was in one of these actions that Caesar ran an extreme hazard by a very extraordinary accident Lucius seeing his Provisions daily diminished resolved to make one great attempt on a famous festival night believing that the besiegers would be busied in the celebration of it and by that means be less upon their guard Caesar was then offering Sacrifice very near the Walls of Perusia the Diviners inspecting the entrails of the Victim found nothing but fatal presages in them at which Caesar was much concerned while at that instant Lucius's Gladiators made a Sally the Sacrifice was left the Sacrificers fled and Caesar had certainly been either slain or taken Prisoner if the Legion that was upon the guard in the nearest Trenches had not speedily advanced to his relief in the mean while the Gladiators carried away the Victim Entrails and all the preparation of the Sacrifice these were reinforced and backed by more Troops so that they charged to the Trenches where the same Legion made head against them and Caesar rallying some Cohorts of his Guards charged them in the Flank and beat them into the Town Whilst this general distraction was in the Army for Caesar's safety the Diviners alone came to him very joyfull and told him that the Gods were propitious to him and that all the misfortune threatned by the ill-boding Entrails of the Victim concerned onely the Enemies that had them in their possession Perhaps Caesar himself did not believe it so however the thing was well imagined and adroilty turned to re-assure the dismayed Souldiers and indeed afterwards the event confirmed this prediction The City of Rome had her share in the calamities of this War Corn was excessive dear and the rabble that upon these occasions observe no measures nor duty understanding that Caesar's Officers had laid up great stores rose and plundred the Magazines and several of the wealthiest houses in the City Now Ventidius Pollio and Plancus believed they were obliged in honour not to let Lucius be any longer besieged and resolved by agreement to march and force Caesar to a battel or else to raise his siege against them he detached Agrippa and Salvidienus with a Body who could not however hinder their joyning and advancing to Fulsina distant from Perusia 160 Stadiums Lucius having notice of their approach by the Signals they made him in the night by fire was extremely rejoyced at it not doubting in the least but they would make some great push for his relief This was indeed the intention of Ventidius and Pollio but Plancus who always abounded in reasons and cool counsels when they were to avoid fighting remonstrated to them that Agrippa who was as strong as they upon their least motion would charge them in the rere and having Caesar before them there was no avoiding the defeat of their Troops for which they alone were responsible to Anthony this Counsel which was not without ground added to the dislike they had of Lucius his conduct made them think of a retreat which put the besieged into utter despair they attempted another Sally though with as little success as the former for all the fight lasted from nine at night till next morning Then Lucius made a review and an inventory of all the provisions that were in the place that he might the better distribute by measure amongst the Souldiers without any consideration of the Slaves and to hinder them that they should not desert he set Guards upon them lest they should inform the enemy of the extreme necessity they were in These poor wretches reduced to this horrible misery wandered about the works to seek out herbs grass and roots and some fed upon the vilest Ordurci which onely served to make an end of them the sooner for almost all of them died and Lucius made them be buried in ditches on heaps not being willing to burn them as well for that the besiegers should not have any notice of it by the fires as not to corrupt the Air by the stench of the burning Bodies At length the Souldiers pressed by the want and famine which daily encreased begged him to give them leave to make a general Sally as desiring rather to dye with their Arms in their hands than to perish by so terrible a death as starving Yet they hoped to behave themselves so gallantly as to put an end to all their sufferings by a glorious Victory over their enemies Immediately Lucius approved of this resolution of theirs telling them that they had nothing else to trust to now but either to dye or Conquer they resolved therefore to sally at break of day to avoid the disorder that might happen in the dark and provided good store of iron Crows Mattocks Spades and other tools to break Caesar's wall and they had Ladders and long Hooks to scale the Walls and pass the Trenches and so oppose the enemies Towers which had beams and timbers in them to fling upon the Walls in the nature of Bridges with such like preparation these brave Souldiers with an amazing resolution fiercely attacked Caesar's lines The ditch was immediately filled up and the Palisade pulled down so that they came to the Wall which they undermined on all sides while others strove by the help of scaling Ladders to get upon it the rowling Towers advanced raining a dreadfull storm of Darts and Arrows upon the besiegers who were astonished at this furious assault for the Souldiers of Lucius fought as men reduced to despair death appearing nothing so terrible to them as famine and though they fought with all the disadvantage imaginable and though they were struck through with Darts and Arrows with which the enemies flanked them from the Ramparts they still vigorously employed both Crows and Beams to make a breach in the Wall openly exposing themselves to the enemies shot by though great numbers fell yet the rest were not in the least dismayed By this time the nimblest that had mounted the Wall came to handy strokes with the foe and the battel grew warmer no body could retreat without falling headlong down and the besieged fought with that unexpressible fury that when they wanted arms like wild Beasts they used their hands and teeth and doubtless this obstinate bravery had gained them an absolute Victory had the forces been any-ways equal but Caesar having more men than Lucius he from time to time reinforced them with fresh reserves which at last beat the tired besieged with their Engines from off the Wall these gallant men though stunned at their fall still clung to the Wall with their hands and either strove to pull out the stones or else by their words encouraged their fellows who still fought Lucius moved at so extraordinary a valour and fidelity and knowing he had very great reason to preserve them whose courage now onely served to destroy them commanded a Retreat to be sounded Caesars men immediately gave loud shouts of Joy and according to the Romans custome when they gained a Victory struck
to Amphipolis p. 189. Chap. L. Pompey goes to meet his Wife at Lesbos he resolves to retire into Aegypt Achillas Photinus and Theodotus advised the King to put him to Death Pompey slain by a Roman called Septinius p. 192. Pompey's Freed man pays him his last Rites of Funeral The Misfortune of Lentulus p. 197. Chap. LII Caesar pursues his Victory Cassius surrenders himself to him with all his Fleet. Caesar lands in Aegypt The Insolence of Photinus and Achillas p. 199. Chap. LIII Caesar fortifies himself in Alexandria He is attacked by Achillas He seizes upon Pharos Falls in love with Cleopatra He is besieged by the Aegyptians p. 204. Chap. LIV. Caesar receives succours A Sea Fight A disorder amongst Caesar's Troops upon the Peer He saves himself by swimming He restores the Aegyptians their King who declares War against him p. 209. Chap. LV. Mithridates defeats the Aegyptians He joins himself with Caesar who attacks Ptolemy's Camp The Aegyptians routed Their King is drowned Caesar establishes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt with her Brother p. 213. Chap. LVI Cato retires into Africa and Cicero into Italy where Caesar Pardons him Pompeyâ—s â—s Sons go into Spain Cato joins himself with Scipio and Juba Some broils at Rome p. 216. Chap. LVII Caesar goes into Asia p. 220. Chap. LVIII Caesar returns into Italy His Troops mutiny he appeases them and returns into Africa More Battels p. 224. Chap. LIX Caesar chastiseth some Mutineers and after several movements defeats Scipio and Juba p. 234. Chap. LX. The Death of Scipio and Juba Caesar marches towards Utica The Death of Cato p. 240. Chap. LXI Caesar returns to Rome The Pomp and Magnificence of his Triumphs p. 247. Chap. LXII Caesar goes into Spain where he defeats the two Sons of Pompey the oldest whereof is slain p. 251. Caesar's return to Rome He makes several Laws The extreme Honours which were done him draw upon him the Envy of the Senate p. 257. Chap. LXIV A Conspiracy against Caesar. Presages of his Death He is murthered in the Senate p. 264. THE CONTENTS TO The Second Volume CHap. I. The Troubles and Fears of the Senate and the People of Rome after the Death of Caesar Pag. 271. Chap. II. Brutus and Cassius indeavour to justifie what they have done before the People who rise upon them They retire to the Capitol p. 275. Chap. III. Antonius and Lepidus rally Caesar's Friends Some Propositions of Accommodation p. 279. Chap. IV. The Senate assembles Diversity of Opinions amongst the Senatours Caesar's Ordinances ratified p. 283. Chap. V. New Divisions occasioned by Caesar's Will Brutus and Cassius speak to the People in their own justification They come to an agreement with Anthony and Lepidus p. 287. Caesar's Will read publickly Antonius makes his Funeral Oration p. 291. Chap. VII The Pomp of Caesar's Funeral The Rising of the People of Rome and their Fury against the Conspirators p. 296. Chap. VIII The Artifices of Antonius He procures himself Guards Brutus and Cassius withdraw from Rome Antonius gets the Government of Macedonia for his Brother Cyrene is given to Cassius and Bithynia to Brutus p. 299. Chap. IX Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar comes to Rome against the Opinion of his Kindred he declares himself Caesar's Heir and takes upon him his Name p. 305. Chap. X. Octavius visits Antonius who receives him very ill His Demands and Antonius his Answer p. 308. Chap. XI Octavius falls out with Antonius He gains the affections of the People Antonius sends for the Macedonian Army into Italy p. 311. Chap. XII Antonius demands the Government of the Cis-alpine Gaul He offends young Caesar. The Souldiers oblige him to an agreement with him Antonius gets the Government p. 315. Chap. XIII New Quarrels between Antonius and Caesar. Cicero declares himself for Caesar. He offends Antonius in his Orations p. 319. Chap. XIV Antonius and Caesar meet at the Capitol They fall out again Caesar raises Troopâ— p. 323. Chap. XV. Antonius joins his Army but is not well received He returns to Rome Two of his Legions desâ—rt him and go to Caesar's Army Antonius's force p. 327. Caesar's force He assures himself of the affections of his Troops p. 331. Chap. XVII Antonius besieges Decimus Brutus in Modena p. 333. Chap. XVIII Hirtius and Pansa chosen Consuls The Decreee of the Senate against Antonius The death of Trebonius Dolabella declared an Enemy to the Republick Honours and Offices allotted to Cassius and Brutus p. 335. Antonius's Letter to Hirtius and young Caesar p. 340. Chap. XX. The Consuls raise Troops for the relief of Decimus which was but one Legion The manner of laying sieges in those times Ventidius raises Troops for Antonius p. 344. Chap. XXI A Battel between Antonius's Troops and Caesar's joined with the Consuls Pansa mortally wounded Caesar's Troops are beaten Hirtius comes to their relief and defeats Antonius p. 348. Chap. XXII Antonius defeated by Hirtius and Caesar. The death of Hirtius The raising of the siege of Modena Brutus writes to Cicero p. 353. Chap. XXIII Decimus speaks to Caesar who treats him ill The death of Pansa His dying words to Caesar p. 355. Chap. XXIV Cassius in Syria He raises great Forces The Conduct of Cleopatra Brutus defeats Antonius's Brother and takes him Prisoner p. 358. Chap. XXV Caesar demands the Honour of Triumph which is refused him He attempts the Consulship by Cicero's interference p. 361. Chap. XXVI Antonius makes his retreat into Gall. He makes himself Master of Lepidus's Army He returns into Italy with seventeen Legions p. 363. Chap. XXVII Caesar pursues the Consulship He speaks to his Souldiers He marches towards Rome The fright the Senate were in p. 365. Chap. XXVIII The Senates want of resolution Caesar enters into the City He treats Cicero ill and is declared Consul with Pedius p. 368. Chap. XXIX Caesar causes Brutus and Cassius to be Condemned with all those who had murthered his Vncle. Antonius persues Decimus who is at last slain p. 373. Chap. XXX Presages which were before the Triumvirate The Alliance of Caesar Antonius and Lepidus called the Triumvirate They meet in a certain Island Their Ordinances p. 377. Chap. XXXI The Decree of the Triumvirate The Proscription Murthers up and down the City p. 382. Chap. XXXII The entry of the Triumvirate into Rome Murthers committed and the sad condition which that City was in p. 385. Chap. XXXIII Some stirs amongst the People The death of Cicero p. 388. Chap. XXXIV The Triumph of Lepidus The Goods of the Proscripts set to Sale Attacks upon the Roman Ladies Their speech to the Triumvirate p. 392. Chap. XXXV Several of the Proscripts escape into Sicily to Sextus the Son of Pompey Some extraordinary Adventures during the Proscription p. 397. Chap. XXXVI The Examples of Several remarkable changes of Fortune p. 402. Chap. XXXVII The end of the Proscription War in Caesar's Lieutenant overthrows Cornificius the Lieutenant of Brutus p. 405. Chap. XXXVIII Dolabella is defeated and slain by
at Rome during the five last years of Caesar's Government and which have no relation to the subject in hand besides that the repetition would be tedious and that it may be in some measure guessed at by what we have said of the Intrigues about Elections the struglings and hostilities before It seemeth enough at present in gross and without the order of time to take notice that Pompey acquitted himself in what he promised Clodius even to the hazard of his life Since in the Assembly for the Election of Ediles he had a Man killed so near him that his Mantle was cover'd with the bloud He revenged himself signally upon Cato who when he demanded the Pretorship Pompey caused his pretensions to be thrown out and named in prejudice of him one Vatinius who was one of the worst and most obnoxious Men of that time And in process of time too he brought it about that Ptolemy was established in his Kingdom by Gabinius with a powerfull Army and all this merely by his own Authority in spight of the Sybills Prophecy Gabinius was afterwards called to an account for it when he came back to Rome but by his Money and Pompey's favour he escaped a Condemnation which he could never have avoided had his miscarriages been severely prosecuted These things 〈◊〉 now may see plainly have no relation to the Civil War otherwise than as they discover the Power and Ambition of Pompey which will much more appear in what is to follow and belongs to the subject in hand Now Crassus and he seemed to affect a great deal of moderation in regard of those Governments which according to Custome were to be allotted them upon the expiration of their Consulship but yet nevertheless manag'd matters otherwise under-hand by the Tribunes of the People who were to propose for them Syria and Spain with Africk or Libya as it was then called To each of these Governments Armies were to be added with full power and authority to make Peace and War at discretion which gave opportunity too to Caesar's Friends to mention his five years The whole affair being privately agreed upon between the Triumviri passed against all objection Pompey got Libya and Spain and Crassus Syria with power to make War upon the Parthians so that their Union did still support it self in appearance though it were really already ruined in the foundation at least between Pompey and Caesar nor need we seek for other reasons for it than the Jealousie which the Emulation of those two great Men raised of each other Pompey had seen himself for many years at the head of the rank of Romans and to give him his due it was not without Justice for he had enlarged the Roman Empire farther than any other had done before him He had Triumphed over three parts of the World over Africk by the defeat of Domitius in Libya over Europe by that of Perpenna in Spain and over Asia after having vanquished King Mithridates one of the most formidable Enemies Rome ever had and all this too without the least disgrace From this high degree of Glory he lookt down upon all other Romans as his Inferiours And therefore as he knew the Merits of Caesar and the advantages which accrued to him from his Illustrious Birth and Education He could not without much regret see that his great actions in the Gallick War began to put him in a condition of disputing even with himself for Glory gotten in Arms. On the other side Caesar having received both by Nature and Education all those qualifications that go to the Composition of a Great Man had too much fire to hear with patience any Man's Pride that affected to appear above him and therefore whenever he had an occasion of shewing his abilities he made so good use of it that he quickly found himself in a condition to ease Pompey of that advantage by which he thought he deserved so very much above all other Romans And Fortune too was as indulgent to him now as she had been to Pompey before but she utterly abandoned Crassus who could never rise up to the least pretensions for he was defeated and lost his life in the Parthian War and the death of that Triumvir who while he lived was as a check upon the other two left them now an open field for their Ambition and Emulation to work in CHAP. X. The death of Pompey's Wife Julia. The Magnificent Shews he gave the People The death of Clodius POmpey had now for some time done all that was in his power to diminish the reputation of Caesar's Conquests obliging the Magistrates not to publish any Letters they received till he had fore-stalled the credit of them by spreading false and disadvantageous reports This gave great cause of trouble to all those who foresaw the miseries that must attend a Rupture between two so extraordinary Men and what augmented their fears more was the death of Pompey's Wife which happen'd at the same time Pompey loved her even with passion which one would have thought might have been of consideration enough to have healed differences between the Father and the Son-in-law For Iulia had Wit as well as Virtue and always a great ascendant over both their dispositions The People of Rome gave sufficient testimony of the respect they bore her by publick demonstrations of their sorrow and when Pompey would have carried her Body to one of his houses near Alba the People opposed it and bore it into the Field of Mars where they paid it the last Rites of Funeral with all Magnificence From this moment Pompey resolved to think of nothing but his own particular advancement and for the restoring of himself to the favour of the People caused a stately Theatre to be builded which he dedicated to them by Plays and other magnificent Shews which were not at all pleasing to Cicero as appears from one of his Epistles It was reported too afterwards at Rome That that Theatre was not built at the expences of Pompey but that Demetrius one of his Freed-men had defray'd the charge of it as a piece of gratitude and acknowledgment for the Immense fortune he had raised under his Master so that Pompey himself reap'd little advantage from that undertaking The spirits of the People too were sharpened against him by the extreme violence which he used in raising those Troops which were to follow Crassus at the time when that General departed upon his unfortunate Expedition against the Parthians For it was a thing disapproved of at Rome and approved by one of the Tribunes who when he could not hinder it uttered such horrible Cursts and Imprecations against Crassus as it was believed called down that misfortune upon his head which cost the Romans a Hundred thousand Men and Crassus himself his own life as well as his Son whom Cicero takes occasion to mention with an extraordinary Character In the mean time Pompey whose Government was now expired took other measures and pretended
caused Curio to attack him very fiercely and though for mere weariness a great many of his Horse had abandoned him Saburra would make no opposition but with his own Cavalry against Curio's which consisted onely of Two hundred Horse and with this Squadron where-ever he attacked them he made the Enemy give way The Cohorts of the Legions had the same success but the Enemy always Rallied in expectation of Iuba's Succour At last the Romans finding themselves hemmed in by the numbers which all of a sudden increased upon them Curio began to see his fault He would have made an attempt to have gained a Mountain with his Foot but Saburra opposed him with all his Horse Then Domitius who commanded Curio's would have persuaded him to have saved himself with what Cavalry he had left promising not to forsake him Can I sayes Curio look Caesar in the Face after having lost an Army which he hath trusted to my Conduct At these words he threw himself amongst the midst of his Enemies where he was slain the rest of his Troops were cut in pieces and Iuba used the Victory with so much Insolence that he caused all the other Cohorts who were in the Camp and to whom Varus had given his word for their safety to be killed in cold bloud So Caesar lost two Legions and all Africk entire which afterwards remained for Pompey's Party whose hopes by this defeat of Curio overcame his despair for the loss of Spain CHAP. XXXI Pompey's Forces The Defeat of Dylabella and Caesar's Lieutenants Brutus goes to find out Pompey BY this means almost all the World becoming ingaged in the Quarrel of these two Men was sensible of the Calamities of War which that division had produced Pompey had brought over all the East to his Interest and during the time of Caesar's being at Rome and in Spain had drawn together very powerfull Armies both by Sea and Land his Land Army consisted of three Roman Legions effective without reckoning the other two which Scipio his Brother-in-law brought him Three thousand Archers of Crete of Lacedemonia and of Pontus Eight Cohorts of Slingers and 7000 Horse composed besides the Roman Knights of Succours sent from Deijotarus King of Galitia Ariobarzakes King of Cappadocia Cotis and Rhascupolis Kings of Thrace and Antiochus King of Comagena these Troops were distributed into Curazzo and Apollonia and over all that Coast to oppose the coming down of Caesar the Naval Army consisted of Five hundred great Ships without reckoning Vessels that were rowed with Oars as Gallies Brigantines and others the Principal Commanders were Pompey's eldest Son called after his own Name Decius Lâ—lius Cajus Triarius Cajus Cassius Cajus Marcellus Scribonius Libo and Marcus Octavius all these Commanders had their particular Squadrons and received Orders from Bibulus who executed the Office of Admiral Besides these Forces Pompey had drawn great Sums of Money out of Asia and Greece And to recompence himself in some manner for the loss of Spain had caused Dolabella and Cajus Antonius who commanded for Caesar on the Coast of Illyria to be attached Dolabella was easily routed and Cajus who came to his succour not being strong enough to keep the Sea was driven into the Island of Corcyra where Octavius and Libo besieged him He defended himself very well but at last his Souldiers prest by Famine and corrupted by Puleio one of their Centurions surrendred themselves to Octavius and betrayed also their Commandant into his hands Some Officers who thought to save themselves over Land being pursued by the Enemy flew themselves and not one Man of all those Troops escaped These advantages which daily kept up the reputation of his Party still engaged more persons of consideration to come and join themselves with Pompey so that he found he had in his Camp above 200 Senatours whereof he composed a body and they assembled themselves in the form of a Senate In one of these Assemblies by the advice of Cato it was determined that no Roman Citizen should be put to death out of Battel and that no Town subject to the Roman Empire should be sacked In effect this Laudable and Honourable Decree drew the good wishes of the People upon the Authours of it and gave the reputation of great Justice and Humanity to their designs and was the occasion that the fortune of Caesar hung for a long time doubtfull and it was upon this pretence also that Brutus afterwards Conspired against him Brutus had a great deal of reason to hate Pompey who had caused his Father to be put to death Nevertheless that Severe Vertue whereof he made profession and the example of Cato who was his Uncle and Father-in-law ingaged him in that party which he thought had the most Justice on its side And though he would never speak to Pompey nor indeed so much as salute him he nevertheless disdained not then to serve under him to shew that he could sacrifice his particular resentments to the Interest of the Republick Pompey received him with a great deal of Joy and did him signal honours But Brutus in consideration of his youth would take no employment but rather chose to leave the Commands to those who were above him in age as well as dignity CHAP. XXXII A Mutiny amongst Caesar's Troops he reduces them to their duty by his Eloquence and Resolution He is chosen Consul with Servilius and makes new Laws IN the meanwhile Caesar being still at Marseilles received news that the Souldiers of the ninth Legion were in Mutiny at Plaisance against their Commanders demanding their discharges and the Money which had been promised to each of them at the beginning of the War But that which stuck in their stomachs was that they were prohibited the liberty of Plundering which they hoped to have obtained from the need which he had of their service It was Caesar's Maxime never to condescend upon these occasions but to support himself by a resolute Conduct and the Authority which he had gotten So he posted to Plaisance with some Troops and calling the Mutineers together I know not says he what ill fortune opposes the end of my good Intentions But I desire to have no others to bear witness than your selves of the diligence which I have used in War which if it be prolonged it has not been my fault but the fault of my enemies who fly before us After the Conquest of Gaul where every one of you under my Conduct got both Riches and Honour we began this War by Common Consent nor was it the effect of any private deliberations We have begun and carried it on unanimously but now when it is arrived to its greatest height you seek for a pretenâ—e to abandon me and instead of obeying your Officers you would command them This is that which obliges me to throw off that mildness and humanity which I have hitherto used to put in practice the Maximes of Petreius and I command instantly a Decimation of the Ninth
Legion who hath rebelled against my Orders The Mutineers as much confounded at these words as if they had been Thunder-strucken threw themselves at his Feet and with Tears in their Eyes begged for Pardon all their Officers did the same thing Caesar for some time was Inexorable but at last ordered they should cast Lots and the Lots â—ell on the Chief Mutineers to the number of Six and twenty but Caesar's Anger being over he was contented that onely Twelve of the most notorious of them should suffer who were Executed upon the place afterwards it was found that one of these was Innocent and for that he could not be restor'd to life Caesar caused him who had accused him falsly to be put to death also Then after a great many Indeavours to persuade him to it he gave leave that the rest of that Legion which he had broken should still serve under him After this he went to Rome where he held the Comitia or Assemblies of the People in quality of Dictatour he kept that Dignity onely Eleven days and caused himself to be chosen Consul with Servilius Isauricus and as his Design was to make himself as many Friends as was possible in pursuance of that purpose he proposed several favourable Laws the first was concerning the borrowing of Money for the War as it usually happens having ruined all Credit and rendred a great many Men insolvable Caesar ordained that an estimate should be made of Inheritances at the same value they bore before the War and that Creditours should take them according to this estimation so he took away their fear of a general Bankruptry and supported the Credit of the Debtours Besides he drew to his party all such as expected to be favoured in this estimate which was the end of that Law The other Law was for the calling home those who had been Condemned during the time that Pompey presided in the passing Sentences of Justice Caesar made also several other Ordinances and after having quitted the Name and Dignity of Dictatour departed for Brundusium CHAP. XXXIII Caesar with part of his Army goes into Greece some discourse of Peace but to no purpose Two Armies draw towards one another near Durazzo HE had already sent Orders to Twelve of his Legions and all his Cavalry for their Rendezvous at Brundusium the Legions were grown very thin by the Wars and the Marches they had made as well as by the Diseases of the Autumn which this year proved very epidemical In the mean while for want of Shipping onely five of them could embark who amounted to no more than Twenty thousand Foot and Six hundred Horse He told his Souldiers That as they were within a day of bringing all their toile to an end by a glorious Victory It was necessary to leave their Servants and Equipage in Italy to the end that a greater number of those Men who were fit for service might have room to Embark that they might assure themselves of the fruit of their victory and of his acknowledgments They all cried out that he should lead them where he pleased so they went on board with great Joy and in spight of the rigour of the season upon the Fourth of Ianuary Caesar weighed Anchor This much surprized the Officers of Pompey's Navy who could not persuade themselves that Caesar would venture his Troops at that time of the year when the Seas were so dangerous But Caesar timed it so well that he made his passage in one day and came into a Road at the foot of those Mountains which are called the Cearaunium Mountains he made choice of that place because it was far from the Ports which were possessed by his Enemies when after having landed his Souldiers he sent back the Ships to transport the rest of his Army under the Command of Caleâ—â—â— Bibulus was at Caâ—â—yra with a Hundred and ten Ships and at the first news of Caesar's passage put himself to Sea and meeting Caesar's Vessels upon the return took Thirty of them upon whom he discharged in Malice for he burnt them all with the very Seamen that were in them and with his Fleet took possession of all the Ports and Roads between Salonium and Orica He placed every where up and down very strong Guards and lay himself on board notwithstanding the danger of the season In the mean time Caesar took possession of Orica and Apollonia who at sight of his Troops surrendred themselves by that means to cut off from Bibulus all conveniency from Land so long as he should stay to deprive him of the advantage of the Sea Caesar who always took great care to justifie his Arms and make known the sincerity of his Intentions had still in his hands Vibullius Rufus whom he had twice taken Prisoner first at Corfinium and a second time in Spain Him he sent to Pompey with whom Rufus had some Credit and desired him to represent to him That Fortune seemed hitherto to have distributed equal loss and equal advantages to both parties by that means if possible to bring them to some accommodation But as each of them was obstinate in his opinion let Arbitratours be chosen between them who should be the Senate and the People of Rome that if Pompey would renounce his Interest and in three days dismiss his Troops he himself would doe so also Rufus charged with these Orders departed with all diligence and rid Post to advise Pompey of Caesar's arrival that being the main thing which obliged Rufus to make indeed such haste for he knew very well Pompey would not commit such an Errour as to take the Senate and the People of Arbitratours who at that time were absolutely for Caesar. Bibulus at the same time made another Proposition which he knew very well how to evade which was to make a Truce and permit Pompey's Ships to fetch from the Land Wood Water and other Refreshments that they wanted to which Caesar answered That as they guarded the Sea against him he would guard the Land against them that if by the means of a Truce they would have the conveniency of the Land they ought to leave him the liberty of the Sea and draw off their Squadrons which guarded the Coasts His design was to gain time for the Transporting the rest of his Troops but Bibulus who knew it very well would accept of no Truce upon such Conditions Pompey was in Macedonia where Rufus joined with him and fearing lest Caesar should take from him Durazzo Marched with his whole Army to save that place where all his Ammunitions were lodged It was in this March that he understood the difference between new Levies and old Souldiers For as he made very great Journeys abundance of the Men either through laziness or not being able to support the Fatigue abandoned him and at the least noise that Caesar was coming were in continual disorder and appeared as if they were defeated already Pompey nevertheless came first to Durazzo where he Intrenched
the greatness of Rome he found himself reduced to seek for a retreat in a poor Fisher-man's Cabbin where having for some time reposed himself he went on board a small Barque to try if he could reach Amphipolis as he sailed along by the Shore his Friends espied a Merchant Ship commanded by Petilius This Petilius was a Roman of the order of the People and knowing Pompey by sight onely had Dream't that he saw him in a mean condition far beneath that Lustre with which he had heretofore appeared at Rome as he was telling this Dream to his Friends about him news was brought him that they discover'd a Barque Rowing towards the Vessel that those who were in her seemed in distress upon this he came up above-Deck from whence he discover'd and knew Pompey so he order'd his Shallop to be hoisted out and Rowed on Board him where calling for the General he gave him his hand to help him into the Boat and all those who were with him forbearing for the respect he bore him to enquire into the Misfortune which had reduced him to that extremity They had now hoisted Sail to stand off from the Coast when they discovered from the Sea-side King Dejoâ—arus with stretched-out hands making a sign to be taken in they sent off the Barque which brought him on Board the Ship and then Pompey stood over for Amphipolis In this place he consulted with his Friends what course he should take the great confidence with which he relied on the number and valour of his Troops and the over-positive hopes of Victory had hindred him from thinking of any provision against the Misfortune he was now fallen into For though he had been often sensible of the disgraces of Fortune yet as she had never surprised him so lulled in security as now he had always found means to recover himself with advantage But upon this occasion as he foresaw nothing in his mind but an assured Victory his defeat was therefore the more intolerable for that it left him naked and disarmed of all relief Moreover this was the reason of all the false steps he made at the latter end of this War when he left the Sea-side to follow Caesar into Thessaly And his Misfortune so far infatuated him that he could not think of laying hold of those advantages which he yet had by Sea where he had a powerfull and Victorious Army Laelius who Commanded one part of it had besieged Caesar's Lieutenant in the Port at Brundusium and Cassius in two Reincounters had burnt above Forty of the Enemies Ships in the narrow passage within the Port of Messina But the astonishment Pompey was in together with his evil destiny hindred him from helping himself by the advantage he might have made of these Victories if he had headed his Navy For he stayed but one day at Amphipolis where to disguise his designs he caused Orders to be published for all the Citizens of Rome and Youth of Greece to come to him But when he heard that Caesar was upon his March he stayed for no body and Sailed towards Lesbos CHAP. L. Pompey goes to meet his Wife at Lesbos he resolves to retire into Aegypt Achillas Photinus and Theodotus advised the King to put him to death Pompey slain by a Roman called Septinius HIS Wife Cornelia was at Metylena the Capital City of that Island with their youngest Children Pompey's Letters after the Battel of Durazzo had given her great hopes and she was daily expecting news of the total defeat of Caesar when Pompey arriving in the Haven sent one of his Friends to her The sadness with which this Messenger approached her and the Tears that fell from him soon made Cornelia apprehend the misfortune that had happened She fell down dead upon the floor and remained a long time insensible but at last coming to her self and being told that Pompey stayed for her at the Port alone in a poor Vessel which he had borrowed she ran on foot to the place where Pompey came to imbrace her and that Meeting had something in it more sad and touching than can well be expressed She accused her self of being the onely cause of her Husband's Misfortunes complaining of the ill destiny which Allied her to Crassus first and afterwards to Pompey onely to bring about the Ruine of two so Illustrious Families Pompey endeavoured all he was able to forget his own grief and alleviate that of Cornelia and at last more by his tenderness than any reasons he was able to urge with much ado appeased her But afterwards could not forbear complaining against the Gods and their Providence to Cratippus a famous Philosopher who was then at Metilena The Pride of Man having always the property to use God Insolently even at the time when they find themselves forced to be humble towards their fellow Creatures In fine Pompey carried away Cornelia and went with some Vessels that came to join him into Cilicia from whence he returned to the Island of Cyprus there he learnt the news that the Cities of Antioch and Rhodes had declared against him This made him resolve after many deliberations to retire into Aegypt where Ptolemy then Reigned the Son of that other Ptolemy whom he had caused to be restored to his Kingdom by Gabinius which made him prefer this Countrey above any other else which could be proposed for his Retreat This King was very young and absolutely governed by Achillas who Commanded his Army Photinus the first Gentleman of his Bedchamber and Theodotus his Tutour he was then at Pelusium with an Army which he was leading against his Sister Cleopatra whom these Ministers had driven from the Court Pompey sent some of his Friends to the King to desire Succours and a Retreat within his Countrey which demand much perplexing him he referred the matter to his Council and which means the fate of Pompey the great came to be in the hands of these three miserable Fellows Photinus and Archillas were of different opinions the one was for sending of him back and the other for entertaining of him when Theodotus to shew his Eloquence Remonstrated That neither of those opinions was according to the Rules of true Policy that by following the last they should make Pompey their Master and Caesar their Enemy and by the first offend them both Pompey for being sent away and Caesar for letting of him escape therefore That they ought to Invite him to shore and kill him being sure by that means to obtain Caesar's Friendship and never hereafter be afraid of Pompey Concluding with that Maxim which is since grown into a Proverb That a dead Lion never bites According to this Resolution they sent Achillas accompanied by Septimius who was then Tribune and had been a Centurion under Pompey Salvius another Roman and three or four Souldiers they went into a Barque which carried them to the Ship where Pompey was with his Wife and all his Friends this manner of reception appeared a very ill
Science whereof he had written regulated the Year according to the course of the Sun to three hundred sixty five days and one day more to be added every fourth year which was called the Bissextile and this is the foundation of that method which we to this day follow He added to the ten old Months two others which are Ianuary and February that so the Reformation he made might be just and proportionable In the mean time as he was no-ways beloved by those who were greatest in the Senate though his Ordinances had no other than the publick good they forbore not to vilify him by their Raileries and Cicero amongst the rest being in a place where it was said that the next day the sign of the Harp would be visible Ah said he according to the Ordinance Now though Caesar had Information of their discourses he bore it all with so great moderation that when some other People had yet the insolence to violate his Reputation by Libels he never so much as inquired after them All his designs shewed the greatness of his Soul he made a proposition for adorning of the City of Rome with a magnificent Temple consecrated to Mars and with a Theatre He undertook to drain the Marshes near Rome and to empty the Lakes After these Works he was for falling upon the Parthians to revenge the death of Crassus and they being Conquered to enter through Hircania along the Banks of the Caspian Sea into Scythia to open himself a way through Germany into Gaul and so return to Rome But all these Projects ended in his death Caesar's good fortune which had appeared by so many Victories his Merit and great Abilities supported by the affection of the People and the love of his Souldiers had raised him to a degree above all other Romans But as it usually happens in Common-wealths where every one valuing himself upon his own Merit looks upon absolute Command as a right which he one day in his turn may pretend to that advancement had brought upon him the jealousie of all the Senatours who could respect him no otherwise than the Usurper of a Rank which they thought themselves deserved as well as he It being certain that in matters of Ambition as well as Interest no Man ever thinks any thing too much for himself In the mean while in a shamefull manner they dayly flattered his Vanity with new Honours preferring him even in his life time in some sort amongst the Gods They thought it not enough to cause him to be chosen Consul for ten years and perpetual Dictatour to give him the name of Emperour and Father of his Countrey and to declare his Person Sacred and Inviolable But they ordained him also a Statue amongst those of the Kings a Tribunal in the Orchestria a Chair of Gold in the Senate and in fine in the Shews of the Cirque a Canopy a Cushion and Offerings as to the Images of the Gods with a Temple Altars as also a high Priest and Sacrificers Some Authours have reported that he procured these Honours by his Authority others that they were freely bestowed upon him That which appears most certain is that they were so agreed upon in the Senate and that all those who were then present came to him in a body to acquaint him with the Decree they had made he was then in the Temple of Venus and whether it were out of State or for some other Reason he received them sitting without rising up to goe and meet them Some say that Balbus held him when he would have raised himself others that it was in offence to Tributius who pretended to tell him what he was to doe However it was this neglect offended the Senatours and caused them to discover their hatred for from this time they contrived among themselves to publish abroad how that he affected the name of King He had indeed the power in effect and did onely want the Name which was odious to the Romans Caesar who very well knew how much that aversion imported very well defended himself from it and one day when some People called him Lord and King he answered That he was Caesar. Nevertheless he often let discourses fall which very much promoted those Reports that were spread of his Ambition He said That a Republick was no other than a name and mere Idea and that Sylla had discovered himself to be very ignorant when he renounced that of Dictatour All these Discourses were malitiously improved and served for great use to those who envied him Two Adventures which afterwards happened contributed also very much to their Confirmation As he returned from a publick Sacrifice upon the day of the Latine Festivals some body had Crowned his Statue with a Laurel bound about with a little band of white Linen which was a sort of Diadem Marulla and Cesestius the Tribunes of the People took off the Crown and Imprisoned him who had placed it there which made Caesar angry he went to the Tribunes quarrelled with them publickly and took away their Employments and that Affront offered to those Magistrates who maintained the interests of the People provoked them against him The other accident was yet more notorious There was celebrated at Rome a Festival in Honour of the God Pan which they called Lupercalls in that Ceremony the young Romans of the best Quality and who were for that year in Employments ran naked through the City with lether Thongs wherewith they wantonly struck all those they met and by ridiculous Superstition the most Vertuous Women were wont to go meet them and offer their hands to be touched with these Thongs believing that that had the Virtue to procure them a happy Lying-in and also make them fruitfull Antonius who was Consul appeared upon this occasion and Caesar assisted at the shew seated upon a Tribunal in a Chair of Gold and in a habit of Triumph Antonius passing through the People who opened to the right and left to make him way went up to the Tribunal and presented a Crown to Caesar some there were who clapped their Hands as if they approved of it but when Caesar put back the Crown there was a general Applause Antonius offered it to him a second time but still with as little marks of satisfaction from the People Caesar again refused it which was followed with loud Acclamations Caesar by this understood their sentiments which he made use of this Tryal more clearly to inform himself of he rose up to carry the Crown to the Capitol but was not Master of his disorder and said that night to his Friends That if he knew any man who would out his Throat he could know offer it to him freely CHAP. LXIV A Conspiracy against Caesar. Presages of his death He is murthered in the Senate THough he had yet a thousand other Testimonies of the hatred he lay under he abandoned himself so utterly to his Destiny that from this moment he neglected any manner of security
for himself against his Enemies He was heard to say That he had rather fall by Treason once than be so miserable as to be always afraid of it And another time That the Republick had more interest than himself in his preservation that he had gotten Glory and Power enough but that after his death the Commonwealth would be more harassed with Civil Wars than ever yet it had been And one day before his death being at Supper with Lepidus as his Friends disputed amongst themselves whilst he was writing what death was easiest It is that said he turning towards them which is the most sudden and the least foreseen He disbanded his Company of Spanish Guards and contented himself to be defended with the protection of his Friends which facilitated an enterprise upon his life Above threescore Senatours entred into this Conspiracy the Principals whereof were Brutus whose life Caesar had saved after the Battel of Pharsalia and Cassius who had surrendred Pompey's Fleet to him in the Hellespont they were both Pretors and Enemies because that Caesar had named Brutus for the eldest Pretor to the prejudice of Cassius who was above him in Age and Dignity the name of Brutus had been famous in Rome ever since the Consul so called who had banished the Kings There was found written at the foot of his Statue WOVLD TO GOD THOV WERT ALIVE And certain Billets were thrown into the Pretors Tribunal wherein were written these words Brutus thou art asleep and not a true Brutus Cassius was Authour of most of these things He hated Caesar for several reasons but chiefly because he had taken from him the Lions wherewith he intended to have given a shew to the People so Caesar mistrusted him and when his Friends advised him to look narrowly into the Conduct of Antonius and Dolabella It is not said he those perfumed and plump Sparks that I distrust but those meagre and pale Gentlemen He omitted not nevertheless to prepare his Expedition against the Parthians and caused sixteen Legions to march and Ten Thousand Horse for his going into Asia His design was to depart four days after to put himself at the head of them when the Conspiratours caused a report to be spread that according to the Sybill's Oracles the Parthians could not be overcome but by a King and that upon this pretence Cotta was to propose to the Senate the giving of him that Title Cassius took this occasion to go and visit Brutus demanding of him If he would go to the Senate upon the Ides of March when Caesar's Friends were to propose the declaring of him King Brutus said That he would not be there But replyed Cassius if you should be called thither Then said Brutus I shall think it my Duty to speak contradict and dye rather than lose our liberty Ah answered Cassius what Roman is there that would suffer you to dye for his Liberty you are ignorant Brutus who you are if you believe that those Billets which are thrown into the Tribunal come from any mean People and not from the most Illustrious and bravest Men of Rome They demand from other Pretors Games Shews and Gladiatours but they expect from you as a debt of Succession the ruine of Tyranny being ready to expose themselves to all hazards for your sake if you can find in your heart to dispose your self to their Wishes After this Conversation they parted and the Name of Brutus whose Person was very much Esteemed ingaged a great many in the Conspiracy so they resolved to put their design in execution upon the very Ides of March and in the Hall of the Senate A great many Prodigies foretold this misfortune to Caesar there was found in an old Tomb at Cappua a place of Brass whereon it was written in Greek Letters that when the Bones of Capys should be found a Man of the Race of Iülus should be slain by the hands of his Kinsmen and that his death should be â—evenged by the desolation of all Italy Word was brought him that those Horses which he had Consecrated and let loose at the passage of the Rubicon had not eaten for several days and were seen to weep Spurina a very able Diviner told him when he Sacrificed that great dangers threatned him upon the Ides of March and upon the Eve of that day a Wren flying into the Hall of Pompey with a Branch of Laurel in her Mouth was torn to pieces by other Birds who pursued her from a Neighbouring Wood. He dreamt the same Night that he was carried above the Clouds and that he shook hands with Iove and his Wife Calphurnia dreamt also that the top of her House fell down and that her Husband was Assassinated in her Armes the Doors of the Chamber opening at the same time of their own accord with great noise This last accident something confounded him and his Wife by her Prayers and Tears prevailed that he would not go abroad that day But another Brutus sirnamed Decimus who was one of the Conspiratours though of the number of his nearest Friends caused him to change his resolution in remonstrating to him He was expected at the Senate and that it would be a shame for him not to venture out of doors but when it should please Calphurnia to dream favourably so Deâ—imus carried him almost by force out of his Lodgings and as every thing seemed to contribute to his destruction a Slave who came to give him advice of the Conspiracy could never get up through the croud of People that surrounded him Artimedorus of Cnidus his Host and Friend having presented him with a Memorial to the same purpose he mingled it without reading amongst other Papers that were given him and Lena who was one of the Conspiratours entertaining him a great while in private as he came out of his Litter The others who believed themselves discovered thought already of killing themselves with the Daggers which they had under their Robes when Lena quitting Caesar and kissing his hand gave them to understand that he thanked him for some favour which he came to obtain The Assembly of the Senate was held in a place which Pompey had caused to be built for that purpose and which for that reason was called the Court or Hall of Pompey where was to be seen his Statue in Marble raised upon a Pedestal Caesar as he was entring met Spurina and smiling told him The Ides of March were come Yes answered the Divinor but they are not past When he had taken his place the Conspiratours turned towards him under pretence of saluting him and Tullius Cymber approached to ask pardon for his Brother who was then in Exile Caesar deferred the matter and put back Cymber who pressed upon him so far as to take hold on both sides of his Robe and when Caesar cryed out It was a violent Proceeding Casca who was behind him gave him the first stab with a Poniard near the Shoulder the wound glanced and was not
mortal Caesar struck Casca through the Arm with his Dagger crying out Traitour what dost thou Casca on the other side called his Brother and Caesar would have raised himself but he received a mortal wound in the Breast and all the Conspiratours charged upon him together with so much fury that many of them were themselves wounded he nevertheless made great resistence whirling himself amongst them like a Lion till perceiving Brutus with his Dagger in his hand he then covered his Face and wrapping himself in his Robe went and fell at the Foot of Pompey's Statue pierced with 24 wounds The End of the first Volume THE HISTORY Of the Second TRIVMVIRATE Down from the Death of Caesar to that of Brutus Volume II. CHAP. I. The Troubles and Fears of the Senate and the People of Rome after the death of Caesar. THE death of Caesar brought so much disorder into the Senate and amongst the People of Rome that the Conspiratours soon perceived what they had done was not like to meet with any general Approbation all the Senatours who were not Accomplices fled from the place of Assembly with such haste that it had like to have cost some of them their Lives as they went out of the Doors and the People Alarum'd at the News left all their several Employments some to run to the place where the Murther had been committed and others up and down the City to inform themselves of the circumstances of the matter The Market place was plundered and several Senatours who were retiring themselves in great Terrour were mischief'd in the Tumult In the mean time Brutus who was lookt upon as the chief of the Conspiracy had done all that in him lay to qualify their fears and after the Action had offered himself to declare the motives of it but no body would hear him this proceeding much surprized him and astonished also the other Conspiratours whereof Cassius and he were of the greatest Authority as well by the Charges of Pretor which they then executed as by the particular Merit which distinguished them Brutus by his Father's side descended from that other Brutus who had driven the Tarquins out of Rome and had laid the Foundations of the Commonwealth and by his Mother Servillia from Servillius Hala who had slain Melius for having unseasonably discovered such marks of Ambition as by no means were pleasing to the Senate by which means it seemed as if the hatred of Tyrants had descended into the heart of Brutus by the bloud of his Ancestours and himself in a Letter written to Cicero highly declared That he could not suffer that even his Father should have any Authority above the Laws and the Senate This fierce Opinion as it might be natural to him might also be some excuse for the violence which transported him against Caesar. That great Man had used him with all the tenderness of a Father and though Brutus fought against him in the Battel of Pharsalia gave strict Command to all his Officers to spare his life and after the Battel having pardoned him promoted him to the highest Dignities and one day shewing his Breast to some People who advised him not to trust him too far Do you believe then said he that Brutus cares for such poor pillage as this is At last when he saw him with his Dagger in his hand coming towards him he cried out What my Son and thou too These Opinions were caused by the passion that Caesar had had for Servillia the Mother of Brutus he was not ill received by her and she took such little care to hide it that she used to send him Letters even into the Senate One day when it was debated there what punishment should be inflicted upon the Accomplices of Cataline's Conspiracy one of these Letters was brought to Caesar Cato who was Servillia's half Brother cryed out That it contained some dangerous matter when Caesar for his justification gave him the Tablets which Cato read to himself and then threw hem back to him again calling him Drunkard but did not think fit to make any farther mention of the Letter It was said that Brutus was born in the height of this Amour so that it will need some pains to jâ—stify what he since did to Caesar for that thing excepted all his inclinations were towards Vertue he had moderated the heat of his Temper by applying himself to Learning and the study of Philosophy which though it was then divided into many Sects he was yet acquainted with them all He loved nothing but Glory and avoided Pleasures he was sober watchfull of an invincible Courage Complaisant and Affable in all Conversation and for these Qualities was beloved of the People adored by his Friends and esteemed even by his very Enemies Cassius's Character was of a much different nature he was very stout and in the Parthian War had signalized himself by many brave Actions He had a great and fiery Spirit a quick an sprightly Wit but his Warmth often carried him even into Transport and Violence He was something suspected of Self-interest and not over-exactness in doing Justice In short many are of Opinion that he conspired against Caesar not so much out of the hatred of Tyranny as for the particular Quarrel which he had against the Tyrant CHAP. II. Brutus and Cassius indeavour to justify what they have done before the People who rise upon them They retire to the Capitol THese two Men went out of the Senate at the Head of the Conspiratours with their bloudy Daggers in their hands in this condition they presented themselves before the People and in the first heat several who had no share in the Action desirous to attribute some false merit of it to themselves joyned the Conspiratours with their Swords in their hands amongst the rest Aquinius Dollabella and Pettilius who afterwards by their death paid dear for that impertinence and vanity for though they caused a Cap to be carried before them upon a Lance as a Token of Liberty and though Brutus depended upon the great Name and Example of his Ancestours the People received them with sadness and with silence not giving them any of those Acclamations which they expected so they thought fit to retire to the Capitol causing themselves to be guarded by Gladiatours belonging to another Brutus sirnamed Decimus who was also in the Conspiracy They were not now any longer the People who heretofore had defended their Liberties with a Zeal transported even to Madness all Opinions of that kind had given place to Interest and they were better pleased with some present Gain than any Whimsey of Dominion by which means they were more afraid of Poverty than Subjection Marius Sylla and some others had taught them these Maximes and besides several Strangers and abundance of Freed-men being crept in amongst them had corrupted the purity of the true Roman bloud and debauched their Noble Thoughts nevertheless they came to the Capitol in great numbers and Cassius
Ratify the Ordinances of Caesar but than to observe how Ridiculous 't would appear at the same time to give Praises and Rewards to his Murtherers For all this he would not oppose the Compassion which pleaded for their Pardon in consideration of their Relations provided that it might appear done at the Petition of their Families that he himself had there consented to it not that he by any means thought it agreeable to Iustice but for the publick Quiet So his advice was followed and the Decree passed in those terms there were onely added the names of such who had had employments and other honours as they particularly had desired CHAP. V. New Divisions occasioned by Caesar's Will Brutus and Cassius speak to the People in their own justification They come to an agreement with Anthony and Lepidus THIS Proceeding redounded much to Antonius's Reputation for he had discharged himself of this business with a great deal of Address and Industry though very many and amongst the rest even Cicero himself were of opinion That he thought more of his pleasure than the business of the Commonwealth The Senatours went home to their Houses very well satisfied when streight a new difficulty arose Piso declared That having the Will of Caesar in his possession he had given it into the protection of the Vestals with orders to return it into his hands It was told him That the Will must not be produced and that it would be very improper to doe him Funeral Honours since it might produce fresh Tumults Piso was Caesar's Father-in-Law and for that reason ingaged both in Honour and Friendship to see his last will put in execution he answered That he would discharge himself of what he owed to his Son-in-Law and his Friend and when it was answered him That what Caesar disposed of was the Goods which belonged to the Republick which by this means was robbed of its right and that he should be called to an account for his proceedings These threatnings caused him to demand of the Consuls That they would assemble the Senatours which were yet present So they returned to the Temple where Piso delivered himself in these terms I am sorry to see that the number of Caesar 's Murtherers increases each moment and that far from being satisfied with the cruel death which they have made him suffer they yet desire that the body of a Sovereign Pontifex should be deprived of the Honours of Funeral which were never refused to the meanest Man they forbid me with Threatnings to publish his Will they would divide his Fortune amongst them as the estate of a Tyrant and which is most surprizing of all those very men who come to Ratify what he hath Ordained in the Commonwealth endeavour to suppress what he hath disposed in particular and though it be neither Cassius nor Brutus themselves that declare these Opinions it is easie to believe that those who maintain it are influenced by them However it be order you what you please as to Caesar 's Funeral but for his Will I shall remain Master of that and so long as I have breath will never betray that Confidence and Trust which he reposed in me This discourse occasioned a fresh Contest those who believed they might be concerned in it were for the Will so it was ordered that it should be Published and that Funeral Honours should be given to Caesar at the expence of the Publick Brutus and his Friends were soon advised of these Proceedings so they judged it convenient to prevent the minds of the People and for this design sent to desire them that they would come to the Capitol When they were assembled there in a great number Brutus presenting himself said That they were not retired to that place as Offenders who sought a Sanctuary but to prevent the misfortunes that might arise from the Affront which had been done to Cinna that they had understood how their Enemies spoke of the death of Caesar as of a great Crime which broke all those measures that could be taken with them for their safety that this discourse obliged them to declare their Innocence and good Intentions that since the death of Pompey Caesar had always acted as an open Tyrant that he had disposed of great Charges and principal employments of his own head and without the advice of the Senate that he had turned two Tribunes out of their Offices for no other reason than that they had taken the Crown from one of his Images that by that means he was the first that had attempted to violate that respect which was due to Sacred Persons Besides that they did not believe any Oath was of force enough to oblige the maintenance of Tyranny that in all other occasions their words should be Sacred and Inviolable that for the rewards which Caesar had promised they were resolved to allow of them in the name of the Commonwealth that those who had already received Inheritances should continue in the possession of them and that such as had had their Lands taken from them should have their Losses repaired out of the first money that came into the publick Treasury This discourse was received with Acclamations and the People admired the resolution of the Conspiratours so by this means their minds being turned wholly in their favour the next day in the Assembly of the Senate Cicero's Eloquence found it no hard matter to persuade That all which had passed might be forgotten His advice was seconded by Plancus so an Amnesty or Act of Oblivion was published Antonius and Lepidus sent their Children to the Capitol as Hostages for the Conspiratours security so Brutus descended with all his Accomplices At last for a Testimony of a sincere Reconciliation Antonius entertained Cassius at Supper and Brutus was at home with Lepidus These last who were Wise Men parted very well in appearance but as Anthony was a Laughter and Cassius given to be Cholerick their Conversation was not without some sharpness Antonius asked Cassius If he had not yet a concealed Dagger Yes answered Cassius and a sharp one too for those who dare aspire to the Tyranny which answer it is believed put a stop to any farther Jesting CHAP. VI. Caesar's Will read publickly Antonius makes his Funeral Oration THE fire of Division began to be apparent to all such as could discern any thing the minds of the People were so well disposed that they doubted not but the Commonwealth would soon recover its ancient Majesty But those who judged better were not so deceived and amongst others Atticus the particular Friend of Cicero this was a Roman Knight of the first of that Order which was distinguished from that of the Senatours the softness of his Inclination and the weakness of his Constitution had hindred him from signalizing himself in Wars but the qualifications of his Mind his Honesty and his Sincerity made him be considered as a Man of great Merit and gained him many noble Friends and though he had some
whom he had heretofore Commanded under Iulius Caesar and one of new raised Men Antonius immediately besieged him in the place blocking him closely up with lines and other Works CHAP. XVIII Hirtius and Pansa chosen Consuls The Decree of the Senate against Antonius The death of Trebonius Dollabella declared an Enemy to the Republick Honours and Offices allotted to Cassius and Brutus THE siege of Modena was lookt upon by Caesar and the Senate as a Declaration of War where at last new Consuls were Created upon the first of Ianuary in the year 711 since the foundation of Rome which shall serve as a Date for the rest of the History These Consuls were Hirtius and Pansa both intimate Friends and Disciples of Cicero who boasts that he taught them the Rules of Eloquence they were both also the Creatures of Iulius Caesar. Hirtius had always served under him and it is he who has given the Relation of the Wars of Aegypt and Africa which is annexed to his Commentaries and Pansa made profession of a particular Friendship with him They assembled the Senate where Cicero who had then all the Authority persuaded War against Antonius by a discourse which is still extant We may there reade his Reasons which are drawn from the Insolence and Conduct of Antonius as well as Ambition the matter as it usually happens did not pass without a reply for Piso maintained the interest of Antonius and indeavoured to justify him but Cicero's underhand management proved too strong and an Arrest had gone out against Antonius if Salvius one of the Tribunes had not opposed it in the name of the People This was the greatest Privilege of those kind of Offices for though there were many of them one alone had right to oppose the general consent and that opposition hindred the effect of all debates It was the Peoples business to decide this difference and though nothing was then ordered as to the business of Antonius because of the Tribunes opposition It was resolved that Decimus should be thanked for maintaining the Authority of the Senate that Caesar should be joined with the Consuls and Command equally with them that his Statue should be set up in Gold that he should be entred in the Senate and have power to demand the Consulship ten years before he came to such Age as the Law in that case required to the end that the Legions might be rewarded after Victory according as he had promised them The courage of Salvius made way for the Mother and Wife of Antonius to solicite his Cause with her Son who was yet young and all their other Friends and Relations Antonius his Mother was called Iulia of Caesar's Family and in great Esteem both for her Birth and for her Vertue his Wife Fulvia when she Married him was the Widow of Claudius This Widow was very beautifull and of a popular but Ancient Family Ambitious above the capacity of her Sex and who absolutely governed her Husband she had also some light inclinations to Gallantry which was perhaps the effect of her Ambition for she always loved to deal amongst the best Quality at least we may reade at this time an Epigramm of Augustus where he complains that Fulvia declares War against him because he could not have a passion for her and assist her in revenging the infidelities of her Husband These Ladies and all their Family appeared in mourning Robes before the People and moved their Compassion Piso took this occasion to try once more what could be done in favour of Antonius but the Eloquence of Cicero dazled their minds and the Decree of the Senate was confirmed the charge of drawing it up was given to Cicero which he performed in much severer terms than had been resolved upon the terms of the Arrest were That Antonius should immediately raise his siege from before Modena and that he should quit the whole Province of Gall which reaches from the Alps as far as the Rubicon with a citation before the Senate in case of Disobedience to give an account of his Actions About this time news was come to Rome of the death of Trebonius whose Body was brought thither by his Friends and who was the first of Caesar's Murtherers that was punished for his Crime To understand the manner of it we must recollect that Dolabella departing with great diligence for his Government of Syria found that Countrey in commotion by the intrigues of Trebonius whom Brutus had sent thither as his Lieutenant and when he would have entred into Pergama and Smyrna the Gates were shut against him Nevertheless Trebonius neglected not to send Provisions to him as to a Consul and sent word to those of Ephesus that they should receive him Dolabella who had raised Troops by virtue of his Office and was still highly respected took his way towards Ephesus Trebonius sending out some Companies after him to observe his march the Consul went so directly towards Ephesus that it took off all manner of suspicion so that a great many of the Men returned again to Smyrna leaving onely a small number merely for form sake Then Dolabella turning upon those who remained cut them all in pieces and coming back briskly to Smyrna took it by assault The Souldiers found Trebonius aâ—ed who desired them To carry him to Dolabella We will carry you said the Commander but your Head must stay here so he cut it off immediately and the body was dragged up and down by the Souldiers with all manner of Indignity for though he had not himself assaulted Iulius Caesar he was one of the Conspiratours and was the Man that while the Deed was doing amused Antonius at the door of the Senate House so they shewed their hatred to him by a thousand Affronts which they did him Dolabella caused the Head to be fixt upon the Tribunal where he gave Audience and whence the Souldiers took it away again trundling of it up and down a long time upon the pavement The Body was taken up by his Friends and carried as I said before to Rome where the Senate according to that folly which they now shewed in every thing they undertook declared Dolabella a Rebel and an Enemy of his Countrey With the same madness they made an Order That Brutus should have the Government of Macedonia and Illyria and Command the Armies of those Provinces till such time as the Commonwealth recovered its ancient Majesty That he might make use of the Fleet which Apuleius had got together and the sum of seven thousand Talents which Julius Caesar had sent into the City of Demetriades with abundance of Ammunitions of War for the attacking of the Parthians To Cassius was given Syria and the charge of making War against Dolabella and an Ordinance passed That all such as had Command of any Provinces or Armies belonging to the Roman People should receive Orders from those two Generals CHAP. XIX Antonius's Letter to Hirtius and young Caesar. ANTONIVS resolved to take this occasion
saw that Antonius's Moorish Cavalry gained upon his Flanck he drew up his Archers against him and drew off his Companies In the mean time Pansa who on his side had engaged himself a little too far was hemmed in and received a wound with a half Pike in the Belly which forc't him to be carried off His being wounded so astonished the Souldiers that they possessed themselves of the Causway in great disorder when the new Troops instead of seconding of them began immediately to fly and were followed by all the rest of the Army except Caesar's company of Guards who made head upon the Causway with Galba and were cut to pieces Galba saved himself on Horseback and had like to have been slain by his own very Party who were rallied hard by a Fort which Torquatus the Questor had caused in haste to be thrown up The Office of Questor was in the nature of a Treasurer General but he had also Command over the Troops The Martial Legion mad with spight and shame made head in this place refusing to enter the Fort Antonius admiring their Virtue durst not charge them under that Fortification but having made a great slaughter amongst the new Souldiers who fled in disorder retreated Caesar was at this Battel where he mingled himself even in the midst but the shoal of those who ran away carried him with them notwithstanding he endeavoured all he could to the contrary Nevertheless Antonius has Reproached him since that he lost his Coat of Arms and his Horse there and did not appear in two days afterwards Hirtius who was near Modena marched upon the first news of the Battel with twenty Cohorts and with so great diligence that though he had near sixty stades to Travell he came up with Antonius's Troops who were retreating disorderly after their Victory he charged them furiously but those brave men though so surprized made yet a vigorous resistence but at last were forc't to give way Hirtius pursuing them Pell-mell even into the Marsh where he durst not engage himself and the night too coming on forc't him to a retreat The Marsh was covered with the dead and wounded and Antonius's Souldiers notwithstanding the fatigue of the Battel remained still all the night a Horseback to fetch off their wounded Companions whom they carried some behind them and drew off others at their Horses Tails so that by this means a great many were preserved The loss was equal on both sides in the first Battel but in the second Hirtius had very few Men slain having taken two Eagles and several other Colours but Caesar's company of Guards being intirely destroyed were bewailed extremely CHAP. XXII Antonius defeated by Hirtius and Caesar. The death of Hirtius The raising of the siege of Modena Brutus writes to Cicero AFTER the Battel both Armies returned to their Camps about Modena where Antonius resolved onely to defend his Lines without hazarding a second Battel On the other side Hirtius and Caesar were for Engaging and there daily happened very severe skirmishes At last the Consul began to move towards that side of the Mountain where Antonius's Camp was least fortified to try if he could put any relief into the Town Antonius immediately opposed them with his Cavalry who were beaten from their ground so that he was forced to cause two Legions to advance The Enemy rejoycing at these proceedings charged those Troops when the two Legions giving ground Antonius sent away for another but the circumvallation reached so far and their Succours were so long a time coming that the two Legions were totally put to the Rout. Hirtius followed his advantage very vigorously entring the Lines and was already got into the Quarters of Antonius but was there slain Caesar got great Honour upon this occasion he carried off the Consul's Body and taking the Eagle out of the Standard bearers Hands who was very much wounded carried it himself till the very minute that Antonius's Troops were absolutely defeated the night hindred his total overthrow and the two Generals continued a Horseback till morning with all their Troops Then Antonius called a Council of his Friends who advised him to continue the siege by reason that the two Consuls were the one wounded and the other dead and that Decimus was reduced to the last extremity But he fearing lest Caesar who had a great many Pioneers should carry on his Works between him and the City and by that means get succours into the place was afraid also lest those two defeats might loose him Lepidus and Plancus so he raised the siege and retreated up to the Mountains to go and join himself with Ventidius It was doubtless in the heat of joy for this Victory that Cicero wrote to young Caesar desiring him in his Letter That he would be contented to spare the Republick Brutus and Cassius The Letter was sent by Atticus to Brutus who was very much provoked at it and complained very sharply of Cicero who had also reproached Casca with the murther of Caesar. Brutus offended at the proceeding sent word to Atticus That that reproach might be returned upon Cicero himself who had slain more than one Citizen in his Consulship and was therefore a greater murtherer than ever Casca was Is it added he because we do not quote the Ides of March upon all occasions in and out of Season as he does his Nones of December that esteems us less than him He boasts that he has maintained the War against Antonius without ever having drawn his Sword What is that to me if for the reward of defeating Antonius it demanded that one succeed him This is not any longer said he to be afraid of Slavery but of the Master that imposes it And in another place Is it out of fear of Octavius 's power that Cicero believes we ought to allow him these Honours That fear says he is foolish which obliges us to provide against an evil by means that are as bad as the evil we are afraid of and which perhaps too might have been avoided We are too much afraid of Death Banishment and Poverty These things appear to Cicero as great evils and provided there he but those that will allow him what he desires respect him and praise him he reckons an honourable Slavery as nothing if such a thing as Honour can subsist with so great Infamy In short not to repeat the whole Letter he said That he had no great Opinion of those fine Arts which Cicero was so much a Master of For what use do we see him make of all that he has written concerning the Liberty of his Countrey true Honour Death Banishment and Poverty Brutus wrote also to Cicero himself in terms not quite so sharp but full as pressing but the Letter is too long to mingle with the body of a History where it will not appear much to the purpose besides it is to be seen amongst many others in Cicero's Epistles CHAP. XXIII Decimus speaks to Caesar who treats him
ill The death of Pansa His dying words to Caesar. DECIMVS was at Macedonia and in great disputes with himself in what manner he ought to proceed with Caesar but as he knew how irreconcilable a hatred he had reason to expect from him he thought it his best way to break down all the Bridges that were upon the River and after that precaution he sent a Herald to Caesar who in the name of Decimus Gave him thanks for the liberty which he owed to his relief and taking all the Romans to Witness protested that it was onely by mere hazard that Decimus had been ingaged in the unhappy Conspiracy At last he begged of him That he would allow of a free interview the River being between them Caesar received this discourse very surlily and made answer That Decimus owed him no obligation that he came not thither by any means for his relief but to fight with Antonius who nevertheless might one day come to be his Friend but that Decimus should ever be his mortal Enemy and that he would neither speak with him nor see him Therefore says he let him go wherever he has a mind to go since those who are at Rome will have it for Decimus who was near the River understood this answer And beâ—ought Caesar that he would onely for the Letters of the Senate which confirmed him in the Government of Gall and forbad him admittance into the Province Caesar though offended with his insolence did not think it seasonable at this time to resent it though he might easily have done it so he returned to Bulloigne to see Pansa who lay there wounded they wrote both to the Senate and at the instance of Cicero there were ordered 50 days of publick Devotions and Thanksgivings which had never been done for any other Victory before The promise also of 500 Drachma's to the Legions was confirmed with a farther Provision that it should be paid to the Widows or Heirs of those who died in Battel Pansa died of his wounds some few days afterwards whose death occasioned some suspicion of Caesar at least the Physician he made use of one whose name was Glyco was put into Prison and accused for having poysoned the wound but Brutus answered for the Honesty of the Physician and wrote in his behalf to Cicero yet still Caesar's Enemies spread the suspicions abroad as also that he had slain Hirtius in the heat of the Battel But Pansa himself was so well persuaded to the contrary that he desired to see him before his death and thus spoke to him I loved your Father more than my self and when he was slain in the Senate I would have hazarded my own life to have saved his had I been furnished with Arms. I would doe his Memory Iustice in doing you some Service which my misfortune hinders me from on this occasion which should be by advertising you of what designs the Senate have against you for it is nothing but the fear of your Troops which forces those People to caress you and they had never allowed you those Honours you are at present possessed of but to fire you more to the destruction of Antonius Their business is to dash you to pieces one against the other by that means to re-establish Pompey's Paâ—tâ— is being the thing which they most pressingly recommended to Hirtius and me but the Friendship wherewith Caesar once honoured me obliges me to give you such Counsel as I my self would take upon the same occasion unite your self with Antonius for it is the onely way to preserve your life and advance your Fortune I could not with Honour have given you this advice sooner because it would have betrayed the Trust which they reposed in me but at present since Antonius is ouerthrown Hirtius dead and I just following him I think my self discharged of my Oath and therefore may acquit my self of what I owe to the memory of Caesar. I surrender you your Troops and would also restore you those which the Senate gave me did I not fear it might cause their aversion towards you for the Commanders are but so many private Spies upon our Conduct so I would have you consent that they may be put into the hands of Torquatus He died about a quarter of an hour afterwards having given his Troops to Torquatus who by orders from the Senate carried them to Decimus and Caesar sent the Bodies of the two Consuls to Rome with great Magnificence CHAP. XXIV Cassius in Syria He raises great Forces The Conduct of Cleopatra Brutus defeats Antonius's Brother and takes him Prisoner IN this manner the Senate endeavoured by all sort of ways to re-establish their Authority and the news which came from the East gave them very great hopes of it Cassius arriving in Syria found the Legions in that Province revolted by reason of the death of Sextus who was a young Man and a Kinsman of Iulius Caesar who had left him there upon Honour to Command a Legion whereof Cacilius Bassus was Tribune or Colonel This young Man lived very disorderly and when Bassus advised him to reform his Conduct he used him ill so that the Souldiers provoked to see their Colonel affronted fell to Mutiny and in the Tumult Sextus was slain They well knew that Caesar who was then alive would not forgive them that fault so they desperately resolved to stand by what they had done and debauched also another Legion into their Crime Caesar sent orders to Marcus to reduce them to their Obedience with three Legions which he Commanded but the Mutineers got the better of him so far that he was forced to demand the assistence of Crispus who had three other Legions in Bithynia they had besieged Bassus who defended himself very well when after the death of Caesar Cassius with the Senates orders arrived in the Province The Mutineers were transported with this occasion so they declared immediately for the Senate and Cassius managed it so well that he brought over Marcus and Crispus also into his Interest by that means re-uniting all those Troops under his own Command He had also notice that Alienus was in Palestine with four Legions that Cleopatra had raised and which she had put into Alienus's hands by the Command of Dolabella Cleopatra reigned then in Aegypt by the Authority of Caesar who loved her and had placed her upon the Throne after the death of her Brother and it was in acknowledgment of those favours that she had raised these Troops to offer him their service when he should march against the Parthians The death of this great Man had altered those thoughts to others of Revenge so understanding that Dolabella was in Syria and that he had declared himself against Caesar's Murtherers by the death of Trâ—bonius she sent him those Legions under the Command of Alienus Cassius with his Army marched against him which forced Alienus finding he was not strong enough to give him Battel with the four Legions to go over to his
he had a design of joining himself with Decimus but it was indeed to make choice of his Party according as Fortune should declare her self By this means Antonius was at the head of 23 Legions and above ten thousand Horse he left six Legions on the other side of the Alps under the Command of one of his drinking Companions called Varius but in railery sirnamed Cotyllo that word signifying a Flagon and returned over the Mountains with 17 Legions and all his Cavalry CHAP. XXVII Caesar pursues the Consulship He speaks to his Souldiers He marches towards Rome The fright the Senate were in NOW to make the best use of that amazement which this success of Antonius had brought into Rome Caesar resolved once more to set his design on foot of pursuing the Consulship The Senate had changed their method they had declared Caesar General with Decimus to make War against Antonius but at the same time had offended him by a foolish way of proceeding in sending ten Commissaries to carry the Money which had been promised to the two Legions without naming himself for that employment These Commissaries had private orders to endeavour to corrupt the Souldiers of the two Legions and to persuade them to go and join Decimus where it was told them their Money should be ready but Caesar took care they should be so well lookt after that they could get no opportunity of speaking to the Souldiers and when he let them understand how well he was informed of their design they were so afraid that they returned to Rome without ever so much as distributing the money Caesar took this occasion to convince his Souldiers That what the Senate aimed at was onely the destruction of his Father's Party by the divisions they indeavoured to sow amongst them so he unravelled all the secret of that Policy which had caused so many waverings between him and Antonius He made them take notice how they indeavoured to raise jealousie amongst his Troops by that distinction of Recompences and after all the last attempt which they had made towards the weakning of Caesar's Ordinances What security said he can ye pretend to have now for those Houses those Inheritances and those Goods which my Father allotted you Do ye not believe also that my life must be in danger amongst the Relations and Friends of those who cruelâ—y murthered him But it is not the care of that which most nearly touches me I would give it up with chearfulness if that Sacrifice would secure the safety of so many Men of consideration as have followed my interests ye know that I am not Ambitious and ye have seen me too refuse those marâ—s of Honour which ye have offered me but I desire some of you at present in consideration of your selves the onely way to preserve your Lives and Fortunes must be the making of me Consul by your Votes after that we will make it our business to secure you in the possession of those Goods which my Father left you We will revenge his death and shall be in a better condition for the distribution of Rewards The Souldiers received this Proposition with a great deal of Joy and immediately named Deputies to go and make their demand to the Senate who returned no favourable answer excusing themselves in regard of Caesar's Youth But the Deputies being well instructed alledged Corvinus the two Scipio's Pompey and Dolabella who had all obtained that Magistracy before they came to Age and that Caesar himself had a dispensation from the Senate They spoke these things with a certain Souldier-like Liberty which was not very agreeable to the Senatours who interrupted them with crying out against it when a certain Captain called Cornelius who was the first of the Deputies laying his Hand upon his Sword said If ye will not give it him here 's that shall After these words he left the Senate and returned to give Caesar an account of the ill success of his Deputation The Souldiers provoked by their refusal cryed out That they desired to be lead to Rome and that Caesar as Heir to his Father had sufficient Authority to make whom he pleased Consuls He took care this heat of theirs should not grow cold again so he marched towards Rome with eight Legions and passed the Rubicon as his Father had done before he divided his Army into two Bodies the briskest whereof he took with him that he might surprize his Enemies by his diligence leaving orders with the rest to come and join him by small marches and understanding that the Senate had deputed new Commissaries with the Money he sent out a party of Souldiers before to meet them which so terrified them that they immediately returned to Rome CHAP. XXVIII The Senates want of resolution Caesar enters into the City He treats Cicero ill and is declared Consul with Pedius NOW there was nothing but disorder to be found in the City and as it usually happened upon the like occasions every Senatour was for laying the blame of their ill Conduct upon his Neighbour but that was now to little purpose for some resolution must be taken so it was concluded That one half of the Money which the Senate had promised to the two Legions should be sent them together with a farther promise of as much more to the others That Caesar onely should have the care of the distribution of this Money and be permitted to demand the Consulship though he were not himself there present So Deputies were sent to acquaint him with these Resolutions but the very moment after they appeared again too mean as well as too rash Some foolish remainders of that fierceness which was natural to those ancient Romans made them ashamed to yield thus to the proceedings of a young Man and the insolence of the Souldiery By chance too at the same time two Legions who came from Libya arrived at the Gates of the City they were received as a Succour sent thither from the Gods and it was resolved with these Troops and the Legion that Pansa had sent back to the Senate joined with such as were fit to bear Arms within the Walls to defend the City So Pretors were appointed to Command them and great hopes there seemed to be that these marks of their Courage and Resolution might astonish Caesar. His Mother and his Sisters were in the City but when the Senate caused them to be sought for to secure them as Hostages they were not to be found which was an instance that Caesar had still some faithfull Friends there the danger that those Persons who were so dear to him were in had made him to redouble his diligence so he sent his Cavalry with all the haste they could make to seize upon the Gates and assure the People of his good Intentions himself following close at their Heels with his Legions the sight whereof soon moderated the Zeal of those Men who appeared so hot for the defence of their Countrey so without any
rellished with the new Souldiers that they deserted him and came over to Antonius's Army Decimus seeing himself by this means abandoned by all his Infantry dismist all the stranger Cavalry who were with him and out of his own Purse furnished them with Money for the charge of their Voyage retaining onely with him three hundred of those who were best disposed to his interest with this attendance he marched as far as the Rhine when being affrighted at the rapidness of the stream and the largeness of the River each man was for seeking a civil pretence of drawing off so there remained with Decimus onely ten of his Friends In this extremity he put on a Gallick habit to disguise himself and as he perfectly understood that Language he believed he might easily pass for some Cavalier that had quitted the service But the misfortune that followed him or rather the punishment of his Crime brought him into the hands of certain Moroders who without taking any Party were for plundering all they met withall he demanded to speak with their Captain and found by chance that it was one Camillus whom he had formerly obliged this Camillus received Decimus indeed very honourably but according to the Custome of those sort of People gave advice to Antonius of what had happened Antonius was touched with much Compassion to understand the sad condition of a man so considerable for his Birth and the great Offices he had born but as he could doe him no favour and was therefore resolved not to see him he sent word to Camillus to send him his Head which was immediately obeyed and when it was brought to him he caused it to be buried so Decimus was the second of Caesar's Murtherers upon whom the death of that great Man was revenged he had always been of his Party against Pompey and Caesar had honoured him with a particular Friendship as appears in his Will He had upon many great occasions made him Commander of his Cavalry and at last had given him the Government of Gaul which were things that made his Action appear by so much the more Infamous and Horrible Another of the Murtherers called Basilius perished also at the same time by the hands of his Slaves whom he had treated with all manner of Cruelty CHAP. XXX Presages which were before the Triumvirate The Alliance of Caesar Antonius and Lepidus called the Triumvirate They meet in a certain Island Their Ordinances NOthing so much satisfies the Pride of Mankind as the Opinion whereby they flatter themselves with being able to foresee what shall happen since by that means they imagine they are in some degree equal to the Gods and it was doubtless that presumption which first introduced Auguries Presages and all those sorts of Divinings and which so much recommended them to the Romans All their Histories are full of them but more particularly upon this occasion They believed that something must have been wanting to the importance of that great Issue which overthrew the estate of the whole Universe and laid the foundation of the greatest Empire that ever was in the World upon the Ruines of the Roman Commonwealth if it had not been foretold by Prodigies Dogs were heard to howl round about the City like Wolves and Wolves were seen running even about the Market place where they took away the Meat from the Shambles an Ox spoke as also did an Infant as it was fresh born from the Womb of its Mother some of the Statues sweated bloud and others water terrible signs were seen round about the Sun At last showres of Stones fell from Heaven and the Temples and Images of the Gods were broken with Thunder The Senate terrified with these Prodigies sent into Tuscany for those Men called Augures who professed the explanation of these sort of Prodigies and out of this Countrey it was that this Superstition first came into Rome The eldest Augure said That by these Presages the Gods foretold the restoring of Kings to Rome where they should have absolute Command over all men except said he my self and at these words he held his breath so obstinately that he stifled himself in the midst of the Assembly The success was but too answerable to his Conjectures Caesar and Antonius were united by the means of Lepidus who obliged them to see one another for the adjusting of their pretensions for this interview was chosen a little Island made by the River Panarus hard by Modena hither Caesar and Antonius came each with four Legions the River being between them Lepidus first went over alone into the Island to discover if there were reason to fear any surprizal when he had satisfied himself he held up his Robe which was a signal for them to approach Caesar and Antonius advanced each with 300 Men a-piece whom they left at the foot of those Bridges which had been made there for that present purpose and onely themselves entred the Island where they imbraced and afterwards sate down in an open place where both the Armies might see every thing that passed Caesar as he was Consul sate in the midst so they spent about two or three days there for the regulating their interests This was towards the end of November in the year above dated At last it was agreed upon That Caesar should quit the Quality of Consul the Title whereof should be left to Ventidius for the rest of the year That the Supreme Authority should be divided between those three in the same manner as it had been executed by Consuls That they should keep it for the space of five years under the name of Triumviri and in the Quality of the Reformers of the Commonwealth That they should cause that Authority to be confirmed by the Roman People That Antonius should have all intire on the other side of the Alps Lepidus that on this side of the Alps with Spain and Caesar Africa with the Isles of Sardignia and Sicily That Italy should remain in Common as also the Eastern Provinces which were at present in the possession of Brutus and Cassius In this manner says Plutarch did these men divide the World between them as if it had been their Inheritance The charge of making War upon the Conspiratours was given to Antonius and Caesar while Lepidus was to stay at Rome with four Legions To Antonius's Troops were added four more and three to Caesar's to the end that they might each have an Army of twenty Legions afterwards they disposed the matter of Rewards and that Article was indeed of great importance for the retaining of the Troops in their Obedience then was it ordered That the Lands and Houses of 18 of the best Cities of Italy which should be chosen out by the Triumviri according as they found reason to be angry with them should be abandoned in propriety to the Souldiers The greatest of them were Capua Regium Benevent Luceria Rimini and Vibonia All this was regulated without the least contest or dispute but they
appeared something divided as to the revenge they resolved to take upon their Enemies Antonius first demanded Cicero whom Caesar by some remainders of Friendship which he retained for him would have preserved Caesar would have Lucius sirnamed like himself Caesar and Antonius's Uncle and Lepidus was resolved to get rid of his Brother Paulus who had appeared so violent in prosecuting his Condemnation when he joined with Antonius At last hatred got the better of Friendship so Caesar abandoned Cicero for Lucius and Lepidus had permission to put his Brother to death and that their revenge too might appear the greater they resolved to imitate the manner that Marius and Sylla had made use of Upon a Tablet was written in great Letters the name of the Man Condemned and this Tablet was set up in the publick place which was the thing they called Proscription From this moment any man might kill those who were Proscribed and as great Rewards were set upon their Heads it was very hard for any of them to escape the fury of the Souldiers animated by their Interests These terrible Articles being written and signed Caesar went to declare them to the Armies who gave testimony of their exceeding Joy thereat and then all the Souldiers of the three Armies came together and mutually treated and entertained each other In this manner was concluded that famous Triumvirate the consequences whereof were so terrible and which gave the last blow to the Roman Liberty The Triumvirate is a Latine word signifying a Partnership between three Men that of a Triumvir serving to express any one of them CHAP. XXXI The Decree of the Triumvirate The Proscription Murthers up and down the City THE Triumviri having thus established their Authority drew up a Roll of all those they resolved should die wherein though hatred seemed to have the greatest part yet Interest also at last came in for her share They wanted a great deal of Money for the carrying on of the War against Brutus and Cassius who found powerfull Succours in the Riches of Asia and from the assistence of the Eastern Princes when on the other side these had onely Europe for their share and especially Italy which had been wasted and drained by long Civil Wars they laid great Imposts upon Salt and other Merchandizes but that not being sufficient they consulted with themselves to proscribe a great many of the richest Men of Rome and so make advantage by the Confiscation of their Estates but first they declared onely the names of seventeen Persons who were the most heinous Enemies of these three Princes Paulus was the first in the behalf of Lepidus his Brother Lucius Caesar followed Paulus by Caesar's Order and Cicero for Antonius after these were named Plancus and Plotius his Brother designed Consuls for the year insuing the Father-in-Law of Pollio and Caesar's Procuratour The Decree of Proscription began in these Terms Marcus Lepidus Marcus Antonius and Octavius Caesar Chosen for the Reformation of the Commonwealth If the Generosity of Julius Caesar had not persuaded him to pardon those faithless Men and give them besides the lives they were unworthy of Honours also and Offices which they deserved as little after having taken up Arms against his Person he had not fallen so cruelly by their Treason nor should we have been forced to use the ways of Rigour against those who have declared us Enemies to our Countrey but the hatefull designs which they have formed against us the horrible Treachery they shewed towards Caesar and the knowledge which we have of their Malice and Obstinacy in their pernicious Opinions force us to prevent those Evils which may fall upon us The rest contained a justification of the Triumvirates proceedings founded upon the advantages which Caesar had acquired to the Romans by his Victories the ingratitude of his Murtherers who had been almost all of them honoured by his Beneficence and by his Friendship the necessity of punishing those Enemies who by their Artifices might involve the City of Rome in unhappy Divisions while Caesar and Antonius were employed against Brutus and Cassius and the Example of Sylla At last after having implored the assistence of the Gods and good Fortune they concluded thus That no man should dare to receive conceal or help to escape any of those who werâ— Proscribed upon any pretence whatsoever nor to give them Money or other relief nor to hold any intelligence with them upon pain of being put into the fame state without hopes of pardon That whosoever should bring in the head of a Proscribed Man should have 2000 Crowns if a Freed-man and if he were a Slave his liberty and 1000 Crowns That the Slave who should kill his Master should have besides that moreover the right of a free Citizen That the same reward should be given to those whâ— should declare the place where any Proscribed Man was retreated and that the name of the Discoverer should not be written in any Register or other Memorial to the end that it might never be known who he was The Souldiers arrived before the Decree and killed at first four of the Proscripts some in their Lodgings and others in the Streets after which they ran up and down to the Houses and the Temples causing a general Terrour nothing was to be heard but cries and lamentations and in regard the Decree was not yet made publick every one was afraid and fansied himself in the number of those that were Condemned some even became so very desperate that they resolved to involve the whole City in their destruction and set it on fire Pedius hindred this disorder by causing it to be published That onely some few of the Enemies of the Triumvirate were sought after and that the others had nothing to be afraid of So the next day he caused to be posted up the names of those seventeen who were Condemned but heated himself so much with running up and down to satisfie the minds of the People that he died the night following CHAP. XXXII The entry of the Triumvirate into Rome Murthers committed and the sad condition which that City was in AFTER this the Triumvirate made their entry into the City upon three several days Caesar upon the first Antonius upon the second and Lepidus upon the third each bringing with him a Legion for his Guard The Law by which they invested themselves with Consular Authority for the space of five years and declared themselves Reformers of the Commonwealth was published by Titius Tribune of the People and the night following they added the names of 130 Persons to those they had already Proscribed A little time after they proclaimed 150 more upon pretence that they had been forgotten by which means the unfortunate number encreased every day till it amounted to 300 Senatours and above 2000 Knights No man durst refuse entrance into his House to any of the Souldiers who searched the most secret places and Rome at this time appeared like a Town that
to search for Proscripts and another Senatour wearied out with the dayly cares of concealing himself caused himself to be shaved took openly a little School and kept it publickly so long as the Proscription lasted no body imagining that a miserable Pedant could ever have been considerable enough to have been Proscribed CHAP. XXXVI The Examples of several remarkable changes of Fortune THough the story of these accidents may seem perhaps a little too long as they relate properly to the Triumvirate We ought not to pass over two Examples which are very natural instances of the inconstancy and revolution of Humane Fortune Balbinus being Proscribed by Antonius had with much adoe made his retreat to Pompey who after several years of War came to an agreement with Caesar. Balbinus returned to Rome where he afterwards obtained the Dignity of Consul Lepidus was at that time fallen from that high estate where he had once appeared Caesar having given him his life merely out of Compassion It happened that his Wife and his Son were accused by Mecoenas the Governour of Rome for a Conspiracy against the life of Caesar the Son was sent Prisoner to Actium and the Wife forced to give security before the Consul Lepidus who solicited for her had several times been repulsed at Balbinus his Gate at last he got an opportunity of speaking with him and said thus You know very well that I have no share in my Son's Offence and that it was not I who Proscribed you though it were at that time in my power to have done it therefore I beg of you to reflect upon the sad alteration of our Fortune and to grant me the favour I beg of you either take my security for my Wife or send me with her a Prisoner to Caesar. Balbinus touched with Compassion to see a Man at his feet whose power heretofore had been so formidable made those reflexions he desired and discharged his Wife The other Example is of Cicero's Son he was with Brutus at the time of his Father's death and served under him as a Lieutenant General and after his defeat made his retreat with Pompey who gave him the same employment Pompey made his own Peace and Cicero returned to Rome where Caesar to shew the esteem he had for his Father gave him the Dignity of chief Pontifex and chose him for his Collegue in the Consulship after the defeat of Antonius Cicero had by this means the satisfaction of seeing in his power the memory of Antonius who was Condemned by the Senate all his Images broken down and a Decree past That none of that Family should ever after take upon them the sirname of Marcus During which time Caesar testified so great a Veneration for the Memory of Cicero that having one day found one of his Books in the hands of his Grandson who indeavoured to hide it for fear lest Augustus should be angry with him for reading in it he took the Book and having read a good while returned it to him again saying My Son he was a very knowing Man and Zealous for his Countrey By this means the death of Cicero was revenged upon the memory of his greatest Enemy as was his Eloquence also upon the back of an impertinent Critick called Coelius who had undertaken to expose the Works of that great Oratour Cicero the Son caused his Slaves to whip him so the Critick burnt his Remarks which had brought upon his Bones so scurvy an answer Even Brutus had his share too in revenging Cicero and notwithstanding his moderation and the disturbance which the Letter written to Octavius had given him he sacrificed to him Cajus the Brother of Antonius whom Hortentius put to death by his Orders CHAP. XXXVII The end of the Proscription War in Africa Sextius Caesar's Lieutenant overthrows Cornificius the Lieutenant of Brutus AT last the Triumviri came into the Senate to declare that the Proscription was at an end Lepidus excused himself for what had passed and assured the Senatours of a more moderate Conduct Caesar who was more Politick said That he would yet reserve to himself the liberty of punishing such as were guilty In the mean time he had long disputed with the other two concerning the Proscription but it was his judgment now that the Spirits of the People ought to be kept in awe in the present conjuncture when Brutus and Cassius became dayly more formidable and when their Lieutenants still disputed for Africa with those of Caesar. Cornificius was there with Troops in behalf of Brutus and when Sextius arrived there on Caesar's part and published the Ordinance of the People the Decree of the Senate was produced in answer to them so that Arms was the last recourse for the maintenance of their Rights Sextius being the weakest retreated into a strong place where he was besieged by Ventidius Cornificius his Lieutenant He defended himself very well and in the mean time held intelligence with Arabio a King of that Countrey and a certain People called Sittians who were the residue of some Roman Souldiers established in Libya under the Conduct of Sittius who had been banished from Rome The Sons of this Sittius had been obliged to Iulius Caesar which caused them with Arabio to assist Sextius Sextius strengthened with these succours got the better of Ventidius and that done marched against Cornificius who expected him near Vtica The strength of both Armies consisted in their Cavalry Cornificius's Lieutenant came with all his to discover the strength of Sextius Arabio was detached to oppose him in the mean time Sextius charged Laelius upon the flank and forc'd him to retreat up to a Hill where Arabio had orders to attack him Cornificius having left his Retrenchments to succour his Lieutenant Sextius marched against him while a Party of Arabio's Troops who knew the Countrey found a way through the Rocks and came to rifle Cornificius his Camp Roseius who Commanded there was slain at the first on-set and the Camp plundered Cornificius being pressed by Sextius would have retreated towards his Lieutenant but was cut off by Arabio's Cavalry who flew him When Laelius beholding the action from the hill where he was posted died by his own hand the Troops thus deprived of their Commanders were easily put to the rout and that great Victory which got Caesar all Africa cost Sextius but a very few Men. CHAP. XXXVIII Dolabella is defeated and slain by Cassius DOlabella had not the same success in Syria where Cassius made War upon him with 12 Legions and a body of Parthian Cavalry whom his reputation had drawn into his service Dolabella had got together a great Fleet of Ships out of Lycia Rhodes and Cilicia which Figulus Commanded under him for himself he was got into Laodicea with two Legions where Cassius besieged him and sent orders into Phoenicia Libya and Rhodes for the procuring of Ships also The names of these Provinces being often mentioned in this History it will be but reasonable
to give some account in gross of what they are at present Syria was a place of great extent and contained all those Countries which are upon the Coast of the Mediterranean Sea from the Gulph of Issica at present called the gulph of Laiazzo as far as Aegypt for Palestine called at present the Holy-Land was comprised under the name and Government of the lower Syria the largeness of that Province reached as far as Euphrates The rest of Asia which was subject to the Romans was called Natolia or the lesser Asia as it is at present and contained a great many Provinces from Laiazzo as far as the Euxine Sea which we call the black Sea all that Countrey being at present subjected to the Turk it was then very much peopled though it be not so now except upon the Sea Coasts Phoenicia is that little Countrey where stood the Cities of Tyre and Sidon at present Sur and Sayde and Libya contained all that Coast of Africa called at present Barbary from Tripolis as far as Algier We may find a more exact description in Geographical Writings but this is sufficient for our understanding of the present History Cassius his orders were but very ill executed for the Sidonians onely sent him Ships the Rhodians excusing themselves and Libya was wholly submitted to Caesar by the Victory of Sextius Cassius with what Ships he had went and attacked the Fleet of Dolabella who put him to flight and took five of his Ships which forced him to dispatch more pressing Orders even to Cleopatra but as the inclinations of that Queen were not much disposed towards that Party she excused her self upon the Famine which at that time raged in Aegypt In the mean time she put to Sea a powerfull Fleet to succour Dolabella but the Winds and Tempests opposed her design and her Fleet being much shattered and indamaged became of no use at that time to Caesar's Party Serapion who Commanded for her in the Island of Cyprus took other measures he came and joined Cassius's Fleet with a great supply of Ships those of Tyre sent him some also by which means he found himself in a condition to block up Dolabella both by Sea and Land Cleopatra afterwards disavowed what Serapion had done but there is great reason to believe that she managed her self so between both Parties to see on which side Fortune would declare her self The Lycians and Rhodians sent word to Cassius that they would have nothing to doe with the Roman Wars and that the Ships which they had lent Dolabella had no orders to fight This answer provoked Cassius but he judged it was no proper time at present to shew that resentment which afterwards caused the desolation of those two Provinces He attacked Dolabella who made a great defence by land and fought one Battel with equal advantage but his Fleet was intirely defeated and Cassius having corrupted some Souldiers of the Garrison took the City of Laodicea by surprizal Dolabella caused one of his Souldiers to cut his throat who when he had done killed himself and the City was left to be plundered Cassius caused the principal Citizens to be put to death and forc'd the others to redeem themselves at such great Ransomes that the City was utterly laid desolate CHAP. XXXIX Cassius lays waste the City of Tharsus He joins himself with Brutus They take measures for carrying on the War THIS Victory put Cassius upon making new Conquests and he was threatning Cleopatra and her Kingdom when he received Letters from Brutus who sent him word That as the cares which they took to raise such powerfull Armies were not designed for their particular advancement but the liberty of their Countrey they ought not so much to think of gaining glory by new Conquests as destroying those who sought the ruine of that liberty that therefore it was high time to turn their thoughts towards Italy which now groaned under the oppression of Tyrants Cassius who had great respect for Brutus his Vertue quitted his enterprise and marched directly to him The City of Tharsus stood unhappily in his way it was at that time divided into two different Factions which were the cause of its ruine they had honoured Cassius with a Crown of Gold when he came into Syria and another Party had done the same Honours to Dolabella They had also charged some of Cimber's Troops who came to join Cassius's Army which was the reason that he Condemned them to the payment of 1500 Talents for the furnishing of this sum they first sold the Goods of the Publick and the Ornaments of their Temples afterwards their Children of both Sexes and at last their Women and their old Men and as the Price of all these things did not amount to the Tax they found themselves reduced to sell their young Men some whereof in despair hanged themselves This cruel necessity did at last move Cassius to pity who remitted them the rest of the payment but the City remained in a very miserable condition Brutus staid for him hard by Smyrna and it was in passing through Europe into Asia that he caused that famous Medal to be stamped with his own Image on one side and on the reverse a Cap the mark of Liberty between two Poniards with these words Eidus Martias that is to say the day of the Ides of March They met extremely joyfull to see themselves followed by such great Forces as put them into a condition of disputing the Roman Empire and Liberty after having left Rome in a miserable condition despoiled of all their Fortune without Money and without Forces Brutus had drained his Finances for the equipping of a Fleet so he demanded of Cassius half of that Money which he had raised in Asia This Proposition offended Cassius's Friends who could not take it well that the fruit of their toils and the hazards they had run should be divided for the inriching of Brutus's Souldiers Cassius also thought no less but however durst not refuse a third of what he had gotten Then they fell to debating what measures they ought to take Brutus was for passing into Greece where Caesar and Antonius were expected with fourty Legions and where Decidius Saxa and Norbanus were already arrived with eight Cassius said That that great number of Forces ought to render them the less formidable since they would find in that Countrey two Enemies which were Want and Famine to fight against them That they ought therefore to leave them to be destroyed by those means and to attack Rhodes and the Lycians by that means to leave the Enemy no relief or retreat behind them His advice was followed and the Armies divided Brutus marched against the Lycians and Cassius against Rhodes CHAP. XL. Cassius attacks Rhodes The siege of that City The taking and desolation of Rhodes by Cassius THAT City was at this time very strong and in great reputation for its Naval Forces they had three and thirty Ships of War besides a great
many other small Vessels all which had rendred that People very sturdy and insolent The most Wise and the richest amongst them who dreaded the Valour of the Romans prevailed Nevertheless that some body should be sent to Cassius to make an excuse for those succours which they had given Dolabella with offers to follow the orders of the Senate Cassius answered the Deputies That they ought to defend themselves by Arms and not by such pitifull reasons that to give proof of their neutrality they ought to assist him as they had aided Dolabella That in respect of the orders of the Senate the Proposition which they made of observing them was ridiculous since they could not be ignorant that the greatest part of the Senatours were dispersed by the cruelty of those Tyrants who oppressed the City of Rome That he should find yet a way how to punish those Tyrants and Chastise the Rhodians also if they would not obey This answer terrified all those who were capable of any consideration but the rash and silly People immediately chose them Captains They spoke of nothing but the Victories which they had obtained against Mithridates and Demetrius Cassius said they is neither so great a Man nor an abter Officer He had heretofore studied at Rhodes where his Tutour still lived being a learned Man and of very agreeable conversation whose name was Archelaus He coming to give Cassius a visit who still preserved a respect for his Person represented to him the glory and vertue of the ancient Inhabitants of Rhodes the fidelity which they had ever preserved towards the Roman People their Alliances confirmed by so many Oaths In short the Education and good Literature which Cassius had received in that City Cassius answered That Archelaus must have done him wrong if he had not counselled the Rhodians to have imbraced his interests but that if he had given them that Counsel he came to support them with his Arms. He complained of the succours they had given to Dolabella That the fidelity and those alliances which they alledged ought to be an obligation upon them to support the liberty of Rome and those who defended it That he demanded succours of them as Pretor created by the Senate and the honestest party of the Roman People and in the name of many noble Senatours and other Romans who were with him That if they would not acknowledge him in that Quality neither he nor those Senatours could look upon them any otherways than as Strangers and Enemies After this answer Archelaus took his leave the Rhodians immediately put their Fleet to Sea under two Commanders whose names were Alexander and Manasses and came to meet Cassius as far as Gnidos This was the same place where they had beaten the Army of Mithridates which seemed a favourable Omen to their present undertaking Cassius having caused his Fleet to advance the fight became long and bloudy by reason of the Valour of the Rhodians and the nimbleness of their Ships till at last Cassius who was stronger in number hemmed them in and rendred that nimbleness useless so being forced to lye still as they fought they lost five of their Vessels the rest with much adoe saved themselves but extremely shattered and Cassius came before Rhodes where he had another Sea Battel in which the Rhodians being again defeated Cassius landed with his Troops and attacked the City on every side notwithstanding the many Sallies made by the besieged He caused Towers to be raised of Wood near the Walls from whence they very much incommoded the besieged who were forced to demand Composition which while it was in Treaty the rich Party opened the Gates to Cassius who entred into the City where he caused a Tribunal to be raised and a Launce planted before him as it was the Custome of the Roman Generals when ever they had taken a City by force he forbade his Souldiers upon pain of death to offer at any pillage he caused fifteeen of the most obstinate Citizens to be brought before him whom he put to death he condemned five and twenty more who had made their escape and afterwards Commanded That all the Gold and Silver which was either in the Temples or other publick places as well as particular Coffers should within a prefixt time be brought to him And to the end that no man might dare to conceal any the Order ran upon pain of death He promised also the tenth part to Persons that were free and liberty to all such Slaves as should discover any that was hidden This succeeded with him accordingly and after the punishment of three or four who had put their Wealth out of the way the terrour of death and fear of Discoverers forced all the rest to bring to light what they had hidden either in Pits Tombs or any other places By this means Cassius got together great sums of Money at the expence of the City of Rhodes and gave order also that those of Asia should advance ten years of those Taxes which they paid to the Romans He sent afterwards Marcus one of his Lieutenants with sixty Ships to go and plunder Peloponnesus and oppose Cleopatra who was said to have put a powerfull Fleet to Sea in favour of Caesar and Antonius CHAP. XLI Brutus enters into Lycia He besieges the City Xanthus THE desolation of that famous Grecian City was doubtless the reason why Plutarch who was otherways a very good Historian has written That Cassius used this Conquest of Rhodes neither with Humanity nor Modesty For we cannot look upon the punishment of fifteen Mutineers as any great mark of Inhumanity and for the Wealth of the Inhabitants it did belong to him by the right of War But as Plutarch was a Grecian the love of his Countrey has in spight of his Philosophy transported him upon several occasions so that though his Works be one of the finest pieces that any of the Ancients have left us we may observe to the same purpose that the most Wise and Learned Men for those were his Qualities have not been able sometimes to avoid shewing the marks of humane frailty Brutus whom that Authour hath so highly praised proceeded much more cruelly in Lycia The City of Xanthus was one of the strongest places in that Province Brutus after some light Rencounters had forced all those who bore Arms to shut themselves up there and then besieged them Lycia is a Province of the lesser Asia and its name seems to be derived from the word Lyces which in Greek signifies a Wolf the stoutness of those People holding much resemblance with the fierceness of that Creature The River of Xanthus from whence the City had its name ran through the middle of it and many saved themselves by night with swimming under water through that River where Brutus laid Nets with Bells tied to them who by the noise they made gave notice when any were plunged into them the Ditches of the City were very deep and
fifteen paces broad and the Xanthians from their Walls launced a great many Darts against the Romans who endeavour'd to fill up those Ditches against these Darts Brutus caused Pallisado's to be made and after having divided his Troops into several bodies to go and fetch Baskets of earth he caused so great a number of them to be brought that he filled up the Ditch after which his Souldiers came to blows with those who defended the out-works of the Walls and drove them into the Town The Wall being fiercely battered by the Rams and falling down in several places Brutus drew off his Men that he might give the Enemy time to Capitulate but the Xanthians looking upon this as an effect of fear made a fierce Sally out of the Town to set fire to the Engines when the Romans turning upon them charged them so home that those who were at the Gates were forced to lock them fearing lest the Enemy should enter the Town with those who fled so all those Xanthians who remained without were cut in pieces which nevertheless hindred not another Sally about Noon which was performed so vigorously that Brutus's Engines were abandoned and burnt Upon this shame and despight made the Romans Rally and drive back the Enemy again to the Gates who by reason of the former accident were not now locked The Romans entred Pell-mell with those whom they pursued when immediately the Portcullis was let down by which means near two thousand Roman Souldiers who had gotten entrance were shut up in the City and being overwhelmed with Darts and Stones which were thrown at them from the tops of the Ramparts they Rallied themselves and got possession of the Temple of Sarpedon who had heretofore been King of Lycia and was slain in the Trojan War The extreme danger these People were in put all Brutus's Army upon finding out a way how they might speedily succour them the Ladders were burnt and some were for making new ones but that being an expedient which would take up too much time they made use of the Masts of Ships to mount by others fastened great Nails to a Cord which they threw up upon the Wall and when ever the Nail took hold on any place got up by the Cord. Thus they tried a hundred useless ways e'er they could find a good one when a certain people called Inandes who were Neighbours and Enemies to the Xanthians and who were in Brutus's Army contrived to get up by certain Rocks almost inaccessible which were joined on one side to the Walls of the Town several Romans followed them and notwithstanding the Enemies Darts which killed them many men they got upon the top of the Walls from thence with their hands they helped up their Companions and by that means got in great numbers upon the Ramparts CHAP. XLII The taking of Xanthus The fury and despair of the Xanthians THERE was near this place a Gate shut up and fastened with beams and other things of that nature thither the Romans who were upon the Rampart ran in great haste and soon found out a way to destroy what filled up the Gate so by that means Brutus's Troops entred the Town making horrible Cries to animate their Companions and terrify the Enemy who furiously attacked the Temple of Sarpedon but when they perceived that the City was taken dispersed themselves in a moment and retreated every one to his own House The Romans surprized at this retreat were more amazed when they saw several places of the Town in flames for these Lycians driven by a fury which was almost beyond imagination resolved to bury themselves in the ashes of their City either their natural fierceness having inspired them on a sudden with this desperate design or having premeditated and resolved upon it before The Romans ran immediately to extinguish the fire but those mad people repulsed them with flights of Arrows and other Darts they cut the Throats of their Wifes their Children and their Slaves before the Souldiers faces and afterwards leapt into the middle of the flames others ran like wild Beasts upon their Enemies Weapons the very Children offered their Throats to their Fathers Swords or else threw themselves down from the tops of the Houses into the fire and after the Conflagration was over a Woman who had hanged her self was found holding in one hand her Child whom she had strangled and in the other a Torch wherewith she had set fire to her House Brutus was not able to see this sad spectacle being so touched with it that he wept but did all that lay in his power to save the small remainders of those miserable people by declaring that he would give a reward to every Souldier who should bring him a Xanthian though all his cares were able to preserve no more than fifteen who notwithstanding complained That in spight of themselves their lives were preserved This furious proceeding was it seems no new thing to the Inhabitants of Xanthus for they had already made use of it twice before the first time when Cyrus's Lieutenant attacked them and afterwards when they were besieged by Alexander From this City Brutus marched against Patarea but fearing the same desperate proceeding there which he had found at Xanthus he did not press it onely sent a Summons to the Inhabitants that they would not force him to destroy them and those Xanthians whom he had preserved were by his orders sent into Patarea to the end that by telling the story of their own miseries they might make the others afraid and serve as well for Example as Instruction He also set at liberty several Women who had fallen into his hands and by those mild proceedings was at last successfull for the City surrendred it self and Brutus according to the example of Cassius gave out severe orders That all the gold and silver that could be found there should be brought to him but that which he did better than Cassius was that he Condemned a Slave who had given advice of a certain Treasure that his Master had hidden the Masters Mother declared That it was she who had concealed the Money but the Slave without being interrogated maintained the contrary and the Master said not a word but Brutus considering that the insolence of this Slave proceeded from no other grounds than the hatred which he bore to his Master sent him to the Gibbet and restored to the Mother and her Son both their Money and their Liberty Another action of Justice got him a great deal of Honour Theodotus was the Man who had the most contributed to the death of Pompey the Great by that Harangue which he made at Ptolemey's Council Board This Man was in Asia where he sculk'd about from Town to Town but Brutus caused him to be seized upon and put to a cruel death and the punishment of this speech-maker was a very welcome thing to all the Princes of that Countrey who had a great Veneration for the Memory of Pompey CHAP. LXIII
in that action and at his death Several have reported circumstances otherwise but all agree in this that Messala a long time afterwards presenting Strato to Augustus said See here Caesar the Man who paid the last offices to my Brutus and that Augustus extremely cherished Strato who afterwards served him very faithfully Antonius hearing the next day of Brutus's death went to the place where the Body still lay and covered it himself with a rich Coat of Armour which he wore and when news was brought him afterwards that some body had stripped him he caused the Thief to be taken and put to death The Body was burnt by his orders and the ashes sent to Servilia Brutus's Wife whose name was Porcia and was Cato of Vtica's Daughter so that having such a Father and such a Husband we may easily imagine what were the maxims of that Vertue which she so openly made profession of and she was resolved to give proofs of it by a death by which she out-did the fury of those two Men whom she most tenderly loved And though since the death of her Husband she was so strictly observed that it was impossible for her either to make use of Poison or Dagger she swallowed so many hot Coals and Ashes that she choaked her self Though to speak the truth of the matter there is a great deal of reason to believe that this kind of death was rather invented by the Wits who were desirous to report that tragical adventure in all its circumstances and make as they have done a Subject for a good Epigram since Plutarch assures us that he had seen some of Brutus's Letters wherein he complains of his friends at Rome for suffering Porcia to die of Melancholy Brutus's Friends and his Officers took different parties all those who knew themselves guilty of Caesar's death slew themselves with their own hands the others rallying with Messala Bibulus and Cornificius sent Deputies to Caesar and Antonius for an honourable composition which the two Generals frankly allowed of so they went into their Army with 14000 Men who yet might have made a great deal of disturbance in a fortified Camp and that was the reason which facilitated the Capitulation And the Camp was afterwards given up to be plundered By this famous overthrow the Triumviri at last established themselves in an authority which none were found powerfull enough to dispute with them and which gave the last blow to the Roman liberty The death of Caesar was revenged and by this Victory did his Son begin to lay the foundations of an Empire which at last for its grandeur and extent has never yet been equalled THE CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE Second Triumvirate CHAP. I. After the Battel of Philippi Anthony and Caesar bring their Enemies to punishment They part the Forces of Pompey Caesar goes into Italy AS the love of Liberty was the most predominant passion the Romans had so never any people defended with more vigour that good which they valued more than their Lives It was this that bred so many divisions among them and was the cause of such bloudy Wars in which one of the parties always had the specious pretence of upholding the publick Liberty But as the last sighs and groans are usually most violent so the Battel of Philippi which was the last effort of the dying Commonwealth was the greatest struggle that ever she had for the maintaining her authority The Sedition of the Gracchi was the first where the Bloud of Roman Citizens was shed however that seemed to be but onely a Popular Commotion seeing it was decided in the Forum in an hours time The Wars that were kindled afterwards between Marius and Sylla had longer and more fatal consequences But then Italy or rather Rome onely was the Theatre of them and what animosity soever appeared between the two Parties the rest of the World felt nothing of it The division of Caesar and Pompey went much farther the whole Roman Empire was shaken by it But although all its Forces had fought at Pharsalia they were not comparable to those that appeared afterwards at the Battel of Philippi where above 200000 effective Men were in Arms commanded by the greatest Generals of that time Besides too in the forementioned Commotions several Senatours thought they might very well stand neuters out of their respect to the Commonwealth whose name at least in appearance was still reverenced whereas in this last occasion the mask being laid aside by the proceeding and declarations of the Triumvirs all management and conduct was useless and there was an absolute necessity of taking one side or t'other for Liberty or against it But that was utterly ruined by the defeat of Brutus and from that moment Caesar and Anthony began to act as Sovereigns and divide the Roman Empire as theirs by Conquest for though Lepidus had his share of the Government yet as he had had none in the danger of the Wars he was but very little considered all the love of the Souldiers which was the firmest prop of their Empire being turned in favour of those that had headed them upon all occasions The following days after the Victory were employ'd by the Triumvirs in punishing their foes Anthony sacrificed Hortensius to the memory of his Brother Caius and put Varro to death who reproach'd him with his debauches and in some sort did then foretell the miserable end he himself should come to Livius Drusus the Father of that Livia who was afterwards married to Augustus killed himself in his Tent and Quintilius Varus adorned with all the marks of the honours and dignities he had passed through made himself be slain by his freedman Caesar upon this occasion appeared much more cruel than Anthony whether it were that the pain and uneasiness of his sickness had sowred his humour or that he really had a bent to cruelty or what is more likely had his temper so much at command that he put on gentleness or severity as in policy was necessary He sent the Head of Brutus to Rome to be thrown at the Feet of his Father's statue and forced a Senatour and his Son to draw Lots for their lives but they both refused it the Father voluntarily gave up himself to execution and the Son stab'd himself before Caesar's face To another that beg'd of him that he might have the Rites of Burial he said that that would soon be at the disposal of the Ravens these and such like bitter words joined to the rigour of his punishments rendred him so odious to the rest of the Prisoners that were brought fettered before them that they saluted Anthony with respect but loaded Caesar with injuries and bloudy reproaches which none did with more violence than Favonius who at his death took all the liberty of speech and railing freedom of a Cynick Philosopher After having thus satisfied their revenge the Triumvirs thought upon establishing their authority Anthony undertook to go into Asia to gather Money in
was received according to the different inclinations of the Senatours Those that loved him were afflicted at his Sickess and wished his return which others as much apprehended out of fear that the report that had run of his death was a trick to discover their intentions and the terrour of these last was so great that some of them began to think of making away themselves therefore to prevent the consequences of these different agitations Caesar came to Rome as soon as his strength would permit him In persuance of the agreement they had made when they parted the Lieutenants of Anthony delivered him up two Legions and the Government of Africa which Caesar left to Lepidus having been convinced of the sincerity of his intentions for some secret enemies of his had accused him to his Collegues of intelligence with Pompey But the most pressing and difficult affair was to content the Souldiers without provoking the People it was absolutely necessary either to abandon the several Towns destined for their recompence or else to satisfie them with Money to establish themselves elsewhere The publick Treasury was exhausted and Caesar saw no help from thence almost all the Inhabitants of the Towns concerned in this matter were come to Rome Women with Children in their Armes whose young years and innocence drew every ones compassion daily filled the Temples and publick places with their lamentations The People said openly that this War had not been undertaken for the publick good but onely in persuance of the Triumvirs private interest and that since they had reaped the advantage of it it was but reasonable that they should bear the charges and not reward their Souldiers with the oppression of the poor People Those that thought themselves more politick discoursing concerning this management of the Triumvirs said that by establishing Troops in the Cities their intent was wholly to bring them under and reduce them to a kind of slavery Caesar all this while was not ignorant of these complaints and patiently bore these murmurings but then he borrowed Money on all hands for his Men and when that was not sufficient he was forced to give them Places for their inheritance The Town of Cremona was one of those that suffered most in this distribution for being so well affected to Brutus's side and Mantua onely by reason of her neighbourhood had more than her share in these misfortunes in which the Muses choicest Darling and the greatest Wit and best Poet that ever Rome brought forth had like to have perished This was the Poet Virgil who was a party concerned in this publick calamity for defending the possession of his small Estate from Arrius the Centurion encouraged to it I suppose by the knowledge of his own merit and the friendship of some great Man at Rome but the Souldier as little knew the one as he valued the other and therefore the Poet was forced to fly and save himself from the Centurion who persued him with his drawn Sword by swimming cross a River The happy Fate that attends on Learning saved him and it 's probable that this adventure contributed to his reputation since it is the Subject of that excellent Eclogue which is the first of his Bucolicks Caesar himself was not exempted from danger for both Souldiers and People were equally mutinous and exasperated against him for it hapned that a private Souldier being seated among the Knights in the Amphitheatre to see the publick Shews he made him be pulled from thence by an Officer Caesar's ill-willers immediately gave it out that he was drawn to punishment the other Souldiers in great fury immediately mutined against him and he had had difficulty enough to save his life from them if their Fellow had not presently appeared untouch'd He was forced to endure all these insolencies by the necessity he had of the Souldiers to preserve his dignity which he could not maintain without their assistence and they too having all their hopes depending on their Generals were for their own sakes absolutely obliged to protect them and for this reason they kept in Arms and very well united among themselves However Anthony's Wife made her advantage of these disorders to bring her designs about the report of her Husband's unfaithfulness to her bed inclined her to be revenged on him in like manner She would willingly had Caesar partake in this piece of revenge but he was not inclined to it which drew upon him all the rage of this Woman agitated at the same time with such a furious passion as jealously and more exasperated by the frustrating her desires Lucius Brother to Anthony was then Consul he had all the defects of his Brother and not one of his vertues at least if one would believe the Authours of that age who living under the Empire of the Successours of the Caesars took care to make their Enemies odious in the characters they gave of them But to say truth if we consider the resolution he shewed at Perusia there is reason to imagine that this account of theirs is extremely to his disadvantage He was very much obliged to Fulvia for having got him the honour of Triumph for his conquering some Nations in the Alps he was besides assisted by the counsel of Anthony's Friend who was indeed a Man of sense but very dangerous to deal with To them did Fulvia represent that Caesar doing all in his own name attributed to himself all the applause as well as the conferring all manner of recompences and exemptions She made Lucius sensible that it was convenient they should go together to the Quarters of Anthony's two Legions that were delivered to Caesar and with her she carried her Children There they publickly declared that there was no need of depriving innocent persons of their Estates since the possessions of the Triumvirs open and declared Enemies were sufficient to recompense the Souldiers This discourse gained them the good Wills of all those who thought themselves unjustly driven out of their inheritances by reason they were not at all concerned in the Civil War Caesar saw well enough to what end these transactions tended but as yet was not able to oppose them Lucius proposed to him the staying for Anthony e'er he distributed the rewards but the impatience of the Souldiers not allowing them time enough for that he then agreed to appoint Commissioners in his name for that purpose that so by that means he himself might gain the esteem of the Souldiers They then therefore began to put Anthony's two Legions in possession of the Lands assigned them but not till Lucius and Fulvia had exhorted them not to forget their General who had always been a father to them and to whom the honour of the Victory at Philippi was due besides the Commissaries that were deputed privily advised the Souldiers to use their own discretion and doe what they pleased which carried them to commit strange insolencies and enlarge their bounds much beyond what was set them even to the
his Mother was led in Triumph by Pompey's Father carrying her little Son in her Armes afterwards mere necessity reduced him to hire out Mules to the Magistrates that were employed in the Provinces this gave him an opportunity of doing a service for Iulius Caesar which gained him the favour of that great Man He then received him under his Command where Ventidius by his valour making himself remarkable he came afterwards to be Tribune of the People and then Pretor In this dignity he by his interest with the Souldiery was a great help to Anthony's affairs whom he assisted very powerfully Anthony out of gratitude used all his interest and authority to get him the charge of Chief-Priest and Consul whereupon the People were very much choqued at his preferment and published Lebels against him Some of the Verses were to this purpose Assemble your selves and consult O ye Augurs and Southsayers upon this extraordinary Prodigy he that curried the Mules is become Consul But for all this this very Man so despised by the Romans was the onely Man that ever revenged that signal shame and affront given them by the Parthians in the overthrow of Crassus He defeated them in three Battels killed their King's Son and was the onely General of all the Romans that ever had the honour and happiness of triumphing over that Nation And indeed the Romans though late were sensible of the justice they owed to his valour in ordaining magnificent Funeral Rites for him at the charge of the publick Agrippa had no less merit and his vertue was less envied he particularly signalized himself whereever he had any command but above all in the defeat of Pompey and the Victory over Anthony at Actium He had besides ever the chiefest place in Augustus his favour and had the honour to be his Son-in-law and to leave Emperours of his posterity He justly passed for the greatest Captain of his time and never did Man shew more obedience to his Prince nor more ambition to command others He was a great enemy to all delays and had no sooner formed any enterprise but he immediately put it in execution withall he was generous sincere and above all affected a frank liberty of speaking his mind so that he even spared not taxing his Prince of some actions that were displeasing to him as savoured too much of cruelty Salvidienus his character was very different from this he was no better born than the others or to say better much worse for he was but a poor Peasant forced for want to look after Cattel whilst he was such there happened to him something that appeared a prodigy his Head seemed as if all in a slame this moved him to list himself in the Army where by his valour he rose to the most considerable commands but then he was carried on by an unmeasurable ambition to undertake any thing to satisfie his unreasonable desires he was of a depraved mind and of an ill turned mischievous temper those wicked inclinations made him most ungratefully conspire against Caesar who had made him Consul against the received rule without being a Senatour but Salvidienus was punished for this Treason as he deserved and so his Death was as infamous as his Birth He had now repassed the Alps and was marching to join Caesar in spight of Ventidius and Pollio who were at the heels of him with their Armies As this joining was a matter of very great importance Lucius chiefly strove to hinder it and Salvidienus had been utterly lost if Agrippa had not advanced between Lucius and him and attacked the Town of Sutrium which he carried by storm This Town had shewed it self very affectionate to Lucius and the danger it was in moved him to turn head and relieve it which gave Salvidienus opportunity to join Agrippa and so they made themselves Masters of the Passes and Defiles through which the Armies of Ventidius and Pollio were to march and Lucius not being strong enough to oppose them retreated into Perusia and there expected his Generals Caesar having news of this strait made thither and rallied Agrippa and Salvidienus to besiege Lucius in that place It is seated in that Countrey which was formerly called Hetruria and now belongs to the Ecclesiastical Dominion it was strongly situated as being built upon a Hill which made Lucius hope Caesar would ruine his Army by this Siege he then dispatched Manius to Pollio and Ventidius to oblige them to come to his relief and at the same time sent out Trissinius with 4000 Horse to ravage those Towns that were for Caesar. Pollio and Ventidius were none of the best Friends for each of them would have commanded in chief neither being willing to submit to his equal Besides too they were not certain what sentiments Anthony would have upon this occasion of this War by reason Lucius had openly declared himself an enemy of the Triumvirate As for Fulvia she was always governed by her own passion she had raised Forces under the command of Plancus and by her Letters never ceased pressing Pollio Ventidius Ateius and Calenus to succour their General 's Brother But there hapned a disgrace to her that mortified her extremely for as she was going to Rome to manage some new Broil she met with a Legion of Caesar's who charged her Convoy that guarded her defeated it and took all her equipage At length Pollio and Ventidius took a resolution to advance towards Perusia in two distinct Bodies Caesar having intelligence of their motion with Agrippa marched against them hindred their joining with Plancus and forced Ventidius into Ariminum now Rimini and Pollio into Ravenna or according to Velleius into that Isle where Venice now is and Plancus into Pollentia and leaving sufficient Forces to maintain the several Blocades he returned to his Siege CHAP. VIII The Siege of Perusia Caesar in danger The extreme misery of the besieged AS Caesar could not pretend to force so great an Army in a place of that importance so neither would he make a formal Siege of it but resolved to reduce it by Famine to this end he drew about it a Line of contravallation of fifty six stadiums in compass and withall carried two Trenches to the River Tibur to hinder any attempt or relief of the Enemies on that side this Line he strengthened with a Rampart flanked with Towers at equal distances and at his return he sunk the Trenches thirty Foot deep and covered it with a Wall upon which he placed wooden Towers 1500 in number distant one from the other sixty Foot and these were all fortified with great Beams and filled with Archers and Slingers and all sorts of offensive Engines The besieged strove to hinder these Works by frequent and fierce Sallies and Lucius having abundance of Gladiators with him had always the better of it when they came to ' handy-blows but then Caesar's Men had the advantage of them by their Artillery and missive Weapons at which they were very expert It
replies and sometimes blows 'T was on these occasions that Cleopatra shewed all her Gayety and Wit whether it were in maintaining or retorting Raillery or in telling the story of such Adventures with an unparallel'd grace these ways however were very odious and disgustfull to the graver and soberer sort of People But the Egyptians who in general have a great deal of Wit were not at all displeased with this familiar Carriage of theirs and said pleasantly that Anthony shewed them his Comical Countenance and kept a Tragical one for the Romans The Queen had besides invented a Society they called the Inimitable life and those who made the most sumptuous Entertainments carried away the Prize The expence of these Treats were excessive as appears by these two examples A Greek Physician Friend to Anthony's Clerk of the Kitchin came one day where the Meat was dressing and among abundance of other provisions he saw eight whole wild Boars a-roasting he imagined that these were making ready for a great number of Guests and asking his Friend he told him smiling that there were to be but twelve at this Feast but that the exact hour being uncertain and the Meat to be served at a punctual nick of time when it was exquisitely drest and that being past others of the same kind were prepared to be ready when called for This Physician being afterwards in the service of Anthony's eldest Son was one day at his Dinner whither there came a canting kind of Mountebank who as it's usual with such sort of Fellows tired every body with the impertinence of his talk the Physician put him this Argument there is some kind of Ague wherein cold Water is good All those that have Agues have some kind of Ague therefore cold water is good for all those that have Agues The Quack remained silent and non-plust and Anthony's Son was so pleased with it that he said to the Physician I give thee Philotas for this Iest all that thou seest there pointing to a Cupboard of golden Plates of a great value Philotas thanked him for this favour believing he was onely obliged to him for his Good will But he was very much surprized the next day when he saw the rich Vessels brought home to his house by Slaves followed by an Officer of the young Prince who bid him put his mark upon them and as he excused himself out of a belief some inconvenience might happen to him what says the Officer to him do not you know that he who makes you this Present is the Son of Anthony But however If you will take my Counsel accept rather of the value in Money for it may happen that his Father may be concerned for the loss of some of them because they are antick and of the hands of excellent Masters The other example did not happen at this time but yet it sitteth our subject too well to be omitted Anthony by that time he returned from the Parthian War was grown a great proficient in the Aegyptian sumptuousness and Luxury and daily carried it on with greater delicacy and expence yet Cleopatra affected being nauseated and looked upon his Entertainments with a despising Air onely to oblige him to ask her as he did What she could add to the Magnificence of his Treats I will said she give you one that shall cost 10000 Sesterces he judged the thing impossible and out of pure curiosity would lay a Wager with her of a considerable Sum. Next day she made a noble Feast but it had nothing in it extraordinary Anthony then believed it was his turn to Rally her and already demanded his Wager when the Queen desired him not to be so hasty that this was but the first Course and that she would sup alone on that Sum bring in said she the second Course they brought in onely a golden Cup filled with a very strong dissolving Vinegar Anthony was waiting all this while for the end of this Mystery Cleopatra had two Pearls for her Pendants of an inestimable price never was there any thing seen more beautifull either for the water the largeness or the shape of them She then took off one and put it into the Cup which when it was immediately dissolved she drank it up Plancus that was judge of the Wager presently laid hold on the other which she was taking off and condemned Anthony to loose the Wager who was extremely troubled for the loss of such a Jewel The remaining Pearl after the death of Cleopatra came into the hands of Caesar who caused it to be cut asunder and made of it two Pendants for the image of Venus which he thought gloriously adorned with half of this prodigal Queen's supper In this manner did this witty Aegyptian Charm this great man delightfully carrying him from one Pleasure to another and as she had an admirable turn of Wit she sometimes changed her pleasantness into an agreeable serious Moral Anthony loved Fishing but had never any good luck and he seemed to be troubled at it which indeed was a very pleasant subject for a man of his Character but in this he was of the Humour of all Lovers who are out of all patience when they doe any thing ill before those they love and Cleopatra as has been said was at all his Diversions he made some Divers go under water and fasten Fish they had ready to his hooks in this manner he pulled up his line two or three times well loaden with an extreme satisfaction The Queen though she soon understood that trick seemed to admire his good fortune She laught heartily at it at night among her Favorites and invited them to the same sport the next day every one came and they took Boat to begin to Fish Anthony threw out his line and presently felt it loaded over-joyed he plucked it up but was ready to fall down for shame when he saw a piece of old Salt-fish at his hook which the Divers had fastned to it by Cleopatra's order every body laughed at this pleasant adventure and the Queen ingeniously told him Leave my Lord the Line and Nets to us Aegyptians fishing is our business who are Sovereigns of Pharos and Canopus yours is to take Cities Provinces and Kings CHAP. XIII Anthony receives the news of his Brother's defeat He resolves for War and makes an alliance with Pompey Caesar marries Scribonia The death of Fulvia Anthony is Master of Domitius his Fleet which yields to him THere was more than need of such important News as he then received to draw Anthony from the Charms that held him so sure he understood that his Brother had been overthrown by Caesar that his Wife and all his Friends had quitted Italy that Caesar had made himself Master of Gaul which belonged to him and that he had constrained the Son of Calenus after the death of his Father to deliver him up eleven Legions which he commanded in that Province From another part they sent him word that the Parthians
he cut to pieces a Cohort of Pompey's who insulted at his misfortune That the next day Lepidus seeing his Army march in order with their Ensigns advanced to yield themselves to Caesar he offered to seize upon an Eagle that a Souldier carried who insolently told him he must endure it or it would cost him his Life however it was they all agree that Lepidus came to Caesar to beg his Life which was granted him with his Office of Priesthood and Estate Suâ—tonius alone says that Caesar banished him to Cyrceum In this manner the Authority of the Triumvirate without any Competitor came wholly into the hands of Caesar and Anthony and though between them they shared the greatest part of the world even that would not suffice their Ambition Caesar would not suffer Pompey to be persued whether it were that he feared that carried on by theâ—r heat in the Chase of him they would â—o beyond the bounds of his Dominions and that Anthony would be offended at it or that he was willing to spare the Life of one who was not an Accomplice in the murther of his Father These are the reasons he gave out but those who look into the bottom of his Politicks believe that he was willing to leave an unfortunate Wretch upon Anthony's hands who might be a considerable mischief to him but of no use at all for if he received him kindly he took a Companion who might become very uneasie to him and whenever Caesar thought fit would be always an occasion of a quarrel On the other side in putting him to death he would draw upon himself the aversion of the Romans and the particular hatred of all the party of Pompey the Great Never any Roman General was ever at the head of so great an Army as was at this time in Sicilia he had there forty five Legions twenty five thousand Horse one hundred and sixty thousand light armed Foot with six hundred ships of War without counting the Barks and smaller Vessels which were without number and which Caesar restored to their particular owners from whom they had been taken With so much power as this he saw himself in a state of being able to undertake any thing if he had not now been checked by the insolence of his Souldiers who out of season always gave him some occasion of disgust to interrupt the satisfaction of his Victories Though he had distributed among them great sums of Money and promised them much more though he had given great store of military Crowns and other marks of honour tâ—e Souldiers were not content when they begin to reflect on their great number they no longer are obedient to Discipline and think it a disparagement to obtain that by Prayers which they carry by force it was in this manner that Caesar's Souldiers asked their dismission and the same rewards that were granted to those who fought at Philippi Caesar brought himself out of this plunge partly by prayers and partly by threats he deferred the distributing their recompences till the return of Anthony and told them the Illyrians had declared War and that they were to be vanquished before any thing else were done the Legions refused to march before they had satisfaction Caesar commanded to bring out more Crowns Spears and Bracelets and even purple Robes for the Officers giving them the Dignity and rank of Senatours but a Tribune named Hostitius insolently told him He might keep those Bawbles for Children that the Souldiers had need of nothing but Money and Land all the Army shouted at this saying Caesar thereupon in great anger came down from his Tribunal and retired Hostitius with other mutineers went even up to his Tent but the next morning the Tribune was not to be found which terrâ—fied the Souldiers and made every one câ—nsult his own safety At length Caesar dismist those who had been at the Wars of Modena and Macedonia the others he pacified by large promises and gave every one five hundred Drachmas which he got out of Sicilia that was condemned to pay him six hundred Talents he established Preton for his Lieutenant in Africa and Sicilia where he left the one half of his Troops He sent all the ships he had of Anthony to Tarentum and kept the others with him to carry him into Italy his return to Rome was celebrated with all the honours the Senate and people could invent The Senatours in a Body received him at the Gates of the City and conducted him to the Capitol followed by all the people Crowned with Garlands of Flowers where after he had given thanks to the Gods they waited on him to his Palace Seeing himself rid of so formidable a Rival as Pompey he thought of establishing and confirming his power and to give it stronger Foundation he would begin with the hearts and inclinations of the Romans themselves putting in practice those wise and great Maximes which rendred his Reign so happy as justly to acquire it the name of August He went to the Senate-house where he gave an account of his actions in a very Elegant studied Speech which he caused afterwards to be published the conclusion of it was That after he had undergone so many toils and â—â—â—t through so many dangers to put an end to the Civil Wars be thought himself very happy to see his countrey in profound Peace and perfect Union and that to make it sensible of some advantage by it he remitted all the Arrears that were due to the publick Treasury of what nature soever the Debt were as for the publick Honours they offered him be onely desired the Permission to sacrifice in publick on those days on which he had won his Victories and a golden Statue in the Forum with an Inscription which should declare that the Senate and people of Rome had decreed him that Honour for having given them Peace and quiet both by Sea and Land He refused the Office of Pontifex Maximus which Laepidus yet enjoyed and rejected with anger and scorn the Proposition that was made to put him to death as an Enemy to his Countrey He sent Letters to his Lieutenants with orders to open them exactly all at the same hour which he specified and at the same time execute the Contents of them this concerned the Slaves who were lifted under Pompey and who were declared free by the last Agreement made with him they were all seized at the same time Caesar restored them to their owners or their heirs those whose Masters were not to be found were hanged upon Crosses near the Cities from which they had escaped last of all to secure the publick Peace he ordered Sabinus with his Troops to persue and bring to punishment all the Thieves that werâ— to be found in Italy and Sicily and established at Rome some Companies for the Guard of the City All this was executed with so much order and diligence that the Romans began to have an extraordinary Veneration for a Man who had so great
a prudence at the age of twenty eight years Some Cities in Italy went even to the erecting Altars to him especially after one gallant thing he did he found among the Papers of Pompey a great number of Letters and Memoirs of the chief Senatours which were sufficient to occasion among them very troublesome Affairs He brought them all into the Forum and before all the people threw them all into a fire protesting that he there Sacrificed all his private Resentments to the Commonwealth with a design to give up his Authority as soon as Anthony should return from the Parthian expedition if this action appeared pleasing unto the people the Protestation which followed it absolutely gained the hearts of the Romans they praised him to the Skies and to shew that they desired always to obey him they chose him Tribune of the people for all his Life-time Besides by this they thought to oblige him to quit the more odious Dignity of Triumviâ— though Caesar understood their meaning well enough he did not decline accepting the Office of perpetual Tribune which rendred his Person sacred and inviolable as for the supprâ—ssion of the Triumvirate he deferred that till Anthony's return and sent Bibulus to communicate to him this resolution and after he had disposed of the Government of the provinces he went against the Illyrians CHAP. XXIII Pompey goes into Asia where he makes War The Lieutenants of Anthony fight and take him The death of Pompey POmpey was at this time at Mitilene where he understood Anthony was engaged in a War against the Parthians who in some encounters had the better of him and as Pompey was a man of no great reach he presently imagined that he might take Anthony's post in the East or at least come in for a share of his Empire In persuance of this design he sent to the Kings of Pontus and Thracia and to draw them to his party proposed great advantages to them he sent also some of his Friends to the Parthian King to offer him his Service and his Person which he supposed they made great account of by reason of the Reputation of his Father's name The return of Anthony to Alexandria did not make him change his intentions he resolved onely to send to salute him and desire his Protection But all this while he still got Ships together and levied Souldiers under pretence of defending himself against Caesar. Anthony advertised of these doings ordered Titius to take the Army and Fleet that lay in Syria and go to Pompey and make him explain himself what he intended to doe and either to fight him or to treat him with all honour and respect if he yielded himself In the mean time those whom Pompey had sent to Anthony had executed their Commission very well they omitted nothing that might encline him to favour their Master they layed before him the unmeasurable Ambition of Caesar and the Protection that Pompey had afforded Anthony's Mother to this they added that reason of state absolutely required that Anthony should put a stop to the progress of Caesar and withall the deposing of Lepidus and the Consequences of that example were not forgot and the forces of Pompey which they magnified besides the Glory of protecting the Son of the greatest Man among the Romans Anthony throughly informed of the truth to all these discourses onely answered That if what they told him of Pompey's intentions were true he would soon confirm it himself by coming along with Titius whom he had sent to him But by misfortune to Pompey it chanced that his Envoys he sent to the Parthian King were taken with their instructions Anthony shewed them to these Deputies who were terribly surprized They begged Anthony he would not impute this perfidiousness to them and that he would suspend his Resentment against Pompey till he had seen what would pass between Titius and him Anthony's Lieutenant in Asia had been obliged to Pompey and not being yet instructed how Anthony was inclined had received him with respect but seeing he dâ—â—ly gave new occasions of suspicion he sent word of it to Anthony and caused Domitius with his Troops to approach Upon this Pompey complained that they looked â—pon him as an Enemy and yet â—o all this while carried on a private Intrigue to gain Pomilius by the means of Curius who was in his Army but Curius being taken and executed as a Traitour Pompey immediately made away with Theodorus one of his freâ—â— Men who onely was privy to the whole secret and when he believed that it was quite smothered and hush'd up he seized upon Lampsacus a strong City and well peopled with Italians with whom he augmented his Forces he had already on Foot three Legions and two hundred Horse which gave him the boldness to besiege Cyâ—icum being beaten from thence Furnius who was much stronger than he in Horse charged him in his retreat Pompey laid an Ambuscade for him where Furnius lost some men and this advantage which passed for a great Victory drew into his Service several vagabond Souldiers out of Mysia and the Propontis These succours made him think on vast designs He assaulted and took Nice and Nicomedia where he got good store of money but no provisions which he stood most in need of because Furnius with his Cavalry cut them off from him every way And as soon as Titius arrived at Proconâ—â—sus with a strong Army and a great many Ships Cassius of Parma Nasâ—diâ—s Saturninuâ— Thermus and Antistius all noble Romans treated with Titius and yielded themselves to Anthony but that which quite made an end of ruining him was the defection of Fannius and Libo his Father-in-Law who were a great stay to his party by their credit and their merit he would have retreated through the plains of Bithynia but Titius Furnius and Amintas opposed his retreat and as they were much stronger than he it gave them so much Confidence that they would not take the pains to fortifie their Camp Pompey undertook with three thousand Legionary Souldiers to force it and charging them in the night he put them into so great disorder that there could be no reason given why he did not utterly defeat them unless it were his unlucky fate They after had time to rally and hemmed him on every side which forced him to demand a conference with Furnius Pompey offered to yield himself to him or to Amintas who was a foreign Prince Furnius told him That neither he nor Amintas would receive him in prejudice of Titius who had orders concerning him from Anthony and that in the condition he was then he had more need to think of saving himself than of sowing Division among them Pompey then reproached Furnius with the favour he had done him in saving him when he was in his hands and very much insisted he should not yield himself to Titius who treated him very ungratefully Furnius though he had an extreme regret could not consent to it and Pompey retired
quite besides himself with grief He forbid any fire should be made in his Camp and fiercely marched away with the most resolute of his Souldiers with a design to burn Titius his Ships and it may be this enterprize might have succeeded if by a total excess of misfortune he had not been betrayed by Scaurus This persidious man left him to yield himself to the Enemies whom he advertised of Pompey's design which he onely conjectured at Amintas was detached with fifteen hundred Horse to persue him and soon overtook Pompey who had onely foot with him all his Souldiers abandoned him so that he was forced to yield upon discretion to Amintas who carried him to Titius all the rest of his Forces surrendred themselves to this General who sent Pompey to Miletus where he sacrificed him to his Resentment For which the Romans conceived such a hatred to Titius that some time afterwards they drove him out of the Circus where he gave them publick Games and in effect it was always doubted whether Titius received orders from Anthony or whether Plancus who commanded in Syria did not abuse the Name and Signet of his General to put Pompey to death out of fear left Cleopatra should save him for his Father's sake or to make use of him for an occasion of division between Caesar and Anthony Thus fell the youngest Son of Pompey the Great at the age of forty years after he had for some time maintained and kept up his Father's faction as much by his own valour as the assistence of that great Name Beside that Wisedom did not go along with his courage he had to doe with two whereof one was the wisest and the other the bravest Captain of their time He had too the misfortune of having none about him but people whose Souls as mean as their extraction were not capable by their Counsels to raise his vulgar Genius This is was that made him loose so many fair opportunities and at last precipitated him into his destruction at last CHAP. XXIV The causes of the division between Anthony and Anthony's unfortunate expedition against the Parthians his return to Alexandria IT was believed that the death of Pompey would have established a Peace through all the World especially since Anthony and Caesar might in the extent and riches of the Roman Empire find all that was capable of satisfying their Ambition It was very probable too that their distance might take away all occasions of jealousie that daily grow between Persons whose Authority is equal and who are often together But yet by their management of Affairs it was quickly seen which has been confirmed by so many examples that the desire of reigning observes no measures and the most sacred things The Passion of Anthony for Cleopatra and the gifts he daily gave her of the Provinces that belonged to the Roman Empire served Caesar for a pretext to renew the War and free himself from a Competitor who was so formidable both by his valour and his Reputation in the opinion of he Souldiery Anthony had added to Aegypt Phoenicia the lower Syria the Isle of Cyprus and a great part of Cilicia besides Arabia the happy and that part of Iudaâ— where the true Balsame grows and all this before he went to the Parthian War These Presents that he made to a foreign Princess at the Romans cost very much displeased them and as they had nothing of â—â—â—ir ancient Liberty left them but the privilege of censuring the actions of their Governours there were daily published at Rome very scurrilous discourses of Anthony's prodigality Caesar abetted these murmurings and privately encouraged them who were discontented whenas they farther heard at Rome that Anthony had given foreign Names to the Children he had by Cleopatra calling the Son Alexander and the daughter Cleopatra and adding to them the Sirnames of the Sun and Moon Anthony had yet remaining in Rome several Friends who gave him notice of the discourses that went in his prejudice whereupon he published an Apology for himself wherein he affirmed that the Grandeur of the Empire of the Romans was not more conspicuous for the Conquests they made than for the liberality they practised in bestowing the conquered Provinces and that true Nobility was multiplyed by the posterity that sovereign Princes left in several places and that was the reason that obliged Hercules from whom he derived himself not to subject himself to the single tye of a Lawfull wife but to leave the foundation of several illustrious Races in all parts of the Earth where he extended his Conquests These false reasons with which he endeavoured to justifie his Passion seemed abominable to the Romans who made profession of a stricter Morality At this time too it was that Anthony marched against the Parthians with thirteen Legions ten thousand Gallick or Spanish Horse and above thirty thousand other light armed Foot and Horse but this great preparation that made all the East tremble served onely to render his retreat more shamefull and to make him loose that great Reputation which he had gained in all other occasions at the very first the Parthians slew one of his Lieutenants and entirely defeated two Legions and even Anthony himself was reduced to such extremities that he often despaired of his own safety At last after he had lost the fourth part of his Troops and all his baggage and Engines of Artillary or Engines he saved himself in Armenia by the advice of a Roman who had been a Prisoner among the Parthians ever since the death of Crassus This man counselled him to leave the Plains and gain the Mountains where though the ways were difficult yet he was free from the insults and attacks of the Enemy all whose force consisted in their Cavalry But though Anthony in this War behaved himself with his usual bravery nevertheless the loss he sustained of his best Souldiers and the shamefull retreat of such a General as he who in all likelyhood was once able to have conquered his Enemies made an end of ruining his Reputation It is said that all these misfortunes were the consequences of his Passion for the Queen of Aegypt for that he had begun the War in a wrong season and that he finished it too soon and lastly that he had taken no measures rightly but those that might hasten his return to Cleopatra even to the neglecting all that advantage that was offered him by the division of the Parthians and the Medes But that which principally outraged the Romans was the taking Artâ—bazus King of Armeniae whom Anthony led in Triumph into Alexandria the Pride of Rome could not bear that a Roman General should impart that honour to a foreign Nation and that she should be deprived of the advantage of insulting over vanquished Kings which for so many years she had enjoyed Caesar made all these faults of Anthony be taken notice of and above all exaggerated the little value he had for his Countrey when he found their
and encamped in sight of Alexandria CHAP. XXXI Anthony defeats Caesar's Cavalry He is forsaken by his men His Despair He wounds himself Is carried to Cleopatra His Death THE Pretence of so formidable a Rival revived all those sparks of Generosity in Anthony's breast that seemed to be quite extinct Caesar's hatred was declared too well to let him hope for any thing but dying like a true Roman and this Anthony resolved upon He rallyed all the Troups he had and made a Sally upon Caesar's Horse which was advanced This action shewed what Anthony might have hoped if he had fought by Land as he was advised He beat this Cavalry and forced it home to Caesar's Camp which he put into disorder nor did he ever shew more Courage and Conduct than now After this Victory he entred Alexandria as in Triumph and went all armed as he was to Cleopatra to tell her the News of his Advantage He presented one of his Cavaliers to her which had behaved himself very bravely in the Fight The Queen rewarded his Valour with an Armour of Gold but that very night this ungratefull wretch went to Caesar. Anthony was very much troubled with this Man that shewed such a dangerous Example He tried to provoke Caesar's Generosity and proposed a Duel to him but he very coldly answered Anthony had ways enough to dye without seeking that He resolved then to make the last Push both by Sea and Land with a design to conquer or dye bravely He ordered his People to treat him with more magnificence than usually they did Perhaps said he to them this may be the last Service ye may doe me for it may happen that to morrow you may have another Master and ye may see me no more However added he I do not pretend to lead you where death is more certain than victory The following night was troubled by a Prodigy there was heard a great noise of Voices Instruments and Cryes like those of Bacchanals all this passed through the City of Alexandria and went out of the Gate that looked towards the Enemies Camp As Anthony had all his life time affected to imitate Bacchus this prodigy was interpreted to his disadvantage and it was said that this God abandoned him At break of day Anthony posted those few Troops that were left him upon the rising ground near the Town from whence he sent orders to his Gallies to engage the Enemy They advanced in order of Batttel but as soon as Anthony's Souldiers came near they held down their Arms and saluted Caesar's who returning the Salute both Fleets joined and moved against the City All his Cavalry seeing this left him and went over to Caesar's Camp This unfortunate General forsaken by his men and seeing he could not be so happy to dye with glory his Arms in his hands he was forced to go back to Alexandria quite besides himself with rage and spight crying out Cleopatra had betrayed him in favour of those whom he had not made War with but upon her account This being told the Queen the fury and despair of Anthony terrified her so that she retired to her Monument or Sepulchre and fastned up the doors and let down the Portcullis the Place being very strong and then made a report be spread that she was dead which was told Anthony this sad news recalled all that tenderness he had for this Princess Miserable man cryed he what doest thou stay for longer when fortune has deprived thee of all that is worth living for At these words he entred into a Cabinet where laying aside his Armour Cleopatra cryed he my greatest grief is not that I am separated from thee for we shall soon meet but that I who have commanded so many gallant men should be out-done by a woman in Courage In this moment he called Eros the most faithfull of his freed-men whom he had engaged by Oath to kill him when he was reduced to a necessity of dying It was to perform his Promise that he called for him Eros drew out his Sword as if he intended to perform that fatal Duty and turning a little a-side gave himself a wound which made him fall dead at his Master's Feet Dear Eros said he I thank thee for shewing me what I should doe He then gave himself a blow in the Belly with that Violence that he fell backward upon a Bed that was near though the wound were mortal yet the bloud was stopped by the situation his body was in as he fell so that he came to himself and begged of his friends who were come to him that they would dispatch him But they all ran from him leaving him in a condition to move the most insensible to pity the anguish of his wound and the rage to be so cruelly forsaken made him cry out and tumble about the strive when Cleopatra hearing of it sent Diomedes to bring him to her Anthony understanding Cleopatra yet lived ceased lamenting to beg his Officers who were then returned in the most moving manner in the world to carry him to her with much-a-doe they lifted him up to the door of the Tomb. Cleopatra durst not or could not open it for she had no body with her besides two of her Women but she threw out some Cords from a window All the People of Alexandria were present at this sad spectacle and owned there could be nothing more lamentable than to see this great man renowned for so many Victories bathed in his Bloud and exspiring holding out his hands to Cleopatra and weakly endeavouring to raise himself and her holding her Head down and her Body almost out of the Window striving with the help of her Women to pull him up All the Spectatours shewed no less sorrow by their several motions they encouraged her and seemed to assist her with their Cryes for that was all the help they could give her At last after much pain she drew him up to the Window where she embraced him and laid him on a Bed Anthony had loved her too much and the state he was in was too moving not to shew a real grief She tore her Clothes and her Face and beat her Breast calling Anthony her Lord her Husband her Emperour and though she had her self great occasions of grief yet that deplorable object before her eyes was more than all the rest Anthony conjured her to stop her tears and moderate her transports and asked for some Wine whether it were that he was thirsty or that he thought it would the sooner end him After he had drank he exhorted Cleopatra to endeavour to save her life if she could doe it with Honour and to that end she might put more confidence in Proculus than in any else about Caesar that she should not make too much reflexion upon the cruel turn of Fortune which he felt at the end of his days but think what glory he had lived in famous for so many Victories Triumphs and Dignities and after he had been
or marks of Poison but onely two small pricks on her Arme scarce to be perceived and no Asp was to be found in the Sepulchre but they imagined they found some kind of track in the Sand on that side next the Sea Caesar was extremely troubled at her death as being by it deprived of the noblest ornament of his Triumph however he could not but admire the greatness of her Courage who notwithstanding the weakness of her sex preferred death before the loss of Liberty He ordered her a very magnificent funeral and her body as she had desired was laid by that of Anthony and her two women were interred with Pomp in memory of their Fidelity Thus this Princess whose Wit and Beauty had made so great a noise in the World died in the flower of her Age at thirty eight years old She reigned in Aegypt twenty two years fourteen whereof she past with Anthony and all that while had a total ascendent over the Soul of that Emperour Caesar preserved her Statues entire but beat down all those of Anthony but the consideration for Cleopatra's memory did not contribute so much to the preservation of her Images as the thousand Talents which Archibius one of her Friends gave Caesar for that end Those therefore erected to Anthony's memory were entirely demolished both in Aegypt and Rome where the Senate pronounced his memory infamous and decreed that none of his Family should bear the name of Marcus He died at the Age of fifty three or as some say fifty six years and by his three Wives left seven Children The fortune of Alexander and Ptolemy his Sons by Cleopatra is unknown but for his Daughter young Cleopatra Octavia took care and bred her up with her Children and married her to Iuba King of Mauritania one of the most learned and most vertuous Princes of his Age. Antyllus his eldest Son by Fulvia was slain as before mentioned and Iulius Antonius the youngest was very much esteemed by Caesar to that degree that Octavia whose Generosity for that unfortunate Family was without bounds married him to Marcella one of her Daughters by her first Husband He afterwards indiscreetly engaged himself in the intrigues and debauches of Caesar's Daughter which Crime was the cause of his death Octavia had by Anthony onely two Daughters who were both called Antonia The eldest married Nero's Grandfather and the youngest who inherited both her Mothers beauty and vertue was married to Drusus the Son of Tiberius and Livia and Son-in-Law to Caesar. From this Marriage came Germanicus who was esteemed the greatest General of his time and the most accomplished Person among the Romans and Claudius who was Emperour before Nero Caius Sirnamed Caligula the Son of Germanicus did also govern the Roman Empire three years after Tiberius So that Anthony's Family in spight of their unfortunate destiny possest the Throne and gave three Emperours to the Romans FINIS * Caius Julius Caesar Aeneus Pompeius Magnus the second Name was that of their Families * 1500000 Crowns * Plutarch * Luctatius †Calphurnius ‖ Claudius * Tullius * Cornelius * Caeciâ—ius †Calphurnius * Marcus Porcius Cato * Minutius * Lucius Murena * Caecilius Marcus Lucullus * The People of that Countrey called now Georgia †The People inhabiting near the Caspian Sea ‖ A Neighbouring Province to Syria * The year after the foundation of Rome 693. * The year of Rome 699. * Tiberius and Caius who strongly asserting that Law were slain by the Senatours The name of their Family was Sempronius * Servilius who kill'd Metius when he aspired to the Tyranny †He who drove the Tarquins out of Rome * These were a sort of Officers like our City Serjeants * Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus The year of Rome 699. * A Little Town not far from Rome * Vibullius †Munatius * The Romans since the time of Sylla burned the Bodies of their Dead instead of Burying them * In the year of Rome 701 there were two Families which bore the Name of Domitius one sirnamed Enotarbus and the other Calvinus †Cornellus * Cajus †Cornelius * Nero. †Lucan * Pollentia * Aretium * Picenum †Ascasum * Pollentia * Dyrachium * Ilerdâ— * Junius * Aemilius * Cornelius The year of the world 4006 since the foundation of Rome 76 before the birth of our Saviour 47. Aunoe the wife of Bagud one of the Kings of Mauritania * A Province of the lesser Asia †This was a Title which was given to those Princes who were not really Kings though they exercised Sovereign Authority * This is that Countrey which lies on the other side of the Channel over against Constantinople * Tripoli * This distinction is made because the Numidians carried their Horses to the Wars without any Bridles causing them to turn to the right or left with a certain switch or rod. * Veni vidi vici * That is because these Games were instituted by the Trojans * Sevill †Tariffa * Junius Brutus In the 〈…〉 of Rome 710 before the birth of our Saviour 43. * They had both one Mother but two Fathers * Cornelius * Lucius Pinarius and Quintus Pedius were also Caesar's Grand Nephews * By reason of Charon's Bark that Caesar had passed in * Julius * This man was of no great Family but was afterwards the chief Favourite of Augustus by reason of his Valour and Merit he married Julia the Daughter of Augustus the Name of his Family was Vipsallius * He was called Decimus Junius Brutus * He was called Cornelius and governed Tyrannically in Rome during the Wars between Marius and Sylla * Valerius * This was not he that Triumphed over the Parthians * Cajus Cilnius Mecoenas he was the Favourite of Augustus and the man whose name is so Celebrated amongst the learned * One of the Sons of Agrippa and Julia called Cajus * This was another and not Caesar 's Friend who had accused Brutus * A King of Pontus who made War upon the Romans 40 years †A King of Macedonia and the Son of Antigonus one of Alexander 's Commanders * A City of Thrace * A Sow a Sheep and a Bull. * Lustrare exercitum * An Island near Thrace †A City of Thrace * This was a Physician The year of the World 4012. since the building of Rome 712. before the birth of our Saviour 41. * Mart. l. 1. * Nemausus * Treasurer 52000 l. * Corcyra * Tuscany * Ischia * Puzzolo Three Millions * Anno ab U. c. 721. Thirty one years before Iesus Christ.
Cassius p. 407. Chap. XXXIX Cassius lays waste the City of Tharsus He joins himself with Brutus They take measures for carrying on the War p. 410. Chap. XL. Cassius attacks Rhodes The siege of that City The taking and desolation of Rhodes by Cassius p. 413. Chap. XLI Brutus enters into Lycia He besieges the City Xanthus p. 417. Chap. XLII The taking of Xanthus The fury and despair of the Xanthians p. 420. Chap. XLIII Caesar and Antonius caused their Troops to pass into Macedonia Cassius joins himself with Brutus Their interview p. 424. Chap. XLIV Brutus sees a Ghost Cassius satisfies him by his Reasons p. 426. Chap. XLV The Forces of Cassius and Brutus Those of Antonius and Caesar. Cassius speaks to his Souldiers p. 429. Chap. XLVI The two Armies draw near each other A description of the City of Philippi and its out-works p. 432. Chap. XLVII The two Armies retrench themselves Their different movements and some skirmishes The uneasiness of Cassius p. 434. Chap. XLVIII Antonius possesses himself of a Post behind the Enemies Camp Brutus resolves to fight contrary to the Opinion of Cassius p. 437. Chap. XLIX The Battel of Philippi Brutus overthrows Caesar's Troops Cassius being defeated by Antonius in despair kills himself p. 439. Brutus's Melancholy His Fleet defeats that of Caesar and Antonius and Brutus knows not of it He speaks to his Troops to confirm them p. 444. Chap. LI. Brutus utterly defeated by Antonius and Caesar p. 447. Brutus's last Words and Death Messala goes over to Caesar with all his Forces p. 452. THE CONTENTS TO THE CONTINUATION CHap. I. After the Battel of Philippi Anthony and Caesar bring their Enemies to punishment They part the Forces of Pompey Caesar goes into Italy p. 457. Chap. II. Anthony goes into Grecia he stays at Athens he goes into Asia where he is honourably received his Speech to the Deputies p. 463. Chap. III. Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt her Character she comes to Anthony their interview Anthony puts Arsinoe the Sister of Cleopatra to death p. 470. Caesar's Sickness He comes to Rome His difficulties in distributing Rewards The dangers he run upon this occasion p. 475. Chap. V. Misunderstandings between Caesar Fulvia and Lucius They come to open War The Negligence of Pompey p. 485. Chap. VI. Fagius Lieutenant of Caesar is overthrown in Africa by Anthony's Lieutenant Caesar and Lucius make preparations of war against each other p. 491. Chap. VII The Forces of the two Parties The Characters of the principal Officers as Agrippa Salvidienus Ventidius and Pollio Lucius is besieged in Perusia p. 496. Chap. VIII The Siege of Perusia Caesar in danger The extreme misery of the besieged p. 501. Chap. IX Lucius resolves to treat with Caesar He Harangues his Souldiers and sends Deputies to Caesar p. 507. Chap. X. Lucius Speech to Caesar his Answer p. 511. Chap. XI Lucius and Caesar part Lucius delivers up the Town Caesar speaks to the besieged Souldiers with indignation he punishes the Senatours of Perusia the Town is pillaged and by accident burnt Tiberius continues the War in the Kingdom of Naples from whence he is driven by Caesar p. 516. Chap. XII The diversions of Anthony and Cleopatra The Prodigality of their Entertainments The ingenuity of Cleopatra p. 521. Chap. XIII Anthony receives the news of his Brother's defeat He resolves for War and makes an alliance with Pompey Caesar marries Scribonia The death of Fulvia Anthony is Master of Domitius his Fleet which yields to him p. 526. Chap. XIV Anthony arrives at Brundusium He is refused entrance The Veterans force Caesar and him to agree They come to a Treaty by the mediation of Cocceius Anthony marries Octavia The punishment and Death of Salvidienus p. 531. Chap. XV. Rome afflicted with Famine the People mutiny against Anthony and Caesar they agree with Pompey his Generosity p. 541. Chap. XVI The People's Ioy upon the first News of the Peace Caesar goes into Gaul and Anthony stays at Athens p. 548. Chap. XVII New Causes of breach between Caesar and Pompey Caesar marries Livia Several Fights between the Lieutenants of Caesar and Pompey p. 552. Chap. XVIII The wreck of Caesar's Fleet. The arrival of Anthony at Brundusium He agreed with Caesar by means of Octavia p. 561. Chap. XIX Caesar puts a powerfull Fleet to Sea commanded by Agrippa He attacks Pompey in Sicilia Lepidus comes to Caesar's assistence Several Actions p. 568. Chap. XX. The Actions of Agrippa against Pompey who beats Caesar's Fleet p. 574. Chap. XXI Caesar gives new Orders for the fighting of Pompey who in a general battel is entirely defeated p. 580. Pompey's flight Lepidus endeavours to make himself Master of Sicily His Souldiers forsake him to serve Caesar who orders the Affairs of Rome with great prudence p. 585. Chap. XXIII Pompey goes into Asia where he makes War The Lieutenants of Anthony fight and take him The death of Pompey p. 593. Chap. XXIV The causes of the division between Anthony and Anthony's unfortunate expedition against the Parthians his return to Alexandria p. 599. Chap. XXV Caesar accuses Anthony in the Senate He declares War against Anthony His Forces p. 605. Chap. XXVI Anthony with Cleopatra goes to Athens Plancus and several others of his Friends forsake him p. 611. Chap. XXVII The Forces of Caesar and Anthony They write sharp Letters to each other Caesar approaches Anthony's Army which lay at Actium p. 617. Chap. XXVIII The battel of Actium The retreat of Cleopatra The flight of Anthony Caesar makes himself Master of Anthony's Navy and his Land-forces p. 623. Anthony's displeasure against Cleopatra He retires into Libya and returns into Aegypt p. 630. Chap. XXX Caesar goes into Italy He pacifies the Souldiers and besieges Alexandria p. 635. Chap. XXXI Anthony defeats Caesar s Cavalry He is forsaken by his men His Despair He wounds himself Is carried to Cleopatra His Death p. 639. Chap. XXXII Caesar enters into Alexandria He visits Cleopatra Her Death The Posterity of Anthony p. 663. THE HISTORY Of the first TRIVMVIRATE Volume I. CHAP. I. The estate of the Roman Commonwealth after Catiline's Conspiracy NEVER was the City of Rome in such danger since its being sack'd and burnt by the Gauls as it appeared to be in the Conspiracy of Catiline It is impossible in the account Salust gives of it without horrour to reade of the Rage the Madness the Debauchery and Ambition of that Man and yet at the same time his Address in managing a design that was to carry fire and sword ev'n into the very Bowels of his Countrey But the wisedom and vigilancy of Cicero hindred its taking effect and Catiline was slain at the Head of those Troops he was leading against the City But neither this man's defeat or death was sufficient to settle so firm a peace in that City but that still she lay exposed to the enterprises which some more Ambitious Senatours than the rest were always forming against her Liberty Nor could their
Inclinations of that kind meet any where with greater temptation since the Conquest of that onely City must carry with it the greatest part of the Universe In short after the War of the Confederates in which all the Armies of Italy jealous of the power and greatness of Rome had been in a great many Battels defeated that part of the World came to an absolute submission Half of Gaul and all Spain received quietly the Pretors which were sent to govern them the Coast of Africk as far as Aegypt became subject to the Romans and Aegypt her self preserved its Monarchy onely by the profession which her Kings made to respect in all matters the Authority of the Senate Syria was reduced to a Province and governed by Roman Officers and after the defeat and death of Mithridates all the Princes of the lesser Asia became Tributaries and thought themselves very happy to be supported by the credit of some of the Senatours Greece though it retained some appearance of liberty became yet more reduced for besides the rights of Conquest she found her self under the obligations of Acknowledgment and Allegiance In short all that Coast which stretches it self along the Adriatick Gulph up a good way into Germany was filled with those powerfull Armies that made head against the Barbarians And the defeat of the Corsaires which Pompey had driven into the Mountains of Cilicia established the Roman Empire over all the Mediterranean Sea These Conquests had brought into Rome daintiness and plenty and all curious Arts soon followed Learning became an ordinary Accomplishment even amongst men of the highest Quality And almost all the Wits of that time were polished and pure insomuch that that City never afforded so great men for War Eloquence Law Poetry and all other fine knowledge as at this time so that it was the more unlikely that Ambition should not find an opportunity to mingle her self among so many extraordinary Qualities Those men who upon quitting the Charges they had exercised in Rome went to receive those Honours in the Provinces which used onely to be allowed to Sovereigns that commanded great Armies and disposed of Kingdoms found it very hard upon their return home to reduce themselves to the level of a private life and forget the sweetness of Command and Power Envy as dangerous as it is common to all Republicks ever took care to make way for it self upon these occasions and trouble the Quiet even of those who thought of nothing but peaceably enjoying the Honours they had gotten It appeared for the most part amongst those who had less Desert less Fortune but more Ambition than the others and their pretence was always the publick Good when they had often no other end than the destruction of every thing that hindered their own elevation A noble Reputation great Riches and acquired Honours passed always amongst them for Qualities dangerous to the Commonwealth And these Persecutions may have contributed as much to kindling the fire of Civil Wars as that Ambition which Caesar and Pompey himself have been so much reproached withall who never could have put themselves at the head of their different Parties but that they had really and indeed more merit than the rest They were both of goodly Personage Valiant and equally desirous of Glory Caesar had the advantage of Pompey in Birth being of the most Illustrious Family in Rome he disputed already the prize of Eloquence with the most famous Oratours and there was nothing that appeared impossible for his great Genius to undertake Pompey had great Riches the favour of the Senate and an established Reputation He had been a General as soon as he was a Souldier and although he had never obey'd was not to seek in the Art of giving Command he had won Battels and deserved the Honour of Triumph at an Age when others onely begin to make themselves taken notice of It is impossible to tell exactly which of the two had the most repugnancy to Obey Caesar would have no Superiour and Pompey could not bear an Equal The latter supported himself upon his extraordinary good Fortune the other by his very great Merit In short they were both Brave Generous and Magnificent But the lustre of those many Triumphs which Pompey had obtained was no inconsiderable addition to his other great Qualities so that he passed without contradiction at that time for the first man in Rome Crassus onely found himself in a condition to dispute it with him as well by the Nobility and the desert of his Ancestours as by his great estate which accumulated to him the sirname of Rich. Of which some Judgment may be given from what he himself once said that he ought not to be esteemed a wealthy man who could not entertain an Army out of his own Revenue Nevertheless his own Estate amounted not to above six thousand Talents but that brought him in a very considerable profit by the means of his Slaves which some Authours say amounted in number to 40000. He had besides all this a great deal of Wit and was very Eloquent His good humour and Compliasance were perhaps the effect of his Policy For when that Pompey puff'd up by his Victories fansied that it was necessary to his Grandeur to take upon him a haughty behaviour and to communicate himself to very few Crassus on the contrary was familiar with all the world and employed his Reputation and his Eloquence at the Bar in the behalf of all such as would apply themselves to him From whence arose that judicious and excellent Observation That by the lustre of his Actions Pompey when he was absent had the advantage of Crassus but so soon as he returned to Rome he lost it again by his manners Nor was it onely Emulation which caused so great a misunderstanding between them Crassus had other reasons to complain of Pompey in relation to the affair of Spartacus This Spartacus was a Gladiatour or Fencer that had appeared against the Romans at the head of forty thousand of his Companions and had beaten three of their Armies At last Crassus had the advantage to rout him with a great deal of hazard Spartacus was killed in the fight and six thousand Gladiatours escaping from the Battel fell into the hands of Pompey as he was returning with his Army out of Spain who slew them all and then sent word to the Senate that he had cut up the very roots of that War This hinder'd Crassus from Triumphing and forced him to sit down contented with the honours of the Ovation much inferiour to those of the Triumph This Injury touched him very sharply and though outwardly matters were brought to some Accommodation between them and Crassus in the presence of the people made the first step towards it by saying he thought it no shame to seek that man whom they had honoured with the Title of Great the reconciliation was far from sincerity for Crassus could not hide his regret nor whenever
Omen especially to Cornelia who could not refrain from weeping but when he saw that the King's Ships had already weighed Anchor and were coming to surround his and that Septimius saluted him with the Title of General he resolved to put the best face he could upon a thing which was no longer in his power to refuse So giving his hand to Achillas who had also saluted him in Greek he turned towards his Wife and Children repeating two Greek Verses which signifie That he who enters into the house of a Tyrant becomes a Slave though he came thither Free Two of his Captains entred the Barque before him with Philip and Seynes the one his Freed-man and the other his Slave as they were a considerable time in passing from the Vessel to the Shore and observing that no body offered any Discourse Pompey addressing himself to Septimius who according to the Roman Discipline which did not permit any under Officers to sit down in the presence of their General stood up told him That he believed he might heretofore have known him Septimius onely answered him by bowing his head which was the reason that he drew out his Tablets to consider the Speech which he designed to make to Ptolemy In the meanwhile the Barque coming near the Shore a great many Aegyptian Souldiers came running towards it and as Pompey gave his hand to Philip to raise himself up Septimius from behind him run him through the Body with his Sword he fell with the Wound and seeing that Achillas and Salvius came at him with their Swords drawn he cover'd his Face with his Mantle and without shewing any mark of fear freely offered himself to the Death they brought him At this terrible Spectacle all those who were on Board Pompey's Ships made a hideous out-cry but seeing the Aegyptian Gallies advancing towards them the care of their safety made them give over their pity and save themselves with all the sail they could make under a fair Wind which opportunely freshned upon them that minute Such was the end of Pompey the Great who after having escaped so many dangers where he might have fallen with honour came at last to lose his life miserably by the hands of three or four Villains who were soon after punished for their Crime by Caesar. He died at the Age of Nine and fifty years and upon the Eve of his Birth-day CHAP. LI. Pompey's Freed-man pays him his last Rites of Funeral The Misfortunes of Lentulus AFterwards cutting off his Head they left the Body upon the Shore exposed for some time to the curiosity of the Aegyptian Souldiers and at last Philip his Freed-man carried it aside where he washed it in the Sea and wrapped it in his Mantle as he was gathering together some pieces of a broken Boat to make a Pile he was surprised by an old Roman who had setled in Aegypt but had served heretofore under Pompey Who art thou said he to Philip that art making these preparations for the Funeral of the Great Pompey Philip answered him That he was one of his Freed-men Ah reply'd the old Man thou shalt not have all this Honour to thy self but suffer me I beg thee to partake in an action that is so Iust and Sacred to the end that among all the discomforts of my exile I may please my self to think I have had the honour to touch the Body and assist the Funeral of the greatest Souldier Rome ever had So they gave him the last Rites the sadness of which Ceremony was very particular Lentulus who was coming from Cyprus without knowing of Pompey's Misfortune passed by that place in a Shallop who seeing the Fire began to be very curious about the matter and caused his Shallop to put in that he might speak with Philip whom he did not know in that condition after some sad reflexions Who is the unhappy Wretch says he that is come in that place to finish his destiny adding with a Sigh Alas is it not Pompey the Great When he came ashore he was given to understand by the Freed-man that his apprehensions were but too true So his grief staying him too long upon the place he was taken by some Aegyptian Souldiers and carried to the King who put him to death in Prison Caesar afterwards caused a magnificent Sepulchre to be built on this place with a Temple which he called The Temple of Wrath and it 's very likely that it is the same place which Travellers to this day call Pompey's Pillar CHAP. LII Caesar pursues his Victory Cassius surrenders himself to him with all his Fleet. Caesar lands in Aegypt The Insolence of Photinus and Achillas IN the mean while Caesar who knew that all the hopes of his Enemies were wrapped up in the Person of Pompey followed him with his usual diligence at the head of his Cavalry having given orders to one of his Legions to March after him when he understood at Amphipolis that Pompey had abandoned Greece he resolved to go into Asia and wanting Ships put what Troops he had in Barques and now it seemed as if Fortune was resolved to take this occasion to shew still that she would have a share in his elevation Cassius retreating into Asia with a Navy of 60 Ships fell in amongst Caesar's little Fleet. And that Man who had since the courage to Murther him in the very midst of Rome could not have wished for a fairer occasion than now to kill him with honour For Caesar was not in any condition to make resistence In the meanwhile he walked upon the Deck of his Ship with the Aire of a Conquerour and that resolute behaviour so over-awed Cassius who was otherwise a very brave Man that he went aboard his Shallop and came to throw himself at Caesar's feet he surrendred into his hands all the Ships under his Command demanding no other favour than his Life with all the submission of a Conquer'd Enemy Caesar granted it in his usual obliging manner and then went into Asia where after having dispatched some orders and prevented the ruine of the famous Temple of Diana of the Ephesians whose Treasures Amphius would have plundered in the name of Pompey he understood he was retreated into the Island of Cyprus not in the least imagining that he could have a design of going into Aegypt Therefore that he might give him no time to Fortifie himself he went to Rhodes where he Embarqu'd with two Legions which were reduc'd to 3200 Men and 800 Horse And though those Forces were not very considerable yet the confidence which he had in his Victories and the high reputation they had gotten him could not persuade him but that wherever he came he must meet with awe and obedience So he went directly to Alexandria without staying for the rest of his Troops to whom he sent orders immediately to follow him upon his Landing he was entertained with the News of the Death of Pompey whose Head was presented him and the Ring which according
to the custome of the Age he was wont to make use of for a Signet This Mournfull Spectacle the Friendship which he heretofore had had with Pompey and the sad Imagination of those Misfortunes which attend the greatest Men drew Tears from his eyes So he turned away his Face with horrour and ordered him who brought him the Present to retire keeping onely the Ring upon the stone whereof was ingraved a Lion holding a Sword in his Paw Afterwards he made his entry into the City as Consul The Souldiers who were there in Garrison were offended for that he caused the Axes to be carried before him and said That it was done in Contempt of the Royal Authority which was the occasion that for some days together several disorders happened in which a great many Roman Souldiers were slain This forced Caesar to send new Orders to his Troops to come and join him with all speed with fair Promises and Presents gaining to his side a great many of Pompey's Souldiers who were then wandring about that Kingdom and wrote word to his Friends at Rome That the greatest pleasure which he found from his Victory was the saving every day the life of some one of those who had born Arms against him In the mean while as an argument of his Confidence he made great entertainments and assisted at the Conferences of Philosophers who were in great numbers within that City But Photinus who was come to Alexandria with the King gave him every day fresh marks of his untoward intentions he had written to Achillas who Commanded the Army to come to Alexandria and those Succours made him insolent for he caused musty Corn to be distributed to Caesar's Souldiers and one day when Ptolemy treated him in his Palace he caused him to be served in earthen Vessels saying That the Gold and Silver Plate was engaged for the payment of the King's debts This was because Ptolemy owed Caesar a Milion seven hundred and fifty thousand Crowns the seven hundred and fifty thousand Caesar abated in favour of his Children but demanded the remaining Milion for the necessity of his present affairs and when Photinus told him That he would doe better to think of other matters that were of greater consequence Caesar answered him He was not come into Aegypt to ask Counsel In fine the insolence of that Eunuch which provoked him upon all occasions and it may be also the reputation of the admirable beauty of Cleopatra caused him to declare That being the first Magistrate of Rome he was resolved to enquire into the difference between the King and his Sister For Ptolemy the Father had by his last Will named for his Heirs the eldest of his two Daughters having conjured the people of Rome by the Gods and by the Alliance that was between them to see his will put in execution a Copy whereof he had sent to Rome and it was upon this foundation that Caesar proceeded But while this matter was in dispute Achillas came to Alexandria at the head of his Army These Troops were very formidable both their number and for their valour they were composed in part of Gabinius his old Souldiers who were most of them married in Aegypt and had taken upon them the Customes and Discipline of the Aegyptians The other part was made up of such men as had been disbanded in Syria and Cilicia and the other Neighbouring Provinces and the rest were banished men and run-away slaves who were sure of a safe retreat in Alexandria and if they took party in the Troops a certain protection from the other Souldiers who frequently rescued them by force of Arms from their Masters that pursued them These Troops by a horrible Licence but what was ordinary amongst those sort of people had usurped a privilege of demanding the head of any of the King's Ministers when ever they thought fitting and plunder the richest of their Goods under pretence of augmenting their pay and also to depose and set up their Kings There were here at this time 2000 old Cavalry exercised in all the Wars of Alexandria and these were the men who had restored Ptolemy to his Throne who had slain the two Sons of Bibulus and for a long time had made War upon the Aegyptians CHAP. LIII Caesar fortifies himself in Alexandria He is attacked by Achillas He seizes upon Pharos Falls in love with Cleopatra He is besieged by the Aegyptians CAesar knowing well the valour and experience of these Troops and finding himself not strong enough to make head against them in the Field took care to fortify those Quarters of the City where his Legions were and to secure himself of the King's Person in whose name he deputed to the Army Dioscorides and Serapion who were the two principal Friends of the old Ptolemy and who had been Ambassadours at Rome But Achillas instead of giving them Audience charged upon them in such manner that one of them was killed upon the place and the other saved his life by feigning to be dead After this act of violence Caesar caused the Quarters of Alexandria to be fortified where his Troops were retreated and was the next day attacked by Caesar's Souldiers sustained the first onset and repulsed the Enemy whose chief design was to get possession of the 50 Ships and 22 Gallies that were in the Haven which obliged Caesar after a long and doubtfull fight to possess himself of Pharos and set fire to those Vessels whose flames being driven by the wind upon some Houses near the Port burnt them to the ground by a misfortune in which we can never enough lament that famous Library belonging to the Kings of Aegypt consisting as some Authours report of 700000 Volumes The Pharos is a Tower built in the Island which makes the Haven of Alexandria and it was built with so much Art and Magnificence that it has ever been lookt upon for one of the seven Wonders of the World There was moreover in the Island several Houses and other Edifices being joined to the Continent by a Bridge at the end of a Peer that was very narrow and in length 800 paces the taking of this Post made Caesar Master by Sea but he was very close shut up towards the land by the Troops of Achillas the People also of Alexandria were against him and without any respect to the Person of their Prince had several times attacked the Palace where they were lodged together But Ptolemy encouraged to it by Caesar appeased their tumult by his Presence Caesar that he might not have any longer an Enemy to fear but those who were without got himself at last rid of Photinus and had sent for Cleopatra who he said he would marry to her Brother according to the Aegyptian Custome and the intent of their Fathers Will. The Eunuch was killed going from an entertainment at the King's Lodgings under pretence that he would have taken away the young Ptolemy and carried him into the Aegyptian Camp which was not