews pulled down the demolishing it being of importance to them Caesar having done these things in Egypt caused his Army to march with little noise through Syria against Pharnaces who had already been successful in many Occasions he had seized upon some places depending on the Romans he had defeated Domitius Caesar's Lieutenant in a Set Battel and puffed up with this Success had sacked the City of Amisa in the Kingdom of Pontus and publickly sold one part of the Inhabitants and made Eunuchs of all who had not obtained the Age of Puberty But frightned at Caesar's coming and repenting of what he had done when he was come within two hundred Furlongs of him he sent to him Ambassadors to treat of Peace with Orders to present him with a Crown of Gold and very impertinently to offer him the Daughter of their King in Marriage When he had heard the Occasion of their coming he made his Army march and amusing the Ambassadors with words advances up to Pharnaces Camp where beginning to cry out Shall not Parricide now be immediately punished he leaped on Horse-back and with the first Shout put the Enemy to Flight and made a great Slaughter without any of his Army 's drawing their Swords save only a thousand Horse that first followed him when he began the Charge Some Historians report that he should now say O! how happy was Pompey to have gained such Reputation with the Title of GREAT for having to deal with such People in the Mithridatick War And concerning this Victory he wrote to the City I came I saw I overcame As for Pharnaces he was content to retire into the Kingdom of Bosphorus which Pompey left him and Caesar had not now leisure to pursue him or lose time in these letter Affairs being called elsewhere by so many more important Wars wherefore he directed his Course towards Italy taking up all along as he marched through Asia the Tribute-Money which much troubled the Commissioners who had raised it upon the People with a thousand Cruelties as we have said in writing the Affairs of Asia Understanding by Letters that he received from Rome that the City was extremely tormented with new Seditions and that Anthony General of his Horse had with the Army seized upon the Great Place he left the Affairs of Asia to make all speed thither His Presence forthwith appeased the Tumult of the City but there was another raised against himself The Soldiers required to be payed what was promised them at Pharsalia for having exposed their Lives and that they might be dismissed having served the time appointed by the Laws He caused them in Excuse to be told that the Victory of Pharsalia was not yet perfect because War still continued in Africa but as soon as that was ended he would perform his Promise and give them over and above a thousand Drams a Head They with arrogance replyed that they stood not in need of Promises but of ready Money so that Crispus Salustus who was sent to them was fain to save his Life by Flight Upon report hereof made to Caesar he drew Anthony's Legion which had been left for the Guard of the City about his House and to the Guard of the Gates left the Mutineers should in their fury begin to plunder Private Houses And himself contrary to the Advice of all his Friends who counselled him not to expose himself to the fury of an Incensed Multitude with a signal Audacity of Mind as they
is said he acknowledged to his Friends that Cassius had reason but yet he would favour Brutus so much he loved and honoured him for all men believed he was his Son because he visited Servilia Cato's Sister at the time she grew with Child of Brutus wherefore 't is likewise said that in the Battel of Pharsalia he gave express order to his Captains to have a great a care as possibly they could of Brutus's life However whether he were ingrateful or knew nothing of it or did not believe it or that he thought his Mother's incontinence a dishonouâ— whether love of liberty made him prefer his Country before his own Father or being of the ancient race of the Bruti who had expelled the Kings and now pricked forward by the reproaches of the people who on the Statues of the old Brutus and on this Praetor's Tribunal had secretly written such words as these Brutus thou sufferest thy self to be corrupted with gifts Brutus thou art dead would to God thou wert now alive either thy Successors degenerate or thou hast not begot them He I say young as he was chafed by these and such like things engaged himself in this Enterprize as an Act worthy his Predecessors The Discourses concerning the Royalty were not then quite extinct when just as they were going to the Senate Cassius took Brutus by the hand and said What shall we do if Caesar 's Flatterers propose to make him King To which Brutus answered that He would not be at the Senate Whereupon the other again demanded What if they summon â—s as Pretors what shall we do then my Friend I will said he defend my Country even till death Whereupon Cassius embracing him said And what Persons of Quality will you take for Companions in so brave an Attempt Do you think there are none but Tavern-People and Artificers that put Writings on your Tribunal Know that they are the Prime Men of the City who expect from other Pretors only Plays and Shews but require their Liberty from you as the Work of your Predecessors Thus they discovered to each other what they had long had in their thoughts and began to try their own Friends and some of Caesar's according as they knew them capable of good things They engaged in their Design the two Brothers Cecilius and Bucolianus Rubrius Rex Q. Ligarius M. Spurius Servilius Galba Sextius Naso Pontius Aquila And of Caesar's Friends they drew to their Conspiracy Decimus of whom I have already spoken Caius Casca Trebonius Attilius Cimber Minutius and Basillus When they thought they had Companions enough for it was not convenient to communicate this Design to all the World they gave their Words one to another without either Oath or Sacrifice and yet no one changed his mind or ever discovered the Plot. There was nothing now wanting but choice of time and place The time urged for within four days Caesar was to depart and take Guards For the place they thought the Palace most convenient for they concluded that all the Senators though they were not made privy to it yet seeing the Action would joyfully joyn with them which as it is said happened at the death of Romulus after having changed the Regal Power into Tyranny Wherefore this Attempt would have the same Success with that especially being not privily executed but in the Palace and for the Good of the Commonwealth That they needed not to fear any thing from Caesar's Army being all composed of Roman People in conclusion that the Authors of this great Action doing it publickly could expect nothing but Reward Having all decreed the Palace for the place of Execution there were divers Opinions concerning the manner of doing it some being of Opinion they should likewise make away Anthony Caesar's Colleague the most powerful of his Friends and well beloved of the Soldiery But Brutus opposed that saying That it was only by killing Caesar who was as a King that they ought to seek for the Glory of destroying Tyrants and that if they killed his Friends too Men would impute the Action to private Enmity and the Faction of Pompey This Advice prevailing they only expected the assembling of the Senate Now the day before Caesar being invited to sup with Lepidus carried along with him Decimus Brutus Albinus and during Supper the Question being proposed what Death was best for Man some desiring one kind and some another he alone preferred the suddainest and most unexpected Thus divining for himself they fell to discourse of the Morrows Affairs In the Morning finding himself somewhat out of Order with the Night's Debauch and his Wife Calphurnia having been frightned with dismal Dreams she advised him not to go abroad and in many Sacrifices he made there were none but affrightful Tokens He therefore gave order to Anthony to dismiss the Senate But Decimus Brutus perswading him that it was more convenient he went himself to avoid the Opinion might be conceived he did it out of Pride or Scorn he went to dismiss them himself coming to the Palace in his Litter There were at present Plays in Pompey's Theatre and almost all the Senators were at the Windows of the Neighbouring Houses as is the Custom in the time of Spectacles The same Morning the Pretors Brutus and Cassius gave Audience to those made Suit for it with great tranquillity in a Gallery before the Theatre But when they had heard what happened to Caesar in the Sacrifices and that therefore they deferred the Senate they were much troubled One of those that stood there having taken Casca by the hand told him You kept it close from me that am your Friend but Brutus has told me all Whereupon Casca pricked in Conscience began to tremble but the other continuing with a smile Where then will you raise the Money to come to the Edility Casca gave him an Account Brutus and Cassius themselves being talking together one of the Senators called Popilius Laena drawing them aside said I pray God what you have in your hearts may succeed happily but it is fit you make haste At which they were so surprized that they gave him no Answer At the same time that Caesar went to the Palace in his Litter one of his Domesticks who had understood something of the Conspiracy came to find Calphurnia but without saying any thing else to her but that he must speak with Caesar about Affairs of importance he stayed expecting his Return from the Senate because he did not know all the Particulars His Host of Gnidus called Artemidorus running to the Palace to give him notice of it came just at the moment of his being killed another as he sacrificed before the Gate of the Senate-House gave him a Note of all the Conspiracy but he going in without reading it it was after his death found in his hands As he came out of his Litter Laena the same who before had spoken to Cassius came to him and entertained him a long time in private
time after Consul and in the end Proconsul of Syria and then when Caesar after having defeated Anthony at Actium wrote news of it to Rome Cicero as Consul read it in full Assembly and fixed a Copy before the Tribunal for Orations where formerly his Father's Head had been exposed Appiâ—s after having deposited what Goods he had in the hands of his Slaves embarqued himself to go with them into Sicily A Tempest arising the Slaves who were desirous to enrich themselves with his Money perswaded him there was more security in the Boat and prevailed with him to go into her But fortune would that against all probability he was saved and the Slaves all perished Publius Questor to Brutus who had been solicited by Anthony's People to betray his General and was proscribed by the Triumvirate for not consenting returned at last to Rome and was beloved by Caesar to that degree that when Publius shewed him Pictures of Brutus in his House he yet esteemed him the more These are the most memorable accidents happened to some Proscripts who escaped the danger Whilst these things passed at Rome all the rest of the Empire concern'd either for one or the other party was filled with Wars especially in Africa between Sextus and Cornificius in Syria between Cassius and Dolobella and in Sicily against Pompey in which Actions many Cities were forced as Laodicea Tharsus Rhodes Patara and Xant not to speak of others less considerable the particulars whereof we will relate in the briefest method possible The Romans divide Africa into two Provinces of which they call that the old which they conquered from the Carthaginians and that whereof Caesar had newly despoiled King Iuba they call the new that is Numidia Sextius sent into this last in quality of Caesar's Lieutenant gave Commands to Cornificius to surrender to him the old because by the division made among the Triumvirate all Africa belonged to Caesar Cornificius made answer that he knew nothing of any such Division and could not without orders of the Senate quit the Government of a Province they had given him in charge whereupon they declared War Cornificius had an Army both better disciplin'd and stronger in Men than Sextius who having only light armed Foot made incursions into Cornificius's Government and dayly drew some to his Party till such time as Ventidius Lieutenant to Cornificius coming against him with more Forces than he had besieged him and Lelius the other Lieutenant of the same Cornificius entred into Sextius his Province and besieged Cirta Mean time both Parties sent to demand alliance of King Arabion and those they call Sittiens for the reason we are going to relate Sittius accused of crimes at Rome not daring stand a trial fled and gathering together some Forces as well in Italy as Spain went over into Africa There happened then to be War between the African Kings wherein Sittius taking sometimes one part and sometimes another and still carrying Victory to that side he joyned with soon gained a fair reputation and by exercising his Army made it capable of great Attempts He served likewise C. Caesar when he came to make War upon those who took part with Pompey and slew Saburra Lieutenant to King Iuba in acknowledgment of which services Caesar gave him the confiscation of Manasses's Estate yet not all of it but the better part Manasses was Father of this Arabion and for having assisted King Iuba Caesar divided his Country between Sittius and Bocchus King of the Moors Sittius distributed his part to his Soldiers and Arabion went over into Spain to Pompey's Sons After Caesar's death he returned into Africa from whence he continually sent fresh Troops of Africans to Sextus the Son of Pompey who being returned from Spain well experienced he drove out Bocchus and got rid of Sittius by treason and though he had an inclination for Pompey's Children because of the good Offices he had received yet would he no longer oblige himself to that Party which he saw forsaken by fortune but chose rather to declare for Sextius by whose means he hoped to gain Caesar's favour and the Sittians in consideration of his Father's kindness to them did the same Sextius encouraged by such a reinforcement went and charged Ventidius routs his People cuts the most part in pieces and takes a great many Prisoners News whereof being brought to Lelius he raises the Siege of Cirta and returns to joyn with Cornificius Sextius puffed up with this success marches against Cornificius who lay near Utica with much greater Forces and encamps close by him There Lelius being commanded out with his Horse to make discovery of the Posture of the Enemy Sextius gives Order to Arabion to go charge him in Front with his Horse and he with his Light-armed Foot gains the Flank whilst he thought to have to deal only with Horse He charges him so home that Lelius before he received farther disgrace fearing to be surrounded and his Retreat cut off goes and seizes upon an Eminence in the midst of the Campain where Arabion in his Rear having slain many of his Horse-men invests him Cornificius seeing that fallies out of the Camp with his best Troops Sextius falls in his Rear He faces about and during the Fight wherein he is hard put it Arabion sends privately to his Camp people used to clamber up Rocks who make themselves Masters of it Roscius who had the Guard of it makes one of his people kill him Cornificius tired out with fighting not knowing his Camp was taken hastes towards the Eminence to make good his Retreat to Lelius but Arabion getting between him and his mark he was cut in pieces Lelius who beheld all this from the place where he was kills himself The Army seeing their Commanders dead made every Man the best way he could The Proscripts that were with Cornificius fled some to Sicily others where best they might Sextius gave to Arabion and the Sittians great quantity of Spoils and pardoning the Cities received them under the Obedience of Caesar. Thus ended the War in Lybia between Sextius and Cornificius which was thus short as it seems by reason of the heat of the Commanders We will now speak of what was done by Brutus and Cassius after having made some short Repetition of what has been said before for the better understanding the whole Caesar being slain the Conspirators seized the Capitol from whence they descended after the Senate had proclaimed the Indempnity Afterward the people moved for Caesar's death took Firebrands from his Funeral-pile and clapped them to the Houses of the Conspirators which defending themselves from above repulsed the multitude and soon after every one of them retired into the Governments which Caesar had given them Cassius and Brutus exercised still the Office of Pretors in the City and had been designed Pro-Pretors by Caesar Cassius of Syria and Brutus of Macedon But because the time appointed for their going to their Provinces was not yet come
his Army to a stand he published a Proclamation forbidding the Soldiers to plunder or commit any violence upon pain of death After which he called by name about fifty of the Inhabitants of Rhodes whom he put to death and five and twenty others which absented themselves he condemned to Banishment In conclusion he spoiled all the Temples and all the Publick Places of all the Riches and of all the Gold and Silver which he could find and moreover commanded every particular Person to bring in all he had at a prefixed day with threats to put to death those that concealed any thing and promise to reward the Informer with the tenth Penny if he were Free and with Liberty if he were a Slave At first many ventured upon Concealments imagining the threats would not be executed with severity but when they saw the Reward given to the Informers they grew fearful and requested that the time might be prolonged which being granted some dug up their Money from under Ground others drew it up out of Wells others out of Sepulchres so that they brought much greater quantities than before To such calamity was the City of Rhodes reduced in which Lucius Varus was left Governor Cassius extraordinarily well satisfied to have taken it in so short a time and to get withal so much Money gave Command to all the other Provinces to pay him in ten Years Tribute which was readily performed Mean time a report was brought that Cleopatra with a mighty Fleet and great Warlike Preparations were at Sea to go joyn Caesar and Anthony for having formerly underhand favoured their Party for old Caesar's sake she now openly declared her self for the fear she stood in of Cassius Wherefore he caused Mâ—rcus to embark with the best Legion he had and some Archers and in sixty Ships sent him to Peloponnesus giving him Order to post himself about Tenarus from whence himself had taken off all the Cattel and other Provisions in the Peninsula We will now relate the Exploits of Brutus in Lycia But here it will likewise be necessary to look a little back the better to revive the remembrance of things After that he had received from Apuleius those Forces he had with sixteen thousand Talents and gathered in the Tributes of Asia he came to Baeotia Where the Senate having given him order to employ this Money for his present Necessities with the Command of the Armies in Macedon and Illyria Ventidius his Predecessor in the Government of this last Province delivered up to him three Legions whereof the Illyrian Army was composed He took at the same time one from Caius Anthony's Brother whom he found in his Government and after raised four Legions more of new Troops All which together made eight Legions among which were many of Caesar's Veterans and great numbers of Macedonians whom he caused to be exercised in the Roman Discipline And all this without comprizing his Horse which were in no small numbers and his Light-armed Foot and Archers Whilst he was endeavouring to raise Men and gather up Money there appeared an Adventure to him from part of Thrace A King of that Country being slain by his Enemies Polemocratia his Widdow who was fearful for her Son came to Brutus recommending her Infant to him and delivering into his hands the Treasures of her dead Husband He sent the Infant to the Cyzicenians to take care of him till he had leisure to go and restore him to his Kingdom But finding in those Treasures a prodigious quantity of Gold and Silver he caused it to be coyned into Mony When at the Conference with Cassius they had agreed together that before all other things they would make War upon the Lycians and the Rhodians he undertook to fall upon the Lycians by the Siege of the City of Xanthus The Inhabitants pulled down their Suburbs lest Brutus should lodge in them or out of them furnish themselves with Materials for the Seige And fortifying their City defended themselves by the favour of a Ditch fifty Foot deep and proportionably broad in so much that those on either side could do each other no hurt unless with Slings or Arrows for they stood as if parted by a deep River Brutus resolving to fill this Ditch caused Mantelets to be made to secure his Men's Approach and divided the Work by night and day amongst the whole Army beginning to labour in good earnest causing Materials to be with all speed brought from far and omitting no care or diligence necessary on such an occasion In short though at first it seemed likely that either the Enemies would hinder the Work or at least that it would take up some Months time yet it was finished in few days and Brutus found himself at the Foot of the Wall where he caused his Machines to be raised and the Gates stormed by his Foot continually releived by fresh Companies sent one after another Yet for all this did the Besieged though almost all tired out and the most wounded defend themselves as long as their Walls stood There was already some Breaches made and their Towers were all shattered when Brutus well foreseeing what would happen gave over the Storm at the Gates and caused his Men to retreat from the Assault Whereupon the Inhabitants imagining this Retreat proceeded from the Negligence or Cowardise of the Besiegers made a Sally by night upon their Enemies with Torches in their hands The Romans who expected them running in upon them they took their flight towards the Gates which those that had the Guard of shut for fear lest their Enemies should enter with them so that there happened a great Slaughter Some time after those that remained in the City sallyed out at Noon day and having beaten off the Guards fired all the Machines The Gates being left open because of the misfortune that happened before there entred with the Inhabitants about two thousand Romans and as the rest were thronging in after them the Portcullis all on a suddain fell upon them whether by order of the Xanthians or that the Ropes that held them broke Thus of the Romans that had engaged themselves too far some were lost and the rest found themselves inclosed not being able to lift up the Portcullis for want of Cordage so that knocked down from above by the Xanthians in those narrow Streets they with much difficulty gained the Publick Place which was not far off where still extremely tormented with the Arrows shot at them and having neither Bows nor Arrows they retreated into the Temple of Sarpedon for fear of being at last over-pressed by the multitude Mean while the Romans troubled and fearful for those shut within the City attempted all ways possible to relieve them And Brutus went from Quarter to Quarter to encourage his Soldiers but they could not break open the Gates almost covered over with Bars of Iron and their Ladders and Towers of Wood were burnt Notwithstanding some applyed themselves to make new Ladders others
what should be resolved upon common deliberation Thus Manius by this arrogant answer would have had Caesar no more to have the arbitrement of any thing but that the agreement made between him and Anthony by which each had an absolute power in things whereof he took charge and what one did the other was to approve should be utterly void Wherefore Caesar seeing they were absolutely determined for War began to prepare likewise Two Legions that were in the City of Ancona having advice hereof they having formerly belonged to Caesar and since to Anthony and having still respect for both sent Deputies to Rome to entreat them to consent to an Accommodation whereupon Caesar answering that he had no design against Anthony but that Lucius would make War upon him the Deputies and Officers of Anthony's Forces joyned together deputed some to Lucius to perswade him to admit of a determination of the Differences between Caesar and him by the way of Justice letting him know that if he would not submit they would take the matter into their own hands After having obtained of Lucius what they desired the City of Gaâ—es was made choice of for the meeting being the half way betwixt Rome and Praeneste where Benches were set up for the Judges and two Tribunals from whence to plead Causes Caesar who came first had sent some Horse on the way which Lucius was to come to discover if there were no Ambush these met with some of Anthony's Horse which Lucius had likewise sent to scout before and flew some of them Lucius retreated thereupon for fear as he said of Ambushes and never afterwards notwithstanding all the prayers of Anthony's Officers and all their assurances to be his safe conduct would return so that those who laboured for Peace not succeeding it came to an open War and they began already to tear one another in pieces by bloody Declarations Lucius's Forces were composed of four Legions he had raised when he entred into the Consulate besides the eleven Legions of Anthony's commanded by Calenus and all those were in Italy and Caesar had four Legions at Capua and his Pretorian Cohorts with six Legions Salvidienus brought him from Spain For Money Anthony's Provinces where there was no War furnished Lucius and Caesar drew from all his except Sardinia at present engaged in War and borrowed from all the Temples with promise to pay the interest till he restored it to the Temple of the Capitol in Rome at Antium at Lavinia at the Forest and at Tibur in all which Temples there are to this day store of consecrated Treasure Nor were all things quiet out of Italy for Pompey's Force and Reputation was much increased by the Procripts the old Inhabitants of the Colonies and even by this breach with Lucius for all those who either feared their own safety or were despoiled of their goods or had any dislike to the present state of Affairs flocked in to him besides a great number of Youth who sought their Fortune by War and thought it indifferent to engage under one or another General since they were all Romans came in to him as judging his cause the more just Besides he was grown rich with Prizes taken at Sea and had store of Shipping with all things necessary Murcus likewise had brought him two Legions with fourscore Ships and there was coming to him another Army from Cephalonia which makes some think that if he had now invaded Italy he might easily have become Master of it oppressed as it was with Famine and rent in pieces with Intestine Divisions but Pompey by an inexcusable imprudence chose rather to defend himself than assail others which proved in the end his own loss As for what happened in Africa Sextus Lieutenant to Anthony according to Lucius Command had delivered up his Army to Fagio Caesar's Lieutenant afterwards having received Orders again to withdraw it upon Fagio's refusal to return it he declared War against him and having raised considerable Forces of disbanded Soldiers and Africans with such assistance as he had from the Kings of that Country goes to charge the Enemy cuts in pieces the two Wings of his Army and makes himself Master of his Camp so that Fagio despairing and thinking he was betrayed slew himself Thus Sextus repossessed himself of both the Provinces of Africa and Bocchus King of the Moors by Lucius perswasion went to make War against Carinas who commanded in Spain for Caesar. On the other side Aenobarbus with seventy Ships two Legions a great number of Archers and Slingers some light armed Infantry and Gladiators cruising on the Ionian Sea wasted all those Coasts that acknowledged the Triumvirate and coming nigh to Brundusium took part of Caesar's Galley's burnt others and having forced the Inhabitants to shut themselves up within their Wall spoiled their Country Caesar sent thither one Legion and commanded Salvidienus to hasten out of Spain whilst both persons laboured to raise men in Italy where there happened some fights some skirmishes and many surprises The people had a far greater inclination for Lucius's then for the adverse party because they made War against the new Colonies and not only the Cities whose Lands they had divided to the Soldiers declared for him but likewise all Italy who feared the like oppression so those that Caesar had sent to borrow the consecrated Mony being driven out of the Cities and some of them slain the Inhabitants became Masters of their Walls and declared for Lucius But if these took his part the new Possessors of Lands sided with Caesar as if both one and the other had only regarded their proper interests Affairs standing thus Caesar assembled in the Palace the Senate and Roman Knights and thus spoke to them The Oration of Caesar. I Know I am contemn'd by Lucius party as weak and infirm and I know that contempt will increase upon this my conventing you but I am yet assured I have a strong and powerful Army as well that which Lucius wrongs by detaining from them their due rewards as the other which fights under my Command nor is there any thing wanting to me but good will for I cannot easily resolve on a Civil War unless constrained or desire to engage those Citizens remaining to destroy each other but especially I delight not in a War like this which is not to be in Thrace or Macedon but in the very heart of Italy and which must occasion infinite miseries though no man were to be slain wherefore I have hitherto temporized and do now protest that I neither complain of Anthony nor have given him cause to complain of me 'T is your interest and you ought to let Lucius and his Counsellors know they are in the wrong and let me intreat you to reconcile us together If they will not believe you but continue obstinate they shall soon find my delay was an effect of my prudence and not of my fear and you may bear witness for me to Anthony that I
were overcome or whether he had made Peace or whether the were in flight they continued their Robberies for they said that having lost their Goods and abandoned their Countries by reason of the War necessity had driven them from the Land to seek their Fortune for the future by Sea They elected among themselves Arch-pyrates who commanded a certain Number as if it had been a lawful War They assaulted weak Cities and sometimes very strong ones too whose Walls they either scaled or threw down They pillaged them after they had taken them carrying to their places of retreat all the rich men they took to make them pay their ransome and giving their Crimes honourable names they shook off the name of Pyrates and called themselves Soldiers adventurers They had likewise Artificers whom they kept in Fetters and continually stored up Wood Iron Brass and other Materials For their vast booty had so heightned their courages that preferring that kind of life before any other they imagined themselves Soveraigns and Kings comparing their Power to that of Armies and esteeming themselves invincible when ever they pleased to unite together they built Ships and forged Arms especially in Cilicia called the Rough which was the common retreat of all these Corsairs or as we may saw the principal Seat of War Not but that they had in other places Castles and Forts in desart Islands and cunning Harbours but they usually retired to that Coast of Cilicia the Rough which was inaccessible and bounded with Rocks reaching almost out of sight and therefore all the World commonly called them Cilicians This mischief which was begun in Cilicia infected likewise the Syrians Ciprians Pamphilians Pontick Nations and almost all the Oriental people who tyred with the length of the Mithridatick War and choosing rather to do ill then suffer it changed their dwellings on Land for the Sea so that in a short time they amounted to many thousands and not only become Masters of the Sea that wets the Oriental Coasts but spread themselves throughout all the Seas as far as the Pillars of Hercules for they defeated some Roman Pretors in Sea Fights and among others the Pretor of Sicily No Ship durst appear about that Island the very Husband-man had abandoned the Fields because of the continual descents they made which very much annoyed he Romans for besides that they beheld their Provinces pillaged want of Corn brought a Famine into the Citie Besides it was not easie to defeat such great Forces that spread themselves over all parts both of the Sea and Land Who were alwaies ready either to fly or fight whilst none knew their Country or place of retreat nor indeed had they any residence or propriety but what fell in their hands Wherefore these extraordinary kind of Enemies who gave themselves a dispensation against all the Laws of War of whom nothing clear or certain could be made out were very formidable and few would have accepted a Commission for this War For Murena having undertaken these Pyrates did nothing memorable no more did after him Servilius Isauricus They were grown so bold as to Land upon the Coasts of Brundusium and Hetruria from whence they carried away some Women of Quality whom they found in the Country And defeated two Bodies of an Army whose Eagles they carried away The Romans no longer able to suffer these Losses and Affronts by Decree of the Senate gave to Pompey the greatest man of that time Command of their Armies for three Years with Authority over all the Seas as far as the Pillars of Hercules and within all the Maritime Provinces for four hundred Furlongs from the Sea and to Command all Kings Governours and Cities to furnish him with necessaries They permitted him likewise to make new Leavies both of men and Monies and in the mean time gave him an Army composed of standing Legions all the Ships they had and six thousand Attick Talents in ready Money So difficult a thing they believed it to overcome so many Naval Armies to pursue them in so vast an extent of Seas and to seek them out in so many holes having to do with Enemies they could not get within reach of except they pleased and who were ready to fall on when they were least thought of Nor indeed did ever any Roman General go to War with so large a Commission as Pompey's Soon after they furnished him with sixscore thousand foot four thousand Horse and two hundred and seventy Ships comprizing the Brigantines and for his Lieutenants they gave him five and twenty Senators among whom he divided the Seas giving them Horse and Foot and Shipping with the Ensigns of Pretor Every Lieutenant had absolute power in the Quarter he Commanded and he like a King of Kings went from one part to another to disperse his Orders and to see that every one kept in his Post without quitting it or pursuing the Enemy far from it if he could not gain the Victory upon the place to the end that there being alwaies people in a readiness in all places to take up what others had not fully done the Pyrates might find no security in flying from place to place After having disposed things in this manner he gave the Commission of Spain and the Streit to Tib. Nero and Manlius Torquatus joyntly of the Celtrick and Ligustique Sea to Marius Pomponius of Affrica with Sardinia Corsica and the Circumadiacent Islands to Lentulus Marcellinus and P. Attilius of the Coast of Italy from Sicily to Acarnania to L. Gellius and Cn. Lentulus of the Ionian Sea to Plotius Varus and Terentius Varro of Peloponesus Attica Euboea Thessaly Macedon and Boeotia to L. Cinna of all the Aegaean Sea and the Hellespont to L. Cullius Of Bithynia Thrace the Propontick and the mouth of Pontus to L. Piso of Lycia Pamphilia Cyprus and Phoenicia to Metellus Nepos These were the Quarters he assigned every Lieutenant where they were to fight and to give them their Chase so that saving themselves from one they might fall into the hands of another forbidding them to pursue beyond their Bounds for fear lest those long Chases might be a means to delay the War for his own part he flew if one may so say from one part to another to see what passed and having in forty days gone the Circuit of the Western part of the Sea he returned to Rome from whence he went to Brundusium where again taking Shipping and running over all those vast Oriental Seas he brought every where a dread of his Name by the swiftness of his motion the greatness of his Force and Power and the opinion had of a Captain of such high reputation So that the Pyrates who as it was thought would have assaulted him or at least would have found ways to have made his Victory difficult presently raised their Siege before those Towns they had blocked up and out of the fear they had of him retired into their Forts and sheltring