the fatal hour Again if I knew I should dye at such a Relations House this might terrifie me from visiting him for fear of making his Habitation my Sepulchre So that the All wise disposer of all things who doth nothing in vain hath for the good of mankind conceal'd this prescience from us 3 Eretrians were the Inhabitants of Eretria which was a famous City of Euboea They are said to take their name from Eretrius the Son of Phaeton Herodotus lib. 6. speaking of these Eretrians says that Datys and Artaphernes being arrived in Asia took these Eretrians Prisoners and sent them away captive to Susa for that they had exasperated Darius in making War upon him wiâ—â—out any provocation where being presented before Darius he planted them at Anderica in Cissia about 210 furlongs distant from Susa. 4 By Darius This Darius was the Son of Hystaspes who got the Crown of Persia by the Neighing of his Horse at Sun-rising for his Groom Oebares having the Night before let his Horse cover a Mare at that place the Horse was no sooner brought thither the next morning but he immediately fell a Neighing in remembrance of his past pleasure and by that means won his Master the Crown after the death of Cambyses He married Atossa the Daughter of Cyrus for the strengthning of his Title He recover'd Rebellious Babylon by a Stratagem of Zopyrus one of his Noblemen who cutting off his own Lips and Nose and miserably disfiguring himself got in with the Babylonians to be their Leader against the Tyrant his Master who as he pretended had so martyr'd him which done he betray'd to his Master Darius After this he march'd against the Scythians who in derision presented him with a Bird a Frog a Mouse and Five Arrows which by Hieroglyphical interpretation signified that if the Persians did not speedily depart from them flying as Birds in the Air or ducking themselves as Frogs in a Marsh or creeping as Mice into Holes then they should have their Arrows in their sides to send them packing which was soon done with shame Upon his being defeated by the Scythians the Greeks rebell'd against him and were subdued which encouraging him to think of conquering all Greece and thereupon marching with 600000 men against it he was shamefully overthrown by Miltiades the Athenian who brought but 10000 against him in the Field of Marathon and register'd as Plutarch saith by almost 300 Historians In this Fight Themistocles the Athenian gave sufficient proofs of his valour wherein also one Cyneris a common Souldier was so fierce that when both his hands were cut off he fasten'd his Teeth upon a flying Ship of the Persians as if he meant to stay it Afterwards Darius thinking to repair this ignominious loss the Rebellion of the Aethiopians and quarrel between his Sons for the Succession brought him to his end for Artabazanes his eldest Son claimed it as Heir but in regard he was born whilst his Father was but a Subject the younger Son Xerxes carried away the Crown he being Grandchild to Cyrus by Atossa Of this Prince you may read at large in Herodotus lib. 3 4 5 6. also in Iustin lib. 1 2. in Valerius Maximus Aelian and others He began his Reign An. Mund. 3431. 5 Euboea an Isle in the Aegean Sea on the side of Europe over against Chios it is sever'd from Achaia by a little Euripus by the Ancients it was sometimes called Macra Macris Chalcis Chalcodontis Aesopis Oche Ellopia and by Homer Abantis and the Inhabitants Abantes It is now called Negropontâ— or Egriponte and by the Turks who won it from the Venetians An. Chr. 1470. Egribos and Eunya 6 Clazâ—menian Sophist so called from Clazomenae a City of Ionia in Asia built by Paralus it was afterwards called Gryna it lies near Smyrna This Clazomenae was the Country of Anaxagoras it borders upon Colophon 7 Sophist a Sophism is a cunning evading Argument or Oration in Logick it is when the form of a Syllogism is not legally framed or false matter introduced under colour of Truth whence a Sophist is in plain English but a subtle Caviller in words Thus we read that Protagoras the Disciple of Zeno as also of Democritus wanting Solidity endeavour'd to be Subtle and coming short of a Philosopher set up for a Sophist 8 Nomades were a certain people of Scythia Europaea said to be descended from those that follow'd Hercules in his Expedition into Spain Salust They were called Nomades 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is à pascendo in that they spent their time chiefly in feeding Cattel and lying amongst them Dionys. vers 186. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Also Virgil mentions the same Aen. lib. 4. 8. They are also thought to be people nigh Polonia and Russia as likewise of Numidia in Africk otherwise called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Numida Also people of Asia by the Caspian Sea now call'd Daae and Parni 9 Caphareus a high Mountain of Euboea towards Hellespont by which place the Greeks Navy were sore afflicted for the death of Palamedes Son of Nauplius King of that place who was slain by Vlysses Homer Odys 4.11 and Ovid Met. lib. 14. represent to us a famous Shipwrack which the Grecian Navy suffer'd in their return from Troy Euboicae cautes ultorque Caphareus Virg. Aen. 11. 10 Forum So call'd by the Romans was a Market-place or Common Hall wherein they kept their Courts of Judicature 11 Xerxes This Xerxes was the Son of Darius Hystaspes who in the third year of the third Olympiad succeeded his Father to the Crown and was the 4 th King of the Empire drawing his Title thereunto from Cyrus his Grandfather by the side of his Mother Atossa Now his Father Darius having at the time of his death prepared all things in readiness for a War with the Aegyptians his Son Xerxes had nothing left to do but to begin his March wherefore his first Expedition was against the rebellious Aegyptians who had revolted from his Father wherein proving successful he returns and makes that great Feast mention'd in the Book of Esther who becomes his Queen in place of Vasthi His second Undertaking was to revenge his Fathers Quarrel upon Greece against which he is said to have led the most numerous Army that ever was yet heard of consisting as Herodotus writes of 1700000 Foot and 80000 Horse besides Camels and Chariots Diodorus writes of 800000 Foot Trogus Iustin and Orosius mention 1000000 in all also 1207 Ships of War all which numerous Army was entertain'd by one Pythius at Sardis who besides presented Xerxes himself with 2000 Talents in Silver and in Gold four millions Now having from Sardis sent into Greece to demand Earth and Water in token of subjection he afterwards march'd from thence with his Forces making Mount Athos an Island for the convenient passage of his Fleet also passing his Army over the Hellespont by a Bridge of Boats which Bridge happening one time to be broken by
took an Oath of secresie yet nevertheless soon after discover'd the whole business so that Artabanus was instantly put to death for the same at which time all his other Treasons came out concerning the Murder of Xâ—rxes and Dariâ—â— After Aâ—tabanus's death which is at large describ'd by Iustin great Troubles ensued his Party being very strong and numerous till at length by the courage of Megabyzus who was dangerously wounded in the Conflict three of Artabanus's Sons being kill'd the Tumult ceas'd The next Disturbance that alarm'd Artaxerxes was a Revolt of the Bactriaâ—s occasion'd as some say by his Brother Hystaspes their Governour out of indignation to see his youngest Brother preferr'd before him Two Battels were fought in this Quarrel in the latter of which the Wind blowing in the Faces of the Bactrians Artaxerxes became victorious and reduced all that Countrey to his obedience After this Artaxerxes had no sooner â—ettâ—ed the Affairs of his Kingdom and removed all such Officers as were not for his turn but the Aegyptians having heard of the Disorders in Persia upon the death of Xerxes began to think of recovering their Liberty for which purpose setting up Inarus King of Lybia and Son of Psammetichus for their Prince they began a Revolâ— under his Conduct they furthermore sent to crave aid of the Athenians who desiring as well to get â—ooting in Aegypt as to reduce the power of the Persian Monarch furnish'd them with 300 Shipâ— Against these Preparations Artaxerxes dispatch'd besides a great Fleet also an Army of 3 or 400000 Foot under the Command of Achaemenidâ—s who as Ctesias saith was his Brother but as Diodorus saith his great Uncle being the Son of Darius Hystaspes This Persian Army was encounter'd and beat by the Egyptian and Lybian Forces wherein Achaemenides the General and 100000 Persians were slain After this Artaxerxes offer'd great Bribes to the Lacedâ—monians for their assistance in this War which they refused his design being to make them fall out with Athens that so the Athenians might be compell'd to withdraw their Forces out of Egypt Nevertheless Artaxerxes by the next Spring raises a new Army of above 300000 which he sent against the Egyptians under the Command of Megabyzus the Son of that Zopyrus who recover'd Babylon to Darius joyning Artabazus in Commission with him In this second Expedition Megabyzus wounded King Inarus in the Thigh and obtain'd so great a Victory that he totally reduced the Egyptians to obedience and having taken King Inarus Prisoner Artaxerxes made him be crucified The Athenian Fleet was likewise destroy'd by a stratagem for the Persians diverting the course of the River wherein they lay by making new Channels at the mouth of it left the Ships at Anchor upon dry ground and so assaulted them with their Land-Army and took them Now Artaxerxes having thus composed his Troubles in Bactria and Egypt did in the 7th year of his Reign make a Decree in behalf of the Iews that whosoever of them would might go up with Ezra and inhabit Ierusalem He also contributed several sums of Money for their Sacrifices and other uses to be disposed of according to the discretion of Ezra wherewith Ezra began to build the Walls of Ierusalem In the 15th year of Artaxerxes the Athenians having recruited their former losses did with their Fleet under the Convoy of their Admiral Cimon very much infest the Persians at Cyprus in so much that Artaxerxes was glad to clap up a Peace with them upon disadvantagious terms viz. that all the Greek Cities in Asia should be free from the Persian yoke In this last Engagement at Cyprus Cimon perish'd and in him the true Gallantry of the Greekish Nation for none of their Captains after him did any thing considerable against the Barbarians excepting Agesilaus whose War also was short and of little consequence In the 20th year of Artaxerxes Nehemiah his Cup-bearer Nehem. 1.11 hearing that the Wall of Ierusalem was broken down and the Gates burnt with fire obtained leave of him to go with a large Commission for the rebuilding of the Walls as also with a Mandâ—mus to the Keeper of the King's Forrests to furnish him with Wood for that purpose About this time it was that Megabyzus Artaxerxes's General who had done him that service in Egypt was disobliged by the King in putting those Egyptian Prisoners to death whom he had promis'd their Pardons in so much that Megabyzus leaving the Court in discontent and retiring to his Command in Syria did there with the assistance of some Greeks begin an open Rebellion against the King his Master and obtain'd two famous Victories over him Nevertheless by the mediation of Friends betwixt both together with the assurance of a free Pardon Artaxerxes and Megabyzus were again reconciled and he brought into the King's presence But soon after being both together hunting of a Lion and Megabyzus happening to kill the Lion just as the King was going to strike him the King was so greatly offended thereat that he commanded Megabyzus his Head to be cut off however by the intercession of Friends the King for that time gave him his life and only banished him so unmindful are Princes of all past services when after five years exile he made Friends with Artaxerxes and was restored again to his Favour so as to eat at his own Table but soon after he died being 76 years of age whose loss was much lamented by the King and all others Nor did the King himself Artaxerxes Longimanus long survive him but departed this life having reign'd according to Diodorus 40 years according to Sulpitius Severus 41 years according to Ctesias 42 years but the most probable opinion is that he died in the beginning of the 42d year of his Reign being the 2d year of the 89th Olympiad A. M. 3582. and 421 ante Nat. Ch. Ctesias in Excerpris Histor. Persiâ— writes that Artaxerxes had only one legitimate Son by his Wife Damaspia named Xerxes but 17 by Concubines amongst which the three chief were Sogdianus Ochus call'd afterwards Darius Nothus and Arsiâ—es whereof Sogdianus killing Xerxes and Sogdianus himself being put to death by the Army Ochus or Darius Nothus succeeded his Father Longimanus to the Crown Some write that Artaxerxes Longimanus had one Daughter named Parysatis but this is uncertain 5 The story of Themistocles the Athenian who sometimes coming out of Greece convers'd with Artaxerxes c. This Themistocles was a person of great eminency amongst the Athenians who having spent his youth in Luxury and Extravagancy attoned for the same by the great Virtue of his riper years for he first fortified that famous Harbour Piraeeus and afterwards overcame the Persians in a Sea-Engagement at Salamines Plutarch who hath written his Life at large saith that none of the Greeks excell'd him and few equaliz'd him Now the Story which Philostratus here mentions concerning him is this That Themistocles being falsly accused by the Athenians for joyning with Pausanias in a
years After this he return'd to Athens being follow'd by many Disciples and died in the 53 year of his Age. See Laertius lib. 8. 11 Speusippus was an Athenian born at Myrrhinus which belong'd to the Pandonian Tribe his Father named Eurymedon his Mother Potone and Sister to Plato He was educated under his Uncle Plato whose Neece's Daughter he married having with her 30 Minae for a Portion which Dionysius sent her to which sum Chio added a Talent When Dion came to Athens Speusippus was his constant Companion which he did by his Uncle Plato's Advice to soften and divert the morose humour of Dion whereupon Timon in Sillis calls Pseusippus a good Jester Plat. Vit. Dion The last Voyage that Plato made into Sicily Speusippus accompanied him and grew much into favour with the Citizens of Syracuse by reason of his free Behaviour Afterwards Pseusippus at his return to Athens instigated Dion who was there in Banishment to levy War upon Dionysius which accordingly he did with great success as I have already shew'd in the Life of Dionysius upon this when Dion had recover'd Sicily he bestow'd upon Speusippus his Countrey-house which he had purchased at Athens as a reward for his good counsel Now Plato dying in the first year of the 108 th Olympiad Theophilus being Archon Speusippus succeeded him in the School of his Academy whom he follow'd also in his Doctrine he continued Master of this School 8 years till at last being very infirm and disabled by the Palsie he relinquish'd it to Xenocrates As for the profession of Philosophy which Speusippus made it was the same with that of Plato He first as Theodorus affirms looked into the Community and mutual assistance of Mathematical Disciplines as Plato did into that of the Philosophical He affirmed that the Mind was not the same either with good or one but of a peculiar nature proper to it self And he exacted Money of his Disciples contrary to the custom of Plato For though he followed Plato in his Opinions yet did he not imitate his Temper Speusippus being austere and cholerick nor had so great command over his Pleasures In Anger he threw a Dog into a Well and indulging himself in Pleasure he went to Cassander's Wedding in Macedonia Laert. Philostrat He was likewise a great lover of Money as Apollonius here mentions and also Laertius saith the same In so much that some indifferent Poems which he had made he himself sung publickly for profit These Vices Dionysius writing to him derides saying Plato took no money of his Scholars but you exact it whether they are willing or not as is extant in Athenaei Dipnos lib. 12. ch 24. He was as Timotheus saith very infirm of Body in so much that he was fain to be carried up and down the Academy in a kind of running Chair At length he died of grief as Laertius lib. 4. affirms who elsewhere citing Plutarch in the Lives of Lysander and Scylla saith that Speusippus died of the Phthiriasis but there is no such passage in Plutarch as now extant Lastly Concerning his Writings Phavorinus in the second Book of his Commentaries saith that Aristotle paid three Talents for them He wrote many things chiefly in Philosophy as Commentaries and Dialogues whereof you may see a large Collection in Stanly's Lives out of Laertius Suidas Plutarch Apuleius Stobaeus and Athenaeus Now for the further Illustration of those Philosophers Lives and Doctrines which are made use of in this Treatise give me leave as I did before in History so now to do the like in Philosophy and for the better Explanation thereof present you with this short Scheme as well of the principal Sects as Successions of the most eminent Philosophers which is thus digested and collected out of Clemens Alexandrinus Laertius and others Typus sive Epitome uti Clemens ipse vocat Successionis Philosophorum ex Clem. Alexandr Stromat 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 septem scil Sapientes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Italica à Pythagora Olympiad 62 In Metapente 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Ionica à Thalete Olymp. 50. Anaximander Anaximenes Anaxagoras Hic Scholam suam ex Ionia Athenas traduxit ait Clemens Archelaus Socrates Plato Peripatetica in Lyceo Aristoteles Theophrastus Straton Lycoâ— Cristolaus Diodorus Academia vetus Speusippus Xenocrates Polemon Stoica secta Crates Zeno Citicus Cleanthes Chrysippus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Academica media Crantoâ— Arcesiaus c. usque ad Hegesilaum Carnâ—â—des 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antisthenes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. Eleatica à Zenophane Oly. 40 Parmenides Zeno. Leucippus Democritus Protagoras Metrodorus Diogenes Smyrnaeus fort Diomeâ—es apud Laert. in vit Anaxarc Anaxaâ—hus Pyrrho Nauliphanâ—â— Epicurus uti Quidam 12 Cassander 's Wedding this Cassander was King of Macedonia and Son of Antipater who nevertheless respecting the publick Good more than that of his own Family left the Kingdom at his death to Polysperchâ—n and not to his own extravagant Son our Cassander here mention'd Which he reseâ—â—ing very iâ—â— resolv'd notwithstanding to push for the Kingdom of Macedonia wherefore entring into a Conspiracy with Ptolomy King of Egypt as also with Antigonus and divers other Captains he prepared all things ready for a War both by Sea and Land At the same time Polysperchon who was a cunning old Souldier and had been one of Alexander's Officers the better to secure Greece from a Revolt did abolish all such Oligarchies as since the passing of Alexander into Asia had been erected in any of the Greek Cities thereby restoring them to their former liberty in hopes to secure them from adhering to Cassander Now Cassander having obtain'd of Antigonus 35 Ships and 6000 Men sailed with them to Athens which together with the Haven he had got into his power by means of Nicanor whom he had sent before-hand for that purpose Against him came Polysperchon intending to besiege him but his Provisions failing him he was forced to raise his Siege when leaving his Son with a Party in Attica he march'd himself with the chief of his Army into Peloponesus against Megalopolis which was the only City amongst them that had adher'd to Cassander where he being worsted soon after the rest of the Greek Cities did thereupon revolt to Cassander After this ill fortune of Polysperchon's Cassander marching into Macedonia found likewise many Friends there who were for the Rising Sun The year following Polysperchon by the help of Aeacida King of the Molossians brought back Olympias with Alexander the Son of Roxane her Grandchild into Macedonia whereupon Eurydice the Wife of King Aridaeus fortify'd her self and sent to Cassander for aid but the Macedonians fearing the Majesty of Olympias fell away from her so that she and her Husband being both committed to Prison he was first kill'd and then Olympias sent her a Sword an Halter and Poyson to choose which of them she pleas'd who having pray'd to the Gods for Revenge hanged her self with her Garter This happened
being divided by the River Ganges was that wherein Apollonius travell'd the West comprehending all America is that new-found India discover'd and so call'd by Columbus Megasthenes reckoneth up an hundred twenty and two Indian Nations but Arrianus wonders how he could make any certain account in a thing so difficult to be known Arrianus in his 8 th Book gives us a large description of this Indian World See more concerning this subject in the first Chapter of Philostratus his sixth Book CHAP. III. Of Damis Apollonius's Companion as also of the Commentaries concerning the Sayings and Actions of Apollonius in reference to the Empress Julia. THere was a certain ingenious man call'd Damis sometimes dwelling in the ancient City of 1 Niniveh who applying himself to the Philosophy of Apollonius wrote both his 2 Travels wherein he saith he was his Companion and also his Sentences Sayings and Predictions One that was an intimate Acquaintance of this Damis's brought the Empress Julia to the knowledge of his Commentaries which till then had not been publish'd this Empress Julia was much addicted to the study of 3 Rhetorick therefore I conversing frequently in her Court she commanded me to transcribe those Commentaries and bestow some pains on the Relations contain'd in them for Damis had given a plain but uneloquent description of them I had moreover the Assistance of one Maximus an Aegean his Book wherein was contained all the Deeds of Apollonius in the City of 4 Aegis There is likewise a Testament written by Apollonius himself whereby it plainly appeareth how much he was enamour'd with Philosophy Neither is there any credit to be given to Moeragenes who writing four Books concerning Apollonius seemeth to be altogether ignorant of his Actions In what manner therefore these dispers'd Relations of Apollonius were gather'd together into one Volume as also the cause which incited me to compose these Books I think is sufficiently declared Now this Work procureth both Honour to the person of whom such things are written and Benefit to such as are lovers of Learning for that they may by this means attain to the knowledge of things whereof they were before ignorant Apollonius had for his Country the Greek City 5 Tyana scituated in the Country of 6 Cappadocia his Father was of the same name with him and descended from a very ancient Family wherein there had been many famous men for Wealth he exceeded most of his fellow Citizens When his Mother was with Child of him there appeared unto her a Vision of the Egyptian God 7 Proteus who as Homer reports used to transform himself into divers shapes The Woman not being terrify'd hereat ask'd the Apparition what she should bring forth to whom Proteus answer'd Thou shalt bring forth me Whereupon she further demanding of him Who he was I am said he the Egyptian God Proteus Now of what great Wisdom Proteus was I think it superfluous to relate especially to them who have read the Poets for out of them I suppose every one can tell how various Proteus was shifting himself one while into this form another while into that so as it was very difficult to seize him Also how he seem'd to know and fore-know all things And indeed it was very material to make mention of Proteus in this place because the sequel of our discourse will demonstrate that Apollonius fore-knew more things than ever Proteus did He likewise unriddled many Mysteries and expounded things that were most difficult to be understood not failing in any one more especially at the time of his death Illustrations on Chap. 3. 1 NIniveh so call'd by the Ancients though now Mosul is an ancient City of the Assyrian◠built as some say by Ninus the Son of Belus of whom it took its name to be call'd either Ninus as we read in Pliny or after the manner of the Hebrews Ninive Others will have it that Ninus whom the Scriptures call Ashur only repair'd it and that Nimrod or Belus whom I take to be the same first founded it But all agree that this City was very spacious some say three days Journey others 480 furlongs in circuit Volateranus affirms that it was eight years a building with above 10000 men continually at work upon it Diodorus tells us that the Walls of it were 100 foot high and the breadth capable to receive three Carts on a row also that they were adorn'd with 1500 Turrets This City was water'd with the River Tigri◠It stands for Long. 78. Lat. 36. hither was Ionas the Prophet sent to preach 2 It is more the business of Travellers to learn than to teach wherefore 't is not amiss for all Travellers to imitate Damis in keeping a Journal of all things remarkable that occur in their Travels Now as Travelling does much advantage Wise men so does it no less prejudice Fools adding Affectation to Folly and Atheism to the Curiosity of many not well principled by Education Such wanderers imitating those Factors of Solomon who together with Gold returned Apes and Peacocks Osborn 3. The Ancient Philosophers were most of them addicted to Travel as knowing how much it enlarges mens minds to know the different manners of Countries remote from their own For my part the too great indulgence of my Parents heretofore and the concerns of my Family now hath deny'd me that happiness which I so much envy in others and must endeavour to repair by my Studies They only advantage themselves by Travel who well fraught with the experience of what their own Country affords carry over with them large and thriving Talents as those Servants did commended by our Saviour for he that hath nothing to venture hath nothing to improve and will hazard losing his small parts either in the French Levity Spanish Pride or Italian Treachery Because not being able to acquaint himself abroad of more prudence then what he meets with in the Streets or other publick places the Activity of his Legs and Arms may possibly be augmented and he by tedious Complements become more acceptable in the eyes of silly Women but altogether useless if not pernicious to the Government of his own Country in creating doubts and dislikes by way of a partial Companion I have never met with more ridiculous subjects for Laughter than are most of our young Sparks newly come out of France tyed to their Swords with a broad Belt upon their Loins like a Monkeys Chain when with their Hat under one arm and the other hand at their Cod-piece you shall hear nothing but of what they did in the French Camp or at St. Germans beginning each sentence with a Iarné or Mort de Dieu and when they speak to their Lacqueys ever mistaking Garçon for Boy nothing can be more insipid than such a Coxcombs discourse he magnifies Tyranny because he convers'd with none but the Commanding party and extols Popery for its Pageantry and this is all that most of our young Gallants profit by their French Voyage Travelling says
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 At te Cydne canam tacitis qui leniter undis Caeruleus placidis per vada serpis aquis Ovid. 3. de Arte Am. Vel prope te nato lucide Cydne croco 3 Aesculapius is most commonly said to be the Son of Apollo and the Nymph Coronis he lived about the year of the World 2710. a little before the Trojan War He was so famous for his skill in Physick that he was worshipped for a God especially among the Epidauri from whence he was called Epidaurius Pausanias in his Corinthiac tells us that Phlegya the Father of Coronis not knowing that his Daughter Coronis had conceiv'd by Apollo carried her along with him to Peloponesus and that she being brought to bed of a Boy in the Confines of Epidaurus exposed the young Child in a Mountain which from that accident was afterwards called Titthias however others report this happen'd in the Fields of Telphusium in which place the Infant being suckled by a Goat was discover'd by a Dog that had wandred from the Flock which he was keeping whereupon the Master of the Flock returning and finding many of his Herd missing search'd all up and down the Pastures till at length he found both the Child the Goat and his Dog And that observing flashes of Fire to evaporate out of the head of the Infant he supposed it to be of a Divine extraction and soon spread the fame thereof all over those parts Some there be who report that when Coronis was with Child she lay with Ischyis the Son of Elaâ—us which Diana resenting as an high affront done to her Brother Apollo she put her to death for the same And that after she was dead either Mercury or Phoebus took Aesculapius out of his Mothers belly as the Poet mentions Non tulit in cineres labi sua Phoebus eosdem Semina sed natum flammis uteroque parentis Eripuit geminique tulit Chironiâ— in antrum Ovid. Met. lib. 2. Lactantius reports that he was born of unknown Parents and then being exposed was found by some Huntsmen and committed to Chiron's care who instructed him in Physick and that by Birth he was a Messenian but dwelt at Epidaurus From whence as St. Augustine writes he came to Rome that so expert a Physician might practise with the greater credit in so famous a City He was numbred amongst the Gods saith Celsus for adding such excellency and lustre to that Art which before was but rude and undigested The Epidaurians therefore consecrated a Temple unto him without the Walls of their City where he had his Statue in the form of a Physician holding his long Beard in one hand and a Staff involved with a Serpent in the other For the Serpent was sacred unto him not only as Macrobius says for the quickness of his sight but because he is so restorative and soveraign in Physick Serpens Epidaurius Horat. So the brazen Serpent the Type of our eternal Health erected by Moses cured those who beheld it And here Aesculapius is said to have converted himself into that form because by health men seem to renew their youth like a Snake that hath cast her Hackle In this shape saith Lactantius he sail'd to Rome and is said by Pherecides to have Serpentine feet He chose his Seat in the Isle of Tyber and then vanish'd out of sight where his Temple was built and his Festivals kept in the Calends of Ianuary And now in the Hortyards of St. Bartholomeus at Rome there is a Ship of Marble to be seen with a Serpent on the Hatches in memorial of his Transmigration Epidaurus a City in Peleponnesus was famous for the Shrine of Aesculapius to which all sick persons that did resort were as both Strabo and Iamblicus write inform'd in their sleep what Medicine would cure their Distemper When the Romans were afflicted with the Pestilence they sending Ogolenus to consult Apollo's Oracle at Delphos he directed them to his Son Aesculapius at Epidaurus with Orders to carry him to Rome but the Epidaures were unwilling to part with their God or rather his Image yet notwithstanding Aesculapius in the form of a Serpent went aboard one of the Roman Ships and so along with them to Rome Orpheus writes that Iupiter struck Aesculapius with his Thunderbolts because he had restored to life Hyppolitus who had been torn in pieces by his own Chariot-Horses when he fled from the fury of his Father as we may see in the Story of Theseus And that Apollo being much afflicted at the death of Aesculapius but not being able to revenge himself upon Iupiter he kill'd the Cyclops that had made the Thunderbolts wherewith his Son had been slain Orph. de Aesculapio in Hymn Heraclit de Incred The Moral of this is that Aesculapius was said to be begot by Apollo in that the Sun is the Author of Health 4 Heraclea Ponti the Metropolitan City of Bythinia called at this day Penderachi it lyes at the mouth of the Euxine Sea near the River Lycus It took its ancient Name from Hercules as Mela informs us And our Author distinguishes it by the Name of Ponti for that there are divers other Cities known by the same Name As for instance There is one in the Confines of Europe another in Italy between Siris and Aciris another in Sicily near Lilibaeum another in Narbon by the River Rhodanus another in Caria now by the Turks call'd Ergel another in Creete and another in Lydia from whence the Touchstone takes its Name of Heracleus Lapis All which several Towns were heretofore call'd Heraclea 5 Pontus a Kingdom of Asia the Less so called from a King whose Name was Pontus Strabo tells us that it is bounded on the West with the River Haly on the East with Colchos on the South with the Lesser Armenia and on the North with the Euxine Sea But Ptolomy lib. 5. says it is limited on the West with the Thracian Bosphorus on the South with Asia and on the North with part of the Euxine Sea· Sit. zon temp Clim This Countrey is famous for producing Poysons which gave occasion to Medea in the Fable to bring all her Poysons from hence Has herbas atque haec Ponto mihi lecta venena Ipse dedit Maeris nascuntur plurima Ponto Virg. Eccl. 8. 6 Philostratus tells us that Euxenus knew no more of Pythagoras's Philosophy than Birds do the sence of those words which they learn by rote And this is the very case of vulgar people in Religious matters who hold the Articles of their Faith like their temporal Estate from their Predecessors having a title of Tradition for the one and of Inheritance or Fee-simple for the other Most Men like Carriers Horses follow one another in a Track where if the fore-Horse goes wrong all the rest succeed him in his errour not considering that he who comes behind may take an advantage to avoid that pit which those that went before are fallen into If the primitive Christians had been
Intemperance Another time being beaten black and blue in the Face by Nicrodomus the Lutenist he pasted a piece of Paper on his Forehead wherein was written Nicrodomus did this Also at Thebes being beaten by the Master of the Gymnasium or as others say at Corinth by Euthicrates he laughed saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. He by the Foot him drew And o're the Threshold threw Mr. Stanly 's Transl. Alexander asking Crates whether he would that his Countrey should be restored or no Crates answer'd To what end seeing there will come perhaps another Alexander and destroy it Again The Athenian Magistrates blaming him for wearing a long Robe I will shew you saith he Theophrastus in the same Attire which they not believing he brought them to a Barber's Shop where Theophrastus was sitting to be trimm'd Zeno in his Chrias saith that he sowed a Sheeps-skin on his Cloak to appear the more deformed however of himself he was very unhandsom and always whilst he discours'd laughd In his old age he grew crooked to which he alludes when looking upon himself and perceiving Death's approach he said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. And dost thou go old Friend To the next World thou whom old age doth bend He died old and was buried in Boeotia The Epistles of Crates are extant wherein saith Laertius he writes excellent Philosophy in a style resembling Plato He wrote likewise divers Tragedies full of deep Philosophy Stanly his Lives of the Philosophers Suidas Laertii lib. 6. Stobae Serm Plutarch Mor. Gale's Court of the Gent. part 2. Crates is much commended by Plutarch for that he had no sooner read upon that Monster Sardanapalus's Tomb these Verses Haec habeo quae edi quaeque exsaturata Libido Hausit at illa manent multa praeclara relicta Chaerill Poeta But he extempore made this addition to them Haec habui didici studio quae pulchra Camaenae Me quibus instruxere I cannot present you with a true Character of this Philosopher's Vertue without rendring it morose and ill natured to the brisk and airy affected to the complaisant fulsom and unclean to the nice clownish to the well-bred prodigal and extravagant to the covetous and unimitable to the licentious and youthful however since his Vertue which consisted in a self-denying temperance was great the custom and discipline of his Sect may justly attone for all his other ill-bred errors Now besides our Theban Philosopher whom Philostratus here speaks of there were other eminent men of the same Name viz. Crates an ancient Comick Poet of Athens a Disciple of Polemon the Philosopher Suidas And Crates the Grammarian under Ptolomy Philom Contemporary with Aristophanes sirnamed Criticus or Homericus for that he wrote fifty nine Books of Comment upon Homer's Iliads and Odysses Suidas He also first brought the Study of Grammar to Rome as Suetonius says for being sent by King Attalus to the Senate he made many Narrations upon the death of Ennius during the time of his Embassy There was likewise another Crates of Pergamus that wrote a Book containing the wonderful Curiosities of many Countreys of whom Pliny lib. 7.2 and Aelian de Animal 17.9 make mention 6 Sophocles the Prince of Tragick Poets by Birth an Athenian and Son of Sophilus was born in the second year of the seventy first Olympiad whilst Philippus was Archon as Anonym in descript Olymp. and the Scholiasts upon Sophocles say However Suidas and others write that he was born in the seventy third Olympiad which account makes him to be seventeen years older than Socrates about A. M. 3520. and Ant. Christ. 428. Suidas says that he died six years after the death of Euripides but yet is preferr'd before him for the majesty of his Style though not for the number of Sentences He was Co-partner with Euripides and Pericles in the Office of Praetor He wrote as Suidas informs us one hundred and twenty three Tragedies and in his contention for the Laurel with other Poets he obtain'd no less than twenty four Victories whereof there were three most eminent The first was the Victory which he got in his youth over Aeschylus for the which as some say Aeschylus retiring into Sicily did there die of grief Plutarch in Cimone The second was when his own Sons accused him in his old age for want of Wit before the Judge whereupon Sophocles producing a Tragedy which he had lately written and asking the Judg's opinion whether that seem'd to be the Work of an Idiot The Judg did so highly esteem of it that reproving his Sons very severely he dismiss'd them with disgrace and their old Father with honour Cicero Cato Maj. 20. The third and last Victory of Sophocles was that which cost him his life as some say for being very ancient and having rehears'd a Tragedy at the publick place for tryal of Wit after a long Dispute remaining at last Victor by one voice he died for joy that he had won Valer. Maxim lib. 9. ch 12. From hence it was that Cicero calling him the divine Poet says That he wrote Tragedies to the very last period of his old age Cicero Cato Maj. 20. Nay Pliny is so Romantick in his commendation of Sophocles that he brings a Miracle to honour him after his death saying lib. 7. ch 29. that when Sophocles the Prince of all Tragical Poets was dead in Athens it being at the same time that the City was besieged by the Lacedaemonians God Bacchus appear'd several times by way of vision in a Dream to Lysander their King admonishing him to suffer that person in the World whom he most delighted in to be interred Whereupon the King enquiring what person was lately departed this Life in Athens by relation of the Citizens soon found it to be Sophocles whom the God meant for that he was the last man that had died amongst them therefore he permitted them to bury him in peace and to perform his funeral Obsequies without any molestation or trouble Concerning Sophocles's rejoycing at his old age as a means to extinguish his Lust which Philostratus here mentions the same is also spoken of by Plutarch and Cicero who say that Sophocles being on a time demanded familiarly by one of his Friends whether he could yet keep company with a Woman if need were answer'd God bless me my good Friend talk no more of that I pray for I am long since free from those matters and by the benefit of my old age have escaped the servitude of such violent and furious Mistresses Plut. Mor. de Avaritia ac etiam de Senect Sympos lib. 1. Cicero Cato Maj. 43. Sophocles writing a Tragedy upon the Story of Antigone Daughter to Oedipus King of Thebes was so happy and successful both in his Fancy and Expressions that the Athenians bestow'd upon him as a reward the Government of Samos From whence that Proverb came Sophocles est He is a happy Orator Sophocles introduced many new things for the reforming of the
Cato was as much ashamed to utter an unhandsom word in his Sons presence as in presence of the Vestal Virgins that they never bathed together for that the Sons-in-Law being out of countenance to uncover their Bodies before them never met in Baths or common Stoves with their Fathers-in-Law To this we may annex the Speech of Cyrus to his Sons a little before his death If any of you saith Cyrus desire to take me by the hand or to see my eyes let him come while the breath is in me for after I am dead and cover'd I command you my Sons not to let my Body be uncover'd or looked on either by your selves or any one else Xenoph. lib. 8. And as I have been inform'd Maximilian the first Emperor of that name did the same It is written that the Emperor Adrian made a Law That men should have their Baths apart from the women which Law was confirm'd by Alexander Severus and afterwards followed by Iustinian Moreover the ancient Canons admitted not of this ignominy for in them it is forbidden that men should bathe and wash with women because the very Pagans were against it notwithstanding to our shame we see it allow'd amongst the Christians of this Age. Finally now to conclude this discourse of Baths let me not be unmindful of those hot ones at Bath which providence hath furnish'd this Nation with and which by relation are no way inferiour to any of the Ancients curing many distempers of all sorts and that as well inward as outward especially since they take to drinking them which of late years they have done in so much that Nechams Verses may as justly be verified of their goodness at this present as they were 400 years since about which time he is said to have written them in these words Bathoniae Thermis vix praefero Virgillanas Confecto prosunt Balnea nostra Seni. Prosunt attritis câ—llisis invalidisque Et quorum morbis frigida causa subest 8 Ephesians a people of Asia the less and Inhabitants of that great and famous City Ephesus which is now called Altâ— Luoco but of this more hereafter CHAP. XIII What kind of speech Apollonius used and what Answer he made to the Question of a Logician Also of his departure from Antioch to the Indies and how coming to the City Ninus he there met with Damis who admiring Apollonius became his perpetual Companion intending accurately to commit to writing all his Sayings and Deeds APollonius used a kind of speech neither 1 Dithyrambical or swelling with Poetical expressions nor on the contrary very Refined and 2 Hyperattick for he esteem'd such expressions unpleasing as exceeded the 3 Attick mediocrity Neither in his discourse did he affect curious niceties No man ever heard him speak 4 Ironically or act the 5 Peripatetick to his hearers but as out of the 6 Tripos when he discours'd he said This I know or Thus it seemeth to me To what purpose are these things You must know c. His sentences were compendious and smart his words very significant and fitted to the things themselves also what he utter'd carried the sound of Authority with it as if enacted by the Scepter Being asked by a certain Logician why he did not seek and enquire his answer was That he sought when he was a Youth and that now it became him no longer to seek but to teach the things which he had found When he further ask'd him how therefore a wise man ought to speak he answer'd as a Law-giver for a Law-giver must make those things Injunctions to the people which he himself is first perswaded of This was the manner of his behaviour at Antioch whereby he drew unto him even those that were the least given to Learning Afterwards he resolved to take a longer Iourney and go to the Indies that he might there talk with those wise men who are called 7 Brachmans and Hyrcanians for he said that it chiefly concerned Young men to Travel abroad into the World He likewise expected to learn many things by the way of the Magicians of Babylon and 8 Susa and therefore discover'd his resolution to his disciples who were seven in number They endeavour'd to divert him from it but he said unto them I have consulted with the Gods about this affair and told you now what I resolved upon only to try whether you be hardy enough to undergo the same things with me therefore since ye discover your selves to be soft and effeminate farewell do you study Philosophy but I must go whither both Wisdom and the Gods lead me Thus having finish'd his discourse he departed from Antioch with only two Servants who were his Country men one of which could write a very swift and the other a very fair hand with whom he travell'd along to the ancient City of 9 Ninus wherein he beheld a Statue erected after a barbarous fashion it was 10 To the Daughter of Inachus having little horns ready to shoot out on both sides her forehead Now as he was admiring this Statue and variously contemplating about that and other things which he had heard from the Priests and Prophets there came to him one Damis a Citizen of Ninus whom I before mentioned in the beginning of this discourse saying that he travell'd together with Apollonius and was a partner with him in his trading for all kind of Philosophy as also one that committed to writing many of his remarkable ' Deeds and Sayings Now this Damis admiring Apollonius also having a desire to travel with him he said unto him Oh Apollonius let us travel together thou following God and I following Thee Moreover thou mayst think me worthy of esteem for though I should know nothing else yet am I well acquainted with the way to Babylon knowing both how many Cities there be and the Towns wherein the best accommodation is to be had it being not long since I return'd from thence Likewise how many 11 Languages are spoken by the Barbarians such as the Armenian Median Persian and Cadusian all which I understand perfectly well To this Apollonius replied My Friend I am well skill'd in all these notwithstanding I never learned any one of them Damis being in admiration at this Apollonius said further to him Do not wonder that I pretend to 12 understand all the Languages of men for I can tell even those things which they conceive in their very thoughts When the Assyâ—ian heard this he pray'd unto him and respected him as a God also resigning up himself to his discipline committed to memory all that he could learn This Assyrian had a reasonable Talent of expressing himself though no great Elegancy in writing being educated amongst the Barbarians but for discourse converse and whatsoever he saw or heard he could well enough describe and compose Memoirs thereof being practised therein as appears by the Books which he composed of the Acts and Sentences of Apollonius wherein he omitted none of those things that were
Artabanus whose Story we read in Tacituâ—â— his Annals lib. 6. lib. 11. Artabanus dying left behind him several Children viz. Arsaces Darius Bardanes Gotarzes Orodes Volâ—geses Pacores and Tiridates besides one Daughter whereof we have no farther mention Now Arsaces having the Government of Armenia given him by his Father was there kill'd by his own Subjects being suborn'd so to do by Mithridates and Pharasinâ—â— two Princes of Spain Darius was sent in Hostage to Rome to the Emperor Tiberius whereupon the third Son Bardanes of whom Philostratus here speaks came to the Crown by his Fathers Will by reason of his two older Brothers misfortune which happen'd to them during Bardanes's Life Of his Wars you may see an account at large in Tacitus as also of his unlucky death 3 Babylonish Wine Strabo lib. 16. speaking of the fertility of the Province of Babylon says that this Country produces greater store of Corn then any other in so much that it is said to render 300 for one and for all other necessaries requisite to the subsistance of man their Palms supply them with as Wine Honey Vinegar and Cloathing which they extract from the Palm-Tree together with Nuts which serve their Smiths and such as make use of Fire instead of Coals also these Nuts being steep'd in Water serve to fatten their Sheep and Oxen Plâ—ny lib. 14 writes that all the East used no other Wines but what are made of Palms Athenaeus lib. 14. ch 26. saith that the Persian Kings used only to drink the Calyboniaâ— Wine which as Possidonius affirms grew only in Damascus of Syria for that the Persians had there planted Vines He that would know more of this Subject let him peruse Pliny's 14 th Book as also Athenaeus wherein you may find all the several sorts of Wine extant in the World together with their original growth and encrease 4 Those Fruits are sweeter that grow wild Apollonius esteem'd them so as admiring the simple works of God and Nature beyond all the Art and improvement of Man How much sweeter are the wild Notes of the Nightingale than any Artificial ones which we teach our tame Birds How much more beautiful are the colours of the Rainbow than any we can imitate and we find by daily experience how much sweeter many of our Fruits are which grow of their own accord than such as we nurse up with our hot Beds in Gardens 5 Wormwood is call'd in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 impotabile ob amaritudinem vel ingustabile quia illud non tangunt animalia in Depascendis herbis Dioscorides calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à profundo amarore Dioscorides and Galen make mention but of three sorts of Wormwood the one a common sort well known by all men whereof the best grows in Pontus and Cappadocia the other Sea-wormwood or Seriphium and the third Santonicum of the Country beyond the Alpes in France Nevertheless there hath since been found out many Herbs accounted to be kinds or sorts of them both for their likeness of Face and Virtues Absinthium vulgare or the common Wormwood is of an heating and binding property it purgeth Choler that cleaveth to the Stomach or Belly But of this see more in Parkinson's Theatrum Bâ—tanicum Tribe 1. ch 36. also Pliny lib. 27. ch 7. 6 Barbarous Language Charron who is but an imitator of Montaign wearing his Thoughts at second hand tells us in his Treatise of Wisdom that Speech is the interpreter and image of the Soul animi index speculum the Messenger of the heart the Gate whereby all that is within issueth forth in so much that an ancient Philosopher said once to a Child Speak that I may see thee that is to say the inside of thee As Vessels are known whether they be broken or whole full or empty by the sound and Metals by the touch so Man by the sound of his Tongue or Speech Of all the visible parts of the Body which shew themselves outward that which is nearest the Heart is the Tongue by the root thereof so that which comes nearest unto our Thought is our Speech for from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh Life and Death are in the power of the Tongue so that there is nothing better and nothing worse than the Tongue Hearing and Speech are the two Gates whereby the Soul does traffick at the one all things enter in and at the other all go forth But Hearing is the first Gate through which all must first pass for there can nothing come forth of the Soul but that which first entreth and therefore he that by Nature is born deaf the same is likewise dumb Now from the communication of these two as from the stroke of two Flints or Irons together there comes forth the sacred Fire of Truth The Tongue like other benefits of Nature is bestow'd upon us as a singular blessing yet nevertheless as with those Legs which are given us to walk about our necessary occasions we may leap into a River or off from a Steeple or with those Hands which are lent us by providence for our defence and service we may cut our own Throats so likewise our Tongues though an eminent gift of Nature may if irregularly managed prove our destruction as I have already shew'd in the 11th Chapter of this Book A man's wit should serve rather for a Buckler to defend himself by a handsom reply than a Sword to wound others though with never so facetious a Reproach remembring that a word cuts deeper than a sharper weapon and the wound it makes is longer in curing A sudden blow is the effect of an inconsiderate Passion but a disgraceful Speech is the result of a low and base esteem settled of the party in your Heart Therefore nothing blows up Anger into mischief like Bitterness of words especially if they be aculeate and proper for communia maledicta are little resented No sharp expressions are so much allow'd of as smart Repartees which being both ex tempore and on the defensive part are not only pardonable but commendable wherefore all applauded that Nobleman who being given the Lye by a Physician told him he had rather take that of him than Physick I must confess there is nothing for the which I have a greater aversion than foul words in so much that I can sooner Study with twenty Drums beating about my ears than with two people a Scolding for not only the noise but also the curiosity to hear what they say too much commands my attention and that out of an opinion I have that there is not so much Truth spoken any where as at Billinsgate when the Orange-wenches call one another Whore Thief c. 'T is the same reason induces me to peruse those Polemical Books which are written in a more refined Billinsgate Dialect such as the Friendly Debate its several Parts the Books in Answer to Mr. Hobbs Marvel's and Parker's several
adored by the Inhabitants of that Countrey as so many Gods And this saith Diodorus is the account which Fables give of Semiramis's Birth which as Sabellicus observes very much resembles the Fictions which Posterity invented of Cyrus and Romulus not to mention the true and sacred Narrative of Moses Now Semiramis surpassing all other Virgins in beauty and being then marriageable Menon the Governour of Syria who had been sent by the King to take an account of his Cattel and residing at Simma's House fell in Love with her and married her then carrying her back with him to the City of Niniveh he there had two Sons by her Iapetes and Idaspes Now her beauty did so totally influence Menon that wholly resigning up himself to Semiramis he would do nothing without her advice But Fortune who envies nothing so much as the happiness of Lovers would not permit them long to enjoy this mutual and calm satisfaction for the Prince is engaged in the Fields of Mars and the Subject must not lye sleeping at home in the Embraces of Venus King Ninus is storming the City Bactria and Menon his Officer must no longer absent himself from the Camp Therefore leaving Venus for Mars his Semiramis for the War Menon posts away to the King who was then besieging Bactria where he had not continued long but impatient of his Wifes absence he sends for Semiramis to accompany him in the Camp Thereupon she being a most prudent Woman and endued with more courage than is usually found in that Sex making use of this opportunity of shewing her extraordinary vertue undertakes the Journey in obedience to her Husband notwithstanding it was long and tedious But to render it the less difficult she attires her self in such a Garment as she might pass either for Man or Woman upon occasion and which would not only protect her from the heat of the Weather but was withall so light as it could no ways incommode her in case of any Action which Habit was so generally approved of that first the Medes and afterwards the Persians when they possest the Asiatick Empire did for a long time use no other than this Semirian Garment Now in this Dress she arrived incognito at the Assyrian Camp where having observ'd the posture of the Siege as also the situation of the City she discover'd that the Castle naturally strong and difficult of access was therefore neglected and unprovided of men for its Guard the Bactrians at that time being wholly imploy'd in defending the Outworks of the City which the Assyrians only assaulted as looking upon the Castle impregnable Whereupon Semiramis having privately made this observation selects out of the whole Army a Detachment of such men as were best skill'd in climbing up steep Rocks and Mountains who with much difficulty ascending up thorow the rough and narrow passages made themselves Masters of one part of the Castle when to amaze the Enemy she makes a dreadful noise withall giving notice to the Besiegers that the Castle was taken whereat the Besieged within were so terrified that evacuating themselves they abandoned the defence of the Town and attempted nothing more but the saving of their own Lives by flight The City thus taken and Semiramis discover'd all persons were in admiration of her heroick Vertue and Beauty in so much that King Ninus himself who is call'd in the Scripture Ashur falling desperately in Love with her did first by fair means require her Husband Menon to resign up his Wife to him which he refusing to do the King at length threatned him with the loss of both his Eyes to prevent which Torture Menon desiring of Evils to choose the least did with his own hands strangle himself Hereupon the King married his Widow Semiramis by whom he had one Son called Ninus the second or Ninyas and soon after died leaving the Government both of his Son and Kingdom to Semiramis There are various Reports concerning this Ninus's Death for some with Orosius and Reusnerus will have it that he died of a Wound receiv'd by a Dart in the Bactrian War but Diodorus tells us that the Athenians and other Historians affirm that Semiramis presuming upon the influence of her Beauty requested Ninus that she might be invested with the Royal Robes and rule absolutely but for five days whereunto he assenting she after having made experiment of the Fidelity and Obedience of some of her Guards commands them to imprison the King her Husband which immediately they perform'd and by this means she assumed the Government of the Empire Herewith likewise both Aelian and Plutarch agree differing only in these Circumstances that whereas Diodorus saith she imprison'd him they affirm that she kill'd him also whereas Diodorus and Aelian write that she requested to rule five days Plutarch says her petition was but for one day Now for Semiramis's Government after her Husband's Death Iustin gives us this Account of it That Ninus himself being slain and his Son Ninus but young Semiramis not daring to commit the Government of so great an Empire to a Boy nor openly to exercise the Command of it her self so many and so powerful Nations being scarcely obedient to a Man would be much less to a Woman did counterfeit her self to be the Son instead of the Wife of Ninus and a Boy instead of a Woman They were both of a middle Stature their Voice but soft their Complexion and Features of Face as likewise the Lineaments of their Bodies were alike both in Mother and Son she therefore with Rayment cover'd her Arms and Thighs putting a Tire on her Head and that she might not seem to conceal any thing by her new Habit she commanded the people all to be cloath'd in the same Attire which that whole Nation have ever since observ'd having thus counterfeited her Sex she was believ'd to be a young Man After this she made her self famous by great Atchievements by the magnificence whereof when she thought shâ— had overcome all Envy she confess'd who she was and whom she had counterfeited neither did this detract from the dignity of her Government but rather increas'd her admiration that a Woman not only surpass'd her own Sex but also the bravest of Men in Vertue She builded Babylon as I shew'd before and being not contented to defend the bounds of the Empire obtain'd by her Husband she not only made an addition to the same of all Aethiopia but also carried the War into India which besides her self and Alexander the Great never any invaded At last when she desired to lye with her own Son she was kill'd by him Thus far Iustin lib. 1. Arrianus and others allow her a more honourable death and say that marching against the Indians with an Army of 3000000 Infantry and 50000 Cavalry besides 100000 Chariots she was overthrown by Stanrobates upon the Banks of Indus and there slain or as some will have it turn'd into a Dove Venus's Bird whence the Babylonians ever after carried a
to be honour'd and worshipp'd with the same honour and worship which is due to the person whereof it is an Image Azor. Inst. Moral Tom. 1. lib. 9. ch 6. This made Ludovicus Viveâ— a learned Catholick confess that there could be found no other difference between Paganish and Popish worship before Images but only this that Names and Titles are changed Comment in Aug. Civit. Dei lib. 8. ch 27. for as the Italian Proverb hath it They are both one Broth only mutatis Nominibus so that when the Spaniards conquer'd the West-Indies they pull'd down one Idolatry to set up another and in my opinion the New was worse than the Old 2 Darius the Father of Cyrus and Artaxerxes this was Darius Nothus the 6 th King of the Persians and Son of Artaxerxes Longimanus as some say by a Concubine or as others say he was Longimaenus's Son-in-law by marrying of his Daughter Parysatis Philip Melancthon lib. 2. p. 137. and Sleidan believe that this Parysatis was the Sister of Longimanus and accordingly that Darius Nothus was by Marriage his Brother-in law But Plutarch in the Life of Artaxerxes writes that Parysatis was the Daughter of Longimanus and that she was incestuously married to her Brother Darius Nothus This Darius had two Brethren Xerxes and Sogdiaâ—us that reign'd before him but their Behaviour was so unworthy and their Reign so short ending within the compass of one year that there is little notice taken of them in History So that this third Brother who was at first call'd Ochus and afterwards Darius Nothus took possession of the Throne wherein he was no sooner seated but by the advice of his Wife Parysatis who was a Woman of great cunning and cruelty he endeavour'd to get into his possession another of his Brothers call'd Secundianus who was yet alive as thinking it his safest way to spend and destroy all such of the Blood Royal that might contend with him for Title Wherefore alluring Secundianus by fair promises and oaths he at last prevail'd with him to trust himself in his hands notwithstanding Mâ—nostanes the Eunuch had disswaded him from so doing Now Darius Nothus had no sooner gotten Secundianus into his power but he immediately put him to death This King had one policy beyond his Ancestors for seeing his Forces had been often routed he chose rather to bribe and conquer with the Purse than to fight upon an uncertainty with the Pike The old observation was that no Town is so strong but an Ass loaden with Gold might enter therein The corruption of mens Natures is so great that all honesty depends upon who bids most This will I fancy in time render all strong holds and fortifi'd places useless since if any one of the Officers within the same be dishonest and what principles can such men have who live upon Rapine Fire and Sword the place is lost Moreover if Princes consider'd the lives of their common Souldiers when lost in their service any more than dead Dogs or Crows they would all follow the example of this Darius and rather purchase a Fort with the Bribe of 10000 l. than with the loss of 10000 mens lives But of this more hereafter Now Darius by this means closed with the stout Lacedemonians and recover'd most of what his Predecessors lost in Asia In Scripture it is said that he promoted the building of the Temple which by his Father had been interrupted Ezra 6. His chief Favourites were three Eunuchs Artoxares Artibarxanes and Athous but his chiefest Counsellor was his Wife Parysatis by whom he had thirteen Children whereof only his Daughter Amistris and his three Sons Artaxerxes his first Cyrus his second and Oxendras his third outlived him Ctesias writes that Arsites the King 's own Brother together with Artyphius the Son of Megabyzus joyn'd with the Greeks in a revolt whereupon they were both taken by Darius's General Artasyras and immediately by Parysitis's advice put to death both being cast into ashes which manner of death Valerius Maximus saith was invented by Darius the Son of Hystaspes though others attribute it to this Darius Nothus Now soon after this Pâ—sathnes Governour of Lydia began another Rebellion which succeeded as the former for Darius's General Tissaphernes by corrupting with money some of Pisathnes's men took him Prisoner and cast him into ashes whereupon Darius bestow'd the Government of Lydia upon Tissaphernes Afterwards follow'd the Treason of Artoxares a great Favourite with Darius who conspired about killing him and transferring the Kingdom to himself for which purpose he being an Eunuch caus'd his Wife to disguise him with a counterfeit Beard but this Plot being detected Parysatis had him put to death At this time it was that Artaxerxes Darius's eldest Son married Statira the Daughter of Idarnes a man of great quality among the Persians and Terituchâ—es the Son of Idarnes married Amistris Darius's Daughter which cross Match proved very unhappy for Terituchmes falling in Love with his Sister Roxana a Woman of great Beauty and well skill'd in Shooting detested his Wife in so much as he resolv'd to murder her by the help of 300 men with whom he also practised to revolt In the mean while Vdiastes a man that had great power with him being promised a high reward if he could preserve Amistris from the danger of her Husband slew his Master Terituchmes but the Son of this Vdiastes who was Armour-bearer to Terituchmes and not present at his death after he had notice thereof cursed his Father and seizing upon the City Zaris deliver'd it up to Terituchmes's Son Thereupon Parysatis did bury alive the Mother Brethren and Sisters of Terituchmes also commanded Roxana to be cut in pieces alive Darius would have had her to have made away Statira his Daughter-in-law as well as all the rest but through the importunity of her Husband Artaxerxes she gave her her life of which Darius told her she would afterwards repent and it fell out accordingly Against this Darius Nothus the Medes rebell'd but were after some time reduced again into obedience At this time the States of Greece being embroyl'd in the Pâ—lâ—ponesian War he made great advantages by siding with the Lacedemonians against the Athenians who did him much hurt in Asia by their great skill in Navigation In the 17th year of his Reign he dispatch'd away his second Son Cyrus who was born since he came to the Government down to the Sea-side as Satrapa or Lievtenant-General over all his Forces which were used to muster at the Plains of Castolus with orders to assist the Lacedemonians in their War against the Athenians by whose assistance they recover'd all that they had formerly lost Cyrus had not continued in this Employ above a year or two before he grew so high that he kill'd his two Cosin-germans Autobaesaces and Mittraeus because they came not to him with their hands folded under their cloaths which Ceremony was only observ'd in the presence of a King Their
own Physician writes that it was given him by a Caunian of mean condition Now Cyrus being thus slain Artaxerxes commanded his Head and his right Hand to be cut off after which marching to plunder his Camp he there â—eiz'd on his Brother's Phocâ—an Concubine Aspasâ—a and took her for his own as I have already shew'd After this the King beginning his March homewards and Parysatis the Queen-Mother being inform'd of her beloved Son Cyrus's death mediâ—ated upon nothing else but how to be revenged on those that were the chief Instruments of it Wherefore the Caunian and one Mithridates being both condemn'd to die each of them for bragging that they had kill'd Cyrus with their own hands because thereby they robb'd the King of that honour which he pretended unto himself Parysatis begg'd to have the torturing of them which Artaxerxes granting her she perform'd with such feminine cruelty that they were 17 days in dying The next Tragedy she acted was upon Megates the Eunuch whom having won of Artaxerxes at Dice she caused to be fâ—ea'd alive for that he was the person who cut off the Head and Hands of her Son Cyrus Afterwards her Revenge fasten'd upon the Queen Statira with whom although she carried it fair outwardly yet she hated mortally partly by reason of her former enmity to Cyrus partly for her great interest with the King her Husband and partly upon the account that she had put to death many of those who by Parysatis's means had formerly murder'd her Brother Terituchmes and her other Relations wherefore being at Supper together Parysatis cutting a Bird in the middle with a Knife that was poyson'd on one side gave that part which was next the Poyson to Statira who seeing Parysatis her self eat of the same Bird suspected nothing nevertheless Statira died of the same with great Torment and Convulsions some time before she died she began to suspect the true cause of her illness and acquainted the King with it who knowing the implacable malice of his Mother soon credited it and thereupon tortured her nearest Servants but she kept one Gygis a waiting Woman who had been accessary to the fact and would not deliver her up to him till at length having notice that she design'd to escape by night he surpriz'd and condemn'd her to have her Head bruis'd to pieces between two Stones which is the Persian Law for Poysoners As for his Mother Parysatis he hurt her not in the least either in word or deed but she desiring to go to Babylon he sent her only with this farewell that then he would not see that City so long as she lived And this is the true state of the domestick Affairs of Artaxerxes Plut. in Artax Xenoph. exped Cyri lib. 6. lib. 7. Artaxerxes after the overthrow of Cyrus sent down Tissaphernes and not Pharnabazus as Diodorus writes to the Sea-coasts to recover them again into his power which belonged to him both by Inheritance from his Father and by Conquest from his Brother all which readily submitted to his Summons Soon after the Greek Cities under Thymbro their Captain-General declared against the King and from a small power grew very considerable and successful chiefly from an Emulation and Dissention between the two Persian Generals Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus which produced frequent Miscarriages abroad and Accusations at home one of another to the King till at last Agesilaus obtaining a considerable Victory over the Persians near the River Pactolus for want of their Foot which was occasion'd by Tissaphernes's absence they accused him to the King of Treachery which Accusation being vigorously prosecuted by Parysatis who bore him a mortal grudge upon the account of her Son Cyrus Artaxerxes made Tithraustes General in his stead with a particular Commission to put to death Tissaphernes which accordingly was done for Ariaeus alluring him to Colossus in Phrygia under pretence of a new Commission for him did there seize Tissaphernes in the Baths and send him Prisoner to Tithraustes who forthwith cut off his Head and sent it to the King also the King sent it as a Present to his Mother Parysatis who greatly rejoyced at the sight Of this read more in Plutarch Xenophon Diodorus and Pausanias Now concerning this King's Reign Historians vary Plutarch makes his Rule to be 62 years others say 55 years others 49. and others 43. or 44. but the most credible opinion is that of Beda in his six Ages of the World and of Eusebius in his Chronicle who say that Artaxerxes for grief of his Sons wickedness died in the 43 d. year of his Reign being Anno Mundi 3610. ante Christi Nativit 361. 4 Artaxerxes the Son of Xerxes whose sirname was Longimanus so call'd à Longitudine manus for that as Strabo tells us lib. 15. his Hands and Arms were so long that standing straight and upright with his Body his Hands reach'd down below his Knees But Plutarch Vita Artaxerx saith that he had one Hand longer than the other excepting which blemish he was the most beautiful man of his time Xerxes the Father of this Prince being murder'd by his Uncle Artabanus left behind him three Sons viz. Darius Hystaspes and Artaxerxes Longimanus at the time of Xerxes's death the eldest and the youngest were resident in his Court but Hystaspes was absent as being then Governour of Bactria Now Artabanus having murder'd their Father went immediately in the dead time of the night to Artaxerxes the third Son and made him believe that his elder Brother Darius was the person that had kill'd his Father out of an ambition to reign himself as also that he had a design upon his life whereupon Artabanus promising him the assistance of his Guards if he would kill his Brother Darius Artaxerxes giving credit to all that he had said did forthwith put Darius to death When this was done Artabanus calling his Sons together told them that if ever they thought to obtain the Kingdom then was the time and that it could only be done by Artaxerxes's death Hereupon they drawing their Swords with a design to kill him Artaxerxes receiving but one slight wound defended himself so bravely that he slew Artabanus on the place as some will have it though others with more reason defer the time of Artabanus's death to whom also seven months in the Empire are attributed by Eusebius Now by this means Darius being slain Artaxerxes came to the Empire in his youth being the 4th year of the 78th Olympiad or in the beginning of the 79th Lysitheus being then Archon at Athens A.M. 3540. and 463 years before the Birth of Christ. Those Authorâ— who write that Artabanus survived his first Conflict say also that he made a second Attempt upon Artaxerxes's Life which design he communicated to Megabyzus who had married the Daughter of Xerxes and for her loose life was fallen into a discontent which Artabanus did as thinking nothing would make a man more valiant and desperate than an ill Wife accordingly Megabyzus
And this was the end of that one part of the third and Grecian Monarchy call'd Macedonia A. M. 3803. II. The Kings of Asia Minor were 1. Antigonus Philip of Macedon's Natural Son 2. Demetrius Poliorcetes who was expell'd this Kingdom by his Son-in-law Seleucus Nicanor after which this Asia Minor was annex'd to the Kingdom of Syria A. M. 3683. III. The Kings of Syria were 1. Sâ—leucus Nicanor 2. Antiochus Sâ—ter the Son of Seleucus Nicanor 3. Antiochus the second sirnamed Theos 4. Seleuchus â—â—llinichus the Son of Theos 5. Seleucus Ceraunus the Son of Callinicus 6. Antiochus Magnus the Brother of Ceraunus 7. Seleucâ—s Philopater or Soter the Son of Antiochus M. 8. Antiochus Epiphanes the Brother of Seleucus Epiphanes 9. Antiochus Eupator the Son of Antiochus Epiphanes â—0 Demetrius Soter 11. Alexander Bala or Veles 12. Demetrius Nicanor the Son of Demetrius Soter 13. Antiochus Entheus 14. Tryphon 15. Antiochus Sideteâ— alias Soter the Son of Demetrius Nicanor 16. Demetrius II. Nicanor redux 17. Alexander Zebenna 18. Antiochus Grypus the Son of Demetrius 19. Antiochus Cyzicenus Seleucus the 5th Antiochus Eusebes Philippus and Demetrius were all the Sons of Grypus who being at variance amongst themselves became a prey to Tigranes of Parthia 20. Tigranes himself was soon after subdued likewise by Pompey and Syria made a Province by the Romans A. M. 3890. IV. The Kings of Aegypt were 1. Ptolemaeus Lagus Philip of Macedon's Natural Son 2. Ptol. Philadelphus that married his own Sister Arsinoe 3. Ptol. Evargetes 4. Ptol. Philopator 5. Ptol. Epiphanes 6. Ptol. Philometor 7. Ptol. Physcon 8. Ptol. Lathurus or Lamyrus 9. Ptol. Alexander 10. Ptol. Lathurus recall'd again from Banishment 11. Ptol. Auletes 12. Ptol. Dionysius 13. Cleopatra the Daughter of Ptol. Auletes was at first the beloved Mistress of Iulius Caesar and afterwards of Mark Anthony whose overthrow at Actium broke her heart so that she voluntarily threw away her own life with the biting of an Asp after which Aegypt was reduced into a Roman Province whereby the third Monarchy did totally expire Wherefore the Roman Power having in this manner swallow'd up the four several Divisions of the third Monarchy the fourth Monarchy must by consequence take its beginning at Rome and so we find it for Iulius Caesar is reckon'd to be the first Founder of this fourth Empire which derives its Name of Roman from the City of Rome it self Plutarch speaking of the greatness of this Empire saith Romanum imperium velut Anchora fuit fluctuanti Mundo The City of Rome was call'd the Head of the World and the Romans the Lords of the Universe Terrarum Dea gentiumque Roma Cuâ— par est nihil nihil secundum Mart Also Propertius Omnia Romanae cedant miracula terrae Natura hic posuit quicquid ubique fuit Again Ovid Gentibus est aliâ—s Tellus datalimite certo Romanae spatium est urbis orbis idem Lib. 2. Fast. Likewise Petronius Arbit Orbem jam totum victor Romanus habebat Qua mare qua terre qua sidus currit utrumque This Roman Empire is divided into several Periods whereof the first which comprehends all the Heathen Emperors and lasts about 355 years is reckon'd from Iulius Caesar to Constantine the Great the second from Constantine the Great to Iustinian the third from Iustinian to Charles the Great and the fourth from Charles the Great down to our present Times therein containing the Government of the Western Franks But for as much as Philostratus lived long before any of these late Periods so that I can have no occasion to mention any part of their History I shall therefore at this time descend no lower than the first Period of this fourth Monarchy which begins with Iulius Caesar and ends in Constantius Câ—lâ—â—us the Father of Constantine the Great and so conclude The Succession of this Empire was thus 1. Caius Iulius Caesar. 2. Octavianus Caesar Augustus 3. Cl. Tiberius Nero. 4. Cajus Caligula 5. Claudius Tiberius Drusus 6. Cl. Domitius Nero. 7. Sergius Galba 8. Salvius Otho 9. Aulus Vitellius 10. Flavius Vespasianus 11. Titus Vespasianus 12. Fl. Domitianus 13. Nerva Cocceius 14. Ulpius Traianus 15. Aelius Hadrianus 16. Antoninus Pius 17. M. Aur. Antoninus Philosoph 18. Aurelius Commodus 19. P. Aelius Pertinax 20. Didius Iulianus 21. Septimius Severus 22. Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla 23. Opilius Macrinus 24. Heliogabalus 25. Aur. Alex and. Severus 26. Maximinus Thrax 27. Gordianus Father and Son 28. Pupienus and Balbinus 29. Gordianus the third 30. Philippios Arabs and his Son 31. Decius and his Son 32. Treâ—onianus Gallus 33. P. Licinius Valerianus 34. P Licinius Gallienus 35. Claâ—dâ—us 36. Valerius Aurâ—lianus 37. M. Claudius Tacitus 38. M. Aurelius Probus 39. M. Aurel. Caâ—us 40. Valerius Dioâ—lerianus and 41. Constantius Chlorus the Father of Constantine the Great This compendious Scheme of History is what I some years since composed for my own private use as an assistant to my bad memory and whereby I have found no small benefit in my reading ancient Story for without some such general knowledge of the Succession as well of Empires as Kings at first obtain'd a man will find himself at a great loss when he reads any one Prince's Life which generally relates to former Occurrences whâ—reof he is ignorant as also not so well able to digest and remember what he then reads To be first well acquainted with the Rise Progress Declension and final Subversion of an Empire is above all things the greatest help to him that shall afterwards read the Lives of its several Princes he that knows how the first Assyrian Monarchy was founded by Nimrod enlarged by Ninus and Semiramis divided upon the death of Sardanapalus and destroy'd by Cyrus may afterwards launch with pleasure and confidence into the Chronicles of that first Monarchy He that understands how Cyrus by the defeat of Belsazer and by his Uncle Darius Medus's death possessed himself of the whole Assyrian and Babylonian Monarchy and translating the same into Persia did there begin the second Monarchy how Cyrus's Family extinguishing in his Son Cambyses Darius Hystaspes won the Empire by his Horse's neighing and how it continued in his Family till by Darius Codomanus's Luxury this second Monarchy was subverted and translated into Greece by Alexander the Great shall very easily acquaint himself with all other parts of the Persian Story Also he that is at first acquainted with the beginning of this third Grecian Monarchy by Alexander the Great his Victory over Darius with the division of the same by his death into four several Kingdoms and how each of those four Kingdoms were afterwards subdued by the Romans will be able the more easily to inform himself not only of the several Decays and final Ruine of the third Empire but likewise of the many Advances which the Romans made to the fourth till at last it began under Iulius Caesar and extended its first Period to Constantine the Great So that nothing is a
after Aridaeus had enjoy'd the Title of King 6 years and 4 months Olympias also kill'd Nicanor the Brother of Cassander But Cassander hearing she was arrived in Macedonia marched out of Peloponesus against her he also bribed all the Souldiers of Aeacida as well as Polysperchon's Army on whose assistance she solely depended when she being fled to Pydna he there besieg'd her took her and afterwards put her to death she refusing to fly for her Life And such was the end of Olympias the Mother of Alexander whom she had outlived 8 years In the next place he privately order'd Roxane and her Son Alexander to be slain Now Polysperchon to revenge himself on Cassander set up Hercules the Son of Alexander by Barsine who was a Youth of 14 years of age and had been educated at Pergamus Hereupon Cassander fearing lest the Macedonians should be too well affected to this young Hercules for his being descended of Alexander did by way of Counterplot take to Wife Thessalonice the Daughter of Olympias and Sister of Alexander the Great And this I conceive was the Wedding whereat Speusippus recited his Poems as Apollonius here mentions Afterwards Cassander waged a second War which was against Antigonus and soon after died of a Dropsie himself having reign'd 19 years and leaving behind him three Sons of his Wife Thessalonice viz. Philip Antipater and Alexander who came all to an ill end See Iustin Diodorus Plutarch and Laertius Vitâ Phocion 13 Exercise all the Grecian Games There were four principal Games or Shews in Greece whereof the first and most eminent were the Olympiads the second Pythii the third Istmii the fourth Nemei Now designing to treat of all these separately I shall begin first with the Olympiads as being the principal of the Grecian Games Know then that these Olympick Games were first instituted by Hercules in honour of Iupiter they were celebrated once every five years beginning from the 11 th and lasting to the 16 th day of the first Month. Now an Olympiad which comprehended the space of 5 years was an Epocha of time where by the Greeks reckoned their Chronology for as we count by years and the Romans by their Lustra so did they by their Olympiads beginning their first Olympiad A.M. 3174. from which time instead of saying 26 years they would say the first year of the sixth Olympiad c. Also they receiv'd their Name from their Situation as being near the City Olympia in the Province of Elide Now the use made of these Games was to initiate the Youth of Greece in Feats of Activity for that the greatest numbers of men that ever met upon any such Assemblies used to resort thither some as Spectators and others in hope of Victory The original of this Institution was said to be thus That Hercules with his four younger Brethren Paenaeus Ida Iasius and Epimedes being return'd from the Mountain Ida to Elis proposed a Match of Running betwixt them all only to make Sport also that he who outrun should be crown'd with Olive Branches which accordingly Hercules was he being then the Victor who thereupon from the number of those five Brethren instituted the like Sport to be practised every 5 th year to the honour of Iupiter as I said before Also the Victor was according to the first practice ever after crown'd with Olive which gives Aristophanes in Plato occasion to deride Iupiter's poverty as being unable to bestow a Crown of Gold upon the Victor when instead thereof he presented him with a Crown of Olive Branches Nam magis auro decuit si dives is esset Transl. out of Aristoph Some say that Iupiter himself instituted these Pastimes upon his Victory over the Titans when Apollo outran Mercury In these Games Eusebius writes that Corilus an Arcadian wan the first Prize but Pliny and Isacius affirm that Hercules the Son of Alcumena and not the Hercules before-mention'd was the first Founder and Victor of these Sports and Prizes For the Exercises used at these Olympiads that Epigram of Simonides shews what they were wherein he enumerates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et saltus pugnis levitate pedum Atque Palaestra Leaping Fighting Running and Wrestling were the principal Subjects of their Contention notwithstanding they had many others as running Races with Chariots Dâ—sputations betwixt Poets Rhetoricians Musitians and Philosophers Also the manner was then to proclaim Wars or enter Leagues of Peace Of this Subject see more in Cael. Rhodig Natal Com. Mythol Polyd. Virg. and in all the Greek Poets and Historians The second of the Grecian Games were the Pythian so call'd from Pythion a place in Macedonia wherein they were dedicated to the honour of Apollo in commemoration of his Activity in vanquishing the great Serpent Python that was sent by Iuno to persecute his Mother Latona as the Fable saith which Python Strabo lib. 6. expounds to be a bloody wicked man and enemy to Latona whose Name was Draco In these Games the Conquerors were crown'd with Laurel as appears by Lucian and Ovid Huic Iuvenum quicunque manu pedibusve rotave Vicerat esculeae capiebat frondis honorem Nondum Laurus erat Metam lib. 1. The Victor was at first adorn'd with other Boughs but afterwards they made use of the Laurel which Tree was appropriated to Apollo Pausanias in Corinth writes that Diomede at his return from Troy having escaped the danger of Shipwrack did in the nature of a Thanksgiving first institute these Pythian Games which were celebrated once a year at the beginning of Spring as Dionysius in his Book de situ Orbis hath it Instituere choros omnes victoria quando Grata suit cum jucundum ver incipit cum Arboribus dulces nidos subtexit aedon Sic interpr The persons who chiefly frequented these Sports were the Inhabitants of the Cyclades and all the Islanders about Delos Pythia was also the Name of Apollo's Priestess The third of the Grecian Games were the Isthmean celebrated every fifth year in the Isthmus of Corinth from whence they receiv'd their Name They were instituted by Theseus in honour of Neptune as Plutarch in Vitâ Theses testifies Some say they were dedicated to Palaemon the God of the Havens and I conceive that both Opinions may possibly be true for as much as Neptune and Palaemon are sometimes Synonyma in the Greek Poets however they were both Gods of the Sea Neptune of all Palaemon only of the Harbours and Sea-shores In these Sports the Victor was crown'd with a Garland of Pine-tree The fourth and last of the most eminent Games in Greece were the Nemaean so called because they were kept in the Forrest Nemea These Feasts were celebrated by the Argives in honour of Hercules who had so valiantly overcome a Lion in that place and afterwards wore his Skin for his Armour Notwithstanding some say that these Nemaean Games were ordain'd in remembrance of Archemorus the Son of King Lycurgus Now besides these four above-mention'd they
a reward from Alexander conspired with Nabâ—â—â—anes Captain of Darius's Guard to take their Master Prisoner which accordingly they did when fettering him with golden Chains and putting him in â— Chariot Daâ—ius immediately died of the wounds he had receiv'd from the Conspirators Soon after Alexander having notice of Darius's death was much troubled thereat and highly offended at the Traytors in so much that he immediately commanded Bessus to be torn in pieces which was instantly perform'd as also the Corps of Darius nobly interr'd and Exathrâ—s Darius's Brother made one of Alexander's chief Favourites 10. Thus in six years Reign Alexander having acquired to himself the universal Monarchy of all that side of the World and having firmly establisht under his Command the Government of those Territories which did formerly belong to Darius his next progress was into Parthia where some of the wild Natives robbing him of his Horse Bucephalus he vow'd to destroy the Inhabitants Man Woman and Child unless they did forthwith make restitution of his Horse and render themselves to his mercy which being accordingly done he march'd on into Scythia where passing over the River Orexartes he overthrew the Scythians in a Battel At this place it is said that Thalestriâ— Queen of the Amazons â—â—me to Alexander out of a desire to be got with Child by so brave a Prince which request he generously granted admitting her to his Bed for ten days together Curtius lib. 6. Iustin lib. 12. Now Alexander had not been thrâ—â— years thus possess'd of the third Grecian Monarchy which may be reckon'd from Dariâ—â—'â— Defeat but he resolves on an Attempt upon Iâ—dia in order whereunto having levy'd a numerous Army he began his March towards the River Indus from thence to the City Nysa which he soon reduced then marching on forward into India an Indian King Taxiles whose Countrey was not inferior to Egâ—pt made a voluntary Alliance with Alexander who readily embraced his friendship for that by this means he not only increas'd his Army but also was by Taxiles his advice throughly inform'd both of the nature of the Countrey its most easie and safe passages as well as of the Riches and Strength of King Porus the chief Indian King against whom Alexander had undertaken this Expedition Now Alexander understanding that King Porus with a vast Army of Men Horses Chariots and Elephants 〈◊〉 as encamp'd near the River Hydaspes immediately marched thither to meet him where passing over the River in the night he forthwith gave Battel to the Indians and overthrew them taking King Porus himself Prisoner who was four cubits and a shaft high In this Battel were subdued the Inhabitants of 15 several Nations 5000 eminent Cities besides an infinite number of Villages and thrice as many other Nations saith Plutarch In this Encounter it was that Bucephalus the Horse of Alexander lost his life 11. After this great Victory obtain'd having settled his Affairs amongst the Indians and built two Cities upon the River Hydaspes the one call'd Nicaeus in commemoration of his late Conquests and the other Bucephalia in honour of his beloved Horse who was slain in that very place he began his March forwards when being arrived at the River Ganges he call'd his Souldiers together and exhorted them to pass over the River chearfully but many of his Army with tears in their eyes requested him to put an end to his Wars whereupon he proceeded no farther but return'd back from the River without passing it Notwithstanding in his March homewards being opposed by the Mallians the most warlike people of India he besieged the City of Mallia in which Siege the person of Alexander was in greater danger than ever as well by a Fall from a scaling Ladder as â—y several other desperate wounds receiv'd from their Darts From hence Alexander return'd to Susa where he disbanded great paâ—t of his Army reserving only a Guard du Corps for his person and from Susa he march'd to Ecbatan in Media where he diverted himself with all manner of Sports and Recreations in which place his beloved Hephaestion died whose death was so much lamented by Alexander that he crucifi'd his Physician Glauciâ—â— 12. From Media he removed to Babylon where after having convers'd with all the wise men of those Parts he tasted of the highest perfection of humane Happiness indulging himself therein till at last being seiz'd by a Feaver he â—â—parted this Life after having reign'd 〈◊〉 years over Macedon and 6 over the whole Monarchy leaving that great Empire which he with so much care and trouble had acquired to be torn in pieces after his death for want of a Son to succeed him Plutarch says that Alexander died on the 10th day of his Sickness in the 32d year and 8th month of his Age being the first year of the 114th Olympiad Nevertheless Curtius Diodorus and Iustin think that he was poyson'd by Antipater For the Burial of Alexander Diodorus lib. 18. writes that Aridaeus the Bastard Brother of Alexander spent almost two years about it And concerning the place where he was buried Historians vary Pausanias in Attic. saith that Ptolomaeus Lagus King of Egypt bury'd him at Memphis Diodorus lib. 18 writes that Aridaeus buried him at Alexandria The Epitaph inscribed on his Statue was this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Terram mihi subjicio Iupiter vero coelum habet CHAP. VII The Manners of Elephants and Love of all living Creatures towards their young The Lioness is taken with the Love of Leopards The Lions if they see any spotted Whelps presently tear them in pieces as Bastards A Sea-Calf having brought forth a dead young one did out of grief abstain from food three days together The Eagle her Nest with the Eagle-stone and the Stork with the Lamp-stone to keep away Serpents IF we should also describe the Manners of Elephants the Indians affirm that those of the Fens are foolish and light those of the Mountains perverse and treacherous and unless they stand in need of something from them unfaithful to men but those of the Plains are said to be good gentle and lovers of Imitation wherefore they will write dance and â—kip at the sound of a Pipe lifting themselves up from the ground Now when Apollonius saw the Elephants pass over the River Indus being as I think about thirty in number whereof the least was the Guide whilst the great ones carried-over their young ones on their out-sticking Teeth embracing them with their Trunk as with a Girt to hold them he said to Damis These living Creatures do this thing without the bidding of any one out of a natural instinct and knowledge for you see how like Porters they bear their young and closely embrace them lest they should fall I see answer'd Damis how wisely and prudently they manage them What then meaneth that foolish Question of Wranglers whether or no the 1 Love of Parents to their young be natural for these Elephants openly proclaim that this Love cometh to
them by Nature in that they learned it not as they have done many other things from men having never lived amongst them but receiv'd it from Nature so to love their young ones Say not this Oh Damis only of Elephants for this 2 Beast I rank next after men for Vnderstanding and Prudence but I consider likewise how â—â—en Beasts exceeding other Beasts in fierceness do yet suffer any thing for their Cubs also how 3 Wolves being continually intent on their prey make the Female keep the Whelps whilst the Male for the preservation of her young bringeth her in food The like may be observ'd of Panthers who by reason of their heat rejoyce to become Dams for that they then rule over the Males and govern the House whilst the Males in the mean â—ime suffer all things for their Whelps sake As for Lionesses this Story is related of them that they draw the 4 Leopards to love them and take them into the Bed of the Lions in the Champain Fields but afterwards when the time of their Delivery 〈◊〉 come they run away to the Mountains and to the dens of the Leopards For the young ones which they then bring forth being spotted they secretly nourish them in the Woods making 〈◊〉 if they absented themselves from the Males that they may â—unt for if the Lions happen to spy the Whelps they tear them in pieces as an adulterate Brood You have also observ'd in some of 5 Homer's Lions how sterâ—ly they will look and summon up their strength to fight for their Whelps Furthermore they report that a 6 Tyger being a most fierce Creature will in this Countrey as also about the Red-sea run to the very Ships to fetch back their young ones and having gotten them will returâ— with much joy when if the Sea man sail away with them she will howl most grievously on the shoar and sometimes die for grief Who likewise doth not observe the Manners of Birds how Eagles and 7 Storks never build their Nests but they place in them the 8 Eagle-stone and the Stork the Lamp-stone both being to fâ—rther the laying and hatching of their Eggs as weâ—â— as to keep away Serpents But if we reflect on the living Creatures in the Sea we shall not admire that 9 Dolphins being naturally very kind love their young ones But how shall we not admire at 10 Whales 11 Sea-calves and those kinds that bring forth living young ones when as in the Island Aege I saw â— Seâ—-calf taken by Fishermen so exceedingly to bewâ—â—â— her dead young one whom she had brought forth in the House that for three 〈◊〉 â—ogether she abstain'd from food though she 〈◊〉 otherwise a most ravenouâ— Creatâ—â—e Likewise the Whale hideth her young ones in the Cavities of her Throat if she fly from a greater Fish and a Viper hath been also seen to lick the young Serpents which she had brought forth and so to pollish them with her Tongue Illustrations on Chap. 7. 1 WHether the Love of Parents in theâ—r yoâ—ng be natural Can a Mother forget her Child It was lookt upon as a thing impossible and yeâ— we see there are too many evil-disposed Parents in â—his World who conâ—â—th themselves no further than with the getting of them Such of old were those unnatural Law-makers amongst the Româ—ns as Romuluâ— who â—nacted that all Children who were any ways lame or imperfecâ— should be put to death Dionys Halicarâ—â—ss Also the Father in Apuleius who going to travel when his Wife was big with Child commanded her is it proved a Girl to destroy it Sâ— sexus sequipris edidisset faetus protinuâ— qâ—â—dâ—sset editiâ—â— necareâ—ur The same Command doth Chreâ—es give to Sâ—straâ—â— in Terâ—â—ce Autâ—interficâ—â—e 〈◊〉 exponere Either to kill them or expose them to wild Beasts Heaâ—ront Act. 4. Scen. 2. So frequent a practice waâ— this amongsâ— them that the Christian Emperors Valentinian Vâ—lens and Graâ—ian were 〈◊〉 to interdict it by a severe penal Law Si qâ—is nâ—candi infantis piaculum aggressus aggressâ—ve â—it â—r it capitale istud malum which Law is extant in both the Codes as well of Tâ—eodâ—sius as Iustinâ—â—n Of private Instances there were many amongst them to the same purpose as Lucius Iuniâ—â— Brutus who caused his own Sons to be beheaded for that they favour'd Tâ—rqâ—inâ— and Cassius who put his own Son to death out of a jealousie that he affectâ—d the Kingdom Titus Manlius Torquatus upon a complaint made by the Macedonian Ambassadors against his own Son Silaâ—us condemn'd him to be put to death at which unkind seâ—tence of his Father's the Son in discontent hanged himself M. Scaurâ—s being put to flight by the 〈◊〉 his Father commanded him to fall upon his own Sword ratheâ— than outlive that shame which accordingly he did in like manner did A. Fâ—lâ—iâ—s put his own Son to death for joyning with Catiline iâ— the Conspiracy against his Countrey Valer. 〈◊〉 lib. 5. The Cruelty of these was mix'd with somewhat of Gallantry but amongst us we have many no less cruel only out of selfishness and ill nature who boaâ—â—â—ng that they will not put off their Clâ—aths before they be ready to go to Bed keep their Children often starving till they be as fit for a Bed 〈◊〉 their Parents Commonly we are better pleas'd with the little prattling of our Childâ—en which we so often repeat to others for wit and with the apish gestures of their Infancy than with the actions of their riper years as if we only loved them for our pastimes as we do Parrots and Monkeys How often have I heard a fond Father or affected Mother persecute a whole meals conversation in venting to the company their own wittiness as coming from young Master or Missâ— with a thousand times more care and pains than they take to provide them Poâ—tions Many that liberally furniâ—â—t them with Toys and Ratiâ—es while they be Children will gâ—udge at every small expence for Necessaries for them when they be Men and Women Some grieve to see their Children follow them so close at their heels as if they solicited their deaths Others envy them to think that they must enjoy the World after them as if since we must bequeath our Estates to some body we had not better bestow it on a piece of our selves than on a Stranger It is says Montaign a meer piece of Injustice to see an old crazy Sinew-shrunk and half-dead Father sitting alone in a Chimney corner to enjoy so much Riches as would suffice for the preferment of many Children when in the mean while for want of Estate he suffers them to lose their best days and years without introducing them into any publick Employ or Acquaintance whereby oftentimes being cast into despair they seek by any means how unlawful soever to supply their own necessary Wants this forces them to ply Women and Drink which are the most frequent and fatal ruines that attend the young Gentry of this Nation Tyranny in a Parent is no lesâ—
greatness of their feet whereas the lesser are no whit prejudicial to the passage of the bigger in that they make a less Cavity in the River Furthermore I have found in the Writings of Juba how the Elephants help one another in their being hunted and defend him that fainteth when if they bring him off they stand about him and anoint him with the tears of Aloes as if thâ—y were Physicians Many such like things they Philosophically discours'd of together taking occasion from such passages as seem'd most worthy their remark As for the things related by 3 Nearchus and Pythagoras concerning the River 4 Arcesinus how running into the River Indus it beareth Serpents of seventy cubâ—â—â— length they say they are so as 't is by them reported But we will adjourn the Relation of this Matter to that place where we intend to speak of Dragons of whom Damis discourseth shewing in what manner they are taken Now being arrived near the Banks of Indus and ready to pass the River they ask'd the Babylonian their Guide whether he was acquainted with the Passage who answer'd He had never forded over it nor knew where it was fordable Why then said they did yoâ— not hire a Guide There is one answer'd he bâ—ne present who will direct you which having said he shew'd them a Letter that should do it for which they say Vardanes was much admired for his kindness and care of them in as much as he had written this Letter to the Governour that was set over the River Indus although he was not in subâ—ection to his Iurisdiction recounting therein the many Favours he had shew'd him but not desiring any recompence for that 't was not his custom so to do only telling him that if he did entertain Apollonius and â—onvey him whithâ—rsoever he pleas'd he should acknowledge the courtesie He had also given Gold to the Gâ—ide that if he perceiv'd Apollonius stood in need of any thing he should furnish him with it that so he might not be put to ask it of others Wherefore the Indian receiving the Letter said he did much esteem it and that he woâ—ld shew no less respect to Apollonius than if he had been recommended to him by the King of the Indians Accordingly he sent his own Barge wherein he himself was used to be wasâ—ed together with Vessels to câ—rry over his Camels He likewise furnish'd him with a Guide for all that Countrey which Hydraotes boundeth and wrote to his own King that he would be pleas'd to shew as much courtesie towards this Greek who was a wise and divine man as King Vardanes had done By this means therefore they passed the River Indus whose breadth where it is navigable reacheth about forty Furlongs Concerning this River it is thus related that it riseth out of Mount Caucasus and runneth with a greater Current than anâ— River in Asia in his passage receiving in many Rivers thaâ— are navigable likewise thâ—â— iâ— 5 oveâ—floweth India like to Nilus leaving a grâ—at deal of Mud on the Land which gives opportunity to the Indians to sâ—we their Seed after the manner of the Egyptians Illustrations on Chap. 8. VIpâ—rs â—re bred c. The Viper hath a Body long and slender like an Eel or Snake a broad Head with red flaming Eyes As for his Teeth they be enclosed as it were 〈◊〉 little Bladder in which he carryeth his Poyson from thence infusing it into the Wound 〈◊〉 he hath bitten Pliny lib. 10. ch 62. writes that when the Vipers ingender â—he Male puâ—teth his Head into the Females Mouth which â—he being overcome with the pleasure of Copulation biteth off affirming moreover that their young use to gnaw themselves out of their Dams Belliâ—s which put an end both to Male and Female the one â—n time of Conception the other in time of Birth and are therefore called Vipers a vi pa riendo Nevertheless Aristotle Hist. Animal lib. â— cap. ultim â—aith that the Viper putteth forth her young ones infolded in a Membrane which breaketh forth the third dayâ— and that also sometimes those which are within the Belâ—y issue forth having gnawn asunder the foreâ—aid Membrane Nicholâ—us Damascenus as also Strabo make mention of Vipers sixteen Cubits long Of this Serpent is made that excellent cordial Wine called Viper-Wine so effectual in curing Leprosies Surfeits c. Of the Viper's manner of Birth see Brown's Vulg. Err lib. 3. 2 To commend Euripides the Verse which Andromache speaks is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concerning this Tragedy of Andromache in Euripides the Intrigue is That this Princesâ— after she had lost her Husband Hector had seen her Father Priam murther'd and the chief City of his Kingdom burâ—t became a Slave to Neopâ—olâ—mus Now Hermione the Wife of this Prince being enraged with jealousie against Andromache determin'd to kill her whereupon Menelaus Father of Hermione causes her with her Son Astyaâ—ax to be dragg'd to Execution And this is the Result of the Plot. As for Euripides he was the Son of one Mnesarchus and Clito and had not as some have reported a seller of Herbs for his Mother Suidas vindicates him from the disparagement of so mean a Descent asserting that he was of noble Birth as Philochorus well demonstrates He was born on that very day wherein Xerxes was defeated by the Athenians He flourish'd in the time of Archelaus King of Macedon by whom he was highly esteem'd He was at first a Painter but afterwards became most eminent in writing Tragedies For Rhetorick he was the Scholar of Prodicus and for Philosophy the Auditor both of Socrates and Anaxagoras He sometimes disputed with Plato and travell'd into Egypt to be inform'd of the Wisdom of their Priests as Laertius testifies His Name Euripides he took from Euripus but for his Austerity they call'd him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a hater of Women for as Suidas â—ffirms he was a married man and had two Wives being divorced from the first for her Unchastity neither found he the second more loyal to his Bed He died in the 75th year of his Age being the 93d Olympiad and was torn in pieces by Dogs as Valerius Maximus and Gellius write or rather as Suidas hath it was devoured in the night by barbarous and bloudy Women The Athenians grievously lamented his death He wrote 75 Tragedies for every year he lived a Tragedy whereof he obtained five Victories four in his life-time and one after his death his Brother's Son being the Actor of that Tragedy It is a great Question which was the better Poet he or Sophocles though they went a different way Quintilian says That all moral Philosophy iâ— comprehended in the Verses of Euripides And Heinsiâ—s speaking of him saith Omnium Oratorum non minus Pater quam optimus Poeta Aeschylus Sophocles and Euripides were the three chief Princes of the Tragick Style who exhibited to the people every year their Poems at some publick Solemnities striving who should get the victory by the approbation
in so much that Appion the Grammarian invoked his Ghost to come forth from the dead and declare which was his Countrey that so the Controversie might be ended Concerning his Countrey and Age there is so great variation amongst Authors that no Question about Antiquity seems more difficult to be resolved Some make him a Native of Aeolia and say that he was born about 168 years after the Siege of Troy Aristotle in 3. de Poetic affirms he was born in the Isle of Io Michael Glycas places him under Solomon's Reign but Cedrenus saith that he lived under both Solomon and David as also that the Destruction of Troy happen'd under Saul Nevertheless that Book of Homer's Life which follows the ninth Muse of Herodotus and whether composed by him or no is very ancient makes the Labour of those men very ridiculous who even at this day pretend to so much certainty of Homer's Countrey which was not then known But of this Leo Allatius hath written a distinct Treatise Neither is there less uncertainty concerning his Parentage Aristotle affiâ—ms he was begot in the Isle of Io by a Genius on the Body of a Virgin of that Isle who being quick with Child for shame of the deed retired into a Place call'd Aegina and there being seiz'd on by Thieves was brought to Smyrna to Maeon King of the Lydians who for her Beauty married her after which she walking near the Floud Meletes being on that shoar overtaken with the Throws of her Delivery she brought forth Homer and instantly died the Infant was receiv'd by Maeon and brought up as his own tiâ—l he himself likewise died Alex. Paphius saith Eustathius makes Homer to be born of Egyptian Parents Dmasagoras being his Father and Aetbra his Mother also that his Nurse was a certain Prophetess and the Daughter of Oris one of Isis's Priests from whose Breasts Honey often flow'd in the Mouth of the Infant after which in the night he is reported to utter nine several Notes or Voices of Birds viz. of a Swallow a Peacock a Dove a Crow a Partridge a Wren a Stare a Blackbird and a Nightingale also that being a little Boy he was found playing in his Bed with nine Doves Others make him the Son of Maeona and Ornithus and others the Off-spring of some Nymph as Gyraldus writes Hist. Poet. Dial. 2. But the opinion of many is that he was born of Critheis Daughter of Melanopus and Omyris who after her Father and Mothers death was left to a Friend of her Fathers at Cuma who finding she was with Child sent her away in high displeasure to a Friends House near the River Meles where at a Feast among other young Women she was deliver'd of a Son whose Name she call'd Melesigenes from the Place where he was born That Critheis went with her Son to Ismenias and from thence to Smyrna where she dressed Wooll to get a Livelyhood for her self and her Son at which Place the Schoolmaster Phemius falling in Love with her married her and took her Son into the School who by his sharpness of Wit surpass'd all the other Scholars in Wisdom and Learning in so much that upon the death of his Master Homer succeeded him in teaching the same School whereby he acquired great Reputation for his Learning not only at Smyrna but all the Countreys round about for the Merchants that did frequent Smyrna with Corn spread abroad his Fame in all Parts where they came But above all one Mentes Master of â— Leucadian Ship took so great a kindness for him that he perswaded him to leave his School and travel with him which he did and was plentifully maintain'd by Mentes throughout their Travels Their first Voyage was to Spain from thence to Italy and from Italy through several Countreys till at last they arrived at Ithaca where a violent Rheum falling into Homer's Eyes prevented his farther progress so that Mentes was fain to leave him with a Friend of his called Mentor a person of great Honour and Riches in Ithaca where Homer learn'd the principal Matters relating to Vlysses's Life but Mentes the next year returning back the same way and finding Homer recover'd of his Eyes took him along with him in his Travels passing through many Countreys till they arrived at Colophon where relapsing into his old Distemper he quite lost the use of his Eyes after which he addicted himself to Poetry when being poor he return'd back again to Smyrna expecting to find better Entertainment there whereof being disappointed he removed from thence to Cuma in which passage he rested at a Town called New-wall where repeating some of his Veâ—ses one Tichiâ— a Leather-seller took such delight to hear them that he entertain'd him kindly a long time Afterwards he proceeded on his Journey to Cuma where he was so well receiv'd that some of his Friends in the Senate did propose to have a Maintenance settled on him for Life though others opposed the rewarding so great a man Some will have it that at this Place he first receiv'd the Name of Homer Now being denied Relief at Cuma he removed from thence to Phocaea where lived one Thestorides a Schoolmaster who invited him to live with him by which means Thestorides procured some of his Verses which he afterwards taught as his own at Chios Whereupon Homer hearing how Thestorides had abused him immediately followed him to Chios and by the way falling into discourse with a Shepherd who was keeping his Master's Sheep the Shepherd was so taken with Homer that he reliev'd him and carried him to his Master where he lived some time and taught his Children till being impatient to discover Thestorides his Cheat he went to Chios which Place Thestorides left when he heard of Homer's coming who tarried there some time taught a School grew rich married and had two Daughters whereof one died young and the other he married to the Shepherd's Master that entertain'd him at Bollisus When he grew old he left Chios and went to Samos where he remain'd some time singing of Verses at Feasts and at new-Moons at great mens Houses From Samos he was going to Athens but as some say fell sick at Ios where dying he was buried on the Sea-shoar And long after when his Poems had gotten â—n universal Applause the people of Ios built him a Sepulchre with this Epitaph upon it â—s saith Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hac sacrum terra caput occultatâ—r Homeri Qui canere Heroum praestantia facta solebat Melancthon Or rather as Gyraldus renders it Sacrum hic terra caput divinum claudit Homerum Herâ—um atque virum cecinit qui fortia facta Hist. Poet. Dial. 2. This is the most rational account of his Death and not that he pined away upon the Riddle of the Fishermen as others would have it and so saith Herodotus or whoever it was that wrote that Book de Vita Homeri Ex hac aegritudine inquit extremum
where great Debates arise their Spirits grow warm and all Heaven is in a Mutiny only because Achilles's Mistress is taken from him which at the bottom is but a Trifle 'T is likewise by this great Art of Fiction that all the Voyages and indeed every step that Telemachus made in the Odysses to seek his Fatheâ— Vlysses became considerable because Minerva is of his Retinue and of his Council and all became remarkable by the â—mpression they receiv'd from the Conduct of a Deity that presides over Wisdom Rapin's Reflect on Arist. Poes But to conclude this point The greatest Excellency of Homer lyes in his Invention in his Moralâ—ty in the Elegancy of his Words in his Epithets and Adverbs wherein he surpasses all others Yet notwithstanding all this that hath been said some Exceptions have been rais'd against him ex gr that by the Fable of his Iliad he has disgraced his Countrey in taking for his Hero a person who occasion'd the destruction of so many gallant Officers whom he sacrificed to his grief and discontent That Homer's chief Hero Achilles is made subject to great weaknesses and imperfections below his Character when according to the Pourtraicture Horace hath left of him Achilles is a Bravo but withal hasty impetuous furious passionate violent unjust inexorable a contemner of Laws and one that places all his Reason in his Sword Impiger iracundus inexorabilis acer Iura negat sibi nata nihil non arrogat armis Horat. Arte Poet. Achilles is cruel even towards the Body of Hector so far as to take pleasure in exercising vengeance upon it and out of an unparallel'd Avarice sells to his afflâ—cted Father the Body of his Son I shall not say any thing of his quitting with a Lightness not to be pardon'd that great and generous Enterprize made by a general Combination of all Greece upon the occasion of a she-Slave for whom he abandons himself to tears and complaints with many discoveries of weakness That if the Action and principal Subject of Homer's Iliad be the War of Troy according to the judgement of Hâ—race who therefore calls him Trojâ—ni belli scriptorem then that Action is defective and imperfect in as much aâ— that War has not in the Iliad either beginning or end according to that Verse of the Poets Infaelix operis summa qui ponere totum Nesciat Horat. Epist. ad Pison But if the principal Subject be the Anger of Achilles as is more likely and as Homer himself acknowledges by his Proposition that Anger has indeed a beginning but neither end nor middle for it is thrust out of doors by another animosity of the same person against Hector for the death of Patroclus so as there are two Anger 's one upon the loss of his Friend the other upon the taking away of his Mistress But the greatest defect is that the rest of the Poem has no connection with that Anger and Homer during the space of 18 Books thinks no more of it as if he had clearly forgot his Proposition and Design but during that long Interval speaks only of Sieges Battels Surprizes Consultations of the Gods and all things that relate to the Siege of Troy which made Horace as I said before think that the Subject of the Iliad was the War of Troy according to the Name it goes under So that which way soever we look on that Poem it will in that part appear defective Neither is the Odyssey an Action more correct than that of the Iliad it begins with the Voyages of Telemachus and ends with those of Vlysses All is made for Telemachus in the four first Books Menelaus Nestor and the other Greciâ—n Princes relate to him the Adventures of Troy without any thought at all of Vlysses which is the principal Action so that the four first Books of the Odyssey are neither Episode nor part of Action nor have any connexion with the rest of the Work in so much that the Fable of the Odyssey is apparently double Take them as they are and one knows not what to make of them In the Representation of those Games and Pastimes which Achilles in the 23d Book of the Iliads makes upon the death of Patroclus there are abundance of things utterly incredible Also Homer introduces Miracles and Machines without any just occasion when Priamus hath lost Hector Iupiter sends the Goddess Iris his Messenger to caution him to take care of his Son's Body and redeem it from Achilles as if his Father who had so great a tenderness for his Son could not think of it himself without a Machine to put him in mind that he was a Father If Telemachus in the Odyssey go to find out Vlysses in the Courts of Greece he cannot stir a foot forsooth without the assistance of his Governess Minerva to lead him up and down by the Sleeves Nay this Machine hath not so much as any appearance of probability in as much as Minerva conducts Telemachus to seek for Vlysses all over Greece save only to the place where he is which she ought not to have been ignorant of upon the score of her Divinity from which nothing should be conceal'd And yet this is Homer's way to imploy the Gods upon all trifling matters as so many Porters without any regard to their rank thus Mercury becomes Coachman to Priamus as well as his Scout Again Homer's Episodes are forced His Kings and Princes speak as scurrilously of one another as so many Plowmen could do Thus Agamemnon in the Iliad treats Chryses the High-Priest as an extravagant impious person when he only demands with much respect nay and with Presents his own Daughter which Agamemnon had taken away from him by force In like manner the Priest forgetting all Charity did out of revenge implore Apollo to destroy the Greeks Vlysses whom Homer proposes as an exemplar of Wisdom suffers himself to be made drunk by the Pheacians for which Aristotle and Philostratus condemn the Poet. How extravagant was it in that accomplisht Sage so soon to forget so vertuous a Wife and Son for the dalliances of his Prostitute Calypso to run after the famous Sorceress Circe and being a King as he was so far to debase himself as to go to Fifty-cuffs with a rascally Beggar named Irus Priamus in the 24th Iliad does not speak like a Father when he wishes all his Children dead so Hector were alive again his grief might have been express'd some other way How barbarous was the Inhumanity of Achilles upon the dead Body of Hector How immodest and undecent was the long though accidental interview between Vlysses and the Daughter of Alcinous in the 6th of the Odysseys In fine There is but little observance of Decorum in Homer's Poems Fathers cruel and harsh Heroes weak and passionate Gods subject to miseries unquiet quarrelsom and mutinous c. What can be more ridiculous than the Discourse which Antilochus's Son Iliad 23. makes to his Father's Horses telling them His Father Nestor