and thinking whatsoever was not for the welfare of the publike in his owne particular was a stranger to him for these his vertues in his absence hee was first of all men created chiefe and Soveraigne Bishop When wrapping the skirt of his gowne about his left arme from the highest part of the Capitoll standing at the top of the staires hee exhorted as many as desired the preservation of the State to follow him Then the Noblemen the Senate and both the better part and greater of the Knights together with so many of the Plebeians as were untainted with these pernicious devices charged upon Gracchus standing with his troupes and labouring to draw almost all Italy to a head together He flying and running downe the cliffe of the Capitoll was strucken with the frame of a forme and so with an untimely death ended his life which hee might have passed with all glorie and honour This was the beginning of shedding bloud in civill contentions in the Citie of Rome and of swords used without punishment from thence grew all right to bee troden under foot by force And the more powerfull and former custome with the differences betweene the Citizens which before were wont to be cured by treaties and conditions were after decided by the sword Neither were warres taken in hand for just causes and reasons but as it were their way of trafficke and merchandizing which to speake truth is no wonder for examples doe not rest upon the grounds from which they had their first beginning but having made their way thorow any narrow and streight passage they afterwards take to themselves a course of free and open libertie and when once men have swarved from that which is right they runne headlong to all injustice Nor doth any man thinke that base and dishonourable to him which another hath found beneficiall CHAP. 4. Aristonicus pretending falsely to the bloud Royall of Asia which left by Attalus his will to the Romans as after Bithynia was by Nicomedes he had seized upon overthrowne by Mar. Perperna And Numantia rased by the same Emilianus who before had done as much for Carthage His death much suspected but never questioned IN the meane time while these passages are on foot in Italy Aristonicus after the death of King Attalus by whom Asia was bequeathed as an inheritance to the people of Rome as inlike sort afterward Bithynia was also left by Nicomedes falseâ—y pretending himselfe to bee of the blood Royall possest himselfe therof by force He by Marcus Perperna was overthrowne led in triumph but Manius with the losse of his head did from Aquilius receive his payment for that in the beginning of the warre he had slaine Crassus Muciarus a man most learned in the lawes as he was in qualitie of Proconsull upon his departure out of Asia And Publius Scipio the African sonne of Emilius who had rased Carthage after so many disasters about Numantia being created Consull the second time and sent into Spaine did there make good the fortune and valour of which hee had before given proofe in Africa And within a yeare and three months after his comming thither having compassed Numantia round about with his workes did level it with the ground Neither did any man of what Nation soever before his time leave his name recommended to perpetuall memorie by a more glorious destruction of any places For by the rasing of Carthage and Numantia he freed us of feare from the one and of scorne and reproach from the other He when the Tribune Carbo enquired of him what he thought of the killing of Tiberius Gracchus answered That if he had in his thoughts to possesse himselfe of the state he was worthily punished And when all the assembly cryed out I said he that have so often remained unterrified with the shouts of the armed enemie how can I be moved with yours to whom Italy is a step-mother Being reâ—urned to the Citie within a while after when Mareus Aquilius and Caius Sempronius were Consulls an hundred and fiftie yeares since after his two Consulships and two Triumphs when he twise had quitted the Common wealth of her feares he was in the morning fouÌ„d dead in his bed so that certain markes of his being strangled were found upon his necke Neither was there ever any enquirie made of the cause of a mans death of so great eminence and his body was caried out to funerall with his head covered by whose meanes the citie of Rome had lifted up her head aboue all the inhabited world So dyed he either a naturall as the most part supposed or a death procured by practise as many have delivered How ever he certainly past his course of life most nobly and was in glory inferiour to no man that before that time had beene except his Grandfather He departed this life almost at the end of his sixe and fiftieth yeare whereof if any man make a question let him looke backe to his former Consulship to which he was elected in his six and thirtieth yeare he will cease to doubt CHAP. 5. Anlus Brutus his severity of command in Spaine cause of his victorie at Controbia BEfore the destruction of Numantia the command of Aulus Brutus in Spain was very glorious who making his way through al the nations of Spaine having taken an infinite number of men and Cities reached to those people which were scarce knowne by heare-say did worthily obtaine the sirname of the Gallician And before him but a few yeares the government of that Quintus termed the Maudonian was so severe that when he assaulted a Citie called Contrabia five legionarie Cohorts being beaten downe from a clifty place he immediately commanded them to give upon the same againe And all his souldiers making their wills as they stood in their ranks as if they were to runne upon certaine death the Constancy of the CoÌ„mander not frighted from his purpose received the souldiers backe with victory whom he had sent to die Such was the effect of feare mingled with shame and a hope sprung out of despaire This man by the valour and severity of his action but Paulus Emilianus following the example of the former Paulus by his discipline in Spaine did grow very famous CHAP. 6. The stirres raised by Caius Gracchus brother to Tiberius intending the same or worse then his brother had attempted His character and overthrow by Opimius TEn yeares then being elapsed the same fury which had possessed Tiberius Gracchus did also seaze upon his brother Caius who did aswell resemble him in all his vertues as in this error but in his wit and eloquence far more excellent Who when with all tranquillitie of mind he might have been a principall man in the Citie either for revenge of his brothers death or to invest himselfe in a regall power taking him for his patterne and entred upon the Tribuneship attempting things far greater and more insupportable granted the freedome of the Citie to all Italians did
brothers injurie falling with Cyprus did build and by the name of his Countrie styled it Salamina Pirrhâ—s the sonne of Achilles possest himselfe of Epyrus Philippus of Ephyra in Thesprotia But the king of kings Agamemnon being driveÌ„ by foule weather into the I le of Crete did there build three Cities two of which hee called by his owne Countrie names the third to keep his victorie in memorie Micenae Tegea and Pergamus And not long after falling under the trechery of his Wives sonne Aegistus who bare him an hereditarie hate and the villanie of his wife was slaine Aegistus held the kingdome seven yeares Him Orestes together with his mother having his sister Electra a Woman of a masculine spirit the partner of all his designes did put to the sword That this his fact was by the gods approved of did appeare both by his long life and the happinesse of his state for he lived nintie yeares raigned seventie He also by his bravery did quit himselfe of Pirrhus the sonne of Achilles whom for that he had seised upon the marriage of Hermione the daughter of Menelaus and Hellene who was contracted to him he slew at Delphos In these times when Lydus and Tirrhenus brethren raigned in Lydia being straightned with famine they cast lotts whether of them should with part of the multitude quitte the land The lott fell upon Tirrhenus he being come into Italie did both to the place to the Inhabitants and to the Sea give a Noble and perpetuall name derived from his owne After the death of Orestes his sons Penthelus and Tisamenus raigned three yeares CHAP. 2. The race of Pelops dispossest of Peloponesus by the Heraclidae The glorious death of Codrus the Athenian King THen about the eightieth year after the taking of Troâ— and the hundreth and twentieth from Hercules his being received among the gods the off-spring of Pelops who all thiâ— time having expelled the descendants of Hercules had held the dominion of Peloponesus by those of Hercules his race werâ— deprived of it The Commaunders in this recoverie of theiâ— estate were Teminus Ctesiphontes and Pristodemas to whom hâ— was the great great GraÌ„dfatheâ— Almost in the same time Atheâ— â—eased to be any longer governed by Kings the last of whom was Codrus the sonne of Melanâ—hus a man not slightly to be pasâ—ed over For when the Lacedeâ—onians did with a sharpe warre â—resse upon Attica and the Pythiâ—n god had by his Oracle let theÌ„â—now that the Army whose Generall should happen to bee â—ain by the Enemy should be the â—onqueror he devesting himâ—â—lfe of his royall acoutrements â—â—d cloathed like a peasant put â—â—mself into the Enemies campe â—here as if by acident raising a â—ntention hee was by those â—hich knew him not slaine â—â—drus with his death was folâ—â—wed by an eternall glorie the â—thenians with the ensuing viâ—â—rie Who would not admire 〈◊〉 that with such cunning did â—â—ke his death as Cowards use to practise for the saving oâ— their lives His sonne Medon waâ— the first Governor of Athens which office they stiled Archon His posteritie were by the Attiques called Medontidae buâ— they and their Successors tâ—â— Charâ—pe did still hold that honour in their hands The Peloponesians also quitting the Countrie of Attica did build Megaâ— in the middle way between Corinth and Athens About thaâ— time the navie of Tyre whicâ— then was most powerfull at Seâ— did upon the uttermost point oâ— Spaine in the farthest end of ouâ— world possesse themselves of aâ— Island divided from the Contâ—nent with a very narrow inlet oâ— the Sea and therein built thâ— Towne of Gades And within â— few yeares by the same men wâ— Vticu in Africa founded the Dâ—scendents from Orestes being by those of Hercules thrust out and vexed long aswell with various misfortunes as with foule weather at Sea at the end of fifteene yeares did seate themselves upoÌ„ the I le of Lesbos CHAP. 3. Combustions in Greece planting in Thessaly and the founding of Corinth by Haletes THen was all Greece shaken with most bitter Contentions The Achaians being driven out of Laconia did possesse theÌ„â—selves of the laÌ„d they now hold The Pelasgi marched up to Athens and a brave young souldier by name Thessalus by his nation â— Thesprotian with a great army of his Countrymen did seaze upon the Countrie which to this day from him is named Thessalia the Citie before that time being called of the Mirmidons Concerning which name we may with reason wonder at those who writing of the times of the Troyan warre doe mention that Countrie by the title of Thessaly which as others doe fault in the Tragedians doe most commonly To whom that libertie is not to be granted for that the Poets have not spoken any thing in their owne person but all under their names that lived in those times And if any of them will maintain that they were named Thessalians from Thessalus the sonne of Hercules it were fit he should shew some reason why before the time of this later Thessalus they never were so styled A little before this Haletes the sixth from Hercules and sonne of Hippotes founded Corinth which before was called Ephyra in the Isthmus making it the enclosure of Peloponnesus Nor is there any cause why we should wonder that Homer doth mention Corinth for in the person of a Poet hee both doth name this Citie and certaine other Colonies of the Ionians as in his dayes long after the taking of Troy they were called CHAP. 4. Chalcide in Euboea founded by the Athenians and Cumae in Italy with Naples some while after Magnesia in Asia by the Spartans with many other Colonies of Greeks both in the Continent and in the Ilands THe Athenians in Euboea Chalcida dispossest the Inhabitants of the Colony of Erethria the Lacedemonians in Asia seised upon that of Magnesia Not long after the Chalcidians being as is before related descended from the Attickes did under the conduct of Hipocles and Megasthenes their leaders found the cittie of Cumae in Italie The course of that their way was directed as some report by a dove siying before them as others by a tinâ—kling found of brasen pannes such as in the night-sacrifices of Ceres is usually heard A part of these men did a long time after build Naples Both these Cities their excellent and perpetuall faithfullnes to the Romans doth render much worthy of the repute they hold and the delicacie of their scituation But some others have with more diligent care preserved their Countrie Ceremonies the neighbourhood of Osca wrought a change in those of Cumae What power those Cities have beene of in times long since past the extent and strength of their walles doth even at this day demonstrate In the age following a great multitude of Grecian youth whose mightie power emboldened them to seeke where they might settle powred themselues upon Asia for both the Ionians under the leading of Iones going from Athens planted themselves upon a most noble part of
the Generalls were abler than Lepidus and Antonius then many of them so long as hee was sober by â—he backe side of the Campe the â—ampire being throwne downe â—ee was by the souldiers admitâ—ed who in the name of the â—ommand did indeed give the â—recedence to Lepidus when all â—he power was in his owne â—ands When Antonius entred â—he quarter Inventius Laterensis â— man both in life and death â—he same when hee had most â—arnestly disswaded Lepidusâ—rom â—rom joyning himselfe with Antonius who was declared an enemie of the state his advice being rejected ranne himselfe thorow with his sword Then Plancus with uncertaine fidelity that is with his owne having a long time disputed with himselfe and scarce yeelding to his owne opinion and one while an assistant of Decius Brutus his fellow in office as designed Consull with him setting also himselfe to sale by his letters to the Senate and presently the betrayer of hiâ— Companion and Asinius Polliâ—â— that stood firme to his first intentions faithfull to the Iuliaâ— faction averse from the Pompeian did both of them deliver up their armies to Marcus Antonius CHAP. 64. Decius Brutus one of Caesars killers slaine by command of Antotonius And Ciceros orations against Antonius the cause of his being proscribed and slaine DEcius Brutus being first forsaken by Plancus and afterwards attempted by his treacheries his army by degrees falling off from him in his flight and in the house of a Nobleman with whom hee had a league of hospitality his name Cornelius by those that Antonius had sent for that purpose had his throat cut and so made a most just satisfaction and a speedy with his punishment to Caius Caesar that had of him deserved the best offices of whom hee was the murtherer when hee had beene the inwardest of all his friends and of the fortune whereof hee had reaped the fruit was content to tranferre the envie upon the author thereof holding it just for him to retaine what hee had received from Caesar and that Caesar who gave it should bee destroyed It was at this time that Marcus Tullius with continuall declamations against him did seare into the memorie of Antonius eternall brands of hatred to him yet hee with most glorious and heavenly eloquence but the Tribune Canutius with a perpetuated rage did flie out upon Antonius both of them with their deaths paid for their vindicating the Common liberty but with the Tribunes bloud the proscription began with the death of Cicero Antonius being then in a sort glutted it ended CHAP. 65. The instituting the Triumvirate betweene Octavius Antonius and Lepdius Ventidius who had once a Captive beene led in triumph that yeare in Consular robes who had beene formerly honoured with Praetorian and afterward triumphed LEpidus was then by the Senate declared an enemy to the state as before Antonius had bin Afterwards there began an intercourse of letters betweene Caesar Antonius and Lepidus and overtures made of agreement when both Antonius did now and then put Caesar in minde how infestious the Pompeian party was to him to what a height it was growne and also with how great care and industrie of Cicero Brutus and Cassius were advanced and withall professed that hee would joyne his forces with Brutus and Cassius who were now seventeene legions strong if Caesar did scorne his consortship adding withall that Caesar was more engaged in the revenge of his father than himselfe of his friend Then was there a society of their power agreed upon betweene them and their armies perswading and intreating it affinitie concluded betweene Caesar and Antonius the daughter in law of Antonius being betroathed to Caesar Caesar then entred his Consulship with Quintus Pedius his colleague the day before hee was twentie yeares old and the tenth of the Kalends of October seven hundred and nine yeares after the building of the City and seventy two yeares before thou Marcus Vinicius wert created Consull This yeare saw Ventidius in that City into which hee once had among the captive Picentines beene led in triumph coupling the young mans gowne with the Consular robes and the Praetors The same man also did here afterward triumph CHAP 66. The third proscription in which Caesar over-ruled by his two companions the death of Cicero his Eulogium ANtonius then full of rage equally with him Lepidus both of whom as we have said before had beene adjudged enemies to the State when each of them did more willingly heare what they had suffered than what they had merited Caesar opposing it but in vaine having two against him the proscription a mischiefe after Sylla his patterne was set on foot Not any thing was there in that time so unworthie as that either Caesar should bee compelled to proscribe any man or that Antonius should proscribe Cicero And by the villany of him It is the common saying or the people his head was cut off No man protecting and keeping him safe who for so many yeares together had defended both the publiquâ— safetie of the State and that also of many private Citizens Yet hast thou done nothing to purpose Marcus Antonius for indignation which my brest is not able to keepe from breaking out doth force me to quit the forme of my intended worke thou doest i say nothing to purpose in telling out the reward for the cutting of that most caelestiall and noblest head or with authorizing the slaughter of him that was once the preserver of the Republique and of a Consull so famous procuring the death Thou hast indeed deprived Marcus Cicero of the light of the sunne which made him full of cares shortned his old age and berest him of life to bee valued under thy principalitie at farre lower price than death in thy Triumvirate But his fame and the glory of his actions and speeches thou art so farre from taking from him that thou hast increased it It lives and shall live in the memory of all future ages And while this body of things existent in nature which whether by chance or by providence or how ever is setled shall stand which hee almost solely with the spirit of a Roman apprehended with his understanding did comprehend and with his eloquence did illuminate it shall carry with it the praise of a Cicero as the companion of that age and all posteritie shall both admire his writings against thee as well as with execrations detest thy fact for sooner shall mankinde faile in the earth than the glory of him and the horror of thee CHAP. 67. The carriage of wives freedmen servants and children towards those that were proscribed the foulenesse of the proscription of their nearest friends THe calamity of those times so impossible it is for any man in words to expresse as it is hard for any sufficiently to lament it This yet is to be observed that toward those which were proscribed there was found of some wives a singular faithfulnesse in freedmen an indifferent one in slaves now and then some
Cato let mee speake with favour of Publius Crassus Scopio Laelius the Gracchi Fannius and Sergius Galba did so totally glitter under the Prince thereof Tully that thou canst not observe more then a very few to have beene taken with it before him but none to have admired it who either was not knowne to him or had the good fortune to know him Whosoever shall be curious in the searching the times past shall finde that the same hath been the fate of Grammarians Potters Painters and Carvers The eminence of all manner of Sciences I finde to bee circumscribed within the compasse of a very short time But when I seeke for the cause that wrought both for curiositie and profit such a similitude betweene the wits of that age and that which preceded it I finde none of the truth of which I may be confident yet perhaps I have met with some that are probable Among which these are the principall Emulation doth nourish the wit and one while Envie another while Admiration doth heate the contention as also nature doth climbe to the top of that which is with extreamest ardencie desired and hardly can he stop that strives to reach to perfection Againe in nature that which cannot goe forward retires backe and as at first wee are on fire to reach them that we esteeme before us so when as we despaire of out-going and over-taking them our desire together with our hope doth grow faint and old and what cannot be compassed ceaseth to be followed and the pursuer as a place already possest quits it and seekes a new one and letting that passe in which we caâ— be of no high esteeme we seekâ— some other subject to which to bend our endeavors from whence it follows that a frequent changing passing from one studie to another is the greatest hindrance to the arriving at perfection in any thing CHAP. 18. Of Athens the sole City of Greece famous for arts Thebes excepted by breeding of Pindarus MY admiration now passeth to consider of the times Cities One only Citie of Attica did flourish longer in eloquence those kinde of workes than all Greece besides So that thou wouldest thinke that the bodies of that nation were divided into other Cities their wits shut up within the wals of Athens alone Nor doe I more wonder at this than that there was no Orator among the Argives the Thebans or the Lacedemonians thought worthie of Authoritie whiles he lived or of memorie after his death which Cities were barren of those knowledges except that the eloquence of Pindarus did give a lustre to Thebes for Alcmon the Lacedemonians doe with no just title challenge to be theirs Velleius Paterculus His ROMANE HISTORIE The second Booke CHAP. I. The declining of the Roman vertue after the ruine of Carthage the warre with Viriatus ended by the cunning of Caepio the base conditions made first by Pompeius then by Mancinus with the Numantines THe former Scipio laid open the way to the Roman power the later to their excesse and riot for the feare of Carthage being removed and the Competitor of the Empire taken out of the way not by degrees but by a precipitate course wee fell from vertue and gave our selves to vices Our old discipline was quitted a new one brought in the Citie turned from watching to sleepe from Armes to pleasure from businesse to idlenesse Then did Scipio Nasica build in the Capitoll his Galleries then Metellus his that we before have mentioned then in the Circus did Cnaus Octavius build his farre the more beautifull And this publicke magnificence was followed with private riot An unlucky shamefull warre then ensued in Spaine Viriatus commanding leading the theeves which was managed with so various fortune as it was oftnest unfortunate to the Romans But Viriatus being brought to his end more by the devices of Servilius Caepio than by his valour the warre of Numantia much more troublesome was kindled This Citie could never arme above ten thousand of her owne youth but either by the fierce bravery of the people or by the ignorance of our Commanders or by the favour of fortune shee forced both other leaders Pompey himselfe also a man of a high repute to accept of most basely dishonourable conditions this man was of the Pompeian family the first Consull Nor lesse foule and detestable were those they extorted from Mancinus Hostilius the Consull But Pompey escaped unpunished by the favour that was borne him Mancinus by his humble shamefastnesse for not refusing it hee brought it to this that with his hands bound behinde him he was delivered by our Heralds to the Enemy who denied to receive him as sometimes the Samnites at Caudium did affirming that the violation of the publicke faith was not to bee expiated with the bloud of one man CHAP. 2. The sedition raised upon the deliverie up of Mancinus to the enemy by Tiberius Gracchus His character and his intendments THe rendring up of Mancinus did raise a most dangerous sedition in the Citie For Tiberius Gracchus the sonne of Tiberius Gracchus a man most noble and of highest esteeme Grandchild by his daughter to Publius Africanus who for the time being Questor when that agreement was made and besides the Author and contriver of it One while taking it in the worst part that any act of his should be disvalewed another while doubting the hazard of the like censure or punishment being created Tribune of the people a man otherwise of a life most unblameable for his judgement most excellent in his intentions most just finally adorned with as great vertues as both nature and industrie being in their perfection the condition of mortall man is capeable of When Publius Mutius Scaevola and Lucius Calphurnius were Consulls about one hundred sixtie two yeares since fell off from the best and honestest sort of the Citie and promising freedome of the Citie to all Italy and withall publishing certaine lawes for the distributing of lands while all men coveted to have power in the State hee confounded all things and brought the Common wealth into a craggie and redoubtable danger and Octavius his fellow in office for that hee stood for the Common wealth he deprived of his command Hee created Triumvirs for the division of lands and the leading out of Colonies himselfe his father in law Appius who had beene Consull and his brother Gracchus who then was but a very youth CHAP. 3. The ruine of Gracchus by Scipio Nasica the death of Gracchus which was the first bloud drawne in Rome in civile contentions THen Publius Scipio Nasica Grandchild to him that by the Senate was judged the best man in the Citie sonne to him that being Censor built the Galleries in the Capitoll and great Grandchild to Cnaeus Scipio a man most honourable uncle to Publius the African being both a private man and of the gowne though hee were a neere kinsman of Tiberius Gracchus yet preferring his countrie before his kinred
extend it almost to the Alps divided lands forbad any Citizen to possesse above five hundred acres which was also provided foâ— by the law Licinia imposed new customes upon Merchandize filled the Provinces witâ— new Colonies transferred thâ— power of hearing and determâ—ning from the Senate to the oâ—der of Knights purposed to dâ—stribute Corne to the Commoâ— people left nothing unstirred nothing at peace finally not any thing that was at quiet in the same estate And further prorogued his Tribuneship for another yeare Him Lucius Opimius then Consul who when he was Praetor had rased Fregelae pursued with force and together with Fuluius Flaccus a man of Consular qualitie and that had triumphed whom as badly affected as himselfe Caius Gracchus had made Triumvir in the roome of his brother Tiberius his Consort in his royall power deprived of his life That alone is reported to have beene wickedly done by Opimius That he set a price and proclaimed that hee would in ready gold pay it upon the head that I may not say of Gracchus of a CitizeÌ„ of Rome Flaccus when upon Mount Aventine he drew on and encouraged his armed troupes to fight was with his eldest sonne there slaine Gracchus as he was flying when now he was at the point of being apprehended by those that Opimius for that purpose had sent presented his necke to his servant Euporus who no more faintly slew himselfe after he had done then he did assist and free his lord That day the faithfulnesse of Pomponius a Romane Knight to Gracchus was very notable who like Coeles making a stand upon the bridge against all the force of the enemy at the last fell upon his sword As before the body of Tiberius Gracchus so now also that of Caius with a strange cruelty of the Conqueror was throwne into the Tiber. CHAP. 7. The cruelty of Opimius to a delicate youth sonne to Flaccus one of Gracchus his associates and others of that faction detested by the Romanes who were of his side THis was both in life and death the fortune of the sonnes of Tiberius Gracchus and the Grandchildren of Publius Scipio the Affrican in the life time of their Mother Cornelia daughter to the Affrican Men â—hat made ill use of most excelâ—ent abilities of spirit who if â—hey had desired any proportion of honours within the compasse of a Civill estate whatsoever â—hey in a tumultuous manner â—ought to reach the Common-wealth to them if quiet would have presented To this sharpnesse was added a transcending villany for a youth of excellent beauty not as yet full eighteene yeeres old and not guilty of his fathers faults the sonne of Fulvius Flaccus whoÌ„ his father had sent as a messenger to propound a treatie was by Opimius put to death Whom when a Tuscan sooth-sayer his friend observed to be drag'd weeping to prison why dost thou not rather said he thus and withall running his head against the stone bridge at the prison gate with his braines beaten out fell downe dead Presently were there cruel inquisitions set on foote against the friends and followers of the Gracchi But for Opimius a man in other things upright and grave when he was afterward condemned by the Iudgement of all the people the memory of that his cruelty would not suffer him to be with any humanitie pittied The same spight also of a publique censure did not unadvisedly ruine within a while after Rutilius and Popilius who when they were Consulls had beene most bittterly eager upon the friends of the Gracchi Let me intermingle with affaires of so great consequence a thing scarce worth the being known This is that Opimius from whose Consullship the wine called Opimian tooke its name and was most highly esteemed which that it is not now to bee met with the distance of time it self will declare it being from him to the Consular of thee Marcus Vinicius one hundred fiftie and one yeares An authoritie of lesse power did succeed this act of Opimius because they sought to satisfie their particular spleenes and the revenge was rather ascribed to private hate theÌ„ to the vindicating of the publique right In the next ensuing yeare Porcius and Marcius being Consuls a Colony was planted at Narbo Marcius CHAP. 8. Caius Cato condemned of extortion for a petty summe The two Metelli neare kinsmen triumph in one day as also the two brothers of the Flacci And Minutius upon the Scordisci LEt now the severitie of the Citties Censures be recommended to memory For Caius Cato a man of Consular qualitie grandchild of Marcus Cato and sonne to the sister of the Affrican was condemned upon information out of Macedonia of extortion when the question was but of foure thousand Sesterces Thus did they rather bend their eyes upon the disposition to offend then the measure of the crime squaring the fact by the rule of the intention and weigh what not how farre men did offend About the same time the brothers of Marcus Metellus did triumph in one day Now was the fortune lesse remarkeable as hitherto the sole one of that kinde of the sonnes of Fulvius Flaccus his I meane who had taken Capua in the Colledge of Consulls whereof the one was given in adoption and he so received into the family of Acidianus Manlius For the Censureship of the Metelli was of Cozen-germans not of brothers which happinesse had onely befallen to the two Scipios Then did the Cimbri the Teutones passe over the Rhine who presently aswell by our many losses as by their owne became famous At the same time that Minutius who built the Galleries which even to this day are highly esteemed did bravely triumph over the Scordisci CHAP. 9. A register of Romanes in that time famous for poesie History and other arts of the like kinde IN the the same age were Scipio Emilianus and Laelius Sergius Galba the two Gracchi Caius Fannius and Cerbo Papirius famous for eloquence Neither is Metellus Numidicus or Severus to be forgotten but above all Lucius Crassus and Marcus Antonius to whom both in time and abilities succeeded Caius Caesar Strabo and Publius Sulpicius For Mucius was more famous for his skill in the law then for any eloquence that he was owner of About the same time were highly prized the ingeniousnesse for Comedyes of Afranius for Tragedies of Pacuvius Attius who were honoured even to the being paralleld with the Grecian witts who did not refuse to their workes prime ranke among themselves So as indeed it seemed there was in these more daintines in them more substantiall bloud The name also of Lucilius was at that time of high esteeme who served on horsebacke under Publius the African in the warre of Numantia When lugurth also being a young man and Merius serving under the Command of the same Generall did in the same army learne what they afterward should execute in armes of an opposite quallite The Historiographer Sisenna was then young but his worke of Silla's civill warre
they had all sworne obedience to him hee retaining the markes and ensignes of the Consulship declared warre against his countrie relying upon the multitude of the new Citizens of whom he had enrolled more than three hundred Cohorts and had filled up about thirtie legions Yet did that side stand in need of authoritie and favour to give it that addition he recalled out of banishment Caius Marius with his sonne and those which were driven into exile with them CHAP. 21. The battaile fought neere Rome betweene Cinna and Pompey Father to the great Pompey who after dyed of the plague BVt while Cinna makes war upon his Countrie Cnaeus Pompeius father to Pompey the great of whose noble endevours as wee have before delivered the Republique had made good use in the Marsian warre and especially about the Countrey of Picenum and who had taken Asculum about which Towne when the Armies were dispersed in diverse other Countries seventie and five thousand Roman Citizens and more then threescore thousand Italians fought in one day being hopelesse of holding the Consullship any longer did so doubtfully and indifferently cary himselfe betweene the factions that he seemed to direct all his actions to his owne ends and to lye in wait for the time wavering to and fro as ready when the fairer hope of power and greatnesse presented it selfe to render both himselfe and his army Yet at the last in a greate and a sharpe battaile he encountred with Cinna The issue whereof being fought and determined under the very walles and the Allyes of the Romans both fighting in it and being also spectators thereof how mischievously balefull it was can scarce be expressed in words After this when the pestilence raged in both the Armies as if the â—word had not sufficiently waâ—ted theÌ„ Cnaeus Pompeius deparâ—ed this life The reioycing for whose death was almost a counterpoize for the losse of so many Citizens as either the sword or sickenesse had deprived of life and the people of Rome upon his dead body vented the ill will which they ought him in his life Whether there were two or three families of the Pompeies or no certaine it is that the first of that name Quintus Pompeius was Consull with Cnaeus Servilius about one hundred sixtie eight yeares since Cinna and Marius not without bloudy skirmishes on both sides recovered the Citie But Cinna entring first passed a law for the recalling of Marius from exile CHAP. 22. Marius his returne to Rome the first proscription PResently Marius also to the common plague of his CouÌ„trie men came into the towne Nothing could have beene more bloudy then that victory if that of Sylla had not followed it Neither did they rage with an unrestrained licentiousnesse but the noblest and most eminent men of the Citie were with sundrey kindes of death removed out of the way Amongst them the Consul Octavius a man of a most harmelesse disâ—osition by the command of Cinna was put to the sword But Merula who upon the comming of Cinna had disclamed the Consulship cutting his veines and sprinkling the alter with his blood did call upon the same Gods whom hee oft had as high Priest to Iupiter invoked for the welfare of the Republique with curses for Cinna and his faction and in that sort rendred up his spirit which had so superabundantly deserved well of the common wealth Marcus Antonius a man most eminent both for his ranke in the Citie and for eloquence was by the swords of the souldiers whom for a time he had with the daintinesse of his Oratory caused to pause upon the command of Marius and Cinna cruelly slaughtered Quintus Catolus who both for his other virtues and by the glory of thâ— Cymbrian warre wherein he waâ— an equall sharer with Marius was of highest repute when hâ— was hunted for to bee put tâ— death shut himselfe up in a place â—ately pergetted with lime and â—and causing fire to be brought â—nto if to give the more force to â—he savour of drawing an aire â—ernicious and deadly and withâ—ll suffocating his owne breath â—ied rather as his enemies wiâ—hed then as they intended Thus â—ll things in the Republique ran â— headlong course of mischiefe â—nd yet did not any man declare â—imselfe that he had the daring â— give away the goods of a â—ittizen of Rome to another â—or any that was so affronted as â— demand them That also afterâ—ard was added that Avarice â—ecame the motive of cruelty â—â—d the proportion of the fault â—as rated according to the â—orth of the estate so as he that â—as rich was held a guilty perâ—â—n and every man was made the price of his owne danger Neither did any thing seemâ— base so as it were gainefull CHAP. 23 Marius his seaventh Consulship and death Sylla his acts against Mithridates his resolution against the Marians but after the forraine enemeis nayleâ— were pared CInna then entred his seconâ— Consulship and Marius hiâ— seventh to the disgrace of hiâ— former ones in the beginninâ— whereof falling into a fickrâ—â— he deceased a man in the warreâ— as superlatively bitter to the enemie as in peace to his Couâ—trey men and of quiet most impatient In his roome was suâ—rogated Valerius Flaccus the auâ—hor of a most base and unjust â—aw that Creditors should be â—aied but the fourth part of their â—ebt Of which his fact within â—wo yeares hee received â—he reward which hee had â—o well deserved White Cinnaâ—id â—id thus dominiere in Italy â—he greater part of the Nobiliâ—â—e fled to Sylla in Achaia and â—rom thence into Asia In the â—ean time Sylla did in such sort â—ncounter with the Generall imâ—loied by Mithridates against â—im about Athens in Baeotia â—nd Macedonia as he both reâ—overed Athens and having beâ—â—owed much labour about the â—everall fortifications which â—hey had made upon the port of â—iraeus he put to the sword about â—wo hundred thousand men and â—â—oke prisoners not many fewer â— any man shall impute this time of rebellion to the Athenians he is certainely ignorant both of the truth and all antiquitie For the fidelitie of the Athenians to the state of Rome was still so inviolate that alwaies and in every occasion whatsoever was performed with all sincerity and integrity they used to say it was done with an Atticke faithfulnesse But at that time being oppressed with the force of Mithridates his armes they in a most wretched estate being subject to their enemies held under with their garrisons and beseiged by their friends had their hearts without the Rampires and their bodies within the walles obeying the necessitie which they could not avoid From thence Sylla passing over into Asia found Mithridates an humble suppliant and obedient to all hiâ— commands Vpon whom imposing a fine of money and part of his ships he constrained him to quit Asia and those Provinces which by force he had seized upon he received backe from him all those which were prisoners did justice upon fugitives and offenders and enjoyned
he intreated Strato the Aegeatian his neerest friend to lend him a hand in his death lifting his left arme up to his head when he held the hilts in his right hand he guided the point to his left pappe where the heart doth pant and pressing on the same with one blow ended his life CHAP. 71. Messalla and Corvinus saved by Caesar eminent Romanes slaine in that fight PResently Mesalla a most noble young man and next in authority to Brutus and Cassius in that army when there were some that did desire to choose him for their Generall did rather make election of being preserved by the favour of Caesar then to commit himselfe any more to the hazard of armes Neither was there in that victory to Caesar any thing more pleasing then that he could by it save save Corvinus nor at any time an instance more cleare of a man gratefull and pious then Corvinus was ever after to Caesar Nor was there ever any civill warre more polluted with the bloud of men of the noblest qualitie Therein dyed the sonne of Câ—to In the same also fel Lucullus and Hortensius the sonnes of two Citizens most eminent For Vâ—ro when he was amidest the scornes of Antonius to be put to death he with a free liberty did prophecy truly and of him that which was worthy to befall him Drusus Livius the father of Iulia Augusta and Varus Quintilius not so much as making tryall of the enemies courtesie the one of them slew himselfe in his tent and the other when he had put on the markes of his honors and offices by the hand of his freed man whom he coÌ„pelled to do it had his throat cut CHAP. 72. The parallel of Brutus and Cassius Cnaeus Domitius with a Navy retires into Sicile to Sextus Pompeius sonne to Pompey the great THis end was fortune pleased to appoint to the faction of Marcus Brutus when he was thirtie seven yeares old His mind being depraved in that day which with his rashnesse of his fact did blot out all his other vertues As for Cassius he was as much a better Captaine then Brutus as Brutus was a better man then he of whom thou wouldest rather love Brutus for a friend and more redoubt Cassius if thy enemy in the one there was more violence in the other more vertue Who if they had beene Conquerours as much as it was better to have Caesar for our Prince then Antonius so much had it beene to have had Brutus then Cassius Cnaeus Dâ—mitius the father of Lucius Dâ—mitius a man whom wee of late have seene and one of a most noble and eminent sincerity the grandfather of this Lucius Dâ—mitius an excellent young man being possessed of a fleete did then with a great trayne of such as would follow his advice contented to make himselfe the party commit himselfe to fortune Staius Marcus to whose charge the Navy and the guard of the Sea was entrusted with his fleet and that part of the army which was under his Command went over to Sextus Pompeius the sonne of Pompey the great who returning out of Spaine had now possessed himselfe of Sicilia both out of Itaâ—y and froÌ„ divers other parts of â—he world so many as fortune â—ad withdrawne and freed from â—he present danger together with many who had bin proâ—cribed flocked to him To them which possessed no certaine state â—ny generall was convenient eâ—ough and when fortune left them no liberty of election but onely shewed them a retreat to fly to and when they sought to escape from a balefull tempest any roade was a harbour for theÌ„ CHAP. 73. Sextus Pompeius his character aâ— hee maintaines himselfe and hiâ— army in Sicily by Piracy THis young man was in learning ignorant in his speech barbarous in his courage daring of body able in his resolutions speedy for fidelitie most unlike his father the freedman oâ— his freedman and servant of hiâ— slaves envious to those of any worth that hee might bee subject to the basest men whom the Senate as then almost wholly consisting of the Pompeias faction after Antonius his flight from Mutina had recalled out of Spaine where Asinius Pollio of Praetorian quality made a very brave warre upon him had restored him to his fathers estate and given him the command of the Sea coast He then as we before have said having seazed upon Sicily did enroll in his army slaves and fugitives and so made up a great body of legions And by Menes and Menecrates his fathers freedmen whom he had made his Admiralls infesting the seas made use of spoyling and robberies to maintaine himselfe his army nor was he ashamed to make with piraticall villanies those seas unsafe troublesome which by the armes and conduct of his father had beene cleered and freed from Pirates CHAP. 74. Antonius after the defeate of Brutus stayes in these parts Caesar returning into Italy findes at troubled by Lucius Antonius Marcus his brother and Fulvia the wife of Marcus Lucius forced in Perusia dismist unhurt and Perusia burnt by one of their own who set it on fire by name Macedonicus THe partie of Brutus and Cassius being ruined Antonius to take possession of the Provinces beyond the sea tarired there and Caesar returning into Italy found it much more troublesome then hee hoped to have done For Lucius Antonius the Consull sharer with his brother in his vices but wanting the vertues which were sometimes found in him one while with complaining of Caesar to the old souldiers another provoking them to armes that had justly in the division of lands and appointing of inhabitants to them lost those lands which they held before had raised a great army On the other side Fulvia the wife of Antonius who had nothing feminine about her but her body did fill all things with armes and garboyle She for the seate of the warre made choise of Praeneste Antonius being chased from every place by the forces of Caesar had retired himselfe to Perusia Caesar following his owne fortune and vertue assaulted and caried Perusia Antonius he dismissed without harme the Perusians more by the rage of the souldiers then by the will or direction of the Generall were cruelly handled The Towne was burnt the beginning of the fire was caused by the principall man thereof Macedonicus who setting fire of his owne house and his goods ranne himselfe through with his sword and threw himselfe into the flame CHAP. 75. Another warre raised in Campania by Tiberius Claudius Nero Father to Tiberius Caesar and husband of Livia after wife of Augustus Her character AT the same time there was on foot in Campania a furious warre which Tiberius Claudius Nero of the Praetorian rank and the high priest a man of a great spirit and of infinite learning the father of Tiberius Caesar openly avowing himselfe the patron of those which had lost their lands had raised But that also by the comming of Caesar was buried and determined Who can sufficiently admire
had ridden about Alexandria CHAP. 83. Plancus falls off from Antonius to Caesar His character and carriage after his revolt VVHile these preparations for warre are one foote Plancus not out of judgement to make election of the better part neither out of love of Caesar or the State for to all these he was perpetually adverse but infected as with a disease with treachery when hee had beene the basest flatterer of the Queene and an observer beneath the degree of her slaves when he had beene Antonius his Register and both the author and minister of the fithiest actions when he had to all men nd in every thing beene mercenary wsten naked and dyed of a sea-blew colour with his head crownd with reeds and dragging a long taile behinde him he had crept upon his knees and danced as Glaccus being checked by Antonius at a banquet for his manifest extortions fled unto Caesar And afterward iputing the clemency of the conquerour to his owne vertue used to say that Caesar when he had pardoned had well tryed it Titius did within a while immitate him who was his Vnckle Wittily did Caponius a man of Praetorian ranke who to his children was a father most precise carefull of their breeding the father in law of Silius answer Plancus when in the Senate he imputed many and those vile things to Antonius from whom he was lately fled upon my faith said he Antonius did many foule things the day before thou leftest him CHAP. 84. The sea preparation at Actium with the order of the Navies VVHen Caesar then and Messalla Corvinâ—s were Consulls the victory at Actium was gained where long before they came to fight the advantage of the day and the successe thereof was apparent on the Iulian side On this part both the souldier and the Commander were full of vigor and spirit on that all things languished on this were Kings most firme to the cause on that with their wants much disaffected There were ships great indeed but that could not move with any competent speed Here were others of a more dreadfull aspect From this side not one fled to Antonius from that to Caesar dayly some went over Finally in the sight of Antoniuâ— and as it were at his very beard by Marcus Agrippa was Leucas assaulted and carried Patros taken Corinth seazed upon and twice before the last and generall triall his fleete was beaten The King Amintas followed the better and more commodious course for Dellius in this warre also firme to his old fashion as hee had before from Dolobella turned to Caesar and Cnaeus Demitius a most eminent man who onely of all that sided with Antonius did never though with his great and most desperate hazard salute Cleopatra by the title of Queene but onely by her name came over to Caesar CHAP. 85. Caesars victory and the flight of Antonius after Cleopatra the rendring of the land forces to Caesar AT length the day of the maine triall came on in which Caesar and Antonius drawing out both their Navies fought the one for the preservation of the world the other for the ruine thereof The right wing of the Iulian Navie was governed by Marcus Latius the last by Arruntius the command in chiefe of the whole sea fight rested upon Agrippa Caesar designing to himselfe the place to which fortune should call him was in every part present Antonius his fleet was commanded by Publicola and Sosius As for the forces at land those of Caesars part were commanded by Taurus and Antonies by Candius when the fight began there was on the one side all things necessary the Generall Saylors or Rowers and souldiers on the other nothing but the souldiers Cleopatra began first of all to flie and Antonius did choose rather to beare the Queene company in her flight than his souldiers in fighting for him And being Generall who ought to punish runawayes severely did himselfe runne away from his owne souldiers Their constancy in fighting most bravely even when they had lost their head that should have directed them did long continue and when they dispaired of victory they fought to dye But Caesar desiring to reduce them to quiet thoughts by words whom he might have ruined with the sword calling to them and shewing them that Antonius was fled asked them for whom and with whom they would now fight But they when they had fought a long time for their Generall that was absent with much a doe and hardly laying downe their armes yeelded the victory and Caesar did more readily promise them pardon and life than they could bee perswaded to crave it And by all men it was acknowledged that the souldiers had done the duty of the bravest Generall and the Generall behaved himselfe as the most cowardly souldier So that thou mayest make a doubt whether he would have governed the victory by his owne or Cleopatra's discretion that was by her pleasure directed in his flight CHAP. 86. Caesars clemency after the victory Pollio his faire respect to Caesar as his Prince to Antonius as his benefactor THe same course also was taken by the army at land after Canidius with an inconsiderate flight had whirled after Antonius who is hee that in the cursitory way of this so contracted a worke dares take upon him to expresse what that day did beneficiall for the whole world out of what and into what an estate the fortune of the Common wealth did remove But the victory was used with all clemency very few were they who were put to death and those indeed which durst not so much as crave their lives Out of which lenity of the Generall it may well be collected what he would have made the effect of his victory either in the beginning of his Triumvirate or in the Philippian fields if it had beene in his owne power ******* at length with much wrestling for it the clemency of Caesar preserved him Let me not over-passe the memorable both fact and deed of Asinius Pollio For when after the peace of Brundusium he had still remained in Italy and had neither seene the Queene nor after the mind of Antonius was by her love enfeebled had medled with his faction Caesar requiring him to goe with him to the bataile of Actium My merits said he towards Antonius are greater but his favours to me better knowne I therefore will withdraw my selfe from your hazards and rest here a prey for the Conquerour CHAP. 87. Antonius his death at Alexandria presently after Cleopatra's None put to death by Caesar after the victory THe next yeare Caesar pursuing the Queene and Antonius to Alexandria did put the last hand to the civill warre Antonius did and that not timerously kill himselfe So as by his death he did seeme to wipe of many spots of his former faintnesse But Cleopatra abusing her gardians having an Aspick brought into her did by the biing thereof free from all womanish feare put an end to her life A thing it was worthy of both
the fortune and the clemency of Caesar that of all those which had borne armes against him there was not any one that by him or upon his command was put to death â—ecius Brutus was by the cruelty of Antonius slaughtered Sextus Pompeius being defeated by Caesar by Antonius likewise when hee had given him his faith to preserve for him his honours also entire was deprived of life Brutus and Cassius before that they had made triall how the Conquerour would be enclined toward them with a voluntary death ended their daies Canidius died more cowardly then did sute with the profession of which he had ever beene The last of the Murtherers of Caesar Parmensis Cassius received his payment by death as Tribenius before had done CHAP. 88. Lepidus sonne to the Triumvir conspiring against Caesars life without trouble or noise opprest by Caius Marcellus provost of the Citie Marcellus his Character VVHile Caesar was putting an end to the Actian and Alexandrian warre Marcus Lepidus a young man of a better shape then disposition of mind sonne to that Lepidus who had beene the Triumvir in the setling the state and of Iunia the sister of Brutus entred into a conspiracie of killing Caesar upon his first returne to the City Then Marcus Marcellus Captaine of the Guard of the City borne of a noble family and order of the Knights A man whensoever the affaires required vigilance that never slept provident and who knew how to drive a businesse to the head but when once the affaires gave him any time of remission melting in ease and daintinesse more then women would desire not lesse deere to Caesar then Agrippa but these preferred For he lived almost contented with narrow studdes of purple upon his gowne neither was he unable to reach greater matters but did not desire them He with infinite stilnesse and cunning sented out the devices of that rash headed young man and with wonderful speed without all trouble of men or affaires herein having ruined Lepidus did extinguish a fearefull origiginall of a new civill warre and which was likely to have sprung up again So her received his due punishment for his ill contrived plots Let Servilia the wife of Lepidus be matched with Antistius his before mentioned Calphurnia who throwing her selfe alive into the funerall flame received in recompence of her untimely end the never dying memory of her braue action CHAP. 89. Caesar his returne to Rome his triumph and the model of his government BVt of Caesars returne into Italy and to the City how he was met with what applause of all men of all ages and all degrees he was received what the magnificence of his triumphs was what that of his bounties not a full and just volume much lesse this so concise a worke is able to make a fit and just relation Nothing from thence forth could men desire of the gods nothing could the gods bestow upon men nothing be craved in prayer nor any thing in a perfect felicity be found which Augustus after his returne to the City did not endow the republique the people of Rome and in summe the whole world with all The civill warres that had lasted now twenty yeares were ended foraigne warres buried peace repealed the rage of armes quieted in evrey part to the lawes their power to the seates of Iustice their authority and to the Senate their majestie restored the commaÌ„d of the Magistrates restored to the auntient measure onely two Praeton more added to the former eight and the first most auncient forme of the Common wealth revived Husbandry returned into the Country to things sacred their due honor to men security to every man a certainty of enjoying his owne Some lawes commodiously amended others with the publique good enacted Senators chosen without harshnesse though not without strictnesse men of principall quality and who had borne offices of honour and triumphed by the perswasion of the prince drawne to the Citie for the ornament of the common wealth Consull he was onely eleven times which that it might not be continued upon him Caesar having often pressed and stood against it with much adoe obtained For the Dictatorship as the people had obstinately urged it upon him he as constantly rejected The warre made under his command and by victories peace established through the world and so many workes perfected both at home and out of Italy would require an Historian that upon that sole worke should bestow the whole terme of his life Wee remembring what we have professed will present to your eyes and mind the whole picture of his governement CHAP. 90. Dalmatia and Spaine by Caesar and employed by his command Agrippa after ages of trouble brought to a perfect peace THe Civill warre as wee have said thus interred and the members of the Common wealth now knitting together and he taking care of such things as so long a course of warre had rent in sunder Dalmatia which for two hundred and twenty yeares had bin rebellious was brought quietly to a plaine confession of subjection to our Empire The Alpes famous both for wild beasts and divers nations subdued all the Spaines one while by himself in preson another by the ministration of Agrippa whom the favour of the Prince had raised to the third Consulship after to the Consortship with him of the Tribuniciall power with a sharpe and variable warre at last was setled Into which provinces when at the beginning Scipio and Sempronius Longus being Consulls our armies were sent and after in the first yeare of the second Punicke warre againe under the Command of Cnaeus Scipio uncle to the African about one hundred and fiftie yeares since the warre was there so bloudy so doubtfull as our Armies and Generalls being lost we often went away with dishonour and sometimes not without danger to the Romane Empire For those provinces made an end of the Scipios they also with a dishonorable warre of twenty yeares Viriatus being generall of that side held our Auncestors play In them made was the base stipulation of Quintus Pompeius and that more base of Mancinus which the Senate with the ignominy of the Generall yeilded up to the enemie did cancel the same also coÌ„sumed us so many Generalls of Consular qualitie so many of Praetorian and in our fathers daies did with her armes raise Sertorious to that heighth that in five whole yeares it could not be judged whether the Romans or the Spaniards were the braver warriors nor which people of them two should obey the other These provinces then so large so populous so stout almost fiftie yeares since Caesar Augustus reduced to such tranquillitie as they who never were before free from most furious warres were under Caius Antistius and after that under Publius Silius the Leiutenant and others free from so much as robberies CHAP. 91. The ensignes lost at Crassus his defeate returned to Caesar by the Parthian Conspiracies of Caepio and Muraena as also of Egnatius against him discovered
and punished VVHile the west was thus quieted from the East the Roman ensignes which upon the overthrow of Crassus Orodes and at the repulsing of Antonius his sonne Pharnaces had taken were rendred and sent backe to Augustus Which by the propounding of Plancus and the universall consent of the Senate and people of Rome bestowed upon him the surname of Parthian Yet were there not waÌ„ting some that could hate even his happiest state of things For Lucius Muraena and Fannius Caepio of farre differing dispositions for Muraena without this guiltineâ— might have passed for a good man but Caepio even before he was tainted with this crime the worst that might be having conspired together about the killing of Caesar seazed upon by publique authority what by violence they would have acted they by Iustice suffered Neitheâ— long after was it that Egnatiâ—â— Rufus a man in every respect more like a Fencer then a Senator having in his Edileship gotten the favour of the people which he had dayly encreased by quenching of fires with his owne private family so highly as they were content to joyne for his sake the office of Praetor to take of Edile and presently also was bold to stand for the Consulship being overwhelmed with the guilt of all manner of foulenesse and wickednes having drawne into his designe others that were likest to himselfe determined to kill Caesar That since he could not subsist if Caesar were safe at least he might yet dye when he were taken away For such is the disposition of men that every one had rather sinke with the publique ruine then be oppressed with his owne and though he suffer the same yet be lesse remarked Nor was this man more fortunate in being concealed then those that went before him and being clapt in prison he died a death of which his life was most worthy CHAP. 92. A brave act of Sentius Saturninus punishing the Customers fraud and stopping Egnatius in his demand of the Consullship LEt not a brave fact of an excellent man be defrauded of a due remembrance Caius Sentius Saturninus who about that time was Consull Caesar was then absent about ordering the affaires of Asia and the East carying about with his person the benefits of his peace When Sentius as it fell out being at that time both sole Consull and Caesar absent had both done other things with the strictnesse of former times and with admirable constancy had after the old fashion and severity of the Consuls discovered the frauds of the farmours of Customes punished their avarice and brought the revenues of the state into the publique treasury And also sitting principal Consull at the assembly for elections those that stood for the quaestorship if he judged them unworthy of it he forbade to declare themselves threatning them when they remained firme to their intentions that he would by his Consular power punish them and Egntaius who flourishing in the favour of the people did hope to couple the Consulship to the Praetorship as he before had done that to the Edileship he forbade to professe himselfe for a Candidate and when he prevailed not with him he swore that though the people by their suffrages did choose him yet that he would not declare him for elected Which fact of his I should reckon worthy to be coÌ„pared with any of the auncient CoÌ„suls whatsoever but that we doe more willingly commend the things that we heare of then those that wee see that we wait upon the present with envy but things past with reverence and doe believe that those doe overload us these instruct us CHAP. 93. The death of M. Marcellus sonne to Octavia Caesars sister Agrippa returned to Rome marries Iulia Caesars daughter late wife to Marcellus ALmost three yeares before the villany of Egnatius brake out and about the time of Muraena's and Caepio's conspiracy now fiftie yeares since Marcus Marcellus the sonne of Octavia Augustus his sister whoÌ„ all men did so reekon for his successour in his power if ought should happen to Caesar as they thought it could not yet discend upon him securely by reason of Marcus Agrippa his greatnesse having when he was Edile presented most magnificient shewes to the people departed this life a very young man and truly as they say of free and open vertues of a cheerefull disposition and witte and capable of the fortune for which he was bred After whose decease Agrippa who under colour of important service of the state was gone into Asia but as report speakes it for some secret distates with Marcellus had withdrawne himselfe from the present time returning thence tooke to wife Iulia the daughter of Augustus who had before beene married to Marcellus A woman whose wombe was neither fortunate for her selfe nor for the Common wealth CHAP. 94. Tiberius Caesar sonne to Livia called to affaires His character sent into the East quiets Armenia and receives pledges of the Parthian AT this time Tiberius Claudius Nero who when he was three yeares old as we before have said Livia the daughter of Drusus Claudius Nero to whom she had before beene married affiancing her had married Augustus Being trained up in the discipline of heavenly knowledge a young man admirably furnished by his Nobilitie shape stature the best kindes of learning and an infinite wit Who from the beginning might hope for any greatnesse that he since hath arrived at and at the first view appeared a Prince being Quaestor at the nineteenth yeare of his age began to deale in affaires of state And did at Ostia and in the Citie by the direction of his father in law so order the businesses of a pressing dearth and want of corne that by what he then did it clearely appeared how great a man for employments he would one day prove Neither long after being sent by the same his father in law to survey and put in order the Orientall provinces he having in that expedition given many singular proofes of all kindes of virtues with his Legions entred Armenia And having brought it under the coÌ„mand of the people of Rome did deliver the Crowne thereof to Artavasdes with the fame of which so great name of his the King of the Parthians also affrighted sent his sonne to Caesar for Ostages CHAP. 95. Tiberius returned with his brother Drusus sent against the Rhaetians and Vindelicians with fortunate event VVHen Nero was returned Caesar determined to make experience of him in a warre of no meane consequence giving him for an assistant his brother Drusus Claudius of whom Livia was delivered in Caesars house They both dividing their charge invaded the Rhaetians and the Vindelicians and forcing many Cities and Castles as also by some happie successe in open fights with much losse of the bloud of the conquered nations and more danger then damage of the Romane army did master them that were most strongly seated the accesse to them extreamely difficult in number multitudinous and in the fierce bravery of their courage redoubtable