Caesar in Spain in the Fight between him and young Pompey where seeing his Men went on trembling he advanced betwixt the two Armies received two hundred Darts on his Buckler till such time as Fear having given place to Shame all the Army ran in and secured him from the Danger Thus the first Entrails without the Chief threatned only Danger of Death but the Second were a certain Presage of Death it self Pythagoras the Divine after having sacrificed said to Appollodorus who feared Alexander and Ephestion that he need fear nothing for they both should shortly die Ephestion dying some time after Appollodorus doubting lest there might be some Conspiracy formed against the King gave him notice of the Prediction He only laughed at it and informing himself of Pythagoras what those Presages meant he told him it was a Sign of Death whereupon he again laughed praising Appollodorus's love and the Divine's freedom As for Caesar the last time he went to the Senate as we have said a little before the same Presage presenting he said smiling he had seen the like in Spain to which the Augur answering that he was then in danger but now the Sign was mortal he yielded in some measure to that Advice and offered another Sacrifice but tired with the length of the Ceremonies entred the Palace and perished There happened to Alexander the same thing for when he returned from the Indies to Babylon with his Army being come nigh the City the Chaldeans counselled him to defer his Entry to whom having given this Verse for Answer Who promises most Good 's the best Divine they besought him at least that he would not let his Army enter with their Faces to the West but would fetch a Compass that in entring they might see the Rising Sun and the City It is said he would have obeyed them in this but in marching about he met with a Marshy Ground which made him slight the second as well as the first Advice so that he entred the City with his Face to the West Some time after embarking upon the Euphrates and going down to the River Pallacota which receives the Euphrates and carries its Waters into Marshes and Pools which might happen to drown all Assyria he resolved to make a Dam and it is said that going down the River he laughed at the Chaldeans because he had gone into Babylon and come out of it again in a Boat without any harm But Death attended him at his Return from this Voyage Caesar's Raillery with the Augur who told him the Ides of March were fatal to him was much alike he answered him jearing the Ides were come and yet he was killed the same day So that herein there was great agreement between them both in the Presages they received from the Divines without being offended their Raillery and the Event of the Prediction They were likewise great Lovers of the Sciences as well of their own Country as Strangers Alexander conferred with the Brachmen who are esteemed the most subtil and sagacious of the Indians as the Magi are of the Persians Caesar did the like with the Egyptians when he re-established Cleopatra in her Kingdom which occasioned him when the Peace was made to reform many things amongst the Romans and that after the Example of the Egyptians he regulated the Year by the Course of the Sun which before was governed by the Moon and so till then were unequal by reason of the Intercalary Days It happened to him likewise that not one of those who conspired his Death escaped but were all punished as they deserved by his Son and as the Murderers of Philip were by Alexander but in what manner we shall relate in the following Books The End of the Second Book of the Civil Wars of Rome APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars OF ROME PART II. BOOK III. The Argument of this Book I. ANthony causes Amatius who gave himself out to be the Son of Marius to be sâ—ain which begets him the ill will of the People whereupon the Senate appoint him Guards II. Brutus and Cassius settle their Affairs and leave the City Dolobella and Anthony get the Governments of Syria and Macedonia to their prejudice III. Octavius adopted by Caesar comes to Rome and goes to visit Anthony IV. His Speech and Anthony's Answer V. Caesar finding Anthony not well disposed to him labours to gain the hearts of the People Dolobella goes into Syria and puts to death Trebonius VI. Caesar and Anthony reconciled by the mediation of the Soldiery VII Anthony having in prejudice of the reconciliation disobliged Caesar the Officers of his Guards declare their resentment of it VIII Anthony's Answer to them and the second reconciliation between him and Caesar. IX A third Breach between Caesar and Anthony four Macedonian Legions come to Brundusium for Anthony and Caesar raises Forces X. Anthony's four Legions mutiny against him and after being appeased two of them come over to Caesar. XI Preparations on one side and the other XII Anthony being tacitly declared Enemy Cicero gives reasons for it XIII Piso makes an Oration in favour of Anthony XIV Anthony declared Enemy and an Army decreed to Brutus and Cassius which discontents Caesar yet he lends a part of his Forces to the Consuls to help them to raise the Sâ—ege of Modena where Anthony had inclosed Decimus Brutus XV. After several Engagements before Modena Anthony raises his Siege and marches over the Alpes XVI Caesar will not see Decimus and Pansa at the point of death discovers to Caesar the Senates intention to ruine him XVII Cassius and Brutus grow powerful in Syria and Macedon XVIII Caesar does all he can to oblige Anthony to a reconciliation and in the mean time the Senate nominates Commissioners to call Anthony to account XIX Anthony joyns with Lepidus which terrifies the Senate XX. Caesar by his Soldiers demands the Consulate which being refused he marches towards Rome at which the Senate are so affrighted that they grant it him XXI The Senate repenting of their grant and preparing for defence Caesâ—r comes to Rome where he is well received and obtains the Consulate XXII Caesar being Consul condemns the Conspirators reconciles himself with Anthony and Decimus Brutus is slain in Gaul and his Head brought to Anthony CAesar the most worthy to reign of all men that ever had lived among the Romans being in this manner slain by his Enemies the People celebrated his Funerals But because all those who any way contributed to his dearh were punished we shall in this and the Book next following treat of the manner how the principal Heads of this Conspiracy perished and after that conclude the History of these Civil Wars Anthony having lost the good will of the Senate by ministring occasion to the people to violate the indemnity at Caesar's Funeral Pomp and being the cause of their running to set on fire the Houses of the Conspirators regained their good esteem by an action which had
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
respect to the publick Good There was one Amasius who falsly giving himself out to be the Son of Marius had taken his name and only in consideration of his reporting him to be his Father was beloved of the People for by that supposition they thought him a Kinsman of Caesar's and indeed he appeared extremely afflicted for his death erected an Altar in the place where he was burnt and attended by a Troop of Hectors terrified the Conspirators of whom the greatest part having left the City those to whom Caesar had given Governments retired likewise Decimus Brutus to that Gaul neighbouring upon Italy Trebonius into Asia and Tullius Cimber into Bithynia As for Cassius and Brutus to whom the Senate bore great affection they had been designed by Caesar to command the year following Cassius in Syria and Brutus in Macedonia and at present were Praetors in the City In the present juncture of Affairs they laboured to gain the Soldiers designed for the Colonies by permitting them among other things to sell their shares which the Law prohibited them till after twenty years possession It was reported that Amatius had a design against their lives and waited only for an opportunity to execute it which being told to Anthony he according to the authority he had by virtue of his charge caused him to be arrested and with an extraordinary boldness put him to death without any tryal The Senate were amazed at it as a violent action not permitted by their Laws however they suffered it because they saw no other way of security for Cassius and Brutus but the companions of Amatius and the rest of the people affected with grief for him and enraged against Anthony that he durst in that manner treat a person whom they loved thinking they ought not to dissemble it but gathering together in the place began to cry out and rail against Anthony requiring the Magistrates to consecrate Amatius his Altar and perform the first Sacrifices to Caesar. And when Anthony's Soldiers would have driven them thence they grew more tumultuous making greater noise than before some of them shewing the Basis from whence they had taken Caesar's Statues and one of them cryed out he could likewise shew them the Shop where they were melting down they presently followed him and finding it as he said set fire to the House Another Party of Anthony's people coming to quench it some of those Mutineers were slain and some taken of whom the Slaves were hanged and the rest thrown headlong down the Rocks The Tumult being appeased that affection people bore to Anthony converted into hatred On the contrary the Senate were well satisfied for without this the Conspirators had not been in security of their persons But when Anthony proposed to the Fathers the return of Sextus Pompey Son of that great Pompey lamented by all men against whom Caesar's Party yet made War in Spain and to give him out of the Treasury fifty Millions of Attick Drams in recompence of the Goods of his Father which had been confiscate and to make him Admiral as his Father had been with power to dispose of all the Roman Fleet as he should think fit all the Senators were astonished approved his proposition and spent the rest of that day in praises of him for no man had ever appeared so affectionate to the publick Good as the great Pompey nor had been so universally lamented and `twas because Brutus and Cassius had followed him that all men still honoured them Wherefore Cicero without ceasing praised Anthony and the Senate who were not ignorant that he was hated by the people permitted him to chuse as a Guard of his person as many as he pleased of the old Soldiers then in the City He whether he had before provided for it or that he gladly made use of the presenting occasion took such Guards as amounted to six thousand persons nor did he enlist private Soldiers for he thought at a pinch he could easily find them elsewhere but all experienced Officers whose affection he had gained in the time they had served under Caesar and the most considerable of these he had made choice of for Tribunes to whom he shewed Honour and Respect making them partakers in all things fit to be communicated The Senate began to grow jealous of his Guards whether because of their great numbers or because they were all chosen Men and advised him to reduce them to a certain number to avoid envy which he promised to do as soon as the Tumults of the people were appeased Moreover the Senate and people having approved all that Caesar had done and decreed of this Anthony had the Register which when Caesar had thoughts of departing on his designed Expedition he had left with him with great numbers of Requests on which he had yet made no Order so that Faberius Caesar's Secretary being perfectly at his Devotion he added many things in favour of several persons gave Gratuities to Cities Potentates and to his own Guards as if done by Caesar's Order whereas they owed the obligation only to Anthony he likewise by the same means placed many persons in the degree of Senators and performed great quantity of other matters at the Senates request that he might lessen the aversion they had to his Guards such was Anthony's Conduct As for Brutus and Cassius seeing the people and the old Soldiers continued their animosities against them and imagining some other might be found to make an attempt upon their lives as well as Amatius and being besides sensible of Anthony's malice who now having nothing to stand in fear of being so well guarded hindred the re-establishment of the Common-wealth they began to provide for their own safety besides the firm relyance they had in Decimus Brutus who was at hand with three Legions they wrote to Trebonius in Asia and to Tullius in Bithynia to raise Money with as much secresie as they could and gave order to secure the Soldiery to them whilst they put themselves in a readiness to take possession of those Governments Caesar had commissionated them for But because their due time for departure was not yet come they judging it indecent to go take possession of their Provinces before the time of executing their Charges in the City was expired and yet had rather spend the rest of the year as private persons than exercising the Office of Praetors whilst neither their persons were secure nor they honoured according to their deserts The Senate knowing their thoughts gave them Commission to cause Corn to be brought from all parts into the City till the time limited for their going into their Provinces which they did that Brutus and Cassius might not seem to flie so great care had they of the reputation of those two Men for whose sake especially they favoured the Party of the Conspirators After that the Praetors were gone out of the City to execute their Commission Anthony being thenceforth the only powerful Man could heartily
be declared Enemy but he would have us stay till he be too powerful for us Cicero having spoken in this manner his Friends began to make such a noise that it was impossible for any to be heard that would answer him till Piso rose up out of respect to whom not only the rest of the Senators but even Cicero's Party kept silence and then he declared himself in these terms The Oration of Piso. THe Laws Conscript Fathers require that the Accused should hear his Accusation impleaded before him and after having made answer expect his Sentence This is what Cicero that mighty Accuser cannot deny me Wherefore since he has not accused Anthony of any thing while he was present but would now value himself upon this opportunity of his absence to blacken him with a multitude of Crimes I present my self to make appear the falsity of his Accusations which I hope to do in few words In the first place he says that after Caesar's death Anthony seized upon the publick Moneys but the Laws have ordained particular Punishments for Thieves but never declared them Enemies to their Country Besides Brutus having slain Caesar accused him in a publick Assembly of the People of having wasted the Publick Treasure and drained dry the Exchequer Some time after Anthony ordered an Inquisition to be made you approved his Ordinance and promised the tenth Penny to the Discoverers and we submit our selves to pay double if any one can convict Anthony of having been a Partner in that Crime So much for what concerns the Publick Moneys As for the Government of Gaul it is true you did not give it to Anthony but he obtained it by Decree of the People in the presence of Cicero as others obtained other Provinces and as Caesar himself obtained the same It is ordered by the same Decree that if Decimus refuse to part with Gaul Anthony may have liberty to constrain him by force and to employ to that end the Army designed against the Thracians provided they made no attempt on Macedon But Cicero accounts not Decimus an Enemy who is in Arms against the Ordinance of the People and yet would have Anthony be so whom the People ordered to make this War So that blaming the Decree he blames the Authors but he ought rather then to have disswaded them than now revile them having given his consent to it he ought rather to have prevented the giving that Government to Decimus whom the People had chased hence as a Murderer than deprive Anthony whom they had gratified In summ it is some imprudence to oppose the Ordinances of the People in such a perillous time without remembring that in the beginning of the Commonwealth they were Iudges of these things and declared Friends of Enemies whom they thought worthy for by the Ancient Laws the People were the sole Arbiters of Peace and War And there is no doubt but had they a Head they would reassume this Authority and absolutely deprive us of it But Anthony has put to death his Soldiers he has acted according to the Power given him by your Commission Nor did there ever General give account of such matters to any Man for the Legislators never thought it for the Commonwealth's Advantage that a General should own his Soldiers for Iudges of his Actions Besides nothing is more dangerous in an Army than Soldiers Contempt of their Commander which has proved the destruction of many in the midst of Victory Besides none of the Kindred of the decimated either have or do yet complain and yet Cicero accuses him of Man-slaughter and not content with the usual Punishment of that Crime treats him as a publick Enemy Yet constantly affirms he has undergone strange affronts from his Soldiers in that two Legions whom you commanded to obey him deserted him contrary to the Law of War not to yield themselves to you but to Caesar. Notwithstanding all which Cicero thinks their Action good and yesterday advised they might be rewarded at the Expence of the Publick God grant the Example may not one day prove dreadful but however it be Cicero's Heat and Animosity has carried him to a manifest Contradiction for he at once accuses Anthony of aspiring to the Tyranny and of ill treating his Soldiers And certain it is that those who pretend to usurp the Sovereign Power instead of ill treating Military Men do all they can to gain their favour However since he has had the confidence to impose this Calumny upon Anthony that following Caesar's steps he aimed at the Tyranny let us examine all his Actions particularly Has he put any one to death without due Process as Tyrants use to do he who is himself in danger of being condemned without being heard Has he chased out of the City or calumniously accused any Person before you And is there any appearance he that has done no private Wrong should attempt Publick But pray Cicero when was this done Was it when he published the Indempnity or when he proposed the recalling the Son of your Pompey and making good to him his Father's Estate out of the Publick Moneys or when he caused to be arrested and put to death the false Marius who troubled our Peace for which he was praised by all the Senate and my Lords of the Senate this is the only Action Cicero durst not blame because you applauded it Or in fine was it when he passed that Decree by which it is prohibited to make Dictators For this is the Summ of all his Management of Publick Affairs during the two Months which after Caesar's death he stayed in the City during which the People sometimes sought for the Murderers to put them to death and you your selves were often in fear and trouble of what might arrive had he then been an ill Citizen could he ever expect a Conjuncture more favourable to his Designs But he never abused that Power and Charge of the Consulship How so Has not he alone governed the Commonwealth Dolobella being gone for Syria Kept he not armed Men about him for his security which you your selves appointed Kept he not a Guard by Night in the City even about his own House which yet was only done to warrant him from the Ambushes of his Enemies Had he not a fair apportunity upon the death of Caesar his Friend his Benefactor beloved by all the People And did there not one yet fairer present it self when he entertained Guards to defend his life against those Murderers that attempted his though he never put to death or banished one of them yet still he pardoned them so far as in civility he could nor ever hindred the giving of them Governments These Conscript Fathers are the great Crimes the manifest Crimes wherewith Cicero accuses him Nor is he content to make Anthony's Actions only pass for Crimes He divines and says he had designed to bring his Army into the City but that he was afraid of Caesar who had already with another Army possessed it
and that without fear they could not stay in the City The Senate sent them out honourably under pretence of giving them the Superintendence of Provision lest otherwise they should seem to have fled After they were gone the Governments of Syria and Macedon were given by Decree to the Consuls Anthony and Dolobella against the mind of most of the Senate and yet in some manner to recompence Brutus and Cassius they granted them Crete and Cyrene But they despising these Governments because they were too small began by Money to assure themselves of Forces with intent to sieze upon Syria and Macedon To this end they were labouring when Trebonius being slain by Dolobella and Decimus besieged in Gaul by Anthony the Senate offended declared Anthony and Dolobella Enemies confirmed Brutus and Cassius in their first Governments added Illyria to that of Brutus and gave Command to all Governors and all Soldiers of the Oriental provinces to receive the Orders of Cassius and Brutus After which Cassius without considering Dolobella advances to possess himself of Syria with the Ensigns of Command together with twelve compleat Legions of Old Soldiers who had served their Apprenticeship under Caesar. For Caesar having already in his thoughts the War against the Parthians had left one in Syria under the Charge of Cecilius Bassus as Lieutenant to Sextus Iulius his Kinsman yet very young who roving about the Country to take his pleasure used to carry his Legion along with him contrary to all Decency which when Bassus represented unto him he reviled him And another time when he sent for Bassus because he came not immediately he commanded to bring him by force This Command raised a Tumult and the Tumult a Scuffle wherein the Soldiers no longer able to bear with Iulius insolence slew him with their Javelins But at the same instant they repented themselves for they feared Caesar wherefore they swore mutually to one another that if he granted them not a Pardon for this Action they would defend themselves to the death They likewise forced Bassus to be of the Conspiracy and raised another Legion whom they exercised after the Roman way of Discipline Sextus Marcus sent by Caesar against them with three Legions was repulsed till such time as having called to his Assistance Minutius Crispus with three other Legions out of Bithynia Bassus found himself besieged by six Legions when Cassius coming that way Bassus Army voluntarily submitted to him and soon after the six Legions commanded by Marcus and Minutius whether they had an inclination for him or else were willing to obey him in compliance with the Senate's Decree Allienus sent some time before by Dolobella into Egypt now brought thence four Legions of the Remains of Pompey's and Crassus Defeats or of those which Caesar at his departure from Egypt had left in Cleopatra's Service Cassius surprized him in Palestine and forced to take part with him for he durst not resist eight Legions having but four Thus beyond all expectation he found himself Master of twelve Legions besides a great number of Parthian Archers on Horse-back who were come to offer themselves to him out of the great Esteem he had gained among them when being Questor to Crassus they judged him more prudent than his General Dolobella since Trebonius death had stayed in Ionia where he exacted great store of Money from the Cities and prepared a Fleet of Ships which Livius Figulus hired from the Rhodians Lycians Pamphilians and Cilicians So that having made these Preparations he attempted to seize upon Syria and to that purpose took his March by Land with two Legions and gave order to Figulus to follow him by Sea But when he understood the State of Cassius his Power he turned into Laodicea a City affectionate to his Interests and scituate on a Peninsula fortified to the Land and whereof the Port was very commodious to enter with Provisions or to go out again when ever they had a mind to set Sail. As soon as Cassius had notice hereof that Dolobella might not escape him he caused to be raised at the Neck of the Peninsula which was two Furlongs over a Bulwark of the same length raised with Stones and other sorts of Materials which he took from the Houses and Sepulchres that were in the Suburbs He sent likewise to require Shipping from the Phenicians Lycians and Rhodians who all refused him But though only the Sidonians sent theirs to him he forbore not with them to assault Dolobella's Navy There was in this Fight a great many Ships sunk of one side and the other nevertheless at last Dolobella got five with all the Sea-men and Soldiers in them Cassius sent afresh to demand Aid of those had refused him at first and besides them to Cleopatra Queen of Egypt and to Serapion who commanded for her in Cyprus The Tyrians the Aradians and Sâ—rapion without the Queen's Order sent him all they had But the Queen pretended that Egypt was afficted with Famine and Plague to excuse her self though indeed for the first Caesar's sake she was concerned for Dolobella had already sent him four Legions by Allienus and had likewise at that present a Fleet in readiness to relieve him which only stayed till the foul Weather Season was past As for the Rhodians and Lycians they made Answer that they would serve neither Brutus nor Cassius in a Civil War and that they had lent their Ships to Dolobella for passage only not believing he would make use of them in War After this Answer Cassius with those Forces he had returned to give an Assault to Dolobella's Fleet where the advantage was very doubtful at first but at last Dolobella suffered some loss At the same time the Bulwark being finished they planted Batteries and whilst they played at the Wall Cassius laboured to corrupt the Guards And not being able to gain Marsus who commanded the Guard by Night he prevailed with the Centurions that did it by Day who when Marsus was gone to his Repose let in Cassius at many little Posterns The City being taken Dolobella commanded one of his People to cut off his Head and carry it to Cassius to save his own He obeyed in the first point but after killed himself upon his Master's Body Marsus likewise slew himself Cassius took an Oath from Dolobella's Army plundered the Temples and Treasuries of Laodicea put to death the principal Inhabitants and taxed the rest in vast Summs so that he reduced the City to extreme necessity From Laodicea he took his March towards Egypt upon the News that Cleopatra was going with a great Fleet to meet Caesar and Anthony He hoped to hinder that Queen's Voyage and to revenge himself of her and indeed he was very desirous to have siezed upon Egypt then oppressed with Famine and disfurnished of Men of War Alienus having lately drawn thence the four Legions And it is probable something might have been done but Brutus sent for Cassius in haste because Caesar and Anthony had
shall first assault in what manner we are to act and when to begin As soon as they had all given their approbation of this advice It is time said he to put in Execution our dâ—sign as soon as we have made an end of this conference Whilst it is night and dark the fight will seem more dreadful to our enemies and we shall find them less prepared bâ—sides the obscurity will hinder them from being able to succour one another and in this manner we shall prevent this design they have of assailing us to morrow Now as they are three Armies that at Sea is distant and it is not possible to assault ships by night Asdrubal and Syphax are not encamped far from each other Asdrubal is the Principal Chief and Syphax barbarous effeminate and fearful as he is will never undertake any thing in the dark Wherefore let us make an attempt upon Asdrubal with all our Forces and place Masanissa in Ambush against Syphax if by chance and contrary to our bâ—lief he should come to assist the other Let us march with our foot directly to Asdrubal's Camp and storm it couragiously on all sides till we have forced his trenches As for the Horse since they are not fit for this night service We will place thâ—m on the Avenues of the enemies Camp that if by misfortune we be repulsed they may suppâ—rt and favour our Retreat and if we gain the advantage they may pâ—rsue and destroy the flyers Having finished this discourse he gave order to his Captains forthwith to draw their Souldiers to Arms whilst he sacrificed to Courage and Fear that none might in the night be terrified but on the Contrary the whole Army bear themselves couragiously in the Enterprise About the third watch the Trumpets sounded a dead march and all the Army advanced towards Asdrubal's Camp without making the least noise till such time as the Horse had seized the Avenâ—es and the foot were upon the Ditch Then was there raised among them a terrible noise of confused voices mixed with Trumpets the more to affright the enemy and therewith falling on they beat back the guards fill'd up the trench pull'd down the Palisadoes and some of the boldest pressing forwards began to set fire on the Tents The Africans full of conâ—usion take their Arms between sleep and waking and endeavor to draw into a battel but the tumult was so great they could not hear the voices of them that Commanded and their General himself knew not the cause of the Alarm The Romans thronged in among these people whom they found in disorder and ill Armed setting all before them on fire and putting all they met with to the Sword Their shouts the sight of them and their fierceness stroke terror into these miserable people and the night and the incertainty of the danger increased it so that believing all their Camp was absolutely taken fearing to be involved in the general ruine they thronged in crouds towards the plain where they thought they might be in more security and every one taking his own way they fell into the hands of the horsemen who made a most dreadful slaughter Syphax heard this great noise in the night and saw the flames but stirred not out of his Camp only sent some Troops of Horse to assist Asdrubal who falling into Masanissa's Ambush were all cut of When at break of day Syphax understood that Asdrubal was fled that all his Army were either slain taken or ran away that his Camp with all his munition of war was in the Romans possession he deserted all retiring farther up into the Contitinent out of fear lest Scipio returning from the Chase of Asdrubal should turn his Arms against him leaving his Camp and all it's furniture as a prey to Masanissa Thus at one stroke in less then a night the Romans took two Camps and routed two Armies beyond comparison greater than theirs The vanquishers lost about one hundred Souldiers and the vanquished about thirty thousand besides two thousand four hundred that were taken Prisoners and six hundred Horse that came to submit themselves to Scipio upon his return from the Victory as for the Elephants they were all either wounded or killed Scipio having gained in this battel great quantity of Arms Gold Silver Ivory and Horses as well Numidian as others and beholding the Carthaginian forces ruined by this great victory distributed part of the booty among his Souldiers sent whatever was most precious to Rome and began to Exercise his Army in Labor and Travel expecting Hannibal who was ere long to return from Italy as was likewise Hanno from Liguria Asdrubal General of the Carthaginians having been wounded in this nights battel saved himself with five hundred Horse at Anda where he rallyed some Mercenaries and some fled Numidians and gave liberty to all slaves that would bears Arms and at length understanding that his Citizens had condemned him to death for his ill Conduct in this War and that they had made Hanno the Son of Bomilcar his Successor he took a resolution to keep himself with this Army which consisted of three thousand Horse and eight thousand Foot besides a great Number of Criminals that resorted to him with which he marched through all places where he had any hopes to get provisions inuring them to hardship having prepared himself to perish if he could not overcome which was a long time unknown as well to the Romans as Carthaginians Mean while Scipio marched at the head of his Army to the very Walls of Carthage where he presented battel to the Citizens but they would not accept it But Amilcar their Admiral went with one hundred Ships to the Port where Scipio's Fleet lay believing that before Scipio could return he should easily defeat twenty Roman Gallies with his hundred Ships But Scipio having intelligence of his Design sent his Orders before to block up the Ports mouth with Ships of burthen which they ranged before it at Anchor in such manner that there were passages left for the Roman Gallies to Sally out when they saw an advantage and yet these great Ships were fastned together by the Yard-arms and served as a wall against the enemies The work was not quite finished at his arrival but he soon brought it to perfection The Carthaginian Ships then coming to assault the Romans were beaten off by flights of Arrows and Stones as well from those in the ships as on shore and from the walls of the Port insomuch that most of them being battered and the Souldiers quite tyred they retired in the Evening without doing any thing As they made their retreat the Roman Gallies sallied by the passages which we spoke of before and when they found they could execute nothing they retreated into the Port by the same passages At length they brought to Scipio one of the enemies ships but not a man in her After these encounters it being now winter each party retired to their Garrisons The Romans caused
who cannot upon surprise digest the troublesome necessity of obeying and becoming hereafter servants but when after a long silence they grew more lively sensible of their misery they forbore any farther revilings and only set themselves to lament their unfortunate condition calling by name their Children their Wives and their Country as if they had heard their lamentations The Priests likewise invoked the Gods as if they had been present reproaching them with being the cause of their death In short the mourning was so great and the groans so confused of those who deplored the publick and private misfortune and so worthy of compassion that they drew tears from the eyes of their enemies The Consuls themselves moved with pity out of a consideration of the instability of humane things expected with sad countenances the end of their deplorings when after abundance of tears and groans the Calm in some sort returning into their souls they fell again into a profound silence and considering that their City was disarmed and defenceless that they had not one Ship one Warlike Engine one Dart or one Sword left that they had not within their walls men of war sufficient having lately lost fifty thousand men and that it was not possible for them to raise Soldiers elsewhere having neither friends nor allies besides that the shortness of the time would not permit it That their Children their Friends and their Country were in the enemies power their City besieged by Sea and Land and that from the other side Masanissa their ancient enemy was ready to fall upon them they put a stop to the Tumult and extravagance as of all things most useless in this occasion and had a fresh recourse to prayers Then Hanno surnamed Gilla the most considerable of all the Carthaginians there present having first obatined permission to speak began in this manner Sirs If I may be admitted to add any thing to the Remonstrances we have made you I must tell you that we pretend not to act in this occasion as if we pleaded our cause before you in quality of Judges such proceeding is utterly unseasonable in our present condition but I hope to make it appear by pertinent reasons that we are not unworthy your mercy We who have formerly been Lords of Africa both by Sea and Land and for a long time disputed Extent of Empire with you at last yielded all to Scipio when we delivered up all our Ships and our Elephants we have likewise payd you the tributes imposed on us at the terms prescribed We beg you therefore by those gods witnesses to the treaty to pardon us and not to violate the Oath of Scipio who swore that from thence forward the people of Carthage should be friend and allie to the people of Rome We have not swerved from any thing of that accommodation We have neither ships nor Elephants you can demand no tribute of us â—ay we have served you against three Kings and be not offended if we put you in mind of it when you demanded our Arms since ordinarily miseries make men speak more then they ought but now though the Religion of the Treaty should be sufficient argument to perswade you we have only recourse to our Prayers and indeed we have nothing else left having already yielded up to you all that was in our power This is all I can say to you touching the first Treaty of Peace which was ratified by the Oath of Scipio your Consul but for what concerns our present Estate you Sirs are your selves witnesses of what we have done You demanded Hostages we have given you all the choicest of our youth You desired our Arms we have surrendred them all which the inhabitants of a City taken never willingly did We assured our selves upon the honesty of the Romans and upon their word for the Senate gave us their letters which we delivered unto you and when you demanded Hostages from us you promised that Carthage should giving them be at liberty to live according to its Laws And if having done what the letters of the Senate have ordered us nay more than what they commanded it would certainly appear very evil if after having promised liberty to our City upon delivery of Hostages you should ordain it's destruction after having received them for if you demolish it how can you leave it free as you promised This is all we have to say touching the Treaties as well old as new and if this move you not we will only have recourse to prayers and tears the sole refuge of the miserable and for which we have ample occasion in the innumerable calamities that overwhelm us We beseech you therefore for an antient City built by the command of the Gods For the support of that immense glory it had acquired For the preservation of that name it has born throughout the whole world for its Temples for its Gods which are not capable of any crime Chastise not them by a privation of those solemn sacrifices and continual adorations paid them by this City Rob not the dead who never offended you of their Sepulchres and those funeral Honors daily celebrated on their tombs And if you have any pity for us since you say 't is out of compassion you permit us to chuse another habitation spare our Altars spare our houshold gods spare our high places spare the goddess guardian of Carthage In short spare so many things that are both pleasant and precious in the eyes of the whole earth for what can you fear from us You have our ships you have our arms and all those great beasts which attracted on us the envy of such a world of people You may say perhaps that it is comfort enough for us that you suffer us to build another City But it is impossible for men accustomed to get their livelyhood from the Sea of whom we have an infinite number to live or subsist in the Inland yet however you will have this to be a favor but pray be pleased that instead of it we offer you another condition which will fully satisfie us and in our opinion bring you more glory Let the City that has not sinn'd stand and put to death all the Carthaginians rather then command them to change habitation Thus all the world will believe you animated against men and not against Temples Gods Sepulchres and innocent walls You have been accustomed to prefer glory and pitty before all things and to make your moderation shine in the midst of your prosperity which hitherto you have practised towards all you have subdued suffer your selves then to be moved by the prayers of Iupiter and those gods which yet preside ore Carthage and for their sake cease to hate us and our children out of a remembrance of our past offences Take heed lest we prove the first for whom you loose that high esteem in which you live and â—ully not your reputation by the cruelty of this action so horrible to speak of much
at the Undertaking as if in a long time or perhaps never Scipio could have brought it to perfection but the whole Army laboured in it with an emulation of each other without resting day or night insomuch that at last the Besieged affrighted resolved to make another entrance on the farther side of the Port where the Peninsula extends it self more into the Sea where a Dam could not be made both by reason of the depth of the Water and violence of the Winds All the people therefore set themselves to digging so much as the very Women and Children and beginning from within and continuing their work without telling their design and at the same time mustering up all the old Materials they had they fell to make Galleys of divers sorts following their business with much courage and diligence but so secretly that the Prisoners themselves could give no other account to Scipio save that they continually heard a great noise in the Port but knew not what it meant Having at last completed every thing they suddenly opened the Mouth of the Port and about break of day came forth with fifty Galleys and great quantity of Barques Brigantines and other smaller Vessels in so good order that they were very capable to strike This new Mouth so unexpectedly opened and the unthought of coming out of such a Fleet so startled the Romans that had the Carthaginians immediately fell upon their Fleet unfurnished both of Mariners and Slaves all hands being employed in the Works to advance the Siege they might easily have made themselves Masters of it But because it was decreed by the Destinies that Carthage should be razed they contented themselves with this vain Shew and proud Bravado retreating into their Port without doing any thing else Three days afterwards they came forth again to Sea with design to engage the Romans in good earnest whose Fleet being now in a readiness set forward to meet them they began the fight with great shouts on both sides the Seamen Souldiers and Commanders equally shewing their Courage the one party fighting for their safety the other to compleat their Victory so that there was a furious fight on both parts nothing being to be seen but wounds and death In the fight the Carthaginian Brigantines gliding along under the banks of the great Roman Galleys broke them sometimes in the Poop sometime struck of their Rudders and sometime burst a sunder their Oars so that they damaged them extreamly and when they found themselves overcharged they rowed off with a wonderful Nimbleness and as nimbly returned to the Charge At last the two Fleets having fought till Sun setting with equal advantage the Carthaginians thought it convenient to retire not that they confessed themselves overcome but that they might next morning return to the fight in better order In this retreat their smaller Vessels being lighter and swifter got the Van and entring in a huddle into the Port so stopt the entrance of the great Vessels that they were forced to retire to a very spacious key built against the City-wall for the unlading of which they had during this War raised a little rampart for fear left the enemies should possess it There they stood firm with their Prows twined towards their enemies all the Soldiers standing in a fighting posture some upon the Ships others on the Key and others on the Rampart The Romans who followed them had no great difficulty to assail them for t is not hard to fight with Ships that lie still but when they were again to draw of because of their length not being able to turn nimbly they received as much damage in the retreat as they had given in the Charge for as they turned about they were forced to receive all the blows of the shot from the Carthaginian Engines on their broad sides At last five Ships which the City of Sidon allies of the people of Rome had sent to Scipio went and dropt their Anchors out at Sea at a good distance from the Carthaginian and giving scope of Cable enough advanced by force of Oars and after having given their charge warped back again by their Cables which they had brought in at their poop and then again returned to the Charge and in like manner retreated All the Fleet followed the Example of those of Sidon whereby the Carthaginians were much damaged till such time as the fight having continued a good part of the night the remainder of their Ships â—heltred themselves in the Haven Morning being come Scipio attempted the Key because he thought the gaining of it would make the mouth of the Port useless he therefore caused Rams and other batteries to be planted against the Rampart with which he beat down a part of it But the Carthaginians though oppressed with hunger and many other inconveniences forbore not by night to assault the Roman Engines not by Land for there was no passage nor upon Ships for the Sea was too shallow but naked and without light for fear they should be discovered far of they entred the Sea where none kept guard and passing some wading with the water up to their brests and others swimning till they came very near the batteries where when they could no longer couceal themselves because they had lighted their fires naked as they were they received an infinite of wounds yet not without revenge for their fury carried them to strange resolutions and all gored as they were with Arrows and Darts in their Brests in their Faces yet they abated nothing of their violence but like fierce beasts pressed forward to meet the strokes till having set fire to the Engines they so dismayed those that defended them that they took their flight towards the Camp where never before was seen such an alarm as this caused by naked enraged people Scipio astonished at the disorder came forth of the Camp with some Horsemen whom he commanded to kill those that would not stand and with his own hands he killed some and by that means obliged the rest who else had been all lost to keep their post where they stood all the night in Arms. As soon as it was day the Carthaginians delivered from the trouble of the Engines labored to repair that part of the Rampier that was broken down adding towers at certain intervals On the other side the Romans made other Engines and planted them on platforms which raised them as high as the towers of the enemies and from thence cast burning torches brimstone and pots full of flaming pitch with which they burnt some of them which put the Carthaginians to flight and opened the Romans a way to the Key to pursue them but because the ground on which they ran was slippery by reason of the blood shed there they could not overtake them Scipio being become Master of the Key lodged on it fortified it and caused a wall of brick to be built to the Cityward very near the City walls and of equal height When it
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
she at last was punished and for him he degenerated nothing from Cleopatra for he having advice of it declared War against his Brother drove him out of his Kingdom and made himself King of Syria he enjoyed it no long time being himself expelled by the Arms of Seleucus Son to Antiochus Grypus who respected not in him the Quality of Uncle but he became so violent and lived with so much Tyranny that being at Mopsa a City of Cilicia he was burnt alive in the place of publick Exercise His Successor was Antiochus the Son of the Cyzycenian whom the Syrians believed had escaped his Uncles traps only for his Piety wherefore they sirnamed him the Pious and yet he was only saved by a Curtezan fell in love with him because of his Beauty which makes me think the Syrians gave him that name only out of a jeer for this Pious man married Selene who had before been married to his Father the Cyzyoenian and to his Uncle Grypus Therefore Divine Justice suffered him in punishment of his Crime to be driven out of his Kingdom by Tigranes and the Son he had by Selene who being bred in Asia was called Asiatick to be deprived of his Kingdom by Pompey as we have before related having reigned only one year during which that General was elsewhere employ'd He was the seventeenth King after Seleucus without reckoning Alexander the Bastard or his Son who were not of the Race nor their Domestick Diodotus To conclude the Race of the Seleucides Reigned two hundred and seventy years and if we account from the time of Alexander the Great till this Kingdom was reduced into the form of a Province we must likewise add those fourteen years which Tigranes Reigned Thus much I thought good to say by the way concerning the Macedonians that were Kings of Syria though the Subject be somewhat separate from our History The End of the Syrian War APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars IN PARTHIA PART I. BOOK III. The Argument of this Book I. THE Introduction to the History II. Crassus chosen Consul leaves Rome to go against the Parthians III. Crassus first Expedition wherein he do's nothing memorable IV. Crassus preparations for his second Expedition and the presages of his misfortune V. His march and the treachery of Agbarus VI. Upon Intelligence that the enemy is not far off he draws up his Army in Battel VII Description of the Battel VIII Success of the Battel and the death of Crassus Son IX The end of the Battel wherein the Romans are worsted X. Crassus decamps by by night XI The Parthians pursue their Victory and Crassus is slain XII The Parthians rejoyce at Crassus death XIII The beginning of Anthony's War against the Parthians in which Ventidius makes great progress XIV Anthony's Preparations XV. Some fights between Anthony and the Parthians XVI Anthony's retreat XVII The rashness of Flavius Gallus who had nigh lost the Army XVIII Famine in the Army XIX Continuation of Anthony's retreat and the end of the War AFter Pompey and those who as we have already said succeeded him in the Government of Syria Gabinius was sent to Command in that Province whither as he was disposing himself to make War against the Arabs Mithridates King of Parthia driven out of his Kingdom by his brother Orodes came to him to request him to suspend his Expedition against the Arabs and march against the Parthians But Ptolemy the Eleventh King of Egypt had more prevalency over the Spirit of the Proconâ—ul and by the power of Mony wrought so far with him that in stead of going against the Parthians he led his Army to Alexandria After having reestablished that King he was condemned to Banishment for having without the Senates Order undertook a War in Egypt forbid by the Oracles and particularly by the Sibyls verses Crassus succeeded him who going to make War upon the Parthians perished with his whole Army After his death when L. Bibulus was governor of Syria the same Parthians made an irruption into the Province and afterwards under the Government of Saxa who succeeded him over-run all as far as Ionia the Romans being imbroiled in Civil Wars yet did they nothing memorable besides spoiling the Country rather like thieves then Men of War and all that was but the consequence of Crassus overthrow which had given them a boldness that Anthony was at last to give check to but to write the History of this Expedition we must begin our discourse farther of The day of Assembly for Election of Consuls being come C. Caesar Pompey the Great and Marcus Crassus being found Competitors the two last notwithstanding all the endeavors of Cicero Cato and those of the Contrary Faction obtained the Consulate by force and prolonged to Caesar the Government of Gaul for five other years Having drawn by lot the Governments of Syria and Spain Syria fell to Crassus and Spain to Pompey with which all Men were well satisfied For the people were pleased that Pompey should not go far from the City and there was great likelyhood because he extreamly loved his Wife that he would not willingly absent himself for any long time On the other side Crassus as soon as he saw himself Governor of Syria dissembled not his satisfaction He thought no greater happiness could have arrived him and so far did his Excess of Joy transport him as to make him in his familiar conversation with his friends utter a thousand extravagancies which savored of the young Man and seemed contrary to his nature who had never been taken for a Proud Man or a Boaster but now exalting his thoughts above their due level his judgment was perverted insomuch that he not only promised himself to subdue the Syrians and the Parthians but as if the Victories gained by Lucullus against Tigranes and by Pompey against Mithridates had been but sports his depraved imaginations carried him as far as the Bactrians the Indians and the Oriental Ocean Though in his Commission there was not any mention made of a War against the Parthians yet no Man doubted but he was resolved to undertake it Caesar himself writing to him from Gaul commended his design and exhorted him to pursue it but many good and understanding Men thought it strange he should go to make War against innocent people who only demanded peace Wherefore Crassus having intelligence that Atteius Tribune of the people had a design to hinder his going out of the City was afraid and intreated Pompey who had a great power over the spirits of the people to be his Conductor they found in the Street a great number of Persons disposed to Arrest him but Pompey observing them went to meet them and with a smiling countenance appeased them so that they held their peace and gave him passage Atteius only made opposition first by forbidding Crassus to pass any farther and then by commanding the Usher to sieze his person but the other Tribunes not thinking it convenient
tears from Anthony's Friends The Mardian came to intreat him to take Courage by telling him that by a certain moist and fresh Wind very pleasant to the Nostrils he knew well they were not for from the River which he guessed besides by the length of the way they had gone and the time for the night was far spent At the same time they brought him word that all the Tumult was occasioned by the avarice of the Soldiers who had plundered one another wherefore that he might put in order this troubled and dispersed multitude he made a halt about break of day the Tumult being quite calmed every one began to fall into his Rank when on a sudden the Rearguard felt the Parthian Arrows the Light-armed Foot was presently commanded out and the Targetiers as before formed a Testudo against the Enemies shot who durst not approach them too nigh At last having fought in this manner for some little way the Vanguard perceived the River where being arrived the Horse was sent out against the Parthians and they began to pass over the sick The Fight by little and little grew colder for the Parthians at the sight of the River unbent their Bows telling the Romans they might pass without any fear and highly commending their Courage When they were got on the other side they reposed themselves at leisure then set forward on their March not confiding too much in the words of the Parthians and six days after their last Fight they arrived on the Banks of Araxis a River which divides Media from Armenia they thought it both deep and rapid and there was a rumour spread that the Enemy was coming to encounter them at their passage but after they had happily crossed it and saw themselves in security in the Territories of Armenia as if they had gained a Port after a Storm they adored the Earth embracing one another and weeping for joy yet it happened that coming into a Country abundant in all things after so long a scarcity they so overcharged their Stomachs that many of them fell sick either of the Dropsie or Colick Anthony out of danger took a Muster of his Army and found that he had lost in this Expedition twenty thousand Foot and four thousand Horse of which more than half dyed of sickness Since his departure from about Phraates till this time he had made seven and twenty days March without resting during which he had fought eighteen times against the Parthians with advantage But these Victories were to no purpose for not being able to pursue the Enemies far after he had routed them they remained imperfect Now it is firmly believed that Artabasus King of Armenia was the cause that Anthony gained not an absolute Victory for had he had with him the sixteen thousand Horse armed after the manner of the Parthians and accustomed to fight with them which that King led back out of Media the Parthians so many times overcome could never have rallied because that after the Romans had routed them the Armenians following the chase had made it a perfect Victory Wherefore all men advised Anthony to punish Artabasus but he thought he did more prudently not to reproach him with his perfidiousness On the contrary he remitted nothing of the Honour and Civity he usually shewed him because he saw his Army weak and in a tyred condition but making another Voyage into Armenia he obliged him by fair words to come and meet him and having arrested him led him Captive to Alexandria whither he entred in Triumph which much displeased the Romans who were vexed that he communicated the Honours of their Cities to the Egyptians but this happened in the time of the Declination of the Republick After this the Kings of the Medes and Parthians quarrelled about the Roman Spoils wherefore the Median seeing himself the weakest and fearing to loose his Kingdom sent to Anthony to engage him to begin the War afresh offering him to that effect his Forces and his Alliance Upon these offers the Roman conceived great hopes because he believed that to have subdued the Parthians he wanted nothing but Archers and Horsemen which now offered of themselves he was therefore resolved to pass into Armenia with design to makeâ— a conjunction of his Forces with those of the Mede on the Banks of Araxes and â—o go together to make War upon the Parthians but being prevented by the dissentions of Octavius and Cleopatra he referred this Expedition to another Season though 't is said the Parthians were at this time divided among themselves He notwithstanding once afterwards returned to Media where having contracted an Alliance and Friendship with that King he demanded one of his Daughters whom he married to one of his Sons he had by Cleopatra and that done he returned because of the Civil Wars which now began to break out into a flame The End of the Parthian War APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars WITH MITHRIDATES PART I. BOOK IV. The Argument of this Book I. THe importance of this War and the Power of Mithridates II. The Foundation of the Kingdom of Bithynia III. Foundation of the Kingdom of Cappadocia and the cause or pretence of the Roman Wars against Mithridates IV. Mithridates sends Pelopidas to the Roman Commissaries to complain of Nicomedes V. Mithridates sieses on Cappadocia for his Son and Pelopidas in vain remonstrates the State of Matters to the Roman Commissaries VI. The beginning of the War by the first Battel between Nicomedes and the Lieutenants of Mithridates wherein Nicomedes is defeated VII Sundry successes of Mithridates Arms. VIII The Commission of this War given to Sylla and the Massacre of the Italians in Asia IX The Siege of Rhodes by Mithridates who is forced to raise it X. The Siege of the Port of Piraeum and of Athens by Sylla XI The City of Athens taken and sack'd and after it the Port of Piraeum XII The Battel between Sylla and Archelaus near Cheronea where Sylla defeats Archelaus XIII Mithridates cruelty to the Tetrarchs of Asia and Inhabitants of the Island of Chios XIV The fight between Sylla and Archelaus near Orchomene where Archelaus is beaten XV. The Actions of Fimbria and the second sacking of Troy XVI The first accommodation betwixt Mithridates and the Romans XVII The death of Fimbria Sylla's settlement of Asia and return to Rome XVIII The second War with Mithridates by Muraena which soon ends with a second Peace XIX The beginning of the third War of the Romans against Mithridates wherein he at first hath the advantage XX. Lucullus being Consul hath Commission for this War raises the Siege of Cysica and besieges Mithridates to the loss of his whole Army XXI Many Fights between Lucullus and Mithridates who is at last forced to retire to Tigranes XXII Lucullus makes War on Tigranes and Mithridates together and after many Victories is revoked XXIII Pompey's War against the Pirates XXIV Pompey's actions against Mithridates who forsakes his
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
none returning he was afraid lest they would deliver him up to the Romans Wherefore having given orders to his Friends and those of his Guards who had not yet forsaken him to go and submit themselves to the new King after having extolled their fidelity he took out some Poison which he alwaies carried hid in the Belt of his Sword and began to dissolve it but two of his Daughters lately brought to him Mithridatis and Nissa promised in marriage to the Kings of Aegypt and Cyprus earnestly besought him to permit them to drink before him and hindred him from taking it till they had first swallowed it The violence of the Poison soon gave them their death but on Mithridates though he walked up and down a great place on purpose to heat himself the Poyson had no effect because of the Preservative he had used dayly to take for fear of being poisoned which to this day is called Mithridate seeing therefore near him a certain Captain of the Gauls called Bituitus Your hand said he has done me many excellent Services in War but the most excellent of all would be to kill me now lest I should be led in Triumph after having so long reigned in so great a Kingdom I cannot die by Poyson because I have been too cautious against it insensible that I was to have taken so much care of what I eat and not to foresee that cruel and domestick Venome to all Kings the Treason of my Children my Friends and my Armies Bituitus moved with this discourse performed for the King this last Office he desired of him Thus dyed the sixteenth Descendant from Darius the last King of the Persians and the eighth Successor to that Mithridates who shaking of the Macedonian Yoak made himself King of Pontus the sixty eighth or sixty ninth Year of his Age and the fifty seventh of his Reign for he was but an Infant when he took Possession of the Kingdom He subdued all the neighbouring Barbarians and a great part of Scythia he maintained War against the Romans forty Years space during which he several times made himself Master of Bithynia and Cappadocia made several Inroads into Asia Phrygia Paphlagonis Galatia Macedon besides many memorable Actions in Greece He had likewise the Empire of the Sea from Cilicia as far as Ionia but he quitted it when Sylla forced him to confine himself with the Bounds of the Kingdom of his Father after the loss of one hundred and sixty thousand men Yet after that mighty loss he forbore not to renew the War and did it without much difficulty having besides always had to do with great Captains 'T is true that Sylla Lucullus and Pompey overcame him but he had likewise the advantage ore them in many Encounters and withal he took Prisoners L. Cassius Q. Oppius and Manius Aquilius carrying them about Captives with him till he put one of them to death as the Principal Author of the War and delivered up the others to Sylla He defeated likewise Fimbria Murena Cotta Proconful Fabius and Triarius He appeared always great always constant even in the midst of Calamities and vanquished though he were omitted nothing that might be attempted against the Romans even to the allying himself with the Maeotiques and Gauls sending Ambassadors to Sertorius into Spain Notwithstanding all the wounds he received from Enemies or from Traytors he never gave himself any rest no not in his Age nor ever was there any conspiracy against him but was discovered save only the last and possibly he now perished for suffering himself willingly to be deceived so ungrateful is the malice of those to whom we grant pardon He was yet so cruel and bloody that he slew his Mother his Brother three of his Sons and as many Daughters he was of great Stature as his Arms sent to Delphos and Nemaea make appear and so strong that even to his last end he was one of the lustiest Horsemen and most vigorous thrower of a Javelin in his whole Kingdom he had travelled in one day a thousand Furlongs drawn by a Chariot with eight Horses and having fresh ones led He had learned the Greek Tongue and was well instructed in the Ceremonies of Religion of the Greeks He was likewise a lover of Musick was patient in labour sober in diet but intemperate in the love of Women Such was the end of Mithridates surnamed Eupator Dyonsiuis whose death delivered the Romans from a troublesome War which they testifyed by their joy when they heard the News Pharnaces sent to Pompey to Sinope Mithridates body in a Galley and with it those who had arrested Manius with a great number of Hostages as well Greeks as Barbarians supplicating him to continue him in the Kingdoms of his Father or at least in that of Bosphorus which Mithridates had given to his Brother Machares Pompey delivered the Kings body to those that brought it to be Royally interred and would himself be at the expence giving orders it should be laid in the usual Sepulcre of the Kings at Sinope praysing him as the greatest King of his time and who had done the noblest actions As for Pharnaces in acknowledgement of his having freed Italy from many difficulties he gave him the Kingdom of Bosphorus except only Phanagoria whose Citizens he would have remain free because they first forsaking Mithridates who again levied Forces and had already a Fleet and Army and strong places of retreat had put a stop to him and by the Example they had given others been the cause of his death As for Pompey himself having in this War alone cleared the Sea of Pyrates overcome the greatest of Kings waged War succesfully besides the Pontick Nations with the Colches Albanians Iberians Armenians Medes Arabs Jews and all other Oriental People he extended the Roman Empire from the East as far as Aegypt whither he would not go though Ptolemy called him to his assistance against his seditious people and to that end sent him Presents of Silver and Cloths for all his Army whether he feared to give occasion of envy to his Enemies by attempting what the Oracle had forbid or for other reasons we shall specify when we come to treat of the affairs of Aegypt As for what concerns the Nations which he had subdued he gave some their liberty because they had sent him Succors others he reduced into the form of a Province and to others gave Kings To Tigranes Armenia to Pharnaces Bosphorus to Ariobarzanes Cappaâ—ocia and its dependances as we said to Antiochus Commagenes what he Conquered in Mesopotamia dividing Gallogrecia inhabited by the Galatians Neighbours of the Cappadocians among four Tetrarchs of whom Deiotarus was one He gave Attalus the Soveraignty of Paphlagonia and Aristarchus that of Colchis He made Archelaus High-priâ—st to the Goddess adored by the Commaniens a dignity comparable to any Principality whatsoever He honoured Castor of Phanagoria with the Title of Friend of the people of Rome and in short gratifyed a
and with him some others who being fled to the Capitol were slain near the Temple But after this Sacrilege the Seditions were almost continual the people mutinying upon the least occasion the Assassins ran up and down the City sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other Persons of Quality were slain either in some Temple or in the Assembly or in the Palace and that by order of the Tribunes Praetors Consuls or other Superior Powers insomuch that these Reciprocal Offences increased by little and little the contempt of Justice and the Laws This infection at last spreading it self through all parts open Conspiracies were made against the Common-wealth great Armies brought into the Field sometimes those had been banished and condemned attempting some Novelties and sometimes the principal men of the City fighting among themselves as well without as within for the Government of the State There were likewise some powerful and ambitious Citizens who aspired to the Government either by keeping the Command of Armies entrusted to them by the people or levying fresh Soldiers by their own authority to defend themselves as they said against their Enemies but under pretence of making War against their Enemies they made War against their Country each party striving who should first seise upon the City so that whilst they treated each other as Enemies all places were filled with Assassinations Proscriptions Banishments Executions and Tortures In short there was no cruelty left uncommitted especially then when about fifty years after the death of Gracchus one of the Factions driving away one mischief with another became absolute Master of the Common-wealth and for some time governed it alone under the Title of Dictator a certain Magistrate among the Romans whom they never created but in extreme danger for six Months only and whose use seemed to be abolished when Sylla obtained that Dignity by force Nevertheless though all men believed that he was created Dictator to perpetuity yet having glutted himself as one may say with power he deposed himself and certainly he was the first at least that ever I could gain knowledge of that was so bold as to change a Tyranny for a private life He added to this action a discourse no less worthy of memory He declared he was ready to give an account of his Administration to whoever should demand it and some time after came and walked in the place in the habit of a private man in the face of all the world from whence he returned to his House without having received the least affront from any person so much was that respect to the Sovereign Authority he had possessed engrafted in the minds of men whether that they were astonished at his laying of it down or that they were ashamed to demand an account of that man who offered himself to give it or that they thought it an inhumanity to hate that Power how tyrannical soever it were that was joyned with the publick good Thus the Seditions ceased for a time Sylla having applyed Remedies to the present Distempers but they were only fallen asleep for they awakened again and continued till such time as Iulius Caesar after having for some years made War in Gaul would not dismiss his Army though the Senate decreed it saying it was not the Senates desire but Pompey's who being at present at the Head of the Army in Italy and his Enemy had designed to reduce him under his power as well as others Yet he proposed these Conditions of Accommodation that either both should keep their Armies or that Pompey disarming as well as he should live like a private man under the authority of the Laws But not obtaining either the one or the other he departed from Gaul marched against Pompey and his Country entred the City drove thence his Enemy overtook him in Thessaly defeated him in a memorable Battel and pursued him as far as Egypt Finding Pompey slain by the Egyptians he returned to Rome after having settled the Egyptian Affairs and settled their Kings in that Kingdom so that beholding himself secure by the death of so powerful an Enemy the mightiness of whose Actions had gained him the Title of Great and no person having thenceforth the boldness to oppose his will he was created perpetual Dictator the next after Sylla And now again the Seditious were quieted till such time as Brutus and Cassius either out of envy to his Power or out of a desire they had to settle again the Common-wealth in it's ancient form slew in open Senate this man so cherished by the people and so knowing in the Art of Reigning He was so generally lamented that they sought out for his Murderers to put them to death that they solemnized his Funerals in the publick place and there where they had burnt his Body erected a Temple and offered Sacrifices to him as a God But now the Civil Discords began again and in a short time grew to that height that they were followed by the Murders Proscriptions and Banishments of many as well of the Order of Senators as Knights the Faction interchangeably delivering up the Enemies of one another so that to gain their own satisfaction they spared neither Friends nor their own Brothers so much were men hurried on by their passion to the prejudice of natural Piety At last by a horrible boldness the Roman Empire as if it had been the Stock of some private Citizen was divided between Anthony Lepidus and he who at first was called Octavius but afterwards took the name of Caesar having been adopted by his Uncle After this division they made War on each other as it was but just they should and Caesar more prudent and politick than the other first despoiled Lepidus of Africa which had fallen to this share And in conclusion after the Victory of Actium which he gained over Anthony drove him out of all the Provinces extending from Syria to the Adriatick Gulf. The whole world astonished at these prodigious Successes he made himself likewise Master of Egypt the most ancient and richest Kingdom possessed by any of the Successors of Alexander which only was wanting to complete the Roman Empire to that height we now behold it That done he was placed among the number of the Gods whilst he was yet living and beheld it and being called Augustus by the people he assumed an authority over his Country and the subjected Nations greater than ever was attributed to his Father Caius not so much as in the least appearance asking the votes of the people so that having secured his power by length of time always happy and feared by all the world he left his Successors capable of sustaining the weight of that great Empire and the Sovereign Power being reunited in a single person Concordance once more took place of Sedition This will be the subject of this work which will contain the wonderful Adventures of these People who aimed at Honour and Dominion through all sorts of Calamities
and I shall write it the more willingly because I am obliged to treat of all these things before I write the Affairs of Egypt which are but a consequence of them for those divisions wherein Cleopatra took the part of Anthony were the cause of the Reduction of Egypt under the Roman Empire And that I may settle some order in so great a confusion of things I will first speak of what passed from the Gracchi to Sylla's time then what was done until the death of Caius Caesar the following Books shall treat of the Wars of the Triumvirs with the Roman People and against one another until the last and greatest of these Misfortunes I mean the Battle fought by Caesar at Actium against Anthony and Cleopatra where I intend to begin the History of Egypt The Romans as they now subdued one and then another of the people of Italy were accustomed to make seisure of a part of their Lands to which they sent Colonies or otherwise gave Cities already built to be inhabited by their own Nation These Colonies were placed in the conquered Provinces in the nature of Garrisons and they either set out by shares to these new Inhabitants such Lands as were fit for Tillage or otherwise sold them to them or let them out to Farm As for the unprofitable ground as War often makes places desert it not being qualified to bear a part in the Dividend it was proclaimed and given to the first that made offer to manure it on condition to pay an annual Tribute the fifth part of the increase of Trees and the Tithe of the Corn with an Impost upon all sorts of Cattel as well Flocks as Herds Thus strove they to preserve the Italian Nation esteemed very laborious that they might always have in a readiness Soldiers of their own people to serve them upon occasion but the success proved contrary to their expectations for the rich undertaking at first the unprofitable or desert Lands and by prescription of time not only assuring to themselves the possession of them but likewise joyning to them the Dividend of their poor Neighbours either by force or by money became possessed not of Villages but of whole Countries which their Slaves improved and manured for them that they might not take Freemen from the profession of Arms. Thus they receiving vast Revenues and their Slaves still multiplying because they were not obliged to go to War the most powerful among them grew prodigiously rich and the Country was filled with Slaves whereas there remained but very few of the Italian Nation and those few too were oppressed with poverty by reason of the continual Expeditions in which they were forced to bear Arms and the cruel Exactions of the Tax-gatherers and if at any time they had some respite from their Sufferings then Idleness corrupted them having no Land of their own to manure nor finding any work from others by reason of the multitude of Slaves This extremity troubled and perplexed both the Senate and People of Rome who with grief beheld that they could not as heretofore upon any sudden occasion draw together a considerable Force of Italians and they began to fear their Government unsecure by reason of the Countries being filled with such multitudes of Slaves They sought long time for a remedy to these inconveniencies for they neither judged it easie nor indeed just to dislodge men after so long a possession from those Lands where they had habituated themselves and been at great expence In conclusion after much debate the Tribunes made a Law whereby all persons were prohibited from keeping more than five hundred Acres of Land one hundred Head of Cattle and five hundred Sheep and besides they designed a certain number of free people to have the oversight of the Tillage and care of the Corn. This Law was confirmed by solemn Oaths and punishments decreed against the infringers of it it was designed likewise that all those Lands possessed by any above the proportion prescribed by the Law should be equally distributed among the poor but neither Oaths nor Law prevailed Those who appeared most zealous in the observation of it underhand made Contracts conveying over their advance to their Friends and others publickly laughed at it till such time as Tiberius Gracchus of Noble Race covetous of Glory very eloquent and well known in the City for all these qualities having obtained the Dignity of Tribune made a grave speech in favour of the Italian People much lamenting that a Nation so warlike and allyed to the Roman People should be reduced to so small numbers and to such an oppressive poverty that there scarce appeared any remedy but that they must be utterly extinct Then he declared against the vast numbers of Slaves useless in War and treacherous to their Masters a fresh example of which he related of the Slaves rebelling against their Patrons in Sicily where the Slaves being grown numerous by reason of their being employed in Husbandry had raised such a War against the Romans as was not suppressed without much danger and many bloody Engagements This Speech did the work and gained a new publication of the Law concerning Lands whereby it was forbid any one to be possessed of more than five hundred Acres adding to it that the Children of the Family might be possessed of two hundred and fifty and that after reduction made the remaining Land should be divided among the poor by Triumvirs who were to be changed every year which sorely grieved the rich men who durst no more attempt any thing against the Law nor for the future buy other mens proportions for Gracchus to prevent frauds had by the same Law forbid all such kind of Contracts which occasioned that in every corner might be seen people got together reproaching the poor with the pains they had taken in manuring their Ground and the charge they had been at in building crying out that it was not just to make them lose not only their Lands but likewise the money they had payed to their Neigbours and withal deprive them of the Sepulchres of their Predecessors interred in those grounds left to them by Succession Others demanded the restoring of their Wives Dowry which they had thus employed or that their Children might have leave to enjoy those Farms they had settled upon them at their Marriage others again shewed the Contracts and Statutes they had entred into taking up moneys at great interests to purchase those Lands In a word all places were filled with murmuring and complaint On the other side were heard the lamentings of the poor that from rich that they once were now they had reduced them to extreme poverty nay even to despair having nothing left to feed their Children they recounted the many Expeditions wherein they had served the Common-wealth to the end they might maintain themselves in the possession of these Lands and vowed never to serve more if they were not restored to what belonged to them They likewise
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
Brundusium that Cinna was dead and the Common-wealth in trouble they returned to find Sylla without proceeding farther Upon this report brought to him he left Pyraeum with five Italian Legions six thousand Horse and the Auxiliary Forces of Macedon and Peloponnesus which amounted to about sixty thousand Men from Pyraeum he came to Patras from whence he passed over to Brundusium on a Fleet of six hundred Ships He was received into the Port without any contradiction and in acknowledgment of that seasonable kindness he granted to the City an exemption from all kind of Imposts for the future which they enjoy to this day That done he set forward with all his Forces and by the way met with Metellus Pius who some years before had commanded the Body of an Army in the War with the Allies but not being willing to return to the City for fear of Cinna and Marius was retired into Liguria expecting some change Now therefore he came to offer Sylla what Forces he had having still the Title of Proconsul for when once that Honour is attained it lasts till he enjoys it returns to his Country Some time after Cn. Pompey who afterwards gained the Title of Great Son of that Pompey who was killed with a Thunderbolt came to him likewise In former appearance he was no Friend to Sylla but now he made him lay aside all suspicion of him by bringing with him a Legion out of the Country of Picene where he was well beloved in memory of his Father's name he raised two other Voluntier Legions soon after and among all those that took Sylla's Party none did him more important Service and though yet very young Sylla had so high a value for him that whoever arrived he was the only person for whom he rose up from his Seat that he sent him into Africa to put an end to the Remains of the War quell Carbo's Party and reestablish Hyempsal in his Kingdom who had been driven out by the Numidians and that for the Actions he there did he granted him the Honour of Triumph though he had not yet arrived to the age prescribed by the Laws and was then but a plain Knight In so much that after so fair beginnings being advanced in age as well as reputation he was sent against Sertorius in Spain and afterwards to the Kingdom of Pontus against Mithridates Cethegus likewise came to meet Sylla though he had been the greatest Enemy he had and was therefore banished with Cinna and Marius but now he presented himself before Sylla in the condition of a Suppliant offering him to serve him in all he should be pleased to employ him Thus beholding himself fortified with a great number of Soldiers and store of illustrious Friends whom he made his Lieutenants he placed himself at the Head of his Army with Metellus both being Proconsuls for Sylla going to the War against Mithridates in Quality of Proconsul had not yet quitted that Dignity though Cinna had declared him Enemy to the State He mortally hated those that had offended him but he kept his hatred close for which reason those which remained in the City knowing his temper were sorely terrified They had not forgot what passed the first time he entred in Arms they knew he was incensed at the Sentences given against him they saw his House pulled down his Goods confiscate his Friends killed and his Family in flight who very hardly escaped and therefore thought they must resolve to overcome or utterly to perish so that in this common fear they threw themselves into the Consuls Party and began to fetch from all parts of Italy Soldiers Provisions and Money with all the diligence necessary in extreme danger The Consuls C. Norbanus and L. Scipio and with them Carbo Consul the year precediâ—g who hated Sylla as much as the others but feared him more out of a remorse for the injuries he had done him after having levyed Soldiers throughout all Italy took the Field with each his Body of an Army They had at first but two hundred and fifty Men in each Cohort but soon after they found many more for all people had a far greater inclination for the Consuls than for Sylla because Sylla seemed to come against the City like an Enemy whilst the Consuls fought for their Country but this was only in appearance for in truth they laboured only for themselves Besides the vulgar sensible they were sharers in the fault were carried on to defend it by the same fear and no person was ignorant that Sylla had not simply the thought of chastising reforming or striking terrour but that he meditated upon Sackings Burnings Massacres and in a word the general ruine of the City And surely they were not deceived all places they soon found sacked and filled with slaughter by the continual Fights in which there perished sometimes ten thousand sometimes twenty thousand in one only Engagement and at once in and about the City fifty thousand where yet the Conquerour forgot no cruelty he could exercise on the Remainder as well in general as particular till in the end he reduced the Roman Empire under his Dominion and disposed of it at pleasure They received from on High presages of these miseries by a great number of Prodigies Ghosts presented themselves to an infinite many people throughout all Italy as well alone as in company they set themselves to examine ancient Oracles where they still found matter of greater fear and distraction a Mule engendred a Woman was delivered of a Serpent a great Earthquake overthrew some Temples in the City And though the Senate and People of Rome keep constant watch against such Accidents the Capitol built by the Kings above four hundred years before was set on fire none could tell how And indeed these were all Signs which threatened Italy with Murders and Desolations and the Roman People with Servitude and that Change which was to happen in the Common-wealth The beginning of this War accounting from the time that Sylla landed at Brundusium happened in the hundred seventy fourth Olympiad The Actions of it were much greater than the time of its continuance long for each party running with fury to the ruine of the other the losses they sustained were so much the greater and more quick yet it lasted three years till such time as Sylla made himself Master of the State and even after Sylla's death it yet continued a long time in Spain There was through all Italy many Fights and Skirmishes Sieges and other Exploits of War in great number and very remarkable as well in Pitch'd Battels as in Rencounters We will only relate those Actions are most considerable and best worthy memory and that the most succinctly we can The first Battel fought was about Canusa between the Consul Norbanus and the Proconsuls wherein the Consul lost six thousand men and those of the other Party only seventy but they had many wounded and Norbanus retreated to Capua After which the
to be put to death and sent his head to Sylla After he had thus treated his Enemies to his hearts content so that there remained none of the contrary Faction but Sertorius and he a great way off he sent Metellus into Spain against him and began to dispose of the Affairs of the City at his pleasure There being now no regard to the Laws or Votes or any of the ancient Formalities all people hiding themselves for fear or at least holding their peace the People and Senate of Rome ratifyed all that Sylla had done as well in his Charge of Consul as in the Quality of Pro-Consul and caused to be erected for him in the place for Orations a guilt Statue on Horse-back with this Inscription To CORNELIUS SYLLA Emperor the Happy For his Flatterers called him happy because of the continual Success of his Arms against his Enemies and it was only Flattery gave him that Sirname I my self found in certain Memoirs that in the same Sessions of the Senate they gave him the Title of THE GRACIOUS which I the easier believe because himself afterwards took the name of FOELIX not much different in signification from that of GRACIOUS There was likewise found an Oracle which confirmed him in the Resolution of undertaking all these things and ran thus Believe brave Roman Venus guides thy Fate Knowing thee sprung from Great Aeneas Line By mighty Actions then advance thy State Sure of Assistance from the Powers Divine But let not Gods their Favours cast away Delphian Apollo waits for Gifts of thine And when War brings thee to Mount Taurus pay A Golden Axe to Carian Venus Shrine However it were or whoever it was that wrote either of these two Epithites on his Statue in my Opinion good Raillery might be made of either But they stopped not here to gain the good Grace of the Conqueror they sent to that place an Axe with a Crown of Gold and put on it this Inscription Great Venus let this Gift Acceptance meet Which Sylla head of Rome lays at thy Feet Dreaming he saw thee ready for the Fight Provoke his Soldiers to maintain his Right Being then in Effect King or Tyrant since he mounted not to this Supreme Power by the consent of the People or the Authority of the Senate but by force yet standing in need of some pretence that he might seem lawfully elected he made use of this Artifice Formerly in Rome the most vertuous were Kings and when any King died the Senators by turns from five days to five days presided over the Government of the Commonwealth till such time as another elected by the Votes of the people succeeded in the Kingdom and this Five Days-Magistrate was called Inter-rex Afterwards when the Republick was governed by Consuls instead of Kings only those Consuls going out of Office had Right to call an Assembly for the naming new and if by any Accident they happened to be wanting they created an Inter-rex to preside in the Assembly According to this custom Sylla took the occasion now there were no Consuls in the Commonwealth Carbo being cut off in Sicily and Marius in Praeneste and retiring for some time out of the City sent word to the Senate they should create an Inter-rex The Senate having received his Orders gave that Dignity to Valerius Flaccus hoping that by this means they should soon have an Assembly for the Election of new Consuls But Sylla writ to Flaccus to acquaint the Senate from him that the present Estate of Affairs required they should name a Dictator not for a certain time as the ancient Custom which had lasted four hundred years required but till the Affairs of the City of Italy and of the whole Empire which till now had been shaken with continual Wars were settled and put in better order There is no doubt this new Proposition meant only himself and indeed he was not shy in shewing the desired it for in the end of the Letter he wrote that if the Fathers thought good he offered himself to render that Service to the Commonwealth When this Letter was read in the City the Senate and people of Rome were grievously perplexed They saw now they must no more hope for a lawful Assembly and that they were no longer Masters wherefore under the Mask of an Assembly they willingly accepted of this false Appearance of Liberty granted them and created Sylla Tyrant with an absolute Power for as long time as he pleased for formerly the Dictatorship was a bounded Tyranny for a certain time of short continuance But having taken away these Bounds there wanted nothing to make it an accomplished Tyranny Yet they gave him a more honest name saying that he was created Dictator to make such Laws as he should judge profitable to the Commonwealth and to apply necessary Orders Thus the People of Rome who had been under the Dominion of Kings about a hundred Olympiads and almost as long under Popular Government where Consuls presided and changed every Year returned under a Form of Royalty in the Seventy fifth Olympiad of the Greeks there was now no fighting at the Olympick Games nor any other Exercise but running For Sylla after the War with Mithridates was ended and the Intestine Disorders appeased sent for all the Combatants and whatever else could give any pleasure to the City under pretence to recreate the people wearied with so many Toyls And that he might not seem to incroach upon the ancient form of Government he permitted the People to chuse Consuls They gave that Dignity to M. Tullius and Cornelius Dolobella but he in Quality of Dictator reigned absolutely even over the Consuls themselves for they carried before him four and twenty Axes as they did before the other Dictators and as formerly before the Kings and he always went encompassed with Guards Besides he cancelled Laws and made new ones Among others he made one by which he enacted that none for the future should receive the Office of Praetor till he had been Quaestor nor be Consul till he had been Praetor nor obtain one Dignity twice until ten years after he had exercised it As for the Tribuneship he so enâ—eebled it that it seemed quite under foot making a Law by which it was enacted that after being Tribune no Man should be admitted to any other Dignity so that no Person either of Quality or desirous of Honour would accept that Charge Yet it is not positively certain whether it was he that transferred it from the People's Choice to the Senate's as it is at present However it were seeing the Senators reduced to a small number by reason of the Tumults and Wars he added three hundred whom he took from the principal Cavaliers yet not till having first demanded the Suffrage of the Assembly for each of them He augmented likewise the number of the People with all the Slaves of the Proscripts whom he found well made and in the Flower of their Age to the number of ten
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
with all the Forces he could get together As for Lentulus after having given to the Conspirators every one his Quarter Cethegus and he agreed that as soon as they should have advice that Catiline was arrived at Fesulae they should go with Daggers under their Robes very early in the morning to Cicero's House where by reason of their Offices they might without difficulty get entrance and drawing him into a private place under pretence of some secret Conference stab him That at the same time Lucius Sextus should assemble the People and accuse Cicero that being fearful by Nature and suspitious without cause he unseasonably and to ill purpose troubled the City and that the night following with a Band of Conspirators they should set fire in twelve places pillage the City and kill all the honest people they met with Whilst Lentulus Cethegus Statilius and Cassius who were the Heads of the Conspiracy formed these Designs and waited only for Opportunity to execute them the Deputies of the Allobroges being come to Rome to complain of their Magistrates were drawn into this Conspiracy out of hopes they would cause the Gauls to rise against the Republick Lentidus being about to send them to Catiline accompanied with Vulturtius of Crotona who carried Letters without Superscription The Allobroges irresolute what they had to do discoursed the matter with Fabius Sanga Protector of their City for it is the custom of the Provincials that each Nation hath his Protector at Rome Cicero having received this advice from Sanga gave Order to arrest the Deputies as they were upon their Return and with them Vulturtius who being brought into full Senate confessed all that they had negotiated with Lentulus and attested that they had often heard him say that the Destinies had promised the Dominion of the City to three Cornelius's of which Cinna and Sylla had been the two first and he should be the third Hereupon the Senate degraded Lentulus of his Dignity of Senator and Cicero went to cause the Conspirators to be arrested whom having placed under sure Guards in the Praetors Houses he returned to the Senate to deliberate Mean while the knowledge of this Affair not being yet publick a great Tumult was raised about the Palace and all the Accomplices of the Conspirators took the Alarm in so much that the Slaves and Freed Men of Lentulus and Cethegus having raised a great number of Artisans used their endeavours to break open the Back Doors of the Praetors to take thence their Masters by force Which being told Cicero he came hastily out of the Senate and having placed Courts of Guard every where returns and presses the Senate to give their Judgments The first whose Advice was demanded was Sillanus designed Consul for it is the Custom to being to demand Opinions by those nominated to that Dignity because as I imagine the Execution of the Senate's Decrees regarding them they ought to utter their mind with more Circumspection and Prudence His Advice was the Conspirators should be punished with death in which many others followed him Nero speaking in his trun was of opinion they should for some time be kept Prisoners till Catiline was defeated and they more fully informed of the matter which was also the Opinion of C. Caesar who was in some kind suspected as if a Partner in their designs or at least to have had knowledge of them of which however the Consul spoke not a word not daring to cope with a Man so beloved of the People He added to Nero's advice that they should be distributed in the Cities of Italy such as Cicero should chuse and after the War was finished be called to Judgment for it was not reasonable to condemn Persons of that Quality without granting them a formal Tryal This seemed just and many returned to this Opinion till Cato openly declaring his suspition of Caesar and the Consul fearing that the night following a multitude of Conspirators which were now in the Palace and in fear for themselves should attempt some desperate Action brought back the greatest part of the Senators to the Opinion that the Conspirators being taken in a Flagrant Offence ought to suffer without being allowed the Formality of a Process In so much that before the Senate rose Cicero himself caused the Accused to be brought from the particular Houses where they were guarded to the Prison where without the knowledge of the People he caused the Sentence of death to be executed in his presence then going to the place attested to all the World they were no longer among the Living Hereupon the rest of the Conspirators dispersed every one contenting himself that he had escaped and the City was that day delivered from great Inquietude Catiline had already assembled twenty thousand men about the fourth part of which were armed with which he took his March towards Gaul where he hoped to compleat his Preparations But Anthony the other Consul overtaking him near the Alps defeated him without much pains for as he had laid this Design with little Prudence so he as imprudently managed it and was forced to fight before he was prepared Notwithstanding most true it is that neither Catiline nor any of those Persons of Quality with him would fly but were all slain fighting in the midst of their Enemies The death of Catiline was the end of this Conspiracy from which Cicero's Prudence secured the Commonwealth So that being before known only for his Eloquence he in this Occasion made himself famous for his Actions and no Person doubted but he had saved his Country from the Ruin wherewith it was threatned Wherefore publick thanks were given him and after many Acclamations Cato saluting him called him The Father of his Country Which is indeed an Appellation so glorious that Cicero having been the first to whom it was given for his Merit it is the Custom to this day to honour only such Emperors with it as are worthy For as soon as any come to the Monarchy they joyn not this Title with their other Sirnames nor is it granted but by a publick Decree and as a Testimony of accomplished Vertue As for Caesar being ready to go for Spain the Government of which he had obtained he was arrested by his Creditors whom he could not pay having dreined himself by Ambitious Expences and he was heard at that time to say that he wanted two Millions and five hundred Thousand Deniers to be worth nothing He agreed with them as well as he could and being entred into his Government he amused not himself to go from City to City to hear talk of Affairs or to administer Justice such things had no Correspondency with the Greatness of his Designs But he began to raise Soldiers and to make War with the rest of the People of Spain whom after having plundred their Territories he made Tributary to the Romans In so much that having sent a great Summ of Money to the Treasury the Senate granted
might have reduced Caesar engaged in a strange Country to want of Provisions and besides in not pursuing to the upshot their first Victory Three days after the defeat news thereof coming to Utica and Caesar following it at the heels all men disposed themselves to flight Cato hindred no Man nay he gave Ships to all such persons of quality as asked him but for himself he stood firm and when those of Utica promised to entreat Caesar for him before they did for themselves he told them smiling he stood not in need of any Intercessors and Caesar knew it well Afterwards having put together what Money and Papers he had he sealed them up and disposed them in the hands of the Magistrates of Utica towards the Evening he bathed and supped sitting as he at other times used since Pompey's death he altered not a jot of his manner of living but was served after his accustomed manner and discoursed familiarly with his Servants He talked of those that were gone if they had a good Wind how far they might be off and if they believed that when Caesar came to morrow they would be got out of sight When he was going to Bed he let nothing extraordinary escape him only he embraced his Son with somewhat more tenderness but not finding his Sword near his Bed according to custom he cryed out he was betrayed by his own Domesticks who had not left him wherewith to defend himself if his Enemies assailed him by night and when they besought him not to make any attempt upon his life but to repose without his Sword he told them to oblige them to believe him If I had a mind to die could not I knock my Head against this Wall or strangle my self with the Cloaths that I wear or throw my self headlong down or stifle my self with stopping my Breath With these words and some others he perswaded them to lay his Sword in its place that done he desired there might be brought him that Book Plato writ concerning the Soul which he read quite over and when he thought those who kept Guard at his door slept he thrust his Sword into his Belly His Entrails coming out at the wound some groan heard by those at the door obliged them to run in with Chyrurgions who put his Entrails again still warm as they were into his Body sowed up the wound and after having laid to it a Plaister and rolled it up his Senses being come to him he feigned to repent himself of the fault he had committed thanked them that they had helped him and told them that now he stood in need of some repose but after they were gone carrying with them his Sword and had shut the Door that nothing might disturb his rest whilst they thought he slept he got off by little and little the Râ—ller and Sewing of the Wound and pulling out his Entrails tore them with his Fingers and Nails and so died in the fiftieth year of his age He was esteemed the gravest and most firm in his resolution of all men living who judged not of what was just and honest by what the people practised but by strong and generous reasons He espoused Martia the Daughter of Philip who had never before been married he loved her dearly and had Children by her and yet in favour of the Friendship he bore to Hortensius who had no Children and passionately desired to have one he resigned her over to him till such time as his Friend had a Son and then took her home again as if he had only lent her such was Cato Those of Utica celebrated for him Magnificent Funerals and Caesar hearing the news of his death said Cato envyed the Glory I might have got by doing a noble Action And yet when Cicero wrote a Book in praise of his death and called it Cato Caesar wrote another and called his Book Anticato When Iuba and Petreius had heard what had happened and saw that they had neither hopes of flight or safety they slew each other with their Swords in a Chamber where they had eat together Caesar made the Kingdom of Mauritania tributary and gave the Government to Crispus Salustus He pardoned those of Utica together with Cato's Son and finding in that City a Daughter of Pompey's with two Children he sent her to her Brother without doing her the least unkindness But he put to death all he could find of those three hundred which they called a Senate As for Lucius Scipio General of the defeated Army the Waves cast him into the Enemies Fleet from whence seeing no way to escape he run his Sword through his Body and threw himself into the Sea Thus Caesar ended the War in Africa Being returned to the City he entred Triumphant over four several Nations The first Triumph was over the Gauls many of whose people he had subdued and brought under the Roman Empire and reduced to obedience those that were revolted The second over Pharnaces The third over the Africans that had taken up Arms for Scipio wherein was led Captive the Son of King Iuba yet a Child who afterwards became an Historian And the fourth of the Egyptians defeated in a Fight by Water on the Nile but this Triumph was placed between the Gaul and the Pontick Though he triumphed not over the Romans because they were his Fellow Citizens which had been no Glory to him and a shame to the Roman People yet in the pomp were carried Pictures of all those Defeats and the Pourtraictures of the Men save only Pompey's which he durst not shew because of the grief all men had for his loss yet fresh in memory yet the people forbore not shedding tears for his misfortune especially when they knew L. Scipio General of a Roman Army with his Breast wounded with his own hand precipitating himself into the Sea and saw Petreius perish in the Dining Room and Cato tearing out his Bowels like a fierce Beast for Achillas and Photinus the sight of them was as pleasing as the flight of Pharnaces which made all the world laugh 'T is said that in these Triumphs they carried sixty thousand Talents and a half of Silver Money with two thousand eight hundred twenty two Crowns of Gold weighing twenty thousand four hundred and fourteen Pounds He distributed to every Soldier five thousand Attick Drams to every Captain double to the Colonels and Captains of Horse four times as much and to all the people a Mina by the Head besides he exhibited divers pleasant Spectacles Horse-racing Musick Combats on Foot of a thousand against a thousand on Horseback of two hundred against two hundred and another Fight of Horse and Foot together he made likewise twenty Elephants fight against twenty he represented likewise a Sea-Fight wherein were four thousand Rowers and a thousand fighting Men on a side He likewise caused a Temple to be built to Venus according to the vow he had made before the Battel of Pharsalia and near to that
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
which struck a Damp into the Chiefs of the Conspiracy the more because their Conference was long They already began to make signs to one another that they must now kill him before he arrested them but in the Sequel of the Discourse observing Laena to use rather the Gesture of a Suppliant than an Accuser they deferred it till in the end seeing him return thanks to Caesar they took Courage It is the Custom of the Chief Magistrates entring the Palace first to consult the Divines and here as well as in the former Sacrifices Caesar's first Victim was found without a heart or as some say without the Chief of the Entrails The Divine hereupon telling him it was a mortal Sign he replyed laughing that when he went to fight against Pompey in Spain he had seen the like and the other having replyed that then likewise he had run hazard of losing his Life but that at present the Entrails threatned him with greater danger He commanded they should sacrifice another Victim which fore-boding nothing but ill he fearing to seem tedious to the Senate and being pressed by his Enemies whom he thought to be his Friends without considering the danger entred the Palace for it was of necessity that the Misfortune to befall him should befal They left Trebonius at the Gate to stop Anthony under pretence of discoursing some Business with him and as soon as Caesar was seated the other Conspirators surrounded him according to Custom as Friends having each his Dagger concealed At the same time Attilius Cimber standing before him began to intreat him to grant the Return of his Brother who was in Exile and upon his Refusal under pretence of begging it with more humility he took him by the Robe and drawing it to him hung about his Neck crying out Why do you delay my Friends Thereupon Casca first of all reaching over his Head thought to strike his Dagger into his Throat but wounded him only in the Breast Caesar having disengaged himself from Cimber and caught hold of Casca's hand leaped from his Seat and threw himself upon Casca with a wonderful force but being at Handy Gripes with him another struck his Dagger into his Side Cassius gave him a Wound in the Face Brutus struck him quite through the Thigh Bucolianus wounded him behind the Head and he like one enraged and roaring like a Savage Beast turned sometimes to one and sometimes to another till strength failing him after the Wound received from Brutus he threw the Skirt of his Robe over his Face and suffered himself gently to fall before Pompey's Statue They forbore not to give him many Stabs after he was down so that there were three and twenty Wounds found in his Body And those that slew him were so eager that some of them through vehemence without thinking of it wounded each other After this Murder committed in a Hallowed Place and on a Sacred Person all the Assembly took their Flight both within the Palace and without in the City In the Croud there were several Senators wounded and some killed There were slain likewise other Citizens and Strangers not with design but without knowing the Authors as happens in a publick Tumult for the Gladiators who were armed in the Morning to give Divertisement to the People ran from the Theatre to the Senators Houses the Spectators affrighted dispersed as fast as their Legs would carry them the Commodities exposed to Sale were made Plunder of the Gates were shut and many got upon the Roofs of their Houses to secure themselves from Violence Anthony fortifyed himself in his House judging they had a design upon his Life as well as upon Caesar's And Lepidus General of the Horse hearing upon the place what had passed made haste to the Island in the River where he had a Legion which he drew into the Field of Mars that he might be in readiness to execute the Orders of Anthony for he yielded to him both in the Quality of Caesar's Friend and Consul The Soldiers would very willingly have revenged Caesar's death so basely murdered but that they feared the Senate who favoured the Murderers and expected the Issue of things Caesar had no Soldiery with him for he loved not Guards but contented himself with Ushers Besides he was accompanied with a great number of People of the Robe and whole Troops of as well Citizens as Strangers with Freed Men and Slaves followed him from his House to the Palace but in a moment all these Crouds were vanished there remained with him only three unhappy Slaves who putting him in his Litter and taking it upon their Shoulders carried him who but a little before was Master both of Sea and Land The Conspirators after the Execution had a mind to have said something in the Senate but no body staying to hear them they twisted their Robes about their left Arms instead of Bucklers and with thier bloody Daggers in their Hands ran through the Streets crying out they had slain the King and the Tyrant causing to march before them a Man carrying a Cap on the Head of a Pike which is the Badge of Liberty they exhorted likewise the People to the restoring the Commonwealth putting them in mind of the first Brutus and the Oath wherein he had engaged the Citizens and with them their Posterity There were several others who were not of the Conspiracy who took Daggers and went with them through the City of the number of which were Lentulus Spinther Favonius Aquinius Dolobella Murius and Petiscus who instead of the Honour they expected received the same Punishment with those had been guilty but none of the People joyned with them which begot in them both trouble and fear As for the senate though all the Senators who knew not of the Plot had in the Tumult taken their Flight yet they hoped well from them either because they were Kindred or Friends to most of that Order or because they knew they themselves had an aversion for the Tyranny but they had an ill Opinion of the People and of Caesar's Soldiers of whom there were great numbers in the City some newly dismissed to whom he had given Lands others distributed by Colonies some time before who were returned to follow him They were likewise fearful of Lepidus because he was Master of the Legion of the City and doubted lest Anthony against the Authority of the Senate should engage the People to destroy them Things being in this posture they with the Gladiators seized the Capitol where in their first Consultation it was agreed that they should tempt the People with Gifts for they hoped that some of the People beginning to praise the Action others would follow their Example out of love to Liberty and desire the restore the Commonwealth and they imagined that the Roman People were still the same as they had heard tell they were in the time of first Brutus who drave out the Kings but they considered not that they desâ—red two things
contradictory that the same People should love Liberty and 〈◊〉 â—â—â—mselves be corrupted with Gifts the last of which was much easier to be hoped for in a Commonwealth long since depraved for the Multitude of the City was mixed with all sorts of Strangers the Freed Men lived equal to the other Citizens the Slave was habited like his Master and except the Habit of the Senators one Fashion was used indifferently among all the rest Moreover because of the Corn distributed to the Poor in the City only all Loyterers Beggars and People unskilful in their Professions throughout all Italy flocked the Rome Besides there were great numbers of disbanded Soldiers who returned not as formerly every one to his Country but expecting to be sent to possess the Houses and Lands of others quartered together by Bands in Temples and Galleries under only one Colours and one Captain who was to be their Conductor to their Colony These People after having sold all that they had to be the lighter to march were ready to do any thing for Money So that the Conspirators had no great difficulty to gather together a multitude in the place But though they were payed for it they durst not praise the Action out of the respect they bore to the Glory of Caesar and the fear they stood in of the Contrary Party but as if they had in view the Publick Good they cryed out for Peace and demanded it of the Magistrates and by this means they laboured for the security of the Conspirators Peace not being to be had without an Act of Oblivion Thereupon Cinna allyed to Caesar and then Pretor joyns with them And advancing into the midst of them contrary to the expectation of all the World threw off his Praetor's Robe despising it as being given him by a Tyrant After which he began to declaim against Caesar calling him Tyrant and those who had slain him Tyrannicides highly praising their Action as parallel to what their Predecessors had done and at the same time commanding they should bring from the Capitol those brave People who had so well served the Commonwealth to the end to give them those Rewards they had merited But whatever Command Cinna gave this Troop seeing the People who had not been corrupted were not there would not let them be brought but contented themselves to continue their Cries in demanding Peace But when Dolobella a Young Man of great Reputation whom Caesar ready to depart had designed Consul for the rest of the Year being come with his Purple and the Badges of the Consulate and had spoke after Cinna violently and with indignation against the Author of his Dignity pleading hard for the Pardon of a Crime of which he said he would himself have been Partaker of and proposing as some say to consecrate that Day as the Day of the Foundation of their City Then this Assembly of Mercenary People took Courage seeing a Pretor and a Consul seemed to Authorize them and they sent to tell the Conspirators they should come down from the Temple They were glad to hear what Dolobella had done believing they had now at need found a Consul young vigorous and of a good Family to oppose against Anthony Yet only Cassius and Brutus came down the Hand of the last all bloody with a Wound he had received from the former when they stabbed Caesar. Being come to the Assembly neither one nor the other said any thing mean or low they praised each other for what they had done as if it had been an Action of Honour by consent of all the World They declared that upon it depended the Prosperity of the City which was this day made happy gave a glorious Testimony of the Prudence of Decimus Brutus who had very opportunely called to them the Gladiators exhorted the People to imitate their Predecessors who drove out their Kings that had not made themselves Kings by force as Caesar had but were lawfully elected and advised them to send for Pompey the Son of the great Pompey Defender of the Commonwealth against whom Caesar's Party yet made War in Spain and that they should order the Return of Caesetius and Marullus Tribunes of the People whom Caesar had interdicted their Offices and sent into Banishment where they still remained Having spoken to this purpose they again went up to the Capitol for they durst not confide in this Multitude But their Servants and Relations being already permitted to go and come to and from the Temple they chose some whom they deputed to Lepidus and Anthony to entreat them to make Peace to maintain Liberty and secure their Country from the Miseries attend on Discord To obtain this the Deputies praised not the Action for they durst not speaking to Caesar's Friends but they said that in their judgments it ought to be born with that those had done it were worthy of Pardon having undertaken it not out of any hate they bore him but love to their Country That the Condition of the City was deplorable if being almost depopulated by the Seditions wherewith it had a long time been afflicted they would not spare those few good Citizens left That it was extremely unjust to run the Commonwealth in hazard of utter Ruin for particular Enmities and that instead of laying hold of this Occasion to gratifie their Hatred they ought to sacrifice to the good of the Estate all the Offences they might possibly have received Anthony and Lepidus wanted not Will to revenge Caesar's death but they were fearful of the Kindred and Friends of the Conspirators and the Affection the Senate bore them and above all of Decimus Brutus who with an Army held the Neighbouring Gaul of which Caesar had given him the Government Wherefore they thought it more expedient to wait for a more favourable Opportunity and in the mean time try all ways they could to draw Decimus Army already well wearied to their Party So Anthony answered them in these Terms The Oration of Anthony IT is no particular Hate makes us act but only the blackness af the Action Besides having promised to Caesar upon Oath we would guard him or revenge all Attempts should be made against his Person Religion requires that those who are sullied with the Crime of his Death should be driven from among us and that we should rather live few and innocent than draw upon our selves a Curse by leaving this Attempt unpunished Notwithstanding since you desire it let us assemble in the Palace and what shall be resolved by a common Deliberation for the good of the City let it be executed Having made them this Answer they thanked them and returned with great hopes all things would succeed to their satisfaction for they promised themselves the Senate would heartily espouse their Interest But Anthony commanded to Magistrates to keep Watch by Night in the City and to take by turns their Seat in the Tribunal as in Broad Day having to that purpose given Orders to kindle Fires in
the form of Assemblies lawfully held instead of those overawed by the tyranny besides it would be more honourable for them not to be esteemed less worthy those Honours after the restoring the Common-wealth than under the Monarchy As soon as they heard these Discourses some Praetors deposed their Ornaments and the marks of their Dignities on the Benches of the Authors of this opinion in hopes to receive them more legitimately with the others but the greater part being doubtful of the snare believed if they once let go what they had in their hands they should never catch it again Mean while Anthony and Lipidus went out of the Senate into the place where some were assembled and demanded their presence when they saw them coming from above they began to cry out in confusion and after with much trouble they were silenced one of them whether of his own motion or suborned cryed out that they should prevent the Cities falling into the like calamities which they had formerly suffered Then Anthony opening his Robe shewed his Corslet underneath to incense the multitude as if the life of the Consul himself were not secure without Arms. Thereupon some crying out that the crime ought to be punished and others demanding pardon for the guilty and peace he said to these As for peace we will consider of the ways to make it so that it may last for it is very hard to find securities for it since the Oaths made to Caesar and those with execrations against those that violated them were in vain Then turning himself to those required vengeance for this Murder having praised them as the more religious observers of Faith and Piety he added these words I would put my self at the head of you and first of all my self cry the same thing if I were not Consul but my charge obliges me to do not so much what is just as what is advantageous to the Common-wealth for so it is ordained by all those in the Palace though that has been the loss of Caesar who pardoning those he had overcome in favour of the publick Good has been murdered by themselves After these artificial Discourses made by Anthony to each Party those who were for revenging the Murder would have Lepidus undertake to execute the vengeance and when he began to speak to them the multitude who were too far off cryed out that he should come down unto the middle of the place that the people might more easily hear him whereupon thinking there might be some change in the minds of the people he came to the Tribunal for Orations where with tears in his eyes he before all the world deplored the misfortune arrived to Caesar and in the end added I was yesterday with Caesar in this very place where today I am forced to demand your opinion of his death what would you have me do To which many crying out Let him be revenged The Mercenaries on the contrary cryed out Peace To whom he answered We would with all our hearts but what peace can we make or upon what Oaths can it be secured since there are none so sacred by which we have not sworn to Caesar and yet they have all been violated by those whom we thought good Men Then turning to the others Our Caesar said he is dead that person truly sacred that adorable Man and we are fearful his death will cause some great misfortune to the Common-wealth but the Fathers will consider of it and the most part of them are of advice to take order in it Whereupon they began again to cry Do you alone do that I would said he and can alone undertake it but it is not sufficient that you and I would or do undertake it alone Upon these artificial contests the Mercenaries knowing him inflamed with ambition praised him and offered him the High Priesthood of Caesar which he listened to with much joy and told them Remember what you offer me another time if you thing me worthy of it The hopes he conceived of this Priesthood having given him the boldness to ask with more instance for peace he told them Though reason and Iustice forbid it I will do what you desire After which words he returned with speed to the Palace where in the interim Dolobella had shamefully consumed all that time in endeavouring to have himself confirmed in the Consulate Anthony who expected what the people would do beheld that with derision and because there was great difference of opinion contented himself to be a Spectator in the end seeing the people were not heated with all these things he resolved to consent to the impunity of the Conspirators because indeed he saw himself constrained to it yet dissembling the necessity he let them understand that in sparing their lives he did them a great favour and as to what concerned Caesar he undertook to cause all he had done to be ratified and confirmed by Decree So Commanding silence he began to speak in this manner The Oration of Anthony WHilst you debated Gentlemen about the crime committed by our Citizens I gave you nothing of my opinion and when you put it to the question and took votes concerning Caesar I proposed you but one thing of all he had done which extremely perplexed you and not without reason for if we lay down our charges we tacitly confess that we and so many great men are unworthy Let us now consider the other things which it is not easie to express In so great a number of Cities Provinces Kings and Potentates for almost all the people which Caesar has subdued by his valour and his Forces from the East to the West have received his Laws and are obliged to his liberality and favour Can you believe any of them will suffer what they possess to be taken away at any less rate than blowing up the Flames of War in all parts you who think it it convenient to save wicked men because the Common-wealth is weak and impotent I will not speak of people far distant whom fear hath hitherto kept within the bounds of duty Regard not only our Neighbours but those who dwell among us in Italy those old Soldiers who have received from Caesar the reward of those Victories for which they exposed their lives They are still in Bodies and armed and there are many thousands of them in the City what think you they would do if what was given be taken from them Will they wait for other Colonies and other Lands You may conjecture by what you saw last night for as you went through the City to solicite for the guilty you know how they threatened you think you they will stand quietly and see Caesar's Body unworthily draggâ—d and thrown into the common Sewer for the Laws enact that Tyrants should be so treated do you think it would not move them who have fought under him or that they can hope you will let them enjoy the rewards of those Victories they have gained against the
Gauls and Britains whilst with the extremest of infamy you treat him from whom they hold them What will the people of Rome what will all the people of Italy do will you not draw upon your won heads the hatred and indignation of men and gods if you condemn to that punishment him who has extended the bounds of your Empire from the Ocean to Nations before unknown Will not all the world say we are unjust Iudges if we decree rewards for those who in the Palace in a hallowed place in full Senate being Senators themselves murdered a Consul a sacred person and defame him who for his Virtue his very Enemies have in veneration wherefore let me counsel you not to think of these things which are neither just nor possible and as my opinion I declare it that we ought to ratifie all that Caesar has done and ordained and not approve the action of those who slew him for that is neither just nor reasonable and cannot be done with cancelling all he had done notwithstanding if you think good let their lives be saved out of pure grace for the sake of their Kindred and Friends upon condition they acknowledge the obligation After these words of Antonies there was great contest in the Senate and in the end it was agreed by the consent of all the Senatours that there should be no prosecution of Caesar's death and that all that he had done should be approved for the good of the Publick which words were added by the Conspirators Friends for their greater security Anthony himself not contradicting it as if he approved it rather for the common Quiet than out of Justice Hereupon those possessed of Charges began to demand mention should be made of them as well as of the publick interest and they confirmed in their Dignities to which Anthony likewise consented letting the Fathers know he did it for fear and to this Decree was added another concerning the Colonies The Senate being risen some gathered about L. Piso in whose hands Caesar had deposited his last Will and Testament to desire him not to produce it nor to make any publick Funerals lest that should occasion new Tumults which when they could not obtain they threatened to summon him to Judgment because he thereby frustrated the Publick of a great estate which ought to be brought to the Treasury and something they said concerning Tyranny whereupon Piso called out as loud as he could beseeching the Consuls to reassemble the Senate who were not yet separated and then he told them The Oration of Piso. THose who boast they have slain a Tyrant treat us like Tyrants themselves and we have many instead of one They forbid us the burying of a High Priest they threaten those entrusted with his Will they say his Goods ought to be confiscated as if he had been a Tyrant they would have what he has done ratified as far as it respects them but where it concerns himself they would disannul it and 't is not Brutus and Cassius who do this but those who stirred them up to commit this murder Do you consult concerning his Funerals and for his Will I will take care and never abuse the trust reposed in me unless some one kill me too These words raised a Tumult and Indignation especially in the minds of those who hoped to have some advantage to themselves by the Will It was therefore agreed the Will should be published and publick Funerals solemnized and so the Senate parted Brutus and Cassius understanding what had passed sent to invite the people to come up to the Capitol where a great multitude being assembled Brutus spoke in these terms The Oration of Brutus IF we speak to you now here who spoke to you yesterday in the place 't is not that we have taken refuge as in a Temple for we are not Criminals nor as in a Fortress we deliver our selves into your hands but what unlooked for happened to Cinna against all reason has forced us to retire and because our Enemies calumniously accuse us of having violated our Faith and troubled the Peace I shall be well pleased to plead our cause before you you I say with whom we hope for the future to confer about all the affairs of the Common-wealth After that Caesar upon his return from Gaul entred armed into his Country and Pompey who loved the Common-wealth had been treated as you all know and after a great multitude of good Citizens retired into Africa and Spain were perished the tyranny being established he would and not without reason for his own security have us swear to forget what was passed and if he would have constrained us to promise upon oath not only to blot out of our remembrance the injuries we had received but likewise to live under him in perpetual servitude what would not then those have done who sought our destruction But I believe for my part there is not true Roman who would not chuse rather to die an hundred times than oblige himself by oath to servitude If then Caesar attempted nothing against our liberty we are perjured but if he has left to us neither the disposition of Offices in the City nor of Governments of Provinces nor Command of Armies nor Colonies nor any other Honours but that Caesar alone disposed all these things without so much as speaking a word to the Senate or asking the consent of the people where is that liberty of which we had not so much as the hopes left for could we think he would be weary of our servitude or would imitate Sylla who after being revenged of his Enemies restored to you the administration of the Common-wealth he who undertaking so long an Expedition anticipated for five years the assembly for election of Magistrates What shall I say of the Tribunes of the people Caesctius and Marullus did he not shamefully drive away those Magistrates holy and inviolable The Laws and Oath of our Fathers permit not the Tribunes of the people to be brought to judgment so long as they are in Office but Caesar has judged them has banished them who then he or we have violated the reverence due to persons holy and sacred unless possibly Caesar was hallowed and inviolable he whom by violence after the oppression of his Country and the death of so many great Men we honoured with that Title and the power of the Tribunes be not hallowed and inviolable after that our Fathers when the Common-wealth was free voluntarily swore them so and pronounced execrations against their posterity if they violated it Whither was the wealth and riches of the Empire brought to whom did the Receivers give their Accounts who broke up the Treasury against our will who laid hands on a Fond never any before durst touch and who threatened a Tribune with death that opposed it But say they upon what Oaths can we be assured the peace now to be made shall not be violated I will answer them that if no person
the Opportunity And because he was obliged by the Duty of his Office to make his Funeral Oration as he was a Consul being Consul himself and is Friend and Kins-man for there was an Alliance between them with his usual Artifices he spoke in this manner The Oration of Anthony IT is not just Gentlemen that I alone should undertake the Funeral-Praises of this Great Man it were fitter his Country did declare them Therefore I will only with the Voice of the Republick and not my own make Recital of those Honours which whilst he was living the Senate and People of Rome conferred upon him for his Virtue Having said these words he began with a sad and sorrowful Countenance the Recital of Caesar's Glorious Titles pronouncing every thing distinctly and stopping more particularly at those whereby they had made him more than Man by the Qualities of Sacred and Inviolable Father of his Country Benefactor Prince and many others which till that time had never been given to any Person At every word turning himself towards the Body and animating his Speech by his Gesture and when he pronounced any one of those Titles adding some intermingled Terms of Grief and Indignation as when he recited the Decree of the Senate calling him Father of his Country See there said he the Testimony of your Acknowledgments And in pronouncing these words Holy Sacred Inviolable and the Refuge of the Miserable he added Never any that fled to him for Refuge perished but he himself is murdered though made Holy and Sacred by our Decrees without having exacted those Qualities from us or even desired them and surely we are in a shameful Slavery if we give those Titles to unworthy Persons that never ask them from us But Oh faithful Citizens you purge your selves well from this Reproach by the Honours you now pay his Memory After this reciting the Act of the Oath by which they were all obliged to guard the Person of Caesar and to employ all their Forces so that if any attempted his Person whoever exposed not his Life for his Defence should be execrable he raised his Voice and extending his Hands towards the Capitol Oh Jupiter Protector of my Country said he behold me here ready to revenge as I have sworn and since it is a thing resolved by the Iudgment of all good Men I beseech thee with all other Gods to be favourable to me A Tumult hereupon arising among the Senators who believed these words to be manifestly addressed to them Anthony to appease them changed his Discourse and said But Gentlemen this Accident must rather be attributed to some God than to Men and we ought rather to provide against the present Necessities than speak of things past since we are threatned with extreme Misery for the future and are upon the Point of falling again into our Antient Seditions and the seeing all the Nobility of the City perish Let us them conduct this Sacred Person among the Gods solemnly in mournful Elegies singing his Praises After having said these words he tucked up his Robe as if he had been possessed with some Spirit and girding it about him that he might have his Hands more at liberty he went and placed himself near the Bed where the Corps lay upon an Eminent Place and opening the Curtain and looking in he began to sing his Praises as of a Celestial Divinity And the better to make him be believed to be of that Race he lifted his hands to Heaven reciting even to the loss of breath his Wars his Combats his Victories the Nations he had subdued the Spoils he had brought away speaking of every thing as a Miracle and crying out many times Thou alone art he who hast returned Victorious from so many Fights Thou alone art he who hast revenged the Country of the Injuries done her for three hundred Years together and constrained People till then indomitable who alone took and burnt the City to ask Pardon on their Knees Having said these things and many more as of a Divine Person he lored his Voice and in a mournful Tone with Tears in his Eyes lamented the unworthy Death of his Friend begging he might redeem his Life with his own and at length abandoning himself to Grief he was so far transported as to discover the Body of Caesar and to shew at the top of a Pike his Robe pierced with the stabs he had received and all stained with his Blood And now the People joyned their Lamentations with his and Compassion was soon converted into Choler for when the Consul ceasing to speak they began the mournful Airs after the manner of the Countrey singing his great Actions and after that his deplorable death and as if Caesar himself had called by name those on whom he had heaped his Favours after having been his Enemies they heard these words which seemed addressed to the Conspirators Must I then Life unto my Murderers give The People hereupon entred into fury considering that all the Conspirators except Decimus Brutus had been of Pompey's Party and that Caesar instead of revenging himself upon them had given them Dignities Governments of Provinces and Armies to command and that after that they had conspired against him and with them Decimus Brutus whom he had loved so well to make him his Heir The multitude being in this sort moved and already prepared for Violence some one raised up from the Bed the Image of Caesar made in Wax for the Body could not be seen being layed within the Bed but the Image turning upon a Machine was visible to all the World and every Man might observe three and twenty Wounds as well on the Body as the Face At this sad Spectacle the People giving themselves over to tears encompassed the place where Caesar had been slain and set it on fire seeking every where for the Murderers who were retired Anger and Grief so far transporting the Multitude that some meeting Cinna Tribune of the People whom for name sake they took for Cinna the Pretor who had declaimed against Caesar he in vain told them that they were mistaken for they tore him in so many pieces that the least part of him could not be found to give Sepulture to After this they carried Fire to burn the Houses of the Conspirators but the Resistance of the Domesticks and the Prayers of the Neighbours prevented them yet not without threats that they would return again in Arms. On the Morrow the Conspirators privately departed the City and the People returned to the bed where Caesar lay carrying it to the Capitol to bury it in the Temple before the Gods as already consecrated but the Priests opposing it they brought it back to the place and upon the same Ground where formerly stood the Palace of the Kings gathering together all the Wood they could and with the Seats of the place and of all the neighbouring places raising a magnificent Pile they thereon placed the Body and some one having cast
upon it Crowns and other Military Presents they set fire to it and about it the People spent all the Night They forthwith erected an Altar and at present there is a Temple where Caesar is adored as a God for after that Octavius his Adopted Son who changed his Name into that of Caesar had following his steps taken upon him the Government of the State he mightily strengthened and augmented that Monarchy of which he had laid the Foundations which endures to this day and to pay him all possible Honours ranked him in the number of the Gods From this Example it is that to this day the People give the Title of Gods to their Emperors after their death if they have neither been Trants nor manifestly guilty of great Crimes they who formerly would not suffer them to take the name of King whilst living Thus fell Caesar on the Day which the Romans call the Ides of March an Augur had told him that day would be fatal to him but he laughed at it and the very same morning told him jesting The Ides of March are come to which the other without surprize made answer But not yet gone Yet the great Assurance of the Augur nor many other Presages could not hinder him from going to the Assembly where he was murdered in the fifty sixth Year of his Age Happy in all things Magnificent and with just reason comparable to Alexander for they were both beyond measure Ambitious Warlike ready in the Execution of what they had resolved and hardy in Dangers they spared not their Bodies and in War relyed not so much upon their Conduct as upon their Bravery and good Fortune The one went a long journey in a Countrey without Water to go to Hammon happily crossed over the bottom of the Pamphilian Gulf the Sea being retired as if his Genius had locked up the Waters As another time marching in the Champian it caused it to cease from raining Navigated an unknown Sea Being in the Indies first scaled the Walls of a City and leaped down alone into the midst of his Enemies receiving thirteen Wounds was always Victorious and whatever War he was engaged in he ended it in one or two Battels In Europe he subdued many Barbarous People and reduced them under his Obedience together with the Grecians a fierce People and Lovers of Liberty who never before obeyed any Person but Philip who commanded them for some time under the Honourable Title of General of the Greeks He carried his Arms almost through all Asia with an incredible Celerity And to comprize in a word the Happiness and Power of Alexander all the Countries he saw he conquered and as he was designing to conquer the rest he died As for Caesar passing the Ionian Sea in the midst of Winter he found it calm as well as the British Ocean which he passed without any knowledge of it in a time when his Pilots driven by Storm against the English Rocks lost their Ships Another time embarking alone by Night in a little Boat and rowing against the Waves he commanded the Pilot to hoist Sail and rather to consider the Fortune of Caesar than the Sea He threw himself more than once all alone into the midst of his Enemies when his Men were all struck with Panick Fear and is the only General of the Romans that ever fought thirty times in Pitch'd Battel against the Gauls and subdued in Gaul forty Nations before so dreadful to the Romans that in the Law dispensing with Priests and Old Men from going to the War the Wars against the Gauls are excepted and the Priests and Old Men obliged to bear Arms. Before Alexandria seeing himself alone inclosed upon a Bridge he laid down his Purple threw himself into the Sea and pursued by his Enemies swam a long time under Water only by Intervals lifting up his head to take breath till coming near his Ships he held up his hands was known and so saved For the Civil Wars which he either undertook out of Fear as himself says or out of Ambition he had to deal with the greatest Generals of the Age fighting at the Head of many great Armies not Barbarians but Romans encouraged by their former Actions and by their good Fortune yet he defeated them all and not one of them but he ruined in a Fight or two But we cannot say of him as of Alexander that he was never overcome for he suffered once a great loss against the Gauls under the Conduct of Triturius and Cotta his Lieutenants In Spain his Army was so near blocked up by Petreius and Afranius that he wanted but little of being besieged At Dyrrhachium and in Africa they turned their Backs and in Spain against the young Pompey the fled But for Caesar himself he was always undaunted and whatever War he engaged in came off in the end Victorious and the Roman Empire which now extends it self by Sea and Land from the Euphrates to the Atlantick Ocean was brought under his Power partly by his Valour and partly by his Clemency He setled himself much better than Sylla and governed himself with more moderation for being King in effect in spite of all the World he took not that name At last making his Preparations for other Wars he was surprized by death as well as Alexander Their Armies were also alike for the Soldiers of both were chearful in Fight and hardy but stubborn and mutinous when over-wrought with Labour The Deaths of both of them were equally mourned and lamented by their Armies who attributed to them Divine Honours They were both well made in Body and of Noble Aspects both descended from Iupiter one by Eacus and Hercules and the other by Anchises and Venus Though they were inflexible when resisted they were easle to pardon and be reconciled and likewise to do good to such as they had vanquished contenting themselves with the Victory Hitherto the Comparison is just save only that their Beginnings were not equal for Alexander began with the Quality of a King in which he had been before instructed by his Father Philip but Caesar was only a Private Man and though he were of an Illustrious Race yet his Fortunes were much incumbred They both despised the Presages that threatned them without injuring those Divines foretold their death and almost the same Signs happened to them and a like Event for in the Sacrifices made by one and the other twice they found not the Chief of the Entrails of the Victims the first time they were only threatned with great Danger Alexander's happened when besieging the Oxidrakes being mounted first upon the Wall and the too great weight breaking the Ladders behind him he beheld himself deserted by his Men and threw himself into the midst of his Enemies where having received many Wounds on his Breast and a great blow on the Neck he was ready to die when the Macedonians touched with shame broke open the Gates and relieved him The like happened to
great affection for him but the Veterans or old Soldiers to whom Caesar had lately given Lands ran from the Colonies to offer themselves to this young Captain They deplored the death of their Benefactor declared against Anthony who had let so horrid a crime go unpunished and protested they would be the revengers of it if he would please to head them He praised them exhorted them to preserve this good will of theirs to another Season and so sent them home Being come near to Terracina about four hundred Furlongs from Rome news was brought him that the Consuls had taken from Brutus and Cassius the Governments of Syria and Macedon instead of which and to comfort them they had given them two lesser to wit Cyrene and the Island of Crete that some Exiles were returned to the City that they had sent for Pompey made some Senators according to Caesar's Memoirs with many other matters When he was arrived at Rome he found his Mother and Father-in-law and all those who had any care of his Affairs in great fear and trouble because of the Senates aversion for Caesar the Decree past for discharging the Murderers from crimâ— and the pride of Anthony now grown powerful in the City who had neither gone himself nor sent out any to meet the Son of Caesar. He quieted their trouble by telling them he would go himself to Anthony as the younger to the elder and as a private person to a Consul that he would pay his respects to the Senate as he was obliged in duty that as for the Decree it passed in a time when no Man opposed it but now that one was found to prosecute the people would reach forth a strong hand the Senate would give life to the authority of the Laws the immortal Gods would sustain the justice of his cause and perhaps Anthony himself would be concerned for it As for his part he could not refuse the Inheritance and Adoption without doing injury to Caesar's memory and injustice to the Roman People in not paying what had been left them by his Will that he had much rather not only hazard himself but suffer death it self than after having been made choice of by Caesar before all other persons in the World shew himself unworthy of that Great Man's Choice Then turning to his Mother he pronounced those words of Achilles to Thetis Oh! let me die or let my Vengeance yield Some Satisfaction for my Friend thus kill'd He added that this Discourse had given Immortality to Achilles especially being pursued to Effects and that for his part Caesar had not only been his Friend but his Father his Comrade but his Captain who had not been slain in fair War but wretchedly massacred in full Senate Hereupon his Mother changing her fear into joy embraced him as alone worthy to be Son to Caesar and with many powerful expressions exhorted him to execute his Resolutions However she advised him rather to employ Policy and Patience than open Violence Caesar having praised her Counsel and promised to follow it towards the Evening dismissed his Friends giving them order to meet him next Morning early upon the place with as much Company as they could bring There he comes up to Caius Anthony's Brother Pretor of the City and declared to him that he accepted the Adoption for it was the Custom among the Romans to have Adoptions authorized by the Pretors After having caused his Declaration to be registred he went off from the place to go seek out Anthony who was then at Pompey's Gardens which Caesar had given to him They let him wait a good while at the Gate which made him suspect that Anthony had no kindness for him but at last being entred there passed nothing but civil and obliging words from one to the other And when Caesar was to discourse of the Business about which he came he spoke in this manner The Oration of Caesar. MY Father for the Affection Caesar had for you and your Acknowledgments oblige me to call you so I applaud what you have done for him and shall ever own the Obligation But pray give my Grief the liberty to tell you that there are some things I cannot approve Whilst Caesar was murdered you was not there for his Murderers had stopped you at the Gate otherwise you had either saved his life or perished with him but if your loss were inevitable I am glad that you were not there After this when some endeavoured to decree Rewards to the Murderers as if they had slain a Tyrant you generously opposed it for which likewise I am infinitely obliged to you Though certain it is they had also resolved to make a Riddance of you not as the future Revenger of Caesar's death which we believe but as they say for fear there should remain after him a Successor in the Tyranny Though after the Action these People who said they had slain a Tyrant being sensible they were guilty of Murder fled to the Capitol either as Criminals to seek for Refuge in a Sacred Place or as Enemies to seize upon the Fortress How then could they obtain an Amnesty and a Decree forbidding any Prosecution of Justice for this Action unless by corrupting with Money some of the Senate and People But being Consul you ought to have taken care on which Part was the Plurality of Voices and presiding in the Senate had you voted against them you had carried it and reduced to your Opinion those who had been deceived On the Contrary you delivered to the Murderers some of your own House in Hostage and sent them to them into the Capitol but I will think you were constrained to it by those that were suborned Then when after that Noble Funeral-Oration you made the Will being read the People who yet had Caesar fresh in memory carrying Fire to burn his Murderers Houses though then forbearing it in favour of their Neighbours when on the Morrow they twice returned to Arms why did not you assist them Why did not you head them with Sword and Torch in your Hand Why did you not do Justice your self Did you expect other Judgment against Publick Criminals You the Friend of Caesar you Consul you Anthony you who could make use of the Power of your Office to put to death Marius have let Murderers escape Nay have suffered some of them to retire into the Provinces whose Governments they must needs unjustly hold having massacred him from whom they held them It is true that being Consuls you and Dolobella you have done well to take from them Syria and Macedon and certainly I had been much obliged to you for it had you not at the same time granted them Cyrene and Crete giving Governments to Fugitives to fortifie themselves against me Is it not likewise by your consent that Decimus one of the Murderers of my Father as well as the rest holds the hither Gaul You may tell me perhaps it is by Decree of the Senate but
his deliverance and to intreat him to come on the other side the River where in the presence of all the Inhabitants he would convince him that he was engaged in the Conspiracy more by misfortune than by fault Caesar having hearkened to those who brought this message answered in anger That he desired him not to own any obligation to him for he came not to serve him but to make War upon Anthony the Enemy of his Country that nature forbad his seeing or speaking to him however he was safe so long as he pleased them who commanded at Rome This answer being brought to Decimus he went to the River side and after having called Caesar by his name he read with a loud voice the Decree of the Senate which gave him the Government of Gaul forbidding him to pass the River or enter into his Province without the Consuls nor so much as to pursue Anthony any farther for that himself was strong enough to defeat him Though Caesar saw well that Decimus durst not have talked to boldly to him had he not been inspired by the Senate since that he could with one sole command of his reduce him under his power which yet he would not do but going to Bolonia where Pansa was he wrote to the Senate how all things passed as Pansa also particularly did Cicero read Pansa's Letters in a full Assembly of the People and those from Caesar in the Senate only where he caused to be ordained fifty days Feast for Anthony's Defeat though so many were never ordained in any War no not for any Victory gained from the Gauls He farther advised that since Pansa was thought irrecoverable though he were yet living they should give Decimus command of the Consul's Army with Commission himself alone to prosecute the War against Anthony and that publick Prayers should be made for the prosperity of his Arms so much was Cicero transported against Anthony besides which they confirmed the gift of five thousand Drams a Head promised to the Legions that had quitted Anthony payable out of the Moneys of the Treasury after the Victory as if it had been already gained and permitted them hereafter upon Holy-days to wear Crowns of Olive-branches In this Decree not so much as mention was made of Caesar's name so much they already contemned him out of a belief they had Anthony could never make Head again having to this purpose writ to Lepidus Plancus and Asinius who were at no great distance to complete his ruine Whilst those things passed at Rome Pansa ready to die of his wound at Bolonia calling for Caesar spoke to him in this manner The Speech of Pansa being ready to die to Caesar. I Loved your Father as my self but after his death could not possibly revenge him nor oppose my self to the judgment of the most to whose authority you have likewise prudently submitted your self though you had an Army As at first they feared nothing more than you and Anthony who had so great an affection to your Father so they were well satisfied with your Division hoping you would destroy one the other and when they saw you Master of an Army they flattered you as a young Man with specious Honours which had nothing in them but shew but after they had examples of your Gallantry and Moderation by the refusal of those Honours offered you by your Army they were startled and gave you a power equal to us that they might by this means draw out of your disposal two excellent Legions out of hopes that one of you being defeated the other which remained would not beâ— considerable and thus Caesar's Party being ruined Pompey's might be re-established This was the substance of their thoughts As for Hirtius and my self we had followed their order till we could have abated the pride of Anthony but after having overcome him designed to reconcile him with you that we might pay to Caesar's memory this testimony of our Friendship and Acknowledgments by acting what might be most advantageous to his Party It was not convenient till now to impart this design to you but now since Anthony is defeated Hirtius dead and I a dying I thought at time to discover it to you I demand not that after my death you should think your self obliged to me but since your Actions make it known that you are born under fortunate Stars I tell it you that you may bethink your self what you have to do and that you may know what Hirtius and I designed to do for you and what we have been constrained to do against you It is therefore just to restore to you that Army you gave up to us and I now restore it to you As for the new raised Forces if you can gain them to serve you I will give them to you but if either the Soldiers are too fearful of the Senate because their Officers have in charge to observe us or that you think you either may be blamed or stand in no need of them Torquatus our Treasurer shall take them in charge After having said these words and delivered over the new Forces to the Treasurer or Quaestor he died The Quaestor by the Senates order delivered them over to Decimus Caesar solemnized magnificent Funerals for Hirtius and Pansa and sent their Bodies with pomp to Rome to be buried At the same time that this was done in Italy things passed thus in Syria and Macedon C. Caesar passing through Syria and having already in his thoughts the War against Parthia had left in this Province a Legion which he had given in charge to Cecilius Bassus as Lieutenant to Sextus Iulius his Kinsman yet very young and who going to take his pleasure in the Country made his Soldiers accompany him against all decency and order Bassus having one day reproved him he reviled him and at another time having sent for Bassus because he came not so soon as he expected he gave order to bring him by force This Command having raised a Tumult Blows ensued and the Soldiers no longer able to endure Iulius his Insolence slew him with their Javelins They at that very moment repented the act being afraid of Caesar wherefore they immediately swore one to another that if pardon and security for their persons were denyed them they would defend each other to the death they likewise forced Bassus to be of the Conspiracy and having raised another Legion exercised them according to the Roman Discipline Thus write some concerning Bassus But Libo saith that having born Arms under Pompey after his death he retired into Tyre where he remained some time as a private Man and where at last by his Money gaining some Legionary Soldiers he prevailed with them after they had slain Sextus to chuse him for their Captain However it were Sextus Murcus haing been sent by Caesar against them was repulsed till such time as he called to his assistance Minutius Crispus with three Legions brought by him out of Bithynia where he commanded These
of their Wives or Children or Freed Men or Slaves or Debtors or Neighbours that coveted some of their Goods than of the Murderers themselves All private Grudges were now discovered and it was a strange change to see the prime Men of the Senate Consulars Pretors Tribunes or Pretenders to these Dignities cast themselves at the feet of their Slaves with tears in their eyes begging and caressing them calling them their Saviors and Patrons and which is most deplorable not be able with all these submissions to obtain the least favour The most pernicious Seditions and cruellest of Wars never had any thing in them so terrible as the Calamities wherewith the City was now affrighted for in War and Tumult none but Enemies were feared and Domesticks were confided in whereas now Domesticks were more dreadful than Enemies because having no cause to fear for themselves as in War or Tumult from Familiars they became of a suddain Persecutors either out of a dissembled hate or out of hope of Recompence publickly proposed or because of some Silver or Gold hid in the House So that no person found himself secure in his House Servants being ordinarily more sensible of Profit than of the Affection they owe to their Masters and though some might be found faithful and kind yet they durst not assist a Proscript nor conceal him nor so much as stay with him for fear of falling into the same misfortune There was now much more danger than when the seventeen first proscribed were fallen upon for then no person being publickly proscribed when on a suddain they saw some killed one Man defended another for fear lest the same should happen to him But after the Proscription was published those comprized in it were presently forsaken by all the World some that thought themselves secure having their minds bent on Profit sought them to deliver them to the Murderers that they might have the Reward others pillaged the Houses of those that had been killed and with the present gain comforted themselves against the Publick Misery The most Prudent and Moderate surprized at a thing so extraordinary stood like Men astonished considering that other Cities turmoiled with Divisions were re-established by the Concord of their Citizens Whereas the Romans already afflicted with Civil Dissentions compleated their Ruin by this Reconciliation Some were killed defending themselves others who thought themselves not condemned without any defence Some let themselves die with hunger or hanged or drowned themselves or threw themselves headlong from the tops of Houses or cast themselves into the Fire or run to meet their Murderers Others again sought to protract the time and either hid themselves or begged shamefully or fled or offered Money to save their Lives Many likewise were slain contrary to the intention of the Triumvirs either by mistake or out of some particular grudge but the Bodies of the Proscripts might be known from the others because they wanted the Head which was cut off and carried before the Tribunal for Orations where they payed the Reward On the other side wonderful Examples were to be seen of the Affection of Wives Children Brethren and Slaves who found out a thousand inventions to save their Husbands Fathers Brethren or Masters dyed with them when they were discovered or killed themselves upon those Bodies they were not able to defend Of those that escaped the Proscription some pursued by their ill fortune perished by Shipwrack others saved beyond all probability came afterwards to exercise Dignities in the City to have Command of Armies and arrive at the Honour of Triumph Such wonderful things were to be seen in those days which do not happen in an ordinary City or in a small Kingdom but in the Mistress of the world as well by Sea as Land Providence disposing it so to reduce things to that excellent order wherein you now see them Not but that Rome felt the same miseries under Sylla and before him under Marius and we have in writing of them reported many Actions of Cruelty even to the depriving their Enemies of Burial But what passed under the Triumvirs made much more noise because of the height of their Reputation and particularly the Valour and Good Fortune of him who having fixed the Foundations of this Empire has left it to those of his Race and Name even to this present I will therefore relate what was now done most remarkable and most cruel which I can the easier do because the length of time has not yet quite effaced the memory of these Actions Yet I will not write all for a common death or the flight of some private Men who after obtaining Pardon of the Triumvirs returned and spent the rest of their Lives without appearing seems not to me worthy being recorded But I will relate some extraordinary Examples that the Reader may be perswaded of the truth of what I have before said Many Roman Authors have hereof wrote particular Books out of which I have extracted what appeared most credible to compose a Summary which may well make the happiness of our Times be admired The Massacre unhappily began with the Magistracy of whom the first slain was Salvius Tribune of the People though by the Laws the Tribunes were holy and inviolable and so powerful that sometimes they have imprisoned Consuls This Man when they were about to declare Anthony Enemy opposed it but afterwards he took part with Cicero Therefore when he knew the Triumvirs were agreed and marched towards the City he made a Feast for his Domesticks as having now but a short time to live with them The Soldiers entring the place where they were eating all the people affrighted began to rise up but the Centurion commanding them to keep their places took Salvius by the Hair drew him over The Table cut off his Head and forbid the others from stirring for if they made the least noise he would serve them in the same manner At which they were so affrighted that after the Centurion was gone they spent most part of the Night by the Body without speaking a word After Salvius was slain the Pretor Minutius Upon notice brought him as he gave Audience in the place that the Soldiers were coming towards him he rose suddainly to seek out some place to shelter himself in and having changed Cloaths went to hide himself in a Shop but his People and those that carried the Marks of his Dignity whom he commanded to leave him staying there some time out of a fear and affection they had for him were the occasion without designing it that the Murderers did the more easily find him Annalis the other Pretor as he solicited the People for his Son who demanded the Questors Office his Friends and Lictors understanding that he was in the Roll of the Proscripts all of a suddain left him Whereupon he fled and retired into a wretched House that one of his Creatures had in the Subburbs where because the place was utterly contemptible he was for a
his Orations the same Senate gave to us the greatest Provinces of the Empire with the command of Armies and an absolute power over all their Territories from the Ionian Sea to Syria was it to punish us as Villains and Murderers that they thus honoured us with the sacred Purple with Rods and Axes 'T was for the same reasons they recalled from Banishment the young Pompey who had no hand in the Conspiracy but only was the Son of that great Pompey who first took up Arms for the Common-wealth and did in some measure oppose the Tyranny by concealing himself in Spain That they ordered the value of his Father's Estate should be payed him out of the publick Monies that they made him Admiral over all Seas to the end that having a love for the Common-wealth he might not be without command After all these can you desire more ample testimonies to incline you to a belief that the Senate knew and approved our Action unless possibly you expect they themselves should tell you so but they will tell it you and with telling it you reward your services as soon as they shall have again attained the power of speaking and giving rewards For you know in what condition the Senators Affairs stand at present they are proscribed without any form of Justice their Goods are confiscated and without hearing them speak they are slain in their Houses in the Streets in the Temples by the Soldiers by their Slaves by their Enemies they are dragged out of their Coverts and hunted from place to place that they may have no way to escape We never were used to bring our Enemies Heads into the place but only their Arms and the Prows of their Ships now they expose there the Heads of the Consuls Pretors Tribunes of the People Roman Knights and reward those commit such Villanies For 't is a dreadful disorder The enmities which have a long time layn hid now declare themselves openly and many of the Proscripts perish by the private hatred of their Wives Children Freed Men and Slaves so many cruelties has this Plague occasioned in the City to which the Triumvirs gave the first examples by proscribing their Brothers their Uncles and their Tutors 'T is said that Rome formerly became a Prize to the most Barbarous Nations upon earth but the Gauls cut off no Heads nor abused not dead Bodies nor were troubled that their Enemies fled or hid themselves and we our selves in all the Cities we have taken have neither acted nor heard that ever were acted the least of those cruelties which are now acted not in a vulgar City but in the Mistress of the World by Magistrates created to reform and restore the Common-wealth Was ever the like committed by Tarquin who only for acting a violence upon a Woman he loved was driven out of Rome by our Fore-fathers and for that sole Action the Royalty abolished yet after all this Citizens we are treated as execrable persons by the Triumvirs who say they revenge the death of Caesar by proscribing persons who were not in the City when he was slain several of whom you see here who were only proscribed for their Riches or Birth or affection to the Common-wealth Why was Pompey proscribed with us he who was in Spain at the time of the action unless it be because he is a Son to a Father that loved the Common-wealth because the Senate recalled him and gave him the Admiralty therefore the Triumvirs judged him worthy of Proscription Were the Women confederate in the Conspiracy those whom they have taxed with such immense Contributions Had the People committed any crime for the punishment of which they had reason to command every Man that was worth above a hundred thousand Drams to make Declaration of it under a penalty if he failed And yet with all these cruelties all these exactions they have not been able to raise Money to pay that Donative they promised to those Soldiers that serve them whilst we that have done nothing but what is reasonable have satisfied you the rewards we promised you and have greater prepared for you The truth is because we have respect to Justice in all our actions the Gods favour our Designs The Gods I say after whose example you outht to consider humane Affairs look upon your Fellow Citizens under whose Command you have often fought and who have with applause administred the Consulate you see as well as we whither they have been forced to flie for Refuge because they have been good Men and Lovers of their Country They embrace our Party offer up Vows for the prosperity of our Arms and will never decline our interests Therefore have we proposed a greater and juster reward to those shall save them then our Enemies promise to their Murderers On the other side the Triumvirs imagine that after having slain C. Caesar because he alone usurped the Sovereign Power we will suffer them to divide it amongst them instead of restoring the Government of the Common-wealth to the People according to the establishment of our Predecessors But as our intentions are different in this War theirs tending only to Dominion and Tyranny as their Proscriptions have already made appear and we having no other aim but the liberty of our Country in which we shall content our selves to live equal with other Citizens under the authority of the Laws there is no doubt but Gods and Men will esteem our Party the most just and there 's nothing in War gives better hopes than the justice of the cause Nor let any one make a scruple that he has formerly served under Caesar for he served not him but his Country nor was it he gave you rewards but the Common-wealth in the same manner as you are not now the Army of Cassius or of Brutus but the Army of the Romans we are only your companions and if we command you it is only in the name of the Senate and People of Rome Had our Enemies the same intentions with us how easily might we all disarm with security and surrender up to the Common-wealth their Armies to be employed for the public Good we would our selves become suppliants for it if we thought they would accept of these conditions but because they have no heart to do it nor can hope to find security for â—hemselves after their Proscriptions and other crimes they have commiâ—ted Let us go Fellow Soldiers let us go fight with courage and â—heerfulness for the Senate and People of Rome and having no other end but Liberty Here all the Soldiers cryed with one voice Let us go whither you think fit to lead us And Cassius glad to see them so well disposed as soon as silence was made continued to speak in this manner May the Gods who preside over just Wars reward my Fellow Soldiers your Faith and Affection As for that foresight your Generals as they are Men ought to have observe but how much we are at this present stronger than
all things in abundance and the conceptions of many Mens minds when they went to fight that this day would decide the state of the Empire were accomplished for the Common-wealth was never more restored nor was there any more need for the Citizens to come to these extremities except in the quarrel between Caesar and Anthony which was the last of the Civil Wars for as to what happened in the mean time when after the death of Brutus Pompey and all those who escaped from the Defeat having yet considerable Forces renewed the War there was nothing parallel to it either for Gallantry or affection of Cities or Soldiers towards their Generals besides no persons of Quality were concerned neither did the Senate declare for them nor had they ever such Reputation and Glory as Cassius and Brutus The End of the Fourth Book of the Civil Wars of Rome APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Civil Wars OF ROME PART II. BOOK V. The Argument of this Book I. AFter Cassius and Brutus's death Caesar comes into Italy and Anthony goes into Asia II. The Actions of Anthony in Asia III. Cleopatra comes to visit him in Asia with whom he falls so deeply in love he goes and spends the Winter with her in Alexandria IV. Caesar endeavours to settle the Colonies but finds it a matter of much difficulty V. The Soldiers insolence with the causes of it VI. Lucius Anthony's Brother Fulvia his Wife and Manius fall at variance with Caesar. VII An Accommodation vainly endeavoured they take up Arms. VIII The beginning of the War with the Siege of Perusia by Caesar. IX Lucius loses all hopes of defending himself and capitulates X. Lucius's Speech to Caesar yielding himself at discretion XI The taking and burning of Perusia XII The end of this War XIII Anthony and Caesar distrusting each other make preparations XIV Brundusium besieged by Anthony XV. Agreement between them by Cocceius's intermission XVI Mutiny of the People against Caesar suppressed by Anthony XVII Accommodation between Caesar and Pompey XVIII Anthony's Preparations against the Parthians XIX The Accommodation between Caesar and Pompey broken and Caesar prepares for War XX. Sea Fight between Caesar and Pompey's Lieutenants XXI Another Sea Fight between Caesar and Pompey wherein Caesar has the worst XXII Caesar loses most of his Ships by storm XXIII Difference happens between Caesar and Anthony which is accommodated by Octavia's intermission XXIV Caesar invades Sicily with three Armies His Fleet again scattered by Tempests so that he is forced to put off the War till the next year XXV Pompey thinking himself freed from the War by Caesar's misfortunes at Sea calls himself the Son of Neptune and Menodorus his Admiral goes the second time and submits to Caesar. XXVI Caesar again invades Sicily and Agrippa his Admiral engaging Pompey's near Myles gains the Victory XXVII Caesar going in person into Sicily to besiege Tauromenia is assaulted by Pompey by Sea and Land leaves Cornificius encamped and about to repass with his Ships is defeated by Pompey himself hardly escaping XXVIII Cornificius with much loss rejoyns with Agrippa XXIX Caesar lands all his Forces in Sicily and cuts off Pompey from Provisions XXX The last Sea Battel between Caesar and Pompey where Pompey is defeated XXXI Pompey flies towards Anthony and Lepidus endeavouring to seise Sicily is by Caesar reduced to the condition of a private Man and sent to Rome XXXII Caesar's Soldiers mutiny who disbands one Party and contents the other XXXIII He settles Sicily returns to Rome where he is received with general applause XXXIV Pompey would deceive Anthony but is discovered XXXV He makes War upon Anthony's Lieutenants in Asia XXXVI He is at length taken and slain AFter the death of Brutus and Cassius Caesar went into Italy and Anthony into Asia where meeting with Cleopatra Queen of Egypt he no sooner beheld her but he became inflamed with a love proved ruinous to them both and occasioned multitudes of miseries to all Egypt wherefore the Egyptian Affairs will make a part of this Story yet without bearing that Title for I have yet much to treat of the Civil Wars which continued long after the death of Brutus and Cassius though without any Head or General obeyed like them till Sextus the youngest Son of Pompey the Great who had got together the Remains of Brutus and Cassius's Party being dead and Lepidus despoiled of that part of the Empire he pretended to all the Sovereign Power remained divided between Caesar and Anthony which things passed in this manner Cassius sirnamed the Parmesan was left in Asia by Cassius and Brutus with a Fleet and an Army to officiate there as Superintendent of the Revenues After Cassius's death in hopes that the like would not happen to Brutus he made choice of thirty of the Rhodian Ships which he thought himself able to manage with Seamen and Soldiers and burning all the rest except the Sacred Galley that he might deprive the Rhodians of attemptting any thing took the Sea with this Fleet. Clodius whom Brutus had sent into that Island with thirteen Ships finding it revolted for Brutus was slain at the time of his arrival drew off three thousand Men that were there in Garrison and went to joyn with the Parmesian Toxilus came likewise to them with many other Ships and all the Tribute Money he could gather at Rhodes To this Fleet grown already in some measure powerful flocked all those dispersed throughout Asia to exercise any Office bringing with them all the Soldiers they could and to that end making Levies of Slaves Captives and the Inhabitants of the Islands where they touched Cicero the Orator came thither likewise and with him all the Persons of Quality escaped from Thassa so that in a short time great multitudes were assembled of considerable Forces both by Sea and Land with Officers to command them At length taking with them one Lepidus whom Brutus had left in Crete with some Forces for Guard of that Island they steered their course towards Murcus and Aenobarbus who had a powerful Fleet on the Ionian Seas there dividing themselves one part joyned with Murcus and went towards Sicily which was a considerable recruit to Pompey and the other stayed with Aenobarbus who designed to form a party by himself thus out of the ruines of Brutus and Cassius sprung up two new Armies Mean while Caesar and Anthony made magnificent Sacrifices to the Gods for the Victory at Philippi testifying their acknowledgments to the Soldiers by praises till they could be able to give them the promised Rewards To this end Caesar took his way forthwith into Italy undertaking the charge of distributing Land to them and giving them Houses a charge which he thought the least toilsome and fittest for him not being well in health whilst Anthony went into the beyond Sea Provinces to get together mony to discharge their promises After this they made a new division of the Empire and besides those Provinces they already had parted
when Lucius's Gladiators could come to a close Fight with them they made a great slaughter The work being brought to perfection the Besieged began to be afflicted with Famine which augmented from day to day for neither Lucius nor the Inhabitants had made any Provision of Victuals which coming to Caesar's knowledge he caused the Lines to be guarded with double care and diligence Now on the Eve of New-years-day being a solemn Festival Lucius imagining they would not have so much care of the Watch as ordinarily went and stormed the Gate of their Trenches believing that by opening this passage he might gain an entrance into the City for those other Forces he had in divers Quarters But the Legion then upon the Guard presently running in and Caesar himself with the Pretorian Cohorts Lucius after a long Fight resolutely maintained was forced to a Retreat and this happened at the same time that at Rome where they had layed in stores of Corn for Provision for the Soldiers the People detesting both the Wars and the Victories ran to all the Magazines and pillaged them of all the Corn. After this Ventidius and those with him judging it shameful for them not to relieve Lucius perishing with Famine set forward to their assistance and at first over-run those Forces which Caesar had left to oppose their Designs but Agrippa and Salvidienus coming in with a greater power they were fearful of being surrounded and so turned off to Fulcinia a little City about one hundred and sixty Furlongs from Perugia where Agrippa having besieged them they gave Lucius notice of there being there by great Fires which they kindled in the Night time Ventidius and Asinius were of the mind to sally out and fight Plancus on the contrary said they had better stay a while for fear of engaging themselves between Agrippa and Caesar so the Besieged in Perugia who had rejoyced at the first sight of the Fires seeing their Companions came not imagined they had met with some obstacle but when the Fires were quite extinct then they believed them absolutely defeated whereupon Lucius oppressed with Famine would once more attempt an Assault by night and from the first Watch till it was light did all he could to force the Lines but being every where repulsed he retreated into Perugia where having taken an exact account of the Provision remaining he forbade giving any to the Slaves whom yet he set Guards over lest flying to the Enemy they should betray the extremities of the Garrison so that whole Troops of those poor wretches might be seen walk staggering through the City and as far as the Rampire eating Grass or green Leaves or whatsoever they could find and when they were dead Lucius caused them to be interred very deep lest if he should have burnt them the Enemy should have knowledge of it or letting them lie they should putresie and by their corrupt stench engender the Plague But when there appeared no end either of Famine of Funerals the Soldiers quite wearied out desired Lucius they might once more attempt the Enemies Trenches promising themselves this time to carry them he approved their resolution and told them In our last Assault we fought not so stoutly as the present occasion and our nâ—â—ssity did require now we have no other way but either to yield or if that seem worse then dying to sight it out to the death All of them courageously accepting of these conditions they besought him to lead them on in open day that if there were any Cowards among them the night might not keep them from being known Lucius made his Sally about break of day with a great quantity of Iron Instruments many kind of Ladders Tools of all sorts to fill up the Trenches with portable Towers to lay Bridges over to the Walls all kind of missile Arms with Stones and Bundles of Osiers or Wattles to throw upon the Stakes They then began the Assault with such fury that they presently filled up the Ditch passed the Palisade and gained the Foot of the Wall which some laboured to undermine and others brought Ladders to scale others drew close up their Towers with a wonderful contempt of their lives though there fell upon them Showers of Stones of Darts and of Leaden Bullets They assaulted the Lines in several places at once so that the Enemy distracted could not so vigorously apply themselves to the defence of all whereby it happened in one Place Lucius's Men having brought up a Tower had cast their Planks upon the Wall where though fighting in extreme danger as being galled both in Front and Flank by the Enemies missile Arms they at length forced their way and some of them gained the Wall followed pell mell by others and possibly their despair had met with a happy success if the Enemy knowing there were not many of these Machines had not opposed the most valiant of Caesar's Soldiers to these weak and tired Men who soon tumbled them down the Walls and having broken in pieces their Machine with contempt wounded them from above yet with broken Arms and wounded Bodies their very voices almost failing them they still resolutely stood to it but when they saw the Bodies of those who had been slain upon the Wall stripped and thrown after them the contumely seemed unsufferable and they stood like Men struck dumb or like Wrestlers at the Gymnick Games that would breath themselves a while so that Lucius seeing them in this condition took compassion on them and sounded a Retreat However when Caesar's Soldiers joyful for their success made a great noise with their Arms as a mark of Victory they reentred with fury and bringing out Ladders for they had no more Towers in a desperate mood attempted to scale the Wall but all in vain and indeed it was impossible wherefore Lucius running about to all places besought them not to cast themselves away and brought them off weeping and much against their wills After this fierce Assault Caesar to prevent the Enemies from making the like upon his Trenches lined his Walls with Courts of Guard giving order that at the first signal they should mount the Rampire some in one place and some in others and this they did continually though none assailed them with design to exercise the Soldiers and strike terrour into the Enemy Mean while Lucius's Soldiers began to be quite out of heart and to neglect their Guards as it often happens after such unfortunate repulses and many not only of the Soldiers but Officers went and submitted themselves to Caesar. Lucius himself touched with pity to see so many Men so miserably ending their lives would willingly have consented to an Accommodation if he had not had with him some particular Enemies of Caesar's who were fearful to fall into his hands but when it was known that he kindly received the very Runaways all Mens minds grew more inclinable to peace so that Lucius fearing left if he alone resisted they would deliver him
bring him relief After he had eat a little and taken some small repose he went by night to Stylida convoyed by Messala to find out Carinas who being ready to sail with three Legions he gave him order to pass over to Lipari and there stay for him and writ likewise to Agrippa that considering the danger Cornificius was in he should with all speed send to him Laronius with the best of his Forces He likewise sent Mecaenas the second time to the City upon intelligence they were contriving some Novelty the Authors of which were publickly punished and Messala he sent to Puteoli where the first Legion lay to bring them to Vibone This was that Messala who was proscribed at Rome by the Triumvirs with promise of rewards both of Money and Liberty to those should slay him and who escaping to Brutus and Cassius after their death delivered up on Composition their Fleet to Anthony which I the rather mention in this place as a great example of Roman Virtue since Messala having now in his power him who proscribed him without attendance and in a deplorable condition received him as his General and saved his life As for Cornificius though he could have defended himself in his Trenches yet being straitned for want of Provision he drew out to provoke the Enemy to sight but Pompey would not hazard the fortune of a Battel against People had nothing but their Arms to trust to and whom he hoped to reduce by Famine yet Cornisicius having placed those escaped from the Sea-Fight and who were without Arms in the midst of the Legions marches on sorely infested in the Plain by the Horsemens missile Arms and by the African Foot in places inaccessible for the Horse who being lightly armed though he sent off several Parties to engage them he could do no good against them The fourth day of his March he came upon a dry ground which the Inhabitants thereabout call The Torrent of Fire reaching quite to the Sea all waters falling on it being evaporated with the very heat of the ground so that the People thereabouts never travel over it but by night to avoid the heat and dust Cornificius's Men not knowing the Country durst not especially in a dark Moon adventure to pass by night for fear of an ambush and by day they could not defend themselves from their Enemies heat and dust suffocated them and the sâ—orching ground being now in the heat of Summer tormented the soles of their Feet especially those were naked thirst no less afflicted them not suffering them to retard their March to go charge those light armed Foot who continually infested them so that they were exposed to wounds without making any defence At last when they drew near to a Strait at the end of this burning ground they met with other Enemies wherefore leaving behind their sick and such as could not fight they advanced furiously to the Charge and gained the Pass but when they saw before them other Straits which the Enemy was likewise possessed of they lost all heart and made a stop being quite spent with thirst heat and labour yet when Cornificius perswaded them to take courage by telling them there was a Fountain close by they renewed the Fight and with considerable loss of theirs drove the Enemy from the Post but other Enemies were still Masters of the Fountain so that now they gave themselves over to grief and despair In this extremity Laronius appeared afar off with three Legions which Agrippa had sent to their relief they were not fully assured he was their Friend however the sight put them in some hopes especially when they saw the Enemy desert the Fountain for fear of being enclosed on both sides then they began to set up Shouts of Joy which Laronius having answered they ran all to the Fountain where notwithstanding all the good counsel of their Officers to make them more temperate they drank so excessively that some of them died upon the place Thus Cornificius when he was quite past hopes saved himself and the rest of the Army and went and joyned with Agrippa who in the mean time had taken Tyndari furnished with good store of Provisions and so commodious for this War that Caesar landed there all his Horse and Foot which were no small number for he brought into Sicily one and twenty Legions twenty thousand Horse and more than five thousand light armed Foot Pompey still held Melazzo Maulochus Pelora and all that Sea-Coast with good Garrisons who out of the fear they were in of Agrippa kept continually Fires as if they would burn the Ships that approached them He was likewise seised of the Passages from Tauromenia to Melazzo and had fortified all the Avenues of the Mountains so that he kept Caesar at a Bay who had a design to enlarge his Quarters beyond Tyndari and yet adventured not a Battel But having advice that Agrippa was about to land at Pelora he hastened thither deserting the Passes of Melazzo of which Caesar seised and of Melazzo it self together with Artemisia a little City famous for the Oxen of the Sun taken away by Ulysses's companions whilst he slept But when the news of Agrippa's coming proved false and Pompey heard of the Passes being lost he sent for Tisienus with his Army whom Caesar going to meet strayed out of his way about Mycono where he staid all night without any Tents in a violent rain as is usual in Autumn with no other covering save a Gallick Shield which the Soldiers held over his Head Here they heard the horrible noise and dreadful roarings of Mount Aetna and beheld the mighty Flames which sorely affrighted the whole Army especially the Germans who starting from the places where they were laid down were no longer scrupulous of believing the wonders told of Mount Aetna especially of the Torrents of Fire After this Caesar went and spoiled the Country of the Palestins where meeting with Lepidus and being supplied with Corn they went both and set down near about Messina But when there happened only light Skirmishes through all Sicily and no memorable Fight Caesar weary of it sent Taurus to cut off Pompey from Provisions by seising upon those Cities that supplyed them which made him resolve to give Battel but because he was afraid of Caesar's Land Forces and thought himself secure in his Ships he sent a Herald to offer him a Sea-Fight Though Caesar of all things abhorred to have do with Salt Water where he had ever been unfortunate yet thinking it dishonourable to refuse any thing he accepted the Challenge and a day was appointed when they were to meet with three hundred Ships each armed with all sorts of missile Arms Towers and Maohines that could be imagined ` T was now Agrippa invented the Harpagon which is a piece of Timber of five Cubits long bound about with Iron at each end having two Rings at one of which is the Harpago or Hook of Iron and at the other many Cords
lent to Caesar against Pompey for the Sicilian War being ended Caesar returned them At the same time Titius arrived out of Syria with sixscore other Ships and a great Army and all together landed at Proconesus Thereupon Pompey somewhat daunted burnt his Ships and armed his Rowers and Seamen whom he thought would do him better service on shore But Cassius of Parma Nasidius Saturninus Thermus Antistius and all the most considerable of Pompey's Friends and even Fannius himself for whom he had the greatest value and Libo his Father-in-law seeing that after the coming of Titius to whom Anthony had given commission either to make War or Peace he was still obstinate to continue the War against one more powerful than himself left him and making their own composition submitted to Anthony being deserted by his Friends he advanced through the mid-land of Bithynia with design as 't is said to get into Armenia Furnius Titius and Amyntas having notice that to this intent he had quitted his Camp by night followed him and made such haste that before day was shut in they overtook him near a certain Eminence above which they encamped separately without entrenching because it grew late and their Men were over tired Pompey seeing them in this posture drew off three thousand Men who went and charged them in the dark night so briskly that they slew a great number some in Bed and others rising and the rest for the most part naked shamefully took their flight so that if Pompey had fallen on with all his Forces or had but given them chase he might have completed his Victory but his adverse fortune put it out of his thoughts and he reaped no more fruit of this Victory save the continuing his March into the Uplands The Enemies being rallied followed him close at the Heels and very sorely tormented him that being reduced to want of Provisions he desired a Conference with Furnius Friend to the great Pompey and besides that the most considerable of all the other Commanders and the honestest Man Being in order thereunto come to the Bank of a River that run between them Pompey told them that having sent deputies to Anthony and having in the mean time no Provisions noâ— no person that would furnish him with any he had been forced to do what he had done The ORATION of POMPSEY to FVRNIVS BUt for your part added he if it be by Anthony's Orders you make War upon me he is ill advised not foreseeing a considerable War hanging over his Head but if it be of your own motion I beseech you to expect the return of my Deputies or to carry me to Anthony after having past your word for my security for Furnius 't is you only I confide in and put my self into your hands provided you promised me upon your Honour to deliver me in safety to Anthony This he said as confident of Anthony's good nature and fearing only some misfortune might happen to him in the Journey Furnius made answer The ANSWER of FURNIUS to POMPEY IF you had any intention to yield your self to Anthony you ought in person to have gone to him at first or have staid his Answer at Mitylene but you designed War and have done all you could for why should you deny things we certainly know Yet if you now repent we are three that command here for Anthony do not create any jealousie among us but deliver your self up to Titius who only has Commission concerning you you may require of him the same security you do of me for his Orders are if you obstinately hold out to kill you but if you submit to send you honourably to Anthony Pompey was angry at Titius as an ungrateful Man to undertake this War against him whom he had so kindly treated when he was his Prisoner besides he thought it dishonourable for Pompey to yield himself into the hands of Titius a man of mean extract and whom he was jealous of either distrusting his Principles or conscious of some injury he had done him before the last kindness wherefore he offered himself once more to Furnius and begged him to receive him and when that could not be obtained he desired that at least he might yield himself into Amyntas's Hands But Furnius telling him that Amyntas would not do that which would prove injurious to him who had Anthony's Commission for this purpose the Conference ended Anthony's Lieutenants believed that Pompey would next morning for very want be forced to yield himself to Titius but as soon as it was night he caused Fires to be kindled and gave orders to the Trumpets to sound at every Watch of the Night according to custom and he without any noise went out of his Camp with the Flower of his Forces not telling any one of them his design which was to return to the Sea and set fire on Titus's Fleet and possibly he might have done it if Scaurus who deserted him and run to the Enemy had not given him notice of his departure and the way he had taken without being able to say more Amyntas presently followed him with fifteen hundred Horse for whom Pompey's being all Foot it was no hard matter to overtake As soon as he appeared all Pompey's Men forsook him some privily others openly so that almost desperate and fearing his own Domesticks he yielded himself to Amyntas without conditions who had refused the Composition offered by Titius Thus was the last Son of the great Pompey taken He had lost his Father when he was a Child and when he grew somewhat elder his Brother after whose death he lay concealed a long time living like a Bandito in Spain till such time as a multitude of loose People understanding he was Pompey's Son slocked to him and then he began to over-run and plunder the Country After the death of C. Caesar having got a good Army Ships and Money he made a War and became Master of some Islands after which he was created Admiral of the Western Sea and then sorely annoyed Italy almost famishing his Enemies and forcing them to peace on his own Conditions but what is most considerable in that dreadful time of Proscriptions at Rome he was the only Refuge of the Miserable and saved many persons of Quality who were obliged to him for their return to their Country but as if Fortune had deprived him of Judgment he never would give the onset upon any Enemy but lost many fair opportunities content only to defend himself Such was the Pompey now taken Titius received an Oath from his Army in Anthony's name and sent him to Miletum where at forty years of age he put him to death either because the old injury had more power over him than Gratitude for a later kindness or because he had Anthony's Orders for it Though some say Anthony gave no such Order but it was done by Plancus Governour of Syria who in Affairs of great Importance was wont to set Anthony's Hand and Seal Others
in Spain and likewise in Italy for sixteen whole years together during which Hannibal had sackt four hundred Cities and destroyed in divers encounters three hundred thousand men and being several times come to the very Gates of their City had reduced them to the last extremities These things considered made them with difficulty believe what was tole of the victory and they often demanded of one another if it were certain that Carthage was destroyed Thus they past the night in recounting one to another how after having disarmed the Carthaginians they had presently made themselves new Arms beyond the judgment of all the World How having taken away their Ships they had built others of old stuff and how having stopt the entrance of their Port they had in a few days dug a new one on the other side They spoke likewise of the unmeasurable height of their Walls the vast stones they were built with the fire which they had several times put to the Engines In short they represented to the eyes of the Auditors the whole figure of this War insomuch that giving life to their discourse by their gesture they seemed to see Scipio on the Ladders on the Ships in the Gates and in the Streets running from one side to the other The people having thus spent the night on the morrow solemn sacrifices were made to the Gods and Publick Prayers wherein every Tribe assisted separately after which Plays and Spectacles were exhibited to publick view and then the Senate sent ten Commissioners of the Number of the Fathers to settle joyntly with Scipio such Orders as were most necessary for that Province and for the Romans best advantage As soon as they were arrived they Ordered Scipio to demolish what remained of Carthage henceforth forbidding any to inhabit there with horrible imprecations against those who in prejudice of this Interdict should attempt to Rebuild any thing especially the Fort called Byrsa and the place called Megara to the rest they defended no mans entrance They decreed likewise that all the Cities which in that War had held on the Enemies party should be razed and gave their Territories Conquered by the Roman Arms to the Roman Allies particularly gratifying those of Utica with all the Country extending from Carthage to Hippone they made all the rest of the Province Tributary from which neither Men nor Women were exempt resolving that every year there should a Praetor sent form the City and having given these Orders they returned to Rome Scipio having Executed them and beholding himself at the height of his wishes made sacrifices and set forth Plays in Honour of the Gods and after setling all things in a good condition returned to Rome whither he entred in Triumph Never was any thing beheld more glorious for there was nothing to be seen but Statues and Rarities and curious pieces of an inestimable price which the Carthaginians had for so long a time been bringing into Africa from all parts of the World where they had gained an infinite of Victories This hapned near the same time that Mummius Triumphed the third time over the Macedonians and the first time over the Greeks after having overcome Andriscus who gave himself out to be Philip about the hundred and sixteenth Olympiad Some time after there arising several seditions in the City because of the poverty of the people under the Tribuneship of Gracchus it was advised to send six thousand people to inhabit in Africa but when setting forth the foundations of this Colony in the place where formerly stood Carthage it was found the Wolves had removed the marks the Senate forbad their further proceeding Long time after when Caesar who was created Dictator after his Victory over Pompey pursued him into Egypt and from thence came into Africa to prosecute the War against the friends of his dead Enemy 't is said that he saw in a dream a great Army which shedding of tears called to him and that moved with this dream he set down in his Table Book the design he had to Rebuild Carthage and Corinth but being soon after kill'd by his Enemies in the Senate Caesar Augustus his Son finding by chance that Memorial caused Carthage to be Rebuilt which we may now behold near the place where the Ancient Carthage stood for he took care not to fall under the Execrations fulminated when it was demolished I find it on Record that they sent near three thousand inhabitants from Rome and that the neighboring Cities compleated the peopling of it Thus was Africa reduced into the form of a Province and Carthage ruined by the Romans was Rebuilt by themselves and Repeopled one hundred and one years after it was demolished The End of the Roman Wars in Lybia APPIAN OF ALEXANDRIA HIS HISTORY OF THE Roman Wars IN SYRIA Book II. The Argument of this Book I. ANtiochus undertakes to make War against the Romans without any just cause II. His preparations Hannibal comes to him adviseth him to carry the War into Italy and sends Ariston the Tyrian to Carthage to stir up the people III. A Conference between Scipio the African and Hannibal IV. Antiochus on the promises of the Etolians begins the War V. Hannibal's Speech to divert the King from prosecuting the War till his Forces were come out of Asia VI. The Romans prepare for War mean while Antiochus besieges Larissa but raises his Siege and goes to winter at Chalcedon where he Marries though above fifty years old VII Manius General of the Romans pursues Antiochus who stays for him at the straits of Thermopylae where they engage and Antiochus is defeated VIII Publick Prayers for Manius Victory which is followed by the surrendry of many places Antiochus causes his Forces to come from Asia IX L. Scipio Consul prepares to come and command the Army after Manius mean while Livius Admiral of the Romans and Polexenidas Commander of Antiochus's Fleet engage where Livius gets the better X. L. Scipio and his Brother the African pass into Etolia and thence into Thrace whilst Livius Successor of Attilius takes many Towns and Polexenidas deceives Pausimachus General of the Rhodian Fleet. XI Seleucus the Son of Antiochus invades Eumenes his Kingdom and besieges Pergamus whence he raises his Siege mean while the Roman Fleet defeats that of Antiochus XII He quits all he held in Europe which the Scipio's possess themselves of then follow that King and overtake him at Sardis where conditions of Peace are proposed which he will not accept XIII He is forced to come to a Battel wherein he is utterly defeated XIV The Scipio's grant him Peace on conditions which the Senate confirm for which the African is accused of corruption and defends himself in an extraordinary manner XV. Manius Successor of Scipio gives Order to the rest of the Affairs of Asia and brings back the Army into Italy where he dismisses them and the Senate rewards the Rhodians and Eumenes XVI An account of the Successors of Antiochus their actions
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