generously with him for he not only suffer'd him to govern his own Kingdom as his Lieutenant but added to it a large Province of some free People whom he had newly subdued which consisted of 15 several Nations and contain'd 5000 considerable Towns besides abundance of Villages Another Government three times as large as this he bestow'd on Philip one of his Friends Some time after the Battel with Porus most Authors agree that Bucephalus died under cure of his Wounds or as Onesicritus says of Fatigue and Age being 30 years old Alexander was no less concern'd at his Death than if he had lost an old Companion or an intimate Friend and built a City which he nam'd Bucephalia in memory of him on the Bank of the River Hydaspes and another in remembrance of his beloved favorite Dog Peritas as Sotion assures us he was inform'd by Potamon of Lesbos But this last Combat with Porus took off the edge of the Macedonians Courage and hindred their farther progress in India For having with much ado defeated him who brought but 20000 Foot and 2000 Horse into the Field they thought they had Reason to oppose Alexander's Design of obliging them to pass the Ganges too which they were told was Four Miles over and an hundred fathom deep and the Banks on the farther side cover'd with multitudes of Enemies For they had intelligence that the Kings of the Gandaritans and Persians expected them there with 80000 Horse 200000 Foot 8000 arm'd Chariots and 6000 fighting Elephants Nor was this a false vain Report spread on purpose to discourage them for Androcottus who not long after reign'd in those Parts made a Present of 500 Elephants at once to Seleucus and with an Army of 600000 Men subdued all India Alexander at first was so griev'd and enrag'd at his Mens Reluctancy that he shut himself up in his Tent and in a desponding manner threw himself upon the Ground declaring if they would not pass the Ganges he ow'd them no thanks for any thing they had hitherto done and that to retreat now was plainly to confess himself vanquish'd But at last the prudent Remonstrances and Perswasions of his Friends who inform'd him truly how the Case stood and the Tears and Lamentations of his Soldiers who in a suppliant manner crowded about the entrance of his Tent prevail'd with him to think of returning Yet before he decamp'd he would needs impose upon Posterity by leaving behind some fictitious Monuments of his Glory such as Arms of an extraordinary bigness and Mangers for Horses with Bits of Bridles above the usual size which he set up and distributed in several Places He erected Altars also to the Gods which the Kings of the Persians even in our Time highly reverence and often pass the River to sacrifice upon them after the Graecian manner Androcottus then a Youth saw Alexander there and has often afterwards been heard to say That he miss'd but little of making himself Master of those Countries their King who then reign'd was so hated and despis'd for the viciousness of his Life and the meanness of his Extraction Alexander decamping from hence had a mind to see the Ocean to which purpose he caus'd a great many Vessels with Oars and small Boats to be built in which he fell gently down the Rivers making Merry as he went and order'd it so that his Navigation was neither unprofitable nor unactive for by making several Descents he took in the Fortifi'd Towns and consequently the Country on both sides But at the Siege of a City of the Mallians who are the valiantest People of India he ran great danger of his Life for having beaten off the Defendants with showers of Arrows he was the first Man that mounted the Wall by a scaling Ladder which as soon as he was up broke and left him almost alone exposed to the Darts which the Barbarians threw at him in great numbers from below In this Distress turning himself as well as he could he leaped down in the midst of his Enemies and had the good Fortune to light upon his Feet The brightness and clattering of his Armour when he came to the Ground made the Barbarians think they saw Rays of Light or some Phantom playing before his Body which frighted them so at first that they ran away and dispers'd themselves till seeing him seconded but by two of his Guards they fell upon him Hand to Hand and though he defended himself very bravely wounded him through his Armour with their Swords and Spears One who stood farther off drew a Bow with such just Strength that the Arrow finding its way through his Cuirass stuck in his Ribs under the Breast This stroke was so violent that it made him give back and set one Knee to the Ground which as soon as he that Shot him perceiv'd he came up to him with his drawn Scimitar thinking to dispatch him and had done it if Peucestes and Limnaeus had not interpos'd who were both wounded Limnaeus mortally but Peucestes stood his Ground while Alexander kill'd the Barbarian But this did not free him from danger for besides many other Wounds at last he receiv'd so weighty a stroke of a Club upon his Neck that he was forc'd to lean his Body against the Wall yet still look'd undauntedly upon the Enemy When he was reduc'd to this Extremity the Macedonians breaking in to his Assistance very opportunely took him up just as he was fainting away having lost all sense of what was done near him and convey'd him to his Tent upon which it was presently reported all over the Camp that he was dead But when they had with great difficulty and pains saw'd out the Shaft of the Arrow which was of Wood and so with much ado got off his Cuirass they came to cut the Head of it which was three fingers broad and four long and stuck fast in the Bone During the Operation he was taken with almost mortal Swoonings but when it was out he came to himself again Yet though all Danger was past he continued very weak and confin'd himself a great while to a regular Diet and the method of his Cure till one day hearing the Macedonians were so desirous to see him that they were ready to mutiny he put on his Robe and when he had shew'd himself to them and sacrific'd to the Gods without more delay he went on Board again and as he coasted along subdued a great deal of the Country on both sides and took in several considerable Cities In this Voyage he took 10 of the Indian Philosophers Prisoners who had been most active in perswading Sabbas to Rebel and besides that had done the Macedonians abundance of Mischief These Men because they go stark naked are call'd Gymnosophists and are reputed to be extremely sharp and succinct in their Answers to whatsoever is propounded to them which he made tryal of by putting difficult Questions to them withal
Shipping he was forc'd to divert his course and march into Spain designing to joyn those Forces of Pompey there to his own In the mean time Pompey had rais'd a mighty Army both by Sea and Land As for his Navy 't was altogether invincible for there were 500 Men of War besides an infinite company of Galliots Foists and Pinaces Then for his Land-Forces the Cavalry made up a Body of 7000 Horse the very flower of Rome and Italy Men of Honour Wealth and Courage but the Infantry was a mixture of raw and unexperienc'd Soldiers and therefore he exercised and train'd them up daily near the City Beraea where he had quarter'd and lodg'd his Army himself no ways slothful but performing all his Exercises as if he had been in the flower of his Youth This exemplary Conduct raised the Spirits of his Soldiers extremely for it was no small Encouragement for them to see Pompey the Great 60 Years of Age wanting two one while trailing a Pike and handling his Arms among the Foot in all his Postures then again mounted among the Horse drawing out his Sword with ease in full career and sheathing it up as easily And in darting the Javelin there he shew'd not only his skill and dexterity in hitting the Mark but his strength and activity in throwing it so far that few of the youngest went beyond him Several Kings and Princes of other Nations came thither to him but there was a glorious appearance of Roman Magistrates and so numerous that they made up a compleat Senate Labienus forsook his old Friend Caesar whom he had serv'd throughout all his Wars in Gaul and came over to Pompey And Brutus Son to that Brutus that was put to Death in Gaul a Man of great Spirit and one that to that day had never so much as saluted or spoke to Pompey looking upon him as the Murderer of his Father came then and submitted himself to him as the defender of their Liberty Cicero likewise though he wrote and advis'd otherwise yet was asham'd not to be accounted in the number of those that would hazard their Lives and Fortunes for the safeguard of their Country And last of all there came to him even into Macedonia Tidius Sextus a Man extremely Old and Lame of one Leg others indeed mock'd and laugh'd at the Spectacle but Pompey as soon as he saw him rose and ran to meet him esteeming it no small assurance of their Good-will when Men of such Age and Infirmities should rather choose to be with him in danger than in safety at home Afterwards in a Council of War there passed a Decree which was pronounced by Cato as President That no Roman Citizen should be put to Death but in Battel and that they should not Sack or Plunder any City that was subject to the Roman Empire By these means Pompey's Party grew into greater Reputation insomuch that they who were no ways at all concern'd in the War either because they dwelt afar off or were thought incapable by reason of their Infirmities were yet in their opinions of his side and did in all their Discourses even fight for his Cause calling it the good or just Cause esteeming those as Enemies to the Gods and Men that wished not Victory to Pompey Neither was Pompey's Clemency such but that Caesar likewise shew'd himself as merciful a Conqueror for when he had taken and overthrown all Pompey's Forces in Spain he gave them Quarter leaving the Commanders at their Liberty and taking the common Soldiers into his own Pay Then repassing the Alpes and making a running March through Italy he came to Brundusium about the Winter Solstice and crossing the Sea there landed at the Port of Oricum Now Caesar having Jubius an intimate Friend of Pompey's with him as his Prisoner dispatch'd him to Pompey in an Embassage entreating That they meeting together in a Conference as one should disband both their Armies within three days and renewing their former Friendship with solemn Oaths should return together into Italy Pompey look'd upon this again as some new Stratagem or Device and therefore marching down in all haste towards the Sea-Coast possessed himself of all Forts and Places of Strength fit to encamp in and secure his Land-Forces as likewise of all Ports and Harbours commodious to receive any that came by Sea so that what Wind soever blew it must needs in some way or other be favourable to him bringing in either Provision Men or Money But Caesar on the contrary was so distressed both by Sea and Land that he was forc'd to desire Battel daily provoking the Enemy and assailing them in their very Forts and in these light Skirmishes for the most part had the better only once he was dangerously overthrown and likely to have lost his whole Army For Pompey having valiantly re-inforced the Battel made a desperate Charge upon him even to a total Rout of all his Army and the Slaughter of 2000 upon the Place but either he was not able to force their Camp or he was afraid to fall in pell-mell together with them Insomuch as Caesar told some of his Friends How that day had given an absolute Conquest to the Enemy if they had had but a Man that knew how to Conquer Pompey's Soldiers were so mightily encourag'd by this Victory that they would needs have it put to the decision of a Battel but Pompey himself though he wrote to Foreign Kings Princes and States in Confederacy with him as a Conqueror yet was afraid to hazard the Success of a Battel choosing rather by delays and distress of Provisions to tire out those who had never yet been Conquer'd by force of Arms but had always when they fought in a body been accustom'd to Victory Besides the Infirmities of their Age which now made them quickly weary of those other Hardships of War such as were long Marches and frequent Decampings making of Trenches and building of Fortifications made them willing to fight and venture the Battel with all speed Pompey had all along hitherto by his Perswasions pretty well quieted his Soldiers but after this last Engagement when Caesar for want of Provisions was forc'd to raise his Camp and had passed through Athamania into Thessaly it was impossible to curb or allay the heat of their Spirits any longer For all crying out with a general Voice That Caesar is fled some were for pursuing and pressing upon him others for returning into Italy some there were that sent their Friends and Servants before hand to Rome to hire Houses near the Forum or Market-place whereby they might be in a readiness to sue for Offices and Places in the Government But several were so vain as to sail for Lesbos in a Compliment to Cornelia with this joyful News That the War was brought to an end for Pompey had privately convey'd her thither from the Tumults in Rome Hereupon a Council of War was call'd and the Matter being under debate Afranius was
Master of Greece as he was walking up and down at Delphos and looking on the Statues at the sight of that of Alexander he was suddenly struck with Horrour and shook all over his Eyes rowl'd his Head grew dizzy and he had much ado to recover himself When once Alexander gave way to Superstition his Mind grew so disturb'd and timorous that if the least unusual or extraordinary thing happen'd he would needs have it thought a Prodigy or a Presage and his Court was throng'd with Diviners and Priests whose business was to Sacrifice and Purifie and foretel the future So horrid a thing is Incredulity and Contempt of the Gods on one hand and no less horrid is Superstition on the other which like Water always creeping on the Ground invades us with servile Fear and Folly as it did now Alexander himself But upon some Answers which were brought him from the Oracle concerning Hephestion he had laid aside his Sorrow and fell again to Sacrificing and Drinking and having given Nearchus a splendid Entertainment after he had bath'd as was his Custom just as he was going to Bed at Medius his Request he went to Supper with him Here he drank all that night and the next day to such excess as put him into a Fever which seiz'd him not as some write after he had drank of Hercules his Bowl nor was he taken with a sudden pain in his Back as if he had been struck with a Lance for these are the Inventions of some Authors who thought it became them to make the conclusion of so great an Action as tragical and moving as they could Aristobulus tells us That in the rage of his Fever and a violent Thirst he took a draught of Wine upon which he fell into a Frenzy and died the 30th of June But in his Journals we have this account of his Sickness That the 18th of June by reason of his Illness he lay in his Bathing-room where it first seiz'd him that when he had bath'd he remov'd into his Chamber and spent that day at Dice with Medius In the evening having wash'd and sacrific'd he eat with a good Stomach and had his Fever that night The 20th after the usual Sacrifices and Bathing he kept his Bed in the same Room and heard Nearchus his Relation of his Voyage and the Observations he had made of the Ocean The 21st he pass'd in the same manner his Fever still encreasing and had a very ill night of it The next day he had a severe Fit and caus'd himself to be remov'd and his Bed set by the great Bath and then discours'd with his principal Officers about filling up the vacant Charges in the Army with Men of tryed Valour aud Experience The 24th being much worse he was carried out to assist at the Sacrifices and gave order that his chief Commanders should wait within the Court whilst the Colonels and Captains kept Watch without doors The 25th he was remov'd to his Palace on the other side the River where he slept a little but his Fever abated not and when the Commanders came into his Chamber he was speechless and continued so the following day Then the Macedonians supposing he was dead came with great Clamours to the Gates and menac'd his Friends so that they were forc'd to admit them and let them all pass through unarm'd along by his Bed-side The same day Python and Seleucus being sent to Serapis his Temple to enquire if they should bring Alexander thither were answer'd by the God that they should not remove him The 28th in the Evening he Died. This Account is most of it word for word as it is written in his own Diary At that time no body had any suspicion of his being poyson'd but upon a discovery made six years after they say Olympias put many to death and threw abroad the Ashes of Jollas who was dead as if he had given it him But those who affirm Aristotle counselled Antipater to do it and that by his means wholly the Poyson was brought produce one Agnothemis for their Author who heard King Antigonus speak of it and tell us that the Poyson was Water deadly cold as Ice distilling from a Rock in the Territory of Nonacris which they gather'd like a thin Dew and kept in an Asses Hoof for it was so very cold and penetrating that no other Vessel would hold it However most are of opinion that all this is false no slight evidence of which is that during the Dissentions among the Commanders which lasted a great many days the Body continued clear and fresh without any sign of such Taint or Corruption though it lay neglected in a close sultry place Roxana who was now with Child and upon that account much honour'd by the Macedonians being Jealous of Statira sent for her by a Counterfeit Letter as if Alexander had been still alive and when she had her in her power kill'd her and her Sister and threw their Bodies into a Well which they fill'd up with Earth not with out the Privity and assistance of Perdiccas who at this time under the shelter of Arideus whom he carried about with him for his own security bore the greatest sway of any Arideus himself who was Philip's Son by one Philinna an obscure common Strumpet was a man of weak Parts by reason of his Indisposition of Body which was neither natural to him nor contracted of it self for in his Childhood he was quickwitted and hopeful enough but caus'd by Drinks that Olympias gave him which not only impair'd his Health but weakned his Understanding C. IVLIVS CAESAR 〈…〉 THE LIFE OF Julius Caesar Englished from the Greek by Mr. Smalridge of Christchurch AS soon as Sylla had made himself Master of Rome he resolved to force Cornelia Daughter to Cinna the late Usurper from Caesar her Husband but being unable to compass it either by hopes or fears confiscated her Dowry The ground of Sylla's hatred to Caesar was the alliance between him and Marius for Marius the elder Married Julia Caesar's Aunt by the Fathers side and had by her the younger Marius who consequently was Caesar's Cousin-german And thô at first in the heat of his Tyranny and hurry of business Caesar was overlook't by Sylla he could not lie still but presented himself to the People as a Candidate for the Priesthood thô he was yet under Age. But Sylla by his under-hand management so carried it that Caesar fell short of his pretensions and in a Consult of Friends to take him off when it was urged by some that it was not worth his while to contrive the death of a Boy he answered that They knew little who did not see many Marius's in that Boy Caesar upon notice of this lay concealed a long while among the Sabines often changing his Quarters till one night as he was removing his Lodging for his health he fell into the hands of Sylla's Soldiers who
did those who punished them revenge the Fact but the ill Will The day after Brutus with the rest came down from the Capitol and made a Speech to the People who attended to it without expressig either any Pleasure or Resentment but shewed by their deep silence that they pitied Caesar and reverenc'd Brutus The Senate made Acts of Oblivion for what was past and took healing Measures to reconcile all Parties They order'd that Caesar should be worshipp'd as a God and that not any the least thing should be alter'd which he had enacted during his Government At the same time they gave Brutus and his Followers the Command of Provinces and other considerable Posts so that all People now thought things were well settled and put into a very good Posture But when Caesar's Will was open'd and it was found that he had left a Considerable Legacy to each one of the Roman Citizens and when his Body was seen carried through the Market-Place all mangled with Wounds the Multitude could no longer contain themselves within the Bounds of Decency and Order but heap'd together a Pile of Benches Bars and Tables which they placed the Corps on and setting Fire to it burnt them Then they took Firebrands and ran some to fire the Houses of the Assassinates others up and down the City to find out the Men and Limb them but they met with none of them they having taken effectual Care to secure themselves One Cinna a Confident of Caesar's chanc'd the Night before to have an odd Dream He fancied that Caesar invited him to Supper and that upon his Refusal to go with him Caesar took him by the Hand and forc'd him though he hung back Upon Notice that Caesar's Body was burning in the Market-Place he got up and went thither out of respect to his Memory though his Dream gave him some ill Apprehensions and though he was at the same time Fevorish One of the Rabble who saw him there ask'd another Who that was And having learnt his Name told it to his next Neighbour It presently went for currant that he was one of Caesar's Murtherers and indeed there was one Cinna a Conspirator They taking this to be the Man immediately Seized him and tore him Limb from Limb upon the Spot Brutus and Cassius frighted at this within a few days retir'd out of the City What they afterwards did and suffer'd and how they dy'd is written in the Life of Brutus Caesar dy'd in his Fifty sixth year not having surviv'd Pompey above four years That Empire and Power which he had pursued through the whole Course of his Life with so much Hazzard he did at last with much difficulty compass but reap'd no other Fruits from it then an empty Name and invidious Title But that happy Genius which was Propitious to him during his Life seems to have stuck to him after his Death as the Revenger of his Murther for it pursu'd by Sea and Land all those who were concern'd in it and suffer'd none to escape but reach'd all who were either actually engaged in the Fact or by their Councels any way promoted it The most signal Accident of all here below was that which befell Cassius who when he was conquer'd at Philippi kill'd himself with the same Dagger which he had made use of against Caesar The most remarkable Appearance in the Heavens was a great Comet which shone bery bright for seven Nights after Caesar's Death and then disappear'd There was also a very faint Light in the Sun for the Orb of it was pale for the space of an Year nor did it rise with its usual Brightness and Vigor Hence it gave but a weak and feeble Heat and consequently the Air was damp and gross for want of stronger Rays to open and rarifie it The Fruits for that Reason were crude and unconcocted so that they rotted and decay'd through the Chilness of the Air. Above all the Phantôm which appear'd to Brutus shew'd the Murther was not pleasing to the Gods The Story of it is this Brutus being to pass his Army from Aâ—ydos to the Continent on the other side lay'd himself down one Night as he used to do in his Tent and was not a-sleep but thinking of his Affairs and what Events he might expect For he was naturally of a watchful Constitution and very little inclin'd to Sleep He thought he heard a Noise at the Door of his Tent and looking that way by the Light of his Lamp which was almost out saw a terrible Figure like that of a Man but of an extraordinary Bulk and grim Countenance He was somewhat frighted at first but seeing it neither did nor spoke any thing to him only stood silently by his Bed-side he ask'd it at last Who it was The Spectre answer'd him I am thy Evil Genius Brutus and thou shalt see me by Philippi Brutus answer'd very courageously Well I will see you there and immediately the Ghost vanish'd When the time was come he drew up his Army near Philippi against Anthony and Caesar and in the first Battel got the Day routed the Enemy and plunder'd Caesar's Camp The Night before the second Battel the same Ghost appear'd to him again but spoke not a word He presently understood his Death was near and expos'd himself to all the Danger of the Battel yet he did not die in the Fight but seeing his Men defeated got up to the top of a Rock and there presenting his Sword to his naked Breast and assisted as they say by a Friend who helpt him to give the Thrust died upon the Spot FINIS PHOCION 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MBurgh sculp commonly said That the Populace is most insulting and contumelious to great men when they are puff'd up with Prosperity and Success the contrary oft happens Afflictions and publick Calamities naturally eagering and sowring the Minds and Manners of men and disposing them to such Peevishness and Chagrin that hardly can any one carry himself so swimmingly in his words or actions but they will be apt to take pett he that remonstrates to their Miscarriages is interpreted to insult over their Misfortunes and even the mildest Expostulations are constru'd Contempt Honey it self is searching in sore and ulcerated parts and the wisest though soft Counsels may prove to be provoking to distemper'd minds that have not well prepar'd ears to entertain them This made the Poet express such applications by a word signifying a grateful and easie touch upon the mind without harshness or offence inflamed Eyes require a retreat into gloomy and dusky places amongst Colours of the deepest shades unable to endure the vigorous and glaring light So fares it in the Body politick when heated with Factions and Irresolution there is a certain Niceness and touchy Humour prevails in the Minds of men and an unaccountable jealousie of any person that with openness and freedom offers to scan their actions even when the necessities of their affairs most require such plain-dealing And surely