the nobles In the middest of this delicate iolitie when the Romanes were now in the ruffe of their pride a grieuous and despitefull warre was raised in Spaine by Viriathus of Lusitania a notable Viriathus an enemy to the Romanes theefe ringleader to a multitude of rogues which hong a long time in suspence but in the end when Viriathus was slaine rather by the couine then courage of Seruilius Caepio a greater danger ensued namely the warre of the Numantines The citie of Numantia did The Numan tine warre neuer affoord armour to any more then ten thousand citizens at one battell but either through the fiercenesse of their nature or the default of the Romane captaines or the indulgence of fortune they brought Pompey Pompey enforced to strange leagues by the Numantines the first of the Pompeys that was Consull a mā of note fame to most shameful leagues Mancinus Hostilius to a detestable truce which vpon a remorce of minde and change of opinion against the law of Armes and to the great discredit of the Romanes he afterward broke but Pompey escaped vnpunished by fauour Mancinus was punished by shame The punishment of Mācinus for breaking truce For he was caried and transported by the Romane Heraulds vnto the Numantines his hands being manacled and so was deliuered vp into the enemies power whom they refused to receiue saying that a publique breach of promise was not to be punished by the bloud of one man This yeelding vp of Mancinus into the enemies hands did cause in the citie a perillous and pernitious dissension For Ti. Gracchus the sonne of the right noble The parents of Ti. Gracchus man Ti. Gracchus whose mother was the daughter of Scipio Affricanus by whose meanes and authority that reprochful league was made taking it gricuously that any thing which he did should be discountenanced and fearing himselfe the danger either of the like punishment or of the like iudgement being at that time Tribune of the people in life innocent The praise of Ti. Gracchus in wit pregnant and in purpose guiltlesse and furthermore adorned with so great vertues as either nature could affoord or industrie could perfect or mans frailtie could containe P. Mutius Scaeuola and L. Calphurnius being Consuls fell from vertue to vice Gracchus swarueth frō vertue and extreme villanie and hauing promised vpon a dissolute fancie that he would enfranchise and receiue into the Citie anie Italian whosoeuer turned all things into a contrarie state mingled vertues with vice lawes with lust and brought the common-weale into an headlong and hideous danger Octauius his fellow in office who stood against him for the cōmon good he put from his place created A Treuirate first made in Rome a new state in Rome entitled a Treuirate or Triarchie that is the rule of three men who were called Treuiri him self for one his father in law Appius who had bin Cōsul for another The familie of Scipio Nasica and C. Gracchus his brother for the third At that time flourished P. Scipio Nasica nephew to him who was iudged of the Senate in his life time to be the best of the Romanes sonne to that Scipio who purchased great praise for his good demeanor in the Censorship nephew two degrees remoued to Cn. Scipio a man highly commended vncle to Scipio Aemilianus whose commendation lieth in his name this Scipio Nasica thogh he were nearly linked in kindred to Tiberius Gracchus yet preferring his countrey before his kindred thinking nothing priuately cōmodious Scipio Nasica opposeth himselfe to Gracchus which was not publikly conuenient standing in the higher part of the Capitolle exhorted all the Romanes which desired the safetie of the common-weale to follow him vpō which words the Nobles the Senate and the greater and better part of the Romane knights did runne suddenly vpon Gracchus standing in the floore of the Capitolle with his adherēts and euen then conspiring with a frequent assemblie of new-come Italians he thereupon flying and running downe the hil whereupon the Capitolle was founded his head being crushed as he was running downe with a fragment of one of the boordes which was in the Senate house did sodainly end his life which Ti. Gracchus slaine he might haue enioyed with great honor and quietnesse This broile and haplesse dissention was the first conspiracy in which ciuil bloud was shed and the first dispensation of drawing swordes within the walles after that time right was oppressed by violence and the mightier man was accompted the better the quarels of citizens that were wont to be cured by compromise and agreement were now decided by sword and bloudshed and warres were not followed according to the goodnesse of the cause but according to the greatnesse of the pray But it was no maruell though this small beginning had so great effect and this odious faction so vnfortunate consequence for examples do not pawse there where they begin but being once receiued into a narrow strait they make way to themselues raunging and spreading themselues ouer the bodie of the world and when men go once astray they mind not how farre they go thinking that nothing can procure dishonestie to them which hath brought profite to others VVhilest these things were done in Italie Scipio Affricanus of the house of Aemilius who destroyed Carthage after many slaughters of his enemies in the Numantine warre being nowe againe made Consull was sent backe into Spaine where his courage and Scipio is sent into Spaine successe did match and aequall his valure and fortune in Affricke and within a yeare and three moneths after his comming thither he tooke Numantia and caused euerie stone to Scipiotaketh Numantia be throwne to the ground as a notable monument of a Romane victorie There was neuer anie man of anie name or nation that by the sacking of cities did more aeternise his house or enlarge his glorie for hauing rooted vp Carthage he deliuered the Romanes from feare and hauing razed Numantia he deliuered them from reproch Being returned into the Citie within a short time after two Consulships two victories and two notable triumphs he was found dead in his bed Scipio found dead in his bed his iaw bone being dissolued and dislocated There was no inquisition made afterward of the death of this inuincible Captaine the bodie of Scipio was brought out into the streete Scipios body is brought out into the streetes his head couered by whose great labours and warlike exploits Rome lifted vp her head ouer all the world to the terrour and dismay of other cities and countreys His death was as the most say fatall as some say conspired his life doubtlesse was of that singularitie that it was ouercome of no mans glorie but onely his grandfathers After the death of Ti. Gracchus the same fury and rage of mind that possest him entred C. Gracchus a rebell to the state as it were by a kind of
this practise of life was most acceptable The second age which chalengeth other fiftie yeares did ingender in them working spirits and loftie cogitations which eneagred and inflamed their mindes against the confiners borderers then it first began to beare the countenance and shape of a kingdome which was after enlarged to the shore of the Midland and Adriaticke seas which they rather vsed as bridges to other nations then as bounders to their owne The third age whose steps were an hundred and fiftie yeares was the crowne and consummation of their kingdome in which whatsoeuer was done was done by thē for the pompe glorie and magnificence of that estate as yet the Romane pride was in her blade and in the tendernesse of her minoritie this threefold age was spent vnder seuen kings differing by fatall prouidence in the disposition of their nature as the frame and condition of that common-weale did especially require for who was euer more fierce and ardent then Romulus Such a one they needed to inuade Romulus eagrest in fight the kingdomes of others VVho more religious then Numa Such the time did aske that the furie of the people might be mitigated Numa religious by the feare of God VVherefore was Tullus that artificiall champion giuen vnto Tullus an artificiall Captaine them That he might sharpen their valour by his wit VVherefore Aucus the great builder That he might extend their citie with colonies Aucus a great builder ioyne it together with bridges enuiron it with walles The ornaments ensignes and braueries of Tarquinius did with rayes of Tarquinius his ornamēts dignitie illustrate and decore that estate Seruius taxing them by polles brought to passe Seruius taxeth the Romanes by polles that the Romane commō-weale might know her riches And the importune domination of proud Tarquine did verie much profite for Proud Tarquine occasioner of libertie the people afflicted by iniuries did force a passage to their libertie The fourth age was as it were the youth of the Romane monarchie when the flower of their prowesse being greene and the bloud of their mindes blossoming in their faces and armes the shepheardly sauagenesse did as yet breathe foorth the reliques of an vndaunted stomacke Then flourished these Romane hazards and miracles Cocles Sceuola Cloaetia which chronicles do therefore witnesse that posteritie may wonder Then were the Tuscanes repulsed and the Latines and Volsciās daily and deadly enemies vanquished by the triumphant husbandman L. Quintius Cincinnatus which war he ended within fifteene The speedie war of Cincinnatns dayes as if he had made hast to returne to his tillage Then were ouercome the Vientines the Faliscians and the Fidenates then the Galles a couragious nation vsing their bodies for armour in all respects so terrible that they might seeme to be borne for the death of men and destruction of cities were vtterly vanquished then were ouercome the Sabines and Samnites wasting and dispoiling the fields of Campania being the goodliest The praise of Cāpania plot the Diamond-sparke and the hony-spot of all Italie there is no land more temperate for aire for it hath a double spring-tide no soile more fertile and therfore it is called the combat of Bacchus Ceres no region more hospitable in regard of the sea here be the noble hauens Caieta Misenus the healthfull bathes Lucrine and Auerne the resting places of the sea Here the mountaines clad with vines Gaurus Falernus Massitus and the firie hill Vesurius here the famous citie Capua third sister to Rome and Carthage doth imperiously stand They begirt Samniū with warre and bloud on all sides till they had ruinated her verie ruines and reuilled in her bowels and twelue seuerall nations of Tuscana waging hote and furious battell against them in such sort and terrible maner as if darts had bene throwne at the Romans from the coulds were likewise suppressed In this age happened the Tarentine warre in which Pyrrhus fighting against the Romans the armie of Pyrrhus continually slaying was continually slaine and reuenge did liue in the death of the Romanes so that Pyrrhus did thinke him selfe to be borne vnder Hercules his starre who hauing cut off the seuen heads of Hydra seuen other did spring vp But from this Captaine the Romanes plucked such spoiles that neuer fairer were caried in triumph For before this day nothing passed in triumph but the heards of the Volscian cattell and the flocks of the Sabine sheepe the broken wagons of the Gaules the crushed harnesse of the Samnites but in this triumph if you respect the prisoners they were Molossians Thessalians Macedonians Brutians Apulians Lucans if you regard the pompe it was gold purple curious pictures tablets and the delights of Tarentum Next to this was the victorie of the Pisani and Salentini this age shewed her force the space of two hundred and fiftie yeares Then followed the fifth age in which the bodie of the common-weale grew to great strength the ioints and sinewes being by mature soliditie setled in firme estate Therefore the conquering nation hauing now attained to the verie manhood of manlinesse and displayed her standerd round about the sides of Italie to the skirts of the sea pawsed a litle as a great scalefire which consuming all the woods and groues in the way that it goeth is abrupted and put out of course by a floud cōming betweene But soone after seeing a rich pray on the other side of the sea supposing it to be a peece of gold pulled from her masse they did so vehemently desire the same that because it could not be ioyned vnto their dominion by bridges for the interruption of the sea therefore they resolued to ioyne it by sword and battell and so was Sicilia subdued by the Romanes which was the cause and originall of the first Carthaginian warre which the warres of the Ligurians Insubrians and Illyrians did follow and after the second Carthaginian The beginning of the second Carthagimā war warre so dangerous and bloudie to the Romanes that if a man compare the losse of both nations they which did conquer were more like to persons conquered For it grieued that noble brood and valiant people of Carthage to be abridged of the sea depriued of the Ilands to pay tribute and to vndergo not onely the bridle but the yoke to this age must be ascribed the circuit of one hundred yeares which may be termed the golden age of the Romanes the first age in which they shewing their streamers on each side of the Ocean did transport their warres into all nations of the world in whose yeares the Romanes were honest religious iust sincere vertuous and dutifull The sixt age containing 120. yeares was troublesome and vgly bloudie detestable vices growing with their Empire For with the wars valiantly fought against lugurtha Mithridates against the Carthaginians Cimbrians Parthians Galles Germanes by which the Romane glorie ascended and pierced the skie the ciuill slaughters
of prison and attiring him with conuenient apparell The Minturniās friends to Marius bestowing vpon him a pilgrims viande which might for a season relieue his hunger dismissed him out of their Citie He hauing ouertaken his sonne at Aemaria directed his voyage vnto Affricke where he led a poore and wretched life in the ruines and desolate rēnants of the Citie of Carthage Sylla leuied an armie renewed his iourney toward Asia the yeare wherein Sylla was Consull was the first yeare in which the Romane souldiers did slay their Consull for then Q. Pompeius being Q Pompeius slaine fellow Consull with Sylla was slaine by the seditious armie of Cn. Pompeius Proconsull After the broiles of Marius and Sulpitius the tumults of Cinna succeeded who was not one iote more temperate then those disorderly Cinna beginneth a new broyle and enormous quarellers or rather furious and traiterous conspirers He was Cōsull with Cn. Octauius who because one of them namely Cinna fauoured Marius and the other Sylla fell to a sodaine iarre maintaining seuerall armies in the Citie caused much terror and some bloudshed Cinna was Cinna is expulsed the City expulsed the Citie by the power of Octauius and the Senators his Consulship was abrogated and in his place L. Cornelius Merula Iupiters priest was elected Cinna hauing corrupted the Centurions Tribunes souldiers Cinna is made Captaine of a seditious army with hope of liberalitie was admitted of that armie which was as yet about Nola for their Captaine and hauing sworne all his souldiers to obeisance and loyaltie he marched in his Consul-robes toward Rome his armie consisting of three hūdred bands of good souldiers amounting in the view of spials to the number of thirtie legions but though he had manie souldiers and much courage he lacked notwithstanding factioners and fauourites to vphold him and was destitute of popular credit which might bolster and support his doings For supplying of which want he called from banishment C. Marius and his sonne with all Cinna calleth C. Marius and his sonne from banishment the other Romanes which were before by Syllaes horsemen chased out of the Citie VVhilest Cinna was thus preparing warre against his mother towne Cn. Pompeius father to that great state of whom we shall hereafter speake whose worthie actes in the Marsian warre together with his victorie at Asculum was verie beneficiall and commodious to the common-weale being frustrate of hope to continue the Proconsulship shewed him selfe Cn. Pompeius father to Pompey the great his dissembling and vnconstancy verie indifferent and equall to the factions doing all things for his proper and priuate good and lying in waite for oportunitie to serue his owne turne and aduancement enclining his armie this way and that way now as a fauourer to Cinna now as a friend to Sylla following fortune by coniectures and determining to ioyne with him who by all likelihood should be most puissant at length he A great fight betwixt Cinna and Cn. Pōpeius encountred with Cinna before the citie wals where after a maine sea of bloudshed the Romanes that were vpon the walles beholding the slaughter of their brethren friends and kinsfolke vnder the wals the battell was fully finished but the victorie was doubtfull Not long after Cn. Pōpeius died by whose death the souldiers of Cinna conceiued so great ioy and glad somnesse that they forgat the finall ouerthrow of their fellow souldiers and the Romans did bestow their reuenge vpō Pompey being dead which they did owe to him being aliue Cinna and Marius did not without great hauocke of men and matrons inuade the citie but Cinna entred first and published Cinna entreth the city a lawe touching the receiuing of Marius then C. Marius entred the wals with a C. Marius recalled frō banishment entreth the citie most fatall and daungerous returne to the citie of Rome Nothing had bene more bloudie then his entrance if his death had not shortly ensued for hauing possessed the citie he was more vnsatiate in his crueltie then any rauenous tiger and more mercilesse in his tragicall punishments then any furie breathing nothing but bloud and delighting in nothing but murder neither did the licentious rage of his wrath content it selfe with the bloud of meaner men but it seised vpon the states and starres of the citie Then did Octauius one of Octauius put to death by the crueltie of Marius the Consuls a man of a mild douelike humor render vp his life into the pawes of these wolues and Merula who a little before the returne of Cinna had through feare renounced the Consulship cut in peeces his owne Merula cutteth in peeces his owne veines veines and sprinkling his lukewarme bloud vpon the altar vpon which he had often sacrificed the bloud of beasts and intreating the gods for the execratiō of Cinna to whom he had often prayed for the preseruation of the M Antonius the Oratour put to death by Marius Cinna citie gaue vp his fainting ghost in a great agonie of mind M. Antonius the chiefe of the citie and the Phaenix of eloquence was slain at the commaundement of Marius and Cinna by the swords of their souldiers whome by the sweetnesse of his eloquence he did a long time restraine and delay from the killing of him Q. Catulus a man famous for his vertues Q. Catulus cause of his owne death and valour in the Cimbrian warre the glorie of which he did participate with Marius as we haue aboue reported when he was hunted to death by these greedie bloud-hounds shut himself into a narrow closet that was newly pargited with lime and hauing there a fire of burning coales which might raise vp a sudden dampe stopping his breath with a vaporous and dankish smoke departed this world rather according to his owne wish then his enemies will then were the streetes channels theaters market places and temples strewed and ouerspread with carcasses so that it could hardly be iudged whether these two tyrants did slay more that they might obtaine the victorie or more were put to the sword that they might safely enioy the victorie For euerie one to whome Marius would not reach out his hand by way of salutation was immediatly slaine The common weale was now in a tottering and ruinous estate couetousnesse was the cause of crueltie and the more wealthie a man was the more faultie he was iudged the accuser of a rich man had his pay and reward out of the coffers of him that was accused and then was profite and honestie confounded and made one Afterward Cinna and Marius were Consuls Cinna was now the second time Consul Marius the seuenth time who in that consulship died a Romane C. Marius dieth in war terrible to his enemies in peace to his friends and at all times impatient of quietnesse in his place was chosen Valerius Flaccus Cinna being now the sole regent of Italie the greatest part of the Nobilitie fled
to Sylla into Achaia who in the meane time did so fight with Mithridates his Lieutenants and Coronels about Athens Macedonia and Beotia that he tooke Athens and made great hauocke of his enemies But if any impute the rebellion of these times vnto the citie of Athens he is altogether ignorant of the truth The Athenians faithfull to the Romanes For the faith of the Athenians was alwaies so firme and inuiolate towards the Romanes that euery action which was performed without blemish or staine of promise was said to be done by an Athenian faith but they being heauily oppressed by the vnsufferable vsage of Mithridates his host were besieged of their friends when they were held captiue of their enemies and obaying necessitie stayed their bodies within the wals though their minds were without and entirely with the Romans Sylla did then conduct his armie into Asia where he found Mithridates very tractable Silla his hard conditions of peace cōcluded with Mithridates suppliant vnto him whome he punished with the paiment of a great summe of mony and with the losse of part of his nauie enioyning him to depart out of Asia and out of all the prouinces which he had vniustly inuaded and constraining him to content himselfe with the inheritance discended from his father which was the kingdome of Pontus he tooke from Mithridates the Romane prisoners without ransome and vsed great seueritie against the traiterous reuolts and runagates Sylla hauing thus appeased and qualified forraine affaires went by sea toward Rome and in the way met him certaine ambassadours from the The king of Parthia sendeth Ambassadours to Sylla Parthian king which were sent to gratulate his victorie he being the first of the Romanes to whome the king of Parthia sent ambassadours There was nothing more worthie among Syllaes labours then that whole three yeares space whilst the factioners of Cinna Marius did besiege the townes of Italie he neither pretended any fauour toward them neither did he omit that which he had in hād namely the subduing and vanquishing of forraine enemies for he knew when external tumults were ended he might with more ease extinguish domesticall enemies Before the comming of Sylla Cinna in a mutinie of his owne souldiers was slaine a captaine more Cinna is slaine worthie to be adiudged to death by the discretion of the conquerour then to loose his life through the furie of his souldiers of whom it may truly be said that he aduentured those things which no vertuous man wold attempt that he brought those things to passe which none but a valiant souldier could accomplish His fellow Cōsul Carbo hauing no colleague did now praedominate and beare sway Sylla hauing entred Italie it was thought he came Sylla passeth quietly thorough Italie not as a reuenger of warre but as an authour of peace with such quietnesse and mildnesse he lead his armie through Calabria and Apulia with a great speciall regard of the growing corne of meddowes of men of castles and cities and indeed he assayed by lawfull articles and equall conditions to appease the discord but peace could not please them which were immoderatly couetous Sillaes army did daily increase euery good and discrete Italian making recourse vnto him and he had a most happy victory about Capua against Scipio and Norbanus Consuls Norbanus being ouercome by fight Scipio being forsaken of his army yet Sylla gaue him leaue to depart without hurt or hinderance so vnlike was he to himselfe in his warres and after his victory for whilst the victorie was fresh he was more mild then equitie required but when peace had taken roote he was more cruell then any barbarous Scythian for Q. Sertorious the fury and firebrand of that rebellious warre which not long after Sylla dismisseth Sertorius without hurt ensued being disarmed by Sylla was sent away in safety and many others he did with the same clemency intreate of purpose as I thinke that he might giue an example of a double and diuerse mind in one man and by that meane shroud and couer the contents of his heart At that time to fill vp the measure of publike mishap in the city of Rome where before men did emulate one another in vertuous actions now they did combate and contend in malicious practises he thought himselfe the best man that was most wicked and iniurious Sylla had three mighty aduersaries Carbo and C. Marius the sonne of Marius that was the seauenth time Consull which both were Consuls whilst Sylla rong an allarme at the gates of Preneste and Pontius Telesinus who leuying an army of the Samnites did stoutly confront Sylla before the walles of Preneste he was an Italian borne but was not free of the city of Rome a valiant souldier and a great enemy to a Romane name who stood in defence of Preneste but not with the Consuls This Telesinus conducting Silla fighteth with Telesinus a Samnite forty thousand fighting men ioyned battell with Sylla at Collina and brought both him and the commō-weale to extreame danger for Rome was not in greater feare when the tents of Hanniball were but three miles distant from her walles Telesinus did greatly encourage his souldiers saying that the day of their battell was the last period of the Romane glorie and he cried that Rome Rome must be throwne downe and razed frō the foundations adding therewithall that there wold neuer be wanting inuadors of the Italian liberties as long as the wood stoode where such wolues were harboured At the first houre of the night the Romane armie reuiued their courage Telesinus the next day after was found halfe dead bearing the countenance rather of a conqueror then of a man subdued whose head being cut off Sylla cōmaunded to be caried along the streetes of Preneste C. Marius his life being in a desperate C. Marius the younger is slaine by Syllaes souldiers case was faine to creepe through certaine holes of the earth to escape his enemies but he was slaine of Syllaes souldiers that were appointed for that purpose of which towardly gentleman what opinion Sylla caried a man may easily coniecture for when he was slaine he intitled himselfe Sylla the fortunate which had indeed bene true if he had ended his life with his victories For hauing entred Sylla vsurpeth the Dictatorship the citie and vsurped the Dictatorship which had bene an hundred and twentie yeares intermitted for the last Dictator before Sylla was made the first yeare after Hannibals departure out of Italie so that it was apparant that the Romanes did not so much desire the vse of a Dictator as they did feare his tyrannie he began presently to broach the bloud of citizens hauing alreadie drawne to the bottome the bloud of straungers foure legions of souldiers who had bene of the contrarie faction and had now vpon couenant of life submitted themselues to his mercie calling in vaine vpon the faith of a Romaine soldier he caused to be slaine fiue
thousand of that armie which fought against him at Preneste being promised life by P. Cethegus his Silla causeth the souldiers of Preneste to be slaine Lieutenant he put to a sudden and vnlooked for death and caused their ioynts to be plucked in peeces and commaunded that they should be dispersed and cast abrode in the wastes and mores After these great and extreme cruelties he put in practise the heauie penaltie of proscription which if it had died with Sylla would haue beene a great part of Proscription put in practise by Sylla the Romane happinesse by that meanes he brought to passe that whose names soeuer he writ in the table of proscription should be vpon their attachemēt presently put to death their goods also were subiect to sale euery one taking the benefit to whome Sylla would graunt it neither was he content to rage against them onely which had before opposed themselues to him but the most quiet and innocent citizens for the greatnesse of their wealth he depriued also of life and against silly women did he bend his wrath as not satisfied with the death of men and which was a signe of a Thracian crueltie as soone as the heads of the slaine citizens were parted from their trembling corses breathing as yet their faces being not wholly depriued of a vitall bloud he did gaze vpon them and tosse thē in his hands that he might feed on them with his eyes though he could not crush them with his teeth VVith what sauagenesse did he behaue himselfe in the killing of M. Marius M. Marius slain by Silla whose eyes were pluckt out before his death and euery part of his bodie was sundred and disioynted and at that instant he enforced his sword through the bowels of M. Pletorius because Sylla his rage against M. Pletorius he seemed to be grieued with the torture of M. Marius O extreme punisher of pittie and compassion to whome it seemed a crime not to consent to crueltie Neither did he spare the dead for the ashes of C. Marius The ashes of C. Marius thrown into a riuer by Sylla the elder he caused to be raked out of the graue and throwne into a riuer Sylla whilest he sought the victorie was to the Romanes a Scipio whilst he vsed it a very Mithridates Many other bloudsheds he did commit and more would he haue committed had not the terrour of a guiltie conscience followed him with the blazing brand of his vexed soule which torment some cal an ecstasie some melancholie some madnesse but I denying it to be any one of these allow it to be all these doubtlesse it is a thing sooner felt thē known not to be auoided by medicine but by true felicitie In this perplexitie he died and yet Sylla dyeth ceassed not the ciuill or rather vnciuil and vnbrotherly discord thus was Rome the famous citie of Europe the mother and nurce of worthie Senators the miracle of nations the epitomie of the world the kingdome of Mars and the seauenheaded soueraigne of many prouinces exceedingly shaken with these quarrels stained with these bloudsheds and grieuously discomforted with the death of her children her babes were brought foorth for the sword to glut vpon the bodies of her ancients were made as pauements to walk vpō her matrons became a pray and prize to euery rauisher her priests and deuoute sacrificers were slaine before the gates of the temples Syllaes bodie was conueied in sumptuous manner to Campus Martius in which place before the buriall the two Consuls namely M. Aemilius Lepidus and Q. Luctatius Catulus did earnestly debate about the repealing Debate betwixt Lepidus and Catulus Consuls touching the decrees of Sylla and cancelling of the acts and decrees of Sylla Lepidus vrged that they who were proscribed by Sylla ought incontinent to be reduced to the citie and thereto haue restitution of their goods Catulus together with the Senate defended the contrarie saying that though his motion were good and honest yet it might be the beginning of some tumult which would be most daungerous if it were suddenly done because the common-weale was but newly recomforted and had as yet enioyed but a short pause of tranquilitie By this dissention they fell to weapons Cn. Pōpeius and Q. Catulus hauing gathered an armie Cn. Pompeius Magnus and Q. Catulus fight with Lepidus and ouercame him did proffer battell to Lepidus and in a light skirmish ouercame him Not long before the death of Sylla Q. Sertorius rising in armes maintained warre in Spaine for when he saw that the faction of Marius which he specially fauoured was vtterly defeated and dissipated by L. Sylla he fled presently into Spaine where before he had bene Pretor there hauing gathered a great host and contriued an huge nauie fearing lest Sylla who Sertorius leuieth armies in Spaine had put Carbo to flight and slaine Marius should send an armie against him he caused Liuius Salinator his Lieutenant to encampe Liuius Salinator the Lieutenant of Sertorius slaine in the mountaines of Pyraeneum but he was afterward slaine by C. Anius the Romane Proconsul who was sent thither to abate the courage of Sertorius and after him Q. Metellus was also sent but their proceedings were not prosperous VVherefore Cn. Pompeius being as yet a priuate man had charge giuen him of the Senate to go into Spaine There came at that time for the aide and assistance of Sertorius M. Perperna with a great multitude of souldiers Cn. Pompeius made way for himselfe through the Alpes betwixt the famous springs of Padus and Rhodanus He immediatly after his coming into Spain did enter into conflict with two of Sertorius his captaines Herennius and Perperna and not farre from the citie of Talentia ouercame them Herennius was there slaine Perperna escaped by flight Pompey did passe the winter in the Pyrenaean mountaines Sertorius in Lusitania and at the beginning of the spring Metellus and Pompeius did encounter with seuerall armies Sertorius and Perperna in which battell Sertorius constrained Pompey to fly and Metellus draue Perperna to the like extremitie Pōpey was at that time wounded in the thigh afterward they met againe at Seguntia where Sertorius did the second time ouerthrow Pompey and Metellus Perperna the third time when Sertorius was coming against Metellus Pompey meeting him in the way caused him to retire Sertorius did againe oppose himselfe to Pompey Hauing taking Segida a noble citie of Celtiberia where Sertorius lost a thousand souldiers Pompey as many then they turned thēselues to the besieging of townes Pompey did besiege Palantia but Sertorius did raise the siege and of them which besieged Caliguriū he did slay three thousand Metellus and Pōpeius with great stoutnesse stomacke took many cities that were leagued with Sertorius and at Ilerda and Iliosca the townes of the Ilergitanes they put Sertorius to a desperate plunge but Caligurium the citie of the Vascons he did with much prowesse puissance defend Sertorius
but in the end was slaine and dying with great indignation was there trampled to death by the hoofes of horses Thus he that did defend himself in the Senate house was confounded in the field and that by the iustice of destinie who with a scourge of steele followeth proud aspirers this insolent Romane perceiued at the time of his death the deceitfull glose of his fawning fancie the vaine sophistrie of bewitching ambition LACHESIS Or the second Booke CN Pompeius for his great valor magnanimitie iustly intitled Magnus did in course of time grow to an exceeding greatnesse of authoritie and had purchased through his worthie exploits the loue applause and admiration of the whole world his father was Cn. Pompeius an approued souldier and a Consularian his mother was Lucilia a Senators daughter he was of a comely personage not so commendable for beautie as for a pleasing and constant complection which continued euen to his last houre his wisedome was of a wonderfull excellencie his life in all parts absolute his eloquence but indifferent he was desirous to haue honour offred but was not ambitious to vsurpe it a fast friend a religious obseruer of his word in reconciling mē that were at variance most faithfull in receiuing satisfaction for offences most easie neuer vsing his power to impotēcie nor his wit to vanitie from his cradle a souldier in his youth a conqueror triumphant and in all his warres couragious and dreadfull For though Sertorius did more cōmend Sertorius feareth Pōpey Metellus yet he was more afraid of Pompey And of the Spaniards he triumphed when he was but a Romane knight not hauing as yet borne any office of estate To be a knight of Rome was so much better then to be a common gentleman by how much a patritian Senator was more honorable then a nouitian whose auncestours were neuer of the Senate And Pompey by degrees did endeuour to aduance his credit and in the end by the conquest of many mightie nations became peereles Mithridates his power was enfeebled by Sylla disiointed by Lucullus broken in peeces by Pompey after which victorie Mithridates ouerthrown by Pompey Pompey entred the tēple of Ierusalem he subdued the Iewes tooke their citie and possest the temple of Ierusalem a rare and miraculous monument which though he filled with his souldiers yet he restrained thē from the spoile In that warre he partly recouered and partly subdued to the Romane power Armenia Colchis Cappadocia Cilicia Syria and all the region of Palestine to the riuer of Euphrates He ouercame beside Paphlagonia Galatia Phrigia Mysia Lydia Caria Ionia and all that part of Asia which lyeth about Pergamus He committed the regiment of Armenia maior to Tigranes the Island of Bosphorus to Pharnaces Cappadocia to Arioberzanes Seleucia to Antiochus Commagenus to Deiotarus and other Tetrarkes Galatia with Armenia minor to Attalus and Pylaemenes Paphlagonia to Aristarchus Colchis to Hircane Palestine And for a triple reward of these his victories he Pompey honored with a triple triumph had the blazon of three triumphs the first was of Affricke the second of Europa and the third of Asia After these triumphs ensued the Consulship of Marcus Bibulus and C. Caesar his originall Caesar issuing from the famous familie of the Iulij and conueying his discent from Anchises the Troiane father to Aeneas he was of excellent beautie and in vigor of mind most sharpe and vehement in his rewards bountifull in courage farre aboue mans nature or mans beliefe in the haughtinesse of his thoughts in the celeritie of his fight in the suffering of bitter euents and casualties singular in all his actions most like to Alexander the great to Alexander I meane being sober and neither surcharged with wine nor ouercome with wrath vsing sleepe and meate not for the pampering of his lust but for the continuing of his life He was neare in bloud to C. Marius and was Cinnaes sonne in lawe neither during Syllaes Dictatorship could he by any means be moued to diuorce Cinnaes daughter though M. Piso a Consularian did for feare of Sylla sunder himselfe from Annia Cinnaes widow by which constancie Caesar did greatly endaunger himselfe for his death Caesars death sought for by Sillaes officers was sought for by Syllaes officers Sylla himselfe being ignorant of their purpose Caesar being made Consul a league of soueraigne societie was concluded betwixt him and Cn. Pompeius M. Crassus Pompey did therefore enter into that league because he would haue his acts and deedes which he had made in the prouinces before mentioned that were conquered by him fully confirmed and ratified by the Senate Caesar by taking that course had a double intent to increase his owne honour by yeelding to Pompeis glory and to establish his owne authoritie by charging him with the hatred of this treuirall power Crassus had this drift to maintaine preserue the aestimation which he had alreadie obtained by the power of Caesar and the authoritie of Pompey There was also an affinitie contracted by marriage betwixt Caesar and Pompey for Pompey tooke to wife Iulia Pompey marrieth with Iulia Caesars daughter Caesars daughter Caesar had the regiment of Fraunce committed to him by the Senate after whose Consulship ended and before his departure into Fraunce P. Clodius Tribune of the people began to giue new edge vnto Clodius Tribune of the people becommeth seditious quarrels and did with maine force bend himselfe against Cicero For what agreement could there be betwixt them when their maners did so farre disagree The head of dissention was cut off when Catiline was slaine the bodie also was mangled when his confederates were put to death but the serpents taile did as yet mooue for Clodius did seeke by all meanes possible to take reuenge on Cicero Clodius seeketh to reuenge himselfe vpon Cicero for the sharp seueritie vsed against his friends which were of Catilines seed-plot and of that seditious league But it was to be wondred at that a man conuicted of so notorious and hainous crimes durst proceede to such impudencie as to attempt the disgrace of M. Cicero or any way to disturbe his quietnesse At that time Clodius was infamous for his adulterie Clodius infamous for adulterie with Pompeia Caesars wife with Pompeya Caesars wife which amiddest the most religious solemne rites of Bona Dea this vnchast Tribune committed and these ceremonies which it was not lawfull for any man to behold Clodius in womans attire did pollute But he was the author of greater lewdnesse then this when with his owne sisters he became incestuous two of Clodius infamous for incest with his sisters them being his sisters german and married to two worthie Romanes the one of them to Q. Metellus and the other to L. Lucullus the third was his sister by the halfe bloud the wife of Q. Martius For these and other his faults he was condemned by the seuerall censures Clodius
Caesar was now come to the heart and center of Pompeis armie but the night drew on which made both sides pause Caesar did thanke his souldiers and gliding through euery troope and band of them he did put nourishing oile into their burning wrath He tooke view of their swords curiously obseruing whose weapon was ouerflowed with bloud and whose was dipped at the point whose hadn did trēble and whose was stedfast who changed the countenance through feare who through furie and casting his eyes on the prostrate carcasses frowning vpon them with curled forehead as not yet satisfied he fed his irefull lookes with the desolate aspect of his slaine countriemen but if he perceiued a gaspe in the flesh of his owne souldiers he would endeuour to close it vp with his hand giuing them words of comfort and encouragement did sooner heale them then indeede they were healed At the dawning of the day next ensuing and at the first entrance of that mornings bloudie houres when the welkin had put aside the vizard of the night the starres being couered and the earth discouered by the Sunne Caesar giuing his souldiers new swords new darts speares and launces and awaking their courage giuing them also to vnderstand with the point of his launce in what part of the aduerse armie the sorreine kings the Consuls the Senators and the nobilitie were placed directed them as it were by aime to gage the bodies of many excellēt men who entangling their weapons in the intrals of these noble enemies did throw to the ground to extreme ruine many princely potentates many reuerent persons were buried in goare many of the Lepidi of the Metelli of the Coruini and Torquati but amongst the rest the fortune of Domitius was dolorous and despitefull he as before hath bene said was once pardoned and dismissed of Caesar but now was singled out by Caesar and grieuously wounded but yet so great was his mind that he would not stoope to begge a second pardon whome Caesar looking vpon like a tyrant and seeing him rowle his fainting members in the moistned dust did with this bitternesse insult giuing him the scornefull gaze L. Domitius now I hope at Caesar his speech to Domitius length you wil forsake your maister Pompey hereafter I trust you will practise no enmitie against Caesar But as good fortune would he had as yet breath enough to replie in these few words Caesar I dy a free man and I go to the region of Proserpina not seeing thee as a conquerour but as yet inferiour to Pompey and euen at my death am I refreshed with this hope that thou liuest to be subdued by the rigor of destinie which wil take reuenge both for vs and for thy sonne in law Hauing spoken these words his life fled from him and his sight was taken away with a dreadful darknesse by whose wounds so much bloud was not lost as there was glorie gained For he gaue a cleare token of an honorable mind accompting it a great deale better to haue dignitie without life then life without dignitie But Caesar thinking nothing to be done if any thing were vndone ragingly and earnestly did seeke for the person of Pompey rushing into the thicke of his souldiers neuer stretched out his arme without deaths warrant and neuer looked backe but when he saw none to fight withall Pompey standing a farre off on the top of an hill seeing the fields to swimme with bloud and the Romane Senate to be nothing now but an heape of carcasses and that his owne decay was sought for by the bloud of a multitude reseruing himselfe to some better fortune forsooke the field and fled to Larissa Caesar perceiuing it Pompey flieth to Larissa thought it better to giue some rest to his armie then with a sudden pursuite to make after him wherefore he retired his souldiers came to Pompeys tents VVhen the wandering night was chased frō the inferiour Islands by the recoursing day and the Sunne had imparted his brightnesse to our vnder-neighbors and the dreames were readie to possesse the Theater of the fancie the wearisome creatures of the world declining to their rest the Caesarians hauing ransacked Pompeis tents and refreshed their fainting bodies with the viand there left betooke themselues to their ease and reposed their wearied limmes in these plots which the Pompeians did before lodge in But how shall I describe the deformitie of that night in which hell did breath out the ghosts of them that were slaine the aire was infected with contagious vapours and the starres trembled at the beholding of the vncouth Stygians Sleepe did bring no quietnesse vnto them but flames murmurs horrors and the hideous sounds of the skriking The dreams and visions of the Caesarians Harpies The ghost of the slaughtered Romane did appeare vnto them and euery mans fancie was a fiend vnto him some did thinke that they beheld the image of a young man some of an old man others did dreame that their brethren were come to take reuēge on them but in Caesars mind were all these terrors the slaine Senate did seeme to encōpasse him on all sides brandishing their fierie swords sweating frying and dropping with rosen and sulpher and the greatest torment of all was a guiltie conscience He was now molested with the powers of hell when his enemies that suruiued slept quietly in Larissa Pompey after his mishap in Pharsalie made speedie voiage toward Egipt where Ptolome Pompey trauelleth to Egypt did raigne for Pompey hauing procured the restitutiō of his father to the throne of Egipt and with many other singuler benefites hauing deserued his fauour thought that the young Prince in a kind regard wold haue entertained him according to his honour and desert but who doth busie his memorie in recounting benefites and who will thinke himselfe beholden to one that is distressed and when doth not fortune chaunge friendship Ptolome vnthankfull Ptolome disleagued with the senslesse litargie of foule ingratitude when by certaine report he heard that Pompey had approched to the shore sent out his dire and dreadfull messengers to depriue the aged bodie of the vnuanquished mind And when Achilles that bold butcherer did with his glaiue portend the last end of his daies Pompey whose excellent qualities might encline a massagite to mercie craued with constant countenance but a word or two of them and as for life he was content to leaue it the sauage helhound would scarcely condescend to this request but at length his tygers heart yeelded and Pompey in few words wishing to the Romanes libertie to his wife comfort to his sonnes safetie was beheaded by these Pompey is beheaded by the Egyptiās mercilesse Egyptians and his head was born as a present to Ptolome which was farre too good a present for so lewde a prince But how false was this world to Pompey who had not now earth enough for his sepulture to whom before the earth was too little for his cōquest
worthie souldier the onely obiect of the learned whom both in prose poemes they haue condignely commended so that I need not to proceede in his praises this is my only doubt whether he were more to be extolled for his laudable qualities then admired for his rare and wonderfull fortune he was not long before with Antonius in Aegypt but seeing him so vainely besotted with the loue of Cleopatra seeing him knight of the Cannapee who was earst Lord of the field being ashamed of him as he was a Romane ashamed of him as a General ashamed of him as now an vnworthie companion for Pollio he left him in Aegypt with his concubine and came to Rome Afterward Caesar and Lepidus fell at variance so that Lepidus was compelled to surrender all his authority and to stand to Caesars mercie for his life Cęsar did then fight with Sex Pompeius on the Octauius Caesar fighteth with Sex Pōpeius sea Pompey being there ouercome fled to Sicilie and afterward into Asia and as he was preparing warre against Antoni he was takē of M. Titius Antonius his Lieutenant by whō he was slaine The last ciuill warre which was betwixt the Romaines was that which was fought by Caesar against Antoni at Actium The occasion of emnitie betwixt them was thus Antonius did reproue Caesar because he had taken to himself the armie of Lepidus that which followed of Sex Pompeius which ought to haue bene common to them three Caesar did obiect to Antonius that he did keepe Aegypt without lawfull commission that he caused Sex Pompeius to be slaine without his consent that he cast Artauasdes a Prince leagued with the Romans and taken by trecherie into prison dishonored him with gyues and fetters to the great infamie of the Romanes that he was more familiar with Cleopatra then became an honest man that he had bestowed too great giftes vpon her that he had called Caesars surmised bastard begotten of Cleopatra Cęsarion to the great disgrace of that house These things priuately by letters and publikely by messengers were mentioned by mutuall obiection Caesar afterward did reade Antonius his testament Octauius readeth the testament of M. Antonius in the open Senate which came to his hands by this meane Certaine souldiers which did flie frō Antonius to him told him that the authentike will or testament of M. Antonius did remaine in the custodie of the Virgins vestall of whom Caesar did obtaine it the tenor and forme whereof was thus I M. Antonius one of the three states of The testamēt of M. Antonius Rome and the sonne of M. Antonius do by this my last will and testament make and ordaine Philadelphus Alexander my sonnes by Cleopatra the heires of all my wealth and substance which I had by descent from M. Antonius my father but with this clause and vpon this condition that if I die in Rome or elsewhere they shall solemnely conuey my bodie to Alexandria in Aegypt and bestow it there in a marble sepulcher which by this my will shall be made for my selfe and Cleopatra the Queene of Aegypt But if they faile of this or do otherwise without lawfull or vrgent cause then I will that all these things which I leaue vnto my aforesaid sons be conuerted to the vse behoofe of the Nuns of Vesta my ghost shal implore the assistāce of the Pōtifex-Maximus the priests of Iupiter which are in the Capitol to solicit the spirits of vengeance to punish the vnthankfulnesse of my sons then I ordaine wil that the Pontifex Maximus shall cause my bodie to be reposed in a conuenient sepulcher within the walles of this citie and I will also that as many bondslaues as be now in my power shall presently after my death be manumitted made free by the Praetor and to euerie of my other seruants I bequeath a Sestertian a mourning garment Lastly I do pronounce by this my last will and testament that Caesarion the son of Cleopatra is the true certaine and vndoubted sonne of C. Iulius Caesar And to the aforesaid Cleopatra I giue all my wealth and treasure that I haue gained purchased and atchieued either in warre or in peace Done by me M. Antonius vj. kal. Iul. Ap. Claudius C. Norbanus Coss VVhen the people of Rome had heard the purport of this testament they thought that Antonius his drift was to giue Rome to Cleopatra for a speciall fauour for which cause they were maruellously moued against Antonius Caesar did behaue him self in this matter very wisely and warily for in wordes he praetended warre against Cleopatra only and caused it to be proclaimed by the heralt that the Aegyptian Queene did intend the suppressing of the Romanes That was done by Caesar to the end that he might auoyd the hatred of manie noble men who did rather affect Antonius then him But whē Antonius for the loue of Cleopatra wold neither come into the citie to render account of his doings nor depose his Triumuiracie but was wholly busied in praeparing warre against Italie Caesar did furnish himselfe as well for sea as for land he therefore gathered manie souldiers out of Spaine Fraunce Lybia Sardinia and Sicilia Antonius likewise did make an armie of Asians Thracians Macedonians Graeciās Aegyptians and Cyrenians And in the yeare following C. Caesar and M. Messalla being Confuls Antonius and Cleopatra at Actium a promontorie of Epirus encountred Caesar who hauing prosperous successe in many battels against them as well on sea as on land they being at length ouercome fled to Alexandria in Aegypt Caesar did sacrifice all the pinasses which he had taken in warre to Apollo Octauius Caesar sacrifiseth all the Pinnases to Apollo who was worshipped at Actium as a monument of thankfulnesse for his victorie and did also institute a fiue yeres solemnitie which was called the solemnitie of Actium besides this he built a faire temple to Apollo and in the place where his tents were pitched Octauius buildeth Nicopolis he founded a great city called Nicopolis the citie of victorie Asinius Pollio did still praeserue the auncient amitie that was betwixt him and M. Antonius for when Caesar at his departing from Rome requested him that he would ioyne with him in his warres against Antonius he made this answer The benefites of Antonius towards me will not permit me to be an enemie vnto him and my merites at the hands of Antonius be farre otherwise thē that Antonius should be an enemie vnto me wherefore leauing both and leaning to neither I wil stay here in Italie and be the spoile of the conqueror Caesar did afterward besiege Antonius Cleopatra at Alexandria where Antonius being in a most desperate plight being in no possibilitie to recouer Cęsars fauour and hearing by a false rumor that Cleopatra was slaine did suddenly stab himselfe Caesar tooke Alexandria and with it Cleopatra but because she would not grace Octauius so much as to be led in triumph by Cleopatra