quintam sortis partem quod vulgo dicimus viginti in centum Salmasius de Usura p. 188. Lugd. Bat. 1639. Vsurae communes Atticis majores nauticae minores quà m Romanis rationem dat Salmasius quia Navigationes At he 〈…〉 enses omnes fere Bosphorum petebant qui longissimae Pontum Salmas Ibidem Who may be allowed to praise their Ancestors The Government and State of the City of Sicyon Aratus's narrow escape His Education at Argos Aratus attempts to free Sicyon His marches towards Sicyon Delivers the City without bloodshed And aessociates it to the Achaeans The Charactar of Aratus He sails into Aegypt The Sicyonian Painting in much esteem Ptolomy's liberality to Aratus Antigonus indeavours to win Aratus to his party Aratus plunders Locris Resolves to attempt the taking of the Cittadel of Corinth * Here the old English Translator makes a pleasant mistake for whereas Amyoâ— calls Peloponnesus Presqu'Isle that is Peninsula the old Translator tells us news of a certain Island of Peloponnesus call'd Presche Sister to the Isle of Pines The Acro-corinth seis'd by Antigonus * A famous Muâ—itian of that time Erginus discovers a secret path leading to the weakest part of the Cittadel Technon Servant to Aratus his mistake Aratus marches to Corinth by night Surprises the City Stormes the Acro-Corinth and takes it Makes an Oration to the Citizens The good effects of this Exploit Aratus attempts to free Argos But fails in his design The surest Guard of a Prince The Tyrant Aristippus's manner of life Aristippus fights Aratus and beats him Aratus regains his credit and Aristippus is killâ—d The Tyrant Lysiades voluntarily frees Megalopolis Emulates and opposes Aratus And thereby loses the favour of the Achaeans The Aetolick War Pellene recover'd by a Panick fear Peace made with the Aetolians Aratus excuses the assaulting the Piraeum * The Territory between Athens and Eleusis He is defeated by the Macedonian General and reported to be Slain Invades the Athenians in a rage for their flattery is pacify'd and assists them to recover their Liberty Perswades Aristomachus to see free Argos Aristomachus oontrary to Aratus's advice invades Laconia Aratus is routed by Cleomenes But shortly after takes Mantinea Lysiades ingaging rashly in a Battle with Cleomenes is slain Aratus in disgrace Fights Megistonus and takes him Prisoner Refuses the Generalship of the Achaeans and why I seensur'd for calling in Antigonus and the Macedonians The Achaeans lose Mantinea and are beaten at Hecatombaeum by Cleomenes Their affairs in very ill posture Aratus being commission'd to punish the Traitors is forced to shift for his own life Aratus in great distress Antigonus called in to the assistance of the Achaeans Receives Aratus very Honourably A Prediction pleasantly fulfill'd Argos revolts from Cleomenes Aratus is blam'd for the death of Aristomachus and upon other accounts Philip the Son of Antigonus comes into Peloponnesus Aratus ill success against the Aetolians occasion'd the calling in of Philip into Greece Who suffers himself to be govern'd by the Counsel of Aratus Aratus affronted by Philips Courtiers Is ill us'd by Philip himself Aratus falls out with Philip Taurion poisons Aratus by the command of Philip. He dies at Aegium And is bury'd at Sicyon * The fifth of November The youngest Aratus poisoned also by Philip dyes Philip smarts sufficiently for these murders The Comparison of Dion and Brutus Dionysius the Tyrant of Sicily Marries two Wives Dion comes to Court Plato comes into Sicily Dion Plato's Scholar Dionysius hears Plato discourse Plato leaves Si 〈…〉 y. Dion sent Embassador to Carthage Dionysius his Children His Death Dionysius the Second succeeds his Father His Debauchery Dion's haughty Humour His Edution Dionysius the first very timorous Dion perswades Dionysius to send for Plato Plato sent for Philistus the Historian Why banish'd Recalled from Banishment Plato arrives in Sicily Dion railed at by the Courtiers Out of favour at Court Is forced away into Italy His Riches Plato sent away Dion sojourns at Athens Exhibits a Play for the Youth Travels in Greece Is made Citizen of Sparta His Revenues stopt Plato sent for Plato arrives in Sicily Sent away again Theste's Answer to Dionysius the First Dion resolves upon a War with Dionysius Is encourag'd by the Sicilians readiness to assist him Zante Dion Sacrifices to Apollo The Moon Eclipsed Prodigies before the War in Sicily Dion sets Sail with his Fleet. Passes the Cape Pachinus Iâ— driven 〈…〉 e Coast of Africk Arrives at Minoa in Sicily Takes the Town And delivers it up again Marches to Syracuse By a strange Accident Dionysius hears not Dion's arrival The Citizens meet him at the Gates Dion marches into the City in triumph Proclaims the Sicilians free Is chosen General Besieges the Castle Dionysius arrives Sends to treat with Dion and the Citizens Their Answer Dionysius puts the Deputies in Prison Makes a Salley Is wounded And carried off Dionysins's men beat into the Castle Letters sent to Dion from Dionysius Read publickly Dion suspected Heraclides arrives Courts the Mobile Is chosen Admiral Sosis plots against Dion Is found guilty of false Accusation and condemn'd to die Philistus arrives with a Fleet to help Dionysius Taken Prisoner and slain Timaeus the Historian Ephorus the Historian Dionysius makes offer of Surrender Receives no Answer Makes his Escape by Sea Hippon a Leveller Heraclides joyns with him Sets the Citizens against Dion They choose five and twenty Commanders Dion's Soldiers guard him out of the City The Citizens set upon them Fly before them Dion marches to the Leontines The Syracusians march after him and are beaten The Leontines receive Dion Nypsius arrives with a Fleet. Storms the Works and 〈…〉 ters the 〈…〉 ty Dion sent for back by the Syracusians Calls an Assembly His Speech to his Soldiers Dionysius's Men retreat into the Castle Make another Sally Fire the City Dion and his Men come to their succour March in great danger thró the Ruins Beat Nypsiuâ—'s Men into the Castle The Demagogues leave the City Dion pardons Heraclides and Theodotes Carries on the Siege Repeals the Votes of the Levellers A Famine occasion'd by the Sedition in the Army Dion forc'd to engage Pharax is beaten Prevents Heraclides Design of Possessing himself of the City Gaesylus the Spartan Apollicrates delivers up the Castle upon Articles Dion enters the Castle Takes again his Wife He is murther'd by Dion's means Calippus the Athenian Dion sees ae strange Apparition His Son breaks his Neck Dion inform'd of the Plot. Calippus denies it upon Oath Calippus Chief at Syracuse Kill'd at Rhegium Dion's Sister Wife and Son drown'd * Labio †Flavius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod ab urbe Semitertio miliari distat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
at Rome a Nation at that time in a distressed condition and very uneasie under the Roman Government These Lentulus and his party adjudging useful instruments to move and seduce Gallia to revolt admitted into the Conspiracy and they gave them Letters to their own Magistrates and Letters to Catiline in those they promised liberty in these they exhorted Catiline to set all Slaves free and to bring them along with him to Rome they sent with them to Catiline one Titus a Native of Croton who was to carry those Letters to him These being the Counsels of inconsidering Men and such as conversed together with Wine and Women Cicero pursued with industry consideration sobriety and great prudence having besides several Emissaries abroad who observed and traced with him all they did he also conferr'd privately with and confided in many who were thought engaged in the Conspiracy he knew all the discourses which passed betwixt them and the strangers and lying in wait for them by Night he took the Crotonian with his Letters the Allobroges Embassadors being in private Consult with him By break of day he summoned the Senate into the Temple of Concord where he read the Letters and examined the discoverers Junius Syllanus added that several had heard Cethegus say that three Consuls and four Pretors were to be slain Piso also a Person of Consular dignity testified other matters of the like nature and Caius Sulpicius one of the Pretors being sent to Cethegus his house found there a great quantity of Arrows Arms Swords and Daggers all newly furbished At length the Senate decreeing indemnity to the Crotonian upon discovery of the whole matter Lentulus was convicted abjured his Office for he was then Pretor and put off his Robe edged with purple in the Senate changing it for another garment more agreeable to his present circumstance He thereupon with the rest of his confederates present was committed to the Pretor in free Custody It being evening and the common People in crowds expecting without Cicero went forth to them and told them what was done and then attended with them went to the house of a Friend and near Neighbor for his own was taken up by the Women who were celebrating with secret rites the Feast of the Goddess whom the Romans call Bona or the good the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Sacrifice was annually performed to her in the Consuls house either by his Wife or Mother in the presence of the Vestal Virgins Cicero being got to his Friends house privately a few only being present fell to deliberate with himself how he should treat these Men the severest punishment and such indeed as was fit for so great crimes he was afraid and shie of executing as well from the Clemency of his Nature as also least he should be thought to exercise his authority too insolently and to treat too rudely Men of the Noblest Birth and most powerful friendships in the City and yet if he should use them more mildly he had a dreadful prospect of danger from them for there was no likelyhood if they suffered less than death they would be reconciled to him but rather adding new rage to their former wickedness break forth into all manner of insolence whilst he himself should gain thereby the repute of a cowardly and timorous Person upon other accounts not thought over valiant by the Vulgar Whilst Cicero was doubting what course to take in these matters a portentous accident happened amongst the Womens sacrificing for on the Altar where the fire seem'd wholly extinguished a great and bright flame issued forth from the Ashes of the burnt Wood at which others were affrighted but the holy Virgins call'd to Terentia Cicero's Wife and bid her hast to her Husband and command him to execute what he had resolved for the good of his Country for the Goddess had given great light to his Safety and Glory Terentia therefore as she was otherwise in her own Nature neither pitiful nor timorous but an ambitious Woman who as Cicero himself saith would rather thrust her self into his publick Affairs than communicate her domestick to him told him these things and incensed him against the Conspirators the same did also Quintus his Brother and Publius Nigridius one of his Companions in Philosophy whom he often made use of in his greatest and most weighty Affairs of State The next day a debate arising in the Senate about the punishment of these Men Syllanus being the first who was asked his Opinion said It was fit they should be all sent to Prison and there suffer the utmost Penalty to him all consented in order till it came to Caius Caesar who was afterwards Dictator he was then but a young Man and had only gain'd the Beginnings of his future Rise having directed his Hopes and Policy that way by which he afterwards changed the Roman affairs into a Monarchy his guilt was unknown to others yet to Cicero he had given many suspicions though no sufficient proof to convict him and there were some indeed that said tho' he was very near being discovered yet he had escaped him but others were of opinion that Cicero voluntarily overlookt and neglected the evidence against him for fear of his friends and power for it was very evident to every body that these would be rather a means of Caesar's escape than Caesar's guilt an occasion of their punishment When therefore it came to Caesar's turn to give his opinion he stood up and declared that the Conspirators should not be put to death but their Estates confiscated and their Persons sent to such Cities in Italy as Cicero should approve there to be kept Prisoners till Catiline was conquered To this Sentence being the most moderate and he that deliver'd it a most powerful Speaker Cicero himself gave no small weight for he stood up and turning the scale on either side he spake sometimes in favour of the former sometimes of Caesar's Sentence But all Cicero's Friends judging Caesar's Sentence most expedient for Cicero because he would incur the less blame if the Conspirators were not put to death chose rather the latter so that Syllanus also changing his Mind retracted his Opinion and said he had not declared for capital but only the utmost punishment which to a Roman Senator is Imprisonment Caesar having given his Sentence Catulus Luctatius was the first who contradicted it him Cato seconded and in his Oration cast such a vehement suspicion upon Caesar and so fill'd the Senate with anger and resolution that a Decree was pass'd for the execution of the Conspirators but Caesar opposed the confiscation of their Goods not thinking it fit that those who had rejected the mildest part of his Sentence should make use of the severest Many insisting for it he appeals to the Tribunes but they would not be ruled by him till Cicero himself yielding remitted that part of the Sentence about confiscation After this Cicero went out with
die What do you not know your self Brutus Or do you think that those Inscriptions that you find upon your Praetors Seat were put there by Weavers Victuallers or the vile Rabble and not by the first and most powerful Men of Rome From other Praetors indeed they expect Largesses â—nd Shows and Gladiators but from you they claim as an hereditary Debt the extirpation of Tyranny they are all ready to suffer any thing on your account if you will but shew your self such as they think you are and expect you should be Which said he fell upon Brutus and embrac'd him and after this they parted each to try their several Friends Among those of Pompey's Faction there was one Caius Ligarius whom Caesar had pardon'd tho' accus'd for having been in Arms against him This Man not being so thankful for having been forgiven as stomaching that Power which made him need a Pardon hated Caesar but was one of Brutus his most intimate Friends Him Brutus visited and finding him sick O Lygarius says he what a time have you found out to be sick in At which words Ligarius raising himself and leaning on his Elbow took Brutus by the Hand and said But O Brutus if you are on any Design worthy of your self I am well From this time they try'd the Inclinations of all their Acquaintance that they durst trust and communicated the Secret to them and took also into the Conspiracy not only their familiar Friends but as many as they believ'd bold and brave and despisers of Death For which Reason they conceal'd the Plot from Cicero tho' he was very much trusted and as well belov'd by them all leâ—t to his own Disposition which was naturally timorous adding the wariness and caution of old Age and weighing every Particular that he might not make one step without the greatest security he should blunt the edge of their forwardness and resolution in a Business which requir'd all the dispatch imaginable There were also two others that were Companions of Brutus Statilius the Epicurean and Favonius a Follower of Cato whom he left out of the Conspiracy for this Reason As he was discoursing one day with them at a distance and proposing some Questions to be disputed of as among Philosophers to try what opinion they were of Favonius declar'd his Judgment to be that a Civil War was worse than the most unjust Tyranny And Statilius held that to bring himself into Troubles and Danger upon the account of evil or foolish men did not become a man that had any Wisdom or Discretion But Labeo that was present contradicted them both and Brutus as if it had been an intricate Dispute and difficult to be decided held his peace for that time but afterwards discover'd the whole Design to Labeo who readily undertaking it the next thing that was thought convenient was to gain the other Brutus sirnam'd Albinus a man of himself of no great Bravery or Courage but considerable for the number of Gladiators that he bred up for the publick Shews and the great confidence that Caesar put in him When Cassius and Labeo discours'd with him concerning this Matter he gave them no Answer but meeting Brutus himself alone and finding that he was their Captain â—he readily consented to partake in the Action and the very Name of Brutus brought many others and those of the best Quality over to the Conspirators who tho' they neither gave or took any Oath of Secrecy nor us'd any other sacred Rite to assure their Fidelity to each other yet all kept their Design so close were so wary and manag'd it so silently among themselves that tho' by Prophesies and by wonderful Apparitions and Prodigies and by the Entrails of sacrific'd Beasts the Gods gave warning of the Conspiracy yet could it not be believ'd Now Brutus considering that the greatest Men of all Rome for Virtue Birth or Courage depended wholly upon him and surveying with himself all the Dangers they were to encounter strove as much as possible when abroad to keep his uneasiness of Mind to himself and compose his unquiet Thoughts but at home and especially at Night he was not the same Man but sometimes his working Care would make him start out of his Sleep and other times he was so taken up with Thoughts and so perplex'd in his Mind that his Wise that lay with him could not choose but take notice that he was full of unusual Trouble and had in Agitation some dangerous and difficult Affair Porcia as was before said was the Daughter of Cato and Brutus tho' her Cousin-german had marry'd her very young tho' not a Maid but after the Death of her former Husband by whom she had one Son that was nam'd Bibulus and there is a little Book call'd The Memoirs of Brutus written by him yet extant This Porcia being addicted to Philosophy a great lover of her Husband and full of Courage and Prudence resolv'd not to enquire into Brutus his Secrets before she had made this tryal of her self She turn'd all her Attendants out of her Chamber and taking a little Knife such as they use to cut Nails with she gave her self a deep gash in the Thigh upon which follow'd a great Flux of Blood and soon after violent pains and a dangerous Fever occasion'd by the anguish of the Wound Now when Brutus was mightily afflicted for her she in the heighth of all her pain spoke thus to him I Brutus being the Daughter of Cato was given to you in Marriage not like a Concubine to partake only in the common Civilities of Bed and Board but to bear a part in all your good and all your evil Fortunes and for my part when I look upon you I find no Reason to repent the Match but from me what Evidence of my Love what satisfaction can you receive if I may not share with you in bearing your most hidden Griefs nor be admitted to any of your Counsels that require Secrecy and Trust I know very well that Women seem to be of too weak a Nature to be trusted with Secrets but certainly Brutus a virtuous Birth and Education and a Conversation with the Good and Honourable are of some force to the forming our Manners and strengthening our natural weakness And I can boast that I am the Daughter of Cato and the Wife of Brutus in which two great Titles tho' before I put too little confidence yet now I have try'd my self and find that even against Grief and Pain it self I am invincible Which words having spoke she shew'd him her Wound and related to him the whole tryal that she had made of her own Constancy At which he being astonish'd lifted up his Hands to Heaven and begg'd the assistance of the Gods in his Enterprize that he might live to be a Husband worthy of such a Wife as Porcia So having comforted his Wife he left her A Meeting of the Senate being appointed at which it was generally believ'd that Caesar would be
taken naked and unprovided For it was not on the sudden nor alone nor with a few that he fell upon and killed Caesar but after long concerting the Plot and Confidence in a great many Men not one of whom deceiv'd him for he either presently discern'd the best Men or by confiding in them made them good But Dion either making a wrong Judgment trusted himself with ill Men or else by his employing them made ill men of good either of the two would be a Reflection on a Wise Man Plato is severe upon him for chusing such for Friends as betray'd him Besides when Dion was kill'd none appear'd to revenge his Death Whereas Brutus even amongst his Enemies had Antony that buried him splendidly Caesar also took care his Honours should be preserved There stood at Mediolanum in Gallia Cisalpina a Brazen Statue representing Brutus and curiously wrought Caesar passing that way made a Halt and in the hearing of many commanded the Magistrates to come before him He told them Their Town had broken the League with him harbouring an Enemy At the first they denied the thing and not knowing what to say looked upon one another When Caesar turning towards the Statue and wrinkling his Brow Pray says he Is not that our Enemy who stands there They were all in Confusion and had nothing to answer But he smiling much commended the Gauls as who had been firm to their Friends though in Adversity and so commanded that the Statue should remain standing as he found it SER. SULPICIUS GALBA Disce Militare Miles THE LIFE OF GALBA Translated from the Greek By ANDREW TAYLOR MA. Late Fellow of King's College in CAMBRIDGE IPhicrates the Athenian suppos'd that a Souldier of Fortune ought to be covetous and sensual to put him upon bold Adventures to to lay in a stock to gratifie his Lusts but most were of Opinion that the Body of an Army as well as the natural one though never so strong should make no Efforts apart but in compliance with their Head Wherefore they tell us that Paulus Aemilius recruiting his Forces in Macedonia and finding them talkative and impertinently busie as though they were all Commanders issued out his Orders that they should have only ready Hands and keen Swords and leave the rest to his Care and Conduct But Plato observing nothing succeed well under a brave General unless the Army were also sober and agreeable judg'd that to obey orderly as well as to command required a generous temper with constant Discipline and Exercise chiefly to allay their hot Spirits and active Humour with Gentleness and Civility And indeed sundry sad Instances elsewhere as well as amongst the Romans after the Death of Nero are plain proofs that nothing is more dangerous than a Military Power unskilfully managed therefore Demades after the Death of Alexander compared the Macedonian Army to the Cyclops Polyphemus after his Eye was out seeing their many disorderly and giddy motions But the Roman Government he likened to the Giants that assailed Heaven whose force return'd upon it self and with a great deal of bustle only wrought its own ruine not so much by the Emperour's Ambition as the Covetousness and Extravagancy of the Souldiers making them push out one another for their advantage Thus Dionysius in Raillery said of Pheraeus enjoying the government of Thessaly only ten Months He acted a pretty short Part and so exit Pheraeus but the Royal Palace at Rome received four Emperours in less time one making room for another to enter This was the only satisfaction of the distressed that they needed not require any other Justice on their Oppressors seeing them thus murder each other first of all and that most justly he that ensnared them first and taught them to expect such great Matters as he had promised at Caesar's Death sullying that brave Action viz. the revolting from Nero turning it into scandalous Treachery by his Bribery for Nymphidius Sabinus Captain of the Guards together with Tigellinus after Nero's Circumstances were known and that he designed to fly into Egypt perswaded the Army to declare Galba Emperour as if Nero had been already gone promising to all the Souldiers as well those abroad as the Home-Guards so round a Summ for a Largess that it was unpossible any one could raise but he must be infinitely more exacting than ever Nero was This presently dispatch'd Nero and soon after Galba too they murdered the first in expectation of the promised Summ and not long after the other because he kept not touch with them according to his Word thus vainly enquiring who would purchase at such a rate they destroyed themselves by Treachery and Rebellion before they obtained their Expectations But to give you a particular Relation of all that passed would require too large a History But I ought not pass by what is most material what the Caesars both did and suffered Sulpitius Galba is owned by all to be the richest of a private Person that ever came to the Imperial Seat besides the additional Honour of being of the Family of the Servii he valued himself for his relation to Catulus a Person of Eminence in his time both for Vertue and Renown tho' he voluntarily yielded to others for Power and Authority Galba was also a-kin to Livia Wife to Augustus by whose interest he was by the Court preferr'd to the Consulship 'T is said of him that he honourably discharged his Command in Germany and being made Pro-consul in Libya he gained that Reputation few ever had But his thrifty narrow Entertainments beneath the dignity of a General was a great diminution and only afforded him the mean credit of being call'd an orderly sober Gentleman He was intrusted by Nero with the Government of Spain when he had not yet learned to revere the great Citizens in Authority To the Opinion they had of his mild Natural Temper his old Age occasioned a Belief that he would act too cautiously And although he had the management of Nero's Officers in his own hands who with savage cruelty harrass'd the Provinces 〈…〉 gave them this only ease and consolation that he seem'd plainly to sympathize with the poor injur'd Slaves as a fellow-sufferer And when Lampoons were made upon Nero and sung every where about he neither prohibited them nor shewed any indignation as the Procurators did for which indeed he was the more beloved as also that he was well acquainted with them having been in chief power there eight years at which time Junius Vindex General of the Forces in Gaul began to make Head against Nero and 't is reported that Letters came to him before it fully broke out into Rebellion which he seemed neither to give credit to nor thwarted nor in the least acquainted Nero whereas other Officers had informed him according to what came to their hands and so spoiled the Design as much as in them lay who afterwards sharing in the Conspiracy confess'd they had been treacherous to themselves as
the contrary So that as Plato says of himself the third time he set Sail for Sicily Venturing again to shoot Charibdis dangerous Gulph This arrival brought great joy to Dionysius and no less hopes to the Sicilians who were as earnest in their wishes as studious in their endeavours that Plato might get the better of Philistus and Philosophy triumph over Tyranny Neither was he unbefriended by the Ladies who upon all occasions studied to oblige him but he had from Dionysius that peculiar Credit which no man else ever obtained to that degree of confiding that he might come into his Presence without being examined or searched When the King offered him a very considerable sum of Money and repeated the tender of his Bounty but Plato still refused to accept it Aristippus the Cyrenian then present said That Dionysius was liberal without danger of hurting his Treasury for to those that wanted much he gave very little and a great deal to Plato who received nothing After the first Complements of kindness were over when Plato began to discourse of Dion he was at first diverted by dilatory Excuses which soon after begat feuds and disgusts tho' as yet not publickly taken notice of Dionysius endeavouring all he could to conceal them and by other Civilities and Honourable usage to draw him off from his Kindness to Dion Plato for some time did not divulge this his perfidious dealing and breach of promise but bore with it and dissembled his rescent While matters stood thus betwixt them and as they thought they were unobserved and undiscovered Helicon the Cyzicinian one of Plato's followers foretold an Eclipse of the Sun which happened according to his Prediction for which he was much admired by the King and rewarded with a Talent of Silver Aristippus drolling with some others of the Philosophers told them he also had something extraordinary to Prognosticate which they entreating him to declare I fore-tell said he that Dionysius and Plato will in a very little time fall out At length Dionysius made Sale of Dion's Estate converted the Money to his own use and removed Plato from an Apartment he had in the Gardens of the Palace to Lodgings near those of the Guards he kept in Pay who bore Plato an old grudge and sought Opportunity to make him away suppposing he advised Dionysius to lay down the Government and disband his Soldiers When Archytas understood the danger Plato was in he immediately sent a Galley with Messengers to demand him of Dionysius alledging that he stood engaged for his safety upon the confidence of which Plato came for Sicily Dionysius to palliate his secret hatred before Plato came away treated him with great Entertainments and all seeming demonstrations of kindness but could not forbear breaking out one day into such an expression as this No doubt Plato but when you are at home among the Philosophers your Companions you will complain of me and reckon up a great many of my faults To which Plato smiling return'd Answer I hope Sir we shall never be so put to it in the Academy for want of Subjects to discourse of as to talk of you Thus they say Plato was dismissed but his own Writings do not altogether agree with this Relation Dion was very angry at this and not long after he declared himself an open Enemy to Dionysius having received some intelligence concerning his Wife about which Plato by Letters had held a Correspondence with Dionysius now thus it was After Dion's Banishment Dionysius sending back Plato desired him to ask Dion privately if he would be against his Wife's marrying another Man for there went a report whether true or raised by Dion's Enemies was uncertain that his Marriage was not pleasing to him and that he lived with his Wife uneasie and dissatisfied When Plato therefore came to Athens and had discoursed the matter with Dion he writ a Letter to Dionysius in which he expressed every thing else plainly and intelligibly but this affair in covert and abstruse terms that none else but he might understand it signifying therein to him that he had talked with Dion about the business and that it was evident he would highly resent the Affront if Dionysius should attempt any such thing At that time therefore while there were yet great hopes of an accommodation he altered nothing in his Sisters concerns suffering her to live with Dion's Son but when things were come to that pass that no Reconciliation could be expected and that Plato after his second return was again sent away in displeasure he then forced Arete against her will to Marry Timocrates one of his Favourites in this Action coming short even of his Fathers Justice and Lenity For when Philoxenus who had married his Sister Theste being in disgrace and is declared Enemy for fear had fled and left Sicily he sent for his Sister and taxed her that being privy to her Husbands flight she had not declared it to him But the Lady confident and fearless made him this reply Do you believe me Brother so bad a Wife or so timorous a Woman that having known my Husbands flight I would not have born him company and shared the worst of his Fortunes Alas I was ignorant of it for better had it been for me and more honourable to be called the Wife of the Exile Philoxenus than the Sister of the Tyrant Dionysius 'T is said the King admired her ready and confident answer the Syracusians also honoured her for her Bravery insomuch that she retained her Dignity and Princely Retinue after the dissolution of the Tyranny and when she died the Citizens by Publick Decree attended the Solemnity of her Funeral Tho' this be a digression from the present purpose it is not altogether an useless Remarque From this time Dion set his mind wholly upon a War tho' Plato was against it with a modest regret reflecting upon the Entertainment he had received from Dionysius and also considering Dion's Age But Speucippus and the rest of his friends assisted and encouraged him to undertake the deliverance of Sicily from Slavery which in humble manner with lift up hands seemed to implore his help and with open Arms ready to receive him For when Plato sojourned at Syracuse Speucippus being oftner than he in company with the Citizens throughly understood how they were inclined and tho' at first he was shy of and suspected their bold talk fearing they were set on by the King to trapan him yet at length he gave ear and credit to what they said They generally agreed in their wishes and prayers that Dion would undertake the Design and come tho' without either Navy Men Horse or Arms that he would put himself aboard a Ship and lend the Sicilians only his Person and Name against Dionysius This Information from Speucippus encouraged Dion who that he might the better conceal his Design he employed his Friends privately to raise what men they could many great States-men and
Philosophers were assisting to him among whom was Cyprius Endemus on whose Death Aristotle writ his Dialogue of the Soul and Timonides the Leucadian they also engaged on his side Miltas the Thessalian who was skilful in fore-telling Events and his fellow-Student in the Academy Of all that were Banished by Dionysius who were not fewer than a thousand five and twenty only listed themselves the rest for fear declined the undertaking The general Rendezvous was in the Island Zacynthus whither they marched a small Army being not in all eight hundred compleat but all of them experienced Men who had signalized themselves in many and great Engagements well disciplin'd and inur'd to hardship and for Courage and Conduct the very flower of all the Soldery and such as by their Example would animate and encourage to action the numerous Forces Dion hoped to have in Sicily Yet these Men when they first understood the Expedition was against Dionysius were troubled and disheartned blaming Dion that hurried on like a mad man by his Passion and Despair he rashly threw both himself and them into certain Ruin Nor were they less angry with their Commanders and Muster-Masters that they did not in the beginning let them know the design of the War But when he had in an Oration set forth the unsafe and weak condition of Arbitrary Government and declared that he carryed them rather for Commanders than Soldiers the Citizens of Syracuse and the rest of the Sicilians having been long ready for a Revolt and after him Alcimenes a Grecian Noble-man of great Quality and Reputation who accompanyed him in the Expedition harangued them to the same effect they were quiet and contented It was now the midst of Summer and the Winds blew which are constant to that season of the year called by the Greeks Etesiae the Moon being at the full when Dion prepared a magnificent Sacrifice to Apollo and with great Solemnity marched his Soldiers to the Temple in all their Arms and Accoutrements after the Sacrifice he feasted them all in the Publick Cirque or place of Exercise of the Zacynthians where he had made Provision for their Entertainment who seeing with wonder the plenty and richness of Gold and Silver Plate and the Tables furnished in an extraordinary manner far exceeding the fortunes of a private Man concluded with themselves that one of his Age and Master of so much Treasure would not engage himself in so hazardous an Enterprize without good assurance of hope and certain and sufficient Supplies from his Friends As they were offering Wine to the Gods and performing their customary Devotions the Moon was Eclipsed which was no wonder to Dion who understood the revolutions of Eclipses and how the Moon was over-shadowed by the direct interposition of the Earth between her and the Sun But because it was necessary that the Soldiers should be satisfied and encouraged who were surprized and troubled at it Miltas the Diviner standing up in the midst of the Assembly bid them be of good chear and expect all happy success for that the Gods did fore-tell something that was at present glorious and resplendent should be Eclipsed and obscured Now nothing being more resplendent than they Grandeur of Dionysius their arrival in Sicily should cloud the glory and extinguish the brightness of that illustrious Empire Thus Miltas in publick descanted upon the Accident But concerning a swarm of Bees which settled on the Poop of Dion's Ship he privately told him and his Friends that he feared the great Actions they were like to perform tho' for a time they should thrive and flourish would be of short continuance and soon suffer a decay it is reported also that many ill prodigies hapned to Dionysius at that time An Eagle snatching a Javelin from one of the Guard carried it aloft and from thence let it fall into the Sea The water of the Sea that washed the Castle Walls was for a whole day sweet and potable as many that tasted it experienced Piggs were farrowed perfect in all their other parts but without Ears The Diviners did declare this to portend a Revolt and Rebellion for that the Subjects would no longer give ear to the Commands of their Superiours They expounded the sweetness of the Water to signifie to the Syracusians a Change from bad and woful Times into better and more happy Circumstances The Eagle being the Bird of Jupiter and the Spear an Emblem of Power and Command This Prodigy was to denote That Jupiter the chief of the Gods designed the destruction and dissolution of the present Government These things Theopompus in his History relates Two great Ships carryed all Dion's Men which were tended by a third somewhat less and two Galleys of thirty Oars Besides his Soldiers Arms he carried two thousand Shields a very great number of Darts and Lances and abundant stores of all manner of Provisions that there might be no want of any thing in their Voyage because they resolved to keep out at Sea and ply in the Main fearing to come near the Shore upon advice that Philistus rode at Anchor in the Bay of Apulia with a Fleet ready to intercept them Twelve days they sailed with a fresh and gentle gale the thirteenth they made Pachynus afore-Land of Sicily There the chief Pilot advised them to Land presently for if they were forced again from the Shoar and did designedly pass the Cape they might ride out at Sea many Nights and Days expecting a Southerly Wind in the Summer season But Dion fearing a descent too near his Enemies and desirous to land at greater distance and further up in the Country weathered the Cape Pachinus They had not sailed long before stress of Weather the Wind blowing hard at North drove the Fleet from the Coast it being a very stormy Season much about the time that Arcturus appears and there hapning then a great deal of Thunder and Lightning with violent Rains and tempestuous gusts of Wind the Mariners were at their Wits end and wholly ignorant what Course they ran till on a sudden they found they were driven to Circina an Island on the Coast of Africk craggy and full of dangerous Rocks upon which they scaped narrowly of being forced and staved to pieces but labouring hard at their Oars with much difficulty they kept clear until the Storm ceased Then lighting by chance upon a Vessel they understood they were upon the beginning of the Flats called the great Syrtis Being now again disheartned by reason of a sudden Calm and beating too and again without making any way they had a Southerly briese from the Shoar when they least expected the Wind in that quarter and scarce believed the happy change of their Fortune The Gale increasing and beginning to blow fresh they clapt on all their Sails and praying to the Gods put out again to Sea steering to rights for Sicily from the Coast of Africk and running steady before the Wind the fifth