sacrificed to the goddes returned to imbarke againe At this going out of the city he red two wrytinges that were made in his praise the one within the gate which sayd thus The humblier that thou doost thy selfe as man behaue The more thou doost deserue the name of god to haue And the other wryting was without the gate which sayd VVe vvisht for thee vve vvayt for thee VVe vvorship thee vve vvayt on thee Nowe bicause Pompey hauing taken certaine of these rouers by sea that kept together did vse them gently when they required pardon and hauing their shippes and bodies in his power did them no hurt at all their other companions being in good hope of his mercy fled from his other Captaines and Lieutenauntes and went and yeelded them selues their wiues and children into his handes Pompey pardoned all them that came in of them selues and by that meanes he came to haue knowledge of the rest and to followe them where they went whome he tooke in the ende but knowinge that they deserued no pardon they hid them selues Yet the most parte and the richest of them had conueyed their wiues children and goodes and all other their family vnmeete for warres into strong castells and litle townes apon mount Taurus and such men as were able to cary weapon imbarked and lay before a city of CORACESIVM where they taried Pompey and gaue him battell first by sea and there were ouercome and afterwardes they were besieged by lande Howebeit shortly after they prayed they might be receiued to mercie and thereuppon yeelded their bodies townes and Ilandes which they had fortified and were hard to haue taken and worse to haue approached Thus was this warre ended and all the pirates in lesse then three monthes driuen from the sea wheresoeuer they were He wanne also a great number of other shippes besides foure score and tenne gallies armed with copper spurres And touching the men whom they had taken who were in number aboue twenty thowsand persones he did not only consider whether he should put them to death but also thought it no wise parte on thother side to let them goe at liberty to gather force againe being so great a number of them as in deede they were and all poore men and souldiers Therefore weying with him selfe that man by nature is â—â—â— borne a wild or sauage beast but contrarily becommeth a brute beast chaunging nature whâ— he falleth to vice and againe is made tame and ciuill in time chaunging place and maner of life as brute beastes that being wilde by nature doe also become gentle and tractable with gentler vsage by continuance he determined to draw these pirats from the sea into thupland and to make them feele the true and innocent life by dwelling in townes and manuring the ground Some of them therefore he placed in certaine small townes of the CILICIANS that were scant inhabited were very glad of theÌ„ geuing them land to keepe them with The city of the SOLâ—ANS also that not long before had bene destroyed by Tigranes the king of ARMINIA being desirous to replenish that againe he placed many of them there He bestowed diuers also in the city of DYMA in the contry of ACHAIA which at that time lacked inhabitants and had great store of very good land Now therefore his enemies reproued him greatly and for that he did in CRETA they that were his best and greatest frendes misliked him For Metellus that gentle person a cosen to that Metellus which was his colleague and made warres in SPAYNE with him against Sertorius was sent Praetor into CRETA before Pompey was chosen Generall against the pirates This CRETA next vnto CILICIA was euen a seconde denne of pirates Metellus finding there a great number of these theeues tooke many of them and put them to death euen all that came to his handes Then such as had scaped from him being straightly besieged sent vnto Pompey to pray him of pardon and to take them to mercie declaringe vnto him that the I le of CRETA was within the precinct of his charge bicause all partes of that region from the sea came iust within the coÌ„passe limited him on the land Pompey pardoning them apon their submission wrote vnto Metellus commaunded him to leaue of his warre and therewithall charged all the cities that they should not obey Metellus commaundementes After that he sent Lucius Octauius one of his Lieutenauntes who entred into the townes Metellus besieged and fought for the pirates This made Pompey not only hated enuied but derided also for that vnder his name he had protected such vile theeues that had neither God nor law and geuen them his authority to saue their liues for a litle enuie and emulacion he bare vnto Metellus And therefore they rightly reproue Achilles and say that he shewed not the parte of a wise man but of a young foole besides him selfe for desire of glory making a signe to the GRAECIANS forbidding them to strike at Hector to th end that as Homer sayd Least he too late should to the battell runne VVhen others had the honor of it vvonne But Pompeys fact was worse then this For he fought for the coÌ„mon enemies of the world and only to depriue a ROMANE Praetor of triumphe who had done great good seruice to haue destroyed them This notwithstanding Metellus left not of his warre for Pompeys letters but hauing taken the pirates by assault he put them to death and afterwardes hauing done Octouius open shame through his campe he let him goe When newes came to ROME that the pirates warre was brought to good end that Pompey hauing no other seruice in hand went visiting the cities vp downe one Manilius a Tribune of the people put forth an other decree vnto them of this effect That Pompey taking all the army Lucullus had the prouinces vnder his gouernment with al BITHYNIA which Glabrio kept should go make warre vpon the kings Tigranes and Mithridates keping in his handes notwithstanding all his iurisdiction and army by sea in as royall maner as he had it before In fine this was euen to make one man Monarke and absolute Prince of all the ROMANE Empire For by this second decree he had all these contries not named in his former commission added to amplifie his authority as PHRYGIA LYCAONIA GALATIA CAPPADOCIA CILICIA high COLCHIDA and ARMENIA with all the armies and forces with the which he had ouercomen those two mighty kinges Then the Senate stucke not so much at the iniurie that was offered vnto Lucullus depriuing him of the honor of his doinges to geue it to an other that should rather succeede him in honor of triumphe then in daunger of warres knowing that they did him too manifest iniury shewed them selues too vnthankefull but that which most griued them was to see Pompeys power established in a plaine tyranny Hereuppon therefore one of them perswaded and encoraged an other stowtly to withstand
the people of Themistocles which kept watche perceyuing them ranne vpon them and tooke them So Themistocles hauing escaped this daunger wondred greately at the fauour of the goddesse which had appeared vnto him In recompence whereof when he was in the cittie of MAGNESIA he built a temple vnto Dindymena and made his daughter Mnesiptolema prioresse of the same As he passed by the cittie of SARDIS for his recreation he went to visite the temples and offerings that had bene geuen there So he sawe an image of a mayden in copper in the temple of the mother of the goddes being two yeardes highe which they called the Hydrophora as much to saye as the water carier And it was a statue which him selfe had heretofore dedicated and caused to be made with the fines of those that had payed forfeytures for stealing or turning away the water course at ATHENS at suche time as he was master surueyer of the water workes and conduites there Wherfore whether Themistocles was sory to see this goodly image a prisoner in the handes of the Barbarous people or that he would showe vnto the ATHENIANS the greatnes of his credit and authoritie through all the Kings dominions he spake to the gouernour of LYDIA prayed him for his sake that he would send this image againe to ATHENS But this Barbarous gouernour was very angry with his request and tolde him he would aduertise the King thereof Then Themistocles beganne to be afeard was driuen to seeke to the gouernours women and concubines whom he got for money to intreate him and so made fayre weather againe with the gouernour But from thenceforth he tooke better garde of him selfe in all his doings greatly fearing the enuy of the Barbarous people For he progressed not vp and downe ASIA as Theopompus writeth but laye a long time in the cittie of MAGNESIA quietly enjoying the Kings gratious giftes bestowed on him where he was honoured reuerenced for one of the greatest persones of PERSIA whilest the King was els where occupied in the affayres of the highe prouinces of ASIA and had no leysure to thincke vpon those of GRECE But when newes was brought him that AEGYPT was rebelled by meanes of the fauour assistance of the ATHENIANS that the GRECIANS gallyes dyd scowre the seas euen vnto the I le of CYPRVS vnto the coastes of CILICIA that Cimon had all the sea in subiection that made him then to bende all his thoughts howe to resist the GRECIANS that their greatnes might not turne to his hurte Then commissions went out to leauy men to assemble captaines to dispatche postes vnto Themistocles at MAGNESIA with the Kings letters straightly charging him to haue an eye to the GRECIANS doings and moreouer that he should faithfully keepe his promise he had made to him But he to shewe that he neither maliced his citizens nor was moued with the desire of greatnes and authoritie he might haue growen vnto in those warres or els for that he thought the Kings expectation would proue to a greater matter then he could ende or wade through considering GRECE was full at that time of famous captaines and that Cimon amongest the rest had maruelous good fortune and that it should be a reproche to him to stayne the glorie of so many noble actes so many triumphes and so great victories as Cimon had done and wonne he tooke a wise resolution with him self to make suche an ende of his life as the same thereof deserued For he made a solemne sacrifice vnto the goddes and feasted at the same all his friends And after he had taken his leaue of them all he drancke bulles bloude as most men thincke or as other saye poyson which dispatcheth a man in foure and twenty howers and so ended his dayes in the cittie of MAGNESIA after he had liued threescore and fiue yeres and the most parte of them allwayes in office and great charge It is written that the king of PERSIA vnderstanding the cause and manner of his deathe dyd more esteeme him afterwards then he dyd before and that euer after he continued to vse his friends and familliars in very good sorte For he left children behinde him which he had of Archippa Lysanders daughter of the towne of ALOPECIA Archeptolis Polyeuctus and Cleophantus of whom Plato the philosopher maketh mētion saying that he was a good man at armes but otherwise that there was no goodnes in him His other sonnes that were elder as Neocles dyed being bitten with a horse and as for Diocles another sonne his grandfather Lysander dyd adopt him for his sonne He had many daughters of the which Mnesiptolema which he had by a seconde wife was maried vnto her halfe brother Archeptolis for they were not both of one venter An other called Italia was maried vnto one Panthides of CHIO Sybaris vnto Nicomedes an ATHENIAN And Nicomacha vnto Pharsicles Themistocles nephue vnto whom her brethern dyd mary her within the cittie of MAGNESIA after the death of their father This Pharsicles dyd bring vp ASIA which was the youngest of all his daughters Furthermore his sumptuous tumbe standeth yet in the market place of MAGNESIA But that Andocides writeth of his bones in a booke he made to his friendes is not to be credited which was that the ATHENIANS hauing founde the ashes of his bones dyd cast them vp into the ayer as a deuise to sturre vp the noble men against the people And Phylarchus in his historie much like vnto the fayned subtilties of a tragedie bringeth in I can not tell what Neocles and Demopolis for Themistocles sonnes to moue the readers with compassion Howbeit no man is so simple but will iudge it straight a very fayning and deuise Diodorus the cosmographer also in a booke he hath written of tumbes and monuments sayeth by coniecture rather then of any certen knowledge that alongest the hauen of PIROEA coming towardes the head of Alcimus there is a forelande in forme of an elbowe within the which when they haue doubled the pointe the sea is allwayes calme and there they finde a great and long foundation or base vpon the which there is as it were the forme of an altar and that is sayeth he Themistocles tumbe And he supposeth that Plato the comicall poet doth witnesse it in these verses Thy graue is set and plast comodiously vvhere passengers and marchants that come by maye visite thee and vvhere it maye regarde all such as seeke that porte to be their vvarde Somtimes also it maye reioyce to see the bloudy fights vpon the sea that be And furthermore those of MAGNESIA dyd institute certen honours vnto the issue of Themistocles which continew yet vnto this daye And in my time another Themistocles also of ATHENS dyd enjoy the same honours with whom I was familliarly conuersante in the house of Ammonius the philosopher The ende of Themistocles life THE LIFE OF Furius Camillus AMONGEST many great matters which
to wrath he neither regarded his persone nor the intent of his iorney but runninge farre before his men he cried with a lowde voyce to the tyran and chalenged the combat of him The tyran woulde not abide him nor come out to fight with him but fled and hid him selfe amongest his souldiers But for his souldiers the first that thought to set apon Pelopidas were slaine by him and many left dead in the fielde The residue standing stowtly to it and close together did passe his curaces through with their long pykes and thrust him into the brest The THESSALIANS seeinge him thus sore handled and distressed for pities sake came runninge from the toppe of those hilles to the place where Pelopidas was to helpe him But euen as they came he fell downe deade before them Then did they together with their horsemen so fiercely sette apon them that they made the whole battell of the enemies to flye and followinge them in chase a great waye from that place they couered the valley with deade bodies for they slue aboue three thowsande men It is no maruell if the THEBANS that were at Pelopidas death tooke it very heauilie and lamented bitterly callinge him their father their sauiour and maister as one that hadde taught them the worthiest thinges that might be learned of any But the THESSALIANS and other frendes and confederates also of the citie of THEBES besides their excedinge in setting out their common proclamations and edictes in prayse of his memorie and doing him all the honor that could be due to the most rare and excellent persone that euer was they did yet more shewe their loue and affection towardes him by their passinge great sorowe and mourning they made for him For it is sayed that they that were at the battell did not put of their armor nor vnbridle their horses nor woulde dresse their woundes hearinge tell of his death before they went first and sawe his body not yet colde with fightinge laying great heapes of the enemies spoyles about it as if he coulde haue tolde what they had done nor before they hadde clipped of their owne heares and the heare of their horses in token of sorowe And many of them also when they were come into their tentes and pauilions woulde neither haue fier eate nor drinke and all the campe was full of sorowe and mourninge as if they hadde not wonne a notable victorie but hadde beene ouerthrowen and made subiect by the tyranne Afterwardes when the newes of his deathe was spread through all the contrie the Magistrates of euerie cittie through which Pelopidas bodie was conueyed went to receaue it verie honorablie accompanied with all the younge menne Priestes and children caryinge tokens and crownes of triumphe and other ornamentes of golde And when his funerall daye came that his bodie shoulde be caried to be buried the oldest and noblest persones of the THESSALIANS went to the THEBANS and prayed them that they might haue the buryinge of him and one amonge them beinge the mowthe of the reste spake in this manner to the THEBANS My Lordes of THEBES our good beloued frendes and confederates we onely craue this good turne at your handes wherin you shal much honor vs in our great calamity somwhat also cōfort vs For we shall neuer more accōpany Pelopidas aliue nor requite his honorable deserts to vs that he shal euer know them But if it please you to let vs handle his body with our handes and that we may bury him and set forth his obsequies we will imagine then at the least that you doe thinke that which we our selues do certainly beleue that we THESSALIANS not you THEBANS haue receiued the greatest losse of both For you haue lost in deede a worthy Captaine and we haue not only receaued that like losse with you but the hope also of recoueringe of our liberty For how dare we againe sende to you for an other Captaine when we can not redeliuer you Pelopidas The THEBANS hearing their peticion graunted their desire and in mine opinion no funeralles could be done with greater pompe and honor then the THESSALIANS performed his being men that recken not dignity magnificence pompe to consist in ornaments of Iuory nor of purple As Philistus doth set it out who praiseth to the moone the buryinge of Dionysius the tyran of SYRACVSA which was the ende of his tyranny as a sumptuous conclusion of a stately tragedy And Alexander the great at the death of Ephestion did not only clippe his horse heares mules but plucked downe also the battellments of the wals of the city bicause it shoulde appeare that the very walles them selues did mourne for his death shewinge that deformitie in steede of their former beawtie But all such thinges are done only by force and compulsion apon the Lordes commaundementes which doe but raise vp enuy against their memorie for whom they are done and hatred of them that are against their willes constrained to do the thing they misliked are no iust proofes of honor nor good will but rather vaine showes of barbarous pompe and pride in him that disposeth his authority and plenty of goodes in trifling toyes not to be desired Where contrariwise it plainely appeareth that a priuate man dying in a foreine contry by reason should be accompted most happy of all other creatures that hauing neither his wife kinne nor his children by him he should be conueyed to his funerals accompanied with such multitudes of crowned people and number of cities enuying one an other who should most honor the funerals as being vnrequested least of all compelled For saith Esope the death of a happy man is not greuous but most blessed seeing it bringeth all good mens doinges to happines and leaueth fortune to her fickle chaunge and sportinge pleasure But in my iudgement a LACEDAEMONIAN spake better when he sayd to Diagoras an old man that had him selfe in old time gotten victory in the games Olympicall had sene besides his own childrē his childrens childrē both sonnes daughters crowned with victories also in the self same games O Diagoras die presently els thou shalt neuer come to heauen But these victories of the Olympicall Pythian games whosoeuer should put thē al together are not to be cōpared with one of the battels only that Pelopidas hath foughten wonne hauing spent the most parte of his time in great calling and dignity lastly ended the same beinge gouernor of BOEOTIA the third time which was the highest office of state in all his contry when he had distroied the tyrans that kept the THEBANS in bondage and was also slaine himselfe valiantly fighting for the recouery of the THESSALIANS liberty But as Pelopidas death was greuous to the THEBANS frends confederats so fell it out very profitable for them For the THEBANS hearinge of Pelopidas death did not delay reuenge but sent an army forthwith of seuen thowsande footemen and seuen
and downe in other contries and remembred the great misfortunes he had passed and the sundrie daungers he fell so often into being pursued still by sea and by land it grieued him to the harte and made him so vnquiet that he coulde not sleepe in the night or if he slept had fearefull dreames that troubled him and still he thought he heard a voyce bussing in his eares A Lyons very denne is dreadfull to behold Though he him selfe be gone abroade and be not therein hold But fearing most of all that he should no more sleepe and take his rest he gaue him selfe to make vnreasonable banckets and to drinke more then his yeres could beare seeking to winne sleepe by this meanes to auoyde care the better But at the length there came one from the sea that gaue him certaine intelligence of all that was an increase of a new feare vnto him And thus he being now extreamely troubled partely for feare of the thing to come partely also for the ouer heauie burden of his present ill there neded but litle more aggrauation to fall into the disease whereof he dyed which was a plewrisie as Posidonius the Philosopher wryteth who sayeth plainly that he went into his chamber when he was sicke and spake vnto him about matters of his Ambassade for the which he came to ROME Yet an other historiographer Caius Piso wryteth that Marius walking one day after supper with his frendes fell in talke of his fortune from the beginning of his life telling them at large how often fortune had turned with and against him concluding that it is no wise mans parte to trust her any more So when he had done he tooke his leaue of them and layed him downe vpon his bed where he lay sicke seuen dayes together and on the seuenth day dyed Some wryte that his ambition appeared plainly by a straunge rauing that tooke him in his head during his sickenes For he thought that he made warres with Mithridates and shewed in his bed all his gestures and mouings of his bodie as if he had bene in a battell crying the selfe same cryes out alowde which he was wont to crie when he was in the extreamest fight The desire he had to haue taken this charge in hande against Mithridates was so deepely setled in his minde through extreame ambition and iealouzy that possest him that being then three score and ten yeare old after he had bene the first man that euer was chosen seuen times Consull in ROME and also after that he had gotten a world of goodes and richesse together that might haue suffised many kinges yet for all this he dyed for sorrowe lamenting his harde fortune as if he had dyed before his time and before that he had done and ended that which he had desired But this was cleane contrarie vnto that the wise Plato did when he drewe neere to his death For he gaue God thankes for his fatall end and good fortune First for that he had made him a reasonable man and no brute beast secondly a Greke and no barbarous man and furthermore for that he was borne in Socrates time It is reported also that one Antipater of THARSIS calling to mind a litle before his death the good fortune he had in his life time did not forgette amonge other thinges to tell of the happie nauigation he made comming from his contrie vnto ANTHES which did witnesse that he put vpon the fyle of his good accompts for a singular great grace all fauor fortune had shewed him and that he kept it in perpetuall memorie being the onely and most assured treasure a man can haue to kepe those giftes that nature or fortune doe bestowe vpon him But contrariwise vnthankefull fooles vnto God and nature both doe forget with time the memory of their former benefittes and laying vp nothing nor keping it in perpetuall memory are alwayes voyde of goods and full of hope gaping still for things to come leauing in the meane time the things present though reason perswades them the contrary For fortune may easily let theÌ„ of the thing to come but she can not take that from theÌ„ which is already past and yet they vtterly forget the certaine benefit of fortune as a thing nothing belonging vnto theÌ„ dreame alwayes of that which is vncertaine And sure it chaunceth to them by great reason For hauing gathered outward goodes together and locking them vp before they haue built and layd a sure grounded foundacion of reason through good learning they can not afterwardes fill nor quenche their vnsatiable greedie couetous minde Thus ended Marius his life the seuenteenth day of his seuenth Consulshippe whereof all the citie of ROME was not a litle glad and tooke harte againe vnto them supposing they had then bene deliuered from a bloodie cruell tyranny But within few dayes after they knew it to their cost that they had chaunged an olde master taken out of the worlde for a younger that came but newly to them such extreame vnnaturall cruelties murders did Marius the younger commit after the death of his father Marius murdering in manner all the chiefest noble men of ROME At the first they tooke him for a valliant and hardy young man whereuppon they named him the sonne of Mars but shortly after his deedes did shew the contrary and then they called him the sonne of Venus In the end he was shut in and besieged by Sylla in the city of PERVSIA where he did what he could possible to saue his life but all was in vaine lastly seeing no way to éscape the city being taken he slewe him selfe with his owne handes The end of Caius Marius life THE LIFE OF Lysander IN the treasorie of the ACANTHIANS which is in the temple of Apollo at DELPHES there is this inscription Brasidas and the ACANTHIANS with the spoile of the ATHENIANS That inscription maketh many men thinke that the image of stone that standeth within the chamber by the dore therof is the image of Brasidas howbeit in truth it is the liuelie image of Lysander him selfe made with a great bush of heare a thicke long beard after the old auncient facion And where some say that the ARGIVES after they were ouercome and had left a great battell did all of them shaue them selues in token and signe of common sorrow and that the LACEDAEMONIANS on thother side to shewe the ioy of their victory did all let their heares growe that is not true No more then this is true which other do reporte of the BACCHIADES who being fled from CORINTHE vnto LACEDAEMON the LACEDAEMONIANS founde them so ill fauoredly disguised and deformed bicause their beâ—â—â— were all shauen that thereupon they had a desire to let their heare and beards grow For that was one of the ordinaunces of Lycurgus who sayd that the long bushe of heare maketh them that are naturally fayer the pleasaunter to looke vppon
followed their enemies so fiercely till they recouered straight narrow waies of great strength for them These three huÌ„dred were in maner all those that were suspected in THEBES to fauor the LACEDAEMONIANS secretly wherfore for the desire they had to take away this opinioÌ„ froÌ„ their citizens they hazarded theÌ„selues to no purpose were cast away in this chase King Pausanias heard newes of this ouerthrow going froÌ„ PLATEES vnto THESPIES went on further marching still in battel ray towards ALIARTE where Thrasybulus also arriued at the selfe same time bringing the aide of the ATHENIANS froÌ„ THEBES And when Pausanias was purposed to send to aske liceÌ„ce of the enemies to take away the bodies of their men which they had slaine to thintent to bury them the olde SPARTANS that were in his army misliking it much at the first were angry in them selues But afterwardes they went vnto the king him selfe to tell him that he dishonored SPARTA to offer to take vp Lysanders bodie by his enemies leaue 〈…〉 and that he should valliantly recouer him by force of armes and honorably burie him after that he had ouercome their enemies or else if it were their fortune to be ouerthroweÌ„ that yâ—â— it should be more honorable for them to iye dead in the field by their Captaine then to aske leaue to take vp his body But notwithstanding all these wordes of the old men king Pausanias seeing that it was a hard matter to ouercome the THEBANS in battell now that they had gotten the victory and furthermore that the body of Lysander lay hard by the walls of ALIARTE and that he could not come to take it away without great daunger although they should win the battell he sent a herauld to the enemies And hauing made truce for certaine dayes he led his army away and tooke vp Lysanders body with him and buried him after they were out of the confynes of BOEOTIA within the territory of the PANOPEIANS where vntill this day his tombe remaineth apon the high way goinge from DELPHES vnto the city of CHAERONIA Thus Pausanias campe being lodged there it is sayd there was a PHOCIAN who reporting the battell vnto one that was not there sayd that the enemies came to geue a charge vpon them as Lysander had passed the Oplites Thother wondring at that there was a SPARTAN a very frend of Lysanders by hauing heard all their talke asked him what that was which he called Oplites for that he had not heard that word named before What aunswered the PHOCIAN to him againe Euen there it was where the enemies did ouerthrow the first of our men which were slaine in the fieldes for the riuer that runneth by the walles of the city is called Oplites The SPARTAN hearing that burst out of weping for sorrow saying then I see it is impossible for a man to auoyde his destinie For Lysander aforetime had an oracle that tolde him thus Lysander take good heede come not I thee aduise Neere Oplites that riuers banckes in any kinde of vvise Nor neere the Dragon he vvhich is the earth her sonne VVho at the length vvill thee assault and on thy backe vvill runne Howebeit some take it that this riuer of Oplites is not that which passeth by the walles of ALIARTE but it is the riuer that runneth neere vnto the city of CORONEA and falleth into the riuer of Phliarus hard by the city and they say that in olde time it was called Hoplia but now they call it Isomantus He that slue Lysander was an ALIARTIAN called Neochorus who caried a Dragon painted apon his target and this was that which the oracle of likelyhoode did signifie They say also that in the time of the warres of PELOPONNESVS the THEBANS had an oracle from the teÌ„ple of Apollo Ismenias which oracle did prophecy the battell which they wanne by the castell of DELIVM and the battell of ALIARTE also which was thirty yeares after that The effect of that oracle was this VVhen thou thy nets shalt spread the vvolues for to intrappe Bevvare thou come not neere vnto a litle hill by happe Of Orchalide Nor neere to any his confynes For there the crafty foxes keepe their dennes and priuy mines He calleth the territory that is about DELIVM the vttermost confynes bicause BOEOTA doth confine there with the contry of ATTICA and the hill Orchalide which is now called Alopecon to say the foxe denne which lieth on that side of the citie of ALIARTE that looketh towardes mounte Helicon Lysander being slaine the SPARTANS tooke his death so ill that they would haue condemned king Pausanias of treason by law who durst not abide the tryall but fled vnto the citie of TEGEA where he ended the rest of his life within the sanctuarie of the temple of Minerua When Lysander was dead his pouertie appeared to the world which made his vertue farre more famous than when he liued For then they sawe that for all the gold siluer which had passed through his hands for all his great authority countenaunce that he had caried and for all that so many cities townes did come to honor him briefly for al that he had so great puissant a kingdom in maner in his hands yet he did neuer enrich nor increase his house with so much as one farthing So writeth Theopompus whom we should rather beleue when he praiseth then when he discommendeth for commonly he taketh more delite to dispraise then to praise any It fortuned not longe after as Ephorus writeth that the LACEDAEMONIANS and their confederats fel at variance together wherupon Lysanders letters were to be seene that were in his house Kinge Agesilaus goinge thither to peruse them amongest other writinges founde the oration penned by Cleon Halicarnasseus which Lysander had prepared to perswade the SPARTANS to chaunge their gouernment and to declare vnto them that they shoulde reuoke the prerogatiue which the Eurytiontides and the Agiades had that the kinges of SPARTA could not be chosen but out of those two families and to leue the prerogatiue at liberty that the chiefest magistrats might be laufully chosen kings of SPARTA Agesilaus stood indiffereÌ„t to haue shewed this oratioÌ„ openly to the people that the SPARTANS might see what manner a citizen Lysander had bene in his harte But Lacratidas a graue wise man president at that time of the counsel of the Ephori would not suffer him saying that he shoulde not digge Lysander out of his graue againe but rather bury his oration with him that was so passingly well and eloquently penned to perswade Yet notwithstandinge they did him great honor after his death and amongest others condemned two citizens in a great summe of money that were made sure to two of his daughters while he liued and refused to marye them which he was dead seeing their father dyed so poore bicause they sought to matche in his house supposing he had
very well brought vp in the LACONIAN discipline and better then any man of his yeares Cleomenes did loue him dearely and commaunded him that when he should see he were dead and all the rest also that then he should kill him selfe last of all Now they all being layed on the ground he searched them one after another with the poynt of his sword to see if there were any of them yet left aliue and when he had pricked Cleomenes on the heele amongest others and saw that he did yet knit his browes he kissed him sate downe by him Then perceiuing that he had yelded vp the ghost imbracing him when he was dead he also slue him selfe and fell vpon him Thus Cleomenes hauing raigned king of SPARTA sixteene yeares being the same manner of man we haue described him to be he ended his dayes in this sort as ye heare Now his death being presently bruted through the citie Cratesiclea his mother though otherwise she had a noble minde did notwithstanding a litle forget her greatnes through thextreame sorow she felt for the death of her sonne and so imbracing Cleomenes sonnes she fell to bitter lamentacion But the eldest of his sonnes no man mistrusting any such matter found meanes to get out of her handes running vp to the toppe of the house cast him selfe headlong downe to the ground that his head was all broken and splitted yet died not but was taken vp crying and angry with them that they would not suffer him to dye This newes being brought to king Ptolomy he commaunded they should first flea Cleomenes and then hange vp his body and also that they should put his children his mother and all her women wayting on her to death among the which was Panteas wife one of the fayrest and curteousest women in her tyme They had not beene longe maried before when these mischieues lighted apon them at what tyme their loue was then in greatest force Her parents then would not let her depart and imbarke with her husband but had locked her vp and kept her at home by force Howbeit shortly after she found the meanes to get her a horse some money and stale away in the night and gallopped towards the hauen of Taenarus where finding a shippe ready bound for AEGYPT she imbarked and went to seeke her husband with whome she gladly and louingly ledde her life forsaking her owne contry to liue in a straunge Realme Now when the Sergeaunts came to take Cratesiclea to put her to death Panteas wife led her by the arme carying vp her traine and did comfort her although Cratesiclea otherwise was not affraid to dye but onely asked this fauor that she might dye before her litle children This notwithstanding when they came to the place of execution the hangman first slue her children before her eyes and then her selfe afterwards who in such great griefe and sorowe sayd no more but thus Alas my poore children what is become of you And Panteas wife also being a mighty tall woman girding her clothes to her tooke vp the slayne bodies one after another and wrapped them vp in such things as she could get speaking neuer a word nor shewing any signe or token of griefe and in fine hauing prepared her self to dye and plucked of her attyre her selfe without suffering any other to come neare her or to see her but the hangman that was appoynted to stryke of her head In this sorte she dyed as constantly as the stowtest man liuing could haue done and had so couered her body that no man needed after her death to touche her so carefull was she to her ende to keepe her honestie which she had alwayes kept in her life and in her death was mindefull of her honor wherewith she decked her body in her life tyme Thus these LACEDAEMON Ladies playing their partes in this pitifull tragedie contending at the time of death euen with the corage of the slayne SPARTANS their contrymen which of them should dye most constantly left a manifest proofe and testimonie that fortune hath no power ouer fortitude and corage Shortly after those that were appoynted to keepe the body of king Cleomenes that hong vpon the crosse they spied a great Serpent wreathed about his head that couered all his face insomuch as no rauening fowle durst come neare him to eate of it whereuppon the king fell into a supersticious feare being affrayd that he had offended the goddes Hereuppon the Ladyes in his Court began to make many sacrifices of purification for the cleering of this sinne perswading them selues that they had put a man to death beloued of the gods and that he had something more in him then a man The ALEXANDRINIANS thereuppon went to the place of execution and made their prayers vnto Cleomenes as vnto a demy god calling him the sonne of the goddes Vntill that the learned men brought them from that error declaring vnto them that like as of oxen being dead and rotten there breede bees and of horse also come waspes of asses likewise bitels euen so mens bodies when the marie melteth and gathereth together doe bringe forth Serpents The which comming to the knowledge of the auncients in olde tyme of all other beastes they did consecrate the Dragon to Kinges and Princes as proper vnto man. The end of the life of Agis and Cleomenes TIBERIVS AND CAIVS GRACCHI NOW that we haue declared vnto you the historie of the liues of these two GRAECIANS Agis and Cleomenes aforesayd we must also write the historie of two ROMANES the which is no lesse lamentable for the troubles and calamities that chaunced vnto Tiberius and Caius both of them the sonnes of Tiberius Gracchus He hauing bene twise Consul and once Censor and hauing had the honor of two triumphs had notwithstanding more honor and fame onely for his valiantnes for the which he was thought worthy to marye with Cornelia the daughter of Scipio who ouercame Hanniball after the death of his father though while he liued he was neuer his friend but rather his enemy It is reported that Tiberius on a tyme found two snakes in his bed and that the Soothsayers and wysards hauing considered the signification thereof did forbid him to kill them both and also to let them both escape but one onely assuring him that if he killed the male he should not liue long after and if he killed the female that then his wife Cornelia shoulde dye Tiberius then louing his wife dearely thinking it meeter for him also that he being the elder of both and she yet a younge woman should dye before her he slue the male and let the female escape howbeit he dyed soone after leauing twelue children aliue all of them begotten of Cornelia Cornelia after the death of her husband taking vpon her the rule of her house and children led such a chast life was so good to her children and of so noble a minde that euery man
ouertooke him apon the wodden bridge where two of his frends that were with him stayed to defende him against his followers and bad him in the meane time make shift for him selfe whilest they fought with them apon the bridge and so they did and kept them that not a man got the bridge of them vntill they were both slaine Nowe there was none that fled with Caius but one of his men called Philocrates notwithstanding euerie man did still encorage and counsell him as they do men to winne a game but no man would helpe him nor offer him any horse though he often required it bicause he sawe his enemies so neere vnto him This notwithstanding by their defence that were slaine apon the bridge he got ground on them so that he had leasure to crepe into a litle groue of wodde which was consecrated to the furics There his seruaunt Philocrates slue him and then slue him selfe also and fell dead vpon him Other write notwithstanding that both the maister seruaunt were ouertaken and taken aliue and that his seruaunt did so straight imbrace his maister that none of the enemies could strike him for all the blowes they gaue before he was slaine him selfe So one of the murderers strake of Caius Gracchus head to carie to the Consul Howbeit one of Opimius frendes called Septimuleius tooke the head from the other by the way bicause proclamacion was made before they fought by trompet that whosoeuer brought the heades of Fuluius and Caius they should be payed the weight of them in gold Wherefore this Septimuleius caried Caius head vpon the toppe of his speare vnto Opimius whereuppon the skales being brought to wey it it was found that it weyed seuenteene pounde weight and two third partes of a pound bicause Septimuleius besides the horrible murder he had committed had also holpen it with this villanie that he had taken out his braine and in liew thereof had filled his scull with lead Now the other also that brought Fuluius head bicause they were poore men they had nothing The bodies of these two men Caius Gracchus and Fuluius and of other their followers which were to the number of three thowsand that were slaine were all throwen into the riuer their goods confiscate and their widowes forbidden to mourne for their death Furthermore they tooke from Licinia Caius wife her ioynter but yet they delt more cruelly and beastly with the young boy Fuluius sonne who had neither lift vp his hand against them nor was in the fight among them but only came to thē to make peace before they fought whom they kept as prisoner and after the battell ended they put him to death But yet that which most of all other grieued the people was the temple of concorde the which Opimius caused to be built for it appeared that he boasted and in maner triumphed that he had slaine so many citizens to ROME And therefore there were that in the night wrote vnder the inscription of the temple these verses A furious fact and full of beastly shame This temple built that beareth concordes name This Opimius was the first man at ROME that being Consul vsurped the absolute power of the Dictator and that without law or iustice condemned three thowsand citizens of ROME besides Fuluius Flaccus who had also bene Consul and had receiued the honor of triumphe and Caius Gracchus a young man in like case who in vertue reputacion excelled all the men of his yeares This notwithstanding coulde not keepe Opimius from theuerie and extorcion For when he was sent Ambassador vnto Iugurthe king of NVMIDIA he was bribed with money therupon being accused he was most shamefully conuicted and condemned Wherefore he ended his dayes with this reproch and infamy hated and mocked of all the people bicause at the time of the ouerthrow he delt beastly with them that fought for his quarrell But shortly after it appeared to the world how much they lamented the losse of the two brethren of the Gracchi For they made images and statues of them and caused them to be set vp in an open and honorable place consecrating the places where they had bene slaine and many of them also came and offred to them of their first frutes and flowers according to the time of the yere went thither to make their prayers on their knees as vnto the temples of the gods Their mother Cornelia as writers report did beare this calamity with a noble hart and as for the chappells which they built consecrated vnto them in the place where they were slaine she said no more but that they had such graues as they had deserued Afterwardes she dwelt continually by the mount of Misene and neuer chaunged her manner of life She had many frends and bicause she was a noble Ladie and loued euer to welcome straungers she kept a very good house and therefore had alwayes great repaire vnto her of GRAECIANS learned men besides there was no king nor Prince but both receiued giftes from her and sent her againe They that frequented her cōpany delighted maruelously to heare her report the dedes and maner of her fathers life Scipio AFRICAN but yet they wondred more to heare her tell the actes and death of her two sonnes Tiberius and Caius Gracchi without sheading teare or making any shew of lamentacion or griefe no more then if she had told an history vnto them that had requested her Insomuch some writers report that age or her great misfortunes had ouercomen and taken her reason and sence from her to feele any sorowe But in deede they were senselesse to say so not vnderstandinge howe that to be noblie borne and vertuouslie brought vp doth make men temperatly to disgest sorow and that fortune oftentimes ouercomes vertue which regardeth honestie in all respectes but yet with any aduersity she can not take away the temperaunce from them whereby they paciently beare it THE COMPARISON OF Tiberius and Caius Gracchi with Agis and Cleomenes NOw that we be come to the end of this history we are to compare the liues of these two men the one with the other First as touching the two Gracchi their enemies that most hated them and spake the worst they could of them could not deny but that they were the best geuen to vertue and as well taught and brought vp as any ROMANES that were in their time But yet it appeareth that nature had the vpper hand of them in Agis and Cleomenes For they hauing bene very ill brought vp both for learning and good manners for lacke whereof the oldest men were almost spoyled yet did they notwithstandinge make them selues the first maisters and example of sobrietie temperaunce and simplicitie of life Furthermore the two first hauing liued in that time when ROME florished most in honor and vertuous desires they were more then ashamed to forsake the vertues inherited from their auncesters These two last
when they will finely conuey the hardnes of the speeche to say he is dead When night was comen and that he was going homeward as he came through the market place the people did wayte vpon him no more with silence as before but with great cryes of his praise and clapping of handes in euery place he went and called him Sauior and second fownder of ROME Besides all this at euery mans dore there were lynckes and torches lighted that it was as light in the streetes as at noone dayes The very women also did put lights out of the toppes of their houses to doe him honor and also to see him so nobly brought home with such a long trayne of the chiefest men of the citie of the which many of them had ended great warres for the which they had triumphed and had obteyned many famous conquests to the Empire of ROME both by sea and land confessing betwene them selues one to another that the ROMANES were greatly bound to many Captaines and generalls of armies in their time for the wonderfull riches spoyles and increase of their power which they had wonne howbeit that they were to thanke Cicero onely for their health and preseruation hauing saued them from so great and extreme a daunger Not for that they thought it so wonderfull an acte to haue striken dead the enterprise of the conspirators and also to haue punished the offenders by death but bicause the conspiracie of Catilin being so great and daungerous an insurrection as euer was any he had quenched it and pluck it vp by the rootes with so small hurt and without vprore trouble or actuall sedition For the most part of them that were gathered together about Catiline when they heard that Lentulus and all the rest were put to death they presently forsooke him and Catiline him selfe also fighting a battell with them he had about him against Antonius the other Consul with Cicero he was slayne in the fielde and all his armie defeated This notwithstanding there were many that spake ill of Cicero for this facte and ment to make him repent it hauing for their heades Caesar who was already chosen Praetor for the yeare to come Metellus and Bestia who should also be chosen Tribunes They so soone as they were chosen Tribunes would not once suffer Cicero to speake to the people notwithstanding that he was yet in his office of Consul for certaine dayes And furthermore to let him that he should not speake vnto the people they did set their benches vpon the pulpit for orations which they call at ROME Rostra and would neuer suffer him to set foote in it but onely to resigne his office and that done to come downe againe immediatly He graunted thereunto and went vp to the pulpit vpon that condition So silence being made him he made an othe not like vnto other Consuls othes when they resigne their office in like manner but straunge and neuer heard of before swearing that he had saued the citie of ROME and preserued all his contry and the Empire of ROME from vtter ruine and destruction All the people that were present confirmed it and sware the like othe Wherewithall Caesar and the other Tribunes his enemies were so offended with him that they deuised to breede him some new sturre trouble amongest others they made a decree that Pompey should be sent for with his army to bridle the tyranny of Cicero Cato who at that time was also Tribune did him great pleasure in the furtherance of the common wealth opposing him selfe against all their practises with the like authoritie and power that they had being a Tribune and brother with them and of better estimation then they So that he did not onely easily breake all their deuises but also in a goodly oration he made in a full assembly of the people he so highly praised and extolled Ciceroes Consulship vnto them and the thinges he did in his office that they gaue him the greatest honors that euer were decreed or graunted vnto any man liuing For by decree of the people he was called father of the contry as Cato him selfe had called him in his oration the which name was neuer giuen to any man but onely vnto him also he bare greater swaye in ROME at the time then any man beside him This notwithstanding he made him selfe enuyed and misliked of many men not for any ill acte he did or ment to doe but onely bicause he did too much boast of him selfe For he neuer was in any assembly of people Senate or iudgement but euery mans head was full still to heare the sound of Catulus and Lentulus brought in for sporte and filling the bookes and workes he compiled besides full of his owne prayses the which made his sweete and pleasant stile tedious and troublesom to those that heard them as though this misfortune euer followed him to take away his excellent grace But nowe though he had this worme of ambition and extreme couetous desire of honor in his head yet did he not malice or enuy any others glory but would very franckly praise excellent men as well those that had bene before him as those that were in his time And this appeareth plainly in his writings They haue written also certaine notable wordes he spake of some auncient men in olde time as of Aristotle that he was like a golden flowing riuer and of Plato that if Iupiter him selfe would speake he would speake like him and of Theophrastus he was wont to call him his delight of Demosthenes orations when one asked him on a time which of them he liked best the longest saide he There be diuers writers also who to shewe that they were great followers of Demosthenes doe followe Ciceroes saying in a certaine epistle he wrote vnto one of his friends wherein he said that Demosthenes slept in some of his orations but yet they forget to tel how highly he praised him in that place and that he calleth the orations which he wrote against Antonius in the which he tooke great paines and studied more then all the rest PHILIPPIANS to followe those which Demosthenes wrote against Philip king of MACEDON Furthermore there was not a famous man in all his tyme either in eloquence or in learning whose fame he hath not commended in writing or otherwise in honorable speech of him For he obteyned of Caesar when he had the Empire of ROME in his handes that Cratippus the PERIPATETICKE Philosopher was made Citizen of ROME Further he procured that by decree of the court of the Areopagites he was intreated to remaine at ATHENS to teach and instruct the youth there for that he was a great honor ornament vnto their city There are extant also of Ciceroes epistles vnto Herodes others vnto his sonne willing him to follow Crattipus in his studie and knowledge He wrote an other letter also vnto Gorgias the Rethoritian and
to it through Scipioes liberalitie or else bicause he thought the time was come that it was the surest way to take part with the ROMANES which were the conquerors It is that Masinissa that afterwards through the goodnes of the ROMANES became the great and mighty king of NVMIDIA and in deede he was diuers wayes a profitable frende vnto the ROMANES Furthermore the selfe same yeare which was the fourteenth of the seconde warre with the AFRICANS SPAYNE was the first nation and people of the vpland men dwelling in the hart of the realme that was conquered vnder the happie conduct of the Viceconful Scipio howbeit it was the last realme that was made a prouince long time after by Augustus Caesar. Now Scipio not contenting him self with the great victories he had obteined in verie short time in SPAYNE for he had an imagination good hope also to cōquer AFRICKE he thought that his best way to make all the meanes he could possible to get Syphax king of the MASAESYLIANS a frend to the ROMANES Wherefore after he had felt the kinges minde perceiuing that he was well inclined to make league with the ROMANES he presently set all his other affaires aside and sailed into AFRIKE with two gallies onely at fiue owers to a bancke At the selfe same time also came Hasdrubal the sonne of Gisgo thither from GADES so that both these valliant lusty Captaines came of purpose to the king enuying one the other to craue the kinges good will vnto their contrie and common wealth Syphax welcomed them both into his Court and did vse them verie honorably and curteouslie and appointed that they should both eate at one table and lye in one selfe chamber bicause the one shoulde not thinke his enterteinment better then the other It is reported that Hasdrubal wondering at the magnanimity and great wisedom of Scipio that was present he considered with him selfe the great daunger the citie of CARTHAGE and all AFRIKE besides was in through that mans meanes for he saw him yet a young man quicke and excellent in all manner of great vertues and that had continuallie obtained such victories and therefore considering the lustie youth of this gentleman he imagined that it was vnpossible to perswade him to imbrace peace rather then warre Besides he was affraied also that Syphax moued by the personage and authoritie of him that was present would take parte with the ROMANES and in deede his minde gaue him rightlie for so it happened For though Syphax at the first shewed him selfe in different to them both and had moued talke to end the warre betwext the ROMANES and the CARTHAGINIANS yet afterwards when Scipio tolde him he coulde conclude no peace without consent of the Senate of ROME he reiected Hasdrubal and inclining to Scipioes request he made league with the people of ROME So Scipio being returned againe into SPAYNE him self partely by force and partely also by L. Martius meanes conquered ILITVRGIVM CASTVLO and certaine other places that refused to yeeld them selues vnto the ROMANES And to the end nothing should be lacking for all kinde of sports and pleasures after he had so fortunatelie obtained so many famous victories when he was come to newe CARTHAGE he caused the fensers to prepare them selues to fight with great pompe where there were many great estates not only to see that pastime but also they them selues to handle the weapons in person But amongest other SPANYARDES of noble houses there were two called Corbis Orsua which were at strife together for the kingdom but that day they ended their quarrell the one being slaine by the others hand The fight was verie lamentable grieuous to the beholders but the death of him that was slaine troubled them much more for they were both cousin germaines After all this Scipio hauing his mind still occupied in matters of greater waight and importance then those which he had already brought to passe he fell sicke His sickenes being caried through all SPAYNE and as it happeneth often his disease being reported to be muche greater and daungerous then it was in deede thereuppon not only the nations of SPAYNE beganne to rise in hope of chaunge but the armie selfe also of the ROMANES the which he had left at SVCRO First of all martiall discipline was corrupted through the absence of the Generall Afterwardes also the report of his sickenes and daunger of his life being spred abroad in the armie raised suche a rebellion among them that some of them litle regarding the authoritie and commaundement of the head Captaines of the bands they draue them away and chose two meane souldiers for their Captaines who presumptuouslie tooke vpon them the name geuen vnto them by men of no authority and yet with more arrogancie made the bundells of roddes and axes to be caried before them Such follie doth furie and vaine ambicion oftentimes worke in mens minds On the other side the SPANYARDS slept not and specially Mandonius and Indibilis who aspiring to the kingdom of SPAYNE came to Scipio when he was conqueror after he had taken newe CARTHAGE But afterwards being offended to see the power of the ROMANES increase daily they sought occasion to make some alteracion So after they had heard not onely of Scipioes sicknes but also how he was at deathes dore and did beleue it they presentlie leauied an armie and went and made warre with the SVBSSITANS which were confederates of the ROMANES But Scipio being recouered againe of his sickenes like as vpon the false rumor of his death euery man beganne to rise euen so after the truth was knowen in deede of his recouerie they were all put downe againe and not a man of them durst proceede any further in their rebellion Scipio being more skilfull in martiall discipline then acquainted with sedition and rebellion although he was maruelously offended with the souldiers that had committed this follie yet in the end least following his anger men should haue thought him to haue exceeded all boundes of reason in punishing of them he referred all vnto the counsell The most parte of them gaue aduise that the authors of the rebellion shoulde be punished and all the rest pardoned for by this meanes sayd they the punishment shall light vpon a few that haue deserued it and all the rest shall take example by them Scipio followed that aduise and presently sent for all the seditious bands to come to new CARTHAGE to receiue their pay The souldiers obeyed his commaundement some of them making their fault lesse then it was as men doe often flatter them selues others also trusting to the Captaines clemencie as knewing him not to be extreame in punishment For Scipio was wont to say that he had rather saue the life of one ROMANE citizen then to kill a thowsand enemies The rumor ranne also that Scipio had an other armie readie the which he looked for to ioyne with them and then
hauing soone recouered his helth he discharged his Phisitions vvith such vvords as these Feast me no more vvith your Hippocrates and Galene sith they can no skill to helpe me to recouer my helth but vvell fare Quintus Curtius that could so good skill to helpe me to recouer my helth Novv if the reading and knovvledge of histories be delightfull and profitable to all other kind of folke I say it is much more for great Princes and Kings bicause they haue to do vvith charges of greatest vveight and difficultie to be best stored vvith giftes and knovvledge for the discharge of their dueties seeing the ground of stories is to treate of all maner of high matters of state as vvarres battells cities contries treaties of peace and alliances and therefore it seemeth more fit for them than for any other kinde of degrees of men bicause they being bred and brought vp tenderly and at their ease by reason of the great regard and care that is had of their persons as meete is for so great states to haue they take not so great paines in their youth for the learning of things as behoueth those to take vvhich vvill learne the noble auncient languages and the painfull doctrine comprehended in Philosophie Againe vvhen they come to mans state their charge calleth them to deale in great affaires so as there remaineth no exercise of vvit more conuenient for thē than the reading of histories in their ovvne tunge vvhich vvithout paine is able to teache them euen vvith great pleasure and ease vvhatsoeuer the painfull vvorkes of the Philosophers concerning the gouernment of common vveales can shevve them to make them skilful in the vvell ruling and gouerning of the people and contries that God hath put vnder their subiection But the vvorst is that they euer or for the most part haue such maner of persons about them as seeke nothing els but to please them by all the vvayes they can and there are very few that dare tell them the truth freely in all things vvhere as on the contrary part an history flattereth with them not but layeth open before their eyes the faults and vices of such as vvere like them in greatnesse of degree And therefore Demetrius Phalereus a man renovvmed as vvell for his skill in the good gouernment of a common vveale as for his excellent knovvledge othervvise counselled Ptolomy first king of AEgypt after the death of Alexander the great that he should often and diligently reade the bookes that treated of the gouernment of kingdomes bicause sayd he thou shalt finde many things there vvhich thy seruaunts and familiar friendes dare not tell thee Moreouer this is another thinge that suche great personages can not easily trauell out of the bounds of their dominions to goe vievv straunge contries as priuate persons doe bicause the ielousie of their estate and the regarde of their dignitie requires that they should neuer be in place vvhere another man might cōmaund them And often times for vvant of hauing seene the contries and knovven the people and Princes that are their neighbours they haue aduentured vppon attempts vvithout good ground to anoyde the vvhich the instruction they may haue by the reading of histories is one of the easiest and fittest remedies that can be found And though there vvere none other cause then onely this last surely it ought to induce Princes to the often and diligent reading of histories vvherein are vvritten the heroicall deedes of vvise and valiant men specially of kings that haue bene before them the considering vvhereof may cause them to be desirous to become like them specially vvhich vvere of stately and noble courage bicause the seedes of Princely vertues that are bred vvith them selues doe then quicken them vp vvith an emulacion tovvards those that haue bene or are equall in degree vvith them asvvell in respect of noblenes of bloud as of greatnes of state so as they be loth to giue place to any person and much lesse can find in their harts to be outgone in glory of vertuous doinges VVhereof innumerable examples might be alleaged if the thing vvere not so vvelknovven of it self that it vvere much more against reason to doubt of it than needefull to proue it Therefore a man may truely conclude that an historie is the scholemistresse of Princes at vvhose hand they may vvithout payne in vvay of pastyme vvith singular pleasure learne the most part of the things that belonge to their office Novv according to the diuersitie of the matter that it treateth of or the order and manner of vvriting that it vseth it hath sondry names giuen vnto it But yet among the rest there are tvvo chiefe kinds The one vvhich setteth dovvne mens doings and aduentures at length is called by the common name of an historie the other vvhich declareth their natures sayings and maners is properly named their liues And although the ground of them both doe cloze very neare in one yet doth the one respect more the things and the other the persons the one is more common and the other more priuate the one concerneth more the things that are vvithout the man and the other the things that proceede from vvithin the one the euents the other the consultacions betvvene the vvhich there is oftentymes great oddes according to this aunsvver of the Persian Siramnes to such as maruelled hovv it came to passe that his deuises being so politike had so vnhappy sucesse It is quod he bicause my deuises are vvholly from my ovvn inuention but the effects of them are in the disposition of fortune and the king And surely amonge all those that euer haue taken vppon them to vvrite the liues of famous men the chiefe prerogatiue by the iudgement of such as are clearest sighted is iustly giuen to the Greeke Philosopher Plutarke borne in the citie of Chaeronea in the contry of Baeotia a noble man perfect in all rare knovvledge as his vvorkes may vvell put men out of doubt if they lyst to read them through vvho all his life long euen to his old age had to deale in affayres of the common vveale as he him selfe vvitnesseth in diuers places specially in the treatise vvhich he intitled VVhether and olde man ought to meddle with the gouernment of a common weale or not and vvho had the hap honor to be schoolemaster to the Emprour Traian as is commonly beleeued and as is expressely pretended by a certaine Epistle se◠before the Latin translation of his matters of state vvhich to say the truth seemeth in my iudgement to be somevvhat suspicious bicause I find it not among his vvorkes in Greeke besides that is speaketh as though the booke vvere dedicated to Traian vvhich thinge is manifestly disproued by the beginning of the booke and by diuers other reasons Yet not vvithstanding bicause me thinkes it sagely grauely vvritten and vvell be seeming him I haue set it dovvne here in this place Plutarke vnto Traeian sendeth greeting I knovv vvell that
that Theseus also should enioye it after his death Whereupon they determined to make warre with them both and diuiding them selues into two partes the one came openly in armes with their father marching directly towardes the cittie the other laye close in ambushe in the village GARGETTVS meaning to geue charge vpon them in two places at one instant Nowe they brought with them an Heraulde borne in the towne of AGNVS called Leos who bewrayed vnto Theseus the secret and deuise of all their enterprise Theseus vpon this intelligence went forth and dyd set on those that laye in ambushe and put them all to the sworde The other which were in Pallas companie vnderstanding thereof dyd breake and disparse them selues incontinently And this is the cause as some saye why those of Pallena doe neuer make affinitie nor mariadge with those of AGNVS at this daye And that in their towne when any proclamation is made they neuer speake these wordes which are cryed euery where els through out the whole countrye of ATTICA Aconete Leos which is as muche to saye as Hearken O people they doe so extreamely hate this worde Leos for that it was the Herauldes name which wrought them that treason This done Theseus who woulde not liue idelly at home and doe nothing but desirous there withall to gratifie the people went his waye to fight with the bull of Marathon the which dyd great mischieues to the inhabitants of the countrye of TETRAPOLIS And hauing taken him aliue brought him through the citie of ATHENS to be seene of all the inhabitants Afterwardes he dyd sacrifice him vnto Apollo Delphias Nowe concerning Hecale who was reported to haue lodged him and to haue geuen him good enterteinment it is not altogether vntrue For in the olde time those townes and villages thereaboutes dyd assemble together and made a common sacrifice which they called Hecalesion in the honour of Iupiter Hecalian where they honoured this olde woman calling her by a diminutiue name Hecalena bicause that when she receyued Theseus into her house being then but very younge she made muche of him and called him by many prety made names as olde folkes are wont to call younge children And forasmuche as she had made a vowe to Iupiter to make him a solemne sacrifice if Theseus returned safe from the enterprise he went about and that she dyed before his returne in recompence of the good chere she had made him she had that honour done vnto her by Theseuscommaundement as Philochorus hathe written of it Shortely after this exployte there came certaine of King Minos ambassadours out of CRETA to aske tribute being nowe the thirde time it was demaunded which the ATHENIANS payed for this cause Androgeus the eldest sonne of king Minos was slayne by treason within the countrye of ATTICA for which cause Minos pursuing the reuenge of his death made very whotte and sharpe warres vpon the ATHENIANS and dyd them greate hurte But besides all this the goddes dyd sharpely punishe and scourge all the countrye aswell with barrennes and famine as also with plague and other mischieues euen to the drying vp of their riuers The ATHENIANS perceyuing these sore troubles and plagues ranne to the oracle of Apollo who aunswered them that they shoulde appease Minos and when they had made their peace with him that then the wrathe of the goddes woulde cease against them and their troubles should haue an ende Whereupon the ATHENIANS sent immediately vnto him and intreated him for peace which he graunted them with condition that they should be bounde to sende him yerely into CRETA seuen younge boyes and as many younge gyrles Nowe thus farre all the Historiographers doe very well agree but in the reste not And they which seeme furdest of from the trothe doe declare that when these yonge boyes were deliuered in CRETA they caused them to be deuowred by the Minotaure within the Laberinthe or els that they were shut within this Laberinthe wandring vp and downe and coulde finde no place to gett out vntill suche time as they dyed euen famished for hunger And this Minotaure as Euripides the Poet sayeth was A corps combynd vvhich monstrous might be deemd A Boye a Bull both man and beast it seemd But Philochorus writeth that the CRETANS doe not confesse that but saye that this Laberinthe was a gayle or prisone in the which they had no other hurre sauing that they which were kept there vnder locke and keye coulde not flye not starte awaye and that Minos had in the memorye of his sonne Androgeus instituted games and playes of prise where he gaue vnto them that wanne the victorie those younge children of ATHENS the which in the meane time notwithstanding were carefully kept and looked vnto in the prisone of the Laberinthe and that at the first games that were kept one of the Kings captaines called Taurus who was in best creditt with his master wanne the prise This Taurus was a churlishe and naughtie natured man of condition and very harde and cruell to these children of ATHENS And to verifie the same the philosopher Aristotle him selfe speaking of the common wealth of the BOTTIEIANS declareth very well that he neuer thought that Minos dyd at any time cause the children of ATHENS to be put to death but sayeth that they poorely toyled in CRETA euen to crooked age earning their liuing by true and painefull seruice For it is written that the CRETANS to satisfie an olde vowe of theirs which they had made of auncient time sent somtimes the first borne of their children vnto Apollo in the cittie of DELPHAS and that amongest them they also mingled those which were descended of the auncient prisoners of ATHENS and they went with them But bicause they coulde not liue there they directed their iorney first into ITALIE where for a time they remained in the realme of PVGLIA and afterwardes from thence went into the confines of THRACIA where they had this name of BOTTIEIANS In memory whereof the daughters of the BOTTIEIANS in a solemne sacrifice they make doe vse to singe the foote of this songe Lett vs to ATHENS goe But thereby we maye see howe perilous a thing it is to fall in displeasure and enmitie with a cittie which can speake well and where learning and eloquence dothe florishe For euer sence that time Minos was allwayes blased and disgraced through out all the Theaters of ATHENS The testimonie of Hesiodus who calleth him the most worthie King dothe nothing helpe him at all nor the prayse of Homer who nameth him Iupiters famillier friende bicause the tragicall Poets gott the vpper hande in disgracing him notwithstanding all these And vpon their stages where all the tragedies were played they still gaue forth many ill fauored wordes and fowle speaches of him as against a man that had bene most cruell and vnnaturall Yet most men thincke that Minos was the King which established the lawes and Radamanthus
seeinge the blacke sayle a farre of being out of all hope euermore to see his sonne againe tooke such a griefe at his harte that he threw him selfe headlong from the top of a clyffe and killed him selfe So soone as Theseus was arriued at the porte named Phalerus he performed the sacrifices which he had vowed to the goddes at his departure and sent an Herauld of his before vnto the city to carie newes of his safe arriuall The Heraulde founde many of the citie mourning the death of king AEgeus Many other receiued him with great ioy as may be supposed They would haue crowned him also with a garlande of flowers for that he had brought so good ridinges that the children of the citie were returned in safetie The Heraulde was content to take the garlande yet would he not in any wise put it on his head but did winde it about his Heraulds rodde he bare in his hande and so returneth foorthwith to the sea where Theseus made his sacrifices Who perceiuinge they were not yet done did refuse to enter into the temple and stayed without for troubling of the sacrifices Afterwardes all ceremonies finished he went in and tolde him the newes of his fathers death Then he and his company mourning for sorowe hasted with speede towardes the citie And this is the cause why to this day at the feast called Oscophoria as who woulde say at the feast of boughes the Herauld hath not his heade but his rod onely crowned with flowers and why the assistantes also after the sacrifice done doe make suche cryes and exclamations Ele leuf iou iou whereof the first is the crye and voyce they commonly vse one to an other to make haste or else it is the foote of some songe of triumphe and the other is the crye and voyce of men as it were in feare and trouble After he had ended the obsequies and funeralls for his father he performed also his sacrifices vnto Apollo which he had vowed the seuenth day of the moneth of October on which they arriued at their returne into the citie of ATHENS Euen so the custome which they vse at this day to seeth all manner of pulse commeth of this that those which then returned with Theseus did seeth in a great brasse potte all the remaine of their prouision and therewith made good chere together Euen in such sorte as this came vp the custome to carie a braunch of olyue wreathed about with wolle which they call Iresione bicause at that time they caried boughes of supplication as we haue told ye before About which they hang all sortes of fruites for then barrennesse did cease as the verses they sang afterwards did witnesse Bring him good bread that is of savry tast vvith pleasaunt figges and droppes of dulcet mell Then sovvple oyle his body for to bast and pure good vvine to make him sleepe full vvell Howbeit there are some which will say that these verses were made for the Heraclides that is to say those that descended from Hercules which flying for their safety and succour vnto the ATHENIANS were entertained much made of by them for a time But the most parte holde opinion they were made vpon the occasion aforesaid The vessell in which Theseus went and returned was a galliot of thirtie owers which the ATHENIANS kept vntill the time of Demetrius the Phalertan alwayes taking away the olde peeces of wodde that were rotten and euer renewing them with new in their places So that euer since in the disputations of the Philosophers touching things that increase to wit whether they remaine alwayes one or else they be made others this galliot was alwayes brought in for an example of doubt For some mainteined that it was still one vessell others to the contrarie defended it was not so And they holde opinion also that the feast of boughes which is celebrated at ATHENS at this time was then first of all instituted by Theseus It is sayed moreouer that he did not carye all the wenches vpon whome the lotts did fall but chose two fayer young boyes whose faces were swete and delicate as maydens be that otherwise were hardie and quicke sprighted But he made them so oft bathe them selues in whotte bathes and kepe them in from the heate of the sunne and so many times to washe anointe and rubbe them selues with oyles which serue to supple and smoothe their skinnes to keepe freshe and fayer their colour to make yellowe and bright their heares and withall did teache them so to counterfeare their speache countenaunce and facion of young maydes that they seemed to be like them rather then young boyes For there was no manner of difference to be perceiued outwardly and he mingled them with the girles without the knowledge of any man Afterwards when he was returned he made a procession in which both he and the other young boyes were apparelled then as they be nowe which carie boughes on the day of the feast in their handes They carie them in the honor of Bacchus and Ariadne following the fable that is tolde of them or rather bicause they returned home just at the time and season when they gather the fruite of those trees There are women which they call Deipnophores that is to say supper caryers which are assistantes to the sacrifice done that day in representing the mothers of those vpon whom the lottes did fall bicause they in like sorte brought them both meate and drinke There they tell tales for so did their mothers tattle to their children to comforte and encorage them All these particularities were written by Demon the historiographer There was moreouer a place chosen out to build him a tēple in and he him selfe ordained that those houses which had payed tribute before vnto the king of CRETA should nowe yearely thenceforth become contributories towardes the charges of a solemne sacrifice which shoulde be done in the honor of him and he did assigne the order and administration of the same vnto the house of the Phytalides in recompence of the curtesie which they showed him when he arriued Furthermore after the death of his father AEgeus he vndertooke a maruelous great enterprise For he brought all the inhabitantes of the whole prouince of ATTICA to be within the citie of ATHENS and made them all one corporation which were before dispersed into diuerse villages and by reason thereof were very hard to be assembled together when occasion was offered to establish any order concerning the cōmon state Many times also they were at variance together by the eares making warres one vpon an other But Theseus tooke the paines to goe from village to village and from family to familie to let them vnderstand the reasons why they should consent vnto it So he found the poore people and priuate men ready to obey and followe his will but the riche and such as had authoritye in euery village all against it Neuertheles
we ought to consider in them the diuersities of manners and passions seeing anger is vnreasonable and wrathe rashe and passionate then can we not clere the one nor excuse the other of extreme rage and passion in the facte committed by the one against his brother and by the other against his naturall sonne Howbeit the occasion and beginning of anger doth muche excuse Theseus who moued with the greatest cause that might be was put into suche choller and passion But if Romulus variaunce with his brother had proceeded of any matter of counsell or cause of the common weales there is none so simple to thincke that his wisdome would so sodainely haue set vpon him Where as Theseus in contrarie manner killed his sonne prouoked by those passions that fewe men can auoyde to wit loue ielousie and false reporte of his wife Moreouer Romulus anger went to the effect whereof the issue fell out very lamentable Theseus anger stretched no further then to roughe wordes and olde folkes curses in their heate For it seemeth cursed fortune and nought els was the cause of his sonnes only mishappe as forespoken and wished for somewhat by his father These be the speciall things maye be alledged for Theseus But for Romulus this was a noble thing in him First his beginning being very lowe and meane and his brother and he taken for bonde men and the children of hoggeheards before they were them selues all free they set at libertie in manner all the LATINES winning at one instant many titles of glorie and honour as distroyers of their enemies defenders of their parents Kings of nations founders of newe citties and no ouerthrowers of the olde where as Theseus of many habitations and houses made onely one and dyd ouerthrowe and plucke downe diuers states bearing the names of auncient Kings princes and halfe goddes of ATTICA All these also dyd Romulus afterwards and compelled his enemies whom he had ouercome to distroye their owne houses and to come and dwell with their conquerours And in the beginning he neuer chaunged nor increased any cittie that was buylt before but buylt him selfe a newe cittie out of the grounde getting all together land countrie kingdome kinred and mariages without losing or killing any man and to the contrarie rather he dyd good to many poore vacabonds who had neither countrie lands nor houses and desired nothing els but to make a people amongest them and to become cittizens of some cittie Also Romulus bent not him selfe to follow theeues and robbers but subdued by force of armes many mightie and puissant people he tooke citties and triumphed ouer Kings and Princes which he had vanquished in battell And touching the murder of Remus it is not certainely knowen of whose hands he dyed The most parte of authors doe charge other with the death of him But it is certaine that Romulus deliuered his mother from apparant death and restored his grandfather to the royall throne of AEneas who before was deposed and brought from a King to seruill obedience without any regarde of honour or dignitie to whom he dyd many moe great pleasures and seruices Besides he neuer offended him willingly no not so muche as ignorantly Contrarylie I thincke of Theseus who fayling by negligence to put out his white sayle at his returne cannot be cleared of parricide howe eloquent an oration soeuer could be made for his excuse yea though it were before the most fauorable iudges that could be Wherefore an ATHENIAN very well perceyuing that it was an harde thing to excuse and defend so fowle a faulte dothe fayne that the good olde man AEgeus hauing newes brought him that his sonnes shippe was at hand dyd ronne in so great haste to his castell to see his sonne arriue a farre of that as he ranne his foote hit against some thing and ouerthrewe him as though he had none of his people about him or that neuer a man seeing him ronne so hastely to the sea side dyd make haste to attende and wayte vpon him Furthermore Theseus faults touching women and rauishements of the twaine had the lesse shadowe and culler of honestie Bicause Theseus dyd attempt it very often for he stale awaye Ariadne Antiope and Anaxo the Troezenian Againe being stepped in yeres and at later age and past mariage he stale awaye Helen in her minoritie being nothing neere to consent to marye Then his taking of the daughters of the TROEZENIANS of the LACEDAEMONIANS and the AMAZONES neither contracted to him nor comparable to the birthe and linadge of his owne countrie which were at ATHENS and descended of the noble race and progenie of Erichtheus and of Cecrops dyd geue men occasion to suspect that his womannishenes was rather to satisfie lust then of any great loue Romulus nowe in a contrarie manner when his people had taken eight hundred or thereabouts of the Sabyne women to rauishe them kept but onely one for him selfe that was called Hersilia as they saye and deliuered the reste to his best and most honest cittizens Afterwardes by the honour loue and good entertainment that he caused them to haue receyue of their husbands he chaunged this violent force of rauishement into a most perfect bonde and league of amitie which dyd so knyt and ioyne in one these two nations that it was the beginning of the great mutuall loue which grewe afterwards betwext those two people and consequently of the ioyning of their powers together Furthermore time hath geuen a good testimonie of the loue reuerence constancie kyndenes and all matrimoniall offices that he established by that meanes betwext man and wife For in two hundred and thirtie yeres afterwards there was neuer man that durst forsake or put awaye his wife nor the wife her husband And as among the GRECIANS the best learned men and most curious obseruers of antiquities doe knowe his name that was the first murderer of his father or mother euen so all the ROMAINES knewe what he was which first durst put away his wife It was one called Spurius Caruilius bicause his wife was barren and had no children The effects also doe agree with the testimonie of the time For the Realme was common vnto Kings of both nations and through the alliance of these mariages that beganne first of rauishements both nations liued peaciblie and in equalitie vnder one ciuill policie and well gouerned common weale The ATHENIANS contrariewise by Theseus mariages dyd get neither loue nor kynred of any one persone but rather they procured warres enmities the slaughter of their citizens with the losse in the ende of the cittie of APHIDNES and yet very hardely and by the mercie of their enemies whom they honored as godds they escaped for him the daunger which the TROIANS suffered afterwards for the self acte done by Alexander Paris So it fell out at the last that his mother was not only in daunger but euen feelingly suffered like miserie and captiuitie which Hecuba dyd
common weale established before as discordes doe many times in an harmonie of musicke that before agreed very well together Therefore he iudged it a thing most necessarie to keepe his cittie free and safe from coūterfeating of any straungers manners of facions that were cōmonly as persones infected with some contagious sicknes Nowe in all we haue spoken before euen to this place there is no manner of token or shewe of iniustice or lacke of equite wherewith some seme to burden Lycurgus in his lawes by saying they were well made to make men warlicke and valliant but not to be iuste or righteous But cōcerning the lawe they call Cryptia as much to saye as their secret if it were of Lycurgus institution as Aristotle sayeth it might haue caried Plato into the like opinion that Lycurgus had of his common weale This was the lawe The gouernours which had the charge and ouersight of the young men at certaine appointed times dyd chuse out those they thought to haue the best discretion and sent them abroade into the countrie some one waye some another waye who caried with them daggers and some prouision to feede them Those young men being thus dispersed abroade in the countrie did hide them selues all the daye close in secret places and there they laye and tooke their rest afterwardes when night was come they went to seeke out the high wayes and killed the first of the ILOTES that they met Sometimes euen in the broade daye they went into the countrie to kill the strongest and slowesth of the mens Thucydides telleth in his history of the warres of PELOPONNESVS where he sayeth That a certaine conuenient number of the ILOTES were crowned by a publicke proclamation of the SPARTANS and being infranchesed for their good seruices they had done the common weale they were caried to all the temples of the goddes for an honour Within a while after no man knewe what was become of them being about two thousand in number so that neuer man heard tell neither then nor since howe they came to their deathes Howbeit Aristotle aboue all others sayeth that the Ephores so soone as they were placed in their offices made warres with the ILOTES bicause they might lawfully kill them And it is true that in other things they did handle them very hardely For they forced them somtimes to drincke wine without water out of measure till they had made them starke drunke Then they brought them all into their common halles where they did eate to make their children to beholde them and to see what beastlines it was for a man to be drunke Likewise they made them singe songes and daunce daunces vnfit for honest men and suche as were full of derision and mockerie and did forbid them expressely to singe any honest songes So it is reported that in the iorney the THEBANS made to LACONIA many of the ILOTES were taken prisoners thereat and when they were commaunded to singe the verses of Terpander or of Aleman or of Spendon the Laconian they would not doe it saying they durst not finge them for their masters Wherefore he that first sayed in the countrie of LACEDAEMONIA he that is free in more free and he that is bonde is more bonde then in other places knewe very well the diuersitie betweene the libertie and bondage there and the libertie and bondage of other countries But in my opinion the LACEDAEMONIANS beganne to vse these great outrages and cruelties long time after the death of Lycurgus and specially since the great earthquake that happened at SPARTA at which time the ILOTES rose against them with the MESSENIANS and did great mischief through the countrie and put the cittie to the greatest distresse and daunger that euer it had For I cannot be persuaded that euer Lycurgus inuented or instituted so wicked and mischieuous an acte as that kynde of ordinaunce was bicause I imagine his nature was gentle and mercifull by the clemencie and iustice wee see he vsed in all his other doings and was witnessed besides by open oracle from the goddes for a iust and wise man Furthermore they saye of him that when he sawe the chiefest pointes of his gouernment had taken deepe roote and that the forme of his common weale went on and was strong enough to mainteine and keepe it selfe a foote like as Plato sayeth that God reioyced greately after he had made the worlde and sawe the same turne and moue his first mouing euen so Lycurgus taking singular pleasure and delight in his minde to see his notable lawes put in vre and so well stablished and liked of by experience sought yet to make them immortall as neere as he could possible by any forecast of man that no after time whatsoeuer might chaunge or put them downe To bring this to passe he caused all the people to assemble and tolde them he thought his ciuill pollicie and state of common weale was already sufficiently established for vertuous and happy life yet there was one matter behinde of greater importaunce than all the rest which he could not yet declare vnto them vntill he had first asked counsell of the oracle of Apollo And therefore in the meane time they should keepe and obserue his lawes and ordinaunces inuiolublie without chaunging remouing or staying any matter therein vntill he were returned from the cittie of DELPHES and then they should doe that other thing behinde if the God then so counselled him They all promised him to doe it and prayed him to make hast to goe on his iorney But before he departed he made the Kings and Senatours sweare first and consequently all the people after that they would keepe his lawes and ordinaunces without chaunging or altering any thing vntill he did returne againe This done he went to the citie of DELPHES where so sone as he arriued he sacrificed in the temple to Apollo and asked him If the lawes he had made were good to make a man an happy life Apollo made him aunswer his lawes were very good and that his cittie keping them should be the most renowmed of the worlde Lycurgus caused this oracle to be written which he sent to SPARTA After he sacrificed to Apollo againe and then taking leaue of his friendes and of his sonne he determined to dye bicause his citizens should neuer be released of the othe they had made betweene his handes When he had this determination he was come to the age wherein a man hathe strength enough to liue lenger and yet was olde enough also to dye if he would Wherefore finding him selfe happy to haue obteined his desire he willingly pyned him selfe to death by abstinence and lacke of meate For he thought it meete that the very death of great personages should bring benefit euer to the common weale and that the ende of their life should be no more idle or vnprofitable then the rest of their life before nay rather that it was one of their most meritotious
indifferently to his will. As the offices of state common assemblies voyces in election iudgemēts in iustice and the bodie of the Senate And they gaue him also full power and authoritie to sesse and taxe any of them to appointe the number what time the sesse should continewe and to keepe confirme and disanull at his pleasure any of the auncient lawes and customes then in being To beginne withall he first tooke away all Dracons bloudy lawes sauing for murder and manslaughter which were to seuere cruell For almost he dyd ordaine but one kinde of punishment for all kinde of faultes and offences which was death So that they which were condemned for idlenes were iudged to dye And pety larceny as robbing mens horteyards gardens of fruite or erbes was as seuerely punished as those who had committed sacriledge or murder Demades therefore encountered it pleasauntly when he sayed that Dracons lawes were not written with incke but with bloud And Draco him selfe being asked one daye why his punishmēts were so vnequall as death for all kinde of faultes he aunswered Bicause he thought the least offence worthie so much punishment and for the greatest he found none more grieuous Then Solon being desirous to haue the chief offices of the cittie to remaine in riche mens handes as already they dyd and yet to mingle the authoritie of gouernment in such sorte as the meaner people might beare a litle swaye which they neuer could before he made an estimate of the goodes of euery priuate cittizen And those which he founde yerely worthe fiue hundred busshells of corne other liquide fruites and vpwards he called Pentacosiomedimnes as to saye fiue hundred busshell men of reuenue And those that had three hundred busshells a yere and were able to keepe a horse of seruice he put in the second degree and called them knightes They that might dispend but two hundred busshells a yere were put in the thirde place called Zeugites All other vnder those were called Thetes as ye would saye hyerlings or craftes men liuing of their labour whom he dyd not admit to beare any office in the cittie neither were they taken as free cittizens sauing they had voyces in elections and assemblies of the cittie and in iudgements where the people wholy iudged This at the first seemed nothing but afterwardes they felt it was to great purpose for hereby the most parte of priuate quarrells and strifes that grewe among them were in the ende layed open before the people For the suffered those to appeale vnto the people which thought they had wrong iudgement in their causes Furthermore bicause his lawes were written somewhat obscurely and might be diuersely taken and interpreted this dyd geue a great deale more authoritie and power to the iudges For considering all their controuersies could not be ended and iudged by expresse lawe they were driuen of necessitie allwayes to ronne to the iudges and debated their matters before them In so muche as the iudges by this meanes came to be somewhat aboue the lawe for they dyd euen expounde it as they would them selues Solon self doth note this equall diuision of the publicke authoritie in a place of his poesies where he sayeth Suche povver haue I geuen to common peoples hande as might become their meane estate vvith equity to stande and as I haue not pluct from them their dignitie so haue I not to much increast their small authoritie Vnto the riche likevvise I haue allovved no more then vvell might seeme in iust conceit sufficient for their store And so I have for both prouided in such vvise that neither shall eche other vvrong nor seeme for to despise Yet considering it was meete to prouide for the pouertie of the common sorte of people he suffered any man that would to take vpon him the defence of any poore mans case that had the wrong For if a man were hurte beaten forced or otherwise wronged any other man that would might lawfully sue the offendour and prosecute lawe against him And this was a wise lawe ordeined of him to accustome his cittizens to be sorie one for anothers hurte so to feele it as if any parte of his owne bodie had bene iniured And they saye he made an aunswer on a time agreable to this law For being asked what cittie he thought best gouerned he aunswered That cittie where such as receyue no wronge doe as earnestly defend wrōg offered to other as the very wrong iniurie had bene done vnto them selues He erected also the coūsaill of the Areopagites of those magistrates of the cittie out of which they did yerely choose their gouernour he him self had bene of that number for that he had bene gouernour for a yere Wherefore perceyuing now the people were growen to a stomake hawtines of minde bicause they were cleare discharged of their detts he set one vp for matters of state another counsell of an hundred chosen out of euery tribe whereof foure hūdred of them were to consult debate of all matters before they were propounded to the people that when the great counsell of the people at large should be assembled no matters should be put forth onles it had bene before well considered of digested by the counsell of the foure hundred Moreouer he ordeined the higher courte should haue the chiefe authoritie power ouer all things and chiefly to see the lawe executed and mainteined supposing that the common weale being settled and stayed with these two courtes as with two stronge anker holdes it should be the lesse turmoyled and troubled and the people also better pacified and quieted The most parte of writers holde this opinion that it was Solon which erected the counsaill of the Areopagites as we haue sayed and it is very likely to be true for that Dracon in all his lawes and ordinaunces made no manner of mention of the Areopagites but allwayes speaketh to the Ephetes which were iudges of life and death when he spake of murder or of any mans death Notwithstanding the eight law of the thirtenth table of Solon sayeth thus in these very words All such as haue bene banished or detected of naughty life before Solon made his laws shal be restored againe to their goodes and good name except those which were condemned by order of the counsaill of the Areopagites or by the Ephetes or by the Kings in open courte for murder and death of any man or for aspiring to vsurpe tyrannie These wordes to the contrarie seeme to proue and testifie that the counsell of the Areopagites was before Solon was chosen reformer of the lawes For howe could offenders and wicked men be condemned by order of the counsell of the Areopagites before Solon if Solon was the first that gaue it authoritie to iudge onles a man will saye peraduenture that he would a litle helpe the matter of his lawes which were obscure and darke and would supply that they lacked
made good cheere at the feast of this sacrifice they went to bed but they rose not againe the next morning for they were found dead without suffering hurte or sorowe after they had receyued so much glorie honour Croesus then could no loÌ„ger bridell in his pacience but breaking out in choller sayed vnto him why doest then recken me than in no degree of happy men Solon would neither flatter him nor further increase his heate but auÌ„swered him thus O King of LYDIANS the godds haue geueÌ„ vs GRECIANS all things in a meane amongest other things chiefly a base popular wisedome not princely nor noble which considering howe mans life is subiect to infinite chaunges doth forbid vs to trust or glorie in these worldly riches For time bringeth daylie misfortunes vnto man which he neuer thought of nor looked for But when the goddes haue continued a mans good fortune to his end then we thinke that man happy and blessed and neuer before Otherwise if we should iudge a man happy that liueth considering he is euer in daunger of chaâ—ge during life we should be much like to him who iudgeth him the victorie before hande that is still a fighting maye be ouercomen hauing no suertie yet to carie it away After Solon had spoken these words he departed from the Kings presence and returned backe againe leauing king Croesus offended but nothing the wiser nor amended Nowe AEsope that wrote the fables being at that time in the cittie of SARDIS sent for thither by the King who entertained him very honorably was very sorie to see that the King had geuen Solon no better entertainement so by waye of aduise he said vnto him O Solon either we must not come to princes at all or els we must seeke to please content them But Solon turning it to the contrary aunswered him either we must not come to princes or we must needes tell them truely counsell them for the best So Croesus made light accompt of Solon at that time But after he had lost the battell against Cyrus and that his cittie was taken him self became prisoner was bounde fast to a gibbet ouer a great stacke of wood to be burnt in the sight of all the PERSIANS of Cyrus his enemie he then cried out as lowde as he could thryse together O Solon Cyrus being abashed sent to aske him whether this Solon he only cried vpon in his extreme miserie was a god or man Croesus kept it not secret from him but sayed he was one of the wise men of GRECE whom I sent for to come vnto me on a certaine time not to learne any thing of him which I stoode in neede of but only that he might witnesse my felicitie which then I dyd enioye the losse whereof is nowe more hurtefull than the enioying of the same was good or profitable But nowe alas to late I know it that the riches I possessed then were but words opinion all which are turned now to my bitter sorowe and to present and remediles calamitie Which the wise GRECIAN considering then and foreseeing a farre of by my doings at that time the instant miserie I suffer nowe gaue me warning I should marke the ende of my life and that I should not to farre presume of my selfe as puffed vp then with vaine glorie of opinion of happines the ground therof being so slippery and of so litle suertie These wordes being reported vnto Cyrus who was wiser than Croesus seeing Solons saying confirmed by so notable an example he dyd not only deliuer Croesus from present perill of death but euer after honoured him so long as he liued Thus had Solon glorie for sauing the honour of one of these Kings the life of the other by his graue wise counsaill But during the time of his absence great seditions rose at ATHENS amongest the inhabitants who had gotten them seuerall heades amongest them as those of the vallie had made Lycurgus their head The coast men Megacles the sonne of Alamaeon And those of the mountaines Pisistratus with whom all artificers craftsmen liuing of their haÌ„die labour were ioyned which were the stowtest against the riche So that notwithstanding the cittie kept Solons lawes and ordinaunces yet was there not that man but gaped for a chaunge and desired to see things in another state either parties hoping their condition would mende by chaunge and that euery of them should be better than their aduersaries The whole common weale broyling thus with troubles Solon arriued at ATHENS where euery maÌ„ did honour and reuerence him howbeit he was no more able to speake alowde in open assembly to the people not to deale in matters as he had done before bicause his age would not suffer him therefore he spake with euery one of the heades of the seuerall factions a parte trying if he could agree and reconcile them together againe Whereunto Pisistratus seemed to be more willing then any of the rest for he was curteous and maruelous fayer spoken and shewed him selfe besides very good and pittiefull to the poore and temperate also to his enemies further if any good quality were lacking in him he dyd so finely counterfeate it that men imagined it was more in him than in those that naturally had it in them in deede As to be a quiet man no medler contented with his owne aspiring no higher and hating those which would attempt to chaunge the present state of the common weale and would practise any innouation By this arte and fine manner of his he deceyued the poore common people Howbeit Solon found him straight and sawe the marke he shot at but yet hated him not at that time and sought still to winne him and bring him to reason saying oftetimes both to him selfe and to others That who so could plucke out of his head the worme of ambition by which he aspired to be the chiefest and could heale him of his greedy desire to rule there could not be a man of more vertue or a better cittizen than he would proue About this time begaÌ„ne Thespis to set out his tragedies which was a thing that much delited the people for the rarenes thereof being not many poets yet in number to striue one against another for victorie as afterwards there were Solon being naturally desirous to heare and learne and by reason of his age seeking to passe his time awaye in sportes in musicke making good cheere more then euer he dyd went one daye to see Thespis who played a parte him selfe as the olde facion of the Poets was and after the playe was ended he called him to him and asked him if he were not ashamed to lye so openly in the face of the worlde Thespis aunswered him that it was not materiall to doe or saye any such things considering all was but in sporte Then Solon beating the grounde with his staffe he
they should throwe their goods out after them Howbeit this was the least parte of Tarquines intent to seeke his goodes againe but vnder pretence of that demaund he secretly corrupted the people and practised treason which his ambassadours followed pretending only to get the Kings goodes and his fauourers together saying that they had already solde some parte and some parte they kept and sent them daylie So as by delaying the time in this sorte with such pretences they had corrupted two of the best and auncientest houses of the cittie to wit the familie of the Aquilians whereof there were three Senatours and the familie of the Vitellians whereof there were two Senatours all which by their mothers were Consul Collatinus nephewes The Vitellians also were allied vnto Brutus for he had maried their owne sister had many children by her Of the which the Vitellians had drawen to their stringe two of the eldest of them bicause they familiarly frequented together being cosin germaines whom they had intised to be of their conspiracie allying them with the house of the Tarquines which was of great power and through the which they might persuade them selues to rise to great honour preferment by meanes of the Kings rather than to trust to their fathers willfull hardnes For they called his seueritie to the wicked hardnes for that he would neuer pardone any Furthermore Brutus had fayned him selfe mad and a foole of long time for safety of his life bicause the tyrannes should not put him to death so that the name of Brutus only remained After these two young men had geuen their consent to be of the confederacie and had spoken with the Aquilians they all thought good to be bounde one to another with a great and horrible othe drincking the bloude of a man and shaking hands in his bowells whom they would sacrifice This matter agreed vpon betweene them they met together to put their sacrifice in execution in the house of the Aquilians They had fittely pickt out a darke place in the house to doe this sacrifice in where almost no bodye came yet it happened by chaunce that one of the seruants of the house called Vindicius had hidden him selfe there vnknowing to the traytours and of no set purpose to spye and see what they dyd or that he had any manner of inckling thereof before but falling by chaunce vpon the matter euen as the traytours came into that place with a countenaunce to doe some secret thing of importaunce fearing to be seene he kept him selfe close and laye behinde a coffer that was there so that he sawe all that was done and what they sayed and determined The conclusion of their counsell in the ende was this that they would kill both the Consuls and they wrote letters to Tarquinius aduertising the same which they gaue vnto his ambassadours being lodged in the house of the Aquilians were present at this conclusion With this determination they departed from thence and Vindicius came out also as secretly as he could being maruelously troubled in minde at a maze howe to deale in this matter For he thought it daungerous as it was in deede to goe and accuse the two sonnes vnto the father which was Brutus of so wicked and detestable a treason and the nephewes vnto their vncle which was Collatinus On the other side also he thought this was a secret not to be imparted to any priuate persone and not possible for him to conceale it that was bounde in duety to reueale it So he resolued at the last to goe to Valerius to bewraye this treason of a speciall affection to this man by reason of his gentle and curteous vsing of men geuing easy accesse and audience vnto any that came to speake with him and specially for that he disdained not to heare poore mens causes Vindicius being gone to speake with him and hauing tolde him the whole conspiracy before his brother Marcus Valerius and his wife he was abashed and fearefull withall whereupon he stayed him least he should slippe awaye and locked him in a chamber charging his wife to watche the doore that no bodie went in nor out vnto him And willed his brother also that he should goe and beset the Kings palace round about to intercept these letters if it were possible and to see that none of their seruants fled Valerius selfe being followed according to his manner with a great traine of his friendes and people that wayted on him went straight vnto the house of the Aquilians who by chaunce were from home at that time and entering in at the gate without let or trouble of any man he founde the letters in the chamber where king Tarquines ambassadours laye Whilest he was thus occupied the Aquilians hauing intelligence thereof ranne home immediately and founde Valerius cōming out at their gate So they vould haue taken those letters from him by force and strong hande But Valerius and his company dyd resist them and moreouer hudded them with their gownes ouer their heads and by force brought them doe what they could into the market place The like was done also in the Kings palace where Marcus Valerius founde other letters also wrapt vp in certaine fardells for their more safe cariage and brought away with him by force into the market place all the Kings seruants he founde there There the Consuls hauing caused silence to be made Valerius sent home to his house for this bondman Vindicius to be brought before the Consuls then the traytours were openly accused and their letters redde and they had not the face to aunswer one worde All that were present being amazed honge downe their heades and beholde the grounde and not a man durst once open his mouth to speake excepting a fewe who to gratifie Brutus beganne to say that they should banishe them and Collatinus also gaue them some hope bicause he fell to weeping and Valerius in like manner for that he held his peace But Brutus calling his sonnes by their names come on sayed he Titus and thou Valerius why doe you not aunswer to that you are accused of and hauing spoken thryse vnto them to aunswer when he sawe they stoode mute and sayed nothing he turned him to the sergeants and sayed vnto them They are now in your handes doe iustice So soone as he had spoken these wordes the sergeants layed holde immediately vpon the two young men and tearing their clothes of their backs bounde their hands behinde them and then whipped them with roddes which was such a pittiefull sight to all the people that they could not finde in their hartes to behold it but turned them selues another waye bicause they would not see it But contrariwise they saye that their owne father had neuer his eye of them neither dyd chaunge his austere and fierce countenaunce with any pittie or naturall affection towards them but stedfastly dyd beholde the punishment of his owne children vntill they were
incontinently hauing liued as honorably and vertuously all the dayes of his life as any man liuing might doe The people then tooke order for his funeralles that the charges thereof should be defrayed by the citie as if they had neuer done him any honour in his life and that they had bene still debters vnto him for the noble seruice he had done vnto the state and common weale whilest he liued Therefore towardes his funeralle charges euery citizen gaue a pece of money called a Quatrine The women also for their parte to honour his funeralles agreed among them selues to mourne a whole yere in blackes for him which was a great and honorable memoriall He was buried also by expresse order of the people within the cittie in the streate called Velia and they graunted priuiledge also vnto all his posteritie to be buried in the selfe same place Howbeit they doe no more burie any of his there But when any dye they bring the corse vnto this place and one holding a torche burning in his hande doth put it vnder the place and take it straight awaye againe to shewe that they haue libertie to burie him there but that they willingly refuse this honour and this done they carie the corse awaye againe THE COMPARISON OF Solon with Publicola NOWE presently to compare these two personages together it seemeth they both had one vertue in them which is not founde in any other of their liues which we haue written of before And the same is that the one hath bene a witnes and the other a follower of him to whom he was like So as the sentence that Solon spake to king Croesus touching Tellus felicitie happines might haue better bene applied vnto Publicola than to Tellus whom he iudged to be very happy bicause he dyed honorably he had liued vertuously and had left behinde him goodly children And yet Solon speaketh nothing of his excellencie or vertue in any of his poemes neither dyd he euer beare any honorable office in all his time nor yet left any children that caried any great fame or renowme after his death Whereas Publicola so long as he liued was allwayes the chief man amongest the ROMAINES of credit and authoritie and afterwards since his death certaine of the noblest families and most auncient houses of ROME in these our dayes as the Publicoles the Messales the VALERIANS for six hundred yeres continuance doe referre the glorie of the nobilitie aunciētie of their house vnto him Furthermore Tellus was slaine by his enemies fighting valliantly like a worthy honest man But Publicola died after he had slaine his enemies which is farre more great good happe then to be slaine For after he as generall had honorably served his country in the warres had left them conquerers hauing in his life time receyued all honours triumphes due vnto his seruice he attained to that happy end of life which Solon accompted esteemed most happy blessed Also in wishing manner he would his end should be lamented to his prayse in a place where he confuteth Mimnermus about the continuaunce of mans life by saying Let not my death vvithout lamenting passe But rather let my friendes bevvayle the same VVhose grieuous teares and cries of out alas maye ofte resound the Eccho of my name If that be good happe then most happy maketh he Publicola for at his death not only his friends and kinsefolkes but the whole cittie also and many a thousand persone besides dyd bitterly bewayle the losse of him For all the women of ROME dyd mourne for him in blacks and dyd most pittiefully lament his death as euery one of them had lost either father brother or husband True it is that I couet goodes to haue but yet so got as maye me not depraue Solon sayeth this bicause vengeance followed ill gotten good And Publicola tooke great heede not only to get his goodes most iustly but had regarde that those which he had he spent most honestly in helping the needie So that if Solon was iustly reputed the wisest man we must needes confesse also that Publicola was the happiest For what the one desired for the greatest and most perfect good a man can haue in this worlde the other hath wonne it kept it and vsed it all his life time vntill the hower of his death And thus hath Solon honoured Publicola and Publicola hath done like vnto Solon shewing him self a perfect example and looking glasse where men maye see howe to gouerne a popular state when he made his Confulshippe voyde of all pride stately shewe and became him self affable curteous and beloued of euerie bodie So tooke he profit by many of his lawes As when he ordeined that the people only should haue authoritie to choose and create all common officers and magistrates and that they might appeale from any iudge to the people as Solon when he suffered them to appeale vnto the iudges of the people In deede Publicola dyd not create any newe Senate as Solon dyd but he dyd augment the first number with as many persones almost as there were before He dyd also first erect the office of Quastores for keeping of all fines taxes and other collections of money Bicause the chiefest magistrate if he were an honest man should not for so light an occasion be taken from the care of better and more weightie affayers and if he were wickedly geuen and ill disposed that he should haue no such meane or occasion to worke his wicked will by hauing the treasure of the cittie in his handes and to commaund what he lyst Moreouer in hating the tyrānes Publicola therein was farre more sharpe terrible For Solon in his lawes punished him that went about to make him selfe tyranne yet after he was conuicted thereof by lawe but Publicola ordeined that they should kill him before the lawe dyd passe on him that sought to be king And where Solon iustly and truely vaunteth him self that being offered to be King Lord of ATHENS and that with the whole consent of the citizens yet be dyd notwithstanding refuse it This vaunte and glorie is as due vnto Publicola who finding the dignitie of a Consul tyrannicall he brought it to be more lowly and favour 〈…〉 people not taking vpon him all the authoritie he might lawfully haue done And it seemeth that Solon knewe before him what was the true and direct waye to gouerne a common weale vprightly For he sayeth in one place Both great and small of povver the better vvill obaye if vve to little or to much vpon them doe not laye The discharging of dettes was proper to Solon which was a full confirmation of libertie For litle preuayleth lawe to make equalitie among cittizens when dettes doe hinder the poore people to enioye the benefit thereof And where it seemeth that they haue most libertie as in that they maye be chosen iudges and officers to speake their opinion in the counsell and geue
to be strong by sea was it that dyd mainteine the authoritie of the popular state And that contrariwise they which liue by the labour and toyle of the earthe doe more willingly like the gouernment of Nobilitie Themistocles called to minde another matter also of greater importance to make the cittie of ATHENS of a greater power by sea For after the retire of Xerxes and that all the fleete and nauie of the GRAECIANS wintered in the hauen of PAGASES he sayed one daye in an open assembly of the people that he had thought of a thing which would be very profitable and beneficiall for them but it was not to be tolde openly The people willed him then to imparte it to Aristides and if he thought it good they would execute it speedely Themistocles then tolde Aristides the thing he had considered of was to burne the Arcenal where the GRAECIANS nauy laye and to set on fire all their shippes Aristides hearing his purpose returned to the people and tolde them howe nothing could be more profitable but with all more vniust then that which Themistocles had deuised The ATHENIANS then willed Aristides it should be let alone altogether Furthermore when the LACEDAEMONIANS had exhibited their petition to the counsell of the Amphictyons that is the generall counsaill of all the states of GRAECE assembled howe the townes and citties of GRAECE which had not bene parties with the GRAECIANS to the league against the barbarous people should be put of wholy from this counsaill Themistocles dowting of the ARGIVES the THESSALIANS and the THEBANS also should by this meanes be exempted that the LACEDAEMONIANS would be then the greater number in voyces and by this meanes might doe what they would in this counsell he spake so consideratly for the citties which they would haue thus discharged that he made the petitioners in the assembly vtterly to chaunge their opinion Declaring howe there were but one and thirtie citties comprised only the league and yet that some of them were very weake and small and howe it were no reason that reiecting all the rest of GRECE the greatest authoritie of this counsaill should fall into the handes of two or three of the chiefest citties alone For this cause chiefly the LACEDAEMONIANS dyd euer beare him extreme hatred and dyd set vp Cimon all they could to be allwayes aduersary opposite vnto him and as it were to bearde him in all matters of state and the gouernment of ATHENS They procured him besides the ill will and displeasure of all the friendes and confederates of the ATHENIANS for that he went sayling still to and fro alongest the Iles exacting money of the inhabitants of the same And this is to be knowen by the matter propounded by him to the ANDRIANS of whom he would haue had money and by the aunswer they made him as Herodotus writeth Which was howe he had brought them two mightie goddes Loue and Force And they aunswered him againe that they also had two great goddesses which kept them from geuing of him any money Pouertie and Impossibilitie And to make this good also Timocreon the Rhodian poet galled him to the quicke when he sharpely taunted him for calling many home againe for money that were banished and howe for couetousnes of money he had betrayed and forsaken his hoste and friende The verses wherein this matter is mentioned are to this effecte VVho list commend vvorthy Pausanias Xanthippus or good Leotychides yet shall I seeme but light thereof to passe compared vvith valliant Aristides For yet vvas naye the like in Athens tovvne nor neuer shall come none of like renovvne Themistocles by right and due deserte is hated of Latons for his lyes and for he bare a traitrous vvicked harte vvho like a vvretche nigard did deuise for small revvardes his host Timocreon to holde out of his countrie Ialison He tooke for bribe vniustly yet therevvhile of redy coyne three talents fayre and bright revoking such as pleased him from exile and banishing full many a vvorthy vvight Or putting them to death vvithout cause tolde he gate thereby great heapes of coyne and golde But in the ende ôright revvarde for such this bribing vvretch vvas forced for to holde a tipling bovvthe most like a clovvne or fâ—â—â—he at holy feastes and pastimes manifold vvhich vvere amongest the people in those dayes Istmiciane folke dyd vse the like allvvayes And there he serued his gests vvith cold meat still vvhilest they that tasted of his cookerie gan vvishe that they to ease their vveary vvill had neuer liued to see the treccherie of false Themistocles and that he might no longer liue vvhich vvrought them such despight After this he dyd more openly blase him to the worlde when he was banished and condemned in a songe that had beginning thus O Muse let these my verses be disperst throughout all Grace since they deserue no lesse and since the truthe vvhich is in them rehearst deserueth fame vvhom no man should suppresse They saye the cause was why this Timocreon was banished the friendshippe which he had with the Barbarous people and for geuing them intelligence Whereof Themistocles was one that iudicially condemned him Wherefore when Themistocles him selfe was accused afterwards of the same faulte Timocreon then made these verses following against him Timocreon vvas not vvithout his pheere vvhich did conferre vvith Medes priuely Since others mo the selfe same blame might beare mo foxes lurke in dennes as vvell as I. Besides these verses Themistocles owne citizens for the ill will they bare him were contented to heare him ill spoken of Therefore while he fought wayes to redresse all this he was driuen to vse such meane which more increased their hatred toward him For in his orations to the people he dyd ofte remember them of the good seruice he had done them and perceyuing howe they were offended withall he was driuen to saye Why are ye weary so ofte to receyue good by one man Many of them were very angry with him also when he surnamed Diana in the dedication of her temple he made vnto her Aristobule as much to saye as the good counseller meaning thereby howe he had geuen graue and wise counsell both vnto his cittie and to all the rest of the GRECIANS He built this temple also neere his house in a place called Melita where the hangemen doe cast the dead bodies of those that were executed and throwe the ragges and halters endes of those that were hanged or otherwise put to death by lawe There was also in our dayes in the temple of Diana Aristobule a litle image of Themistocles which shewed plainely that he was not only wise and of a noble minde but also of a great maiestie and countenaunce in face In the ende the ATHENIANS banished him ATHENS for fiue yere bicause they would plucke downe his ouergreat corage and authoritie as they dyd vse to serue those whose greatnes they thought to be more then common equalitie
cittie of CVMA he perceyued that all the coastes by sea were layed for him to apprehende him and that he had many spyalls vpon him among the which these were two speciall noted men Ergoteles and one Pythodorus the reward being very great for men that sought their gayne any waye they could For the king of PERSIA had proclaymed by sound of trūpet two hundred talēts to him that brought him Themistocles Whereupon he fled vnto a litle towne of AEOLIA called AEGES where no liuing bodie knewe him but his host only called Nicogenes who was the richest man of all the AEOLIANS and knewe all the noble men of authoritie that were about the king of PERSIA Themistocles continued hidden certen dayes in his house in which time on a night after the feast of a sacrifice one Olbius schoolemaster to Nicogenes children by some secret working of the goddes sodainely fell besides him selfe and beganne to singe these verses out alowde Doe thou beleeue vvhat so the night tells and geue thy voyce thy counsell and conceipts Vnto the night in darcksomnes that dvvells thereon also thy victorie avvaits The next night following Themistocles being fast asleepe in his bed dreamed that a snake wounde it selfe round about his bellie and glided vpwardes to his necke vntill it touched his face and sodainely then it became an eagle and imbraced him with his winges and so at length dyd lifte him vp into the ayer and caried him a maruelous waye of vntill he thought he sawe a golden rodde suche as Herauldes vse to carie in their handes whereupon the eagle dyd set him and so was deliuered of all this feare and trouble he thought him selfe in The trothe was Nicogenes had this deuise in his heade howe he might bring him safe to the king of PERSIAES courte The Barbarous nations for the most parte and specially the PERSIANS are of a very straunge nature and maruelous iealous ouer their women and that not onely of their wiues but also of their bonde women and concubines which they keepe so straightly locked vp that no man euer seeth them abroade at any time but are allwayes like housedoues kept within doores And when they haue any occasion to goe into the country they are caried in close coches couered all about that no man can looke into them Themistocles was conueyed into one of these coches drest after this manner and had warned his men to aunswer those they met by the waye that asked whom they caried howe it was a young GRECIAN gentlewoman of the countrie of IONIA which they caried to the courte for a noble man there Thucydides and Charon Lampsacenian saye he went thither after the death of Xerxes and spake with his sonne there But Ephorus Dino Clitarchus Heraclides and many other write that he spake with him selfe Yet notwithstanding it appeareth that Thucydides wordes doe best agree with the chronicles tables recording the succession of times although they be of no great certaintie Themistocles being come nowe to the swordes pointe as it were and to the extremitie of his daunger dyd first present him selfe vnto one Artabanus Colonell of a thousand footemen and sayed vnto him Syr I am a GRECIAN borne and desire to speake with the King I haue matters of importance to open to his maiestie and such as I knowe he will thanckefully receyue Artabanus aunswered him in this manner My friend syr straunger the lawes and customes of men are diuers and some take one thing for honest others some another thing but it is most honestly for all men to keepe and obserue the lawes and manners of their owne countrie For you GRECIANS haue the name to loue libertie and equalitie aboue all things for vs amongest all the goodly lawes and customes we haue we esteeme this aboue the rest to reuerence and honour our King as the image of the god of nature who keepeth all things in their perfect life and state Wherefore if thou wilt facion thy selfe after our manner to honour the King thou mayest both see him and speake with him but if thou haue another minde with thee then must thou of necessitie vse some thirde persone for thy meane For this is the manner of our countrie the King neuer geueth audience to any man that hath not first honoured him Themistocles hearing what he sayed aunswered him againe My lord Artabanus the great good will I bear vnto the King and the desire I haue to aduaunce his glorie and power is the only cause of my present repaire vnto his courte therefore I meane not only to obey your lawes since it hath so pleased the goddes to rayse vp the noble empire of PERSIA vnto this greatnes but will cause many other people also to honour the King more then there doe at this present Therefore let there be no staye but that my selfe in persone maye deliuer to the King that I haue to saye vnto him Well sayed Artabanus whom then shall we saye thou arte For by thy speache it seemeth thou art a man of no meane state and condition Themistocles aunswered him as for that Artabanus none shall knowe before the King him selfe Thus doth Phanias reporte it But Eratosthenes in his booke he wrote of riches addeth further howe Themistocles had accesse vnto this Artabanus being recommended to the King by a woman of ERETRIA whom the King kept Themistocles being brought to his presence after he had presented his humble duety and reuerence to him stoode on his feete and sayed neuer a worde vntill the King commaūded the interpreter to aske him what he was and he aunswered Maye it please your maiestie ô noble King I am Themistocles the Athenian a banished man out of my country by the GRECIANS who humbly repayreth to your highnes knowing I haue done great hurt to the PERSIANS but I persuade my self I haue done them farre more good then harme For I it was that kept the GRECIANS backe they dyd not follow you whē the state of GRECE was deliuered from thraldome and my natiue country from daunger and that I knew I stoode then in good state to pleasure you Nowe for me I finde all mens good willes agreable to my present misery and calamitie for I come determined most humbly to thancke your highnes for any grace and fauour you shall shewe me also to craue humble pardone if your maiesty be yet offended with me And therfore licence me most noble King to beseche you that taking mine enemies the GRECIANS for witnesses of the pleasures I haue done the PERSIAN nation you will of your princely grace vse my harde fortune as a good occasion to shewe your honorable vertue rather then to satisfie the passion of your heate and choller For in sauing my life your maiestie saueth an humble suter that put him selfe to your mercie and in putting me to death you shall ryd away an enemy of the GRECIANS Hauing spoken thus these words he sayed further That the goddes
calling Camillus their father their god and their sauiour so that not only the fathers and mothers of the children but all other the cittizens also in generall dyd conceyue in them selues a wonderfull admiration and great loue of the wisedome goodnes and iustice of Camillus So that euen presently they called a counsaill and there it was concluded they should send ambassadours forthwith vnto him to put their liues and goodes to his mercy and fauour Camillus sent their ambassadours vnto ROME where audience being geuen vnto them by the Senate the ambassadours sayed Bicause the ROMAINES preferred iustice aboue victorie they taught them to be better contented to submit them selues vnto them then to be their own men at libertie confessing their vertue dyd more ouercome them then any force or power could doe The Senate dispatched letters vnto Camillus giuing him commission to doe and determine as he thought good So he hauing taken a certen summe of money of the FALERIANS dyd furthermore make peace and league with all the rest of the FALISCES and thereupon returned backe againe to ROME But the souldiers grudged maruelously at it For they stoode in hope to haue had the sacking of the cittie When there was no remedie but they must needes returne home emptie handed they beganne to accuse Camillus to the rest of the cittizens as sone as they came to ROME saying he loued not the common people and howe for spite he disapointed their army of the spoyle On the other side the Tribunes of the people beganne to reuiue the lawe for the deuiding of the inhabitants of ROME and were ready to passe it by the voyces of the people Camillus not fearing the ill will of the commons dyd boldely speake and doe in open presence all he could against it So that plainely he was the chiefest cause that the people against their willes intreate what they could were driuen to let it alone But withall they were so spitefull against him that notwithstanding his sorowe and misfortune for the death of his sonne dying of a sickenes was great they would not of malice once take pittie or compassion of him The losse whereof albeit he was of a very good curteous nature was so grieuous and made him so vnquiet that being accused before the people he sturred not once out of his house but was locked vp with the women which lamented for his sonne departed He that dyd accuse him was one Lucius Apuleius burdening him that he had stolen and taken awaye parte of the spoyle of the THVSCANS and sayed they had seene certen brasen gates at his house which had bene brought out of THVSCAN Nowe the people were so maliciously bent against him that euery man might see if they could once take him in a trippe vpon any aduantage whatsoeuer they would douteles haue condemned him Wherefore calling together his friendes and souldiers that had serued vnder him in the warres or that had taken charge with him which were many in number he earnestly besought them that they would not suffer him thus vilely to be condemned through false and vniust accusations layed against him nor to be so scorned and defamed by his enemies His friends hauing layed their heades together and consulted thereupon made him aunswer howe for his iudgment they could not remedy it but if he were condemned they would all ioyne together with a very goodwill to helpe to paye his fine But he being of minde not to beare such an open shame and ignominie determined in choller to leaue the cittie and to exile him selfe from it And after he had taken his leaue of his wife children bidding them farewell he went out of his house to the gates of the cittie sayed neuer a word When he came thither he stayed sodainely returning backe againe he lift vp his hands towards the Capitoll and made his prayers vnto the godds that if it were of very spight and malice and not of iust deseruing that the common people compelled him thus shamefully to forsake the cittie that the ROMAINES might quickely repente them and in the face of the worlde might wishe for him and haue nede of him After he had made these prayers against the cittizens as Achilles dyd against the GRECIANS he went his way was condemned for his contempte in the summe of fifteene thousand Asses of the ROMAINE coyne which make of Greekishe money a thousand fiue hundred Drachmas of siluer for an As was a litle pece of money wherof tenne of them made a ROMAINE penney Howbeit there was not a ROMAINE of any vnderstaÌ„ding but beleeued certenly that some great punishment would followe them incontinently and that the wrong iniurie they had done him would be quickely requited with some most sharpe and terrible reuenge not only vnpleasaunt to thinke vpon but further most notable to be spoken of through the world There fell out so sodainely vpon it such mischief toward the cittie of ROME and the present time also brought forth such occasion of daunger and destruction thereof to their shame infamie that it was vncertaine whether it happened by chaunce or els it was the handie worcke of some god that would not suffer vertue recompeÌ„ced with ingratitude to passe vnreuenged Their first token that threatned some great mischief to light vpon them was the death of Iulius one of the Censors for the ROMAINES doe greately reuereÌ„ce the office of a Censor and esteeme it as a sacred place The seconde token that happened a litle before Camillus exile was that one Marcus Caeditius a man but of meane qualitie and none of the Senatours but otherwise a fayer conditioned honest man and of good conscience tolde the Tribuni militares of a thing that was to be well considered of For he sayed that the night before as he was going on his waye in the newe streete he heard one call him alowde and returning backe to see what it was he sawe no liuing creature but only heard a voyce bigger then a mans which sayed vnto him Marcus Caeditius goe thy waye to morrowe morning to the Tribuni militares and byd them looke quickely for the GAVLES The Tribunes were mery at the matter and made but a ieast at his warning and straight after followed the condemnation of Camillus Nowe as touching the GAVLES They came as they saye of the CELTAE whose country not being able to mainteine the multitudes of them they were driuen to goe seeke other countryes to inhabite in and there were amongest them many thousands of young men of seruice and good souldiers but yet more women and litle children by a great number Of these people some of them went towards the north sea passing the mountaines RIPHEI and dyd dwell in the extreme partes of EVROPE Other of them remained betwene the mountaines PIRENEI and the greatest mountaines of the ALPES neere vnto the SENONES and the CELTORâ—â— There they continued a long time vntill they
This fowle in deede naturally is very quicke of hearing so is she also very fearefull by nature being in manner famished with their harde allowance they were so much the more waking easier to be afrayed Vpō this occasion therfore they heard the cōming of the GAVLES also beganne to ronne vp downe crie for feare with which noyse they did wake those that were within the castell The GAVLES being bewrayed by these foolishe gese left their stealing vpon them came in with all the open noyse terrour they could The ROMAINES hearing this larum euery man tooke such weapon as came first to his hand they ranne sodainely to rescue that place from whence they vnderstoode the noyse among those the formest man of all was Marcus Manlius a man that had bene Cōsul who had a lusty bodye as stowte a harte His happe being to mete with two of the GAVLES together as one of them was lifting vp his axe to knocke him on the head he preuēted him strake of his hand with his sword and clapt his target on the others face so fiercely that he threwe him backward down the rocke cōming afterwards vnto the walle with others that ranne thither with him he repulsed the rest of the GAVLES that were gotten vp who were not many in nūber neither did any great acte Thus the ROMAINES hauing escaped this daūger the next morning they threw the captaine hedlong down the rocks from the castell who had charge of the watche the night before gaue Manlius in recompence of the good seruice he had done a more honorable then profitable rewarde which was this Euery man of them gaue him halfe a pound of the country wheate which they call Far and the fourth parte of the measure of wine which the GRECIANS call Cotile and this might be about a quarte being the ordinary allowance of euery man by the daye After this repulse the GAVLES beganne to be discoraged partely for that their vitailles fayled them and durst no more forage abroade in the fieldes for feare of Camillus and partly also for that the plague came amongest them being lodged amongest heapes of dead bodies lying in euery place aboue ground without buriall and amongest burnt houses destroyed where the ashes being blowen very high by the winde vehemēcy of heate dyd geue a drie persing ayer that dyd maruelously poyson their bodies when they came to drawe in the breathe of it But the greatest cause of all their mischief was the chaunge of their wonted dyet Who comming out of a freshe countrie where there were excellent pleasaunt places to retire vnto to auoyde the discommoditie of the parching heate of the sommer were nowe in a naughty plaine countrie for them to remaine in in the latter season of the yere All these things together dyd heape diseases vpon them besides the long continuaunce of the siege about the Capitoll for it was then about the seuenth moneth by reason whereof there grewe a maruelous death in their campe through the great numbers of them that dyed daylie and laye vnburied But notwithstanding all the death and trouble of the GAVLES the poore besieged ROMAINES were nothing holpen the more the famine still dyd growe so fast vpō them And bicause they could heare nothing of Camillus they were growen almost vnto a despaire and send vnto him they could not the GAVLES kept so straight watche vpon them in the cittie Whereupon both parties finding them selues in harde state first the watche of either side beganne to cast out wordes of peace amongest them selues and afterwards by cōsent of the heades Sulpitius Tribune of the souldiers came to parle with Brennus In which parle it was articled that the ROMAINES should paye a thousand pounde weight of golde and that the GAVLES should incontinently after the receipt of the same departe out of their cittie and all their territories This decree being passed by othe from both the golde was brought And whē it came to be weyed the GAVLES at the first priuely begāne to deale falsely with them but afterwardes they openly stayed the ballance and would not let them waye no more whereat the ROMAINES beganne to be angrie with them Then Brennus in scorne mockery to despight them more pluckt of his sworde girdell and all and put it into the ballance where the gold was wayed Sulpitius seeing that asked him what he ment by it Brennus aunswered him what canne it signifie els but sorrowe to the vanquished This worde euer after ranne as a common prouerbe in the peoples mouthes Some of the ROMAINES tooke this vile parte of theirs in such scorne that they would needes take the gold from them againe by force and so returne into their holde to abide the siege still as they had done before Other were of opinion to the contrary and thought it best with pacience to put vp this scorne of theirs and not to thincke it was a shame to paye more then they had promised but only to paye it by cōpulsion as they dyd by misfortune of time was to thincke it rather necessary then honorable And as they were debating the matter thus aswell amongest them selues as with the GAVLES Camillus came to ROME gates with his armie and vnderstanding all what had passed betweene them he commaunded the rest of the army to marche fayer and softely after him in good order and he in the meane season with the best choyse men he had went before with all speede Assone as the other ROMAINES within in the cittie had spied him they showted out for ioye and receaued him euery one with great reuerence without any more wordes as their soueraine captaine and prince who had power ouer them all And Camillus taking the golde out of the skales gaue it vnto his men and commaunded the GAVLES presently to take vp their skales and to get them going for sayeth he it is not the ROMAINES manner to keepe their countrie with golde but with the sworde Then Brennus beganne to be hotte and tolde him it was not honorably done of him to breake the accorde that had passed betweene them before by othe Whereunto Camillus stowtely aunswered him againe that accorde was of no validitie For he being created Dictator before all other officers and magistrates whatsoeuer their actes by his election were made of no authoritie and seeing therefore they had delte with men that had no power of them selues to accorde to any matter they were to speake to him if they required ought For he alone had absolute authoritie to pardone them if they repented and would aske it or els to punishe them and make their bodies aunswer the damages and losse his cuntry had by them susteyned These wordes made Brennus madde as a march hare that out went his blade Then they drew their swordes of all sides and layed lustely one at an other as they could within the houses and in open
and to let them in any case from putting their men in order of battell and he at the breake of daye came downe into the plaine and dyd set his other men being well armed in good arraye which were a great number and lustie fellowes and were not as the barbarous people thought fewe and fearefull This at the very first discoraged the hartes of the GAVLES maruelously bicause they thought them selues dishonored that the ROMAINES should charge vpon them first Afterwardes also Camillus vantgarde dyd set vpon the GAVLES and that on a sodaine before they had leysure to put them selues in battell or to order their troupes compelling them to fight without order as they met out of order by chaunce In the ende also Camillus came vpon the neckes of them with all his whole force and army together against whom they ranne notwithstanding holding vp their naked swordes alofte in their handes But the ROMAINES thrusting with their armed iauelinges receaued their enemies blowes vpon them and thereby so rebated the edges of their swordes their blades being very sharpe and thinne grounde and of so softe a temper that they bowed againe and stoode crooked vnreasonably and furthermore hauing persed their shieldes through with their punchingstaues the GAVLES armes were so clogd and wearied with them the ROMAINES plucking them backe to them againe that they threw away their swordes and shieldes and flying in closed with the ROMAINES and caught holde of their iauelines thincking by plaine force to haue wrested them out of their handes Howbeit they perceauing then the GAVLES were naked fell straight to their swordes and so was the slaughter of their first ranckes very great The other fled scatteringly here and there all about the plaine bicause Camillus had caused all the hilles and mountaines about them to be occupied and possessed Neither dyd they retire towardes their campe for that it was vnfortified and also knewe well enough it would be easely taken This battell as they saye was thirteene yeres after their taking of ROME before But after that fielde the ROMAINES corages were good enough against these barbarous GAVLES whom they stoode in feare of before thincking the first time they came that they had not ouercomed them by force but by reason of the plague that fell amongest them or through some other straunge chaunce For they dyd so feare them at that time that they made a lawe howe their priestes should be exempted from warres so it were not against the GAVLES This ouerthrowe was the last marshall acte Camillus dyd in the warres For the taking of the cittie of VELITRES was an accident depending vpon this iorney bicause they yelded straight vnto him without striking any stroke But the seditiousnes of the people of ROME about gouernment and the choosing of the yere Consuls was the hardest matter he euer had in hande For they returning home to ROME stronge and of greate power by their late obteined victorie woulde in any case haue one of the Consuls to be chosen of a commoner which was directly against their auncient custome But the Senate stowtely withstoode it and would not suffer Camillus to be put out of office hoping the better by meanes of his authoritie which was greate then that they should mainteine and continue their auncient dignitie and prerogatiue of their nobilitie But as Camillus was set in his chayer in the market place where he hearde and dispatched causes there came a sergeante to him sent from the Tribunes of the people who commaunded him to followe him and there withall layed violent handes vpon him as he woulde haue caried him awaye by force This made suche a terrible tumulte and vprore that the like was neuer seene before in the market place For Camillus friendes draue the sergeaunte backe behinde the chayer The common people cried out againe to the sergeant from beneath pull him out of his chayer This so amazed Camillus that he knew not well what to saye to the matter Notwithstanding he would not resigne vp his office but taking those Senatours he had about him he went vnto the place where the Senate was wont to be kept And there before he would goe into it he returned backe againe vnto the Capitoll made his prayer vnto the goddes that it would please them to bring his troubles againe to a quiet and so made a solemne vowe and promise if these tumultes and troubles might be pacified that he woulde builde a temple of Concorde When this matter came to debating before the Senate there fell great contention and diuersitie of opinions among them yet in the ende the easiest waye dyd carie it and that was to graunt the common peoples desire that a commoner should be chosen Consul with a noble man. The Dictator hauing openly published to the people the Senates decree confirming their desire the common people were so ioyfull that at that presence they let fall all their malice against the Nobilitie and Senate and brought Camillus home to his house with greate showtes of ioye and clapping of handes The next morning all the people being assembled together in the market place it was there decreed that the temple of concorde should be built at the common wealthes charge according to the vowe Camillus had made in such a place as it might be seene from the market place selfe where all the assemblies for matters of counsell were made And further it was ordered that one daye more should be added to the feastes of the LATINES that from thenceforth they should solemnise foure festiuall dayes should presently make generall sacrifices vnto the goddes in euerie temple of the cittie to geue them thanckes and in token of ioye they should all weare garlands vpon their heades for this reconciliation So Camillus proceeding to election there were chosen two Consuls Marcus AEmilius of the noble Patricians and Lucius Sextus of the Plebeians or commoners And this was the laste acte that euer Camillus dyd For the next yere after the plague was in ROME and tooke awaye an infinite number of people that dyed besides many magistrates and officers of the citie that departed among whom Camillus also left his life Who notwithstanding he had liued a long time and had ended a reasonable course of life yet he was as ready to dye and as paciently tooke his death as any man liuing could haue done Moreouer the ROMAINES made more mone and lamentation for his deathe alone then for all the rest the plague had already consumed The ende of Furius Camillus life THE LIFE OF Pericles CAESAR seeing in ROME one daye certen riche wealthy straūgers hauing litle dogges and munkeyes in their armes and that they made maruelous much of them he asked them if the women in their country had no children wisely reprouing them by his question for that they bestowed their naturall loue affection vpon brute beasts which they should with all kindnes and loue bestowe vpon creatures
were maruelously offended with him he dyd what he could to comforte them and put them in harte againe but all was in vaine he could not pacifie them For by the most parte of voyces they depriued him of his charge of generall and condemned him in a maruelous great fine summe of money the which those that tell the least doe write that it was the summe of fifteene talentes and those that say more speake of fiftie talentes The accuser subscribed in this condemnation was Cleon as Idomeneus or Simmias saye or as Theophrastus writeth yet Heraclides Ponticus sayeth one Lacratidas Nowe his common grieues were sone blowen ouer for the people dyd easely let fall their displeasures towardes him as the waspe leaueth her stinge behinde her with them she hath stong But his owne priuate affayers and household causes were in very ill case both for that the plague had taken awaye many of his friendes and kinsemen from him as also for that he and his house had continued a long time in disgrace For Xanthippus Pericles sonne heire being a man of a very ill disposition and nature and hauing maried a young woman very prodigall and lauishe of expence the daughter of Isander sonne of Epilycus he grudged much at his fathers hardnes who scantly gaue him money and but litle at a time Whereupon he sent on a time to one of his fathers friendes in Pericles name to praye him to lend him some money who sent it vnto him But afterwardes when he came to demaunde it againe Pericles dyd not only refuse to paye it him but further he put him in sute But this made the young man Xanthippus so angrie with his father that he spake very ill of him in euery place where he came and in mockery reported howe his father spent his time when he was at home and the talke he had with the Sophisters and the master rethoritians For a mischaunce fortuning on a time at the game of throwing the darte who should throwe best that he that threwe dyd vnfortunately kill one Epitimius a THESSALIAN Xanthippus went pratling vp and downe the towne that his father Pericles was a whole daye disputing with Protagoras the Rethoritian to knowe which of the three by lawe and reason should be condemned for this murther The darte he that threwe the darte or the deuiser of that game Moreouer Stesimbrotus writeth that the brute that ranne abroade through the cittie howe Pericles dyd keepe his wife was sowen abroade by Xanthippus him selfe But so it is this quarrell hate betwext the father and the sonne continued without reconciliation vnto the death For Xanthippus dyed in the great plague and Pericles owne sister also moreouer he lost at that time by the plague the more parte of all his friends and kinsefolkes and those specially that dyd him greatest pleasure in gouerning of the state But all this dyd neuer pull down his contenaunce nor any thing abate the greatnes of his minde what misfortunes soeuer he had susteined Neither sawe they him weepe at any time nor mourne at the funeralles of any of his kinsemen or friendes but at the death of Paralus his younger and lawfull begotten sonne for the losse of him alone dyd only melt his harte Yet he dyd striue to showe his naturall constancie and to keepe his accustomed modestie But as he would haue put a garland of flowers vpon his head sorowe dyd so pierce his harte when he sawe his face that then he burst out in teares and cryed a mayne which they neuer sawe him doe before all the dayes of his life Furthermore the people hauing proued other captaines and gouernours and finding by experience that there was no one of them of iudgement and authoritie sufficient for so great a charge In the ende of them selues they called him againe to the pulpit for orations to heate their counsells and to the state of a captaine also to take charge of the state But at that time he kept him selfe close in his house as one bewayling his late grieuous losse and sorowe Howbeit Alcibiades and other his familiar friendes persuaded him to shewe him selfe vnto the people who dyd excuse them selues vnto him for their ingratitude towardes him Pericles then taking the gouernment againe vpon him the first matter he entred into was that he prayed them to reuoke the statute he had made for base borne children fearing least his lawfull heires would fayle and so his house and name should fall to the grounde But as for that lawe thus it stoode Pericles when he was in his best authoritie caused a lawe to be made that they only should be compted cittizens of ATHENS which were naturall ATHENIANS borne by father and mother Not long time after it fortuned that the king of EGYPT hauing sent a gifte vnto the people of ATHENS of forty thousand bushells of corne to be distributed among the cittizens there many by occasion of this lawe were accused to be base borne and specially men of the baser sorte of people which were not knowen before or at the least had no reckoning made of them and so some of them were falsely and wrongfully condemned Whereupon so it sell out that there were no lesse then fiue thousand of them conuicted and solde for slaues and they that remained as free men and were iudged to be naturall cittizens amownted to the number of fourteene thousand and fortie persones Now this was much misliked of the people that a lawe enacted and that had bene of suche force should by the selfe maker and deuiser of the same be againe reuoked and called in Howbeit Pericles late calamitie that fortuned to his house dyd breake the peoples hardened hartes against him Who thincking these sorowes smarte to be punishment enough vnto him for his former pryde and iudging that by goddes diuine iustice and permission this plague and losse fell vpon him and that his request also was tollerable they suffered him to enrolle his base borne sonne in the register of the lawfull cittizens of his familie geuing him his owne name Pericles It is the self same Pericles who after he had ouercome the PELOPONNESIANS in a great battell by sea neere vnto the Iles ARGINVSES was put to death by sentence of the people with the other captaines his companiōs Now was Pericles at that time infected with the plague but not so vehemently as other were rather more temperatly by long space of time with many alterations and chaunges that dyd by litle and litle decaye and consume the strength of his bodie and ouercame his sences and noble minde Therefore Theophrastus in his moralles declareth in a place where he disputeth whether mens manners doe chaunge with their misfortunes and whether corporall troubles and afflictions doe so alter men that they forget vertue and abandon reason that Pericles in this sicknes shewed a friende of his that came to see him I cannot tell what a
preseruing charme the women had tyed as a carkanet about his necke to let him vnderstand he was very ill since he suffered them to apply suche a foolishe bable to him In the ende Pericles drawing fast vnto his death the Nobilitie of the cittie and such his friendes as were left aliue standing about his bed beganne to speake of his vertue and of the great authoritie he had borne considering the greatnes of his noble actes and counting the number of his victories he had wonne for he had wonne nine foughten battells being generall of the ATHENIANS and had set vp so many tokens and triumphes in honour of his countrie they reckoned vp among them selues all these matters as if he had not vnderstoode them imagining his sences had bene gone But he contrarilie being yet of perfect memorie heard all what they had sayed and thus he beganne to speake vnto them That he marueled why they had so highly praysed that in him which was common to many other captaines and wherein fortune delt with them in equalitie a like and all this while they had forgotten to speake of the best most notable thing that was in him which was that no ATHENIAN had euer worne blacke gowne through his occasion And suer so was he a noble and worthie persone For he dyd not only shewe him selfe mercifull and curteous euen in most weightie matters of gouernment among so enuious people and hatefull enemies but he had this iudgement also to thincke that the most noble actes he dyd were these that he neuer gaue him selfe vnto hatred enuie nor choller to be reuenged of his most mortall enemie without mercy shewed towardes him though he had committed vnto him suche absolute power and sole gouernment among them And this made his surname to be Olympius as to saye diuine or celestiall which otherwise for him had bene to prowde and arrogant a name bicause he was of so good and gentle a nature and for that in so great libertie he had kept cleane handes vndefiled euen as we esteeme the goddes authors of all good and causers of no ill and so worthy to gouerne and rule the whole monarchie of the world And not as Poets saye which doe confounde our wittes by their follies and fonde faynings and are also contrarie to them felues considering that they call heauen which conteineth the goddes the euerlasting seate which trembleth not and is not driuen nor moued with windes neither is darkened with clowdes but is allwayes bright and cleare and at all times shyning equally with a pure bright light as being the only habitation and mansion place of the eternall God only happy and immortall And afterwardes they describe it them selues full of dissentions of enmities of anger and passions which doe nothing become wise and learned men But this discourse peraduenture would be better spoken of in some other booke Nowe the troubles the ATHENIANS felt immediatly after Pericles death made them then lament the losse of so noble a member For those who vnpaciently dyd brooke his great authoritie while he liued bicause it drowned their owne when they came after his death to proue other speakers and gouernours they were compelled then to confesse that no mans nature liuing could be more moderate nor graue with lenitie and mercie then his was And that most hated power which in his life time they called monarchie dyd then most plainely appeare vnto them to haue bene the manifest ramper and bullwarke of the safetie of their whole state and common weale suche corruption and vice in gouernment of the state dyd then spring vp immediatly after his death which when he was aliue he dyd euer suppresse and keepe vnder in suche sorte that either it dyd not appeare at all or at the least it came not to that hed and libertie that suche faultes were committed as were vnpossible to be remedied The ende of Pericles life THE LIFE OF Fabius Maximus HAVING already declared vnto you such things worthy memorie as we could collect and gather of the life of Pericles it is nowe good time we should proceede to write also of the life of Fabius Maximus It is sayed the first Fabius from whom the house and familie of the Fabians dyd descend being the greatest noblest house of all other in ROME was begotten by Herculos whom he gatte of a Nymphe or as other saye a woman of the coūtrie by the riuer of Tyber And some saye that the first of this house were called at the beginning Fodians bicause they dyd hunte wilde beastes with pittefalles and ditches For vnto this present the ROMAINES call ditches Fossae and to digge Fodere Since that time the two second letters haue bene chaunged and they haue called them Fabians But howsoeuer it was this is certaine that many noble men haue come out of that house and among other there was one of that house called Fabius Rullus whom the ROMAINES for his noble actes dyd surname Maximus very great After him Fabius Maximus whose life we haue now in hande was the fourth lineally descended of the same line and he was surnamed Verrucosus bicause of a certen birth marke he had vpon one of his lippes like a litle warte And he was also surnamed Ouicula a litle lamme for his softnes slownes and grauity of his doings whilest he was a childe But bicause of nature he was dull still and very silent and that he was seldome seene to playe at any pastime among the boyes and for that they sawe he was but of slowe capacitie and hard to learne and conceyue and withall that the boyes might doe to him what they would he was so lowly to his fellowes this made men iudge that looked not into him that he would proue a very foole and nigeot Yet other were of contrarie opinion of him who considering more deepely the man perceyued in his nature a certen secret constancie the maiestie of a lyon But Fabius selfe when he was called to serue the common weale dyd quickely shewe to the world that which they tooke for dullnes in him was his grauitie which neuer altered for no cause or respect and that which other iudged fearefullnes in him was very wisedome And where he shewed him selfe not hastie nor sodaine in any thing it was found in him an assured and setled constancie Wherefore when he came to consider the great soueraintie of their common weale and the continuall warres it was in he dyd vse his bodie to all hardnes and brought vp him selfe therewithall that he might be the better able to serue in the field and he gaue him selfe much to eloquence also as a necessary instrument to persuade souldiers vnto reason His tongue likewise dyd agree with his conditions and manner of life For he had no manner of affectation nor counterfeate finenes in his speach but his words were euer very graue and profounde and his sentences euen grafte in him by nature and as some saye were
the lawes and customes of their countrie being manifest tokens of a man that aspired to be King and would subuert and turne all ouer hand And as for the good will of the common people towards him the poet Aristophanes doth plainely expresse it in these wordes The people most desire vvhat most they hate to haue and vvhat their minde abhorres euen that they seeme to craue And in another place he sayed also aggrauating the suspition they had of him For state or common vveale muche better should it be to keepe vvithin the countrie none suche lyons lookes as he But if they nedes vvill keepe a lyon to their cost then must they nedes obeye his vvill for he vvill rule the roste For to saye truely his curtesies his liberallities and noble expences to shewe the people so great pleasure and pastime as nothing could be more the glorious memorie of his auncesters the grace of his eloquence the beawtie of his persone the strength and valliantnes of his bodie ioyned together with his wisedome and experience in marshall affayers were the very causes that made them to beare with him in all things and that the ATHENIANS dyd paciently endure all his light partes and dyd couer his faultes with the best wordes and termes they could calling them youthfull and gentlemens sportes As when he kept Agartharchus the painter prisoner in his house by force vntill he had painted all his walles within and when he had done dyd let him goe and rewarded him very honestly for his paines Againe when he gaue a boxe of the eare to Taureas who dyd paye the whole charges of a companie of common players in spite of him to carie awaye the honour of the games Also when he tooke awaye a young woman of MELIA by his authoritie that was taken among certaine prisoners in the warres and kept her for his concubine by whom he had a childe which he caused to be brought vp Which they called a worke of charitie albeit afterwards they burdened him that he was the only cause of murdering of the poore MELIANS sauing the litle children bicause he had fauored and persuaded that vnnaturall and wicked decree which another had propounded Likewise where one Aristophon a painter had painted a curtisan named Nemea holding Alcibiades in her armes and sitting in her lappe which all the people ranne to see and tooke great pleasure to behold it the graue and auncient men were angrie at these foolishe partes accompting them impudent things and done against all ciuill modestie and temperancie Wherefore it seemed Archestratus words were spoken to good purpose when he sayed that GREECE could not abide two Alcibiades at once And on a daye as he came from the counsaill and assembly of the cittie where he had made an excellent oration to the great good liking and acceptation of all the hearers and by meanes thereof had obteined the thing he desired and was accompanied with a great traine that followed him to his honour Timon surnamed Misanthropus as who would saye Loup-garou or the manhater meeting Alcibiades thus accompanied dyd not passe by him nor gaue him waye as he was wont to doe to all other men but went straight to him and tooke him by the hande and sayed O thou dost well my sonne I can thee thancke that thou goest on and climest vp still for if euer thou be in authoritie woe be vnto those that followe thee for they are vtterly vndone When they heard these wordes those that stoode by fell a laughing other reuiled Timon other againe marked well his wordes and thought of them many a time after suche sundry opinions they had of him for the vnconstantie of his life and way wardnes of his nature and conditions Now for the taking of SICILIA the ATHENIANS dyd maruelosly couer it in Pericles life but yet they dyd not medle withall vntill after his death and then they dyd it at the first vnder coller of friendshippe as ayding those citties which were oppressed and spoyled by the SYRACVSANS This was in manner a plaine bridge made to passe afterwardes a greater power and armie thither Howbeit the only procurer of the ATHENIANS and persuader of them to send small companies thither no more but to enter with a great armie at once to conquer all the countrie together was Alcibiades who had so allured the people with his pleasaunt tongue that vpon his persuasion they built castells in the ayer and thought to doe greater wonders by winning only of SICILIA For where other dyd set their mindes apon the conquest of SICILIA being that they only hoped after it was to Alcibiades but a beginning of further enterprises And where Nicias commonly in all his persuasions dyd turne the ATHENIANS from their purpose to make warres against the SYRACVSANS as being to great a matter for them to take the cittie of SYRACVSA Alcibiades againe had a further reache in his head to goe conquer LIBYA and CARTHAGE and that being conquered to passe from thence into ITALIE and so to PELOPONNESY's so that SICILIA should serue but to furnishe them with vittells and to paye the souldiers for their conquestes which he had imagined Thus the young men were incontinently caried awaye with a maruelous hope and opinion of this iorney and gaue good care to olde mens tales that tolde them wonders of the countries insomuche as there was no other pastime nor exercise among the youth in their meetings but companies of men to set rounde together drawe plattes of SICILE and describe the situation of LIBYA and CARTHAGE And yet they saye that neither Socrates the philosopher nor Meton the astronomer dyd euer hope to see any good successe of this iorney For the one by the reuealing of his familliar spirite who tolde him all things to come as was thought had no great opinion of it Meton whether it was for the feare of the successe of the iorney he had by reason or that he knew by diuination of his arte what would followe he coūterfeated the mad man holding a burning torche in his hand made as though he would haue set his house a fyer Other saye that he dyd not coūterfeate but like a mad mā in deede dyd set his house a fyre one night and that the next morning betimes he went into the market place to praye the people that in consideration of his great losse and his grieuous calamitie so late happened him it would please them to discharge his sonne for going this voyage So by this mad deuise he obteined his request of the people for his sonne whom he abused much But Nicias against his will was chosen captaine to take charge of men in these warres who misliked this iorney aswell for his companion and associate in the charge of these warres as for other misfortunes he foresawe therein Howbeit the ATHENIANS thought the warre would fall out well if they dyd not commit it wholy to Alcibiades rashnes and hardines but dyd
ioyne with him the wisedome of Nicias and appointed Lamachus also for their third captaine whom they sent thither though he were waxen now somewhat olde as one that had shewed him selfe no lesse venturous and hardie in some battells then Alcibiades him selfe Now when they came to resolue of the number of souldiers the furniture and order of these warres Nicias sought crookedly to thwart this iorney and to breake it of altogether but Alcibiades withstoode him and gate the better hande of him There was an orator called Demostratus who moued the people also that the captaines whom they had chosen for these warres might haue full power and authoritie to leauy men at their discretion and to make suche preparation as they thought good whereunto the people condescended and dyd authorise them But when they were euen readie to goe their waye many signes of ill successe lighted in the necke one of another and amongest the rest this was one That they were commaunded to take shippe on the daye of the celebration of the feast of Adonia on the which the custome is that women doe set vp in diuers placeâ— of the cittie in the middest of the streates images like to dead corses which they carie to buriall and they represent the mourning and lamentations made at the funeralles of the dead with blubbering and beating them selues in token of the sorowe the goddesse Venâ—â— made for the death of her friend Adonis Moreouer the Hermes which are the images of Mercurie and were wont to be set vp in euery lane and streete were found in a night all hacked and hewed and mangled specially in their faces but this put diuers in great feare and trouble yea euen those that made no accompt of suche toyes Whereupon it was alledged that it might be the CORINTHIANS that dyd it or procured that lewde acte to be done fauoring the SYRACVSANS who were their neere kynsemen and had bene the first fownders of them imagining vpon this ill token it might be a cause to breake of the enterprise and to make the people repent them that they had taken this warre in hande Neuertheles the people would not allow this excuse neither hearken to their wordes that sayed they should not reckon of any such signes or tokens and that they were but some light brained youthes that being â—ippled had played this shamefull parte in their brauerie or for sporte But for all these reasons they tooke these signes very greuously and were in deede not a litle afeard as thinking vndoutedly that no man durst haue bene so bolde to haue done suche an abhominable facte but that there was some conspiracie in the matter Hereupon they looked apon euery suspition and coniecture that might be how litle or vnlikely soeuer it were and that very seuerely and both Senate and people also met in counsell vpon it very ofte and in a fewe dayes Now whilestâ— they were busilie searching out the matter Androcles a common counseller and orator in the common wealth brought before the counsell certaine slaues and straungers that dwelt in ATHENS who deposed that Alcibiades and other of his friends and companions had hacked and mangled other images after that sorte and in a mockerie had counterfeated also in a banket that he made the ceremonies of the holy mysteries declaring these matters particularly How one Theodorus counterfeated the herauld that is wonte to make the proclamations Polytion the torche bearer and Alcibiades the priest who sheweth the holy signes and mysteries and that his other companions were the assistantes as those that make sute to be receyued into their religion and order and into the brotherhood of their holy mysteries whom for this cause they call â— Mystes These very wordes are written in the accusation Thessalus Cimons sonne made against Alcibiades charging him that he had wickedly mocked the two goddesses Ceres Proserpina Whereat the people being maruelously moued and offended and the orator Androcles his mortall enemie aggrauating stirring them vp the more against him Alcibiades a litle at the first beganne to be amased at it But afterwards hearing that the mariners which were prepared for the voyage of SICILIA and the souldiers also that were gathered dyd beare him great good will and specially how the ayde and that bande that came from ARGOS and Mantinea being a thousand footemen well armed and appointed dyd saye openly how it was for Alcibiades sake they dyd take vpon them so long a voyage beyond sea that if they went about to doe him any hurte or wrong they would presently returne home againe from whence they came he beganne to be of a good corage againe and determined with this good fauorable opportunitie of time to come before the counsell to aunswer to all suche articles and accusations as should be layed against him Thereupon his enemies were a litle cooled fearing least the people in this iudgement would haue shewed him more fauour bicause they stoode in nede of him Wherefore to preuent this daunger they had fed other Oratours who set a good face on the matter as they had bene Alcibiades friends and yet bare him no lesse good will then the ranckest enemies he had These fine fellowes rose vp in open assembly and sayed it was no reason that he that was now chosen one of the generalles of so mightie and puissant an armie being ready to hoyse sayle and the ayde also of their allies and friendes should be driuen to staye now and to lose time and occasion of well doing whilest they should goe about to choose iudges and appointe him his howres and time of aunswer Therefore they sayed it was fit he should take his iorney betimes and when warres were done that he should present him selfe to requier iustice and to purge him selfe of suche matters as should be obiected against him But Alcibiades smelling streight their fetche and perceyuing the practise of his staye stept vp and declared how they dyd him great wrong to make him departe with the charge of a generall of so great an armie his minde being troubled with continuall feare of so grieuous curses as he should leaue apon him and that he deserued death if he could not purge and iustifie him selfe of all the vniust and surmised accusations against him And if he had once clered him selfe of all thinges and had published his innocencie he should then haue nothing in his head to trouble him nor to thinke vpon but to goe on lustely to fight with his enemies and to cast behinde him the daunger of all his slaunderous detracters But all this could not persuade them And so he was presently commaunded in the behalfe of the people to imbarke shippe awaye his men Thus he was compelled to take the seas with his other companions hauing in their nauie about a hundred and forty gallyes all hauing three owers to a bancke fiue thousand one hundred footemen very well armed and appointed throwers with slingers archers
Conon fled and the other being not much lesse then two hundred in number were euery one of them taken and caried awaye with three thousand prisoners whom Lysander put to death Shortely after he tooke the cittie self of ATHENS and rased their long walles euen to the ground After this great and notable victorie Alcibiades fearing sore the LACEDAEMONIANS who then without let or interruption of any were only Lords and Princes by sea and by lande he went into the countrie of BITHYNIA and caused great good to be brought after him and tooke a maruelous sūme of money with him besides great riches he left also in the castells of THRACIA where he dyd remaine before Howbeit he lost much of his goodes in BITHYNIA which certaine THRACIANS dwelling in that countrie had robbed him of taken from him So he determined to repaire forthwith vnto king Artaxerxes hoping that when the King had once proued him he should finde him a man of no lesse seruice then he had found Themistocles before him besides that the occasion of his going thither should be muche iuster then his was For he dyd not goe thither to make warre against the cittie of ATHENS and his countrie as Themistocles did but of a cōtrarie intent to make intercession to the King that it would please him to ayde them Now Alcibiades thinking he could vse no better meane then Pharnabazus helpe only to see him safely conducted to the Kings courte he proposed his iorney to him into the countrie of PHRYGIA where he abode a certaine time to attēd vpon him was very honorably entertained and receyued of Pharnabazus All this while the ATHENIANS founde them selues desolate in miserable state to see their empire lost but then much more when Lysander had taken all their liberties and dyd set thirtie gouernours ouer their cittie Now to late after all was lost where they might haue recouered againe if they had bene wise they beganne together to bewaile and lament their miseries and wretched state looking backe apon all their wilfull faultes and follies committed emong which they dyd reckon their second time of falling out with Alcibiades was their greatest faulte So they banished him only of malice and displeasure not for any offense him selfe in persone had committed against them sauing that his lieutenaunt in his absence had shamefully lost a fewe of their shippes and they them selues more shamefully had driuen out of their cittie the noblest souldier and most skilfull captaine that they had And yet they had some litle poore hope lefte that they were not altogether cast awaye so long as Alcibiades liued and had his health For before when he was a forsaken man and led a banished life yet he could not liue idely and doe nothing Wherefore now much more sayed they to them selues if there be any helpe at all he will not suffer out of doubt the insolencie pryde of the LACEDAEMONIANS nor yet abyde the cruelties and outrages of these thirtie tyrauntes And surely the common people had some reason to haue these thoughts in their heades considering that the thirtie gouernours them selues dyd what they could possiblie to spye out Alcibiades doinges and what he went about In so muche as Critias at the last declared to Lysander that so long the LACEDAEMONIANS might reckon them selues Lordes ouer all GREECE as they kept from the common people the rule and authoritie of the cittie of ATHENS And further he added that notwithstanding the people of ATHENS could well awaye to liue like subiects vnder the gouernment of a fewe yet Alcibiades whilest he liued would neuer suffer them so to be reigned ouer but would attempt by all deuise he could to bring a chaunge and innouation emong them Yet Lysander would not credit these persuasions before speciall commandement was sent to him from the Senate of LACEDAEMON vpon his allegiaunce that he should deuise to kill Alcibiades by all meanes he could procure either bicause in trothe they feared the subtiltie of his wit and the greatnes of his corage to enterprise matters of great weight and daunger or els that they sought to gratifie king Agis by it Lysander being thus straightly commaunded dyd send and practise incontinently with Pharnabazus to execute the facte who gaue his brother Magaeus and his vncle Sosamithres commission to attempt the matter Now was Alcibiades in a certen village of PHRYGIA with a concubine of his called Timandra So he thought he dreamed one night that he had put on his concubines apparell and how she dandling him in her armes had dressed his head friseling his heare and painted his face as he had bene a woman Other saye that he thought Magaeus strake of his head and made his bodie to be burnt and the voyce goeth this vision was but a litle before his death Those that were sent to kill him durst not enter the house where he was but set it a fire round about Alcibiades spying the fire got suche apparell and hanginges as he had and threwe it on the fire thincking to haue put it out and so casting his cloke about his left arme tooke his naked sworde in his other hande and ranne out of the house him selfe not once touched with fyer sauing his clothes were a litle singed These murderers so sone as they spied him drewe backe and stoode a sonder and durst not one of them come neere him to stande and fight with him but a farre of they bestowed so many arrowes and dartes of him that they killed him there Now when they had left him Timandra went and tooke his bodie which she wrapped vp in the best linnen she had and buried him as honorably as she could possible with suche things as she had and could get together Some holde opinion that Lais the only famous curtisan which they saye was of CORINTHE though in deede she was borne in a litle towne of SICILIA called HYCCARA where she was taken was his doughter Notwithstanding touching the death of Alcibiades there are some that agree to all the rest I haue written sauing that they saye it was neither Pharnabazus nor Lysander nor the LACEDAEMONIANS which caused him to be slaine but that he keeping with him a young gentlewoman of a noble house whom he had stolen awaye and instised to follie her brethern to reuenge this iniurie went to set fire vpon the house where he was and that they killed him as we haue tolde you thinking to leape out of the fyre The ende of Alcibiades life THE LIFE OF CAIVS Martius Coriolanus THE house of the Martians at ROME was of the number of the Patricians out of the which hath sprong many noble personages whereof Ancus Martius was one king Numaes daughters sonne who was king of ROME after Tullus Hostilius Of the same house were Publius and Quintus who brought to ROME their best water they had by conducts Censorinus also came of that familie that
GRAEKE tongue For he dyd not only retaine Grammarians Rethoricians and Logitians but also painters grauers of images riders of horses and huntes of GRAECE about his children and he him selfe also if no matters of common wealth troubled him was euer with them in the schoole when they were at their bookes and also when they otherwise dyd exercise them selues For he loued his children as much or more then any other ROMAINE Now concerning the state of the commō wealth the ROMAINES were at warres with king Perseus they much blamed the captaines they had sent thither before for that for lacke of skill and corage they had so cowardly behaued them selues as their enemies laughed them to scorne and they receyued more hurte of them then they dyd vnto the king For not long before they had driuen king Antiochus beyound mount Taurus and had made him forsake the rest of ASIA and had shut him vp within the borders of SYRIA who was glad that he had bought that contrie with fifteene thousand talēts which he payed for a fine A litle before also they had ouercome Philip king of MACEDON in THESSALY and had deliuered the GRAECIANS from the bondage of the MACEDONIANS And moreouer hauing ouercome Hannibal vnto whom no Prince nor King that euer was in the worlde was comparable either for his power or valliantnes they thought this to great a dishonour to them that this warre they had against king Perseus should hold so long of euen hande with them as if he had bene an enemie equall with the people of ROME considering also that they fought not against them but with the refuse and scattered people of the ouerthrowen armie his father had lost before and knew not that Philip had left his armie stronger and more experte by reason of his ouerthrowe then it was before As I will briefly reherse the storie from the beginning Antigonus who was of the greatest power of all the captaines successours of Alexander the great hauing obteined for him self his posteritie the title of a King had a sonne called Demetrius of whō came Antigonus the second that was surnamed Gonatas whose sonne was also called Demetrius that raigned no long time but dyed and left a young sonne called Philippe By reason whereof the Princes and Nobilitie of MACEDON fearing that the Realme should be left without heire they preferred one Antigonus cosin to the last deceased King and made him marie the mother of Philip the lesse geuing him the name at the first of the Kings protectour only and lieutenaunt generall of his maiestie But after when they had founde he was a good and wise prince and a good husband for the Realme they then gaue him the absolute name of a King and surnamed him Doson to saye the giuer for he promised muche and gaue litle After him reigned Philip who in his grene youth gaue more hope of him selfe then any other of the Kings before in so much they thought that one daye he would restore MACEDON her auncient fame and glorie and that he alone would plucke downe the pride and power of the ROMAINES who rose against all the world But after that he had lost a great battell and was ouerthrowen by Titus Quintus Flaminius neere vnto the cittie of SCOTVSA then he beganne to quake for feare and to leaue all to the mercie of the ROMAINES thinking he escaped good cheape for any light ransome or tribute the ROMAINES should impose apon him Yet afterwards comming to vnderstād him selfe he grewe to disdaine it much thinking that to reigne through the fauour of the ROMAINES was but to make him selfe a slaue to seeke to liue in pleasure at his ease not for a valliāt noble prince borne Whereupon he set all his minde to studie the discipline of warres and made his preparations as wisely and closely as possiblie he could For he left all his townes alongest the sea coast stāding vpon any high wayes without any fortification at all in manner desolate without people to the ende there might appeare no occasion of doubt or mistrust in him in the meane time in the highe countries of his Realme farre from great beaten wayes he leauied a great number of men of warre replenished his townes strong holdes that laye scatteringly abroad with armour weapon money men prouiding for warre which he kept as secretly as he could For he had prouision of armour in his armorie to arme thirtie thousand men eight million busshels of corne safely lokt vp in his fortes strōger places ready money as much as would serue to entertaine tenne thousand straungers in paye to defend his countrie for the space of tenne yeres But before he could bring that to passe he had purposed he dyed for grief sorowe after he knewe he had vniustly put Demetrius the best of his sonnes to death apon the false accusation of the worst that was Perseus who as he dyd inherite the Kingdom of his father by succession so dyd he also inherite his fathers malice against the ROMAINES But he had no shoulders to beare so heauy a burden and especially being as he was a man of so vile and wicked nature for among many lewde naughty conditions he had he was extreme couetous miserable They saye also that he was not legitimate bicause Philippes wife had taken him from Gnathainia a tailours wife borne at ARGOS immediatly after he was borne dyd adopt the child to be hers And some thinke that this was the chiefest cause why he practised to put Demetrius to death fearing least this lawful sonne would seeke occasiō to proue him a bastard Notwithstanding simple though he was of vile base nature he found the strength of his Kingdom so great that he was contented to take vpon him to make warre against the ROMAINES which he mainteined a long time and fought against their Consuls that were their generalles and repulsed great armies of theirs both by sea and lande and ouercame some As Publius Licinius among other the first that inuaded MACEDON was ouerthrowen by him in a battell of horsemen where he slewe at that time two thousand fiue hundred good men of his and tooke sixe hundred prisoners And their armie by sea riding at ancker before the cittie of OREVM he dyd so dainly set apon and tooke twenty great shippes of burden and all that was in them and soncke the rest which were all loden with corne tooke of all sortes besides about foure fiftie foystes and galliots of fiftie owers a pece The second Consul generall he fought with all was Hostilius whom he repulsed attempting by force to inuade MACEDON by waye of the cittie of ELVMIA Another time again whē he entred in by stelth vpō the coast of THESSALY he offred him battel but the other durst not abide it Furthermore as though the warre troubled him nothing
Captaines and leaders of men of warre to the deathe and specially for the tretcherie of Calippus and Pharax whereof the one was an ATHENIAN and the other a LACEDAEMONIAN Both of them sayed they came to set SICILE at libertie and to driue out the tyrans and yet neuertheles they had done so much hurte vnto the poore SICILIANS that the miserie and calamitie which they had suffered vnder the tyrans seemed all to be golde vnto them in respect of that which the Captaines had made them to abyde And they did not thinke them more happy that had willingly submitted them selues vnto the yoke of seruitude then those which they sawe restored and set at libertie Therefore perswading them selues that this CORINTHIAN woulde be no better vnto them then the other had bene before but supposing they were the selfe same former craftes and alluring baytes of good hope and fayer wordes which they had tasted of before to drawe them to accept newe tyrans they did sore suspect it and reiected all the CORINTHIANS perswasions Sauing the ADRANITANS onely whose litle citie being consecrated to the god Adranus and greatly honored and reuerenced through all SICILE was then in dissention one against an other in so muche as one parte of them tooke parte with Icetes and the CARTHAGINIANS and an other side of them sent vnto Timoleon So it fortuned that bothe the one and the other making all the possible speede they coulde who shoulde come first arriued bothe in manner at one selfe tyme. Icetes had about fiue thowsande souldiers Timoleon had not in all aboue twelue hundred men with the which he departed to goe towards the citie of ADRANVS distant from TAVROMENION about three hundred and fortie furlonges For the first dayes iorney he went no great way but lodged betymes but the next morning he marched very hastely had maruelous ill way When night was come and day light shut in he had newes that Icetes did but newyly arriue before ADRANVS where he encamped When the priuate captaines vnderstood this they caused the voward to stay to eate repose a litle that they might be the lustier the stronger to fight But Timoleon did set still forwards prayed them not to stay but to goe on with all the speede they could possible that they might take their enemies out of order as it was likely they should being but newly arriued troubled with making their cabbons preparing for supper Therewithall as he spake these wordes he tooke his target on his arme and marched him selfe the formost man as brauely and coragiously as if he had gon to a most assured victorie The souldiers seeing him marche with that life they followed at his heeles with like corage So they had not passing thirty furlonges to goe which when they had ouercomen they straight set apon their enemies whome they found all out of order and began to flye so soone as they saw they were vpon their backes before they were aware By this meanes there were not aboue three hundred men slayne and twise as many moe taken prisoners and so their whole campe was possessed Then the ADRANITANS opening their gates yelded vnto Timoleon declaring vnto him with great feare and no lesse wonder how at the very time when he gaue charge apon the enemies the dores of the temple of their god opened of them selues that the Iaueling which the Image of their god did hold in his hand did shake at the very ende where the iron head was and how all his face was seene to sweate This in my opinion did not onely signifie the victorie he had gotten at that time but all the notable exploytes he did afterwardes vnto the which this first encounter gaue a happye beginning For immediatly after many cities sent vnto Timoleon to ioyne in league with him And Mamercus the tyran of CATANA a souldier and very full of money did also seeke his friendship Furthermore Dionysius the tyran of SYRACVSA being weary to follow hope any longer and finding him selfe in maner forced vnto it by long continuance of seige made no more reckoning of Icetes when he knewe that he was so shamefully ouertrowen And contrariwise much esteeming Timoleons valiantnes he sent to aduertise him that he was contented to yelde him selfe and the castell into the handes of the CORINTHIANS Timoleon being glad of this good happe vnlooked for sent Euclides and Telemachus two Captaines of the CORINTHIANS to take possession of the castell with fowre hundred men not all at a tyme nor openly for it was vnpossible the enemies lying in wayte in the hauen but by small companies and by stelthe he conueyed them all into the castell So the souldiers possessed the castell and the tyrans pallace with all the moueables and municion of warres within the same There were a great number of horse of seruice great store of staues and weapons offensiue of all sortes and engynes of batterie to shoote farre of and sundry other weapons of defence that had bene gathered together of long tyme to arme threescore and tenne thowsand men Moreouer besides all this there were two thowsand souldiers whome with all the other thinges rehearsed Dionysius deliuered vp into the handes of Timoleon and he him selfe with his money and a few of his friendes went his way by sea Icetes not knowing it and so came to Timoleons campe This was the first tyme that euer they sawe Dionysius a priuate man in base and meane estate And yet within fewe dayes after Timoleon sent him from thence vnto CORINTHE in a shippe with litle store of money Who was borne and brought vp in the greatest and most famous tyrannie and kingdome conquered by force that euer was in the world and which him selfe had kept by the space of tenne yeares after the death of his father Since Dion draue him out he had bene maruelously turmoyled in warres by the space of twelue yeares in which time although he had done muche mischiefe yet he had suffered also a great deale more For he sawe the death of his sonnes when they were men growen and able to serue and cary armor He saw his daughters rauished by force deflowred of their virginitie He saw his owne sister who was also his wife first of all shamed cruelly handled in her person with the greatest villanies most vile partes done vnto her that his enemies could deuise afterwards horribly murdered with his childrē their bodies in the end throwen into the sea as we haue more amply declared in the life of Dion Now when Dionysius was arryued in the cittie of CORINTHE euery GRAECIAN was wonderfull desirous to go see him and to talke with him And some went thither very glad of his ouerthrow as if they had troden him downe with their feete whom fortune had ouerthrowen so bitterly did they hate him Other pittiyng him in their heartes to see so great a chaunge did behold him as
GREECIANS vnto in the open assemblies and common feastes and plaies of GREECE out of the which fortune deliuered him safe and sound before the trouble of the ciuill warres that folowed sone after and moreouer he made a great proofe of his valliancie and knowledge in warres against the barbarous people and tyrannes and had shewed him selfe also a iust and merciful man vnto al his frendes and generally to al the GREECIANS And furthermore seeing he wonne the most part of all his victories triumphes with out the sheading of any one teare of his men or that any of them mourned by his meanes and also ryd all SICILE of all the miseries and calamities raigning at that time in lesse then eight yeeres space he beyng nowe growen olde his sight first beginning a litle to faile him shortly after he lost it altogether This happened not through any cause or occasion of sicknesse that came vnto him nor that fortune had casually done him that iniurie but it was in my opinion a disease inheritable to him by his parētes which by time came to laie hold on him also For the voyce wēt that many of his skin in like case had also lost their sight which by litle litle with age was cleane takē from thē Howbeit Athanis the Historiographer writeth that during the warres he had against Mamercus Hippon as he was in his campe at MYLLES there came a white spott in his eyes that dimmed his sight somwhat so that euery man perceiued that he should lose his sight altogether Notwithstanding that he did not raise his seige but continued his enterprise vntill he tooke both the tyrans at last so soone as he returned to SYRACVSA againe he did put him self out of his office of general praying the citizens to accept that he had already done the rather bicause things were brought to so good passe as they them selues could desire Now that he paciently tooke this misfortune to be blind altogether peraduenture men may somewhat maruel at it but this much more is to be wondred at that the SYRACVSANS after he was blind did so much honor him acknowledge the good he had done thē that they went them selues to visite him oft and brought straungers that were trauellers to his house in the city also in the contry to make them see their benefactor reioycing and thinking thēselues happy that he had chosē to end his life with thē that for this cause he had despised the glorious retorne that was prepared for him in GREECE for the great happy victories he had wōne in SICILE But amongest many other thinges the SYRACVSANS did ordeyned to honor him with this of all other me thinketh was the chiefest that they made a perpetuall lawe so oft as they should haue warres agaynst forreyne people not agaynst their owne contry men that they should euer choose a CORINTHIAN for their generall It was a goodly thing also to see how they did honor him in the assemblies of their councell For if any trifling matter fell in question among them they dispatched it of them selues but if it were a thing that required great counsaill and aduise they caused Timoleon to be sent for So he was brought through the market place in his litter into the Theater where all the assembly of the people was and caryed in euen so in his litter as he sate and then the people dyd all salute him with one voyce and he them in lyke case And after he had pawsed a while to heare the praises and blessinges the whole assembly gaue him they dyd propounde the matter doubtfull to him and he deliuered his opinion vpon the same which being passed by the voyces of the people his seruauntes caryed him backe againe in his litter through the Theater and the citizens dyd wayte on him a litle way with cryes of ioye and clapping of handes and that done they dyd repayre to dispatche common causes by them selues as they dyd before So his olde age being thus entertayned with suche honour and with the loue and good wyll of euery man as of a common father to them al in the ende a sicknesse tooke him by the backe whereof he dyed So the SYRACVSANS had a certen tyme appoynted them to prepare for his funeralles their neighbours also therabouts to come vnto it By reasō wherof his funeral was so much more honorably performed in al thinges specially for that the people apoynted the noblest younge gentelmen of the citie to carrie his coffyn vpon their shoulders rychely furnished and set forth whereon his body laye and so dyd conuey him through the place where the Palyce and Castell of the tyranne Dionysius had been which then was rased to the grounde There accompanied his body also many thowsandes of people all crowned with garlandes of flowers and apparreled in their best apparell so as it seemed it had been the procession of some solemne feast and all their woordes were praisinges and blessinges of the dead with teares ronnyng downe their cheekes which was a good testimonie they dyd not this as men that were glad to be discharged of the honor they dyd him neither for that it was so ordayned but for the iust sorowe and griefe they tooke for his death and for very hartie good loue they dyd beare him And lastly the coffin being put vppon the stacke of wod where it should be burnt Demetrius one of the heralds that had the lowdest voyce proclaymed the decree that was ordeined by the people the effect whereof was this The people of SYRACVSA hath ordained that this present body of Timoleon CORINTHIAN the sonne of Timodemus should be buried at the charges of the common weale vnto the summe of two hundred MINAS hath honored his memorie with playes and games of musicke with ronning of horses and with other exercises of the bodie whiche shal be celebrated yeerely on the day of his death for euermore and this bicause he dyd driue the tyrannes out of SICILE for that he ouercame the barbarous people and bicause he replenished many great cities with inhabitantes againe which the warres had left desolate and vnhabited lastly for that he had restored the SICILIANS againe to their libertie to liue after their owne lawes And afterwards his tombe was built in the market place about the which a certen time after they builded certen cloysters and gallaries to exercise the youth in with exercise of their bodyes and the places so walled in was called Timoleontium and so long as they dyd obserue the lawes and ciuill policie he stablished amongest them they liued long tyme in great continuall prosperitie THE COMPARISON OF Paulus AEmylius with Timoleon SYthe these two men were suche as the Historiographers haue described them to be it is certayne that comparing the one with the other we shall fynde no great oddes nor difference betweene them For fyrst of all the
bed his dores were shut vp and they knocked long before any man came to the dore At the length one of his men that hearde them rappe so hard with much a do came to open the dore but he had no sooner thrust backe the bolt of the dore and beganne to open it but they pushed it from them with such a force apon him altogether that they layed him on the grounde and went straight to his maisters chamber Leontidas hearing the noyse of them that ranne vppe to him in such hast presently mistrusted the marter and leaping out of his bed tooke his sworde in his hande but did forget to put out the lampes that burned in his chamber all night for if they hadde beene out they might easily haue hurt one an other in the darke But the lampes giuinge cleare light in the chamber he went to the chamber dore and gaue Cephisodorus the first man that pressed to enter apon him such a blowe with his sword that he dropped downe dead at his feete Hauinge slaine the first man he dealt with the seconde that came after him and that was Pelopidas The fight went hard betwene them two bothe for that the chamber dore was verie straight as also for that Cephisodorus body lying on the ground did choke the comming in at the chamber Notwithstanding Pelopidas ouercame him in the ende and slue him and went from thence with his companie straight to Hypates house where they got in as they did into Leontidas house before But Hypates knewe presently what it was and thought to saue him selfe in his neighbours houses Howbeit the conspirators followed him so harde that they cutte him of before he coulde recouer their houses Then they gathered together and ioyned with Melons company and sent immediatly with all possible speede to ATHENS to the banished THEBANS there cried through the city liberty liberty arming those citizens that came to them with the armor spoyles of their enemies that were hanged vp in common vawtes armorers shope about Charons house which they brake open or caused to be opened by force On the other side Epaminondas and Gorgidas came to ioyne with them with a company of young men honest olde men well appointed whom they had gathered together Hereupon the whole citie was straight in an vprore tumult euery house was full of lights one running to an other to know what the matter was Neuertheles the people did not yet assemble together but eueryone being amazed musing at this stur not vnderstāding the troth staied vntill day came on that they might call a counsell But truely herein me thinkes the Captaines of the garrison of the LACEDAEMONIANS were greatly in fault that they did not sturre betimes set vpon thē incontinently consideringe they were xv hundred souldiers besides a great number of citizens that would haue come one after an other to take their partes But the great noyse they heard made them afeard to see lights in euery mans house the people running vp down the streets in great multitudes to fro wherupon they stirred not but only kept thē within the castel of CADMEA The next morninge by breake of day came the other banished THEBANS from ATHENS very wel armed al the people of THEBES drew together in counsail Thither did Epaminondas and Gorgidas bring Pelopidas his cōsorts presented thē before the people cōpassed about with priests the professed of the city offering them crownes to put vpon their heads they praied the assembly of the citizens that they would help their gods their contrie Al the people that were present whē they saw them rose vp stoode on their feets with great showtes clapping of hands receiued thē as their sauiours that had deliuered their contry frō bondage restored them again to liberty therupon before them al euen in the market place by the whole voice consent of the people they chose Pelopidas Melon Charon gouernors captaines of all BOEOTIA Pelopidas then immediatly made them besiege the castell of CADMEA about with trenches force of wod doing al he could possible to winne it to expulse the LACEDAEMONIANS before any supply aide came to them frō SPARTA So he did preuēted it so sodainly that the garrison being departed out of the castel by cōposition as they returned towards LACEDAEMONIA they found Cleombrotus king of SPARTA in the contry of MEGARA comming towards thē with a great army to help thē Afterward of the three captaines which had charge of their garrison that lay at THEBES the SPARTANS condēned two of them to death Hermippidas Artissus were presently executed the third captaine Dysaoridas they set so greeuous a fyne on his head that he wēt out of PELOPONESVS This enterprise being attēpted executed with the like valiantnes the same daūger trouble that Thrasybulus practise was whē he deliuered ATHENS from the slauery of the thirty gouernors tyrans hauing the like fortune happy ende the GRAECIANS termed it cosyn german to Thrasybulus act And in deede it were a harde matter to find two other such besides thē two that with so few mē ouercame their enemies being many moe in nōber then thēselues or that with so small help did ouercome those that were of so great force or that performed their enterprise with their only valiantnes wisedō were cause besides of so great blessing benefit to their contry as Pelopidas Thrasybulus attēpt was But the great chaūge alteracion of the state afterwards did make their actes farre more noble famous For the warre that ouerthrew the maiestie of SPARTA that tooke away al the seigniorie rule of the LACEDAEMONIANS bothe by sea by land beganne the very same night when Pelopidas him self making the twelut person entring into a priuate house taking nether citie nor castel nor stronger hold to tel truly by figuratiue speach did breake cut in sonder the linkes chaynes that lincked straight together strēgthened the LACEDAEMONIANS whole empire monarchie ouer al GREECE who vntil that presēt time were thought so strong as no possibilitie could breake or sonder them Now the LACEDAEMONIANS fortuning afterwards to inuade the cōtry of BOEOTIA with a mighty army the ATHENIANS trēbling for feare of their great power did vtterly leaue to protect thē renownced the league alliance they had made before with them And moreouer they did straightly prosecute law against those that were accused to take part with the BOEOTIANS wherof some of thē were put to death other were banished from ATHENS the rest condēned in great summes of money To be short euery man sayd the THEBANS were but vndone considering they had no help were beloued besides of none At that presēt time it fel out Pelopidas Gorgidas were generals ouer al BOEOTIA for that yere who deuising to throw a
the peace he tooke the kinges brother in ostage whose name was Philip and thirtie other children of the noblest mens sonnes of MACEDON whom he brought away with him to THEBES to let the GREECIANS see that the reputacion of the THEBANS power stretched farre the renowne also of their manner of gouernment and iustice It is the same Philip that made warre afterwardes with the GREECIANS to take their libertie frō them howbeit being but a boy at that time he was brought vp at THEBES in Pammenes house And this is the cause why some thought Philip did followe Epaminondas manner and it might be paraduenture he did learne of him to be quicke and ready in the warres which in deede was but a peece of Epaminondas vertue But as to the continency iustice magnanimitie and clemencie which were the speciall pointes that made Epaminondas of great fame Philip coulde neither by nature education nor studie euer attaine vnto The THESSALIANS hauinge sent afterwardes to THEBES to complaine of Alexander the tyran of PHERES that did againe molest and trouble the free cities of THESSALIE Pelopidas was sent thither Ambassador with Ismenias carying no power with him frō THEBES litle thinking he shoulde haye needed to haue made warres whereupon he was compelled to take men of the contrie selfe vppon the instant necessitie offered At the very same time also all MACEDON was vp in armes For Ptolomy had slaine the king and vsurped the kingdom and the seruaunts and frendes of the dead king called vpon Pelopidas for aide who desiring to come euen vppon the fact and hauing brought no men of warre out of his owne contrie with him did presently leauie certaine men where he was and so marched forward with them against Ptolomy Nowe Ptolomy when bothe their powers met did corrupt the souldiers Pelopidas had brought with money to take his parte But notwithstandinge this policy he had practised yet he was afeard of the name onely and greatnes of Pelopidas reputacion wherefore he went vnto Pelopidas as to a better man than him selfe and making maruelous much of him and intreating of him he made promise and bounde it by othe that he would keepe the realme for the brethren of the dead king and that he woulde take all those for his frendes or enemies whom the THEBANS did either loue or hate And for assurance of his promise he gaue him his sonne Philoxenus in ostage and fifty other of his frendes all the which Pelopidas sent vnto THEBES But in the meane time beinge maruelously offended with the treason of the souldiers against him vnderstandinge that the most parte of their goodes their wiues and children were in the citie of PHARSALE he thought if he coulde winne that it were a maruelous good way for him to be reuenged of the trechery of the souldiers against him whereupon he leauied certaine THESSALIANS went to that citie Pelopidas was no sooner come thither but Alexander the tyran arriued also with his armie Pelopidas supposing he had come to iustifie him selfe clearing the complaintes of the THESSALIANS made against him went to him though he knew him to be a very wicked man and one that delited in murder and sheading of blood Neuertheles he hoped he durst not haue attempted any thing against him for the authority and seigniories sake of THEBES by whom he was sent thither as also for his owne reputacion But the tyran seeing him slenderly accompanied and without traine of souldiers tooke him prisoner and wanne the city of PHARSALE at that present time But this act of his put his subiects in a great feare who seeing him commit so shamefull a deede against all equity did thinke straight he ment to spare no man but would vse men and all thinges else that came in his handes like a desperate man one that reckned him self cast away But when the THEBANS vnderstoode this newes they were maruelous sorie and straight sent an army thither appointinge other Captaines then Epaminondas bicause then they had some misliking of him Alexander the tyran hauing brought Pelopidas in the meane time to PHERES did suffer any man that woulde at the first to come and see him and speake with him supposinge his imprisonment had killed his hart and had made him very humble But when he was tolde the contrary how Pelopidas did comforte the citizens of PHERES and willed them to be of good cheare tellinge them the hower was now come that the tyran should smarte for al the mischiefes he had done and that he sent him word to his face he had no reason to hang and put his poore citizens daily to death as he did with sundry kindes of cruell torments who had in nothing offended him did let him alone knowinge that if euer he got out of his hands he would be reuenged of him The tyran wondering at this great stomake of his at his maruelous constancy fearing nothing asked what he ment to long for hasty death Pelopidas beinge tolde what he sayd aunswered him againe Mary sayd he bicause thow shouldest dye the sooner beinge more odious to the goddes and men then yet thou art After this answere the tyran would neuer suffer any man to come and speake with him againe But Thebe that was the daughter of the tyran Iason deceased and wife at that time of Alexander the tyran hearinge reporte of Pelopidas noble minde and corage by his keepers she hadde a meruelous desire to see him and to speake with him But when she came to see him like a woman she could not at the first discerne the greatnesse of his noble heart and excellent hidden vertue findinge him in such misery yet coniecturinge by exterior show nothinge his simple apparell his heares and beard growen very long how poorely he was serued and worse entertained she thought with her selfe his case was to be pittied and that he was in no state mete for the glory of his name wherewith she fell a weepinge for compassion Pelopidas that knewe not what she was beganne to muse at the first but when it was tolde him she was Iasons daughter then he curteously saluted her for her father Iasons sake who while he liued was his very good frend So Thebe said vnto him my Lord Pelopidas pittie thy poore Lady wife Truely so do I pitty thee quod Pelopidas againe to her that thou beinge no prisoner canst abide such a wicked Alexander This aunswere tickled Thebe at the heart who with great impacience did beare the cruelty violence and villany of the tyran her husband that besides all other infamous actes of his detestable life committed Sodomy with her youngest brother So she oft visitinge Pelopidas and boldly makinge her mone to him telling him closely all the iniuries her husbande offered her through Pelopidas talke with her by litle and litle she grew to abhorre him and to conceiue a hate in heart against him desiring reuenge of him But now the Captaines of
of the kinge truely they had reason it was worthily done of thē For he tooke not only gold siluer enough as much as they would giue him but receaued a very rich bed also PERSIAN chamberlains to make and dresse it vp as if no GREECIAN seruauntes of his could haue serued that turne Moreouer he receaued foure score milche kine to the paile neateheards to keepe them hauing neede of cowes milke belike to heale a disease that fell vpon him and woulde needes be caried in a litter apon mens armes from the kings court vnto the MEDITERRANIAN sea the king rewarding them for their paines that caried him with foure Talents Yet it seemeth the gifts he tooke did not offende the ATHENIANS so much considering that Epicrates a drudge or tanckerd bearer did not onely confesse before the people howe he had taken giftes of the king of PERSIA but sayd furthermore that he would haue a law made that as they did yerely choose nine officers to rule the whole city so that they would choose nine of the poorest and meanest citizens and sende them Ambassadors vnto the king of PERSIA that they might returne home rich men with his giftes The people laughed to heare him but yet were they very angry the THEBANS had obtained all that they demaunded not considering that Pelopidas estimacion and worthinesse did more preuaile and take better effect then all the orations the other could make and specially to a Prince that sought alwaies to enterteine those GRAECIANS which were of greatest force and power in the warres This Ambassade did greatly increase euery mans loue and good will vnto Pelopidas bicause of the replenishinge againe of MESSINA with inhabitants the infranchesing setting at liberty of all the other GREECIANS But the tyran Alexander of PHERES returning againe to his old accustomed cruelty and hauing destroied many cities of THESSALIE placed his garrisons through al the contry of the PHTHIOTES ACHAIANS and MAGNESIANS the cities being aduertised of Pelopidas returne againe to THEBES they sent Ambassadors immediatly to THEBES to pray thē to sende thē an army namely Pelopidas for Captaine to deliuer thē frō the miserable bondage of the tyran The THEBANS willingly graunted them put all things in readines very sodainely But Pelopidas being ready to set forward in his iorney there fel a sodain eclipse of the sunne so as at none daies it was very darke in THEBES Pelopidas seing euery man afraid of this eclipse aboue he would not compell the people to depart with this feare nor with so ill hope to hazard the losse of seuen thowsande THEBANS being all billed to go this iorney but notwithstanding he put him selfe alone into the THESSALIANS handes with three hundred horsemen of straungers that were glad to serue with him with whom he tooke his iorney against the soothsayers mindes and against the good will of all his citizens who thought this eclipse did threaten the death of some great persone like him selfe But Pelopidas though he needed no spurre to be reuenged apon the tyran Alexander being by nature hotte and desirous of him selfe to reuenge the spite and villany he had offred him yet he had a further hope to finde the tyrans house deuided against himselfe by the former talke he had with his wife Thebe in time of his imprisonment there Neuertheles the fame and reputacion of the iorney vndertaken did wonderfully increase his noble corage and the rather bicause he was desirous all he coulde the GREECIANS should see that at the very same time when the LACEDAEMONIANS did sende gouernors captaines to Dionysius the tyran of SICILE to serue aide him that the ATHENIANS as hyerlings tooke pay of the tyran Alexander of PHERES in whose honor they had set vp a statue of brasse in their city as vnto their sauior the THEBANS only at the selfe same time tooke armes against thē to deliuer those whom the tyrans oppressed sought to roote out al tyrannical gouernment ouer the GREECIANS So when he came to the city of PHARSALE had gathered his army together he went presently into the field to mete with the tyran Alexander perceauing Pelopidas had very fewe THEBANS about him and that he had twise as many moe THESSALIANS with him then the other had he went to the temple of THETIS to mete with Pelopidas There one telling Pelopidas that Alexander was comminge against him with a great power Pelopidas answered him straight al the better we shal kil the more Now in the middest of the valley there are certaine round hils of a good prety height which they commonly call the dogges heads they both striued which of their footemen should first get those hils Pelopidas hauing a great number of horsemen good men at armes in the fielde sent them before to giue charge apon the enemies that preased to winne the vantage of the place hauing ouerthrowen them they followed the chase all the valley ouer But in the meane time Alexander hauing his footemē hard by marched forwards got the hils bicause the THESSALIANS that were further of came to late notwithstandinge when they came to the hilles they sought forcible to clime them vp being very high and steepe But Alexander comming downe the hil gaue charge apon them to their disaduantage slue the first that gaue the attempt to get vp against the hil and the residue beinge fore hurt retyred againe without their purpose Pelopidas seeing that sounded the retreate for the horsemen that followed the chase to repayre to the standard and commaunded them they should set apon the footemen of the enemies that were in battell raye and him selfe ranne to helpe those that fought to winne the hilles So he tooke his target on his arme and passing through the rereward got to the formest tanckes to whome the sight of his persone did so redouble their force and corage that the enemies them selues thought it hadde beene a freshe supply of newe mens hartes and other bodies then theirs with whom they hadde fought before that came thus lustely to sette againe apon them And yet they did abide two or three onsettes Howebeit in the ende perceiuing those men did still more fiercely force to gette vp the hill and moreouer how their horsemen were come in from the chase they gaue way and left them the place retyring backe by litle and litle Then Pelopidas hauinge wonne the hilles stayed on the top of them viewinge the army of his enemies which were not yet returned from their flying but waued vp and downe in great disorder And there he looked all about to see if he coulde spye out Alexander and at the length he founde him out amongest others in the right winge of his battell settinge his men againe in order and incoraging of them After he had set eye on him it was no holding of him backe his hart so rose against him apon sight of him that geuinge place
gentleman of the city called Bandius a noble gentleman to the people and a valliant man of his hands This Bandius hauing sought valliantly at the battell of CANNES after he hadde slaine many a CARTHAGINIAN was him selfe in the ende striken downe and founde lyinge amonge deade bodies sore wounded and mangled whereupon Hanniball greatly commending his valliantnes did not onely let him go without ransome but furthermore presented him made him his hoste and frende Hereupon Bandius at his comming home to requite Hannibals honor and curtesie became one of those that most fauored Hannibal most perswaded the people of NOLA to take his parte Notwithstandinge this Marcellus thinking it to great sinne against the goddes to put a man to death that had made so great proofe of his valliantnes and had serued with the ROMAINES in their greatest warres and extremest daunger and who besides the goodnes of his nature hadde a maruelous gift also to winne mens good wills by his great curtesie when this Bandius came one day to do his duety to him Marcellus of purpose asked him what he was though he had knowen him long before only to take occasion to talke with him The other aunswered him his name was Lucius Bandius Then Marcellus seeming to be maruelous glad and to wonder at him sayed and art thou that Bandius they speake of so much at ROME whom they say did so notable seruice in persone at the battel of CANNES and neuer forsooke Paulus AEmilius the Consull but receaued so many woundes vppon thy body in defence of him Bandius aunswered that he was the man and therewith shewed him many woundes he had apon his body Marcellus then replyed alas thou that cariest such notable markes of thy vnfained loue towards vs what diddest thou meane that thou camest not straight againe vnto vs art thou perswaded we are so miserable vnthankefull that we will not worthily reward the vertue and valliantnesse of our frendes whom our enemies selues do honor After Marcellus had vsed this curteous speach vnto him and had imbraced him he gaue him a goodly horse for seruice in the warres fiue hundred Drachmes of siluer besides So after that time Bandius did euer take Marcellus parte and alwayes followed him being very faithfull to him and shewed him selfe very seueare and earnest to accuse them that tooke Hannibals parte in the city which were many in number had conspired among them selues that the first time the ROMAINES should go into the fielde to skirmishe with the enemies they woulde shut the gates after them take the spoyle of al their cariages Marcellus being informed of this treason did set his men in battel raye within the city hard by the gates behind them he placed al the sumpters cariage in good order besides that he made proclamation by trompet that no citizen apon paine of death shoulde approch the walles This occasion drew Hanniball to come hard to the city seeinge no watche apon the walles and made him the bolder to come in disorder imagininge there had bene some mutinie or sedition within betwene the noble men and the people But in the meane time Marcellus set open the gates being hard by and sayling out apon the sodaine with the best men of armes he had he gaue a charge vpō Hanniball in the voward Immediatly after came out his footemen at an other gate running straight vpon Hanniball with a wonderfull crie and showte so as Hanniball to withstand them was driuen to deuide his men in two companies But as he was deuidinge of them sodainely a third gate opened apon them from whence all the residue of the ROMAINES issued out who sette vppon the CARTHAGINIANS on euery side they beinge maruelously amazed to be so sodainely set on which they looked not for so hauing their handes full with those that came first apon them beinge scant able to defende them selues against them and seeinge this newe and last charge also they were forced to retyre This was the first time that euer Hannibals souldiers beganne to giue place to the ROMAINES who draue them backe vnto their campe and slewe a great number of them and did hurt diuerse of them besides For some wryte there were slaine of the CARTHAGINIANS at that conflict aboue fiue thowsande and of the ROMAINES there died not past fiue hundred men But Titus Liuius doth not set out the ouerthrow so great and yet confesseth that Marcellius wanne great honor by it that it made the ROMAINES maruelous valliant againe after so many and sundry battels as they had lost one after another for then they were perswaded that they fought not with an enemy altogether vnuincible but that he might somtime also as well as them selues receiue both losse and hurt Therefore one of the Consulls dyinge about that time the people caused Marcellus to be sent for placed him in his roome and in spite of the Senate they deferred all deputacion vntill his returne from the campe Marcellus came no sooner to ROME but he was chosen Consull in the deade mans roome by all the voyces of the people Notwithstanding when they went to choose him it thundered maruelously which the Priestes Augures tooke for an ill token but yet they durst not openly speake against his election bicause they feared the people Howbeit Marcellus of him selfe did willingly giue vp his Consullshippe and yet was it no exception to him for his seruice in the warres for they created him Proconsull and sent him againe to the campe at NOLA where he did seuerely punishe such as tooke Hannibals parte Who being aduertised thereof came thither with all possible spede to helpe them and euen at his first comming he offered Marcellus battell which refused it at that time Neuertheles he tooke his time when Hanniball hadde sent the best parte of his army to forrage as meaning to fight no more battels and then he set apon him hauing giuen his footemen long pykes such as they vse in fight apon the sea and taught them also howe to hurt the enemy a farre of keping them still in their handes But the CARTHAGINIANS hauing no skill of their pykes and fighting with shorte iauelings in their hands did strike downe right blowes which was the cause that they being set apon by the ROMAINES were driuen to turne their backes and flee before them So there were fiue thowsande of the CARTHAGINIANS left dead in the field foure elephants slaine and two taken aliue and furthermore three dayes after the battell there came a three hundred horsemen some of them SPANIARDS and other NVMIDIANS that submitted them selues to the ROMAINES Neuer came there such a misfortune before to Hanniball who had of lōg time kept together in great loue amity an army assembled of sundry barbarous nations and people Howbeit these three hundred continued euer after faithfull to the end both to Marcellus and to all other Lieutenants generals of the ROMAINES Shortely
after Marcellus beinge againe chosen Consull the thirde time went into SICILE For Hannibals prosperous successe and victories had so incoraged the CARTHAGINIANS as they sought againe to conquer this Ilande and specially bicause that after the death of Hieronimus the tyran there rose some tumult at SYRACVSA Vppon which occasion the ROMAINES had sent an army thither before and a Praetor called Appius at whose handes Marcellus hauing receiued the army a great number of the ROMAINES became humble suters to him to pray him to aide them in their calamity which was this Of those that scaped from the battell of CANNES some saued them selues by flying other were taken prisoners of which there were such a number as it appeared that ROME had not people enough left onely to keepe the walles Neuertheles those few that remained their hartes were so great that they woulde neuer redeeme the prisoners which Hannibal was contented to deliuer them vppon small ransome but made a decree they should not be redeemed and so suffered some of them to be killed others to be solde for slaues out of ITALIE And moreouer those that saued them selues by flying they sent straight into SICILE commaunding they should not once set foote againe in ITALIE whilest they had warres with Hanniball These were the men that came altogether and fell downe at Marcellus feete so soone as he arriued in SICILE humbly besought him to appoint them to serue vnder some ensigne that they might fight to do their contrie honor and seruice promising him with teares running downe their cheekes that their faithfull seruice then should witnesse for them that the ouerthrow they had a CANNES fell apon them rather by misfortune then through lacke of corage Whereupon Marcellus hauing compassion on them wrote to the Senate in their fauor prayed them that they would graunt him licence to supply the bands of his army as they diminished with those poore ROMAINES his contrymen Many reasons passed to and fro against this sute neuertheles it was concluded in the ende by the Senate that the common wealth made no reckening of the seruice of faint harted men like women wherefore if Marcellus thought good of their seruice yet it shoulde not be lawfull for him to giue them any crownes or rewards of honor for any notable seruice soeuer they did as all generalles are wont to giue to honest men that serue valliantly This order of the Senate misliked Marcellus very much who at his returne home out of SICILE made his complaint in open Senate and told them they did him manifest wrong to deny him that fauor that hauing done his common wealth such faithful seruice diuerse times as he had done he might not restore so many poore ROMAINES to their honor againe Nowe when Marcellus was in SICILE he receiued great hurtes and iniuries by Hippocrates generall of the SYRACVSANS who to pleasure CARTHAGINIANS and by their meanes to make him selfe chiefe Lord of SYRACVSA did put many ROMAINE citizens to death Whereupon Marcellus went and layed siege to the city of the LEONTINES and when he had taken it by assault he hurt neuer a townes man nor naturall citizen of the same but such traytors as he founde there and had fled from his campe yelded to the enemies them he caused to be whipped and then hanged But notwithstanding Hippocrates had before caused it to be bruted at SYRACVSA that Marcellus had put all the LEONTINES to the sword not sparing litle children and afterwards Hippocrates comming thither on the sodaine in the feare and garboyle of this false brute he easily tooke the city Marcellus hearing Hippocrates had taken SYRACVSA left forthwith the LEONTINES went with his whole army camped hard by SYRACVSA and sent his Ambassadors to tell the SYRACVSANS truely what he had done in the city of the LEONTINES and quite contrarie to that they were informed of Howbeit that preuailed not for they beleued not Marcellus bicause Hippocrates being the stronger had wonne the city Wherupon he beganne then to approch the walles and to assault in euery quarter as well by sea as by lande Appius tooke charge of them that gaue assault by lande Marcellus him selfe with three score galleyes of fiue owers at euery bancke well armed and full of all sortes of artillery and fire works did assault by sea and rowed hard to the walle hauing made a great engine and deuise of battery vppon eight galleyes chained together to batter the walle trusting in the great multitude of his engines of battery and to all such other necessarie prouision as he had for warres as also in his owne reputacion But Archimedes made light accompt of all his deuises as in deede they were nothinge comparable to the engines him selfe had inuented and yet were not his owne such as him selfe did recken of to shew singularity of worke and deuise For those he had made were but his recreations of Geometry and thinges done to passe the time with at the request of king Hieron who had prayed him to call to minde a litle his geometricall speculation and to apply it to thinges corporall and sencible and to make the reason of it demonstratiue and plaine to the vnderstanding of the common people by experiments and to the benefit and commodity of vse For this inuentiue arte to frame instruments and engines which are called mechanicall or organicall so highly commended and esteemed of all sortes of people were first set forth by Architas and by Eudoxus partely to beawtifie a litle the science of Geometry by this finenes and partly to proue and confirme by materiall examples and sencible instruments certeine Geometrical conclusions whereof a man can not finde out the conceiueable demonstrations by enforced reasons and proofes As that conclusion which instructeth one to searche out two lynes meane proportionall which can not be proued by reason demonstratiue and yet notwithstandinge is a principall and an accepted grounde for many thinges which are conteined in the arte of portraiture Both of them haue facioned it to the workemanship of certeine instruments called Mesolabes or Mesographes which serue to finde these meane lines proportionall by drawing certaine curue lines and ouerthwart and oblike sextions But after that Plato was offended with them and mainteined against them that they did vtterly corrupt and disgrace the worthines excellency of Geometry making it to discende from things not comprehensible and without body vnto things sencible and materiall and to bringe it to a palpable substance where the vile and base handie worke of man is to be employed since that time I say handy craft or the arte of engines came to be separated from Geometry and being long time despised by the Philosophers it came to be one of the warlike artes But Archimedes hauinge tolde king Hieron his kinseman and very frende that it was possible to remoue as great a weight as he would with as litle
Hanniball who was a dreadfull and a violent enemy so were the THEBANS also at that very time with the LACEDAEMONIANS who notwithstanding were ouercome of Pelopidas at the battells of TEGYRA and of LEVCTRES Whereas Marcellus did neuer so much as once ouercome Hanniball as Polybius wryteth but remained vnconquered alwayes vntill that Scipio ouercame him in battell Notwithstandinge we do geue best credit to the reportes of Caesar Liuie Cornelius Nepos and of king Iuba among the GREECIANS who wryte that Marcellus otherwhile did ouerthrow certaine of Hanniballs companies howebeit they were neuer no great ouerthrowes to speake of it seemeth rather it was through some mockerie or deceite of that AFRICAN then otherwise Yet sure it was a great matter and worthy much cōmendacion that the ROMAINES were brought to that corage as they durst abide to fight with the CARTHAGINIANS hauing lost so many great ouerthrowes hauing so many generalls of their armies slaine in battell and hauing the whole Empire of ROME in so great daunger of vtter destruction For it was Marcellus only of all other generalls that put the ROMAINES in hart againe after so great and longe a feare thorowly rooted in them and incoraged the souldiers also to longe to fight with their enemy and not onely to hope but to assure them selues of victory For where by reason of their continuall losses and fearefull ouerthrowes they hadde they thought them selues happy men to escape Hannibals handes by runninge away he taught them to be ashamed to flie like cowardes to confesse they were in distresse to retyre leaue the fielde before they had ouercome their enemies And where Pelopidas was neuer ouercome in battell beinge generall and Marcellus did ouercome more then any generall in his time it might seeme therefore that the great number of the victories of the one should compare with the good happe of the other that was neuer ouercome It is true that Marcellus tooke the city of SYRACVSA Pelopidas failed of taking the city of SPARTA but yet do I thinke that it was more valliantly done of Pelopidas to come so neere SPARTA as he did and that he was the first that passed the riuer of EVROTAS with an army which neuer enemy did before him than it was of Marcellus to winne all SICILE Vnles some paraduenture will say againe this was Epaminondas not Pelopidas acte as also in the victorie of LEVCTRES where no man liuing can pretend any parte of glory to the doinges of Marcellus For he tooke SYRACVSA being onely generall alone and did ouerthrow the GAVLES without his fellow Consull and fought with Hanniball without any mans helpe or incoragement for all other were against it and perswaded the contrary and he was the first that altered the maner of warres the ROMAINES vsed then and that trained his souldiers that they durst fight with the enemy For their death I neither commend the one nor the other and the straungenesse of either of their deathes doth greue me maruelously as I do greatly wonder also how Hanniball in so many battells as he fought which are innumerable could alwayes scape vnhurt I can not but greatly commende also the valliantnes of one Chrysantas whom Xenophon speaketh of in his booke of the institucion of Cyrus saying that he hauing lift vp his sword in his hand ready to kill one of his enemies and hearing the trompet sound the retreate he softly retyred would not strike him Howbeit it seemeth Pelopidas is more to be excused for beside that he was very hot and desirous of battel yet his anger was honorable and iust and moued him to seeke reuenge For as the Poet Euripides sayth The best that may betyde is vvhen a captaine likes and doth suruiue the victories vvhich he vvith force achieues But if he needes must fall then let him valliantly euen thrust amid the thickest throng and there vvith honor dye For so becometh his death famous not dishonorable But now besides Pelopidas iust cause of anger yet was there an other respect that most pricked him forward to do that he did for he saw his victorie ended in the death of the tyran Otherwise he shoulde hardly haue founde so noble an occasion to haue shewed his valliantnesse as in that And Marcellus contrarily without any instant necessity and hauinge no cause of heate or choller which putteth all men valliant in fight besides them selues that they know not what they do did rashly and vnaduisedly thrust him selfe into the middest of the daunger where he dyed not as a generall but as a light horseman and skowt forsaking his three triumphes his fiue Consullshippes and his spoyles and tokens of triumphe which he had gotten of kinges with his owne hands among venturous SPANIARDS and NVMIDIANS that folde their blood and liues for pay vnto the CARTHAGINIANS so that I imagine they were angry with thē selues as a man would say for so great and happy a victory to haue slaine amongest FREGELLANIAN skowtes and light horsemen the noblest and worthiest person of the ROMAINES I would no man should thinke I speake this in reproch of the memory of these two famous men but as a griefe onely of them and their valliantnes which they imployed so as they bleamished all their other vertues by the vndiscrete hazarding of their persones and liues without cause as if they woulde and shoulde haue dyed for them selues and not rather for their contry and frendes And also when they were dead Pelopidas was buried by the allies confederats of the city of THEBES for whose cause he was slaine and Marcellus in like maner by the enemies selues that hadde slaine him And sure the one is a happy thing and to be wished for in such a case but the other is farre aboue it and more to be wondered at That the enemy him selfe shoulde honor his valliantnesse and worthinesse that hurt him more then the office of frendshippe performed by a thankefull frende For nothing moueth the enemy more to honor his deade enemy then the admiration of his worthines and the frende sheweth frendeship many times rather for respect of the benefit he hath receiued then for the loue he beareth to his vertue The ende of Marcellus life THE LIFE OF Aristides ARistides the sonne of Lysimachus was certeinly of the tribe of Antiochides and of the towne of ALOPECIA But for his goodes and wealth they diuersely write of him For some say he liued poorely all the daies of his life and that he left two daughters which by reason of their pouerty liued vnmaried many yeres after their fathers death And many of the oldest writers do cōfirme that for troth Yet Demetrius Phalerius in his booke intituled Socrates wryteth the contrary that he knew certeine landes Aristides had in the village of PHALERIA which did yet beare the name of Aristides lands in the which his body is buried And furthermore to shew that he was well to liue and that his
their campe the lenger he delayed in the end he resolued to tary no lenger but to passe the riuer of ASOPVS the next morning by breake of the day sodainly to set apon the GREECIANS So he gaue the Captaines warning the night before what they should do bicause euery man should be redy but about midnight there came a horseman without any noyse at all so neere to the GREECIANS campe that he spake to the watche and told them he would speake with Aristides generall of the ATHENIANS Aristides was called for straight and when he came to him the horseman said vnto Aristides I am Alexander king of MACEDON who for the loue and great good will I beare you haue put my self in the greatest daūger that may be to come at this present time to aduertise you that to morrow morning Mardonius will giue you battel bicause your enemies sodaine comming apon you should not make you afrayd being sodainly charged and should not hinder also your valliant fightinge For it is no new hope that is come to Mardonius that makes him to fight but only scarcety of vittells that forceth him to do it considering that the prognosticators are all against it that he should geue you battel both by reason of the il tokens of their sacrifices as also by the aunswers of their oracles which hath put all the armie in a maruelous feare and stande in no good hope at all Thus he is forced to putte all at aduenture or else if he will needes lye still to be starued to death for very famine After king Alexander hadde imparted this secrete to Aristides he prayed him to keepe it to him selfe and to remember it in time to come Aristides aunswered him then that it was no reason he shoulde keepe a matter of so great importance as that from Pausanias who was their Lieutenant generall of the whole armie notwithstandinge he promised him he woulde tell it no man else before the battell and that if the goddes gaue the GREECIANS the victorie he did assure him they should all acknowledge his great fauor and good will shewed vnto them After they hadde talked thus together kinge Alexander left him and returned backe againe and Aristides also went immediatly to Pausanias tent and tolde him the talke kinge Alexander and he hadde together Thereupon the priuate Captaines were sent for straight to counsaill and there order was geuen that euery manne shoulde haue his bandes ready for they shoulde fight in the morninge So Pausanias at that time as Herodotus wryteth sayed vnto Aristides that he woulde remoue the ATHENIANS from the left to the right winge bicause they shoulde haue the PERSIANS them selues right before them and that they shoulde fight so much the lustier both for that they were acquainted with their fight as also bicause they hadde ouercommed them before in the first encounter and that him selfe would take the left winge of the battell where he shoulde encounter with the GREECIANS that fought on the PERSIANS side But when all the other priuate Captaines of the ATHENIANS vnderstoode it they were maruelous angrie with Pausanias and sayed he did them wronge and hadde no reason to lette all the other GRECIANS keepe their place where they were alwayes appointed and onely to remoue them as if they were slaues to be appointed at his pleasure now of one side then of the other and to sette them to fight with the valliantest souldiers they had of all their enemies Then sayed Aristides to them that they knewe not what they sayed and how before they misliked and did striue with the TEGRATES onely for hauinge the left wing of the battell and when it was graunted they thought them selues greatly honored that they were preferred before them by order of the Captaines and nowe where the LACEDAEMONIANS were willing of them selues to geue them the place of the right winge and did in maner offer them the preheminence of the whole armie they do not thankefully take the honor offered them nor yet doe recken of the vantage and benefitte geuen them to fight against the PERSIANS selues their auncient enemies and not against their natural contry men anciently discended of them When Aristides had vsed all these perswasions vnto them they were very well contented to chaunge place with the LACEDAEMONIANS and then all the talke amonge them was to encorage one an other and to tell them that the PERSIANS that came against them had no better hartes nor weapons then those whom they before hadde ouercome in the plaine of MARATHON For sayed they they haue the same bowes the same riche imbrodered gownes the same golden chaines and carcanettes of womanishe persones hanging on their cowardly bodies and faint hartes where we haue also the same weapons and bodies we hadde and our hartes more liuely and coragious then before through the sundrie victories we haue since gotten of them Further we haue this aduantage more That we doe not fight as our other confederates the GREECIANS do for our city and contry onely but also to continewe the fame and renowme of our former noble seruice which we wanne at the iorneys of MARATHON and of SALAMINA to the ende the worlde shoulde not thinke that the glory of these triumphes and victories was due vnto Miltiades onely or vnto fortune but vnto the corage and worthinesse of the ATHENIANS Thus were the GREECIANS throughly occupied to chaunge the order of their battell in hast The THEBANS on the other side that tooke parte with Mardonius receiuing intelligence of the alteringe of their battell by traytors that ranne betwene both campes they straight tolde Mardonius of it He thereupon did sodainly also chaunge the order of his battell and placed the PERSIANS from the right winge to the left winge of his enemies either bicause he was afrayed of the ATHENIANS or else for greater glorie that he hadde a desire to fight with the LACEDAEMONIANS and commaunded the GREECIANS that tooke his parte that they shoulde fight against the ATHENIANS This alteracion was so openly done that euerie manne might see it whereuppon Pausanias remoued the LACEDAEMONIANS againe and sette them in the right winge Mardonius seeinge that remoued the PERSIANS againe from the left winge and brought them to the right winge where they were before against the LACEDAEMONIANS and thus they consumed all that day in chaunginge their men to and fro So the Captaines of the GREECIANS sate in counsel at night and there they agreed that they must nedes remoue their campe and lodge in some other place where they might haue water at cōmaundement bicause their enemies did continually trouble and spoyle that water they had about them with their horses Now when night came the Captaines woulde haue marched away with their men to go to the lodginge they had appointed but the people went very ill willinge to it and they hadde much a do to keepe them together For they were no sooner out of the trenches and fortification of
their campe but the most parte of them ranne to the citie of PLATAEES and were maruelously out of order dispersing them selues here and there and set vp their tents where they thought good before the places were appointed for them and there were none that taried behinde but the LACEDAEMONIANS onely and that was against their willes For one of their Captaines called Amompharetus a maruelous hardie man that feared no daunger and longed sore for battell he was in such a rage with these triflinge delayes that he cried is out in the campe that this remouinge was a goodly runninge away and sware he woulde not from thence but woulde there tary Mardonius comminge with his companie Pausanias went to him and tolde him he must doe that the other GREECIANS hadde consented to in counsell by most voyces But Amompharetus tooke a great stone in his handes and threw it downe at Pausanias feete and told him there is the signe I geue to conclude battel and I passe not for all your cowardly conclusions Amompharetus stubbornnesse did so amaze Pausanias that he was at his wittes ende So he sent vnto the ATHENIANS that were onwardes on their way to pray them to tary for him that they might goe together and there withall made the rest of his menne to marche towardes the citie of PLATAEES supposinge thereby to haue drawen Amompharetus to haue followed him or else he ment to remaine alone behinde But in triflinge thus the day brake and Mardonius vnderstandinge that the GREECIANS did forsake their first lodging he made his army presently marche in battell ray to sette apon the LACEDAEMONIANS So the barbarous people made great showtes and cries not thinking to goe fight but to goe sacke and spoyle the GREECIANS flyinge away as in deede they did litle better For Pausanias seeinge the countenaunce of his enemies made his ensignes to stay and commaunded euery man to prepare to fight but he forgate to geue the GREECIANS the signall of the battell either for the anger he tooke against Amompharetus or for the sodayne onset of the enemies which made them that they came not in straight nor altogether to the battell after it was begonne but stragglinge in small companies some here and some there In the meane time Pausanias was busie in sacrificinge to the goddes and seeinge that the first sacrifices were not acceptable vnto them by the Soothsayers obseruations they made he commaunded the SPARTANS to throwe their targettes at their feete and not to sturre out of their places but onely to doe as he bad them without resistinge their enemies When he hadde geuen this straight order he went againe and did sacrifice when the horsemen of the enemies were at hande and that their arrowes flewe amongest the thickest of the LACEDAEMONIANS and did hurte diuerse of them and specially poore Callicrates amonge the rest that was one of the goodliest menne in all the GREECIANS hoste and armie He hauing his deathes wounde with an arrow before he gaue vppe the ghost sayed his death did not greue him bicause he came out of his contrie to dye for the defence of GREECE but it greued him to dye so cowardly hauinge geuen the enemie neuer a blowe His death was maruelous lamentable and the constancy of the SPARTANS wonderfull for they neuer stirred out of their places nor made any countenaunce to defende them selues against their enemies that came apon them but suffred them selues to be thrust through with arrowes and slaine in the field lookinge for the houre the goddes would appoint them and that their Captaine would commaunde them to fight Some wryte also that as Pausanias was at his prayers and doing sacrifice vnto the goddes a litle behinde the battell certeine of the LYDIANS came apon him and ouerthrew and tooke away all his sacrifice and how Pausanias and those that were about him hauinge no other weapons in their handes draue them awaye with force of staues and whippes In memorie whereof they saye there is a solemne procession kept at SPARTA on that daye which they call the LYDIANS procession where they whippe and beate younge boyes about the aulter Then was Pausanias in great distresse to see the Priestes offer sacrifice vppon sacrifice and that not one of them pleased the goddes at the last he turned his eyes to the temple of Iuno and wept and holdinge vp his handes besought Iuno Cithâ—râ—â— and all the other goddes patrones and protectors of the contry of the PLATAEIANS that if it were not the will of the goddes the GREECIANS shoulde haue the victorie yet that the conquerors at the least should buie their deathes dearely and that they shoulde finde they fought against valliant men and worthy souldiers Pausanias had no sooner ended his prayer but the sacrifices fell out very fauorable insomuch the Priestes and Soothsayers came to promise him victory Thereupon he straight gaue commaundement to march toward the enemy which flew from man to man incontinently how they shoulde march So as he that hadde seene the SquadroÌ„ of the LACEDAEMONIANS would haue said it had bene like the body of a fierce beast raising vp his bristels preparing to fight Then the barbarous people saw they shoulde haue a hotte battell and that they should mete with men that would fight it out to the death wherefore they couered their bodies with great targets after the PERSIAN facion bestowed their arrowes lustely apon the LACEDAEMONIANS But they keeping close together and coueringe them selues with their shieldes marched on stil apon them vntill they came to ioyne with the enemy so lustely that they made their targets flie out of their hands with the terrible thrustes and blowes of their pikes speares apon their breastes and ouerthwart their faces that they slew many of them and layed them on the grounde For all that they dyed not cowardly but tooke the LACEDAEMONIANS pikes and speares in their bare hands and brake them in two by strength of their armes and then they quickely pluckt out their cimeters and axes and lustely layed about them and wrong the LACEDAEMONIANS shields out of their hands by force and fought it out with theÌ„ a great while hand to hand Now whilest the LACEDAEMONIANS were busily fighting with the barbarous people the ATHENIANS stoode still imbattelled farre of kept their ground But when they saw the LACEDAEMONIANS tary so long that they came not and heard a maruelous noyse of men as though they were fighting and besides that there came a speedy messenger vnto them sent from Pausanias to let theÌ„ vnderstand they were fighting then they marched with all speede they could to help them But as they were comming on a great pace ouer the playne vnto that parte where they heard the noyse the GREECIANS that were on Mardonius side came against them Aristides seeing them coÌ„ming towards them went a good way before his company cried out as loude as he could for life and coniured the GREECIANS in the name
fortunate blessed time of GREECE and specially when shortly after it did double and treble on the sodaine For the taxe Aristides made came to about foure hundred three score talents and Pericles raised it almost vnto a third parte For Thucydides wryteth that at the beginninge of the warres of PELOPONNEEVS the ATHENIANS leauied sixe hundred talentes yearely vppon their confederates And after the death of Pericles the orators and counsellers for matters of state did raise it vp higher by litle and litle vntil it mounted vnto the summe of thirteene hundred talentes And this was not bicause the warres did rise to so great a charge by reason of the length of the same and of the losses the ATHENIANS had receiued but for that they did accustome the people to make distributions of money by hand vnto euery citizen to make them set vp games and make goodly images and to builde sumptuous temples Thus was Aristides therefore iustly honored praised and esteemed aboue all other for this iust imposition of taxes sauing onely of Themistocles who went vp and downe flering at the matter sayinge it was no mete praise for an honest man but rather for a cofer well barred with iron where a man might safely lay vp his gold and siluer This he spake to be euen with Aristides which was nothing like the sharpe girde Aristides gaue him openly when Themistocles talking with him tolde him it was an excellent thing for a Captaine to be able to know and to preuent the counsells and doinges of the enemies and so is it sayed Aristides againe not onely a needefull but an honest thinge and mete for a worthy generall of an army to be cleane fingered without bribery or corruption So Aristides made all the other people of GREECE to sweare that they woulde truely keepe the articles of the allyance and he him selfe as generall of the ATHENIANS did take their othes in the name of the ATHENIANS and so pronouncing execrations curses against them that should breake the league and othe taken he threw iron wedges red hotte into the sea and prayed the gods to destroy them euen so that did violate their vowed faith Notwithstandinge afterwardes in my opinion when there fell out great alteracion in the state and that the ATHENIANS were forced to rule more straightly then before Aristides then willed the ATHENIANS to let him beare the daunger and burden of periury and execration and that they should not let for feare thereof to do any thing whatsoeuer they thought mete or necessary To conclude Theophrastus wryteth that Aristides was not only a perfect an honest and iust man in priuate matters betwixt party party but in matters of state and concerning the common weale he did many thinges oftentimes accordinge to the necessitie of the time and troubles of the citie wherein violence and iniustice was to be vsed As when the question was asked in open counsell to know whether they might take away the gold siluer that was left in the I le of DILOS safely layed vp in the temple of Apollo to beare out the charges of the warres against the barbarous people and to bring it from thence vnto ATHENS apon the motion of the SAMIANS although it was directly against the articles of the allyance made and sworne amonge all the GREECIANS Aristides opinion beinge asked in the same he aunswered it was not iust but yet profitable Now notwithstanding Aristides had brought his citie to rule and commaund many thousandes of people yet was he still poore for all that and vntill his dying day he gloried rather to be praised for his pouertie then for all the famous victories and battells he had wonne and that plainely appeareth thus Callias Ceres torche bearer was his neere kinseman who through enemies came to be accused and stoode in hazard of life so when the day came that his matter was to be heard before the Iudges his accusers very faintly and to litle purpose vttered the offences whereof they accused him and running into other byematters left the chiefest matter spake thus to the Iudges My Lords you al know Aristides the sonne of Lysimachus and you are not ignoraunt also that his vertue hath made him more esteemed then any man else is or can be in all GREECE Howe thinke ye doth he liue at home when you see him abroade vppe and downe the city in a threde bare gowne all to tattered Is it not likely trow ye that he is ready to starue at home for lacke of meate and reliefe whom we all see quake for very colde beinge so ill arrayed and clothed And yet M. Callias here his cosin germaine the richest citizen in all ATHENS is so miserable that notwithstandinge Aristides hath done much for him by reason of his great credit and authoritie among you he suffereth him and his poore wife and children readie to begge to starue for any helpe he geueth him Callias perceiuing the Iudges more angryer with him for that then for any matter else he was accused of he prayed Aristides might be sent for and willed him to tel truely whether he had not offered him good rounde summes of money many a time and oft and intreated him to take it which he euer refused and aunswered him alwayes that he coulde better boast of his pouerty then him selfe coulde of his riches which he sayd many did vse ill and few coulde vse them wel and that it was a hard thing to finde one man of a noble minde that could away with pouertie and that such onely might be ashamed of pouerty as were poore against their willes So Aristides confirmed all he spake to be true and euery man that was at the hearinge of this matter went wholly away with this opinion that he had rather be poore as Aristides then rich as Callias This tale is written thus by AEschines the Socratian Philosopher and Plato reporteth of him also that notwithstandinge there were many other famous and notable men of ATHENS yet he gaue Aristides praise aboue them all For others sayd he as Themistocles Cimon and Pericles haue beautified the citie with stately porches and sumptuous buildinges of golde and siluer and with stone of other fine superfluous deuises but Aristides was only he that vertuously disposed him selfe and all his doinges to the furtherance of the state and common weale His iustice and good nature appeared plainely in his doinges and behauiour towardes Themistocles For though Themistocles was euer against Aristides in all things and a continuall enemy of his and that by his meanes and practise he was banished from ATHENS yet when Themistocles was accused of treason to the state hauing diuerse sharpe enemies against him as Cimon Alemaeon with diuerse other Aristides sought not reuenge when he had him at his aduantage For he neither spake nor did any thinge against him at that time to hurt him neither did he reioyce to see his enemie in misery
Galba or Quintius Flaminius hauing no other maintenance nor helpe to trust vnto but a tongue speaking boldly with reason and all vprightnes Moreouer Aristides at the battells of MARATHON and of PLATHES was but one of the tenne captaines of the ATHENIANS where Cato was chosen one of the two Consuls among many other noble and great competitors and one of the two Censors before seuen other that made sute for it which were all men of great reputacion in the citie and yet was Cato preferred before them all Furthermore Aristides was neuer the chiefest in any victory For at the battell of MARATHON Miltiades was the generall 〈…〉 at the battell of SALAMINA Themistocles and at the iorney of PLATAEES king Pausanias as Herodotus sayeth who wryteth that he had a maruelous victory there And there were that striued with Aristides for the second place as Sophanes Amynias Callimachus and Cynegirus euery one of the which did notable valliant seruice at those battells Now Cato was generall him selfe and chiefe of all his army in worthines and counsell during the warre he made in SPAYNE while he was Consull Afterwards also in the iorney where king Antiochus was ouerthrowen in the contry of THERMOPYLES Cato being but a Colonell of a thousande footemen and seruinge vnder an other that was Consull wanne the honor of the victory when he did sodainely set vpon Antiochus behinde whereas he looked only to defend him selfe before And that victory without all doubt was one of the chiefest actes that euer Cato did who draue ASIA out of GREECE and opened the way vnto Lucius Scipio to passe afterwardes into ASIA So then for the warres neither the one nor the other of them was euer ouercome in battell but in peace and ciuill gouernment Aristides was supplanted by Themistocles who by practise got him to be banished ATHENS for a time Whereas Cato had in manner all the greatest and noblest men of ROME that were in his time sworne enemies vnto him and hauing alwayes contended with them euen to his last hower he euer kept him selfe on sounde grounde like a stoute champion and neuer tooke fall nor foyle For he hauing accused many before the people and many also accusing him him selfe was neuer once condemned but alwayes his tongue was the buckeler and defence of his life and innocency Which was to him so necessary a weapon and with it he could help himselfe so in great matters that in my opinion it was only cause why he neuer receiued dishonor nor was vniustly condemned rather then for any thing else he was beholding to fortune or to any other that did protect him And truely eloquence is a singular gift as Antipater witnesseth in that he wrote of Aristotle the Philosopher after his death saying that amongest many other singular graces and perfections in him he had this rare gift that he coulde perswade what he listed Now there is a rule confessed of all the world that no man can attaine any greater vertue or knowledge then to know how to gouerne a multitude of men or a city a parte wherof is Oeconomia cōmonly called houserule considering that a city is no other then an assembly of many householdes and houses together then is the city commonly strong of power when as the townes men and citizens are wise and wealthy Therefore Lycurgus that banished golde and siluer from LACEDAEMON and coyned them money of iron that woulde be marred with fyre vinegre when it was hot did not forbid his citizens to be good husbands but like a good lawmaker exceeding all other that euer went before him he did not onely cut of all superfluous expences that commonly wayte vppon riches but did also prouide that his people should lacke nothing necessary to liue withall fearing more to see a begger and nedy persone dwellinge in his citie and enioy the priuiledges of the same then a proude man by reason of his riches So me thinkes Cato was as good a father to his householde as he was a good gouernor to the common wealth for he did honestly increase his goods and did teach other also to do the same by sauing and knowledge of good husbandry whereof in his booke he wrote sundry good rules and precepts Aristides contrariwise made iustice odions slaunderous by his pouerty and as a thing that made men poore and was more profitable to other then to a mans selfe that vsed iustice And yet Hesiodus the Poet that commendeth iustice so much doth wishe vs withall to be good husbandes reprouing sloth and idlenes as the roote and originall of all iniustice And therefore me thinkes Homer spake wisely when he sayed In times past neither did I labor carcke nor care for busines for family for foode nor yet for fare but rather did delight vvith shippes the seaes to saile to drovv a bovv to fling a dart in vvarres and to preuaile As giuing vs to vnderstand that iustice husbandry are two relatiues necessarily lincked one to the other and that a man who hath no care of his owne thinges nor house doth liue vniustly and taketh from other men For iustice is not like oyle which Phisitions say is very holsome for mannes body if it be applied outwardly and in contrary maner very ill if a man drinke it neither ought a iust man to profitte straungers and in the ende not to care for him selfe nor his Therefore me thinkes this gouerninge vertue of Aristides had a fault in this respect if it be true that most authors wryte of him that he had no care nor forecast with him to leaue so much as to mary his daughters withall nor therewith to bury him selfe Where those of the house of Cato continued Praetors and Consulls of ROME euen vnto the fourte discent For his sonnes sonnes and yet lower his sonnes sonnes sonnes came to the greatest offices of dignity in all ROME And Aristides who was in his time the chiefest mā of GREECE left his posterity in so great pouerty that some were compelled to become Soothsayers that interprete dreames and tell mens fortune to get their liuing and other to aske almes and left no meane to any of them to do any great thing worthy of him But to contrary this it might be sayd pouerty of it selfe is neither ill nor dishonest but where it groweth by idlenes carelesse life vanity and folly it is to be reproued For when it lighteth apon any man that is honest and liueth well that taketh paines is very diligent iust valliant wise and gouerneth a common wealth well then it is a great signe of a noble minde For it is vnpossible that man should doe any great thinges that had such a base minde as to thinke alwayes vppon trifles and that he shoulde relieue the poore greatly that lacketh him selfe reliefe in many thinges And sure riches is not so necessary for an honest man that will deale truely in the common wealth and
the vpper hand of Scipio and that Scipio bare it paciently and left not of walking for that neither shewed any countenaunce of misliking And in entring into discourse of many matters they discended in the ende to talke of auncient Captaines and Hanniball gaue iudgement that Alexander the great was the famousest Captaine Tyrrus the second and him selfe the thirde Then Scipio smilinge gently asked him what wouldest thou say then if I had not ouercome thee Truely quod Hanniball I would not then put my selfe the third man but the first and aboue all the Captaines that euer were So diuers greatly cōmending the goodly sayinges and deedes of Scipio did maruelously mislike Titus for that he had as a man may say layed his handes vpon the death of an other man Other to the contray againe sayd it was well done of him sayinge that Hanniball so longe as he liued was a fire to the Empire of the ROMAINES which lacked but one to blow it and that when he was in his best force and lusty age it was not his hande nor body that troubled the ROMAINES so much but his great wisedome and skill he had in the warres and the mortall hate he bare in his hart towardes the ROMAINES which neither yeares neither age would diminishe or take away For mens naturall condicions do remaine still but fortune doth not alwayes keepe a state but chaungeth stil and then quickeneth vp our desires to set willingly vppon those that warre against vs bicause they hate vs in their hartes The thinges which fell out afterwards did greatly proue the reasons brought out for this purpose in discharge of Titus For one Aristonicus sonne of a daughter of a player vpon the citherne vnder the fame and glory of Enmenes whose bastard he was filled all ASIA with warre rebellion by reason the people rose in his fauor Againe Mithridates after so many losses he had receiued against Sylla and Eimbria and after so many armies ouerthrowen by battell and warres and after so many famous Captaines lost and killed did yet recouer againe and came to be of great power both by sea and land against Lucullus Truely Hannibal was no lower brought then Caius Marius had bene For he had a king to his frend that gaue him entertainment for him and his family and made him Admirall of his shippes and Generall of his horsemen and footemen in the field Marius also went vp and downe AFRICKE a begging for his liuing insomuch as his enemies at ROME mocked him to scorne soone after notwithstanding they fell downe at his feete before him when they saw they were whipped murthered and slaine within ROME by his commaundement Thus we see no man can say certainely he is meane or great by reason of the vncertainty of thinges to come consideringe there is but one death and chaunge of better life Some say also that Titus did not this act alone and of his owne authority but that he was sent Ambassador with Lucius Scipio to no other end but to put Hanniball to death by what meanes soeuer they could Furthermore after this Ambassade we do not finde any notable thing written of Titus worthy of memory neither in peace nor in warres For he died quietely of naturall death at home in his contrie THE COMPARISON OF Titus Quintius Flaminius with Philopoemen IT is time nowe we come to compare them together Therefore as touchinge the great benefits that came to the GREECIANS neither Philopoemen nor all the other former Captaines are to be compared with Titus For all the auncient Captaines almost being GREECIANS made warres with other GREECIANS but Titus beinge a ROMAINE and no GREECIAN made warres for the liberty of GREECE When Philopoemen was not able to helpe his poore citizens distressed sore vexed with warres he sayled away into CRETA Titus hauing ouercome Philip kinge of MACEDON in battell did restore againe to liberty all the people and cities of the same which were kept before in bondage And if any will narrowly examine battells of either partie they shall finde that Philopoemen being Generall of the ACHAIANS made more GREECIANS to be slaine then Titus did of the MACEDONIANS fightinge with them for the liberty of the GREECIANS And for their imperfections the one of them was ambitious the other was as obstinate the one was quicke and sodainly angered the other was very hard to be pacified Titus left kinge Philip his realme and crowne after he had ouercome him and vsed great clemency towardes the AETOLIANS where Philopoemen for spite malice tooke townes and villages from his owne natiue contry and city wherein he was borne that had alwayes payed them tribute Furthermore Titus continued a sounde frend to them to whome he had once professed frendshippe and done pleasure vnto and Philopoemen in a geare and anger was ready to take away that he had giuen and to ouerthrow the pleasure and good turne he had shewed For Philopoemen when he had done the LACEDAEMONIANS great pleasure did afterwards rase the walls of their city and spoyled and destroyed all their contry and lastly ouerthrew their whole gouernment It seemeth also by reason of his immoderate choller he was him selfe cause of his owne death for that he made more hast then good speede to go out of time to set vpon those of MASSINA and not as Titus who did all his affaires with wisedome and euer considered what was best to be done But if we looke into the number of battells and victories the warre which Titus made against Philip was ended with two battells Whereas Philopoemen in infinite battells in which he had the better neuer left it doutfull but that his skill did euer helpe him the more to victory then the good fortune he had Moreouer Titus wanne honor by meanes of the power of ROME when it florished most and was in best prosperitie Philopoemen made him selfe famous by his deedes when GREECE beganne to stoupe and fall all together So that the deedes of the one were common to all the ROMAINES the dedes of the other were priuate to himselfe alone For Titus was General ouer good and valliant souldiers that were already trained to his hand and Philopoemen being chosen Generall did traine his men him selfe made them afterwards very expert and valliant that were but meane and greene souldiers before And whereas Philopoemen had continuall warres with the GREECIANS it was not for any good fortune he had but that it made a certaine proofe of his valliantnesse For where all other thinges are aunswerable to his there we must iudge that such as ouercome haue the most corage Now Philopoemen making warres with the most warlike nations of all GREECE as the CRETANS and the LACEDAEMONIANS did ouercome the subtillest of them by finenesse and policy and the most valliant by prowes and hardinesse But Titus ouercame by putting that only in practise which was already found and stablished as
they had made solemne sacrifice vnto Iupiter Martiall in a certaine place in the prouince of MOLOSSIDE called PASSARON to take their othe and to be sworne to the EPIROTES that they would raigne well and iustly accordinge to the lawes and ordinaunces of the contry and to receiue the subiectes othes interchaungeably also that they would defend and maintaine them in their kingdome according to the lawes in like maner This ceremony was done in the presence of both the kinges and they with their frendes did both geue and receiue presentes eche of other At this meetinge and solemnity amonge other one Gelon a most faithfull seruaunt and assured frend vnto Neoptolemus who besides great showes of frendshippe and honor he did vnto Pyrrus gaue him two payer of draught oxen which one Myrtilus a cuppebearer of Pyrrus beinge present and seeinge did craue of his master But Pyrrus denyed to geue them vnto him whereat Myrtilus was very angry Gelon perceiuinge that Mytilus was angry prayed him to suppe with him that night Now some say he sought to abuse Myrtilus bicause he was fayer and younge and beganne to perswade him after supper to take parte with Neoptolemus and to poyson Pyrrus Myrtilus made as though he was willing to geue care to this perswasion and to be well pleased withall But in the meane time he went and tolde his master of it by whose commaundement he made Alexicrates Pyrrus chiefe cuppebearer to talke with Gelon about this practise as though he had also geuen his consent to it and was willinge to be partaker of the enterprise This did Pyrrus to haue two witnesses to proue the pretended poysoninge of him Thus Gelon beinge finely deceiued and Neoptolemus also with him both imagininge they had cunningly sponne the threde of their treason Neoptolemus was so glad of it that he could not kepe it to him selfe but told it to certaine of his frendes And on a time going to be mery with his sister he could not keepe it in but must be pratling of it to her supposing no body had heard him but her selfe bicause there was no liuing creature neere them sauing Phoenareta Samons wife the kinges chiefe heardman of all his beastes and yet she was layed apon a litle bed by and turned towards the wall so that she seemed as though she had slept But hauing heard all their talke and no body mistrusting her the next morning she went to Antigona king Pyrrus wife and told her euery worde what she had heard Neoptolemus say to his sister Pyrrus hearing this made no countenaunce of any thing at that time But hauinge made sacrifice vnto the goddes he bad Neoptolemus to supper to his house where he slue him being well informed before of the good will the chiefest men of the realme did beare him who wished him to dispatch Neoptolemus not to content him selfe with a peece of EPIRVS only but to follow his naturall inclination being borne to great thinges and for this cause therefore this suspition fallinge out in the meane while he preuented Neoptolemus and slue him first And furthermore remembringe the pleasures he had receiued of Ptolomie and Berenice he named his first sonne by his wife Antigona Ptolomie and hauing built a city in the PRESCQVE an I le of EPIRVS did name it BERENICIDA When he had done that imagining great matters in his head but more in his hope he first determined with him selfe howe to winne that which lay neerest vnto him and so tooke occasion by this meanes first to set foote into the Empire of MACEDON The eldest sonne of Cassander called Antipater put his owne mother Thessalonica to death and draue his brother Alexander out of his owne contry who sent to Demetrius for helpe and called in Pyrrus also to his ayde Demetrius being troubled with other matters could not so quickely go thither And Pyrrus being arriued there demaunded for his charge susteined the citie of NYMPHAEA with all the seacoastes of MACEDON and besides all that certaine landes also that were not belonginge to the auncient crowne and reuenues of the kinges of MACEDON but were added vnto it by force of armes as Ambracia Acarnania and Amphilochia All these the young king Alexander leauinge vnto him he tooke possession thereof and put good garrisons into the same in his owne name and conquering the rest of MACEDON in the name of Alexander put his brother Antipater to great distresse In the meane time kinge Lysimachus lacked no good will to helpe Antipater with his force but being busied in other matters had not the meane to doe it Howbeit knowinge very well that Pyrrus in acknowledginge the great pleasures he had receiued of Ptolomie woulde deny him nothinge he determined to wryte counterfeate letters to him in Ptolomies name and thereby instantly to pray and require him to leaue of the warres begonne against Antipater and to take of him towardes the defrayinge of his charges the sumine of three hundred talentes Pyrrus opening the letters knew straight that this was but a fetch and deuise of Lysimachus For king Ptolomies common manner of greeting of him which he vsed at the beginning of his letters was not in them obserued To my sonne Pyrrus health But in those counterfeate was king Ptolomie vnto king Pyrrus health Whereupon he presently pronounced Lysimachus for a naughty man neuerthelesse afterwardes he made peace with Antipater and they met together at a day appointed to be sworne vpon the sacrifices vnto the articles of peace There were three beastes brought to be sacrificed a goate a bul and a ramme of the which the ramme fell downe dead of him selfe before he was touched whereat all the standers by fell a laughinge But there was a Soothsayer one Theodotus that perswaded Pyrrus not to sweare saying that this signe and token of the gods did threaten one of the three kings with sodaine death For which cause Pyrrus concluded no peace Now Alexanders warres beinge ended Demetrius notwithstanding came to him knowing well enough at his comming that Alexander had no more neede of his aide and that he did it only but to feare him They had not bene many dayes together but th one beganne to mistrust thother and to spie all the wayes they could to intrappe eche other but Demetrius embracing the first occasion offered preuented Alexander and slue him being a young man and proclaimed him selfe king of MACEDON in his roome Now Demetrius had certaine quarrells before against Pyrrus bicause he had ouertunne the contry of THESSALIE and furthermore greedy couetousnes to haue the more which is a common vice with princes and noble men made that being so neere neighbours the one stoode in feare and mistrust of the other and yet much more after the death of Deidamia But now that they both occupied all MACEDON betwene them and were to make diuision of one selfe kingdome Now I say began the matter and occasion of quarrell to grow the greater betwene them
they made request vnto him either to remaine in their contry to maintaine warres with them against the ROMAINES which was their meaning why they sent for him or else if he would needes go at the least wise to leaue their city in as good state as he founde it But he aunswered them againe very roughly that they shoulde speake no more to him in it and that they should not choose but tary his occasion And with this aunswere tooke shippe and sailed towardes SICILIA where so soone as he was arriued he founde all that he hoped for for the cities did willingely put them selues into his handes And where necessity of battell was offered him to employ his army nothing at the beginning could stande before him For with thirty thowsande footemen two thowsande fiue hundred horsemen and two hundred sayle which he brought with him he draue the CARTHAGINIANS before him and conquered all the contry vnder their obedience Nowe at that time the city of ERIX was the strongest place they had and there were a great number of good souldiers within it to defende it Pyrrus determined to proue the assault of it and when his army was ready to geue the charge he armed him selfe at all peeces from toppe to toe and approching the walls vowed vnto Hercules to geue him a solemne sacrifice with a feast of common playes so that he would graunt him grace to shew him selfe vnto the GREECIANS inhabiting in SICILIA worthy of the noble auncesters from whence he came and of the great good fortune he had in his handes This vowe ended he straight made the trompettes sound to the assault caused the barbarous people that were on the walles to retyre with force of his shot Then when the scaling ladders were set vp him selfe was the first that mounted on the walle where he found diuerse of the barbarous people that resisted him But some he threw ouer the walles on either side of him and with his sword slew many dead about him himselfe not once hurt for the barbarous people had not the harte to looke him in the face his countenaunce was so terrible And this doth proue that Homer spake wisely and like a man of experience when he sayd that valliantnesse onely amongest all other morall vertues is that which hath somtimes certaine furious motions and diuine prouocations which make a man besides him selfe So the city being taken he honorably performed his vowed sacrifice to Hercules kept a feast of all kindes and sortes of games and weapons There dwelt a barbarous people at that time about MESSINA called the MAMERTINES who did much hurt to the GREECIANS therabouts makinge many of them pay taxe and tribute for they were a great number of them and all men of warre and good souldiers and had their name also of Mars bicause they were marshall men and geuen to armes Pyrrus led his army against them and ouerthrew them in battell and put their collectors to death that did leauy and exact the taxe and rased many of their fortresses And when the CARTHAGINIANS required peace and his frendship offering him shippes and money pretending greater matters he made them a shorte aunswere that there was but one way to make peace and loue betwene them to forsake SICILIA altogether and to be contented to make Mare Libycum the border betwixt GREECE and them For his good fortune and the force he had in his handes did set him aloft and further allured him to follow the hope that brought him into SICILIA aspiring first of all vnto the conquest of LIBYA Now to passe him ouer thither he had ships enough but he lacked owers mariners wherefore when he would presse them then he began to deale roughly with the cities of SICILIA and in anger compelled and seuerely punished them that would not obey his commaundement This he did not at his first comminge but contrarily had wonne all their good wills speaking more curteously to them then any other did and shewing that he trusted them altogether and troubled them in nothing But sodainly being altered from a populer prince vnto a violent tyran he was not only thought cruell and rigorous but that worst of all is vnfaithfull and ingratefull neuerthelesse though they receiued great hurt by him yet they suffered it and graunted him any needefull thing he did demaund But when they saw he began to mistrust Thaenon and Sostratus the two chiefe Captaines of SYRACVSA and they who first caused him to come into SICILIA who also at his first arriuall deliuered the city of SYRACVSA into his hands had bene his chiefe aiders in helping him to compasse that he had done in SICILIA when I say they saw he would no more cary them with him nor leaue them behinde him for the mistrust he had of them and that Sostratus fled from him and absented him selfe fearing least Pyrrus would doe him some mischiefe and that Pyrrus moreouer had put Thaenon to death mistrusting that he would also haue done him some harme Then all things fell out against Pyrrus not one after an other nor by litle and litle but all together at one instant and all the cities generally hated him to the death and did againe some of them confederate with the CARTHAGINIANS and others with the MAMERTINES to set vpon him But when all SICILIA was thus bent against him he receiued letters from the SAMNITES TARENTINES by which they aduertised him how they had much a doe to defende them selues within their cities and strong holdes and that they were wholly driuen out of the field wherfore they earnestly besought him speedily to come to their aide This newes came happely to him to cloke his flying that he might say it was not for dispaire of good successe in SICILIA that he went his way but true it was in dede that when he saw he could no longer keepe it then a shippe could stand still among the waues he sought some honest shadow to colour his departing And that surely was the cause why he returned againe into ITALIE Neuerthelesse at his departure out of SICILE they say that looking backe apon the I le he said to those that were about him O what a goodly field for a battell my frendes doe we leaue to the ROMAINES and CARTHAGINIANS to fight th one with thother And verily so it fell out shortely after as he had spoken But the barbarous people conspiringe together against Pyrrus the CARTHAGINIANS on the one side watching his passage gaue him battel on the sea in the very straight it selfe of MESSINA where he lost many of his ships and fled with the rest tooke the coast of ITALIE And there the MAMERTINES on the other side being gone thither before to the number of eighteene thowsande fighting men durst not present him battell in open fielde but taried for him in certaine straites of the mountaines in very hard places and so set vpon his rereward and
LACEDAEMONIANS againe labored all that they could possible to let them But in this great broyle one perceiued Pyrrus a horse backe to haue lept the trenche past ouer the strength of the cartes and make force to enter into the city Wherfore those that were appointed to defende that parte of the trench cried out straight and the women fell a shreeking and running as if all had bene lost And as Pyrrus passed further striking downe with his owne handes all that stoode before him a CRETAN shot at him strake his horse through both sides who leapinge out of the prease for paine of his wounde dying caried Pyrrus away and threw him vppon the hanging of a steepe hill where he was in great daunger to fall from the toppe This put all his seruauntes and frendes about him in a maruelous feare and therewithall the LACEDAEMONIANS seeing them in this feare and trouble ran immediatly vnto that place and with force of shotte draue them all out of the trenche After this retyre Pyrrus caused all assault to cease hoping the LACEDAEMONIANS in the end would yeelde consideringe there were many of them slaine in the two dayes past and all the rest in maner hurt Howbeit the good fortune of the citie whether it were to proue the valliantnes of the inhabitantes them selues or at the least to shew what power they were of euen in their greatest nede and distresse when the LACEDAEMONIANS had small hope left brought one Aminias Phocian from CORINTHE one of king Antigonus Captaines with a great band of men and put them into the city to aide them and straight after him as soone as he had entred king Areus arriued also on thother side from CRETA and two thowsand souldiers with him So the women went home to their houses makinge their reckening that they should not neede any more to trouble them selues with warres They gaue the olde men liberty also to goe and rest them selues who being past allage to fight for necessities sake yet were driuen to arme them selues and take weapon in hande and in order of battell placed the newe come souldiers in their roomes Pyrrus vnderstanding that newe supplies were come grewe to greater stomake then before and inforced all that he could to winne the towne by assault But in the end when to his cost he founde that he wanne nothing but blowes he gaue ouer the siege and went to spoyle all the contry about determining to lye there in garrison all the winter He coulde not for all this auoide his destenie For there rose a sedition in the city of ARGOS betwene two of the chiefest citizens Aristeas and Aristippus and bicause Aristeas thought that kinge Antigonus did fauor his enemy Aristippus he made hast to sende first vnto Pyrrus whose nature and disposition was such that he did continually heape hope vppon hope euer taking the present prosperity for an occasion to hope after greater to come And if it fell out he was a loser then he sought to recouer him selfe and to restore his losse by some other newe attempts So that neither for being conqueror nor ouercomen he would euer be quiet but alwayes troubled some and him selfe also by reason whereof he sodainly departed towardes ARGOS But king Areus hauing layed ambushes for him in diuerse places and occupied also the straightest and hardest passages by the which he was to passe gaue a charge vppon the GAVLES and MOLOSSIANS which were in the tayle of his army Now the selfe same day Pyrrus was warned by a Soothsayer who sacrificing had founde the liuer of the sacrificed beast infected that it betokened the losse of some most neere vnto him But when he heard the noyse of the charge geuen he thought not of the forwarning of his Soothsayer but commaunded his sonne to take his household seruauntes with him and to go thither as he him selfe in the meane time with as great hast as he could made the rest of his army marche to get them quickely out of this daungerous way The fraye was very hotte about Ptolomie Pyrrus sonne for they were all the chiefe men of the LACEDAEMONIANS with whome he had to doe led by a valliant Captaine called Eualcus But as he fought valliantly against those that stoode before him there was a souldier of CRETA called Oraesus borne in the citie of APTERA a man very ready of his hande and light of foote who running alongest by him strake him such a blowe on his side that he sell downe dead in the place This prince Ptolomie being slaine his company began straight to flie and the LACEDAEMONIANS followed the chase so hottely that they tooke no heede of them selues vntill they sawe they were in the plaine field farre from their footemen Wherefore Pyrrus vnto whom the death of his sonne was newly reported being a fire with sorow and passion turned so dainly vpon them with the men of armes of the MOLOSSIANS and being the first that came vnto them made a maruelous slaughter among them For notwithstanding that euery where before that time he was terrible and inuincible hauing his sword in his hande yet then he did shewe more proofe of his valliantnes strength and corage then he had euer done before And when he had sette spurres to his horse against Eualcus to close with him Eualcus turned on the toe side and gaue Pyrrus such a blowe with his sword that he missed litle the cutting of his bridle hande for he cut in deede all the raines of the bridle a sunder But Pyrrus straight ranne him through the body with his speare and lighting of from his horse he put all the troupe of the LACEDAEMONIANS to the sword that were about the body of Eualcus being all chosen men Thus the ambition of the Captaines was cause of that losse vnto their contry for nothing considering that the warres against thē were ended But Pyrrus hauing now as it were made sacrifice of these poore bodies of the LACEDAEMONIANS for the soule of his dead sonne and fought thus wonderfully also to honor his funeralls conuerting a great parte of his sorow for his death into anger and wrath against the enemies he afterwardes held on his way directly towardes ARGOS And vnderstanding that king Antigonus had already seased the hills that were ouer the valley he lodged neere vnto the city of NAVPLIA and the next morning following sent a heraulde vnto Antigonus and gaue him defyance calling him wicked man and chalenged him to come downe into the valley to fight with him to trye which of them two should be king Antigonus made him aunswer that he made warres as much with time as with weapon furthermore that if Pyrrus were weary of his life he had wayes open enough to put him selfe to death The citizens of ARGOS also sent Ambassadors vnto them both to pray them to departe sith they knew that there was nothing for them to see in the city of ARGOS and that they would let
sacrificed to the Muses and to the GREECIAN Graces that is to say that he had knowen the Greeke tongue to so many famous and glorious deedes as he did both in peace and warres he had to ioyned so vnfortunate and miserable an end as he made through his choller and extreame ambition at such yeares and through an vnsatiable couetousnes which like boysterous windes made him to make shipwracke of all in a most cruell bloody and vnnaturall age The which is easily knowen in reading the discourse of his doinges First of all he was of a meane house borne of poore parents by father mother that got their liuings by sweate of their browes His father as him selfe was called Caius Fulcinia was his mother And this was the cause why he beganne so late to haunt the city and to learne the ciuility and manners of ROME hauing bene brought vp alwayes before in a litle poore village called CIRROEATON within the territory of the city of ARPOS where he led a hard contry life in respect of those that liued pleasauntly and finely in the cities but otherwise well reformed and nearest vnto the manners of the auncient ROMAINES The first iorney he made vnto the warres was against the CELTIBERIANS in SPAYNE vnder Scipio AFRICAN when he went to besiege the city of NVMANTIA where his Captaines in shorte time found that he was a better souldier then any other of his companions For the did maruelous easily receiue the reformation of manners and the discipline of warres which Scipio aduaunced amongest his souldiers that were ill trained before and geuen ouer to all pleasure And they say that in the sight of his Generall he fought hand to hand with one of his enemies and slew him vpon which occasion Scipio to make him loue him did offer him many curtesies and pleasures But specially one day aboue the rest hauing made him suppe with him at his table some one after supper falling in talke of Captaines that were in ROME at that time one that stoode by Scipio asked him either bicause in deede he stoode in doubt or else for that he would curry fauor with Scipio what other Captaine the ROMAINES should haue after his death like vnto him Scipio hauing Marius by him gently clapped him apon his shoulder and sayd peraduenture this shal be he Thus happely were they both borne the one to shew from his youth that one day he should come to be a great man and the other also for wisely coniecturing the end by seeing of the beginning Well it fortuned so that these words of Scipio by reporte aboue all things else put Marius in a good hope as if they had bene spoken by the oracle of some god and made him bold to deale in matters of state and common wealth where by meanes of the fauor countenaunce Cecilius Metellus gaue him whose house his father and he had alwayes followed and honored he obtained the office of Tribuneshippe In this office he preferred a law touching the manner howe to geue the voyces in election of the Magistrates which did seeme to take from the nobility the authority they had in iudgement And therefore the Consull Cotta stepped vp against it and perswaded the Senate to resist that lawe and not suffer it to be authorised and therewithall presently to call Marius before them to yeld a reason of his doing So was it agreed vppon in the Senate Now Marius comming into the Senate was not abashed at any thing as some other young man would haue bene that had but newly begonne to enter into the world as he did and hauing no other notable calling or quality in him sauing his vertue only to commend him but taking boldenes of him selfe as the noble actes he afterwards did gaue show of his valor he openly threatned the Consull Cotta to sende him to prison if he did not presently withdrawe the conclusion he had caused to be resolued apon The Consull then turning him selfe vnto Caecilius Metellus asked him how he liked it Metellus standing vp spake in the behalfe of the Consull and then Marius calling a sergeaunt out commended him to take Metellus selfe and to cary him to prison Metellus appealed to the other Tribunes but neuer a one would take his matter in hand so that the Senate when all was done were compelled to call backe the conclusion that before was taken Then Marius returning with great honor into the market place among the assembly of the people caused this law to passe and be authorised and euery man held opinion of him that he would proue a stowt man and such a one as would stoupe for any feare nor shrinke for bashfullness but would beard the Senate is fauor of the people Notwithstanding he shortly after chaunged opinion and altered the first by an other act he made For when an other went about to haue a law made to distribute corne vnto euery citizen without payment of any penny he was vehemently against it and ouerthrew it so that thereby he came to be a like honored and estemed of either party as he that would neither pleasure the one nor the other to the preiudice of the common wealth After he had bene Tribune he sued for the chiefest office of AEdilis Of the AEdiles there are two sortes the first is called AEdilitas Curulis so named bicause of certaine chayers that haue crooked seete vpon which they sit when they geue audience The other is of lesse dignity and that is called AEdilitas popularis and when they haue chosen the first and greater AEdilis at ROME they presently proceede the same day also in the market place vnto election of the lesser Marius seeing plainely that he was put by the chiefest of the AEdiles turned againe straight yet to demaund the second but this was misliked in him and they tooke him for too bold too shameles and too presumptuous a man So that in one selfe day he had two denyalles and repulses which neuer man but him selfe before had And neuerthelesse all this could not cut his combe but shortely after he sued also for the Praetorshippe and he lacked but litle of the deniall of that yet in the ende being last of all chosen he was accused to haue bribed the people and bought their voyces for money And surely amongest many other this presumption was very great that they saw a man of CASSIVS SABACON within the barres where the election is made running to and fro amonge them that gaue their voyces bicause this Sabacon was Marius very great frend The matter came before the iudges and Sabacon was examined vpon it Whereunto he aunswered that for the great extreame heate he felt he was very dry and asked for colde water to drinke and that this man had brought him some in a potte where he was howbeit that he went his way as soone as euer he had dronke This Sabacon was afterwardes put out of
Consullshippes whereof he maketh his boast vnto them at ROME Is he afrayed they should take him as they did Carbo Caepio whom the enemies haue ouerthrowen He must not be afrayed of that for he is a Captaine of an other manner of valor and reputacion then they were and his army much better then theirs was But howesoeuer it be yet were it much better in prouing to loose something then to be idle to suffer our frends and cōfederats to be destroyed sacked before our eyes Marius was maruelous glad to heare his men cōplaine thus did comfort them told thē that he did nothing mistrust their corage valiantnes howbeit that through the coūsell of certaine prophecies oracles of the gods he did expect time place fit for victory For he euer caried a SYRIAN womā in a litter about with him called Martha with great reuerence whom they said had the spirit of prophecie in her that he did euer sacrifice vnto the gods by her order at such time as she willed him to do it This SYRIAN woman went first to speake with the Senate about these matters and did foretell prognosticate what should follow But the Senate would not heare her made her to be driuē away Wherupon she went vnto the womē made thē see proofe of some things she vaūted of specially Marius wife at whose feete she was set one day in an assembly of the cōmon playes to see swordplayers fight for life death for she told her certenly which of thē should ouercome Whereupon this Lady sent her vnto her husband Marius who made great reckening of her caried her euē in a litter with him whersoeuer he went She was alwaies at Marius sacrifices apparelled in a gown of purple in graine clasped to her with claspes held a speare in her hand woūd all about with nosegayes garlands of flowers tyed on with laces This man̄er of ieast made many dout whether Marius shewed this woman opēly beleuing in dede that she had the gift of prophecy or els that knowing the cōtrary he made as though he did beleue it to helpe her fayning But that which Alexander the MYNDIAN wrote touching Vultures is a thing greatly to be wōdred at For he said there were two of thē followed Marius in his warres that they euer shewed thē selues missed not when he should win any great battel that they did know them by latin collers they ware about their necks which the souldiers had tyed about thē afterwards let them go where they would by reason whereof they did know the souldiers againe it semed also that they did salute thē were very glad when they saw thē perswaded thē selues that it was a signe token of good lucke to follow Many signes and tokens were seene before the battell howbeit all the rest were ordinary sightes sauing that which was reported to be seene at TVDERTVM AMERIA two cities of ITALIE For they say there were seene speares and targets in the night burning like fire in the element which first were caried vp downe here and there and then met together euen as men moue sturre that fight one with an other vntill at the length the one geuing backe and the other following after they all vanished away and consumed towardes the West About the selfe same time also there came from the citie of PESSINVNTA Batabaces the chiefe priest of the great mother of the goddes who brought newes that the goddesse had spoken to him within her sanctuary and told him that the victory of this warre should fall out on the ROMAINES side The Senate beleued it and ordained that they should build a temple vnto that goddesse to geue her thankes for the victorie which she did promise them Batabaces also would haue presented him selfe vnto the people in open assemblie to tell them as much But there was one Aulus Pompeius a Tribune that would not suffer him to do it calling him tombler or rugler violently thrust him behinde the pulpit for orations but the mischaunce that felt apon Pompeius afterwards made thē the more to beleue Batabaces words For Pompeius the Tribune no sooner came home vnto his house but a great vehement agew tooke him wherof he dyed the seuenth day after as all the world could witnes Now the TEVTONS perceiuing that Marius stirred not at all out of his campe they proued to assault him howbeit they were so well receiued with shotte and slinges that after they had lost certaine of their men they gaue it ouer and determined to goe further perswading them selues that they might easily passe the Alpes without daunger Wherfore trussing vp al their baggage they passed by Marius campe at which time it appeared more certainly then before that they were a maruelous great multitude of people by the length of time which they tooke to passe their way For it is sayd they were passing by his campe sixe dayes continually together And as they came raking by the ROMAINES campe they asked them in mockery if they would wryte or send home any thing to their wiues for they would be with them ere it were long When they were all passed and gone and that they continued on their iorney still Marius also raised his campe and went and followed them fayer and softly foote by foote and euer kept hard at their taile as neere as he could alwayes fortifying his campe very well and euer choosing strong places of scituacion aduantage to lodge in that they might be safe in the night time Thus they marched on in this sorte vntill they came vnto the city of AIX from whence they had not farre to goe but they entered straight into the mountaines of the Alpes Wherefore Marius prepared nowe to fight with them chose out a place that was very strong of scituacion to lodge his campe in howebeit there lacked water And they say he did it of purpose to the ende to quicken his mens corage the more thereby Many repined at it and tolde him that they should stande in great daunger to abide maruelous thirst if they lodged there Whereunto he made aunswere shewing them the riuer that ranne hard by the enemies campe saying withall that they must go thither and buy drinke with their blood The souldiers replyed againe and why then doe ye not lead vs thither whilest our blood is yet moyste he gently aunswered them againe bicause the first thing we doe we must fortifie our campe The souldiers though they were angry with him yet they obeyed him but the slaues hauing neither drinke for them selues nor for their cattell gathered together a great troupe of them and went towardes the riner some of them carying axes other hatchets other swords and speares with their pottes to cary water determining to fight with the barbarous people if otherwise they could not come by it A fewe
him not being aware passed by the house And it is reported that Marius him selfe conueyed Sylla safelie out at a backe dore and that he being scaped thus went vnto his campe Notwithstanding Sylla him selfe in his commentaries doth not say that he was saued in Marius house when he fled but that he was brought thither to geue his consent vnto a matter which Sulpitius woulde haue forced him vnto against his will presenting him naked swordes on euery side And he wryteth also that being thus forcibly brought vnto Marius house he was kept there in this feare vntill such time as returninge into the market place he was compelled to reuoke againe the adiornement of iustice which he and his companion by edict had commaunded This done Sulpitius then being the stronger caused the commision charge of this warres against Mithridates to be assigned vnto Marius by the voyce of the people Therfore Marius geuing order for his departure sent two of his Colonells before to take the army of Sylla who hauing wonne his souldiers harts before and stirred them vp against Marius brought them on with him directly towardes ROME being no lesse then fiue and thirty thowsand fighting men who setting apon the Captaines Marius had sent vnto them slewe them in the fielde In reuenge whereof Marius againe in ROME put many of Syllaes frendes and followers to death and proclaimed open liberty by sound of trompet to all slaues and bondmen that would take armes for him but there were neuer but three only that offered them selues Whereuppon hauing made a litle resistaunce vnto Sylla when he came into ROME he was soone after compelled to runne his way Marius was no sooner out of the citie but they that were in his company forsaking him dispersed them selues here and there being darke night and Marius him selfe got to a house of his in the contrie called Salonium and sent his sonne to one of his father in law Mutius farmes not farre from thence to make some prouision for vittells But Marius in the meane time went before to OSTIA where one of his frendes Numerius had prepared him a shippe in the which he imbarked immediatly not tarying for his sonne and hoised saile hauing only Granius his wiues sonne with him In the meane time the younger Marius beinge at his father in law Mutius farme stayed so long in getting of prouision in trussing of it vp and carying it away that broade day light had like to haue discouered him for the enemies had aduertisement whether he was gone whereupon certaine horsemen were sent thither supposing to haue found him But the keeper of the house hauing an inckling of their comminge and preuenting them also before they came sodainely yoked his oxen to the carte which he loded with beanes and hidde this younger Marius vnder the same And prickinge the oxen forward with his goade set out and met them as he went towards the city and deliuered Marius in this sorte into his wiues house and there taking such thinges as he needed when the night following came went towards the sea tooke shippe finding one crosse sayled bound towards AFRICKE Marius the father saylinge on still had a very good winde to poynte alongest the coast of ITALIE notwithstanding being afrayed of one Geminius a chiefe man of TERRACINE who hated him to the death he gaue the maryners warning thereof betimes and willed them to take heede of landing at TERRACINE The maryners were very willing to obey him but the winde stoode full against them comming from the mayne which raised a great storme and they feared much that their vessell which was but a bote would not brooke the seas besides that he him selfe was very sicke in his stomake and sore sea beaten notwithstanding at the length with the greatest difficulty that might be they recouered the coast euer against the city of CIRCEES In the meane time the storme increased still and their vitells failed them whereupon they were compelled to land and went wandring vp downe not knowinge what to doe nor what way to take But as it falleth our commonly in such like cases of extremitie they thought it alwayes the best safetie for them to flie from the place where they were and to hope of that which they saw not for if the sea were their enemy the lande was so likewise To meete with men they were afrayed and not to meete with them on thother side lacking vtittells was in deede the greater daunger Neuertheless in the end they met with heard men that could geue them nothing to eate but knowing Marius warned him to get him out of the way as soone as he could possible bicause it was not longe since that there passed by a great troupe of horsemē that sought him all about And thus being brought vnto such perplexity that he knew not where to bestowe him selfe and specially for that the poore men he had in his company were almost starued for hunger he got out of the high way notwithstanding and sought out a very thicke wodde where he passed all that night in great sorow and the next morninge beinge compelled by necessity determined yet to employ his body before all his strength failed Thus he wandered on alongest the sea coast still comforting them that followed him the best he could praying them not to dispayre but to refene them selues to him euen vntil the last hope trusting in certaine prophecies which the Soothsayers had told him of long time before For when he was but very young and dwelling in the contry he gathered vp in the lappe of his gowne the ayrie of an Eagle in the which were seuen young Eagles whereat his father and mother much wondering asked the Soothsayers what that ment They answered that their sonne one day should be one of the greatest men in the world and that out of doubt he should obtaine seuen times in his life the chiefest office of dignity in his contry And for that matter it is sayd that so in dede it came to passe Other hold opinion that such as were about Marius at that time in that present place and else where during the time of his flying they hearing him tell this tale beleued it and afterwardes put it downe in wrytinge as a true thinge although of trothe it is bothe false and fayned For they say that the Eagle neuer getteth but two younge ones by reason whereof it is mayntayned also that the Poet Musaeus hathe lyed in that which he hathe wrytten in these verses The Eagle layes three egges and tvvo she hatcheth forth But yet she bringeth vp but one that any thing is vvorth Howsoeuer it was it is certaine that Marius many times during the time of his flying sayd that he was assured he should come vnto the seuenth Consulship When they were comen neere now to the city of MINTVRNES about a two myle a halfe frō it they might perceiue a troupe of horsemen comming by the
DELPHES and for euery priuate Captaine of the gallies in like case and the two starres of Castor Pollux in golde besides which vanished away a litle before the battell of Leuctres and no man knewe what became of them Againe in the chamber of the treasory of Brasidas and of the ACANTHIANS there was also a galley made of gold and iuory of two cubittes long which Cyrus sent vnto him after the victory he had wonne by sea of the ATHENIANS And furthermore Alexandrides the historiographer borne at DEEPHES wryteth that the selfe same Lysander had left there to be kept safe a tallent of siluer two fifty Minas and eleuen peeces of gold called Stateres But all this accordeth not with the which all the other historiographers write agreeing of his pouerty But Lysander being aâ—â—â— then and of greater power then euer any GREECIAN was before him caried a greater poâ—e and countenaunce then became his ability For as Duris writeth he was the first of the GREECIANS vnto whome they did euer erect any aulters and offer sacrifice vnto as a god and in honor of whom they did first sing any hvmnes and at this day there is yet good memory of one which beganne in this maner The noble Captaines praise vve meane to celebrate Of Greece that land vvhich is deuine in euery kinde of state Euen be vvhich vvas both borne and brought to high renovvne VVithin the noble vvealthie vvalles of Sparta stately tovvne The SAMIANS by publicke decree ordained that the feastes of Iuno which were called in their city Heroea should be called Lysandria Lysander had euer one Cherilus a SPARTAN Poet about him to wryte and set forth all his doinges in verse An other Poet called Antilocus one day made certaine verses in his praise which pleased him so well that he gaue him his have full of siluer There were two other Poets Antimachus COLOâ—â—â—ONIAN and NICERAUS borne as HERACLEA which did both wryte verses to honor him striuing whether of them should do best Lysander iudged the crowne and victory vnto Niceraus where with Antimachus was so angry that he rased out all that he had writteÌ„ of him But Plato who at that time was young loued Antimachus bicause he was an excellent Poet did comforte him and tolde him that ignoraunce did blinde the vnderstanding of the ignoraunt as blindenes doth the fight of the blinde Aristonous an excellent player of the citerne one that had six times worthe the prises of the Pythian games to winne Lysanders fauor promised him that if once he wanne the prise of his arte againe he would cause him selfe to be proclaimed Lysanders slaue This ambition of Lysander was very odious and grieuous only vnto great persones and men of his estate but besides his ambition in th ende he became very prowde and cruel through the 〈…〉 of his followers and them that courted him so that he exceeded in recompencing his frendes as also in punishinge of his enemies For to gratifie his frendes and familiars he gaue them absolute power and authority of life and death in their townes and cities and to pacific and appeease his anger where he once hated there was no other way but death without all possibilitie of pardon And that he plainly shewed afterwards in the city of MILETVM where fearing least they would flie that tooke parte with the people bicause he would haue them appeare that hid them selues he gaue his word and sware that he would doe them no hurt at all The poore men gaue credit to his worde But so soone as they came out and did appeare he deliuered them all into the handes of their aduersaries which were the chiefest of the nobility to put them all to death they were no lesse then eight hundred men one without other He caused great murders of people to also be done in other cities for he did not only put them to death that had priuatly offended him but numbers besides onely to satisfie and reuenge the priuate quarrells enmities and couetousnes of his frendes whom he had in euery plate And therefore was Eteocles LACEDAEMONIAN greatly commended for his saying that GREECE could not abide two Lysanders Theophrastus wryteth also that the very like was spoken of Alcibiades by Archestratus Howbeit in Alcibiades there was nothing but his insolency and vaine glory that men misliked but in Lysander a seuere nature and sharpe condicions than made his power fearfull intollerable Neuerthelesse the LACEDAEMONIANS passed ouer all other complaintes exhibited against him sauing when they heard the complaints of Pharnabazus who purposely sent Ambassadors vnto them to complaine of the wrongs and iniuries Lysander had done him spoyling and destroying the contry vnder his gouernment Then the Ephori being offended with him clapped vp Thorax in prison one of his frendes and Captaines that had serued vnder him and finding that he had both gold and siluer in his house contrary to the law put him to death And to him selfe they sent immediatly that which they call Scytala as who would say the scrolle wrytten apon a rounde staffe commaunding him that he should retorne immediatly apon receite thereof The Scytala is in this sorte When the Ephori doe sende a Generall or an Admirall to the warres they cause two litlerounde staues to be made of the like bignes and length of which the Ephori doe keepe the tone and thother they geue to him whome they sende to the warres These two litle slaues they call Soytales Nowe when they will aduertise their Generall secretly of matters of importaunce they take a scrolle of parchement long and narrowe like a leather thonge and wreath it about the round staffe leauinge no voyde space betwene the knottes of the scrowle Afterwardes when they haue bound them fast together then they wryte vppon the parchment thus rolled what they will and when they haue done wryting vnfolde it and sende it to their Generall who can not else possibly read it to know what is writteÌ„ bicause the letters are not ioined together not follow in order but are scattered here and there vntill he take his litle rowle of wodde which was geuen him at his departure And then wreathing the scrowle of parchment about it which he receaueth the folding and wreathes of the parchment falling iust into the selfe same place as they were first folded the letters also come to ioyne one with an other as they ought to doe This litle scrowle of parchement also is called as the rowle of wodde Scytala euen as we commonly see in many places that the thing measured is also called by the name of the measure When this parchement scrowle was brought vnto Lysander who was then in the contrie of HELLESPONT he was maruelously troubled withall fearing aboue all other thinges the accusations of Pharnabazus so he sought meanes to speake with him before he departed Hoping thereby to make his peace with him When they were
he marueled how he could further it that he was not euen then the cheifest man of the worlde When Sylla was returned againe to ROME one Censorinus accused him of extorcion that he had caried away a great summe of money with him contrary to the lawe out of one of their confederates contry howebeit he prosecuted not his accusation but gaue it ouer In the meane time the enmity begonne betwixt him and Marius kindled againe vppon a new occasion of king Bocchus ambition who partely to creepe further into the peoples fauor of ROME and partely also for to gratifie Sylla gaue and dedicated certaine images of victory carying tokens of triumphe vnto the temple of Iupiter Capitolin and next vnto them also the image of Iugurthe which he deliuered into the handes of Sylla being all of pure golde This did so offende Marius that he attempted to take them away by force but others did defend the cause of Sylla So that for the quarrell of these two the city of ROME taking armes had like to haue brought all to ruine had not the warres of the confederats of ITALIE bene which of longtime did kindle and smoke but at the length brake out into open flame and sedition for that time In this maruelous great warre which fell out very daungerous by sundry misfortunes and great losses to the ROMAINES Marius did no notable exployte whereby it appeareth that the vertue of warlike discipline hath neede of a strong and lusty and able body For Sylla to the contrary hauing done notable seruice and obtained many profitable victories wanne the fame and estimacion among the ROMAINES of a noble souldier and worthy Captaine and among thenemies them selues of a most fortunate man Notwithstanding Sylla did not as Timotheus ATHENIAN the sonne of Conon had done Who when his aduersaries and ill willers did attribute his noble deedes vnto the fauor of foretune and did painte fortune tables that brought him all the cities taken and snared in neâ—â— whilest he slept he tooke in very ill parte and was maruelous angrie with them that did it saying that they robbed him of the glory that iustly belonged vnto him Wherefore one day when this Timotheus was returned from the warres with the great victories after he had openly acquainted the ATHENIANS with the whole discourse of his doings in his voyage he sayd vnto them my Lordes of ATHENS fortune hath had no parte in all this which I haue told vnto you Hereupon the goddes it should seeme were so angry with this foolish ambition of Timotheus that he neuer afterwardes did any worthy thing but all went vtterly against the heare with him vntill at the length he came to be so hated of the people that in th end they banished him form ATHENS But Sylla to the contrary did not only paciently abide their wordes that sayed he was a happy man and singularly beloued of fortune but also increasinge this opinion and glorying as at a speciall grace of the goddes did attribute the honor of his doings vnto fortune either for a vaine glory or for that he had in fansy that the goddes did prosper him in all his doinges For he wrote him selfe in his commentaries that the enterprises which he hazarded most hottely according to the sodaine occasion offered did better prosper with him then those which by good aduise he had determined of Furthermore when he sayd that he was a better borne vnto the fortune then to the warres it seemeth that he confessed all his prosperity came rather by fortune then by his worthinesse And to conclude it appeareth that he did wholly submit him selfe vnto fortune acknowledging that he did altogether depend vpon her considering that he did attribute it to the speciall grace and fauor of the goddes that he neueâ— disagreed with Metellus his father in law who was a man of like dignitie and authoritie as him selfe was For where it was thought he woulde haue bene a greate hinderer of his doings he found him verie curteous and gentle in his behalfe in all that they had to deale in together by reason of the societie of their office And furthermore in his coÌ„mentaries which he dedicated vnto Lucullus he counselled him to thincke nothing more certaine and assured then that which the goddes should reueale vnto him and commaunde him in his nightes dreame He wryteth also that when he was sent with an army vnto the warres of the confederates the earth sodainly opened about LAVERNA out of the which immediatly came a maruelous bright flame of fire that ascended vp to the element The wise men being asked their opinions about the same made aunswere that a very honest and also a maruelous fayer man of complexion taking soueraine authoritie in his handes should pacifie all tumultes and sedition which were at that time in ROME Whereupon Sylla sayed it was him selfe whome the goddes ment bicause that amongest other things he had that singular gift of beawty that his heare was yellow as golde and he was not ashamed to name him selfe an honest man after he had wonne so many notable great victories Thus haue we sufficiently spoken of the trust he had in the fauor of the goddes And furthermore he seemed to be very contrary in his manners and vnlike to him selfe For if he tooke away much in one place he gaue as much more also in an other Some he preferred without cause and others he put downe without reason He would be very gentle to them of whome he would haue oughtâ— and vnto those that sought of him he would stand much apon his honor and looke for great reuerence Wherby men could hardly decerne his nature whether pride or flattery did more abound in him And as for the inequality he vsed in punishing of them that had offended him sometimes he hanged vp men for very small and light causes Some other times againe to the contrary he paciently aboade the most grieuous offences in the worlde and lightly pardoned and forgaue such faultes as were in no wife to be forgiuen And afterwards againe would punish right small crimes with murders effusion of blood and confiscation of goodes This iudgement may be geuen of him that by nature he had a malicious and a reuenging minde yet notwithstanding he qualified that naturall bitternes with reason geuing place to necessary and his benefit For in this warre of the confederates his souldiers slue Albinus one of his Lieutenauntes beating him to death with staues and stones being a man of good quality and one that had bene Praetor This great offence he passed ouer with silence vsing no manner of punishment and turned it to a boast in the end saying that his men were the more obedient and diligent in any peece of seruice that was to be done and that he made them amende 〈…〉 faultes by worthy seruice And furthermore he did not regarde them that he did reproue 〈…〉 but hauinge determined with him selfe to destroy
should borrow nor ow aboue two thowsande Drachmas it was founde that at the hower of his death he dyed three millions of Drachmas in debt This man nowe like a furious raging beast being left by Marius amongest the people turned all thinges topsie turuey by force of armes and maine strength He made also many wicked lawes to passe by voyce of the people and amongest others that one specially wherby he gaue Marius commission to make warres against king Mithridates For which extreame oppresions and dealinges of Sulpitius the two Consuls Sylla and Quintus Pompeius left of to heare publike causes and ceased the common course of law and iustice And as they were one day occupied about the adiornement of the law in an open assembly in the market place before the temple of Castor and Pollux Sulpitius the Tribune came vpon them with his souldiers and slue many people and among others the Consull Pompeius owne sonne and the father him selfe being Consull had much a doe to save his life by flying And Sylla the other Consull was also pursued euen into Marius house where he was compelled to promise before his departure presently to goe and reuoke that ornament of the law which he had before commaunded Thus Sulpitius hauing depriued Pompeius of his Consulshippe did not depose Sylla but only tooke from him the charge had geuen him to make warres against Mithridates and transferred that vnto Marius And sending 〈…〉 〈…〉 to the city of NOâ—A to receiue the army that lay there and to bring them vnto Marius Sylla preuented them and fled to the campe before them and told the souldiers all what had past as it was in deedes who when they be and it fell all to â—â—â—mule and slue Marius collonells with stones Marius on the otherside put all Syllâ—â—s frends to death 〈…〉 tooke the spoyle of their goodes and houses so was there nothing else but 〈…〉 from the campe roll â—aâ—â— and from ROME to the campe againâ—â— The Senate were in manner beside them selues not being able to gouerne as they would but driven to obey Marius and Sulpitius commÌ„aundementes Who being aduertised that Sylla was consisting towardes ROME sâ—â—â—â— straighâ— two Praetors vnto him Brutus and Seruilius to commaund them as from the Senate to approach no nearer These two Praetors spake a litle to boldly vnto Sylla whereuppon the souldiers fell to a mutiny in such soure that they stoode indiffereÌ„t whether to kill them presently in the field or no howbeit they brake their a â—â—â—s and bondells of noddes which were caried before them and tooke their out pleâ—â—hes wherewith they â—â—dre apparelled as magistrates from them and sent them home thus shamefully handled and intreated Vppon their returne now 〈…〉 their sadde silence only and them selues so stripped besides of all their markes and 〈…〉 Praetoriall dignitie made all men then to iudge that they brought no other newes ben â—oâ—â— as were the worst that possibly could be and that there was no way then left to pacific and Addition which was now altogether vncurable Wherefore Marius and his followers began to make them selves strong by force and Sylla with his companion Q. Pompeius departed in the meane time from the city of NOLA and brought six entier legions on wiâ—h him who desired no other thing but to make hast to march to ROME ward Howbeit Sylla stoode in doubt 〈…〉 him selfe what to do thinking of the great daunger that might follow Vntill such time as his soothsayer Posthumius hauing considered the signes tokens of the sacrifices which Sylla had made vpon this determination gaue him both his handes and bad him binde them hard and shut him vp fast vntill the day of battell should be past saying that he was coÌ„tented to suffer death if he had not good successe and that out of hande to his great honor And it is sayed also that the same night there appeared vnto Sylla in a dreame the goddesse Bellons whome the ROMAINES do greatly honor following therein the CAPPADOCIANS and I knowe him whether it be the moone Minerua or Enyo the goddesse of battells So he thought that the comming to him did put lightning into his hande commaunding him that he should lighten vpon his enemies naming them one after an other by their proper names and that they being striken with his lightning fell downe dead before him and no man knew what became â—â— them This vision encoraged Sylla very much and hauing reported the same to Pomperius 〈…〉 fellow Consull companion the next morning he marched with his army to ROME When he was at PICINES there came other Ambassadors vnto him to pray him in the name usâ—â—â— Senate that he would not come to ROME in this heate and fury declaring therewithall that the Senate would graunt him all thinges that should be meete and reasonable When Sylla had heard the message he aunswered them that he would campe there and so commaunded the marshalls to deuide the squadrons according to their maner The Ambassadors beleuing the he would so haue done in deede returned againe to ROME howebeit them backes were at sooner turned but Sylla straight sent Lucius Basillus and Caius Muhurtius before to seâ—se 〈…〉 the gates of ROME and the walles which were on the side of mount Esquilin and he him 〈…〉 also in persone with all possible speede marched after them Basillus entred ROME and wares the gate by force But the common people vnarmed goe them vp straight to the top of the houses and with tyles and stones stayed and kept him not onely from entring any further but also draue him backe againe euen to the very walles of the city In this hurly burly caâ—e Sylla him selfe to ROME who seeing apparantly to what stare thinges stoode cried out to the men and had them set fyre on the houses and him selfe taking a torche light in his hand shewed them the way what they should doe appointing his archers and darters so whurled â—â—â—â— stow their dartes and other fiery instruments to the toppes of the houses Herein he wanted much ouercome with vnreasonable choller passion and desire of reuenge For soeking only to plague his enemies he tooke no regard to frends to parentes or confederates neither had he yet any manor of remorse or pity such and so fiery was his anger then that he put no 〈…〉 of difference betwene those that had offended and them that had done him no hurt at 〈…〉 this meanes was Marius driuen into the city vnto the temple of the Earth where he made open proclamation by sounde of trompet that he woulde make free all the slaues that woulde come to his parte But forthwith came his enemies see vpon him and press him so neere that he was constrained vtterly to flie and forsake the city Then Sylla assembling the Senate closed Marius and certaine others together with Sulpitius Tribune of the people to be condemned to death Eulpitius was betrayed by a slaue of his owne
whom Sylla made free according to his promise past by publike edict but when he had made him free he caused him to be throwen downe headlong from the rocke Tarpeian And nor contented with this he proclaimed by promise a great summe of money to him that would kill Marius A very ingrate and vs thankefull parte consideringe that Marius not many dayes before hauinge Sylla in his owne house in his handes and custody deliuered him from perill and set him in safety Which if at that time he had not done but had suffered Suspitiâ—â— tiy haue slaine him him selfe had Beâ—â— soueraine Lord of the whole without all contradiction and might haue ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure But Sylla shortly after vpon the like aduantage vsed no such manner of requitall or gratuitie towardes him which bred a secret misliking emongest the Senate howebeit the common people made open shewe of the euill will they bare vnto Sylla by reiecting one Nonius his neuiew and one Seruius who vppon confidence of his fauor presented them selues to sue for certaine offices And besides the shame of this refusall to spyte him the more they chose others in their steedes whose honor and preferrement they right well knew that Sylla would not onely mislike but be much offended withall Howbeit he wisely dissembling the matter seemed to be very glad saying that by his meanes the people of ROME enioyed a full persit liberty that in such cases of election they might freely do what theÌ„ selues lifted And to mitigate somwhat the peoples euill will towards him he determined to choose Lucius Cinna Consull who was of a contrary faction to him hauing first bounde him by solemne othe and curse to fauor his doings whole procedings Whereupon Cinna went vp to the Capitoll and there holding a stone in his hand did solemnly sweare and promise that he would be Syllaes faithfull frende beseeching the goddes if he did the contrary that he might be throwen out of ROME euen as he threw that stone out of his hand and with those words threw it to the ground before many people But notwithstanding all these curses Cinna was no sooner entred into his Consulshippe but presently he beganne to chaunge and alter all For amongest other thinges he would needes haue Sylla accused and procured Verginius one of the Tribunes of the people to be his accuser But Sylla left him with his iudges went to make warres against Mithridates And it is said that about the time that Sylla tooke shippe and departed out of ITALIE there fortuned many tokens and warninges of the goddes vnto kinge Mithridates who was at that present in the city of PERGAMVM As amongest others that the PARGAMENIANS to honor Mithridates withall hauing made an image of victory carying a garland of triuÌ„phe in her hand which was let downe from aloft with engines so soone as she was ready to put the garland vpon his head the image brake and the crowne fell to the grounde in the middest of the Theater and burst all to peeces Whereby all the people that were present were striken with a maruelous feare and Mithridates him selfe beganne to mislike this euill lucke although all things at that time fell out more fortunately then he looked for For he had taken ASIA from the ROMAINES and BITHYNIA and CAPPADOCIA from the kinges which he had driuen out and at that time remained in the city of PERGAMVM to deuide the riches and great territories among his frendes As touching his sonnes the eldest was in the realme of PONTVS and of BOSPHORVS which he inherited from his predicessors euen vnto the desertes beyonde the marisses of Maeotides without trouble or molestation of any man The other also Ariarathes was with a great army in conquering of THRACIA and MACEDON His Captaines and Lieutenauntes moreouer did many notable conquestes in diuers places with a great power amongest the which Archelaus being Lord and master of all the sea for the great number of shippes he had conquered the Iles CYCLADES and all those beyond the hed of Malea and specially amongest others the I le of EVBOEA And beginning at the city of ATHENS had made all the nations of GREECE to rebell euen vnto THESSALIE sauing that he receiued some losse by the city of CHAERONEA Where Brutius Sura one of the Lieutenauntes of Sentius gouernor of MACEDON a man of great wisedome and valliantnes came against him and stayed him for goinge any further ouerrunning the whole contry of BOâ—TIA like a furious raging riuer And setting vpon Archelaus by the city of CHAERONEA ouerthrewe him in three seuerall battells repulsed and inforce him to take the seaes againe But as Brutius was following him in chase Lucius Lucullies sent him commaundement to geue place vnto Sylla to follow those warres against Mithridates according to the charge and commission in that behalfe geuen him Whereupon Brutius Sura went out of the contry of BOâ—OTIA and returned towardes his generall Sentius notwithstandinge his affaires prospered better then he could haue wished and that all GREECE were very willing to reuolt for the reputacion of his wisedom and goodnes Howbeit the thinges that we before haue spoken of were the most notable matters that Brutius did in those partes Sylla now vpon his arriuall recouered immediatly all the other cities of GREECE who being aduertised of his comming sent presently to pray him to come to their aide the city of ATHENS onely excepted which was compelled by the tyran Aristion to take parte with Mithridates Sylla thereupon with all his power went thither besieged the hauen of Piraea rounde causing it to be battered and assâ—â—â—ted on euery side with all sortes of engines and instrumentes of battery whereas if he could haue had pacience but a litle lenger he might haue had the high towne by famine without purting him selfe in any manner of daunger the same being brought to such extreame death and scarsity of all kinde of vittells But the hast that he made to returne againe to ROME set feare of the new chaunge which he heard of daily from thence compelled him to hazzard this warre in that sorte with great daunger many battells and infinite charge consideringe also that besides all other prouision and furniture he had twenty thowsand mules and mulets laâ—â—ring dayly to furnishe his engines of batterie And when all other woode fayled him bicause his engines were oftentimes marred after they were made some breaking of them selues by reason of their waight others consumed with fire throwen from the enemies at the length he fell to the holy wood and cut downe the trees of the Academia being better stored and furnished theÌ„ any other parke of pleasure in all the suburbes of the city seld downe also the â—od of the parke Lycaeum And standing in neede of a great summe of money to entertaine this warres withall he delt also with the holyest temples of all GREECE causing theÌ„
Thelesinus had taken ROME Now about midnight came certaine souldeirs from Crassus to Syllaes campe asked for meate for Crassus supper and his mens who hauing chased his flying enemies whom he had ouerthrowen vnto the city of ANTEMNA which they tooke for refuge had lodged his campe there Sylla vnderstaÌ„ding that being aduertised that the most parte of his enemies were ouerthrowen at this battell went him selfe the next morning betimes vnto ANTEMNA where three thowsand of his enemies sent to know if he would receiue them to mercy if they yelded them selues vnto him His aunswer was that he would pardon their liues so as they would do some mischiefe to their fellowes before they came to him These three thowsand hereupon trusting to his promise fell apon their companions and for the most parte one of them killed an other NotwithstaÌ„ding Sylla hauing gathered all those together that remained of his enemies as wel the three thowsand as the rest amouÌ„ting in all to the number of six thowsand men within the show place where they vsed to run their horses whilest he him self held a counsell in the teÌ„ple of the goddesse Bellona was making his oratioÌ„ there he had appointed certeÌ„ to set vpoÌ„ those six thowsand put them to the sword euery man Great and terrible were the cries of such a number of men slaine in so small a roome as many may easily coniecture insomuch as the Senators sitting in counsell heard them very easily and marueled what the matter was But Sylla continuing on his oration which he had begon with a set steady countenance without chauÌ„ging of colour willed theÌ„ only to hearken what he sayd not to trouble them selues with any thing done abroade for they were but certen offenders lewd persons that were punished by his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t This was enough to shew the simplest ROMANE in ROME that they had but only chaunged the tryan but not the tyranny Now for Marius had bene euer of a churlish seuere nature euen from his childhood he neuer chauÌ„ged for any authority but did rather hardeÌ„ his natural stubbornes Where Sylla coÌ„trarily in the beginning was very modest ciuill in all his prosperity gaue great good hope that if he came to the authority of a prince he would fauor nobility wel yet loue notwithstanding the benefit of the people And being moreouer a man in his youth geueÌ„ all to pleasure deliting to laugh ready to pity weepe for tender hart in that he became after so cruell bloody the great alteracioÌ„ gaue manifest cause to condemne the increase of honor authority as thonly meanes wherby mens maners continue not such as they were at the first but still do chaunge vary making some fooles others vaine fantasticall others extreame cruel vnnaturall But whether that alteracion of nature came by chaunging his state condicion or that it was otherwise a violent breaking out of hidden malice which then came to shewe it selfe when they way of liberty was layed open this matter is to be decided in some other treatise So it came to passe that Sylla fell to sheading of blood filled all ROME with infinite vnspeakable murthers for diuerse were killed for priuate quarrels that had nothing to do with Sylla at any time who suffered his frends those about him to worke their wicked wills Vntil at the length there was a young man called Caius Metellus that was so bold to aske Sylla in open Senate when all these miseries should end and when they should know that all the mischieues were finished the which they dayly sawe For said he we will not intreate you to pardoÌ„ life where you haue threatned death but only to put theÌ„ out of dout whom you haue determined to saue Whereunto Sylla made aunswer that he was not resolued whom he would saue Metellus replied theÌ„ tell vs quod be who they are that shall dye Sylla aunswered he would Howbiet some say it was not Metellus but Aufidius one of his flatterers that spake this last word vnto him Wherefore Sylla immediatly without making any of the magistrats priuy caused foure score mens names to be set vp vpon postes whom he would put to death Euery maÌ„ being offeÌ„ded withal the next day following he set vp two hundred twenty mens names more likewise the third day as many more Hereupon making an oration to the people he told theÌ„ openly that he had appointed all them to dye that he could call to remeÌ„braunce howbiet that hereafter he would appoint them that should dye by daies as he did call them to minde Whosoeuer saued an outlaw in his house for reward of his kindnes he himselfe was condeÌ„ned to dye not excepting theÌ„ that had receiued their brothers their sonnes their fathers nor mothers And the reward of euery homycide murtherer that killed one of the outlawes was two talentes though it were a slaue that had killed his master on the sonne that had slaine the father But the most wicked vniust act of all was that he depriued the sonnes sonnes sonnes of them whom he had killed of all credit good name besides that had takeÌ„ all their goods as coÌ„fiscate And this was not only done in ROME but also in al the cities of ITALIE through out there was no reÌ„ple of any god whatsoeuer no aulter in any bodies house no liberty of hospital nor fathers house that was not embrued with blood horrible murder For the husbaÌ„ds were slaine in their wiues armes the childreÌ„ in their mothers laps and yet they which were slaine for priuate hatred malice were nothing in respect of those that were murdered only for their goods And they that killed them might well say his goodly great house made that man dye his goodly fayer garden the other and his hotte batheâ—â— other As amongest others Quintus Aurelius a man that neuer medled with any thinge and least looked that these euills should light vpon him and that only pitied those which he sawe so miserably murdered went one day into the market place and reading the bill set vp of the outlawes names found his owne name amongest the rest and cried outalowde alas the day that euer I was borne my house of ALEA maketh me to be put to death He went not fawe from the market place but met with one that killed him presently In the meane time Mariâ—â— the younger seeing he could by no meanes escape if he were taken slue him selfe And Sylla comming to PRAENESTE did first execute them by one and by one keeping a certaine forme of iustice in putting them to death but afterwardes as if he had no lenger leasure to remaine there he caused them all to be put in a place together to the number of twelue thowsandâ— men whom he caused to be put to the sword euery man sauing his host only vnto whom he sayd
that he shewed him specially fauor to saue his life But his host aunswered him stowtly againe that he would not be beholding vnto him for his life seeing he had slaine all the reâ—t of his contry men and so thrusting in amongest the citizens was willingly slaine with them They thought the act of Lucius Catiline also very straunge who had slaine his owne brother before the ciuill warre was ended and then prayed Sylla to put him in the number of the outlawes as if his brother had bene aliue Sylla performed his desire Catiline thereuppon to shewe his thankefulnesse for the pleasure Sylla had done him went presently and slue Marem Marius who was of the contrary faction and brought him his head for a present before all the people in the middest of the market place where he was sitting When he had so done be went and washed his handes all bloodied in the hollowed font of the temple of Apollo that was hard by But besides so many murders coÌ„mitted yet were there other things also that grieued the people maruelously For the proclaimed him selfe Dictator which office had not bene of six score yeares before in vse and made the Senate discharge him of all that was past geuing him free liberty afterwardes to kill whom he would and to confiscate their goodes to destroy cities and to build vp new as he listed to take away kingdomes and to geue them where he thought good And furthermore he openly sold the goodes confiscate by the crier sitting so prowdly and stately in his chayer of state that it grieued the people more to see those goodes packt vp by them to whome he gaue and disposed them then to see them taken from those that had forfeited them For somtimes he would geue a whole contry or the whole reuenues of certaine cities vnto women for their beawty or vnto pleasaunt ieasters minstrells or wicked slaues made free and vnto some he would geue other mens wiues by force and make them to be maried against their willes For he desiring howesoeuer it happened to make alliance with Pompey the great coÌ„maunded him to put away his wife he had maried and taking AEmylia the daughter of AEmylius Scaurus of Metella his wife from the great Glabrio caused him to mary her great with childe as she was by Glabrio but she dyed in childbed in Pompeyis house Lucretius Offella also that had brought Marius the younger to that distresse at the city of PRAENESTE suing to be Consull Sylla commaunded him to cease his But he notwithstandinge that expresse commaundement went one day into the market place with great traine of men following him that fauored his cause Whither Sylla sent one of his Centurions that slue Offella before all the people him selfe sitting in a chayer of estate in the temple of Castor and Pollux and seeing from aboue the murder done The people that were about Offella layed hold of the murderer straight brought him before Sylla But Sylla bad them be quiet that brought the Centurion with tumult and that they should let him goe bicause he commaunded him to do it Furthermore as touching his triumphe it was a sumptuous sight to behold for the rarenes of the riches and princely spoyles which were shewed at the same But yet was it so much the better set out and worth the sight to see the banished ROMANES who were the chiefest noble men of all the city of ROME following his charet triumphant wearing garlandes of flowers on their heades calling Sylla their father and sauior bicause that by his meanes they returned to their contry and recouered their goods waiues and children In the end of his triumphe he made an oration in open assembly of the people of ROME in the which he did not only declare vnto theÌ„ according to the custome what thinges he had done but did as carefully tell them also as well of his good fortune and successe as of his valliant deedes besides and to conclude his oration told them that by reason of the great â—auor fortune had shewed him he would from thenceforth be called by theÌ„ Felix to say happy or fortunate And he him selfe when he wrote vnto the GREECIANS or that he had any thing to do with them surnamed him selfe Epaphroditus as who would say a pleasaunt man beloued and fauored of Venus His tokens of triumphe which are yet in our contry haue this superscription Lucius Cornelius Sylla Epaphroditus And when his wife Metella had brought him two twinnes a sonne and a daughter he named his sonne Faustus signifying fortunate and his daughter Fausta bicause the ROMANES call Faustum that which falleth out prosperously and happely To be short he trusted so much vnto his good fortune and doinges that notwithstanding he had killed and put so many men to death and had made so great a chauÌ„ge and innouation in the common wealth yet of him selfe he left of his office of Dictator and restored the people to the authority of election of Consulls againe without his presence at the election and frequented the market place as a priuate man among the citizens offering him selfe to euery man that would aske him accompt of his doings past It happened that a stowt and rash enemy of his was Chosen Consull against his will called Marcus Lepidus not for any deuotion the people had to Lepidus but onely to gratifie Pompey who gaue countenaunce and fauor vnto him Sylla seeing Pompey come mery homewardes from the election and ioyfull that he had obtained his frendes sute from all other suters tooke him a side told him In deede thou hast great cause to reioyce young man my frende for thou hast done a goodly acte to choose Marcus Lepidus Consull the veriest asse in all ROME before Catulus the honestest man But I tell thee one thing thou haddest not nede to sleepe for thou hast strengthened an enemy that will be thine owne destruction And Sylla proued a true prophet for Lepides being bent to all cruelty immediatly after flatly fell at defiaunce with Pompey Now Sylla consecratinge the dismes of all his goodes vnto Hercules made exceeding sumptuous feastes vnto the ROMANES the prouision whereof was so vnreasonable great that euery day they threwe a great deale of meate into the riuer and they dranke wine of forty yeares olde and aboue During these feastes which continued many dayes his wife Metella sickened and dyed and in her sickenes the Priestes and Soothsayers willed Sylla he should not come neere her nor suffer his house to be polluted and defiled with mourning for the dead Whereupon Sylla was diuorsed from her in her sickenes and caused her to be caried into an other house whilest she liued And thus did Sylla curiously obserue the supersticion and ordinaunce of the Soothsayers but yet he brake the law which he made him selfe touching the order of funeralls sparinge no cost at Metellaes buriall So did he also breake an other
vnto the castell accompanied with his younge familiars and companions caryinge a bitte of a bridle in his hande to consecrate vnto the goddesse Minerua signifyinge thereby that the citie had no neede of horsemen at that time but of mariners and sea-men And after he had geuen vp his offering he tooke one of the targettes that honge vppon the wall of the temple and hauinge made his prayer vnto Minerua came downe to the hauen and was the first that made the most parte of the citizens to take a good harte to them and coragiously to leaue the land and take the sea Besides all this he was a man of a goodly stature as Ion the Poet testifieth and had a fayer curled heare and thicke and fought so valliantlie at the day of the battell that he wanne immediatly great reputacion with the loue and good will of euerie man So that many were still about him to encorage him to be liuely and valliant and to thinke thence foorth to doe some actes worthie of the glorie that his father had gotten at the battel of MARATHON And afterwardes so soone as he beganne to deale in matters of state the people were maruelous glad of him and were wearied with Themistocles by meanes whereof Cimon was presently aduaunced and preferred to the chiefest offices of honor in the citie being very well thought on of the common people bicause of his soft and plaine nature Moreouer Aristides also did greatlie furder his aduauncement bicause he sawe him of a good gentle nature and for that he would vse him as a countrepease to controll Themistocles craft and stowtnesse Wherefore after the MEDES were fled out of GREECE Cimon being sent for by the ATHENIANS for their generall by sea when the citie of ATHENS had then no manner of rule nor commaundement but followed kinge Pausanias and the LACEDAEMONIANS he euer kept his contrie men and citizens in maruelous good order in all the viages he made and they were readier to doe good seruice then any other nation in the whole armie whatsoeuer And when kinge Pausanias had practised with the barbarous people to betraye GREECE had wrytten also to the kinge of PERSIA about it and in the meane time delt very cruelly and straightly with the confederates of his contry and committed many insolent partes by reason of the great authority he had through his foolish pride whereof he was full Cimon farre otherwise gently entertained them whom Pausanias iniured and was willing to heare them So that by this his curteous manner the LACEDAEMONIANS hauing no eye to his doinges he stale away the rule and commaundement of all GREECE from them brought the ATHENIANS to be sole Lordes of all not by force and cruelty but by his sweete tongue and gracious manner of vsing all men For the most parte of the confederates being no lenger able to away with Pausanias pride and cruelty came willingly and submitted them selues vnder the protection of Cimon and Aristides who did not only receiue them but wrote also to the counsell of the Ephores at LACEDAEMON that they should call Pausanias home for that he dishonored SPARTA and put all GREECE to much trouble and warres And for proofe hereof they say that king Pausanias being on a time in the citie of BYZANCâ— sent for Cleonice a young maiden of a noble house to take his pleasure of her Her parents durst not keepe her from him by reason of his crueltie but suffered him to cary her away The young gentlewoman prayed the groomes of Pausanias chamber to take away the lightes and thinking in the darke to come to Pausanias bed that was a sleepe groping for the bed as softly as she could to make no noyse she vnfortunately hit against the lampe and ouerthrew it The falling of the lampe made such a noyse that it waked him on the sodaine and thought straight therewithall that some of his enemies had bene comen traiterously to kill him wherupon he tooke his dagger lying vnder his beddes head and so stabbed it in the young virgine that she dyed immediatly vpon it Howbeit she neuer let Pausanias take rest after that bicause her spirite came euery night and appeared vnto him as he would faine haue slept and spake this angrily to him in verse as followeth Keepe thou thy selfe vpright and iustice see thou feare For vvoe and shame be vnto him that iustice dovvne doth beare This vile fact of his did so stirre vp all the confederates hartes against him that they came to besiege him in BIZANTIVM vnder the conduction of Cimon from whom notwithstanding he escaped and secretly saued him selfe And bicause that this maidens spirite would bene let him rest but vexed him continually he fled vnto the city of HERACLEA where there was a temple that coniured dead spirites there was the spirite of Cleonice coniured â—o pray her to be contented So she appeared vnto him told him that he should be deliuered of all his troubles so soone as he came to SPARTA signifying thereby in my opinion the death which he should suffer there Diuers wryters do thus reporte it Cimon being accompanied with the confederates of the GREECIANS which were come to him to take his parte was aduertised that certaine great men of PERSIA allyed to the king himselfe who kept the city of EIONE vpon the riuer of Strymon in the contrie of THRACIA did great hurt and damage vnto the GREECIANS inhabiting thereabouts Vpon which intelligence he tooke the sea with his armie and went thither where at his first comming he vanquished and ouerthrewe the barbarous people in battell hauinge ouerthrowen them drave all the rest into the city of EIONE That done he went to inuade the THRACIANS that dwelt on the other side of the riuer of Strymon who did commonly vittell them of EIONE and hauing driuen them to forsake the contrie he kept it and was Lord of the whole him selfe Whereupon he held them that were besieged at EIONE so straightly from vittells that Butes the king of PERSIABS Lieutenaunt dispayringe of the state of the citie set fire on the same and burnt himselfe his frendes and all the goodes in it By reason whereof the spoyle taken in that citie was but small bicause the barbarous people burnt all the best thinges in it with them selues howebeit he conquered the contrie thereaboutes and gaue it the ATHENIANS to inhabite being a verie pleasaunte and fertyle soyle In memorie whereof the people of ATHENS suffered him to consecrate and set vp openly three Hermes of stone which are foure square pillers vpon the toppes of the which they set vp heades of Mercurye vpon the first of the three pillers this inscription is grauen The people truely vvere of corage stovvte and fierce VVho hauing shut the Medes fast vp as stories do rehearce VVithin the vvalled tovvne of Eione that tyde VVhich on the streame of Strymon stands they made them there abide The force of
great while together before any man marked it Cimon at the last spied it by chaunce and as he was looking of them to marke what they did the minister of the sacrifice brought the beastes liuer that was sacrificed to shew him whereof the biggest end that they call the head was lacking and this they iudged for a very ill token Notwithstanding hauing all things readie for preparation of this iorney so as he could not well goebacke he launched into the sea and hoysed sayle and sending three score of his gallies into EGYPT sayled with the rest vpon the coast of PAMPYTLIA Where he wanne a battell by sea of the king of PERSIA ouercomming the gallies of the PHENICIANS and the CILICIANS and conquered all the cities thereabouts making the way very open to enter into EGYPT For he had no small thoughtes in his minde but reached to high enterprises and determined vtterly to destroy the whole Empire of the mighty kinge of PERSIA and specially for that he vnderstoode Themistocles was in maruelous credit and reputacion amōgest the barbarous people bicause he had promised the king of PERSIA to lead his armie for him and to doe him notable seruice whensoeuer he shoulde haue occasion to warre with the GRAECIANS It is thought this was the chiefe cause that made Themistocles poison himselfe bicause he dispaired that he could not performe that seruice against GRAECE which he had promised assuring him selfe that it was no easie matter to vanquishe Cimon corage and good fortune who lay at that time with his armie all alongest the I le of CYPRVS promising him selfe great matters at that instant But in the meane season Cimon sent certaine of his men vnto the oracle of Iuppiter Ammon to aske him some secret question for no man euer knew neither then nor since for what cause he had sent them thither neither did they also bring backe any aunswere For they were no sooner come thither but the oracle commaunded them straight to returne saying vnto them that Cimon was then comming to him So Cimons men receiuing this aunswere left the oracle and tooke their iorney backe to the seawardes Now when they were commen againe to the GRAECIANS campe which at that present lay in EGYPT they heard that Cimon was departed this worlde and reckoninge the dayes sence his death with the instant of their aunswere receiued by the oracle that Cimon was then comming vnto him they knew straight that darkely he had signified his death vnto them and that at that very time he was with the goddes He dyed at the siege of the citie of CITIVM in CYPRVS as some reporte or else of a hurte he receiued at a skirmishe as other holde opinion When he dyed he commaunded them that were vnder his charge to returne into their contry againe and in no case to publishe his death which commaundement was so wisely and cunningly handeled that they all came home safe and not an enemie nor any of their confederates that once vnderstoode any thing of it So was the armie of the GRAECIANS gouerned and led by Cimon though him selfe was dead the space of thirtie dayes as Phanodemus wryteth But after his death there was no GRAECIAN Captaine that did any notable thing worthie of fame against the barbarous people bicause the Orators and gouernors of the chiefest cities of GRAECE stirred them vp one against an other and there was no man that would once steppe in as a mediator to make peace betwene them And thus the GRAECIANS now did one destroy and spoyle an other by ciuill warre amongest them selues which happely gaue the king of PERSIA leasure and time to restore him selfe againe and contrarily was cause of such vtter ruine and destruction of the whole power and force of GRAECE as no tongue can well expresse In deede a long time after kinge Agesilaus came with an armie of the GRAECIANS into ASIA and beganne a small warre against the Lieutenauntes of the king of PERSIAES gouernors of the lower contries of ASIA But before he could doe any notable exployte he was called home againe by occasion of newe troubles and ciuill warres risinge amonge the GRAECIANS and compelled to returne into his contrie leauing the treasorers of the king of PERSIA raising of subsidies and taxes vpon the cities of the GRAECIANS in ASIA although they were confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereas in the time that Cimon gouerned they neuer sawe any of the kinges sergeauntes at armes or commissioner that brought any letters pattentes or commaundement from the king or any souldier that durst come neere the sea by fortie furlonges The tombes which they call vnto this present day Cimonia doe witnesse that his ashes and bones were brought vnto ATHENS Neuerthelesse they of the citie of CITIVM doe honor a certaine tombe which they say is Cimons tombe bicause that in a great dearth and barrennes of the earth they had an oracle that commaunded them not to neglect Cimons as the Orator Nansicrates writeth it but to honor and reuerence him as a god Such was the life of this GRAECIAN Captaine The end of Cimons life THE LIFE OF Lucius Lucullus AS for Lucullus his grandfather was a Consull and so was Metellus surnamed Numidirus bicause of his conquest of NVMIDIA his vncle by the mothers side His father notwithstanding was conuict of fellony for robbing the treasure of the state whilest he was officer and Caecilia his mother was reported to haue led an vnchast life But for Lucullus selfe before he bare office or rule in matters of state the first thing he towched and tooke in hande for the cause of his contrie was thaccusation of Seruilius the soothsayer who before had accused his father for that he also had delt falsely in his office and deceiued the common wealth And this the ROMANES thought very well handled of him insomuch as a pretie while after there was no other talke in ROME but of that matter as though it had bene a notable valliant acte done by him For otherwise though priuately they had no iust occasion yet they thought it a noble deede to accuse the wicked and it pleased them as much to see the young men put lawe breakers in sute as to see a notable good course of a dogge at a hare Howebeit there followed such sturre and bandinge vppon this sute that some were verie sore hurte and other slaine in the market place but in fyne Seruilius was cleared and quite dimissed Lucullus was verie eloquent well spoken and excellently well learned in the Greeke and Latin tongue insomuch as Sylla dedicated vnto him the commentaries of all his doings which himselfe had collected as to one that could better frame a whole historie thereof and cowche it more eloquētly together in wryting For he had not only a ready tongue to vtter that he would speake and pleade his matters with great eloquence as other be seene to doe hauing matters of
lande Now if the chiefest thing that can be in an excellent Captaine is to make him selfe to be beloued of his souldiers that they may delight to obey him then was Lucullus despised of his souldiers Cimon esteemed and wondred at euen of the confederates them selues For Lucullus was forsaken of his owne men and Cimon was followed by very straungers for the confederates did ioyne together with him Lucullus returned home into his contry forsaken of those he caried out with him Cimon returned againe commaunding them that were sent out with him to obey others and had at one time done for his contry three notable things hard for them to haue compassed to wit made peace with the enemies geuen them authority rule of their confederats and ioyned frendshippe with the LACEDAEMONIANS Both of them vndertooke to destroy great Empires and conquest all ASIA But neither of them both could bring their enterprise to passe The one by reason of his death which cut him of on the sodaine being Generall and when his affayres prospered best The other can hardly be excused that there was not a great fault in him either in that he could not or bicause he would not satisfie the complaints griefes of his men which caused them so much to hate and mislike him And yet it might be sayd also that in this fault he was like vnto Cimon who was oftentimes accused by his citizens and at the length banished his contrie for the space of tenne yeares bicause that in tenne yeares space as Plato sayth they should no more heare him speake For to say truely it seldom times happeneth that the graue wittes of noble men do please the multitude neither are they acceptable vnto the common people bicause they striuing continually to reforme them when they go awry do grieue them as much as surgeons doe their pacients when they binde vp their sores with bandes to cure them For though by that binding they restore bring to their natural places againe the broken bones or members out of ioynt yet put they the pacient to great paine and griefe And therefore me thinkes neither the one nor the other is to be blamed Furthermore Lucullus wēt a great deale further with his army then euer Cimon did For he was the first ROMANE Captaine that passed ouer mount Taurus and the riuer of Tigris with an army He tooke and burnt almost in sight of both the kinges the royall cities of ASIA TIGRANOCERTA CABIRA SINOPE and NISIBIS Towards the north he went as farre as the riuer of Phasis towards the east into MEDIA and southward euen to the redde sea and vnto the realmes of ARABIA subduing all vnto the ROMANE Empire And hauing ouerthrowen all the power of these two mighty kinges he tooke from them all but their persons only who fled and hid them selues like wild beastes in infinite deserts and vnpassable forrestes Wherin is easily discerned the difference betwixt the doinges of the one and of the other For the PERSIANS as if they had had no hurt nor ouerthrow at all by Cimon fought a battell immediatly after against the GRAECIANS ouerthrew the greatest parte of their army in EGYPT where Mithridates and Tigranes after Lucullus victories did neuer any notable act For the one finding him selfe altogether pulled downe on his knees and broken by the former battells durst neuer once only shew his army vnto Pompey out of the strength of his campe but fled into the realme of BOSPHORVS where he dyed And Tigranes he went and humbled him selfe on his knees vnarmed and without weapon vnto Pompey and taking his diadeame of from his head layed it at his feete not flattering him for the victories he had won but for those which Lucullus had triumphed for By reason wherof he scaped good cheape thought him selfe happy when Pompey gaue him only the marke and title of a king the which before had bene taken from him He therefore is to be thought the more worthy Captaine stowtest champion that leaueth his enemy in weake estate for him that followeth and shall fight afterwardes with him And furthermore Cimon found the power of the king of PERSIA ouerharried the pride and fiercenesse of the PERSIANS layed a grounde by many great battells they had lost before vnto Themistocles king Pausanias Leotychides who had ouerthrowen them and going now againe to fight a fresh with them it was an easie thing to ouercome the bodies of those whose harts were already vanquished Where Lucullus to the contrary assailed Tigranes that had neuer bene ouercome but bare a maruelous lofty minde with him for the many great battells and conquestes he had wonne And for the multitude of enemies there was no comparison betwene those that Cimon ouerthrew those that were raunged in battell against Lucullus So that all thinges weyed and considered it were hard to iudge which of them two proued the worthiest man for that it seemeth that the goddes did fauor both the one and the other telling the one what he should doe and the other what he should not doe And thus it appeareth by testimonie of the goddes they were both good men and that they both obtained euerlasting glorie The end of Lucullus life THE LIFE OF Nicias I Haue reason as I thinke to compare Nicias with Crassus and the euēts that happened to the one in PARTHIA with those that befell the other in SICYLE yet am I to pray them that shall happen to read my wrytinges not to thinke me in entermeddling with those matters in the describing and reporting whereof Thucydides hath gone beyond him selfe both for variety liuelines of narration as also in choice excellent words to haue the like intent and opinion that Timaeus the historiographer had Who hoping by the grauety life of his words and reportes to darken the glorie of Thucydides and make Philistus in comparison of him selfe appeare ignoraunt without any grace of historicall narration◠hath in his history of purpose sought occasion to enter into the describing of those battels by sea and by land and the reporte of those speches and orations which are deliuered by them with great iudgement and eloquence Wherein he commeth as neere them whome he contendes to passe as doth the footeman to the LYDIAN coche as sayth Pindarus and besides sheweth him selfe fond and of small iudgement or as Diphilus sayth A lubber laden vvith Sicylian grease And in diuers places he falleth into Xenarchus follies As where he sayth that he thinkes it was an euill token for the ATHENIANS that Nicias the Captaine whose name was deriued of this word Nice signifying victory disswaded their attempts against SICYLE and that by the throwing downe and mangling of the Hermes to say the images of Mercury it was foreshewed that they should receiue great ouerthrowes by the General of the SYRACVSANS called Hermocrates the sonne of Hermon And further that it was not vnlikely that Hercules did
fauor the SYRACVSANS by reason of the goddesse Proserpina protector and defendor of the citie of SYRACVSA to requite her for that she gaue him Cerberus the dogge porter of hell and that he did malice the ATHENIANS besides bicause they tooke the AEGESTAENS partes who came of the TROYANS whom he much hated for breaking their promise and saith with him whose city him selfe had ouerthrowen in reuenge of the wrong that Laomedon king of TROY had offered him Howbeit Timaeus shewes as much wit and iudgement in deliuering vs such toyes in an history as he doth in correcting the stile of Philistus or in condēning and railing of Plato and Aristotle But in my fansie this ambition contention to wryte or to speake more clerkely then others sheweth alwayes a base enuious minde like a scholler full of his schoole pointes But when it striueth with thinges that are past all chalenge correcting then is it extreame follie and madnes Sence therefore I may not passe ouer nor omit certaine thinges which Thucydides and Philistus haue already set downe and especially those wherein they lay open Nicias nature and qualities which the variety of his successes and fortune did couer I must lightly touch them and reporte so much as is necessary conuenient least men condemne me for slouth and negligence And in the rest I haue endeuored to gather and propounde thinges not commonly marked and knowen which I haue collected as well out of sundry mens workes auncient recordes as out of many olde antiquities and of them all compiled a narration which will serue I doubt not to decipher the man and his nature Of Nicias therefore may be sayd that which Aristotle hath wrytten of him that there were three famous citizens of ATTHENS very honest men which fauored the cōmunalty with a naturall fatherly loue Nicias the sonne of Niceratus Thucydides the sonne of Milesus and Theramenes the sonne of Agnon But of the three this last was of smallest accompt for he is flowted as a forrenner borne in the I le of CEOS and chalenged besides for inconstant inresolute in matters of state and gouernment and inclining somtimes to one faction sometime to an other he was called Cothurnus a kinde of buskin indifferently seruing for both legges and in old time was vsed of common players of tragedies Of the other two Thucydides being the elder did many good actes in fauor of the nobility against Pericles who alwaies tooke parte with the inferior sorte Nicias that was the younger had reasonable estimation in Pericles life time for he was ioyned Captaine with him and oftentimes also had charge by him selfe alone without him After Pericles death the nobility raised him to great authoritie to be as a strong bulwarke for them against Cleons insolency boldnes and with all he had the loue of the people to aduaunce and preferre him Now this Cleon in troth could do much with the people he did so flatter and dandle them like an olde man still feeding their humor with gaine but yet they them selues whome he thus flattered knowing his extreame courtousnes impudency and boldnes preferred Nicias before him bicause his grauity was not seuere nor odious but mingled with a kinde of modesty that he seemed to feare the presence of the people which made them thereby the more to loue and esteeme him For being as he was of a fearefull mistrustfull nature disposition in warres he cloked his feare with good fortune which euer fauored him alike in all his iorneys and exploytes that he tooke in hande where he was Captaine Now being much affrayed of accusers this timorous manner of his proceeding in the citie was founde to be popular whereby he wanne him the good will of the people and by meanes thereof rose daily more and more bicause the people commonly feare those that hate them aduaunce them that feare them For the greatest honor nobility can doe to the communalty is to shewe that they doe not despise them Nowe Pericles who through his perfit vertue only and force of his great eloquence ruled the whole state common wealth of ATHENS he needed no counterfeate colour nor artificiall flattering of the people to winne their fauor and good willes but Nicias lacking that and hauing wealth enough sought thereby to creepe into the peoples fauor And where Cleon would entertaine the ATHENIANS with pleasaunt toyes and deuises and could feede the people humor that way Nicias finding him selfe no fit man to worke by such encounter crept into the peoples fauor with liberality with charges of common playes and with such like sumptuousnes exceeding in cost and pleasaunt sportes not only all those that had bene before him but such also as were in his time There yet remaine monuments of his consecrating vnto the goddes as the image of Pallas in the castell of ATHENS the gilt being worne of and the chappell which is vnder the festiuall table of Bacchus for he many times had the chiefe prise in Bacchus daunses neuer went away without some game And touching this matter there goeth a reporte that at certaine playes whereof Nicias defrayed the charges one of his men came forth apon the players stage before the people apparelled like Bacchus being a goodly tall young man without any heare on his face the ATHENIANS tooke such pleasure to see him so attired that they made a clapping of their hands a long time together for ioy Therewithall Nicias stoode vp and told them that it were a shame for him to leaue the body of a man in bondage that openly was esteemed as a god and thereupon foorthwith made this young slaue a free man Men wryte also of certaine sumptuous and deuout acts he did in the I le of DELOS where the daunsers and singers which the cities of GRAECE sent thither to singe rimes and verses in the honor of Apollo were wont before to arriue disorderly and the cause was for the numbers of people that ranne to see them who made them singe straight without any order and landing in hast out of their shippes they left their apparell and put on such vestements as they should weare in procession and their garlands of flowers on their heades all at one present time But Nicias being commaunded to go thither to present the singers of ATHENS landed first in the I le of RENIA hard adioyning to the I le of DELOS with his singers his beastes for sacrifice and with all the rest of his traine carying a bridge with him which he had caused to be made at ATHENS vpon measure taken of the channell betwext the one and thother I le set out with pictures and tables with gilding with nosegayes and garlandes of triumphe and with excellent wrought tapistry which in the night he set vp vpon the channell being not very broade and the next morning by breake of the day caused his singers to passe ouer apon it singing all
these troubles Yet furthermore this caused the souldiers vtterly to dispayre of helpe from the goddes when they considered with them selues that so deuout and godly a man as Nicias who left nothing vndone that might tend to the honor and seruice of the goddes had no better successe than the most vile and wicked persones in all the whole army All this notwithstandinge Nicias strained him selfe in all that might be both by his good countenaunce his cheerefull words his kinde vsing of euery man to let them know that he fainted not vnder his burden nor yet did yeeld to this his misfortune and extreame calamity And thus trauelling eight dayes iorney out right together notwithstanding that he was by the way continually set apon wearied and hurt yet he euer mainteined his bandes and led them whole in company vntill that Demosthenes with all his bandes of souldiers was taken prisoner in a certaine village called POLYLELIOS where remaininge behinde he was enuirroned by his enemies in fight and seeing him selfe so compassed in drewe out his sword and with his owne handes thrust himselfe thorow but dyed not of it bicause his enemies came straight about him and tooke hold of him The SYRACVSANS thereupon went with speede to Nicias and told him of Demosthenes case He geuing to credit to them sent presently certaine of his horsemen thither to vnderstand the troth who brought him worde that Demosthenes and all his men were taken prisoners Then he besought Gylippus to treate of peace to suffer the poore remaine of the ATHENIANS to departe out of SICILE with safety and to take such hostages for the sure payement of all such summes of money the SYRACVSANS had disbursed by meanes of this warre as should like him selfe which he promised he would cause the ATHENIANS to performe satisfie vnto them Howbeit the SYRACVSANS would in no wise hearken to peace but cruelty threatning reuiling them that made mocion hereof in rage gaue a new onset vpon him those fiercely then euer before they had done Nicias being then vtterly without any kinde of vittells did notwithstaÌ„ding hold out that night marched all the next day following though the enemies darres still flew about their eares vntill he came to the riuer of Asinarus into the which the SYRACVSANS did forcibly driue them Some others of them also dying for thirst entred the riuer of them selues thinking to drinke But there of all others was the most cruell slaughter of the poore wretches euen as they were drinking vntil such time as Nicias falling downe flat at Gylippus feete sayd thus vnto him Since the goddes haue geuen thee Gylippus victory shewe mercy not to me that by these miseries haue won immortall honor and â—â—â— but vnto these poore vanquished ATHENIANS calling to thy remembraunce that theâ—â— tunes of warre are common and howe that the ATHENIANS haue vsed you LACEDAEMONIANS curteously as often as fortune fauored them against you Gylippus beholding Nicias and perswaded by his wordes tooke compassion of him for he knew he was a frend vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS at the last peace concluded betwext them and furthermore thought it great honor to him if he could cary away the two Captaines or generalls of his enemies prisoners shewed him mercy gaue him wordes of comforte and moreouer commaunded besides that they should take all the residue prisoners But his commaundement was not knowen in time to all insomuch as there were many moe slaine than taken although some priuate souldiers saued diuers notwithstanding by stealth Now the SYRACVSANS hauing brought all the prisoners that were openly taken into a troupe together first vnarmed them then taking their weapons from them hong them vp apon the goodliest younge trees that stoode apon the riuers side in token of triumphet And so putting on triumphing garlandes apon their heades hauing trimmed their owne horses in triuÌ„phant maner also shorne all the horses of their enemies in this triumphing sorte they made their entry into the citie of SYRACVSA hauing gloriously ended the most notable warre that euer was amongest the GREECES one against an other and attained also the noblest victory that could be atchieued and that only by force of armes and valliancy So at their returne a counsell and assembly was holden at SYRACVSA by the citizens and their confederates in the which Eurycles one of the orators a practiserin publicke causes first made peticion that the day on the which they had taken Nicias might for euer thenceforth be kept holy day without any maner of worke or labor but only to doe sacrifice to the goddes and that the feast should be called Asinarus feast after the name of the riuer where the ouerthrow was geuen This victory was had the six and twenty day of the moneth of Iuly And as touching the prisoners that the confederats of the ATHENIANS and their slaues should be openly solde by the dromme and that the naturall ATHENIANS which were free men and their confederates of the contry of SICILE should be clapped in irone layed in prison the Captaines only excepted whom they should put to death The SYRACVSANS coÌ„firmed this decree And when the Captaine Hermocrates went about to perswade them that to be merciful in victory would be more honor vnto them than the victory it selfe they thrust him backe with great tumult And furthermore when Gylippus made sure that for the Captaines of the ATHENIANS he might cary them aliue with him to SPARTA he was not onely shamefully denyed but most vilely abused so lusty were they growen apon this victory beside also that in the time of the warre they were offended with him could not endure his straight seuere LACONIAN gouernment Timaeus sayth moreouer that they accused him of couetousnes and theft which vice he inherited from his father For Cleandrides his father was conuict for extorcion and banished ATHENS And Gylippus selfe hauing stolen thirty talentes out of a thowsande which Lysander sent to SPARTA by him and hauing hid them vnder the cusinges of his house being bewrayed was compelled with shame to flie his contry as we haue more amply declared in the life of Lysander So Timaeus wryteth that Nicias Demosthenes were not stoned to death by the SYRACVSANS as Thucydides and Philistus reporte but that they killed them selues apon word sent them by Hermocrates before the assemble of the people was broken vp by one of his men whom the kepers of the prison let in vnto them howebeit their bodies were cast out at the iaile dore for euery man to beholde I haue heard there is a target at this present to be seene in a temple at SYRACVSA which is sayd to be Nicias target couered all ouer with golde and purple silke passinge finely wrought together As for the other prisoners of the ATHENIANS the most of them dyed of sickenes and of ill handling in the prison where they had no more allowed them to liue
withall but two dishefulls of barley for their breade and one of water for eche man a day In deede many of them were conueyed away and sold for slaues and many also that scaped vnknowen as slaues were also solde for bondmen whom they branded in the forehead with the printe of a horse who notwithstanding besides their bondage endured also this paine But such their humble pacience and modesty did greatly profit them For either shortly after they were made free men or if they still continued in bondage they were gently intreated and beloued of their masters Some of them were saued also for Euripides sake For the SICILIANS liked the verses of this Poet better than they did any other GRAECIANS verses of the middest of GRAECE For if they heard any rimes or songes like vnto his they would haue them by hart one would present thē to an other with great ioy And therfore it is reported that diuers escaping this bondage and returning againe to ATHENS went very louingly to salute Euripides to thanke him for their liues and told him how they were deliuered from slauery only by teaching them those verses which they remembred of his workes Others tolde him also how that after the battel they scaping by flight wandering vp and downe the fieldes met with some that gaue them meate drinke to sing his verses And this is not to be maruelled at weying the reporte made of a shippe of the city of CAVNVS that on a time being chased in thether by pyrates thinking to saue thē selues within their portes could not at the first be receiued but had repulse howbeit being demaunded whether they could sing any of Euripides songes and aunswering that they could were straight suffered to enter and come in The newes of this lamentable ouerthrow was not beleued at the first when they heard of it at ATHENS For a straunger that landed in the hauen of PIRAEA went and sat him downe as the maner is in a barbers shoppe thinking it had bene commonly knowen there beganne to talke of it The barber hearing the straunger tell of such matter before any other had heard of it ranne into the city as fast as he could and going to the gouernors tolde the newes openly before them all The magistrates thereupon did presently call an assembly and brought the barber before them who being demaunded of whom he heard these newes could make no certaine reporte Whereupon being taken for a forger of newes that without ground had put the city in feare and trouble he was presently bound and layed on a wheele wheron they vse to put offenders to death and so was there tormented a great time vntill at last there arriued certaine men in the city who brought too certaine newes thereof and told euery thing how the ouerthrow came So as in fine they found Nicias wordes true which now they beleued when they sawe all those miseries light fully apon them which he long before had prognosticated vnto them The end of Nicias life THE LIFE OF Marcus Crassus MArcus Crassus was the sonne of a Censor who had also receiued the honor of triumphe but him selfe was brought vp in a litle house with two other of his brethren which were both maried in their fathers mothers life time and kept house together Whereuppon it came to passe that he was a man of such sober and temperate dyet that one of his brethrē being deceased he maried his wife by whom he had children For women he liued as continent a life as any ROMANE of his time notwithstanding afterwardes being of riper yeares he was accused by Plotinus to haue deflowred one of the Vestall Nunnes called Licinia But in troth the cause of that suspicion grew thus Licinia had a goodly pleasaunt garden hard by the suburbes of the city wherewith Crassus was maruelously in loue and would faine haue had it good cheape and vpon this only occasion was often seene in speeche with her which made the people suspect him But foras much as it seemed to the iudges that his couetousnes was the cause that made him follow her he was clered of thincest suspected but he neuer lest followinge of the Nunne till he had got the garden of her The ROMANES say there was but that only vice of couetousnes in Crassus that drowned many other goodly vertues in him for mine owne opinion me thinkes he could not be touched with that vice alone without others since it grew so great as the note of that only did hide and couer all his other vices Nowe to set out his extreame couetous desire of getting naturally bred in him they proue it by two manifest reasons The first his maner and meanes he vsed to get and the seconde the greatnes of his wealth For at the beginning he was not left much more worthe then three hundred talentes And during the time that he delt in the affayers of the common wealth he offered the tenthes of all his goodes wholly vnto Hercules kept open house for all the people of ROME and gaue also to euery citizen of the same as much corne as would kepe him three monethes yet when he went from ROME to make warre with the PARTHIANS himselfe being desirous to know what all he had was worth founde that it amounted to the summe of seuen thowsande one hundred talentes But if I may with license vse euill speeche wryting a troth I say he got the most parte of his wealth by fire and blood raising his greatest reuenue of publicke calamities For when Sylla had takē the citie of ROME he made portesale of the goods of them whom he had put to death to those that gaue most tearming them his booty onely for that he would the nobility and greatest men of power in the citie should be partakers with him of this iniquity and in this open sale Crassus neuer lest taking of giftes nor bying of thinges of Sylla for profit Furthermore Crassus perceiuinge that the greatest decay commonly of the buildinges in ROME came by fire and falling downe of houses through the ouermuch weight by numbers of stories built one apon an other bought bondme that were masons carpinters and these deuisours and builders of those he had to the number of fiue hundred Afterwardes when the fire tooke any house he would buy the house while it was a burning and the next houses adioyning to it which the owners folde for litle being then in daunger as they were and a burning so that by proces of time the most parte of the houses in ROME came to be his But notwithstanding that he had so many slaues to his workemen he neuer built any house from the ground sauing his owne house wherein he dwelt◠saying that such as delighted to builde vndid them selues without helpe of any enemy And though he had many mynes of siluer many ploughes and a number of hyndes and plowmen to followe the
an other without any playing or vncomely talke In the middest of supper they that sought occasion of quarrell beganne to speake lewde wordes counterfeating to be dronke and to play many vile partes of purpose to anger Sertorius Whereuppon Sertorius whether it was that he coulde not abide to see those villanous partes or that he mistrusted their ill will towardes him by fumbling of their wordes in their mouthes and by their vnwonted irreuerent maner shewed vnto him fell backewards apon the bed where he sate at meate seeming no more to marke what they did or sayd Perpenna at that instant tooke a cuppe full of wine making as though he dranke let it fall of purpose The cuppe falling drowne made a noyse and that was the signe geuen among them Therewithall Antonius that sate aboue Sertorius at the table stabbed him in with his dagger Sertorius feeling the thrust stroue to rise but the traiterous murderer got vp on Sertorius brest held both his handes And thus was Sertorius cruelly murdered not able to defend him selfe all the conspirators falling apon him Sertorius death being blowen abroade the most parte of the SPANYARDS sent Ambassadors immediatly vnto Pompey and Metellus and yeelded them selues vnto them and Perpenna with those that remained with him attempted to doe some thing with Sertorius army and preparation But all fell out to his vtter destruction and ruine making the world know that he was a wicked man who could neither commaund nor knew how to obey For he went to assaile Pompey who had ouerthrowen him straight and was in the end taken prisoner And yet in that instant of his calamitie he did not vse him selfe like a valliant minded man and one worthy to rule for thinking to saue his life hauing Sertorius letters and wrytinges he offered Pompey to deliuer him all Sertorius letters sent him from the chiefest Senators of ROME wrytten with their owne handes requestinge Sertorius to bring his armie into ITALIE where he should finde numbers of people desirous of his comming and that gaped still for chaunge of gouernment But here did Pompey shewe him selfe a graue and no younge man deliueringe thereby the citie of ROME from great feare and daunger of chaunge and innouation For he put all Sertorius letters and wrytinges on a heape together and burnt them euery one without readinge any of them or sufferinge them to be red And moreouer he presently put Perpenna to death fearing he should name some which if they were named would breede new occasion of trouble sedition And as for the other conspirators some of thē afterwards were brought to Pompey who put them all to death and the rest of them fled into AFRICKS where they were all ouerthrowen by them of the contrie and not a man of them scaped but fell vnfortunately apon th edge of the sworde Aufidius only except Manlius companion in loue Who either bicause he was not reckened of or else vnknowen dyed an olde man in a pelting village of the barbarous people poore miserable and hated of all the world THE LIFE OF Eumenes DVris the Historiographer wryteth that Eumenes was borne in the citie of CARDIA in THRACIA being a cariers sonne of the same contrie who for pouertie earned his liuing by carying marchaundises to and fro and that he was notwithstanding honestly brought vp as well at schoole as at other comely exercises And furthermore how that he being but a boy Philip king of MACEDON chaunsing to come through the city of CARDIA where hauing nothing to do he tooke great pleasure to see the young men of the citie handle their weapons boyes to wrestle and among them Eumenes shewed such actiuitie and performed it with so good a grace withall that Philippe liked the boye well and tooke him away with him But sure their reporte seemeth truest which wryte that Philippe did aduaunce him for the loue he bare to his father in whose house he had lodged After the death of Philippe Eumenes continued his seruice with king Alexander his sonne where he was thought as wise a man as faithfull to his master as any and though he was called the Chaunceller or chiefe secretary yet the king did honor him as much as he did any other of his chiefest frendes familiars For he was sent his Lieutenaunt generall of his whole army against the INDIANS and was Perdiccas successor in the gouernment of his prouince Perdiccas being preferred vnto Hephaestions charge after his death Nowe bicause Neoptolemus that was one of the chiefe Squiers for the body vnto the king after the death of Alexander told the Lordes of the counsell of MACEDON that he had serued the king with his shield and speare and howe Eumenes had followed with his penne and paper the Lordes laughed him to scorne knowing that besides many great honors Eumenes had receiued the king esteemed so well of him that he did him the honor by mariage to make him his kinseman For the first Lady that Alexander knew in ASIA was Barsine Artabazus daughter by whom he had a sonne called his name Hevenles of two of her sisters he maried the one of them called Apama vnto Ptolomye her other sister also called Barsine he bestowed vpon Eumenes when he distributed the PERSIAN Ladies among his Lordes and familiars to marrie them Yet all this notwithstanding he often fell in disgrace with king Alexander stoode in some daunger by meanes of Hephaestion For Hephaestion following Alexanders courte on a time hauing appointed Euius a phiphe player a lodging which Eumenes seruauntes had taken vp for their maister Eumenes being in a rage went with one Mentor vnto Alexander crying out that a mā were better be a phiphe a common plaier of Tragedies then a souldier sithence such kinde of people were preferred before men of seruice that ventured their liues in the warres Alexander at that present time was as angrie as Eumenes roundly tooke vp Hephaestion for it howbeit immediatly after hauing chaunged his minde he was much offended with Eumenes bicause he thought him not to haue vsed that franke speech so much against Hephaestion as of a certaine presumptuous boldenes towardes him selfe And at an other time also when Alexander was sending Nearchus with his army by sea to cleere the coastes of the Occean it chaunsed the king was without money whereupon he sent to all his frendes to take vp money in prest and among others vnto Eumenes of whom he requested three hundred talentes Eumenes lent him but a hundred and sayd he had much a doe to get him so much of all his tenantes Alexander sayd nothing to him neither would he suffer them to take his hundred talentes but commaunded his officers to set Eumenes tent a fire bicause he would take him tardy with a lye before he could geue order to cary away his gold and siluer Thus was his tent burnt downe to the ground before they could
he would place neuer a MACEDONIAN directly against Craterus but set two companies of men of armes that were straungers against him the which Pharnabazus Artabazus sonne and Phoenix Tenidian did load Then he specially commaunded that so soone as they saw the enemies before thē they should geue charge geuing them no leasure to speake nor retire neither to hearken to any Heraulde or trompet that they should send vnto them for he feared much that the MACEDONIANS would turne against him if they once came to know Craterus Now for him selfe he led the right wing of his battell with a troupe of three hundred men at armes the chiefest men of all his armie where he should meete full with Neoptolemus fronte When they had passed a litle hill that stoode betwene both battells Eumenes horsemen following his commaundement ranne with full cariere to set apon their enemies Craterus seeing that was amazed withall and banned and cursed Neoptolemus that had deceiued him in that sorte informing him that the MACEDONIANS would turne of his side if they might but once see him notwithstanding he prayed them that were about him to shewe them selues like valliant men that day and therewithall fiercely set spurres to his horse to meete with his enemies The encounter was very cruell on either side and their slaues being broken they fell straight to their swordes but that day did not Craterus dishonor the memory of Alexander for he slue many of his enemies round about him valliantly repulsed them that did assaile him and many times ouerthrewe them Yet in fine one of the men of armes of THRACIA gaue him such a blow on the side that he turned him of his horse and when he was downe many passed ouer him But Goryas one of Eumenes Captaines knowing him lighted from his horses and appointed men about him to garde him howebeit it was too late for he was drawing on and euen in the very panges of death Eumenes and Neoptolemus on thother side which had bene mortall enemies of long time being a fire with an old malice they sought vp and downe th one for the other So at the two first courses they could not one light apon thother but at the third meeting when they knew one an other then they set spurres to their horse their swordes drawen and with great cries gaue charge apon eche other And their horses met so fiercely together as if two armed gallies had not with their prowes and both the Captaines laying the bridells in their horse neckes closed together and with both handes striued to plucke of eche others headpeace and to rent their polrons from their shoulders Whilest they were thus tearing eche other their horses ran from them and they fell to the ground one holding the other fast as if they had wrestled together Neoptolemus got vp first but as he rose Eumenes cut the hamme of his legge raised him selfe vp withall Neoptolemus staying him selfe apon one knee his other legge being very sore hurt defended him selfe on the ground the best he could from Eumenes that was on his feete but he could geue him no deadly wound neuerthelesse him selfe had a blow on the necke that layed him flat on the grounde Then Eumenes inflamed with choller against him went about to strippe him and fell a reuiling of him and being in that furious moode remembred not that Neoptolemus had his sword yet who hurt him vnder his curaces euen about his groyne not farre from his priuie partes howebeit the wounde made Eumenes worse afrayed then there was cause of hurt for that Neoptolemus strength was gone before the stroke came dying presently apon it Eumenes hauing stripped him found him self very ill by reason of his woundes on his armes and legges which had many a fore gashe notwithstanding he got vp on his horse againe and rode towards the other wing of his battell thinking his enemies had bene fighting still But there being told that Craterus had his deathes wound he went straight to the place where he lay and found him yet aliue nor past knowledge Then Eumenes lighted from his horse and wept and taking him by the right hande accursed Neoptolemus that had brought him to that pitiefull state and had also forced him to be in battell against one of his deerest frendes to make him the instrument of his vtter vndoing This second battell Eumenes wanne tenne dayes after the first battell obtained which got him great honor for that he had discomfited one of his enemies through wisedome and the other by valliantnes But yet this bred him much ill will not onely of his enemies but of his frendes also that tooke his pane when they bethought them that he being a straunger had with the weapons and power of the MACEDONIANS them selues slaine the greatest and most famous Captaine among them Now if Perdiccas had bene so happie as to haue liued and receiued thaduertisement of Craterus death no dout he had bene the greatest person of all the MACEDONIANS But as ill lucke would haue it within two dayes after that Perdiccas was slaine in a mutinie of his men in EGYPT newes came to his army of Eumenes victorie and also of the death of Craterus Whereupon the MACEDONIANS were so offended with Eumenes that in continently they condemned him to dye gaue Antigonus and Antipater commission to execute the reuenge When Eumenes passing by mount Ida where the king kept a race and brede of horses had taken away with him as many horses as he would and had sent letters of aduertisement thereof to the kinges ryders Antipater as it is reported smyled and in mockerie sayd that he marueled to see Eumenes great care to thinke that he should either geue or receiue any account of this kinges goodes So Eumenes thought good to fight in the great plaines of LYDIA especially neere vnto the chiefe citie of SARDIS bicause he was the stronger in horsemen and for that he would make Cleopatra see the power of his armie Howebeit being intreated by her who feared blame of Antipater he went further into hie PHRYGIA and wintered in the citie of CELAENES But there Polemon Alcetas and Docimus fell in contention with him for leading of the army saying that they had as much right to leade the army as he Eumenes aunswered them truely here is euen the cōmon saying vp and downe desperate men regard no daunger Now Eumenes hauing promised his souldiers pay within three dayes to keepe his promesse solde them all the farmes castells of that contrie together with the men and beastes of the same whereof the prouince was fully replenished Thereupon his Lieutenauntes of the bandes hauing bought certaine of them went and tooke them perforce through Eumenes engines of battery which he suffred them to carie with him and hauing taken them they went and deuided the spoyle paying euery souldier ratably his wages due This deuise brought him againe in fauor among his souldiers For certaine papers
him Onomarchus chuslishly aunswered him againe that the time was past nowe to shewe his corage as though he feared not death and that he should haue shewed is in the field at the battell So helpe me Iupiter quod he so haue I done and if thou beleuest not me aske them that set apon me for I neuer met with man yet more strong then my selfe Onomarchus replied againe sith now therefore thou hast found a stronger than thy selfe why then canst thou not abide his pleasure In fine when Antigonus bad resolued of his death he commaunded them to geue him no more meate and thus taking his susteaunce from him Eumenes was three dayes a dying In the meane time came such newes that sodainely the campe remoued and therefore before their departure a man was sent to Eumenes to dispatche him out of his paine Antigonus licensed his frends to take his body and burne it and then to gather his ashes and bones to send them to his wife children Eumenes being slaine in this manner the gods appointed none other iudges to reuenge the disloyalties and treason of the ANGYRASPIDES and their Captaines for betraying of Eumenes but Antigonius selfe who detestinge them as cruell murderers and periured persones to the goddes appointed thyrtius Gouernor of the prouince of ARACHOSIA to kill them euerie mothers sonne what way he coulde that none of them might euer see MACEDON againe nor the Greekishe sea THE COMPARISON OF Eumenes with Sertorius HEre haue we set downe the thinges worthie memorie of Eumenes and Sertorius Nowe to compare them together in this they were both alike that they being straungers in a straunge contrie and banished out of their owne had alwayes bene Captaines of diuers nations and chiefetaines of great and warlicke armies But this was proper to Sertorius that all those of his faction gaue him the chiefest place of authoritie as the most sufficientest man among them and worthiest to commaund where Eumenes hauing many that contended against him for the chiefe rule and conduction of the armie through his noble deedes obtained the chiefe place and authoritie in the same So that they obeyed the one desiring to be gouerned by a good Captaine for their owne safety gaue place to the other seeing them selues vnable to commaund For Sertorius being a ROMANE gouerned the SPANYARDS and LVSITANIANS and Eumenes a CHERRONESIAN the MACEDONIANS Of the which the SPANYARDS of long time had bene subiect of the Empire of ROME and the MACEDONIANS at that time had subdued all the worlde Furthermore Sertorius beinge then of great estimation for that he was a Senatour of ROME and had had charge of men of warre before came to the dignity estate to be chiefetaine of a great army Where Eumenes came with small reputacion disdained for that he was but a secretarie and when he began to come forwardes had not only lesse meanes to preferre him then Sertorius had but greater lets impedimentes also to hinder his rising and estimation For many openly stoode against him and secretly conspired his death and not as Sertorius whom no man contraried from the beginning vntill his latter ende when certaine of his companions secretly conspired against him Therefore Sertorius ende of all his daungers was to ouercome his enemies where Eumenes greatest daungers came through his victories which he wanne of his owne men through the malice of them that enuied his honor Nowe for their deedes of armes they are both in maner alike but on thother side for their conditions Eumenes naturally loued warre and contention and Sertorius imbraced peace quietnes For Eumenes that might haue liued in safety with honor if he would but haue geuen place to his betters and forsaken the warres liked better with the daunger of his life to followe martiall feates with the greatest personages of MACEDON and in the end so came to his death Sertorius contrarily being vnwilling to come in trouble was forced for the safetie of his person to take armes against them that would not let him liue in peace For had not Eumenes bene so ambitious and stowte to striue against Antigonus for the chiefest place of authoritie but could haue bene contented with the seconde Antigonus would haue bene right glad thereof where Pompey would neuer so much as suffer Sertorius to liue in rest So the one made voluntary warre onely to rule and the other against his wil was compelled to rule bicause they made warres with him Wherby it appeareth that Eumenes naturally loued warre preferring the couetous desire of a better estate aboue the safety of his life and the other as a right souldier vsed the warres only for a meane to saue his life by valiaÌ„t defence of armes Furthermore the one was slaine mistrusting no treason against him and the other looking euery hower for present death threatned him Whereof the one argued a noble minde not to mistrust them whom he thought his frendes and the other shewed a saint hart being taken when he ment to flie So Sertorius death dishonored not his life suffering that of his owne companions which his deadly foes could neuer make him suffer The other hauing no power to auoide his destinie before he was taken and hauing sought meanes to liue being in prison and captiuitie could neither paciently nor manfully abide his death For begging life at his enemies handes he gaue him his hart with his body who before had but his body in his power THE LIFE OF Agesilaus ARchidamus the sonne of Zeuxidamus hauing honorably raigned in LACEDAEMON left two sonnes behind him Agis which he begate of that noble Lady Lamprido Agesilaus a great deale younger which he had by Eupolia Melisippidas daughter So the kingdom falling by succession vnto Agis the elder the younger sonne Agesilaus remaining a priuate person was brought vp after the LACONIAN manner which was a straight kind of life but withal it taught children how to obey Wherof it is thought the Poet Simonides calleth SPARTA Damasimbrotos to wit making men ciuill for that by continuance of custome it frameth the citizens to be obedient to the lawes as much or more than any other city that euer was in the world taming them from their childhoode as they doe young coltes The law dispenseâ—â— with the heires apparant to the crowne from that straight subiection hard life but Agesilaus had that excellencie in him aboue all others of his estate that he came to the dignity and honor to commaund hauing from his youth learned to obey The which vndoutedly was the cause that he knewe better than any other king howe to please and beare with his subiectes helping his royall estate princely behauior grafted in him by nature with that curtesie and familiarity which he had attained by education At that time when he went in company with the boyes which were brought vp together Lysander fell in loue with him wondering at the modesty
of SPARTA blessed to haue had such a kinge that so much reuerenced his contrie and obeyed the lawe as receiuing onely a litle scrolle of parchement commaunding him to returne he forsooke a worlde of goodes and wealth that he quietly enioyed with assured hope and certaintie of more and imbarked foorthwith leauing all the alies and confederates of his contrie verie sorowefull for that he had geuen ouer so noble an enterprise which he had so happely begonne Yes sure Nay furthermore he passed not for the saying of Demostratus PHAEACIAN who sayd that the LACEDAEMONIANS in publicke matters were the worthiest men and the ATHENIANS in priuate causes For as he had shewed him selfe a good king and an excellent Captaine to the common wealth so was he alwayes curteous priuately to his familiar frendes And bicause the PERSIAN coyne was stamped on the one side with the print of an archer Agesilaus being readie to departe sayd that tenne thowsand archers draue him out of ASIA For so much was brought vnto THEBES and ATHENS and distributed among the Orators and Gouernours there who through their Orations made both those great cities to rise and make warre against the SPARTANS In his return Agesilaus hauing passed the straight of HELLESPONT tooke his way through the contrie of THRACIA and neuer intreated barbarous kinge nor people to suffer him to passe but only sent vnto them to know whether they would be should passe through their contries as a frende or an enemie All contries and nacions else receiued him very honorably to their power saue the people called the TROCHALIANS vnto whom king Xerxes him selfe gaue presentes that he might passe frendly through their contry who sent vnto Agesilaus to demaund a hundred siluer talentes and a hundred women to suffer him to passe through their contrie But Agesilaus laughing them to scorne aunswered againe why how chaunceth it that they came not them selues to receiue them So therewithall he marched forwarde against these barbarous people who were ranged in battell raye to stoppe his passage howebeit he ouerthrewe them and flue a great number of them in the fielde The like demaund he made vnto the kinge of MACEDON whether he should passe through his contrie as a frende or an enemie The king made him aunswere he would consider of it Well let him thinke of it quod Agesilaus we will goe on in the meane time The king then wondering at his great boldenes and fearing least he would doe him some hurte as he went sent to pray him that he woulde passe through his contrie as a frend Now it chaunced so that the THESSALIANS at that time were in league with the enemies of the LACEDAEMONIANS therefore as he passed through their contrie he did spoyle and forage it as his enemies contrie and sent Xenocles and Scytha to the citie of LARISSE hopinge to perswade them to take parte with the LACEDAEMONIANS These two Ambassadours were retained there as prisoners The SPARTANS were maruelously offended withall and thought good that Agesilaus should besiege LARESSE with his army But he aunswered them he would not lose one of those men to winne all THESSAINE and therefore found meanes that he redeemed them againe by composition Peraduenture this is not to be marueled at in Agesilaus that newes being brought him on a time that in a great battell fought by the citie of CORINTHE where were many worthie and valliant Captaines slaine of the enemies and but few of the SPARTANS he seemed not to reioice at it but rather to fetche a grieuous sigh saying O poore GRAECE how vnfortunate art thou to haue slaine with thine owne handes so many valliant Captaines of thine owne people as ioyning together might at one field haue ouercome all the barbarous people The PHARSALIANâ— harying and troubling the rereward of Agesilaus armie he put foorth fiue hundred horsemen which gaue them so lustie a charge that he ouerthrew them by force For this victorie be set vp tokens of triumphe apon the mountaine called Narthacium and this victory pleased him aboue all the rest bicause with the small number of horsemen which he had gotten together of him selfe he had ouerthrowen the glory pride of the enemies horsemen in battell wherof they had vaunted many yeares before Thither came Diphridas one of the Ephores vnto him sent of purpose from SPARTA to commaund him immediatly to inuade BOROTIA with his armie Nowe though Agesilaus intended some other time with a greater power to enter BOEOTIA yet bicause he would not disobey the counsells commaundement of SPARTA he told his men straight that the battell for the which they returned out of ASIA was at hande and therefore he sent for two companies of them which lay in campe by CORINTHE The LACEDAEMONIANS that were at SPARTA to honor Agesilaus for that he had obeyed their commaundement so readily proclaimed in the citie that as many young men as were desirous to goe aide the king should come and enter their names Notwithstanding they onely chose but fiftie of the valliantest among them and sent them vnto him In the meane time Agesilaus passed through the contrie of THERMOPYLES and coasting ouer the lande of PHOCYDE consederates to the LACEDAEMONIANS he entred into BOEOTIA and camped by the citie of CHAERONEA where immediatly after his arriuall he sodainly saw the sonne eclipsed and darkened in the facion of a new moone Euen withall came the newes of the death of Pisander vnto him who was slaine in a battell which he lost by sea fighting against Pharnabazus and Conon hard by the I le of GNIDOS These newes were very heauie vnto him both for respect of the person his kinseman whom he lost as also for the great losse that happened to the common wealth Neuerthelesse fearing his souldiers would be discoraged with the newes and become faint harted being ready to ioyne battell he commaunded them that came from the sea to brute abroade a contrarie tale to that they tolde him and he him selfe to make good their speache came out among them with a garland of flowers on his head and did sacrifice to the goddes as thanking them for the good newes sending to euery one of his frends a peece of flesh sacrificed as he commonly vsed to doe in any publicke cause of ioy Then marching forward he straight discouered his enemies farre of and they likewise him therupon put his men in battell ray and gaue the left wing vnto the ORCHOMENIANS leading him selfe the right wing The THEBANS of thother side placed them selues in the right wing of their armie and gaue the left vnto the ARGIVES Xenophon being at that battell on Agesilaus side wryteth that he neuer knewe of the like fielde fought At the first onset the conflict was not great betwene both neither helde long bicause the THEBANS brake the ORCHOMENIANS straight and Agesilaus the ARGIVES But when either side vnderstoode that the left winges of their battells were
to Cleonymus where before he would see him oftentimes in a day This made Sphodrias frendes dispaire of his life more then before vntill Etymocles one of Agesilaus familiars talking with them tolde them that for the facte it selfe Agesilaus thought it a shamefull deede and as much misliked it as might be but for Sphodrias selfe that he tooke him for a valliant man saw that the common wealth had neede of men of such seruice This was Agesilaus common talke to please his sonne when any man came to speake to him of Sphodrias accusation Insomuch that Cleonymus found straight that Archidamus had delt as faithfully and frendly for him as might be and then Sphodrias frendes also tooke hart againe vnto them to solicite his cause and to be earnest suters for him Agesilaus among other had this speciall propertie that he loued his children deerely and a tale goeth on him that he would play with them in his house when they were litle ones and ride apon a litle cocke horse or a reede as a horsebacke Insomuch as a frende of his taking him one day with the maner playing among his children he prayed him to say nothing till he had litle children him selfe In fine Sphodrias was quit by his iudges The ATHENIANS vnderstanding it sent to proclaime warre with the LACEDAEMONIANS Whereupon Agesilaus was much reproued bicuase that to please the fonde affection of his sonne he had hindered iustice brought his citie to be accused among the GRAECIANS for such grieuous crimes Agesilaus perceiuing that king Cleombrotus his companion went with no verie good will to make warre with the THEBANS he breaking the order set downe for leading of the army which was kept before went to the warres him selfe in person so inuading BOEOTIA he both receiued and did great hurt Wherupon Antalcidas seeing him hurt one day now truely sayd he the THEBANS haue paide you your deserued hier for teaching them against their wills to be souldiers that neither had will nor skill to fight For in dede they say the THEBANS became better souldiers and warriours than they were before being dayly trained and exercised in armes through the continuall inuasions of the LACEDAEMONIANS Loe this was the reason why the olde father Lycurgus in his lawes called Rhetra did forbid them to make warre too oft with one selfe people bicause that by compulsion they should not be made expert souldiers For this cause did the confederats of LACEDAEMON hate Agesilaus saying that it was not for any knowen offence to the state but for very spite priuate malice of his owne that he sought to vndoe the THEBANS in this maner and that to follow his humor they consumed them selues going yearely to the warres one while this way an other while that way without any necessitie at all following a few LACEDAEMONIANS them selues being alwayes the greater number Then it was that Agesilaus desiring to make thē see what number of men of warre they were vsed this deuise On a time he commaunded all the allies to sit downe together one with an other by them selues the LACEDAEMONIANS also by them selues Then he made a herauld proclaime that all pottemakers should stand vp on their feete When they were vp he made him crie to the brasiers to rise also After them in like maner the carpinters then the masons so consequently all occupations one after an other So that at the length the confederates obeying the proclamacion were all in maner on their feete The LACEDAEMONIANS not one of them rose bicause all base mechanicall craftes were forbidden them to occupie Then Agesilaus laughing at them loe my frendes sayd he doe ye not see now that we bring moe souldiers to the field than ye doe At his returne from this iorney of THEBES passing by the city of MEGARA as he went vp into the counsell house within the castell there sodainly tooke him a great crampe in his left legge that swelled extreamely and put him to great paine men thinking that it was but blood which had filled the vaine a Phisitian of SYRACVSA in SICILE being there straight opened a vaine vnder the ankle of his foote which made the paine to cease notwithstanding there came such aboundance of blood that they could not stanche it so that he sounded oft was in great daunger of present death In fine a way was found to stoppe it and they caried him to LACEDAEMON where he lay sicke along time so that he was past going to the warres any more The SPARTANS in the meane time receiued great ouerthrowes both by sea and land and among other their greatest ouerthrow was at the battell of LEVCTRES where the THEBANS ouercame and slue them in plaine battell Then the GRAECIANS were all of one minde to make a generall peace and thereuppon came Ambassadors and the Deputies from all the cities of GRAECE met at LACEDAEMON to that ende One of these Deputies was Epaminondas a notable learned man and a famous Philosopher but as yet vnskilfull in warres He seeing how the other Ambassadors curried fauor with Agesilaus only he of the rest kept his grauety to speake freely and made an Oration not for the THEBANS alone but for all GRAECE in generall declaring to them all how warres did only increase the greatnes power of the citie of SPARTA and contrarily did minish and decay all other cities and townes of GRAECE and for this cause that he did counsell them all to conclude a good and perfit peace indifferently for all to the ende it might continewe the lenger when they were all alike Agesilaus perceiuing then that all the GRAECIANS present at the assemblie gaue him good eare and were glad to heare him speake thus boldely of peace asked him openly if he thought it mete and reasonable that all BOEOTIA should be set clere at libertie againe Epaminondas presently boldly againe asked him if he thought it iust and requisite to set all LACONIA clere againe at liberty Agesilaus being offended therwith stoode vpon his feete and commaunded him to aunswere plainly whether they would set all BOEOTIA at libertie or not Epaminondas replied vnto him with the selfe speache againe and asked him whether they would set all LACONIA at liberty or not That nettled Agesilaus so that besides he was glad of such a cloke for the old grudge he euer bare vnto the THEBANS he presently put the name of the THEBANS out of the bill of those which should haue bene comprised within the league and cried open warres apon them in the market place For the rest he licensed the other Deputies and Ambassadors of the people of GRAECE to departe with this conclusion that they should louingly take order among thē selues for the controuersies betwext them if they could peaceably agree together and they that could not fall to such agreement that then they should trie it by warres for that it was a hard thing to take vp
them but then they sacked burnt all that came in their way euen vnto the riuer of Eurotas and hard adioyning vnto SPARTA and no man durst come out to resist them For Agesilaus as Theopompus wryteth would not suffer the LACEDAEMONIANS to goe out to fight against such a tempest and furie of warre but hauing fortified the middest of the citie and garded euery end of the streetes with souldiers he paciently bare all the bragges and threates of the THEBANS which challenged him out to fight and bad him come into the fielde to defende his contrie that onely was the cause of all these their calamities hauing him selfe procured this warre If this went to Agesilaus hart no lesse grieuous were these troubles to him that rose within the citie As the cries and running toe and froe of the old men which were mad to see that they did before their eyes and of sely women also which no grounde nor place could hold but ranne vp and downe as straught of their wittes to heare the noise the enemies made and to see the fire which they raised all the fieldes ouer Much more sorowefull also did this make him when as he bethought him selfe that entring into his kingdom at such time as the citie of SPARTA was in the greatest prosperitie that euer it was he now saw his honor eclipsed and the glorie of his kingdom ouerthrowen and the rather for that him selfe had often auaunted that LACONIAN women had neuer seene the smoke of any enemies campe And as they say of Antalcidas one day that he answered an ATHENIAN that contended with him about the valliantnesse of one an others nation alleaging for him selfe that the ATHENIANS had often driuen the LACEDAEMONIANS from the riuer of Cephesus It is true said the LACONIAN but we did neuer driue you from the riuer of Eurotas The like aunswere made a meane man of SPARTA to one of the ARGIVES that cast him in the teeth there are diuers of your LACONIANS buried in the contrie of ARGOLIDE so are there none of yours sayd he buried in LACONIA It is reported that Antalcidas being one of the Ephori at that time did secretly sende his children into the I le of CITHAERA fearing least the citie of SPARTA should be taken Agesilaus perceiuing that the enemies forced to passe ouer the riuer to enter the citie he stoode to defend the middle parte of the citie being the hiest place of the same and there had his men sette in order of battell Now at that time by chaunce the riuer of Eurotas was swelled greater then of ordinarie by reason of the snowe waters that fell aboundantly which troubled more the THEBANS with the coldnes then roughnes of the same in passing it ouer Some shewing Agesilaus how Epaminondas marched formost before his battell he beheld him a great while and his eye was neuer of him saying neuer a word but this onely O what a noble fellowe is that Epaminondas hauing done all that he could possible to geue the LACEDAEMONIANS battell euen within the citie selfe of SPARTA that he might there haue set vp some tokens of triumphe he could neuer intise Agesilaus to come out of his forte wherefore he was driuen in the ende to departe thence and so went to destroy all the rest of the contrie There fell out a conspiracie of two hundred men in SPARTA who of long time had had an ill meaning with them and tooke that quarter of the citie where the temple of Diana stoode called Issorium a place of strong scituacion and ill to distresse Hereuppon the LACEDAEMONIANS in furie would straight haue set apon them But Agesilaus fearing great mutinie and sturre apon it commaunded that no man should sturre and him selfe vnarmed in a poore gowne went thither crying out to them that had taken that strength Sirs ye haue not obeyed my commaundement This is not the place I appointed you to assemble in neither all of you in one place for I willed you to disperse your selues some one way some an other way shewing them the quarters of the citie The traitors hearing these wordes were glad as thinking that their intent was not bewraied and so leauing that strength went into those partes of the citie that he had shewed them Agesilaus then bringinge others thether possessed the forte of Issorium and tooke fifteene of those conspiratours and put them to death the next night followinge Howebeit then there brake out an other conspiracie farre greater than the first of the SPARTANS them selues which were secretly gotten together into a house to make some sodaine sturre and garboyle and to punish them in so great a trouble it was hard on thother side to neglect it the conspiracie was ouer daungerous Agesilaus hauing consulted with the Ephori did put them all to death without any iudgement of lawe neuer SPARTANS before them suffering death without due order of law Againe whereas diuers of their neighbours of the Ilotes them selues whom they had billed in their bandes for souldiers stale away and ranne to their enemies which did much discorage them that remained he warned his men that they should euerie day goe to their couches where they lay and that they shoulde take away their armour that were fled and hide it bicause they should not knowe the names of them that were fled in this sorte Now for the departure of the THEBANS some say that they went out of LACONIA by reason of the winter that came on whereuppon the ARCADIANS discharged their bandes and euerie one departed his way in disorder Others also holde opinion that they continued there three monethes together during which time they destroyed the most parte of the contrie Theopompus wryteth notwithstanding that the Captaines of the THEBANS hauing determined to departe there came one Phrixus a SPARTAN vnto them sent from Agesilaus who brought them tenne talents that they should departe out of their contrie Thus had they money geuen them to defraye their charges homewardes to doe that which they them selues had long before determined to haue done And yet doe I wonder howe it is possible that all other historiographers knewe nothing of this and that Theopompus onely could tell of it All doe acknowledge truely that Agesilaus onely was the cause that the citie of SPARTA was saued who leauing his ambition and selfe will being passions borne with him did wisely foresee their safetie Neuerthelesse after this great ouerthrowe he could neuer raise SPARTA againe to her former greatnesse For like as a whole bodie which hauing acquainted it selfe continually with a moderate diet with the least disorder doth surfet presently and so putteth all in daunger euen so Lycurgus hauing framed a perfect state of gouernment in the common wealth of SPARTA to make her citizens liue in peace and amitie together when they did enlarge it by great kingdomes and realmes the which the good lawemaker thought vnmeete to continue happie life they were straight
occasion to returne who desired nothing more then to leaue Sertorius to bend his force against Mithridates whose ouerthrow should be more honorable to him and also lesse daungerous In the meane space Sertorius dyed being betrayed by those whom he thought his frendes among the which Perpenna was the chiefe man that after Sertorius death would needes counterfeate his doinges hauing the same meanes the same furniture and the same power that he had howbeit he lacked his wit and skill to employ them Pompey therefore marching directly towardes him and finding how ignorant Perpenna was in his affayers he layed a bayte for him of ten cohorts which he sent to praye in the fields commaunding them to disperse them selues abroad as farre as they could one from an other Perpenna straight tooke the occasion and gaue them charge and had them in chase But Pompey tarying him at the ford was ready for him with all his army set in order he gaue him battell obtained the victory and ended all this warre bicause the most of the Captaines were slaine in the field and Perpenna the chiefe of all taken prisoner whom he presently put to death But herein Pompey was not to be condemned of ingratitude nor obliuion as some do burden him of Perpennaes frendship shewed him in SICILE but rather deserued praise to haue determined so wisely for benefit of the common wealth For Perpenna hauing in his custody all Sertorius wrytings he shewed letters of the greatest noble men of ROME which were desirous of chaunge of gouernment willing him to returne into ITALIE Pompey vpon sight of these letters fearing least they would breede greater sedition sturre in ROME then that which was already pacified put Perpenna to death as soone as he could and burnt all his papers and wrytinges not reading any letter of them Then Pompey remaining in SPAYNE a certaine time till he had pacified all commocions and tumultes maruelously out of order he brought his army backe againe into ITALIE and arriued there when the warre of the bondmen and fensers led by Spartacus was in greatest furie Vpon his comming therefore Crassus being sent Captaine against these bondmen made hast to geue them battell which he wan and slue twelue thowsand three hundred of these fugitiue slaues Notwithstāding fortune meaning to geue Pompey some parte of this honor fiue thowsand of these bondmen escaping from the battell fell into his hands Whereupon he hauing ouercome them wrote vnto the Senate that Crassus had ouercome the fensers in battell and that he had pluckt vp this warre by the rootes The ROMANES receiuing Pompeys letters were very glad of this newes for the loue they bare him But as for the winning of SPAYNE againe and the ouerthrow of Sertorius there was no man although it were in sporte that euer gaue any man else the honor but vnto Pompey only For all this great honor and loue they bare vnto Pompey yet they did suspect him and were affrayed of him bicause he did not disperse his army that he would follow Syllaes steppes to rule alone by plaine force Hereuppon as many went to meete him for feare as there were that went for good will they bare him But after he had put this suspicion quite out of their heades telling them that he would discharge his armie after he had triumphed then his illwillers could blame him for nothing else but that he was more enclined to the people then to the nobilitie and that he had a desire to restore the Tribuneshippe of the people which Sylla had put downe only to gratifie the common people in all he could the which in deede was true For the common people at ROME neuer longed for thing more than they did to see the office of the Tribune sette vp againe Yea Pompey him selfe thought it the happiest turne that euer came to him to light in such a time to doe such an acte For had any other man preuented him of that he coulde neuer haue founde the like occasion possiblie to haue requited the peoples good willes vnto him so much as in that Nowe therefore his seconde triumphe and first Consullshippe being decreed by the Senate that made him nothinge the greater or better man And yet was it a shewe and signification of his greatnesse the which Crassus the richest man the eloquentest and greatest person of all them that at that time delt in matters of state and made more estimacion of him selfe then of Pompey and all the rest neuer durst once demaunde before he had craued Pompeys goodwill Pompey was very glad of his request and had sought occasion of long time to pleasure him and thereupon made earnest sute vnto the people for him assuringe them he would as much thanke them for making Crassus his colleague and fellowe Consull as he would for making him selfe Consull All this notwithstandinge when they were created Consulls they were in all thinges contrarie one to an other and neuer agreed in any one thing while they were Consulls together Crassus had more authority with the Senate but Pompey had more credit with the people For he restored them the office of the Tribune and passed by edict that the Knightes of ROME should haue full power againe to iudge causes ciuill and criminall It was a pleasaunt sight also to the people when he came vnto the Censors in person to pray that he might be dispenst with for goinge to the warres For it was an auncient custome in ROME that the Knightes of ROME hauinge serued a certaine time in the warres appointed by their order should bring their horse in the middest of the market place before the two Censors declaring euery Captaine vnder whome they had serued in what iorneys and contries they had bene and hauinge also deliuered accompt of their good behauior and seruice they then prayed to be dismissed from the warres Nowe if it appeared that they had done good seruice there were they honorablie rewarded or otherwise openly shamed and punished At that time Gellius and Lentulus the two Censors being honorablie sette in their tribunall or iudgement seate taking viewe of all the ROMANE Knightes that mustered before them to be seene and examined they marueled when they sawe Pompey comminge at the further ende of the market place hauinge all the markes of a Consull borne before him and him selfe leading his horse in his hande by the bridle When Pompey came neerer and that they sawe it was he he commaunded his sergeauntes that caried the axes before him to make roome for him to passe by the barres with his horse where the Censors sate Then the people flocked about him wondering and reioycing being verie silent The Censors them selues also were maruelous glad to see him so obedient to the lawe and did him great reuerence In fine the elder of the Censors did examine him in this sorte Pompey the great I pray thee tell me if thou hast serued so long time in the warres
and Caesar for not keeping of him Therefore this should be the best resolution to send to kill him for thereby they should winne the good will of the doe and not feate the displeasure of the other and some say moreouer that he added this mocke withall â— a dead man bytes not They being determined of this among them selues gaue Achillas commission to doe it He taking with him Septimius who had charge a aforetime vnder Pompey and Salâ—ius an other Centurion also with three or foure souldiers besides they made towards Pompeys gallie about whom were at that time the chiefest of his â—ruine to see what would become of this matter But when they saw the likelihood of their entertainment and that it was not in Princely show and maner nor nothing aunswerable to the hope which Theophanes had put them in seeing so few men come to them in a fisher bote they began then to mistrust the small accompt that was made of them counselled Pompey to returne backe and to launche againe into the sea being out of the daunger of the hurling of a daret In the meane time the fisher bote drew neere and Septimius rose and saluted Pompey in the ROMANE tongue by the name of Imperator as much as soueraine Captaine and Achillas also spake to him in the Greeke tongue and bad him come into his bote bicause that by the shore side there was a great deale of mudde and sande banckes so that his gally should haue no water to being him in At the very same time they saw a farre of diuers of the kings gallies which were arming with all speede possible all the shore besides ful of souldiers Thus though Pompey his company would haue altered their mindes they could not haue told how to haue escaped furthermore shewing that they had mistrusted theÌ„ then they had geuen the murthers occasion to haue executed his cruelty So taking his leaue of his wife Cornelia who lamented his death before his end he coÌ„maunded two Centurions to go down before him into the AEGYPTIANS bote and Philip one of his slaues infranchised with an other slaue called Scynes When Achillas reached out his hande to receiue him into his bote he turned him to his wife and sonne and sayd these verses of Sophocles vnto them The man that into Court comes free Must there in state of bondage be These were the last words he spake vnto his people when he left his owne gally went into the AEGYPTIANS bote The lande being a great way of from his gally when he saw neuer a man in the bote speake frendly vnto him beholding Septimius he said vnto him me thinkes my frend I should know thee for that thou hast serued with me heretofore The other nodded with his head that it was true but gaue him no aunswere nor shewed him any curtesie Pompey seeing that no man spake to him tooke a litle booke he had in hande in the which he had wrytten an oration that he ment to make vnto king Ptolomy beganne to read it When they came neere the shore Cornelia with her seruaunts and frends about her stoode vp in her shippe in great feare to see what should become of Pompey So she hoped well when she saw many of the kings people on the shore comming towards Pompey at his landing as it were to receiue and honor him But euen as Pompey tooke Philip his hande to arise more easily Septimius came first behinde him and thrust him through with his sword Next vnto him also Saluius and Achillas drewâ—out their swords in like manner Pompey then did no more but tooke vp his gowne with his hands and hidde his face and manly abidde the wounds they gaue him onely sighing a litle Thus being nine and fifty yeare olde he ended his life the next day after the day of his birth They that rode at ancker in their shippes when they saw him murdered gaue such a feareful crie that it was hard to the shore theÌ„ waying vp their anckers with spede they hoysed saile and departed their way hauing winde at will that blew a Iustly gale as soone as they had gotten the maine sea The AEGYPTIANS which prepared to rowe after them when they saw they were past their reach and vnpossible to be ouertaken they let them goe Then hauing striken of Pompeys heade they threwe his body ouer borde for a miserable spectacle to all those that were desirous to see him Philip his infranchised bondman remainâ—â— ouer by it vntill such time as the AEGYPTIANS had seene it their bellies full Then hauing â—â—shed his body with salt water and wrapped it vp in an old shirt of his bicause be had no other shift to lay it in he sought vpon the sands found at the length a peece of an old fishers bote enough to serue to burne his naked bodie with but not all fully out As he was busie gathering the broken peeces of this bote together thither came vnto him an old ROMANE whom his youth had serued vnder Pompey and sayd vnto him O frend what art thou that preparest the funeralls of Pompey the great Philip answered that he was a bondman of his infranchised Well said he thou shalt not haue all this honor alone I pray thee yet let me accompany that in so denout a deede that I may not altogether repent me to haue dwelt so long in a strange contrie where I haue abidden such miserie and trouble but that to recompence me withall I may haue this good happe with mine owne hands to touche Pompeys body and to helpe to bury the only and most famous Captaine of the ROMANES The next day after Lucius Lentulus not knowing what had passed comming out of CYPRVS sailed by the shore side and perceiued a fire made for funeralls and Philip standing by it whom he knew not at the first So he asked him what is he that is dead and buried there But straight fetching a great sigh alas sayd he perhappes it is Pompey the great Then he landed a litle and was straight taken and slaine This was the end of Pompey the great Not longe after Caesar also came into AEGYPT that was in great warres where Pompeys head was presented vnto him but he turned his head aside and would not see it and abhorred him that brought it as a detestable murtherer Then taking his ringe wherewith he sealed his letters whereuppon was grauen a Lyon holding a sword he burst out a weeping Achillas and Pothinus he put to death King Ptolomy him selfe also being ouerthrowen in battell by the riuer of Nilus vanished away and was neuer heard of after Theodotus the Rethoritian escaped Caesars hands wandred vp downe AEGYP in great misery despised of euery man Afterwards Maerous Brutus who slue Caesar conquering ASIA met with him by chaunce and putting him to all the torments he could possibly deuise at the length slue him The ashes
of an armie may easily be brought from his wife and safe counsell with rumor and tumult of a few fearefull men that should perswade him it were a shame and dishonor for him if he did otherwise yet were this no straunge matter but a fault to be pardoned But for Pompey the great whose campe the ROMANES called their contrie and his tent the Senate and called all the Praetors and Consuls that gouerned at ROME rebells and traitors to the common wealth of ROME who coulde excuse him who was neuer seene commaunded by other then him selfe but had bene alwayes chiefe Captaine and Generall in any warre he made and euer had the vpper hand but that he was drawen on by the scoffes of Faonius and Domitius to hazard battell to endaunger the whole Empire and liberty of ROME only for feare they should call him king Agâ—memnon Who if he had so much regarded present infamie he should haue fought from the beginning for defence of the citie of ROME and not to haue taken example of Themistocles policie by flying and afterwards to thinke it a shame as he did to lye in THESSALIE a time without fighting Neither did God appoint them the fieldes of Pharsalia for a Theater or close campe of necessitie to fight which of them shoulde haue the Empire of ROME Further there was no Heraulde to summone him to fight as there are at games of price where he must aunswere to his name and come and fight or else to loose the honor of the crowne vnto an other But there were infinite other fieldes and townes and as a man woulde say the whole earth which the commoditie of his armie by sea gaue him choyse to conquer if he would rather haue followed the steppes of Fabius Maximus of Marius of Lucullus or of Agesilaus him selfe who did paciently abide no lesse tumultes within the citie selfe of SPARTA when the THEBANS went to summone him to come out to fight for all the rest of his contrie And in AEGYPT also he did abide many false accusations against him wherewith the king him selfe did burden him praying him alwayes to haue a litle pacience In fine hauing followed the best counsell which he had determined with him selfe from the beginning he saued the AEGYPTIANS against their willes and furthermore he did not only keepe the citie of SPARTA from so great a daunger but did also set vp tokens of triumphe in the same against the THEBANS whereby he was not compelled at that time to lead them out to the slaughter and besides that gaue his citizens occasion to obtaine victorie afterwardes Hereupon Agesilaus was highly praised of them whose liues he had saued against their wills And Pompey contrarily was blamed by them selues through whom he had offended yet some say that he was deceiued by his father in law Scipio For he meaning to keepe the most parte of the money to him selfe which he had brought out of ASIA did hasten and perswade Pompey to geue battell telling him that there was no money left The which though it had bene true a worthie Captaine should not so lightly haue bene brought into error vpon a false accompt to hazard him selfe to loose all Thus may we see what both of them were by comparing them together Furthermore for their iorneys into AEGYPT the one fled thither by force the other willingly went thither with small honor for moneys sake to serue the barbarous people with intent afterwards to make warre with the GRAECIANS Lastly in that which we accuse the AEGYPTIANS for Pompeys sake for the like matter doe they againe accuse Agesilaus For the one was cruelly put to death betrayed by them whom he trusted Agesilaus forsooke them which trusted him and went to the enemies hauing brought aide to fight against them The end of Pompeys life THE LIFE OF Alexander the great HAuing determined in this volume to write the life of king Alexander of Iulius Caesar that ouercame Pompey hauing to speake of many things I will vse none other preface but only desire the readers not to blame me though I do not declare al things at large but briefly touch diuers chiefly in those their noblest acts most worthy of memory For they must remember that my intent is not to write histories but only liues For the noblest deedes doe not alwayes shew mens vertues and vices but ofteÌ„times a light occasion a word or some sporte makes mens naturall dispositions and maners appeare more plaine then the famous battells wonne wherein a slaine tenne thowsand men or the great armies or cities wonne by siege or assault For like as painters or drawers of pictures which make no accompt of other partes of the bodie do take resemblaunces of the face and fauor of the countenauce in the which consisteth the iudgement of their maners disposition euen so they must geue vs leaue to seeke out the signes and tokens of the minde only and thereby shewe the life of either of them referring you vnto others to wryte the warres battells and other great thinges they did It is certaine that Alexander was discensed from Hercules by Caranus and that of his mothers side he came of the blood of the AEacides by Neoptolemus They say also that king Philip his father when he was a young man fell in fancie with his mother Olympias which at that time also was a younge maiden and an orphane without father or mother in the I le of SAMOTHRACIA where they were both receiued into the misterie and fraternity of the house of the religious and that afterwards he did aske her in mariage of her brother Arymbas with whose consent they were maried together The night before they lay in wedded bed the bride dreamed that lightning fell into her belly and that withall there was a great light fire that dispersed it selfe all about into diuers flames King Philip her husband also shortly after he was maried dreamed that he did seale his wiues belly and that the seale wherewith he sealed left behinde the printe of a Lyon. Certaine wisards and soothsayers tolde Philip that this dreame gaue him warning to looke straightly to his wife But Aristander TELMECIAN aunswered againe that it signified his wife was conceiued with childe for that they doe not seale a vessell that hath nothinge in it and that she was with childe with a boy which should haue a Lions hart It is reported also that many times as she lay asleepe in her bed there was seene a serpent lying by her the which was the chiefest cause as some presuppose that withdrewe Philips loue and kindnes from her and caused him that he lay not so oft with her as before he was wont to doe either for that he feared some charme or enchauntment or else for that he thought him selfe vnmeete for her company supposing her to be beloued of some god Some do also report this after an other sort as in this
not tell where there came crowes vnto them that did guide them flying before them flying fast when they saw them follow them and stayed for them when they were behind But Callisthenes writeth a greater wonder then this that in the night time with the very noise of the crowes they brought them againe into the right waie which had lost their waie Thus Alexander in th end hauing passed through this wildernes he came vnto the temple he sought for where the prophet or chiefe priest saluted him from the god Hammon as from his father Then Alexander asked him if any of the murtherers that had killed his father were left aliue The priest aunswered him and bad him take heede he did not blaspheme for his father was no mortall man Then Alexander againe rehersing that he had spoken asked him if the murderers that had conspired the death of Philip his father were all punished After that he asked him touching his kingdome if he would graunt him to be king ouer all the world The god aunswered him by the mouth of his prophet he should and that the death of Philip was fully reuenged Then did Alexander offer great presentes vnto the god and gaue money large to the priests ministers of the temple This is that the most parte of writers doe declare touching Alexanders demaund and the oracles geuen him Yet did Alexander him selfe write vnto his mother that he had secret oracles from the god which he would onely impart vnto her at his retorne into MACEDON Others saie also that the prophet meaning to salute him in the Greeke tongue to welcome him the better would haue said vnto him O Paidion as much as deere sonne but that he tripped a litle in his tongue bycause the Greeke was not his naturall tongue and placed an s for an n in the latter ende saying O Pai dios to wit O sonne of Iupiter and that Alexander was glad of that mistaking Whereupon there ranne a rumor straight among his men that Iupiter had called him his sonne It is said also that he heard Psammon the philosopher in EGYPT and that he liked his wordes very well when he saide that god was king of all mortall men For ê™ he he that commaundeth all things must needes be god But Alexander selfe spake better and like philosopher when he said That god generally was father to all mortall men but that particularly he did elect the best sorte for him selfe To conclude he shewed him selfe more arrogant vnto the barbarous people and made as though he certainly beleued that he had bene begotten of some god but vnto the GRAECIANS he spake more modestly of diuine generation Porin a letter he wrote vnto the ATHENIANS touching the citie of SAMOS he said I gaue ye not that noble free citie but it was geuen you at that time by him whom they called my Lord father meaning Philip. Afterwardes also being striken with an arrow and feeling great paine of it My frendes said he This blood which is spilt is mans blood and not as Homer said No such as from the immortall gods doth flovv And one day also in a maruelous great thunder when euery man was afraid Anaxarcbus the Rethoritian being present said vnto him O thou sonne of Iupiter wilt thou doe as much no said he laughing on him I will no be so fearefull to my frends as thou wouldest haue me disdaining the seruice of fishe to my borde bycause thou seest not princes heades serued in And the report goeth also that Alexander vpon a time sending a litle fishe vnto Hephes 〈…〉 Anaxarchus should saye as it were in mockery that they which aboue others seeke for 〈…〉 with great trouble and hazard of life haue either small pleasure in the world or els 〈…〉 as others haue By these proofes and reasons alleaged we maie thinke that Alexander lead no vaine nor presumptuous opinion of him selfe to thinke that he was otherwise begotten of a god but that he did it in policie to kepe other men vnder obedience by the opinion conceiued of his godhead Retorning out of PHOENICIA into EGYPT he made many sacrifices feastes and precessions in honor of the goddes sondry daunces Tragedies and such like pastimes goodly to behold not onely for the sumptuous serring out of them but also for the good will and diligence of the setters forth of them which striued euery one to exceede the other For the kings of the CYPRIANS were the setters of them forth as at ATHENS they dâ—aâ—â— by lot a citizen of euery tribe of the people to defraie the changes of these pastimes These kinges were very earnest who should doe best but specially Nicocreon king of SALAMDAâ—â—â— CYPRVS and Pasicrates Lord of the citie of SOLES For it fell to their lot to fournish run of the excellentest plaiers Pasicrates fournished Athenodorus and Nicocreon Thessalus whom Alexander loued singulerly well though he made no shew of it vntill that Athenodorus was declared victor by the iudges deputed to geue sentence For when he went from the plaies he told them he did like the iudges opinion well notwithstanding he would haue bene extented to haue geuen the one halfe of his realme not to haue seene Thessalus ouercome Athenodorus being condemned vpon a time by the ATHENIANS bycause he was not in ATHENS at the feastes of Bacchus when the Comedies and Tragedies were plaied and a fine set of his head for his absence he besought AlexaÌ„der to write vnto them in his behalfe that they would release his penalty Alexander would not so doe but sent thether his money whereof he was condemned and paide it for him of his owne purse Also when Lycon SCALPHIAN an euedlent stage player had pleased Alexander well and did foiste in a verse in his comedy conteining a petition of tenne talents Alexander laughing at it gaue it him Darius at that time wrote vnto Alexander and vnto certen of his frendes also to pray him take tenne thousand tallentes for the raumson of all those prisoners he had in his handes and for all the contrie landes and signories on this side the riuer of Euphrates and one of his daughters also in mariage that from thence forth he might be his kinsman and frend Alexander imparted this to his counsell Amongest them Parmenio said vnto him if I were Alexander ê™ he surely I would accept this offer So would I in deede ê™ Alexander againe if I were Parmenio In fine he 〈…〉 againe vnto Darius that if he would submit him selfe he would vse him courteously if not that then he would presently marche towardes him But he repented him afterwardes when king Darius wife was dead with childe For without dissimulation it greeued him much that he had lost so noble an occasion to shew his courtesie and clemencie This notwithstanding he gaue her body honorable buriall sparing for no cost Amongest the Eunuches of the queenes chamber there was one Tireus taken prisoner among the
cause why it was so well kept came by meanes of the dying of it with â—â—nie in silkes which before had bene dyed redde and with white oyle in white silkes For these are silkes seene of that colour of as long a time that keepe colour as well as the other And writeth furthermore that the kinges of PERSIA made water to be brought from the riuer of Nylus and Ister otherwise called Danubie which they did locke vp with their other treasure for a confirmation of the greatnes of their Empire and to shew that they were Lordes of the world The wayes to enter into PERSIA being very hard of passage and in maner vnpassable both for the illnes of the wayes as also for the gard that kept them which were the choisest men of PERSIA Darius also being fled thither there was one that spake the Greeke and PERSIAN tongue whose father was borne in the contry of LYCIA his mother a PERSIAN that guided Alexander into PERSIA by some compasse fetched about not very long according to the Oracles aunswere of Alexander geuen by the mouth of Nunne Pythias when he was a child that a LYCIAN should guide and lead him against the PERSIANS There was then great slaughter made in PERSIA of the prisoners that were taken For Alexander him selfe wryteth that he commaunded the men should be put to the sword thinking that the best way to serue his turne It is sayd also that there he found a maruelous treasure of gold and siluer in readie money as he had done before in the citie of SVSA the which he caried away with all the rest of the kinges rich wardroppe and with it laded tenne thowsande moyles and fiue thowsande cammells Alexander entring into the castell of the chiefe citie of PERSIA saw by chaunce a great image of Xerxe's lye on the ground the which vnwares was throwen downe by the multitude of the souldiers that came in thronging one apon an other Thereupon he stayed and spake vnto it as if it had bene aliue saying I can not tell whether I should passe by thee and let thee lye for the warre thou madest somtime against the GRAECIANS or whether I should list thee vp respecting the noble minde vertues thou haddest In th end when he had stoode mute a long time considering of it he went his way and meaning to refresh his weary army bicause it was the winter quarter he remained there foure monethes together The reporte goeth that the first time that Alexander sate vnder the cloth of state of king Darius all of rich golde Demarathus CORINTHIAN who first beganne to loue him euen in his father Philippes time burst out in teares for ioy good old man saying that the GRAECIANS long time dead before were depriued of this blessed happe to see Alexander set in king Xerxes princely chaier After that preparing againe to goe against Darius he would needes make mery one day and refresh him selfe with some bancket It chaunced so that he with his companions was bidden to a priuate feast priuately where was assembled some fine curtisans of his familiars who with their frendes taried at the banket Amongest them was that famous Thais borne in the contry of ATTICA then concubine to Ptolomy king of AEGYPT after Alexander death She finely praising Alexander and partely in sporting wife began to vtter matter in affection of her contrie but yet of greater importance than became her mouth saying that that day she founde her selfe fully recompenced to her great good liking for all the paines she had takeÌ„ trauelling through all the contries of ASIA following of his armie now that she had this sauor good happe to be mery and pleasaunt in the prowde and stately pallace of the great kings of PERSIA But yet it would doe her more good for a recreation to burne Xerxes house with the fire of ioy who had burnt the city of ATHENS and her selfe to geue the fire to it before so noble a Prince as Alexander Bicause euer after it might be said that the women following his campe had taken more noble reuenge of the PERSIANS for the wronges and iniuries they had done vnto GRAECE than all the Captaines of GRAECE that euer were had done either by lande or sea When she had sayd Alexanders familiars about him clapped their hands and made great noise for ioy saying that it were as good a deede as could be possible and perswaded Alexander vnto it Alexander yeelding to their perswasions rose vp and putting a garland of flowers apon his head went formest him selfe and all his familliars followed after him crying and dauncing all about the castell The other MACEDONIANS hearing of it also came thither immediatly with torches light and great ioy hoping that this was a good signe that Alexander ment to returne againe into MACEDON and not to dwell in the contrie of the barbarous people sith he did burne and destroy the kings castell Thus and in this sorte it was thought to be burnt Some writers thinke otherwise that it was not burnt with such sport but by determination of the counsell But howsoeuer it was all they graunt that Alexander did presently repent him and commaunded the fire to be quenched straight For his liberality that good will and readines to geue increased with his conquestes and when he did bestowe giftes of any he would besides his gift euer geue them good countenance on whom he bestowed his grace and fauor And here I will recite a few examples thereof Aristo being Collonell of the PAEONIANS hauing slaine one of his enemies he brought him his head and sayd such a present O king by vs is euer rewarded with a cuppe of golde Yea q Alexander smyling apon him with an emptie cuppe But I drinke to thee this cuppe full of good wine and doe geue thee cuppe all An other time he met with a poore MACEDONIAN that led a moyle loden with gold of the kings and when the poore moyle was so weary that she could no lenger cary her burden the moyleter put it apon his owne backe and loded him selfe withall carying it so a good pretie way howbeit in th ende being ouerloden was about to throwe it downe on the ground Alexander perceiuing it asked him what burden he caried When it was tolde him well q he to the moyletter be not weary yet but carie it into the tent for I geue it thee To be short he was angrier with them that would take nothing of him then he was with those that would aske him somewhat He wrote also vnto Phocion that he would take him no more for his frend if he would refuse his giftes It seemed that he had geuen nothing vnto a young boy called Serapion who euer did serue them the ball that played at tenis bicause he asked him nothing Wherefore the king playing on a time this young boy threw the ball to others that played with him and not to him selfe The
also one Philotas the sonne of Parmenio a man of great authority among the MACEDONIANS who next vnto Alexander was the most valliantest man the pacientest to abide paine the liberallest and one that loued his men frends better then any noble man in the campe whatsoeuer Of him it is reported that a frend of his came to him on a time to borrow money and he commaunded straight one of his men to let him haue it His purse bearer aunswered him that he had none Why sayd his master doest thou tell me so Hast thou not plate and apparell to sell or gage to helpe him to some Howbeit otherwise he had such a pride glory to shew his riches to apparell himselfe so sumptuously and to be more fine and princked then became a priuate man that this made him to be hated bicause he tooke vpō him to be a great man to looke bigge on the matter which became him ill fauoredly and therfore euery man through his owne folly fell in misliking with him Insomuch as his owne father said one day vnto him sonne I pray thee be more humble lowly This Philotas had long before bene cōplained vpon vnto Alexander bicause that when the cariage of king Darius armie which was in the citie of DAMAS was taken after the battell of CILICIA among many prisoners that were taken and brought vnto Alexanders campe there was one Antigona a passing fayer young curtisan borne in the citie of PIDNA Philotas founde meanes to gette her and like a young man that was in loue with her making merie with her at the table fondly lette fall braue wordes and boastes of a souldier saying that what notable thinges were done they were done by him selfe and his father and called Alexander at euerie worde young man and sayd that by their meanes he helde his name and kingdome This courtisan tolde one of his frendes what he sayd and that frede tolde an other frende and so went from man to man as commonly it doth till at the length it came to Craterus eares He tooke the courtisan and brought her vnto Alexander vnto whom she told as much as she had sayd before Alexander bad her still make much of Philotas and to tell him euery word what he sayd of him Philotas knowing nothing that he was thus circumuented did euer frequent her companie and would be bold commonly to speake many foolish and vndiscreete words against the king somtime in anger somtime againe in a brauery Alexander this notwithstanding though he had manifest proofe and cause to accuse Philotas yet he dissembled it for that time and would not be knowen of it either for that he knew Parmenio loued him or else for that he was affrayed of their great power and authoritie About that time there was one Limnus Chalaestrian a MACEDONIAN that layed great and secret waite to kill Alexander and being in loue with a young man called Nicomachus entised him to helpe him to doe this deede The young man wisely denied it told the same to his brother called Batinus He went vnto Philotas and prayed him to bring them both before Alexander for they had a matter of great importance to impart vnto him Philotas would not let him speake with the king but why no man could tell telling them that the king had greater matters in hande and was not at leasure Then they went vnto an other and he brought them vnto Alexander vnto whome first they opened the treason of Limnus conspired against him and by the way they tolde also how they had bene twise before with Philotas who would not let them come in nor speake with them That angred Alexander greatly and he was the more offended also when Limnus was slaine by him whome he sent to apprehende him resisting him for that he would not be taken and thought that by his death he had lost a great meanes to come to the light of this treason and conspiracie Then Alexander frowning vppon Philotas brought all his enemies vpon his backe that of long time had hated him For they beganne to speake boldly that it was time for the kinge to looke about him for it was not to be supposed that this Limnus Chalaestrian of him selfe durst haue entred into that treason but rather that he was a minister and a chiefe instrument set on by a greater personage then he and therefore that it stoode Alexander vpon to examine them straightly which had cause to keepe this treason secret After Alexander once gaue eare vnto such wordes and vehement presumptions there was straight brought in a thowsand accusations against Philotas Thereupon he was apprehended and in the presence of diuers Lordes and familliars of the king put to the torter Alexander selfe being behinde a hanginge to heare what he would say It is reported that when he hearde howe faintly and pitiefully he besought Hephaestion to take pitie of him he sayd vnto him selfe alas poore Philotas thou that hast so faint a hart howe durst thou take vppon thee so great matters In fine Philotas was put to death and immediatly after he was executed Alexander sent also with speede vnto the realme of MEDIA to kill Parmenio who was his Lieutenaunt there and one that had serued king Philippe his father in his greatest affayers and who onely of all other the olde seruauntes of his father had procured Alexander to take in hande the conquest of ASIA and who also of three sonnes which he brought out with him had seene two of them dye before him and afterwardes was slaine him selfe with the third This crueltie of Alexander made his frendes affrayed of him and specially Antipater who secretly sent Ambassadors vnto the AETOLIANS to make league with them bicause they them selues also were affrayed of Alexander for that they had put the Orniades to death Alexander hearing that sayd that he him selfe and not the sonnes of the Orniades would be reuenged of the AETOLIANS Not long after that followed the murther of Clitus the which to heare is simplie tolde would seeme much more cruell than the death of Philotas But reportinge the cause and the time together in which it chaunced it will be founde that it was not of sette purpose but by chaunce and vnfortunately that Alexander being ouercome with wine did vnluckely wreake his anger vpon Clitus The manner of his misfortune was this There came certaine men of the lowe contries from the sea side that brought apples of GRAECE 〈…〉 nto Alexander Alexander wondering to see them so greene and fayer sent for Clitus to shewe him them and to geue him some of them Clitus by chaunce did sacrifice at that time vnto the goddes and left his sacrifice to goe vnto Alexander howebeit there were three weathers that followed him on whome the accustomed sprincklinges had bene done alreadie to haue sacrificed them Alexander vnderstandinge that tolde it to his Soothsayers Aristander and Cleomantis LACONIAN who both did aunswere
in the presence of Aristotle him selfe howbeit being very farre he was eaten in the ende by lice and so died about the time that Alexander was hurt fighting against the MALDIANS OXYDRACIANS in the conquest of INDIA but these thinges chaunced a good while after Demaratus CORINTHIAN being very old had a great desire to goe see Alexander and when he had seene him he said that the GRAECIANS which were dead long before were depriued of that blisse and happynes that they could not see Alexander sitte in the royall seate of king Darius Howbeit he did not long enioy the kinges goodwill vnto him for he died of a sicknes soone after he came vnto his campe Alexander did honor his funeralls for all the armie in their armor did cast vp a mounte of earth facioned like a tombe which was a great compasse about foure score cubittes high His ashes afterwardes were brought with an honorable conuoye vnto the sea side in a charriot with foure horses richely set out Alexander being ready to take his iorney to goe conquer INDIA perceyuing that his armie was very heauy vnwildsom to remoue for the wonderfull cariage and spoiles they had with them the cartes one morning being loden he first burnt his owne cariage next his frendes then commaunded that they should also set the cariage of the MACEDONIANS a fire which counsell seemed more daungerous to be resolued of then the proofe of the execution fell out difficulte For there are very few of them that were angry therewith the most part of them as if they had bene secretly moued by some god with lowde cryes of ioy one of them gaue vnto an other such necessary things as they had neede of and afterwardes of them selues did burne and spoile all the rest This made Alexander much more rigorous then he was before besides that he was already become cruell enough and without mercy or perdon did sharpely punish euery man that offended For hauing commaunded Menander one of his frendes to kepe him a strong holde he put him to death bicause he would not remaine there Furthermore he him selfe slue Orsodates a captaine of the barbarous people with a darte for that he rebelled against him About that time there was an eawe that had eaned a lambe which had apon her head the forme and purple culler of the kinges hatte after the PERSIAN maner called Tiara hauing two stones hanging on ech side of it Alexander abhorred this monsterous signe insomuch as he pourged him selfe by certain BABYLONIAN priestes which he alwayes caried about with him for that purpose and said vnto his frendes that this monster did not so much moue him for respect of him selfe as it did for them fearing that the goddes after his death had predestined the force and power of his kingdom to fall into the handes of some base cowardly person This notwithstanding an other signe and token which chaunced in the necke of that did take away this feare and discoragement he had For a MACEDONIAN called Proxenus that had charge of the kinges cariage as he digged in a certain place by the riuer of Oxus to set vp the kinges tent and his lodging he found a certain fatte and oylie vaine which after they had drawen out the first there came out also an other cleerer which differed nothing neither in smell taste nor sauor from naturall oyle hauing the glosse and fattnes so like as there could be discerned no difference betwene them the which was so much more to be wondred at bicause that in al that contry there were no olyues They say also that the water of the riuer selfe of Oxus is very soft maketh their skinnes fatte which wash or bathe them selues therein And yet it appeareth by that which Alexander selfe wrote vnto Antipater that he was very glad of it putting that amongest the greatest signes which the goddes had sent vnto him The Soothesayers did interprete this wonder that it was a signe that he should haue a noble but yet a painefull voyage for the goddes said they haue geuen oyle vnto men to refresh their wearynes And truly so did he susteine many daungers in those warres and was oftentimes hurt in fight But the greatest losse he had of his men was for lacke of vittells and by the infection of the ayer For he striuing to ouercome fortune by valiantnes and her force by vertue thought nothing impossible for a valiant man neither any thing able to withstand a noble harte It is reported that when he went to besiege a strong holde which Sisimethres kept being thought vnsaltable and that his souldiers were in dispeire of it he asked one Oxyarthes what hart Sisimethres had Oxyarthes aunswered him that he was the veriest coward in the world O that is well ê™ Alexander then it is to be wonne if that be true thou saiest sithence the captaine of the peece is but a coward So he tooke it of a sodaine by putting Sisimethres in a great feare After that also he did besiege an other peece of as great strength and difficultie to assault as the other and making the young souldiers of the MACEDONIANS to go to thassault he called one of them vnto him whose name also was Alexander vnto whom he said thus Alexander this daie thou must fight like a man and it be but for thy name sake The yong man did not forget his words for he sought so valliantly that he was slaine for whom Alexander was very sory An other time when his men were affraid durst not come neere vnto the citie of NISA to assault it bicause there ranne a very deepe riuer hard by the walles he came to the riuers side and said oh what a coward am I that neuer learned to swimme and so prepared him selfe to swimme ouer apon his shielde After he had caused them to retire from the assault there came ambassadors vnto him from the cities besieged to craue pardon of him They wondered at him at the first when they saw him armed without any pompe or other ceremonie about him but much more when a chaier was brought him to sit downe on that he commaunded the oldest man amongest them called Acuphis to take it to him and sit him downe Acuphis marueling at Alexanders great curtesie asked him what they should doe for him thenceforth to be his good frendes I will said Alexander that they from whom thou comest as ambassador vnto vs doe make thee their king and withall that they doe send me a hundred of their best men for ostages Acuphis smiling aunswered him againe but I shall rule them better O king if I send you the worst and not the best There was a king called Taxiles a very wise man who had a great contrie in INDIA no lesse in biggenes and circuit then all AEGYPT and as full of good pasture and frutes as any country in the world could be who came on a
Bucephal dyed at this battell not in the fielde but afterwardes whilest he was in cure for the woundes he had on his body but as Onesicritus sayth he dyed euen worne for very age Alexander was as sory for his death as if he had lost any of his familiar friendes and for proofe thereof he built a great citie in the place where his horse was buryed apon the riuer of Hydaspes the which he called after his name Bucephalia It is reported also that hauing lost a dogge of his called Peritas which he had brought vppe of a whelpe and loued very dearely he built also a citie and called it after his name Sotion writeth that he hearde it reported thus of Potamon LESBIAN This last battell against king Porus killed the MACEDONIANS hartes and made them that they had no desire to goe any further to conquer INDIA For finding that they had such a doe to ouercome them though they were but twenty thowsand footemen and two thowsand horse they spake yll of Alexander when he went about to compell them to passe ouer the ryuer of Ganges vnderstanding by the contry men that it was two and thirty furlong ouer and a hundred fadam deepe and howe that the banke of the ryuer was full of souldiers horsemen and Elephants For it was reported that the kings of the GANGARIDES the PRAESIANS were on thother side with foure score thowsand horsemen two hundred thowsand footemen eight thowsand charrets or carts of warre wel armed and six thowsand Elephants of warre This was no fable nor fryuolous tale For a king called Androcottus who raigned not long after gaue vnto Seleucus fiue hundred Elephants at one time conquered all INDIA with sixe hundred thowsand fighting men Alexander then offended with his mens refusall kept close in his tent for certeine daies and lay vpon the ground saying that he did not thanke them for all that they had done thithervnto vnles they passed ouer the ryuer of Ganges also And that to returne backe againe it was as much as to confesse that he had bene ouercome At the length when he sawe and considered that there was great reason in his friendes perswasions which labored to comfort him and that his souldiers came to the dore of his tent crying and lamenting humbly beseeching him to leade them backe againe in th ende he tooke pitie of them and was contented to returne This notwithstanding before he departed from those parties he put forth many vaine and false deuises to make his name immortall amonge that people He made armors of greater proportion then his owne and mangers for horses higher then the common sort moreouer he made bytts also farre heauier then the common sort and made them to be throwen and scattered abroad in euery place He built great aultars also in honor of the godds the which the kings of the PRAESIANS haue in great veneration at his day and passing ouer the riuer doe make sacrifices there after the manner of the GRAECIANS Androcottus at that time was a very young man and sawe Alexander him selfe and sayd afterwards that Alexander had well neare taken and wonne all the contry the king which then raigned was so hated of all his subiectes for his wicked life and base parentage he came of Departing thence he went to see the great sea Oceanum and made diuers botes with ores in the which he easily went downe the riuers at his pleasure Howbeit this his pleasant going by water was not without warre for he would land oftentymes and did assaile cities and conquered all as he went Yet in assailing the citie of the MALLIANS which they say are the warlikest men of all the INDIANS he was almost slaine there For hauing with darts repulsed the ennemies from the wall he him selfe was the first man that sette foote on a ladder to gett vp the which brake assoone as euer he was gotten vpon the ramper Then the barbarous people comming together against the wall did throwe at him from beneathe and many tymes lighted vpon him Alexander hauing fewe of his men about him made no more a doe but leaped downe from the wall in the middest of his ennemies and by good happe lighted on his feete His harnes making a great noyse with the fall the barbarous people were afraid thinking they had seene some light or spirite goe before him so that at the first they all betooke them to their legges and ranne scatteringly here and there But after that when they came againe to them selues and sawe that he had but two gentlemen onely about him they came and sette apon him of all handes and fought with him at the sworde or pushe of the pyke and so hurt him very sore through his armor but one amonge the rest being somewhat further of gaue him such a terrible blowe with an arrowe that he strake him through his curats and shot him in at the side vnder his brest The blow entred so into his body that he fell downe on one of his knees Whereuppon he that had striken him with his arrow ranne sodainly to him with a cimiter drawen in his hand Howbeit Peucestas Limnaus stepped before him and were both hurt Limnaus was slaine presently and Peucestas fought it out till at the length Alexander selfe slew the barbarous man with his owne hand after he had many greeuous woundes vpon his body At the length he had a blow with a dart on his necke that so astonied him that he leaned against the wall looking apon his enemies In the meane time the MACEDONIANS compassing him round about tooke him and caried him into his tent halfe in a sownde and was past knowledge Whereupon there ranne a rumor straight in the campe that Alexander was dead They had much a doe to cut the arrow asonder that was of wodde so his curats being plucked of with great paine yet were they to plucke the arrow head out of his body which stucke in one of his bones the which as it is reported was foure fingers long and three fingers broad So that when they plucked it out he sownded so oft that he was almost dead This notwithstanding he ouercame the daunger and escaped Being very weake he kept diet a long time to recouer him selfe and neuer came out of his tent vntill he heard the MACEDONIANS cry and make great noyse about his tent desirous to see him Then he put on a night gowne and came out amongest them all and after he had done sacrifice vnto the godds for recouery of his health he went on his iorney againe and in the same did conquer many great contreyes and tooke diuers goodly cities He did also take tenne of the wise men of the contry which men doe all go naked and therefore are called GYMNOSOPHISTE to wit Philosophers of INDIA who had procured Sabbas to rebell against him and had done great hurt vnto the MACEDONIANS And bicause they were taken
to be the sharpest and readiest of aunswer he did put them as he thought many hard questions told them he would put the first man to death that aunswered him worst and so the rest in order and made the eldest amonge them Iudge of their aunswers The question he asked the first man was this Whether the dead or the liuing were the greater number He aunswered the liuing For the dead sayd he are no more men The second man he asked whether the earth or the sea brought forth most creatures He aunswered the earth For the sea sayd he is but a part of the earth To the third man which of all beastes was the subtillest That sayd he which man hetherto neuer knew To the fourth why he did make Sabbas rebell bicause sayd he he should liue honorably or dye vilely To the fift which he thought was first the daye or the night He aunswered the daye by a day The kinge finding his aunswer straunge added to this speech straunge questions must needes haue straunge aunswers Comming to the sixt man he asked him how a man should come to be beloued If he be a good man sayd he not terrible To the seuenth how a man should be a god In doing a thing said he impossible for a man. To the eight which was the stroÌ„ger life or death life said he that suffreth so many troubles And vnto the ninth and last man how long a man should liue vntill sayd he he thinke it better to dye then to liue When Alexander had heard these aunswers he turned vnto the Iudge bad him giue his iudgement vpon them The Iudge said they had all aunswered one worse then another Then shalt thou die first said Alexander bicause thou hast giuen such sentence not so O king ê™ he if thou wilt not be a lier bicause thou saidst that thou wouldest kil him first that had aunswered worst In fine Alexander did let them go with rewardes He sent Onesicritus also vnto the other wise men of the INDIANS which were of greatest fame among theÌ„ that led a solitary quiet life to pray them to come vnto him This Onesicritus the Philosopher was Diogenes the Cinika scholler It is reported that Calanus one of these wise men very sharply proudly bad him put of his clothes to heare his words naked or otherwise that he would not speake to Him though he came from Iupiter him self Yet Dandamis aunswered him more gently For he hauing learned what maner of men Socrates Pythagoras and Diogenes were said that they seemed to haue bene wise men wel borne notwithstanding that they had reuerenced the lawe too much in their life time Others write notwithstanding that Dandamis said nothing els but asked why Alexander had takeÌ„ so painful a iorney in hand as to come into INDIA For Calanus whose right name otherwise was Sphines king Taxiles perswaded him to go vnto Alexander who bicause he saluted those he met in the INDIAN tongue saying Ocle as much to say as God saueye the GRAECIANS named him Calanus It is reported that this Calanus did shew Alexander a figure similitude of his kingdom which was this He threw down before him a dry seare peece of leather then put his foote apon one of the endes of it The leather being troden down on that side rose vp in al partes els going vp down with all still treading vpon the sides of the leather he made Alexander see that the leather being troden downe on the one side did rise vp of al sides els vntil such time as he put his foote in the middest of the leather then al the whole leather was plain alike His meaning thereby was to let AlexaÌ„der vnderstaÌ„d that the most part of his time he should keepe in the middest of his contry not to goe farre from it Alexander coÌ„tinued seuen moneths trauelling vpon the riuers to go see the great sea Oceanum Then he tooke ship sailed into a litle Iland called SCYLLVEYâ—S howbeit others call it PSITVLâ—â—â—â— There he landed made sacrifices vnto the gods viewed the greatnes nature of the sea OceanuÌ„ all the situacion of the coast apon that sea as farre as he could go Then he made his praiers vnto the gods that no conqueror liuing after him should go beyond the bounds of his iorney conquest so returned homeward He coÌ„maunded his ships should fetch a coÌ„passe about leaue INDIA on the right hand made Nearebus Admirall of all his fleete Onesicritus chiefe Pilote He him self in the meane time went by land through the contry of the ORITES there he found great scarsitye of vittels lost many of his men so that he caried not out of INDIA the fourth part of his men of war which he brought thither which were in al six score thowsand footemen fifteen thowsand horsmen Some of theÌ„ died of greeuous disseases others by ill diet others by extreme heat drowght the most of theÌ„ by hunger trauailing through this barren contry where the poore men liued hardly had onely a few sheepe which they fed with sea fish that made their flesh fauor very il fauoredly At the leÌ„gth when in three score daies iorney he had painfully trauelled through this contry he theÌ„ entred into the coÌ„try called GEDROSIA where he found great pleÌ„ty of al kind of vittels which the gouernour kings princes neighbours vnto the same did seÌ„d vnto him After he had refreshed hi army there a litle he weÌ„t through the coÌ„try of CARMANIA where he continued seueÌ„ daies together banketing going stil through the coÌ„ntry For night day he was feasting continually with his frends apon a scaffold loÌ„ger then broad rising vp of height drawn with eight goodly horse After that scaffold followed diuers other charrets couered ouer some with goodly rich arras purple silk others with trim fresh boughes which they renued at euery fields end in those were Alexanders other frends captaines with garlands of flowers apon their heades which drank made mery together In all this armie there was neither helmet pike dart nor target seene but gold siluer bowles cups flagons in the souldiers hands al the way as they went drawing wine out of great pipes vessels which they caried with them one drinking to another some marching in the fields going forward others also set at the table About theÌ„ were the minstrels playing pipping on their flutes shalmes womeÌ„ singing daunsing fooling by the way as they weÌ„t In all this dissolute marching through the coÌ„try in the middest of their dronkeÌ„nes they mingled with it sport that euery maÌ„ did striue to couÌ„terfeat all the insoleÌ„cies of Bacchus as if god Bacchus him self had ben there in person had led the mommery WheÌ„ he came vnto the kings castel of
in the contry from BABYLON did take his pleasure rowing vp downe the riuer of Euphrates Yet had he many other ill signes tokēs one vpō another that made him afraid For there was a tame asse that killed one of the greatest goodliest Lions in all BABYLON with one of his feete Another time when Alexander had put of his clothes to be nointed to play at tennis When he should put on his apparel again the yong gentlemen that plaied with him found a man set in his chaier of estate hauing the kings diademe on his head his gowne on his back said neuer a word Then they asked him what he was It was long before he made them aunswer but at the length comming to him self he said his name was Dionysius borne in MESSINA being accused for certein crimes committed he was sent from the sea thether where he had bene a long time prisoner also that the god Serapis had appeared vnto him vndone his irons that he commaunded him to take the kings gowne his diademe and to sit him downe in his chaier of estate say neuer a word When Alexander heard it he put him to death according to the counsail of his Soothsayers but then his mind was troubled feared that the gods had forsaken him also grew to suspect his frends But first of al Alexander feared Antipater his sonnes aboue all other For one of them called Iolas was his first cupbearer his brother called Cassander was newly come out of GRAECE vnto him The first time that Cassander saw some of the barbarous people reuerencing Alexander he hauing bene brought vp with the libertie of GRAECE had neuer seene the like before fel into a lowd laughing very vnreuerētly Therwith king Alexander was so offended that he tooke him by the heare of his head with both his hands knocked his head the wal together Another time also when Cassander did aunswer some that accused his father Antipater king Alexander tooke him vp sharply said vnto him What saiest thou said he Doost thou thinke that these men would haue gon so long a iorney as this falsly to accuse thy father if he had not done them wrong Cassander again replyed vnto Alexander said that that was a manifest proofe of their false accusatiō for that they did now accuse him being so farre of bicause they thought they could not sodainly be disproued Alexander thereat fel a laughing a good said lo these are Aristotles quiddities to argue pro cōtra but this wil not saue you from punishment if I find that you haue done these men wronge In fine they report that Cassander tooke such an inward feare conceit vpon it that long time after when he was king of MACEDON and had all GRAECE at his commaundement going vp and downe the citie of DELPHES and beholding the monuments and images that are there he found one of Alexander which put him into such a sodaine feare that the heares of his head stoode vpright and his body quaked in such sort that it was a great time before he could come to him selfe againe Nowe after that Alexander had left his trust and confidence in the goddes his minde was so troubled and affraide that no straunge thinge happened vnto him how litle so euer it was but he tooke it straight for a signe and prediction from the godds so that his tent was alwayes full of Priestes and Soothsayers that did nothing but sacrifice and purifie and tende vnto diuinements So horrible a thing is the mistrust and contempt of the godds when it is begotten in the harts of men and supersticion also so dreadfull that it filleth the gilty consciences and fearefull hartes like water distilling from aboue as at that time it filled Alexander with all folly after that feare had once possessed him This notwithstāding after that he had receiued some aunswers touching Hephaestion from the oracle of Iupiter Hammon he left his sorow and returned again to his bankets and feasting For he did sumptuously feast Nearchus and one day when he came out of his bathe according to his manner beeing ready to goe to bed Medius one of his Capteines besought him to come to a banket to him at his lodging Alexander went thither and dranke there all that night and the next day so that he got an agew by it But that came not as some write by drinking vppe Hercules cuppe all at a drawght neither for the sodaine paine he felt betweene his showlders as if he had beene thrust into the backe with a speare For all these were thought to be written by some for lyes and fables bicause they would haue made the ende of this great tragedie lamentable and pitifull But Aristobulus writeth that he had such an extreame feuer and thirst withall that he dranke wine after that fel a rauing at the lēgth dyed the thirtie day of the month of Iune In his houshold booke of things passed dayly it is written that his feuer beeing apon him he slept in his hottehouse on the eyghtenth day of Iune The next morning after he was come out of his hottehouse he went into his chamber and passed away all that daye with Medius playing at dyce and at nyght very late after he had bathed him selfe and sacrificed vnto the goddes he fell to meate and had his feuer that nyght And the twenty daye also bathing him selfe againe and making his ordinary sacrifice to the goddes he did sitte downe to eate within his stooue harkening vnto Nearobus that tolde him straunge thinges he had seene in the great sea Oceanum The one and twenty day also hauing done the like as before he was much more inflamed then he had bene felt him selfe very ill all night and the next day following in a great feuer and on that day he made his bed to be remoued and to be set vppe by the fish pondes where he commoned with his capteines touching certaine roomes that were void in his armie and commaunded them not to place any men that were not of good experience The three and twenty day hauing an extreame feuer vpon him he was caried vnto the sacrifices and commaunded that his chiefest Capteines onely should remaine in his lodging and that the other meaner sort as centiniers or Lieuetenants of bands that they should watch ward without The foure and twenty day he was caried vnto the other pallace of the kings which is on thother side of the lake where he slept a litle but the feuer neuer left him when his Capteines noble men came to doe him humble reuerence to see him he lay speechles So did he the fiue and twenty day also insomuch as the MACEDONIANS thought he was dead Then they came knocked at the pallace gate cried out vnto his friendes and familiers and threatned them so that they were compelled to open them
the gate Thereuppon the gates were opened they comming in their gownes went vnto his bed side to see him That selfe day Python Seleucus were appointed by the kings friends to go to the temple of the god Serapis to knowe if they should bringe king Alexander thither The god aunswered them that they should not remoue him from thence The eight and twenty day at night Alexander dyed Thus it is written word for word in manner in the houshold booke of remembrance At that present tyme there was no suspition that he was poysoned Yet they say that six yeares after there appeared some proofe that he was poisoned Whereupon his mother Olympias put many men to death and cast the ashes of Iolas into the wind that was dead before for that it was said he gaue him poyson in his drinke They that thinke it was Aristotle that counselled Antipater to do it by whose meane the poyson was brought they say that Agnothemis reporred it hauing heard it of king Antigonus owne mouth The poyson as some say was cold as Ise and falleth from a rocke in the territory of the citie of NONACRIS it is gathered as they would gather a deawe into the horne of the foote of an asse for there is no other kinde of thinge that wil keepe it it is so extreme cold percing Others defend it say that the report of his poysoning is vntrue for proofe therof they alleage this reason which is of no smal importance that is That the chiefest Capteines fel at great variance after his death so that the corps of Alexander remained many dayes naked without buriall in a whot dry contry yet there neuer appeared any signe or token apon his body that he was poysoned but was still a cleane and faire corps as could be Alexander left Roxane great with childe for the which the MACEDONIANS did her great honor but she did malice Statira extreamely did finely deceiue her by a counterfeat letter she sent as if it had comen from Alexander willing her to come vnto him But when she was come Roxane killed her and her sister and then threw their bodies into a well and filled it vp with earth by Perdiccas helpe and consent Perdiccas came to be king immediatly after Alexanders death by meanes of Aridaeus whom he kept about him for his gard and safety This Aridaeus beeing borne of a common strumpet and common woman called Philinna was halfe lunaticke not by nature nor by chaunce but as it is reported put out of his wits when he was a young towardly boy by drinkes which Olympias caused to be geuen him and thereby continued franticke The end of Alexanders life THE LIFE OF Iulius Caesar. AT what time Sylla was made Lord of all he would haue had Caesar put away his wife Cornelia the daughter of Cinna Dictator but when he saw he could neither with any promise nor threate bring him to it he tooke her ioynter away from him The cause of Caesars ill will vnto Sylla was by meanes of mariage for Marius thelder maried his fathers own sister by whom he had Marius the younger whereby Caesar he were cosin germaines Sylla being troubled in waightie matters putting to death so many of his enemies when he came to be cōqueror he made no reckoning of Caesar but he was not contented to be hidden in safety but came and made sute vnto the people for the Priesthoodshippe that was voyde when he had scant any heare on his face Howbeit he was repulsed by Syllaes meanes that secretly was against him Who when he was determined to haue killed him some of his frendes told him that it was to no purpose to put so young a boy as he to death But Sylla told them againe that they did not consider that there were many Marians in that young boy Caesar vnderstanding that stale out of ROME and hidde him selfe a long time in the contrie of the SABINES wandring still from place to place But one day being caried from house to house he fell into the handes of Syllaes souldiers who searched all those places and tooke them whom they found hidden Caesar bribed the Captaine whose name was Cornelius with two talentes which he gaue him After he had escaped them thus he went vnto the sea side and tooke shippe and sailed into BITHYNIA to goe vnto king Nicomedes When he had bene with him a while he tooke sea againe and was taken by pyrates about the I le of PHARMACVSA for those pyrates kept all vppon that sea coast with a great fleete of shippes and botes They asking him at the first twentie talentes for his ransome Caesar laughed them to scorne as though they knew not what a man they had taken of him selfe promised them fiftie talents Then he sent his men vp and downe to get him this money so that he was left in maner alone among these theeues of the CILICIANS which are the cruellest butchers in the world with one of his frends and two of his slaues only and yet he made so litle reckoning of them that when he was desirous to sleepe he sent vnto them to commaunde them to make no noyse Thus was he eight and thirtie dayes among them not kept as prisoner but rather waited vppon by them as a Prince All this time he woulde boldly exercise him selfe in any sporte or pastime they would goe to And other while also he woulde wryte verses and make orations and call them together to say them before them and if any of them seemed as though they had not vnderstoode him or passed not for them he called them blockeheades and brute beastes and laughing threatned them that he would hang them vp But they were as merie with the matter as could be and tooke all in good parte thinking that this his bold speach came through the simplicity of his youth So when his raunsome was come from the citie of MILETVM they being payed their money and he againe set at libertie he then presently armed and manned out certaine ships out of the hauen of MILETVM to follow those theeues whom he found yet riding at ancker in the same Iland So he tooke the most of them had the spoile of their goods but for their bodies he brought them into the city of PERGAMVM there committed thē to prison whilest he him selfe went to speake with Iunius who had the gouernment of ASIA as vnto whom the execution of these pirats did belong for that he was Praetor of that contrie But this Praetor hauing a great fancie to be fingering of the money bicause there was good store of it answered that he would consider of these prisoners at better leasure Caesar leauing Iunius there returned againe vnto PERGAMVM and there hung vp all these theeues openly vpon a crosse as he had oftentimes promised them in the I le he would doe when they thought he did but ieast
went forthwith to set apon the campe of Afranius the which he tooke at the first onset and the campe of the NVMIDIANS also king Iuba being fled Thus in a litle peece of the day only he tooke three campes slue fifty thowsand of his enemies and lost but fifty of his souldiers In this sorte is set downe theffect of this battell by some wryters Yet others doe wryte also that Caesar selfe was not there in person at th execution of this battel For as he did set his men in battell ray the falling sickenesse tooke him whereunto he was geuen and therefore feeling it comming before he was ouercome withall he was caried into a castell not farre from thence where the battell was sought and there tooke his rest till th extremity of his disease had left him Now for the Praetors Consulls that scaped from this battell many of them being taken prisoners did kill them selues and others also Caesar did put to death but he being specially desirous of all men else to haue Cato aliue in his hands he went with all possible speede vnto the citie of VTICA whereof Cato was Gouernor by meanes whereof he was not at the battell Notwithstanding being certified by the way that Cato had flaine him selfe with his owne handes he then made open shew that he was very sory for it but why or wherfore no man could tell But this is true that Caesar sayd at that present time O Cato I enuy thy death bicause thou diddest enuy my glory to saue thy life This notwithstanding the booke that he wrote afterwardes against Cato being dead did shew no very great affection nor pitiefull hart towardes him For how could he haue pardoned him if liuing he had had him in his handes that being dead did speake so vehemently against him Notwithstanding men suppose he would haue pardoned him if he had taken him aliue by the clemencie he shewed vnto Cicero Brutus and diuers others that had borne armes against him Some reporte that he wrote that booke not so much for any priuate malice he had to his death as for a ciuil ambition apon this occasion Cicero had written a booke in praise of Cato which he intituled Cato This booke in likely hoode was very well liked of by reason of the eloquence of the Orator that made it and of the excellent subiect thereof Caesar therewith was maruelously offended thinking that to praise him of whose death he was author was euen as much as to accuse him self therfore he wrote a letter against him heaped vp a number of accusations against Cato and intituled the booke Anticaton Both these bookes haue fauoâ—ers vnto this day some defending the one for the loue they bare to Caesar. and others allowing the other for Catoes sake Caesar being now returned out of AFRICKE first of all made an oration to the people wherein he greatly praised and commended this his last victorie declaring vnto them that he had conquered so many contries vnto the Empire of ROME that he coulde furnishe the common wealth yearely with two hundred thowsande busshells of wheate twenty hundred thowsand pound weight of oyle Then he made three triumphes the one for AEGYPT the other for the kingdom of PONTE and the third for AFRICKE not bicause he had ouercome Scipio there but king Iuba Whose sonne being likewise called Iuba being then a young boy was led captiue in the showe of this triumphe But this his imprisonment fel out happily for him for where he was but a barbarous NVMIDIAN by the study he fell vnto when he was prisoner he came afterwards to be reckoned one of the wisest historiographers of the GRAECIANS After these three triumphes ended he very liberally rewarded his souldiers and to curry fauor with the people he made great feasts common sportes For he feasted all the ROMANES at one time at two and twenty thowsand tables and gaue them the pleasure to see diuers sword players to fight at the sharpe and battells also by sea for the remembraunce of his daughter Iulia which was dead long afore Then after all these sportes he made the people as the manner was to be mustered and where there were at the last musters before three hundred and twenty thowsande citizens at this muster only there were but a hundred and fifty thowsand Such misery and destruction had this ciuill warre brought vnto the common wealth of ROME and had consumed such a number of ROMANES not speaking at all of the mischieues and calamities it had brought vnto all the rest of ITALIE and to the other prouinces pertaining to ROME After all these thinges were ended he was chosen Consul the fourth time and went into SPAYNE to make warre with the sonnes of Pompey who were yet but very young but had notwithstanding raised a maruelous great army together and shewed to haue had manhoode and corage worthie to commaunde such an armie insomuch as they put Caesar him selfe in great daunger of his life The greatest battell that was fought betwene them in all this warre was by the citie of MVNDA For then Caesar seeing his men sorely distressed and hauing their hands full of their enemies he ranne into the prease among his men that fought and cried out vnto them what are ye not ashamed to be beaten and taken prisoners yeelding your selues with your owne handes to these young boyes And so with all the force he could make hauing with much a doe put his enemies to flight he slue aboue thirty thowsand of them in the fielde and lost of his owne men a thowsand of the best he had After this battell he went into his tent and told his frends that he had often before fought for victory but this last time now that he had fought for the safety of his owne life He wanne this battell on the very feast day of the BACCHANALIANS in the which men say that Pompey the great went out of ROME about foure yeares before to beginne this ciuill warre For his sonnes the younger scaped from the battell but within few dayes after Diddius brought the heade of the elder This was the last warre that Caesar made But the triumphe he made into ROME for the same did as much offend the ROMANES and more then any thing that euer he had done before bicause he had not ouercome Captaines that were straungers nor barbarous kinges but had destroyed the sonnes of the noblest man in ROME whom fortune had ouerthrowen And bicause he had plucked vp his race by the rootes men did not thinke it meete for him to triumphe so for the calamities of his contrie reioycing at a thing for the which he had but one excuse to alleage in his defence vnto the gods and men that he was compelled to doe that he did And the rather they thought it not meete bicause he had neuer before sent letters nor messengers vnto the common wealth
and wished Brutus only their Prince and Gouernour aboue all other they durst not come to him them selues to tell him what they woulde haue him to doe but in the night did cast sundrie papers into the Praetors seate where he gaue audience and the most of them to this effect Thou sleepest Brutus and art not Brutus in deede Cassius finding Brutus ambition slurred vp the more by these seditious billes did pricke him forwarde and egge him on the more for a priuate quarrell he had conceiued against Caesar the circumstance whereof we haue sette downe more at large in Brutus life Caesar also had Cassius in great gelouzie and suspected him much whereuppon he sayed on a time to his frendes what will Cassius doe thinke ye I like not his pale lookes An other time when Caesars frendes complained vnto him of Antonius and Dolabella that they pretended some mischiefe towardes him he aunswered them againe as for those fatte men and smooth comed heades q he I neuer reckon of them but these pale visaged and carian leane people I feare them most meaning Brutus and Cassius Certainly destenie may easier be foreseene then auoyded considering the straunge wonderfull signes that were sayd to be seene before Caesars death For touching the fires in the element and spirites running vp and downe in the night and also these solitarie birdes to be seene at noone dayes sittinge in the great market place are not all these signes perhappes worth the noting in such a wonderfull chaunce as happened But Strabo the Philosopher wryteth that diuers men were seene going vp and downe in fire and furthermore that there was a slaue of the souldiers that did cast a maruelous burning flame out of his hande insomuch as they that saw it thought he had bene burnt but when the fire was out it was found he had no hurt Caesar selfe also doing sacrifice vnto the goddes found that one of the beastes which was sacrificed had no hart and that was a straunge thing in nature how a beast could liue without a hart Furthermore there was a certaine Soothsayer that had geuen Caesar warning long time affore to take heede of the day of the Ides of Marche which is the fifteenth of the moneth for on that day he shoulde be in great daunger That day beng come Caesar going vnto the Senate house and speaking merily to the Soothsayer tolde him the Ides of Marche he come so be they softly aunswered the Soothsayer but yet are they not past And the very day before Caesar supping with Marcus Lepidus sealed certaine letters as he was wont to do at the bord so talke falling out amongest them reasoning what death was best he preuenting their opinions cried out alowde death vnlooked for Then going to bedde the same night as his manner was and lying with his wife Calpurnia all the windowes and dores of his chamber flying open the noyse awooke him and made him affrayed when he saw such lights but more when he heard his wife Calpurnia being fast a sleepe weepe and sigh and put forth many fumbling lamentable speaches For she dreamed that Caesar was slaine and that she had him in her armes Others also doe denie that she had any suche dreame as amongest other Titus Liuius wryteth that it was in this sorte The Senate hauing set vpon the toppe of Caesars house for an ornament and setting foorth of the same a certaine pinnacle Calpurnia dreamed that she sawe it broken downe and that she thought she lamented and wepe for it Insomuch that Caesar rising in the morning she prayed him if it were possible not to goe out of the dores that day but to adiorne the session of the Senate vntill an other day And if that he made no reckoning of her dreame yet that he woulde searche further of the Soothsayers by their sacrifices to knowe what should happen him that day Thereby it seemed that Caesar likewise did feare and suspect somewhat bicause his wife Calpurnia vntill that time was neuer geuen to any feare or supersticion and then for that he saw her so troubled in minde with this dreame she had But much more afterwardes when the Soothsayers hauing sacrificed many beastes one after an other tolde him that none did like them then he determined to sende Antonius to adiorne the session of the Senate But in the meane time came Decius Brutus surnamed Albinus in whom Caesar put such confidence that in his last will and testament be had appointed him to be his next heire and yet was of the conspiracie with Cassius and Brutus he fearing that if Caesar did adiorne the session that day the conspiracie woulde out laughed the Soothsayers to scorne and reproued Caesar saying that he gaue the Senate occasion to mislike with him and that they might thinke he mocked them considering that by his commaundement they were assembled and that they were readie willingly to graunt him all thinges and to proclaime him king of all the prouinces of the Empire of ROME out of ITALIE and that he should weare his Diadeame in all other places both by sea and land And furthermore that if any man should tell them from him they should departe for that present time and returne againe when Calpurnia shoulde haue better dreames what would his enemies and ill willers say and how could they like of his frendes wordes And who could perswade them otherwise but that they would thinke his dominion a slauerie vnto them and tirannicall in him selfe And yet if it be so sayd he that you vtterly mislike of this day it is better that you goe your selfe in person and saluting the Senate to dismisse them till an other time Therewithall he tooke Caesar by the hand and brought him out of his house Caesar was not gone farre from his house but a bondman a straunger did what he could to speake with him and when he sawe he was put backe by the great prease and multitude of people that followed him he went straight vnto his house and put him selfe into Calpurnides handes to be kept till Caesar came backe againe telling her that he had great matters to imparte vnto him And one Artemidorus also borne in the I le of GNIDOS a Doctor of Rethoricke in the Greeke tongue who by meanes of his profession was verie familliar with certaine of Brutus confederates and therefore knew the most parte of all their practises against Caesar came brought him a litle bill wrytten with his owne hand of all that he ment to tell him He marking howe Caesar receiued all the supplications that were offered him and that he gaue them straight to his men that were about him pressed neerer to him and sayed Caesar reade this memoriall to your selfe and that quickely for they be matters of great waight and touche you neérely◠Caesar tooke it of him but coulde neuer reade it though he many times attempted it for the number of people that did salute him but
in speech Phocion was very wittie For like as coynes of gold or siluer the lighter they waye the finer they be of goodnes euen so the excellencie of speeche consisteth in signifying much by fewe wordes And touching this matter it is reported that the Theater being full of people Phocion walked all alone vpon the scaffold where the players played and was in a great muse with him selfe whereuppon one of his friendes seeing him so in his muses said vnto him Surely Phocion thy minde is occupied about somewhat In deede so is it sayd he for I am thinking with my selfe if I could abridge any thing of that I haue to say to the people For Demosthenes selfe litle esteming all other Orators when Phocion rose vp to speake he would round his friendes in their eares and told them See the cutter of my wordes riseth Peraduenture he ment it by his maners also For when a good man speaketh not a word onely but a wincke of an eye or a nod of his head doth counteruaile many artificiall words speeches of Rethoritians Furthermore when he was a young man he went to the warres vnder Captaine Chabrias and followed him of whom he learned to be a persit souldier and in recompence thereof he reformed many of his Captaines imperfections and made him wiser then he was For Chabrias otherwise beeing very dull and slothfull of him selfe when he came to fight he was so hotte and corageous that he would thrust himselfe into daunger with the desperatest persons therefore for his rashnes it afterwards cost him his life in the citie of CHIO where launching out with his gally before the rest he pressed to land in despite of his enemies But Phocion being wise to loke to him selfe and very quicke to execute on the one side quickned Chabrias slownes and on the other side also by wisedom cooled his heate and furie Chabrias therefore being a good man curteous loued Phocion very well and did preferre him in matters of seruice making him famous amongest the GRAECIANS and employed him in his hardiest enterprises For by his meanes he atchieued great fame and honor in a battell by sea which he wanne by the I le of NAXOS giuing him the left winge of his armie on which side the fight was sharpest of all the battell and there he soonest put the enemies to flight This battel being the first which the citie of ATHENS wanne with their owne men onely after it had bene taken gaue the people cause to loue Chabrias and made them also to make accompt of Phocion as of a noble souldier worthy to haue charge This victory was gotten on the feast day of the great misteries in memory whereof Chabrias did yearly on the sixtenth day of the moneth Boedromion now called August make all the people of ATHENS drinke After that time Chabrias sending Phocion to receiue the tribute of the Ilanders their confederats and the shippes which they should send him he gaue him twenty gallies to bringe him thither But Phocion then as it is reported said vnto him if he sent him to fight with his enemies he had neede to haue moe shippes but if he sent him as an Ambassador vnto his friendes then that one shippe would serue his turne So he went with one gallie onely and after he had spoken with the cities and curteously dealt with the gouernors of euery one of them he returned backe furnished of their confederats with a great fleete of shippes and money to cary vnto ATHENS So Phocion did not onely â—â—uerence Chabrias while he liued but after his death also he tooke great care of his friendes and kinsmen and sought to make his sonne Ctesippus an honest man whom though he sawe way wilde and vntoward yet he neuer left to reforme him and hide his fault It is fayde also that when this young man did trouble him much with vaine friuolous questions seruing then vnder him he being Captaine and taking vpon him to giue him counsell to reproue him and to teache him the dutie of a Captaine he could not but say O Chabrias Chabrias now doe I paye for the loue thou didest beare me when thou wertaliue in bearing with the folly of thy sonne But when he saw that the heads of the citie of ATHENS had as it were by lot deuided amonge them selues the offices of warre and peace and that some of them as Eubulus Aristophon Demosthenes Lycurgus and Hyperides were common speakers and preferrers of matters in counsells and Senate and that others as Diopithes Menestheus Leosthenes and Chares became great men by the warres and had charge of armies he determined rather to follow the manner of gouernment of Pericles Aristides Solon as being mingled of both For either of them seemed as the Poet Archilotus sayth To bee both Champions stovvt of Marsis vvarlyke band And of the Muses eke the artes to vnderstand He knew also that Pallas the goddesse and protector of ATHENS was called Folemica and Politica to wit skilfull to rule both in warre and peace So hauing thus disposed of him selfe in gouernment he alwaies perswaded peace and quietnes and yet was often chosen Captaine and had charge of armies being the onely man that of all the Captaines afore him and in his time did neuer sue for charge neither yet refused it at any time when he was called to serue the common wealth It is certen that he was chosen fiue and forty times Praetor and was alwaies absent at the elections but yet sent for Whereuppon all the wise men wondred to see the manner of the people towards him considering that Phocion had neuer done nor sayd any thing to flatter them withall but commonly had bene against their desires and how they vsed other gouernours notwithstanding that were more pleasant and delightfull in their orations like men to sport at as it is sayd of kings who after they haue washed their handes to goe to their meate doe vse to haue Ieslers and flatterers to make them mery but on thother side when they had occasion of warres in deede how then like wise men they could bethinke them selues and choose the wisest and slowtest man of the citie that most would withstand their mindes and desires For on a time an oracle of Apollo Delphias beeing openly red before them which sayd that all the other ATHENIANS being agreed yet there was one amonge them that was contrary to all the rest of the citie Phocion stepping forth before them all bad them neuer seeke further for the man for it was he that liked none of all their doings Another time he chaunced to say his opinion before all the people the which they all praised and approued but he saw they were so sodeinly become of his minde he turned backe to his friendes and asked them alas hath not some euill thing slipped my mouth vnwares Another time a generall collection being gathered of the people at ATHENS towardes the
him The people apon his motion being determined to ayde them Phocion straight sounding the trumpet at the breaking vp of the assembly gaue them no further leysure but to take their weapons and so led them incontinently to MEGARA The MEGARIANS receiuing him Phocion shut vp the hauen of NISAEA and brought two long walls from the citie vnto it and so ioyned it vnto the sea Whereby he stood not greatly in feare of his enemies by land and for the sea the ATHENIANS were Lordes of it Now when the ATHENIANS had proclaimed open warre against king Philip and had chosen other Captaines in his absence and that he was returned from the Iles aboue all thinges he perswaded the people king Philip requiring peace and greatly fearing the daunger to accept the condicions of peace Then one of these busy Orators that was still accusing one or other said vnto him why Phociō how darest thou attēpt to turne the ATHENIANS frō warre hauing now their swordes in their hands yes truely said Phocion though in warre I know I shal commaund thee in peace thou wilt commaund me But when the people would not harken to him and that Demosthenes caried them away with his perswasions who counselled them to sight with king Philip as farre from ATTICA as they could I pray thee friend q Phocion vnto him let vs not dispute where we shall fight but consider how we shall ouercome the which if we can so bring to passe be sure we shall put the warre farre enough from vs For men that are ouercome be euer in feare and daunger wheresoeuer they be When the ATHENIANS had lost a battell against Philip the seditious Orators that hunted after innouacion preferred Charidemus to be chosen generall of the ATHENIANS whereuppon the Magistrates Senatours being affraid and taking with them all the Court and Senate of the ARBOPAGITS they made such earnest sute to the people with the teares in their eyes that at last but with much a doe they obteyned that the affaires of the citie might be put into Phocions handes gouernment He thought good to accept the articles and gentle condicions of peace which Philip offered them But after that the Orator Demades moued that the citie of ATHENS would enter into the common treatie of peace common assembly of the states of GRAECE procured at king Philips request Phocion would not agree to it vntill they might vnderstand what demaunds Philip would make at the assembly of the GRAECIANS When his opinion through the peruersnes of time could not be liked of them that he saw the ATHENIANS soone after repented them that they did not followe his counsell when they heard they should furnish king Philip with shippes and horsemen then he told them the feare whereof ye now complaine made me to withstand that which now ye haue consented vnto But sithence it is so that you haue nowe past your consents you must be contented and not be discoraged at it remembring that your auncestors in times past haue sometyme commaunded and other while obeyed others and yet haue so wisely and discreetely gouerned them selues in both fortunes that they haue not onely saued their citie but all GRAECE besides When newes came of king Philips death the people for ioy would straight haue made bonfires and sacrifices to the goddes for the good newes but Phocion would not suffer them and sayd that it was a token of a base minde to reioyce at any mans death besides that the armie which ouerthrew you at CHAERONEA hath not yet lost but one man And when Demosthenes also would commonly speake ill of Alexander and specially when he was so neare THEBES with his armie Phocion rehearsed vnto him these verses of Homer Hovv great a folly is it for to stand Against a cruell king VVhich beeing armd and hauing svvord in hand Seekes fame of euery thing What when there is such a great fire kindled wilt thou cast the citie into it for my part therefore though they were willing yet will I not suffer them to cast them selues away for to that ende haue I taken vpon me this charge and gouernment And afterwards also when Alexander had rased the citie of THEBES and had required the ATHENIANS to deliuer him Demosthenes Lycurgus Hyperides and Caridemus and that the whole assembly and counsell not knowing what aunswer to make did all cast their eyes vppon Phocion and cryed vnto him to say his opinion he then rose vppe and taking one of his friendes vnto him called Nicocles whome he loued and trusted aboue all men els he sayd thus openly vnto them These men whome Alexander requireth haue brought this citie to this extremitie that if he required Nicocles here I would giue my consent to deliuer him For I would thinke my selfe happy to lose my life for all your safetie Furthermore though I am right hartely sory sayd he for the poore afflicted THEBANS that are come into the citie for succour yet I assure ye it is better one citie mourne then two And therefore I thinke it is best to intreate the Conqueror for both rather then to our certeine destruction to fight with him that is the stronger It is sayd also that Alexander refused the first decree which the people offered him vppon Phocions request and sent awaye the Ambassadors and would not speake with them But the second which Phocion him selfe brought he tooke beeing tolde by his fathers olde seruaunts that king Philip made great accompt of him Whereuppon Alexander did not onely giue him audience and graunt his request but further followed his counsell For Phocion perswaded him if he loued quietnes to leaue warre if he desired fame then that he should make warre with the barbarous people but not with the GRAECIANS So Phocion feeding Alexanders humor with such talke and discourse as he thought would like him best he so altered and softened Alexanders disposition that when he went from him he willed him that the ATHENIANS should looke to their affayres for if he should dye he knewe no people fitter to commaund then they Furthermore bicause he would be better acquainted with Phocion and make him his friend he made so much of him that he more honored him then all the rest of his friends To this effect Duris the historiographer writeth that when Alexander was growen very great and had ouercome king Darius he left out of his letters this worde Chaerin to wit ioy and health which he vsed commonly in all the letters he wrote and would no more honor any other with that maner of salutacion but Phocion Antipater Chares also writeth the same And they all doe confesse that Alexander sent Phocion a great gift out of ASIA of a hundred siluer talents This money being brought to ATHENS Phocion asked them that brought it why Alexander gaue him such a great reward aboue all the other Citizens of ATHENS Bicause sayd they he onely esteemeth thee to be a good and honest
thee this at my death When al the rest had dronke there was no more poyson left and the hangman sayd he would make no more vnlesse they gaue him twelue Drachmas for so much the pound did cost him Phocion perceiuing theÌ„ that the hangman delayed time he called one of his frends vnto him and prayed him to geue the hangman that litle money he demaunded sith a man can not dye at ATHENS for nothing without cost It was the nineteenth day of the moneth of Munichion to wit Marche on which day the Knights were wont to make a solemne procession in the honor of Iupiter howbeit some of them left of the garlandes of flowers which they shoulde haue worne on their heades and others also looking towards the prison dore as they went by burst out a weeping For they whose harts were not altogether hardned with crueltie whose iudgements were not wholly suppressed with enuie thought it a grieuous sacriledge against the goddes that they did not let that day passe but that they did defile so solemne a feast with the violeÌ„t death of a man His enemies notwithstanding continuing still their anger against him made the people passe a decree that his bodie should be banished and caried out of the bondes of the contry of ATTICA forbidding the ATHENIANS that no fire should be made for the solemnising of his funeralls For this respect no frend of his durst once touch his body Howebeit a poore man called Conopion that was wont to get his liuing that way being hyered for money to burne mens bodies he tooke his corse and caried it beyond the city of ELEVSIN and getting fire out of a womans house of MEGARA he solemnised his funeralls Furthermore there was a gentlewoman of MEGARA who comming by chaunce that way with her gentlewomen where his body was but newly burnt she caused the earth to be cast vp a litle where the body was burnt and made it like to hollow tombe whereupon she did vse such sprincklings and effusions as are commonly done at the funeralls of the dead then taking vp his bones in her lappe in the night she brought them home and buried them in her harth saying O deare harth to thee I bequeath the relikes of this noble and good man and pray thee to keepe them faithfully to bring them one day to the graue of his auncesters when the ATHENIANS shall come to confesse the fault wrong they haue done vnto him And truly it was not long after that the ATHENIANS found by the vntowardnes of their affaires that they had put him to death who only maintained iustice and honesty at ATHENS Whereupon they made his image to be set vp in brasse and gaue honorable buriall to his bones at the charges of the citie And for his accusers they condemned Agnonides of treason and put him to death them selues The other two Epicurus and Demophilus being fled out of the citie were afterwardes met with by his sonne Phocus who was reuenged of them This Phocus as men reporte was otherwise no great good man who fancying a young maide which a bawde kept comming by chaunce one day into the schoole of Lycaeum he heard Theodorus the Atheist to wit that beleued not there were any goddes make this argument If it be no shame sayd he to deliuerâ— mans frend from bondage no more shame is it to redeeme his leman which he loueth euen so it is all one to redeeme a mans leman as his frende This young man taking this argument to serue his turne beleuinge that he might lawefully doe it got the young maide he loued from the bawde Furthermore this death of Phocion did also reuiue the lamentable death of Socrates vnto the GRAECIANS for men thought that it was a like hainous offence and calamitie vnto the citie of ATHENS The end of Phocions life THE LIFE OF Cato Vtican THe family and house of Cato tooke his first glorie and name of his great grandfather Cato the Censor who for his vertue as we haue declared in his life was one of the famousest and worthiest men of ROME in his time This Cato whom we nowe wryte of was left an orphan by his father and mother with his brother Caepio and Porcia his sister Seruilis was also Catoes halfe sister by his mothers side All these were brought vp with their vncle Liuius Drusus at that time the greatest man of the citie for he was passing eloquent and verie honest and of as great a corage besides as any other ROMANE Men report that 〈…〉 from his childhood shewed him selfe both in word and countenaunce and also in all his pastimes and recreacions verie constant and stable For he would goe through with that lie tooke apon him to doe and would force him selfe aboue his strength and as he could not away with flatterers so was he rough with them that went about to threaten him He would hardly laugh and yet had euer a pleasaunt countenance He was not chollerike nor easie to be angerd but when the blood was vp he was hardly pacified When he was first put to schoole he was very dull of vnderstanding and slow to learne but when he had once learned it he would neuer forget it as all men else commonly doe For such as are quicke of conceite haue commonly the worst memories and contrarily they that are hard to learne doe keepe that better which they haue learned For euery kinde of learning is a motion and quickening of the minde He seemed besides not to be light of credit that may be some cause of his slownes in conceite For truely he suffereth somewhat that learneth and thereof it commeth that they that haue least reason to resist are those which doe giue lightest credit For young men are easeiyer perswaded then old men and the sicke then the whole And where a man hath least reason for his douts there he is soonest brought to beleue any thing This notwithstanding it is reported that Cato was obedient vnto his schoolemaister and would doe what he commaunded him howbeit he would aske him still the cause and reason of euery thing In deede his schoolemaister was very gentle and readier to teach him then to strike him with his fist His name was Sarpedo Furthermore when Cato was but a young boy the people of ITALIE which were confederats of the ROMANES sued to be made free citizens of ROME At that time it chaunâ—ed one Pompedius Silo a valliant souldier and of great estimacion among the confederats of the ROMANES and a great frend besides of Drusus to be lodged many dayes at his house He in this time falling acquainted with these young boyes sayd one day vnto them good boyes intreate your vncle to speake for vs that we may be made free citizens of ROME Capio smiling nodded with his head that he would But Cato making no aunswere looked very wisely apon the straungers that lay in the house Then
Pompedius taking him aside asked him and thou my pretie boy what sayest thou to it Wilt thou not pray thine vncle as well as thy brother to be good to his guestes Cato still held his peace and aunswered nothing but shewed by his silence and looke that he would not heare their request Then Pompedius taking him vp in his armes did put him out of the window as if he would haue let him haue gone and speaking more sharply to him then he did before he cast him many times out of his armes without the window and sayd promise vs then or else I will let thee fall But Cato abid it a long time and neuer quinched for it nor shewed countenaunce of feare Thereupon Pompedius setting him downe againe told his frends that stoode by him O what good happe doth this child promise one day vnto ITALIE if he liue sure if he were a man I beleue we should not haue one voice of all the people of our side And other time there were some of Catoes neere kinsemen that keeping the feast day of his birth bad many young boyes to supper amongest others this Cato The boyes to occupie them selues till supper was ready gathered them selues together great and small into some priuate place of the house Their play was counterfeating pleadinges before the iudges accusing one an other and carying them that were condemned to prison Amongest them a goodly young boy was caried by a bigger boy into a litle chamber bounde as a condemned person The boy perceiuing he was locked vp cried out vnto Cato who mistrusting what it was went straight to the chamber dore and putting them by by force that withstoode him to come vnto it he tooke out the young boy and caried him very angrily with him to his owne house and all the other young boyes followed him also So Cato had such name among the young boyes that when Sylla made the game of young boyes running a horsebacke which the ROMANES call Troia to appoint them before that they might be ready at the day of the show he hauing gotten all the young boyes of noble houses together appointed them two Captaines Of them the boyes tooke the one because of his mother Metella which was the wife of Sylla but they would none of the other called Sextus who was nephewe to Pompey the great neither would they be exercised vnder him nor followe him Wherefore Sylla asked them which of them they would haue they all cried then Cato and Sextus him selfe did willingly geue him the honor as the worthier of both Sylla was their fathers frend and therefore did send for them many times to come vnto him he would talke with them the which kindnes he shewed to few men for the maiestie and great authority he had Serpedo also Catoes schoolemaister thingking it a great preferrement and safetie for his schollers did commonly bring Cato vnto Syllaes house to waite vpon him the which warm ther like vnto a iayle or prison for the great number of prisoners which were dayly brought thither and put to death Cato being then but foureteene yeares of age and perceiuing that there were many heades brought which were sayed to be of gret men and that euery bodie sighed and mourned to see them he asked his schoolemaister how it was possible the tyran scaped that some one or other killed him not Bicause q Serpedo that all men feare him more then they hate him Why then replyed Cato againe diddest thou not geue me a sword that might kill him to deliuer my contry of this slauery and bondage Serpedo hearing the boy say so and seeing his countenaunce and eyes on fire with choller he maruelled muche at it and afterwardes had a very good eye vnto him least rashly he should attempt some thing against Sylla When he was but a litle boy some asked him whom he loued best My brother sayed he Then the other continuing stil to aske him who next he answered likewise his brother Then the third time againe likewise his brother Till at length he that asked him was weary with asking him so oft Yea and when he was comen of age also he then confirmed the loue he bare to his brother in his deedes For twenty yeares together he neuer supped without his brother Capio neither went he euer out of his house into the market place nor into the fields without him but when his brother did noynt him selfe with sweete oyles of perfume he would none of that and in all things else he led a straight and hard life So that his brother Capio being commended of euery man for his temperaunce honesty and sober life he graunted in deede that in respect of others he led a sober and temperate life but when I doe sayd he compare my life with my brother Catoes me thinkes then there is no difference betwext me and Sippius This Sippius was at that time noted and pointed at for his fine and curious effeminate life After that Cato was once chosen Apolloes Priest he went from his brother and tooke his portion of the goods of his father which amounted to the summe of a hundred and twentie talentes Then he liued more hardly then he did before For he fell in acquaintaunce with Antipater TYRIAN a Stoicke Philosopher and gaue him selfe chiefly vnto the studie of morall and ciuill Philosophie imbracing all exercise of vertue with suche an earnest desire that it seemed he was prickt forward by some god but aboue all other vertues he loued the seueritie of iustice which he would not wrest for any gift nor fauor He studied also to be eloquent that he might speake openly before the people bicause he would there should be certaine warlike forces entertained in ciuill Philosophie as also in a great citie Notwithstanding he would not exercise it before any bodie neither would he euer haue any man to heare him speake when he did learne to speake For when one of his frends told him one day that men did mislike he spake so litle in company it skilleth no matter q he so they can not reproue my life for I will beginne to speake when I can say some thing worthy to be spoken Hard by the market place there was the common pallace or towne house of the citie called Basilica Porcia the which Porcius Cato the elder had built in the time of his Censorship There the Tribunes were wont to keepe their audience and bicause there was a piller that troubled their seates they would either haue taken it away or else haue set it in some other plate That was the first cause that made Cato against his will to goe into the market place and to get vp into the pulpit for orations to speake against them where hauing geuen this first proofe of his eloquence and noble minde he was maruelously esteemed of For his oration was not like a young man counterfeating finenes of speache
party accused might haue a keeper or spiall to follow the accuser to see what he would accuse the party with that he might the better be able to defend him selfe knowing what should be obiected against him Muraena hauing one for him to waite vpon Cato to consider throughly what course he tooke when he saw that he went not maliciously to worke but tooke a plaine common way of a iust accuser â—he had so great confidence in Catoes vpright mind and integritie that not regarding the narrow sisting of him otherwise he did one day aske him him selfe in the market place or at home in his owne house if that day he were determined to prosecute any matter against him touching his accusation If Cato aunswered him that he did not then he went his way and simply beleued him When the day came in deed that his cause was to be heard and pleaded vnto Cicero being Consul that yere defending Muraena played so pleasantly with the STOICKE Philosophers and their straunge opinions that he made all the Iudges laughe insomuch as Cato him selfe smiling at him tolde them that were by him see we haue a pleasant Consul that makes men laugh thus So Muraena beeing discharged by this iudgement did neuer after malice Cato for that but so long as he remained Consul he was alwaies ruled by his counsel in all his affaires and continued euer to honor him following his counsell in all thinges touching his office Hereof Cato him selfe was cause who was neuer rough nor terrible but in matters of counsell and in his orations before the people for the maintenance onely of equitie and iustice for otherwse he was very ciuil curteous to al men But before he entred into his Tribuneship Cicero being yet Consul he did helpe him in many things touching his office but specially in bringing Catilins conspiracie to good ende which was a noble act done of him For Catilin did practise a generall commotion and sturre in the common wealth to ouerthrowe the whole state of ROME by ciuill discorde within ROME and open warres abroade who beeing discouered and ouercome by Cicero he was driuen in the ende to flie ROME But Lentulus Cethegus and many other of the accomplices of this conspiracie blamed Catiline for his faynt and cowardly proceeding in it For their partes they had determined to burne the whole citie of ROME and to put all the Empire thereof in vprore by straunge warres and rebellions of forreine nations and prouinces Howbeit this treason being discouered as appeareth more largely in the life of Cicero the matter was referred vnto the iudgement of the Senate to determine what was to bee done therein Syllanus beeing the first who was asked his opinion therein sayde that he thought it good they should suffer cruell paines and after him also all the rest said the like vntill it came to Caesar. Caesar being an excellent spoken man that rather desired to nourish then to quench any such sturres or seditions in the common wealth being fit for his purpose long determined oft made an oration full of sweete pleasant wordes declaring vnto them that to put such men as them to death without lawfull condemnation he thought it altogether vnreasonable and rather that they should doe better to keepe them in prison This oration of Caesar so altered all the rest of the Senators minds for that they were affraid of the people that Syllanus self mended his opinion againe and said that he ment not they should put them to death but keepe theÌ„ fast in prison bicause that to be a prisoner was the greatest paine a ROMANE Citizen could abide Thus the Senators minds being so sodainly chaunged bent to a more fauorable sentence Cato rising vp to say his opinion beganne very angrily with maruelous eloquence grieuously to reproue Syllanus for chaunging his mind sharply to take vp Caesar that vnder a populer semblance maske of sweete sugred words he sought vnder hand to destroy the common wealth and also to terrifie and make the Senate affraid where he him selfe should haue bene affraid and thinke him selfe happy if he could scape from beeing suspected giuing such apparant cause of suspicion as he did going about so openly to take the enemies and traytors of the common wealth out of the hands of iustice seming to haue no pitie nor compassion of his naturall citie of such nobilitie and fame being euen brought in maner to vtter destruction but rather to lament the fortune of these wicked men that it was pity they were euer borne whose death preserued ROME from a thowsand murthers mischiefs Of all the orations that euer Cato made that only was kept for Cicero the Consul that day had dispersed diuers penne men in sundry places of the Senate house which had maruelous swift hands and had further taught them how to make briefe notes and abridgements which in fewe lines shewed many words For vntill that time writers were not knowen that could by figures ciphers expresse a whole sentence and word as afterwards they could being then the first time that euer they were found out So Cato at that time preuailed against Caesar and made them all chaunge their mindes againe that these men were put to death But that we may not leaue out a ior of his maners as the very pattern and impression of his mind It is reported that when Cato that day was so whot and vehement against Caesar that all the Senate could but looke at them to heare them both a letter was deliuered Caesar sent him into the house Cato began presently to suspect it and so earnestly misliked of it that many of the Senators being offended commaunded his letter should be seene red openly Caesar thereupon reached his letter vnto Cato that sate not farre from him When Cato had red it and found that it was a loue letter which his sister Seruilia had written vnto Caesar whom she loued and had knowen he cast it againe to Caesar said there dronkard After that he went on againe with his matter which he had begon before In fine it seemeth that Cato was very vnfortunate in his wiues for this Seruilia as we haue sayd had an ill name by Caesar. And the other Seruilia also which was his sister was worse defamed For she being maried vnto Lucullus one of the greatest men of ROME by whoÌ„ she had a sonne was in the ende put away from him for her naughty life But worst of all his owne wife Attilia also was not altogether cleare without suspicion For though he had two sonnes by her yet he was driuen to be diuorced from her she was so naught and common After that he maried Martia the Daughter of Philip which by report seemed to be a very honest gentlewoman It is she that is so famous amonge the ROMANES For in the life of Cato this place as a fable or comedy is disputable and hard to be iudged
affrayde that if Cato had beene Praetor he would too narrowly haue sifted out their deuises In fine Cato going home to his house had more companye to wayte vppon him alone then all the other Praetors that had beene chosen When Caius Trebonius Tribune of the people had preferred a lawe for the deuiding of the prouinces vnto the newe Consuls SPAYNE and AFRICKE vnto the one and AEGYPT and SYRIA vnto the other with full power to make warre as they thought good bothe by sea and lande all other men hauing no hope to keepe it backe did let it alone and spake nothing to contrarye it Then Cato getting vppe into the pulpit for orations before the people beganne to giue their voyces coulde hardely haue two howers space speake but at length they perceyuing that he delayed tyme by foretelling thinges to come woulde suffer him to speake no longer but sent a Sergeaunt to him and plucked him by force out of the pulpit But when he was beneath and cryed out notwithstanding and diuers gaue good eare vnto him the Sergeaunt went to him agayne and tooke him and caryed him out of the market place Howebeit the Officer had no sooner left him but he went strayght towardes the pulpit for orations and there cryed out more vehemently then before and willed the people to haue an eye to ayde the libertie of their common wealth which went to ruine When he oftentymes together did this Trebonius the Tribune being madde withal commaunded his Sergeaunt to cary him to prison The people followed him hard notwithstanding to heare what he sayd vnto them Whereuppon Trebonius fearing some sturre was forced to commaund his Sergeaunt to let Cato goe So Cato draue of all that day without any matter concluded The next morning notwithstanding the contrary faction hauing partly put the ROMANES in feare and wonne the other parte also by fayre wordes and money and by force of armes likewise kept Aquilius one of the Tribunes from comming out of the Senate and after they had also violently driuen Cato out of the market place for saying that it thundred and hauing hurt many men and also slayne some out of hande in the market place in the ende they forcibly passed the decree by voyces of the people Many beeing offended therewith went a company of them together to plucke downe Pompeys images but Cato would not suffer them And afterwardes also when they preferred an other law for the prorogacion of the prouinces armies which Caesar demaunded Cato would speake no more to the people to hinder it but protested vnto Pompey him selfe that he saw not how he plucked Caesar apon him and that he should feele the weight of his force before he looked for it and then when he could neither suffer nor remedy it he would euen cast his burden and him selfe apon the common wealth and too late would remember Catoes warnings which were priuately as profitable for Pompey as openly iust and reasonable for the cōmon wealth Cato vsed many of these perswasions sundry times vnto him but Pompey neuer made accompt of them for he woulde not be perswaded that Caesar would euer chaunge in that sorte and besides he trusted too much to his owne power and prosperitie Furthermore Cato was chosen Praetor for the next yeare following in the which it appeared though he ministred iustice vprightly that he rather defaced and impaired the maiestie and dignitie of his office then that he gaue it grace and countenaunce by his doings for he would oftentimes go a foote barelegged and without any coate vnto his Praetors chaire and there geue sentence of life and death otherwhiles of men of great account And some report that he would geue audience when he had dyned and dronke wine but that is vntrue Now Cato perceiuing that the citizens of ROME were marred by bribes and gifts of those which aspired vnto offices and that the people made it an arte and facultie to gaine by to roote this vice altogether out of the common wealth he perswaded the Senate to make a law that such as hereafter should be chosen Consulls or Praetors should if there were no man to accuse them come and offer them selues before the iudges and taking their othe should truely declare what meanes they had vsed to attaine to their office This offended the suters for the offices but muche more the mercenarie multitude Whereuppon a great number of them went in a morning together where he kept his audience and all cried out vpon him reuiled him and threw stones at him insomuch as they that were there were forced to flie thence and him selfe also was driuen out of the place by the preafe of people and had much a doe to get to the pulpit for orations where standing on his feete he presently pacified the tumult of the people by the boldnes and constancie of his countenaunce only Then when all was pacified by the present perswasions he vsed aptly spoken to purpose for the instant they geuing attentiue eare without sturre or vprore The Senate geuing him great commendacion therefore he told them roundly and plainly but I haue no cause to praise you to leaue a Praetor in such daunger of his life offering no aide to helpe him But the suters for the offices they were in a maruelous case for one way they were affrayed to geue money to buy the peoples voyces and on thother side they were affraied also if any other did it that they should go without their sute So they were all agreed together euery man to put downe twelue Myriades a halfe a peece and then they should make their sute iustly vprightly and whosoeuer were taken fauty and that had otherwise made his way by corruption that he should lose the money he had layed downe This agreement being concluded betwene them they chose Cato as it is reported for their arbitrator and keeper of all the same money This match was made in Catoes house where they all did put in caution or sureties to aunswere the money the which he tooke but would not meddle with the money The day being come Cato assisting the Tribune that gouerned the election and carefully marking howe they did geue their voyces he spied one of the suters for the office breake the accord agreed vpon and condemned him to pay the forfeiture vnto the rest But they greatly commending his iustice and integritie forgaue the forfeiture thinking it punishment enough vnto him that had fofeited to be condemned by Cato But therby Cato procured him selfe the displeasure of the other Senators for that he seemed therein to take apon him the power and authoritie ouer the whole court and election For there is no vertue whereof the honor and credit doth procure more enuy then iustice doth bicause the people doe commonly respect and reuerence that more then any other For they doe not honor them as they doe valliant men nor haue them in admiration as they do wise
by some of his frends that al Catoes regard counsell in matters of gouernment was to deliuer ROME from tyranny that if he had so great a charge vnder him Caesar being once ouercome he would also force Pompey to leaue his army so make him subiect to the law he chaunged his minde notwithstanding he had already moued it to Cato leauing him gaue Bibulus the charge of all his army by sea But Cato therefore shewed no lesse good will vnto Pompey then before For it is reported that in a certaine skirmish coÌ„flict before the city of DYRRACHIVM Pompey encoraging his souldiers commaunding euery Captaine also to do the like in his quarter the souldiers gaue but faint eare vnto them made no manner of show of men whose harts had bene any whit the more encoraged thereby But when Cato after them all came and told them as the time serued the reason of Philosophie and the effect of libertie manhoode death and honor and that with a great vehement affection and last of all ending his oration calling apon the gods turning his speache vnto them as if they had bene present to haue seene how valliantly the souldiers fought for the libertie of their contry they gaue such a lustie crye and had such a braue conceite vehement desire to fight like men that all the Captaines were filled with good hope and so led them to battell where they gaue such a cruell charge and fierce on set apon their enemies that they ouerthrewe them and put them that day to flight Howebeit Caesars good fortune tooke the finall ende of this victorie from Pompey by his ouergreat feare and mistrust who could not tell how to take the benefit of his victorie as we haue wrytten more amply in his life But when all the rest reioyced that they had done so noble an exployte made their vawnts of the great aduantage they had of their enemies Cato to the contrarie bewailed the calamitie of his contrie and lamented that cursed ambicion which caused so many good and valliant citizens of one selfe citie so to kill and murther one an other After this ouerthrowe Caesar taking his way into THESSALIE Pompey raised his campe to followe him and leauing a great power at DYRRACHIVM of men armor munition and frends he gaue Cato the charge of them all and fifteene ensignes of footemen besides The which he did for the feare and mistrust he had of him being assured that if by ill fortune he should lose the battell he knew well enough that he could not commit them to a trustier man then he but on thother side if he wanne the victory he douted sore that he could not commaund as he would where Cato was There were also many other noble men as a man would say cast away and left at DYRRACHIVM with Cato In fine the ouerthrow of the battell at Pharsalia being blowen abroad Cato resolued with himselfe if Pompey were dead that he would passe ouer all his men into ITALIE and then like a banished man would him selfe alone wander as farre as he coulde from the tyrannie and contrarily if he were aliue that then he would keepe his army together for him as long as he could With this determination he passed ouer the sea into the I le of CORâ—Y where Pompeys armie by sea lay There Cato finding Cicero he would haue surrendered vp his charge vnto him as to a man of greater dignitie for that he had bene Consul and Cato only but Praetor Howbeit Cicero would in no wise receiue it but returned immediatly into ITALY Cato then perceiuing that Pompey the younger sonne vnto Pompey the great of a rash hawty minde would haue punished all them that went into ITALIE and left the armie by sea and that specially he was bent first of all to begin with Cicero Cato reproued him priuately for it so that he certainly saued Ciceroes life and many other moe besides Now Cato supposing that Pompey the great had saued him selfe in AEGYPT or in AFRICKE he determined to take the seas to meete him with all his men but before he tooke shippe he gaue all men leaue to depart that were not willing to follow him Cato being arriued in AFRICKE sayling vp downe the coast there he met with Sextus the youngest sonne of Pompey who first told him that his father was slaine in AEGYPT when the souldiers heard it they tooke it very heauely and not one of them after the death of Pompey the great would serue vnder any other Captaine then Cato He therupon being ashamed thinking it pity also to leaue so many noble good men that had serued so faithfully vnder him without a Captaine not knowing what way to take nor whether to goe at their request he was contented to take charge of them and went first vnto the citie of CYRENES where not many dayes before the citizens had shut the gates against Labienus Being there it was told him that Scipio Pompeys father in law was gotten vnto king Iuba who had receiued him and that Actius Varus vnto whome Pompey had geuen the charge of the prouince of AFRICKE was in their company with an army and determined to goe ioyne with them So he went by lande in the winter time and had gotten a maruelous number of asses together to cary water and vittels which followed him with a great number of carts besides and of those men which the AFRICANES call PSILLES to wit they that doe heale the stinging of serpents and doe sucke out the poyson with their mouthes and doe furthermore charme and enchaunt the snakes that they haue no power to doe any hurt He was seuen dayes together marching continually and went a foote as a guide vnto his men without helpe of horse or beast From that day foorth on the which he vnderstoode of the battell lost at Pharsalia he neuer supped but sitting and added that vnto the rest of his sorrow that he neuer layed him downe but when he went to bedde for all night Cato hauing passed the winter in LYDIA he brought his souldiers into the fielde which were about tenne thowsand persons The affaires on their side had but hard successe for the contencion and variance betwext Scipio and Varus for the which they both flattered king Iuba to winne his fauor being a maruelous prowde man for his greatnes and riches as he shewed the first time he spake with Cato For when Cato came he caused his owne chayre to be set betwext Scipio and Cato to haue the honor to be in the middest But Cato perceiuing it tooke vp his owne chaire and set it on thother side by Scipio to put him in the middest notwithstanding that he was his enemie and had wrytten a shamefull booke against him Many make no accompt of this facte of Cato but reproue him bicause that walking one day with Philostratus in SICILI he gaue him the vpper hande
the matter and in fine Lucius Caesar being ready to departe Cato recommended his sonne and frendes vnto him and imbracing him tooke his leaue of him Then he returned vnto his lodging and calling his sonne and frends before him and talking of many matters among others he charged his sonne in no ease to meddle in thaffaires of the common wealth For said he to deale vprightly like Catoes sonne the corruption of the time and state will not abide it and contrarily obseruing the time thou canst not do like an honest man Towards euening he went into his bath to washe him selfe and as he was a bathing thinking apon Statilius he cried out a lowde well Apollonides thou hast at length yet perswaded Statilius to goe his way and pulled downe his stowt courage he had and is he gone without bidding vs farewell Howe gone sayd Apollonides Nay his hart is now more stowt and couragious then euer it was notwithstanding all the perswasions we could vse vnto him for he is determined to tary to take such part as thou doest After he had bathed him selfe he went to supper fare at his meate as he had alwaies vsed after the battell at Pharsalia and neuer lay but when he went to bed So he had all his frends the chiefe Magistrats of VTICA to supper with him After supper they fell into graue talke and matters of Philosophie till at length they came vnto the straunge opinion of the Stoick Philosophers which was this that only the good man is free and all the euill be slaues The Peripateticke Philosopher that was present there was straight against it But Cato was very earnest against the Peripatoricke and argued the matter a long time with a vehement speach and contencion insomuch as they that heard him found then that he was determined to ende his life to rid him him selfe out of all those troubles But then when he had ended his argument and sawe that euery man helde his peace and looked sadly of it to comfort them againe and to put the suspicion of his death out of their heades he beganne againe to fall in talke of their affaires and seemed to be carefull of them as though he had bene affrayed least some misfortune were come vnto them apon the sea or vnto them that were gone by land bicause they passed through desertes where there was no water to be had Now when supper was done and the straungers gone he walked as his manner was with his frends and hauing taken order with the Captaines of the watch for matters of seruice as the time required going into his chamber he embraced his sonne and his frendes more louingly then he was wont to doe whereby he made them againe suspect the execution of his determination When he was come into his chamber and layed in his bedde he tooke Platoes dialogues in his hand treating of the soule and red the most parte of it Then looking by his beds side and missing his sword which his sonne had taken from him when he was at supper he called one of the groomes of his chamber to him and asked him who had taken his sword away his man made him no aunswere he fell againe to read his booke Then a prety while after not seeming to be importunate and ouerhastie of the matter but as though he woulde only know what became of it he willed thē to bring him his sword againe They taried long and he had red ouer all the booke but yet his sword was not brought him againe Wherupon he called for all his men one after an other very angrily asked them his sword gaue one of them such a blow in the face that his nose fell a bleeding his hand was all bloody withal and cried out that his sonne and his seruaunts would deliuer him naked into the hands of his enemie vntill his sonne and frends at length ranne vnto him falling downe on their knees lamented and besought him to be contented Cato then rising out of his bedde looked grimly vpon them and sayd vnto them O goddes who euer saw me in this taking Why doth no man by reason perswade me if they see me out of the way not to kepe me from my determination by plucking my weapons from me why doest thou not bind thy father my sonne his hands behinde him that when Caesar commeth he may finde me in case not to defend my selfe I doe not desire my sworde to hurte my selfe for if I had any suche minde I neede but hold my breath a litle or geue but a knocke of my head against the wall onely and dispatche my selfe quickely When he had sayd thus his sonne went out of his chamber weeping and all his frends also no man remayning with Cato but Demetrius and Apollonides vnto whom he spake more gently and reasoned in this sorte What doe you thinke to keepe an old man as I am aliue by force And haue you taried behinde but to sit staring apon me and say nothing vnto me If otherwise else by reason you come to perswade me that it shall be no shame for Cato dispairing of the safetie of his life to seeke it by the grace and mercy of his enemy why then doe you not now tell me your reasons to perswade me that forsaking all other fancies determinatiōs which hetherunto we haue holden for good being on a sodaine become wiser by Caesars meanes we should be bound the more therefore to geue him thankes I do not tell you this that I haue determined any thing of my life but that it is in my power if I lift to put the thing in execution I haue determined but yet I will consult with you when I am so determined to heare the reasons and opinion of your bookes which your selues doe vse in discourse and argument together Goe your way therefore hardily vnto my sonne and tell him that he must not thinke to compell his father vnto that which he can not proue good vnto him by reason After this talke Demetrius and Apollonides being nothing comforted weeping departed out of his chamber Then his sword was brought him by a litle boy When he had it he drew it out and looked whether the point and edge of his sword was sharpe and woulde cut when he saw it was well O sayd he now I am where I would be and so laying downe the sword naked by him he tooke his booke againe in his hand and red it ouer as they say twise together Then he slept so soundly after it that his men which were without his chamber heard him snort againe About midnight he called for two of his freemen Cleanthes his Phisitian and Butas whom he chiefly employed in his weightiest affaires of the common wealth So he sent him vnto the hauen to see if all his men that were imbarked were vnder saile and gaue his hand vnto the Phisitian to be bound vp bicause it was
Leonidas incontinently with a great number of souldiers that were straungers beset the prison round about The Ephores weÌ„t into the prison sent vnto some of the Senate to come vnto them whom they knew to be of their mind then they coÌ„maunded Agis â—â— if it had bene iudicially to giue accompt of the alteracion he had made in the coÌ„mon wealth The younge man laughed at their hypocrisie But Amphares told him that it was no laughing sport that he should pay for his folly Then another of the Ephores seeming to deale more fauorably with him to shew him a way how he might escape the condeÌ„nation for his fault asked him if he had not bene intised vnto it by Agesilaus and Lysander Agis aunswered that no man compelled him but that he onely did it to follow the steppes of the auncient Lycurgus to bring the common wealth vnto the former estate of his graue ordinaunce institution Then the same Senator asked him againe if he did not repent him of that he had done The younge man boldly aunswered him that he would neuer repent him of so wise and vertuous an enterprise though he ventred his life for it Then they condemned him to death and commaunded the Sergeants to cary him into the Decade which was a place in the prison where they were strangled that were condemned to dye Demochares perceiuing the Sergeaunts durst not lay hold of him likewise that the souldiers which were straungers did abhorre to commit such a fact contrary to the law of God and man to lay violent hands vpon the person of a king he threatned reuiled them and dragged Agis perforce into that place called the Decade Now the rumor ranne straight through the citie that king Agis was taken a multitude of people were at the prison dores with lights torches Thither came also king Agis mother grandmother shreeking out praying that the king of SPARTA might yet be heard and iudged by the people For this cause they hastned his death the sooner and were afraid besides least the people in the night would take him out of their hands by force if there came any more people thither Thus king Agis being led to his death spied a SergeauÌ„t lamenting weeping for him vnto whom he said good fellowe I pray thee weepe not for me for I am honester man then they that so shamefully put me to death with those words he willingly put his head into the halter Amphares then going out of the prison into the street found Agesistraetae there king Agis mother who straight fel downe at his feete but he taking her vp againe in old famillier manner as being her very friend told her that they should doe king Agis no hurt that she might if she would goe see him Then she prayed that they would also let her mother in with her Amphares sayde with a good will and so put them both into the prison house and made the dores be shut after them But when they were within he first gaue Archidamia vnto the Sergeaunts to be put to death who was a maruelous olde woman and had liued more honorably vnto that age then any Lady or Matrone beside her in the citie She being executed he commaunded Agesistraetae also to come in Who whe she sawe the bodye of her dead sonne layed on the ground her mother also hanging on the gallowes she did her selfe helpe the hangman to plucke her downe and layed her body by her sonnes Then hauing couered her in decent manner she layed her downe on the ground by the corps of her sonne Agis and kissing his cheeke sayd out alas my sonne thy great modestie goodnes and clemencie brought thee and vs vnto this deathe Then Amphares peeping in at the dore to see what was done hearing what she sayde came in withall in a greate rage and sayde I perceyue thou hast also beene of counsell with thy sonne and sithe it is so thou shalt also followe him Then she rising likewise to be strangled sayd the goddes graunt yet that this may profit SPARTA This horrible murther beeing blowen abroad in the citie and the three dead bodies also brought out of prison the feare though it were great amongest the people could not keepe them back from apparant show of griefe and manifest hate against Leonidas and Amphares thinking that there was neuer a more wicked and crueller fact committed in SPARTA since the DORIANS came to dwell in PELOPONNESVS For the very enemies them selues in bartell would not willingly lay hands vpon the kings of LACEDAEMON but did forbeare as much as they could possible both for feare reuerence they bare vnto their maiestie For in many great battels coÌ„flicts which the LACEDAEMONIANS had against the GRAECIANS there was neuer any king of LACEDAEMON slain before Philips time but CleoÌ„brotus only who was slain with a dart at the battell of LEVCTRES Some write also that the MESSENIANS hold opinioÌ„ that their Aristomenes slue king Theopompus howbeit the LACEDAEMONIANS sayde that he was but hurt not slayne But hereof there are diuers opinions but it is certain that Agis was the first king whom the Ephores euer put to death for that he had layd a plat of a noble deuise and worthy of SPARTA being of that age when men doe easily pardon them that offend and was rather to be accused of his friendes and enemies bicause he had saued Leonidas life had trusted other men as the best natured younge man that could be Now Agis hauing suffered in this sort Leonidas was not quicke enough to take Archidamus his brother also for he fled presently Yet he brought Agis wife out of her house by force with a litle boy she had by him and maried her vnto his sonne Cleomenes who was yet vnder age to marye fearing least this younge Ladye should be bestowed els where beeing in deede a great heire and of a riche house and the Daughter of Gylippus called by her name Agiatis besides that she was the fayrest woman at that tyme in all GRAECE and the vertuousest and best condicioned Wherefore for diuers respects she praied she might not be forced to it But now being at length maried vnto Cleomenes she euer hated Leonidas to the death and yet was a good and louing wife vnto her young husband Who immediatly after he was maried vnto her fell greatly in fancy with her and for compassions sake as it seemed he thanked her for the loue she bare vnto her first husband and for the louing remembraunce she had of him insomuch as he him selfe many times would fall in talke of it and would be inquisitiue how thinges had passed taking great pleasure to heare of Agis wise counsell and purpose For Cleomenes was as desirous of honor and had as noble a minde as Agis and was borne also to temperancie and moderation of life as Agis in like manner was howbeit
ouerthrowe of king Cleomenes so muche more lamentable For if he had delayed battell but two dayes lenger when the MACEDONIANS had bene gone he might haue made what peace he would with the ACHAIANS but for lacke of money he was driuen as Polybius wryteth to geue battell with twentie thowsande men against thirtie thowsande where he shewed him selfe an excellent and skilfull Captaine and where his citizens also fought like valliant men and the straungers in like case did shewe them selues good souldiers But his onely ouerthrowe was by the manner of his enemies weapons and the force of their battell of footemen But Phylarchus wryteth that treason was the cause of his ouerthrowe For Antigonus had appointed the ACARNANIANS and the ILLYRIANS which he had in his armie to steale vppon the winge of his enemies armie where Euclidas king Cleomenes brother was to compasse him in behinde whilest did sette the rest of his men in battell When Cleomenes was got vp vpon some hill to looke about him to see the countenaunce of the enemie and seeing none of the ACARNANIANS nor of the ILLYRIANS he was then affrayed of Antigonus that he went about some stratageame of warre Wherefore he called for Demoteles whose charge was to take heede of stratageames and secret ambushes and commaunded him to looke to the rerewarde of his armie and to be verie circumspect all about Demoteles that was bribed before as it is reported with money tolde him that all was cleere in the rerewarde and bad him looke to ouerthrowe his enemies before him Cleomenes trusting this reporte sette forward against Antigonus and in the ende his citizens of SPARTA which he had about him gaue suche a fierce charge apon the squadron of the MACEDONIAN footemen that they draue them backe fiue furlonges of But in the meane time Euclidas his brother in the other wing of his armie being compassed in behinde Cleomenes turning him backe and seeing the ouerthrowe cried out alowde alas good brother thou art but slaine yet thou dyest valliantlie and honestlie and thy death shall be a worthie example vnto all posteritie and shall be song by the praises of the women of SPARTA So Euclidas and his men being slaine the enemies came straight to sette vpon Cleomenes winge Cleomenes then seeing his men discouraged and that they durst no lenger resist the enemie fledde and saued him selfe Many of the straungers also that serued him were slaine at this battell and of sixe thowsande SPARTANS there were left aliue but onely two hundred Now Cleomenes being returned vnto SPARTA the citizens comming to see him he gaue them counsell to yeeld them selues vnto Antigonus the conqueror and for him selfe if either aliue or dead he could doe any thing for the honor and benefit of SPARTA that he would willingly doe it The women of the citie also comming vnto them that flying had escaped with him when he saw them vnarme the men and bring them drinke to refresh them with he also went home to his owne house Then a maide of the house which he had taken in the citie of MEGALIPOLIS and whom he had enterteined euer since the death of his wife came vnto him as her maner was to refresh him comming hot from the battell howbeit he would not drinke though he was extreame drie nor sit being verie wearie but armed as he was layed his arme a crosse apon a piller and leaning his head apon it reposed himselfe a litle and casting in his minde all the wayes that were to be thought of he tooke his frendes with him and went to the hauen of Gythium and there hauing his shippes which he had appointed for the purpose he hoysted sayle and departed his way Immediatly after his departure came Antigonus into the citie of SPARTA and curteously intreated the citizens and inhabitants he found and did offend no man nor prowdly despise the auncient honor and dignitie of SPARTA but referring them to their owne lawes and gouernment when he had sacrificed to the goddes for his victorie he departed from thence the thirde daye newes being brought him that the warre was verie great in MACEDON and that the barbarous people did spoyle his contrie Now a disease tooke him whereof he dyed afterwards which appeared a tisicke mixt with a sore catarre but yet he yeelded not to his disease and bare it out that fighting for his contrie and obteyning a famous victorie with great slaughter of the barbarous people he might yet dye honorably as in deede he did by Phylarchus testimonie who sayth that with the force of his voyce fiercely crying out in the middest of his fight he tare his lunges and lightes worse then they were before Yet in the schooles it is sayd that after he had wonne the battell he was so ioyfull of it that crying out O blessed day he brake out into a great bleeding at the mouth and a great feuer tooke him withall that he dyed of it Thus much touching Antigonus Now Cleomenes departing out of the Isle of CYTHERA went and cast ancker in an other Iland called AEGIALIA Then determining to saile ouer to the citie of CYRENA Therycion one of Cleomenes frendes a man that in warres shewed him selfe verie valliant but a boaster besides of his owne doinges tooke Cleomenes aside and sayd thus vnto him Truely O king we haue lost an honorable occasion to dye in battell though euery man hath heard vs vaunt and say that Antigonus should neuer ouercome the king of SPARTA aliue but dead A seconde occasion yet is offered vs to dye with much lesse honor and fame notwithstanding then the first Whether doe we saile to no purpose Why doe we flie the death at hand and seeke it so farre of If it be no shame nor dishonor for the posteritie race of Hercules to serue the successors of Philip and Alexander let vs saue then our labor and long daungerous sailing and goe yeelde our selues vnto Antigonus who in likelyhoode will better vse vs then Ptolomy bicause the MACEDONIANS are farre more nobler persons then the AEGYPTIANS And if we disdaine to be commaunded by them which haue ouercommen vs in battell why then will we make him Lord of vs that hath not ouercomen vs in steade of one to make vs inferior vnto both flying Antigonus and seruing king Ptolomy Can we say that we goe into AEGYPT in respect to see your mother there A ioyfull sight no doubt when she shall shew king Ptolomyes wiues her sonne that before was a king a prisoner fugitiue now Were it not better for vs that hauing yet LACONIA our contrie in sight and our swordes besides in our owne hands to deliuer vs from this great miserie so doing to excuse our selues vnto them that are slaine at SELASIA for defence of SPARTA then cowardly loosing our time in AEGYPT to inquire whom Antigonus left his Lieutenaunt and Gouernor in LACEDAEMON Therycion ending his oration Cleomenes aunswered him thus Doest thou
to make vnto them the which if it would please them to graunt him he woulde thinke they did him a maruelous pleasure and if they denied him also he cared not muche Then euerie man thought it was the Consulshippe he ment to aske and that he woulde sue to be Tribune and Consul together But when the day came to choose the Consuls euery man looking attentiuely what he would doe they marueled when they sawe him come downe the fielde of Mars and brought Caius Fannius with his frends to further his sute for the Consulshippe Therein he serued Fannius turne for he was presently chosen Consul and Caius Gracchus was the seconde time chosen Tribune againe not of his owne sute but by the good will of the people Caius perceiuing that the Senators were his open enemies and that Fannius the Consul was but a slacke frende vnto him he began againe to currie fauor with the common people and to preferre new lawes setting forth the lawe of the Colonies that they should send of the poore citizens to replenishe the cities of TARENTVM and CAPVA that they should graunt all the Latines the freedom of ROME The Senate perceiuing his power grew great and that in the end he would be so strong that they coulde not withstande him they deuised a new and straunge way to plucke the peoples good will from him in graunting them things not altogether very honest There was one of the Tribunes a brother in office with Caius called Liuius Drusus a man noblely borne and as well brought vp as any other ROMANE who for wealth and eloquence was not inferior to the greatest men of estimacion in ROME The chiefest Senators went vnto him and perswaded him to take parte with them against Caius not to vse any force or violence against the people to withstand them in any thing but contrarily to graunt them those things which were more honestie for them to deny them with their ill will. Liuius offering to pleasure the Senate with his authority preferred lawes neither honorable nor profitable to the cōmon wealth were to no other ende but contending with Caius who should most flatter the people of them two as plaiers do in their cōmon plaies to shew the people pastime Wherby the Senate shewed that they did not so much mislike Caius doings as for the desire they had to ouerthrow him his great credit with the people For where Caius preferred but the replenishing of the two cities and desired to send the honestest citizens thither they obiected against him that he did corrupt the common people On the other side also they fauored Drusus who preferred a law that they should replenish twelue Colonies should send to euery one of them three thowsande of the poorest citizens And where they hated Caius for that he had charged the poore citizens with an annual rent for the lands that were deuided vnto them Liuius in contrary maner did please them by disburdening them of that rent payment letting thē haue the lands scotfree Furthermore also where Caius did anger the people bicause he gaue all the Latines the fredom of ROME to geue their voyces in choosing of Magistrates as freely as the naturall ROMANES when Drusus on thother side had preferred a law that thencefoorth no ROMANE should whip any souldier of the Latines with rods to the warres they liked the law past it Liuius also in euery law he put forth said in all his orations that he did it by the counsell of the Senate who were very carefull for the profit of the people and this was all the good he did in his office vnto the cōmon wealth For by his meanes the people were better pleased with the Senate where they did before hate all the noble men of the Senate Liuius tooke away that malice when the people saw that all that he propounded was for the preferment benefit of the common wealth with the consent furtheraunce of the Senate The only thing also that perswaded the people to thinke that Drusus ment vprightly that he only respected the profit of the common people was that he neuer preferred any law for him selfe or for his owne benefit For in the restoring of these Colonies which he preferred he alwaies sent other Commissioners gaue them the charge of it and would neuer finger any money him selfe where Caius tooke apon him the charge care of all things himselfe specially of the greatest matters Rubrius also an other Tribune hauing preferred a law for the reedifying replenishing of CARTHAGE againe with people the which Scipio had rased and destroyed it was Caius happe to be appointed one of the Commissioners for it Whereupon he tooke shippe sailed into AFRIKE Drusus in the meane time taking occasion of his absence did as much as might be to seeke the fauor of the common people and specially by accusing Fuluius who was one of the best frends Caius had whom they had also chosen Commissioner with him for the diuision of these landes among the citizens whom they sent to replenish these Colonies This Fuluius was a seditious man therefore maruelously hated of the Senate withall suspected also of them that tooke parte with the people that he secretly practised to make their confederats of ITALIE to rebell But yet they had no euident proofe of it to iustifie it against him more then that which he himselfe did verifie bicause he semed to be offended with the peace quietnes they enioyed And this was one of the chiefest causes of Caius ouerthrow bicause that Fuluius was partely hated for his sake For when Scipio AFRICAN was found dead one morning in his house without any manifest cause how he should come to his death so sodainly sauing that there appeared certaine blinde markes of stripes on his body that had bene geuen him as we haue declared at large in his life the most parte of the suspicion of his death was layed to Fuluius being his mortall enemy bicause the same day they had bene at great wordes together in the pulpit for orations So was Caius Gracchus also partly suspected for it Howsoeuer it was such a horrible murder as this of so famous worthy a man as any was in ROME was yet notwitstanding neuer reuenged neither any inquirie made of it bicause the common people would not suffer the accusacion to goe forward fearing least Caius would be found in fault if the matter should go forward But this was a great while before Now Caius at that time being in AFRICK about the reedifying and replenishing of the city of CARTHAGE againe the which he named IVNONIA the voice goeth that he had many ill signes tokens appeared vnto him For the staffe of his ensigne was broken with a vehemēt blast of wind with the force of the ensigne bearer that held it fast on thother side There came a flaw of winde also
also being borne of fathers that had a cleane contrarie disposicion and finding their contrie altogether without any order and infected with dissolute life were not therefore any whit the more moued with desire to do well Furthermore the greatest praise they gaue vnto the two Gracchi was their abstinence and integritie from taking of money all the time they were in office and delt in matters of state euer keeping their handes cleane and tooke not a pennie wrongfully from any man Where Agis on thother side was offended if any man praised him for that he tooke nothing from an other man seeing that he dispossessed him selfe of his owne goods and gaue it to his citizens which amounted in readie coyne to the value of six hundred talents Whereby men may easely iudge how grieuous a sinne he thought it to take any thing wrongfully from any man seeing that he thought it a kinde of auarice lawfully to be richer then others Furthermore there was maruelous great difference in their alteracions and renuing of the state which they did both preferre For the actes of the two ROMANES were to mend high wayes and to reedifie and replenish decayed townes and the worthiest acte Tiberius did was the lawe Agraria which he brought in for diuiding of the lands of the common wealth amongest the poore Citizens And the best acte his brother Caius also did was the mingling of the Iudges adding to the three hundred Senators three hundred ROMANE knightes to be indifferent Iudges with them Whereas Agis and Cleomenes in contrary manner were of opinion that to reforme smal faults to redresse them by litle and litle was as Plato sayd to cut of one of the Hydraes heads of the which came afterwards seuen in the place and therefore they tooke apon them a chaunge and innouation euen at once to roote out all the mischiefs of their contry or to speake more truely to take away the disorder which brought in all vice and mischief to the common wealth and so to restore the citie of SPARTA againe to her former auncient honorable estate Nowe this may be said againe for the gouernment of the GRACCHI that the chiefest men of ROME were euer against their purposes Where in that that Agis attempted and Cleomenes ended they had the noblest ground that could be that was the auncient lawes and ordinances of SPARTA touching temperance and equalitie the first instituted in old time by Lycurgus the other confirmed by Apollo Furthermore by the alteracions of the first ROME became no greater then it was before Where by that which Cleomenes did all GRAECE in short time sawe that SPARTA commaunded all the rest of PELOPONNESVS and fought at that time against those that were of greatest power in all GRAECE for the signioâ—ie thereof Whereby their onely marke purpose was to rid all the GRAECE from the warres of the GAVLES and ILLYRIANS and to restore it againe to the honest gouernment of the race and lyne of Hercules Their deathes me thinkes doe shew great difference of their corages For the GRACCHI fighting with their owne Citizens were slaine flying Of these two also Agis bicause he would put neuer a Citizen to death was slayne in manner voluntarily and Cleomenes receiuing iniurie stoode to his defence and when he had no oportunitie to doe it he stowtly killed him selfe And so may it be said on thother side that Agis did neuer any noble acte of a Captaine or souldier bicause he was slayne before he could come to it And for the victories of Cleomenes on thother side may be opposed the scaling of the walls of CARTHAGE where Tiberius was the first man that at the assault got vp vpon the wall which was no small exployte and the peace which he made also at the seege of NVMANTIA whereby he saued twenty thowsand fighting men of the ROMANES the which had no meanes otherwise to saue their liues And Caius also in the selfe same warre at the seege of NVMANTIA and afterwards in SARDINIA did many noble feates of warre so that there is no doubt but if they had not bene slaine so soone as they were they might haue bene compared with the excellentest Captaines that euer were in ROME Again touching their doings in ciuill pollicie it appeareth that Agis delt more slackly being abused by Agesilaus who likewise deceiued the poore Citizens of the diuision of the landes which he had promised them In fine for lacke of corage bicause he was very young he left the thinges vndone which he had purposed to haue performed On thother side Cleomenes went too rowndly to worke to renew the auncient gouernment of the common wealth againe by killing the Ephores with too much crueltie whom he might easily haue wonne or otherwise by force haue gotten the vpper hande For it is not the parte of a wise Phisition nor of a good gouernor of a common weale to vse the sword but in great extreamitie where there is no other helpe nor remedie there lacked iudgement in them both but worst of all in the one for iniury is euer ioyned with crueltie The GRACCHI on thother side nether the one nor the other began to embrew their hands in the blood of their Citizens For it is reported that though they did hurt Caius yet he would neuer defend him selfe and where it was knowen that he was very valliant in battell with his sword in his hand against the enemie he shewed him selfe as cold againe in the vprore against his Citizens For he went out of his house vnarmed and fled when he saw them fight being more circumspect not to doe hurt then not to suffer any Therefore they are not to be thought cowards for their flying but rather men fearefull to offend any man For they were driuen either to yeeld to them that followed them or els if they stayed to stande to their defence bicause they might keepe them selues from hurt And where they accuse Tiberius for the faults he committed the greatest that euer he did was when he deposed Octauius his colleague from the Tribuneship and that he him selfe made sute for the second And as for Caius they falsely accused him for the death of Antyllius the Sergeaunt who in deede was slayne vnknowen to him and to his great griefe Where Cleomenes on thother side although we should forget the murder he committed vpon the Ephores yet he set slaues at libertie and ruled the kingdom in manner him selfe alone but yet for manners sake onely he ioyned his owne brother with him which was of the selfe same house And when he had perswaded Archidamus who was next heire to the kingdom of the other royall house to be bold to returne home from MESSENA vnto SPARTA he suffered him to be slayne and bicause he did not reuenge his death he did confirme their opinion that thought he was consenting to his death Lycurgus on the other side whose example he did counterfeate to followe bicause he
of THEBES and of all the contry of BOEOTIA besides And the assemblies also of the counsell of THEBES were as well gouerned by him as the assemblies of ATHENS being alike beloued both of the one and the other and hauing a like authoritie to commaund both and not vndeseruedly as Theopompus sayth but by iust desert But some fatall destinie and the reuolucion of time had determined the finall ende of the libertie of GRAECE at that time cleane contrary to his purpose and intent There were also many celestiall signes that did foreshewe and prognosticate what ende should ensue thereof And amonge others Apolloes Nunne gaue these dreadful oracles and this olde prophecie of the SIBYLE was commonly song in euery bodies mouth VVhat time the bluddy battell shall be fought at Thermodon God graunt I may be farre avvay or els to looke thereon Haue Egles vvings to sore above among the clovvdes on hye For there the vanquisht side shall vveepe and Conquerer shall dye Men do report that this Thermodon is a litle riuer of our contry of CHAERONEA the which falleth into the riuer of Cephisus howbeit at this present time there is neuer a riuer nor brook in all our contry that I know called Thermodon And I thinke that that riuer which we call now Haemon was in old time Thermodon for it runneth by the temple of Hercules where the GRAECIANS lay in campe And it may be that bicause it was filled with dead bodies and that it ranne bloud at the day of the battel it chaunged her name was surnamed Haemon bicause Haema in the Greeke tongue signifieth bloud Yet Duris writeth notwithstanding that this Thermodon was no riuer but that certain men setting vp their tent and trenching it about found a litle image of stone whereuppon were engrauen these letters whereby it appeareth that it was a man called Thermodon who caried an AMAZON hart in his armes that for this image of Thermodon they doe sing such another olde oracle as this Te Ernes and Ranens tary till the field of Thermodon There vvill bestore of carkesses of men to feede vpon This notwithstanding it is very hard to tell the trothe of these things But Demosthenes â—â—sting to the valliantnes and power of the GRAECIANS and being maruelously incoraged to see such a great number of valliant resolute meÌ„ so willing to fight with the enemy he bad them be of good corage not to basse about such oracles to giue eare to those prophecies And furthermore he told them plainly that he did mistrust the Nunne Phythia did leane vnto Philip as fauoring him did put the THEBANS in mind of their Captaine Epaminondas the ATHENIANS of Pericles perswaded them that those two famous men were alwaies of opinion that such prophecies were no other but a fine cloke for cowards that taking no heede to them they did dispatch their matters according to their owne discretion Vntil this present time Demosthenes shewed him selfe alwaies an honest man But when it came to the battel he fled like a coward and did no valliant acte any thing aunswerable to the orations whereby he had perswaded the people For he left his ranck cowardly cast away his weapons to ronne the lighter was not ashamed at al as Pythias said of the words written vpon his shield in golden letters which were Good Fortune Now Philip hauing woone the battell he was at that present so ioyfull that he fell to commit many fond parts For after he had droncke well with his friends he went into the place where the ouerthrow was giuen there in mockery began to sing the beginning of the decree which Demosthenes had preferred by the which the ATHENIANS accordingly proclaimed warres against him rising and falling with his voyce and dauncing it in measure with his foote Demosthenes the sonne of Demosthenes Paeanian did put forth this But afterwards beginning to waxe sober leauing his dronckennes that he had remeÌ„bred him selfe what daunger he had bene in then his heare stood bolt vpright vpon his head considering the force power of such an Orator that in a peece of a day had inforced him to hazard his Realme life at a battell Now Demosthenes fame was so great that it was caried euen to the great king of PERSIANS court who wrote vnto his Lieuetenants gouernors that they should feede Demosthenes with money should procure to entertaine him aboue all the men in GRAECE as he that could best withdraw Philip trouble him with the warres and tumults of GRAECE And this was afterwards proued by letters found of Demosthenes him selfe the which came to king Alexanders hands in the citie of SARDIS and by other writings also of the gouernors Lieuetenants of the king of PERSIA in the which were named directly the expresse sommes of money which had bene sent giuen vnto him Now the GRAECIANS being thus ouerthrowen by battel the other Orators aduersaries vnto Demosthenes in the common wealth began to set apon him to prepare to accuse him But the people did not onely cleere him of all the accusations obiected against him but did continue to honor him more then before to call him to assemblies as one that loued the honor and benefit of his contry So that when the bones of their contry men which were slayne at the battell of CHAERONEA were brought to be openly buried according to the custom the people gaue him the honor to make the funeral oration in praise of the dead made no shew of sorow or griefe for the losse they had receiued as Theopompus witnesseth and doth nobly declare but rather in contrary manner shewed that they did not repent them in following of his counsel but did honor him that gaue it Demosthenes then did make the funerall oration But afterwards in all the decrees he preferred to the people he would neuer subscribe any to preuent the sinister lucke misfortune of his name but did passe it vnder his friends names one after another vntill he grew coragious againe shortly after that he vnderstoode of the death of Philip who was slaine immediatly after the victorie he wanne at CHAERONEA And it seemeth this was the meaning of the prophecie or oracle in the two last verses The vanquished bevvayles his lucklesse lot And he that vvines vvith life escapeth not Now Demosthenes hearing of Philips death before the newes were openly known to preueÌ„t them he would put the people again into a good hope of better lucke to come Thereupon he weÌ„t with a cheerfull couÌ„tenaÌ„ce into the assembly of the couÌ„sel told them there that he had had a certain dreame that promised great good hap that out of haÌ„d vnto the ATHENIANS immediatly after the messengers arriued that brought certain newes of king Philips death Thereupon the ATHENIANS made sacrifices of ioy to the goddes for this happie newes and
was any as well for the great fame of the Orators that pleaded in emulacion one of the other as also for the worthines of the Iudges that gaue sentence thereof who did not leaue Demosthenes to his enemies although in deede they were of greater power then he and were also supported with the fauor and good will of the MACEDONIANS but they did notwithstanding so well quit him that AEschines had not so muche as the fift parte of mens voyces and opinions in his behalfe Wherefore immediatly after sentence geuen he went out of ATHENS for shame and trauelled into the contrie of IONIA and vnto the RHODES where he did teache Rethoricke Shortly after Harpalus flying out of Alexanders seruice came vnto ATHENS being to be charged with many fowle matters he had committed by his exceeding prodigalitie and also bicause he feared Alexanders furie who was growen seuere and cruell vnto his chiefest seruauntes He comming now amongest the ATHENIANS with store of gold and siluer the Orators being greedie and desirous of the golde and siluer he had brought beganne straight to speake for him and did counsell the people to receiue protect a poore suter that came to them for succour But Demosthenes gaue counsell to the contrarie and bad them rather driue him out of the citie and take heede they brought not warres apon their backes for a matter that not onely was not necessarie but furthermore meerely vniust But within fewe daies after inuentory being taken of all Harpalus goods he perceiuing that Demosthenes tooke great pleasure to see a cuppe of the kings and considered verie curiously the facion workemanshippe vpon it he gaue it him in his hand to iudge what it weyed Demosthenes peasing it wondered at the great weight of it it was so heauie so he asked how many pownd weight it weyed Harpalus smiling answered him it will wey thee twentie talents So when night was come he sent him the cuppe with the twentie talentes This Harpalus was a verie wise man and found straight by Demosthenes countenaunce that he loued money and coulde presently iudge his nature by seeing his pleasaunt countenaunce and his eyes still vpon the cuppe So Demosthenes refused not his gift and being ouercomen withall as if he had receiued a garrison into his house he tooke Harpalus parte The next morning he went into the assemblie of the poople hauing his necke bound vp with wolle and rolles So when they called him by his name to steppe vp into the pulpit to speake to the people as he had done before he made a signe with his head that he had an impediment in his voyce that he could not speake But wise men laughing at his fine excuse tolde him it was no sinanche that had stopped his wesill that night as he would make them beleue but it was Harpalus argentsynanche which he had receiued that made him in that case Afterwardes when the people vnderstoode that he was corrupted Demosthenes going about to excuse him selfe they would not abide to heare him but made a noyse and exclamation against him Thereuppon there rose vp a pleasaunt conceited man that sayd why my maisters do ye refuse to heare a man that hath such a golden tongue The people thereuppon did immediatly banishe Harpalus and fearing least king Alexander would require an accompt of the gold and siluer which the Orators had robbed and pilfred away among them they made very diligent searche and inquirie in euery mans house excepting Callicles house the sonne of Arrenidas whose house they would haue searched by no meanes bicause he was but newly maried and had his newe spowse in his house as Theopompus wryteth Nowe Demosthenes desiring to shewe that he was in fault preferred a decree that the court of the Areopagites should heare the matter and punish them that were found faultie and therewithall straight offered him selfe to be tried Howbeit he was one of the first whom the court condemned in the summe of fiftie talents and for lacke of payment they put him in prison where he could not endure long both for the shame of the matter for the which he was condemned as also for his sickely body So he brake prison partely without the priuitie of his keepers and partely also with their consent for they were willing he should make a scape Some doe report that he fled not farre from the citie where it was told him that certaine of his enemies followed him whereuppon he would haue hidden him selfe from them But they them selues first called him by his name and comming to him prayed him to take money of them which they had brought him from their houses to helpe him in his banishment and that therefore they ran after him Then they did comfort him the best they could perswaded him to be of good cheere not to dispaire for the misfortune that was comen vnto him This did pearce his hart the more for sorow that he aunswered them why would you not haue me be sorie for my misfortune that compelleth me to forsake the citie where in deede I haue so curteous enemies that it is hard for me to finde any where so good frends So he tooke his banishment vnmanly and remained the most parte of his banishment in the citie of AEGINA or at the citie of TROEZEN where oftentimes he would cast his eyes towards the contrie of ATTICA and weepe bitterly And some haue written certeine words he spake which shewed no minde of a man of corage nor were aunswerable to the noble thinges he was wont to perswade in his Orations For it is reported of him that as he went out of ATHENS he looked backe againe and holding vp his handes to the castell sayd in this sorte O Ladie Minerua Ladie patronesse of this city why doest thou delight in three so mischieuous beastes the owle the draggon and the people Besides he perswaded the young men that came to see him and that were with him neuer to meddle in matters of state assuring them that if they had offred him two wayes at the first the one to goe into the assembly of the people to make Orations in the pulpit and the other to be put to death presently and that he had knowen as he did then the troubles a man is compelled to suffer that medleth with the affaires of the state the feare the enuie the accusacions and troubles in the same he would rather haue chosen the way to haue suffered death So Demosthenes continuing in his exile king Alexander dyed and all GRAECE was vp againe insomuch as Leosthenes being a man of great valure had shut vp Antipater in the citie of LAMBA and there kept him straightly besieged Then Phytheas and Callimedon surnamed Carabos two Orators and both of them banished from ATHENS they tooke parte with Antipater and went from towne to towne with his Ambassadors and frendes perswading the GRAECIANS not to sturre neither to take parte
the Ladies of the citie who were busy solemnly celebrating a secret sacrifice in the honor of the goddesse called of the ROMANES the good goddesse and of the GRAECIANS Gynacia to wit feminine vnto her this yearely sacrifice is done at the Consuls house by the wife or mother of the Consul then being the Vestal Nunnes being present at it Now Cicero being comeâ— into his neighbours house beganne to bethinke him what course he were best to take in this matter For to punish the offenders with seueritie according to their deserts he was afraid to doe it both bicause he was of a curteous nature as also for that he would not seeme to be glad to haue occasion to shew his absolute power and authoritie to punish as he might with rigour Citizens that were of the noblest houses of the citie that had besides many friends And contrariwise also being remisse in so waightie a matter as this he was affraid of the daunger that might ensue of their rashnes mistrusting that if he should punish them with lesse then death they would not amend for it imagining they were well rid of their trouble but would rather become more bold and desperate then euer they were adding moreouer the styng and spight of a newe malice vnto their accustomed wickednes besides that he him selfe should be thought a coward and tymerous man whereas they had already not much better opinion of him Cicero being perplexed thus with these doubts there appeared a miracle to the Ladies doing sacrifice at home in his house For the fire that was thought to be cleane out vpon the aulter where they had sacrificed there sodainely rose out of the imbers of the ryend or barkes which they had burnt a great flame which amased all the other Ladies Howbeit the Vestall NuÌ„nes willed Terential Ciceroes wife to go straight vnto her husband to bid him not to be affraid to execute that boldly which he had considered of for the benefit of the coÌ„mon wealth and that the goddesse had raised this great flame to shewe him that he should haue great honor by doing of it Terentia that was no timerous nor faint harted woman but very ambitious and furthermore had gotten more knowledge from her husband of the affayres of the state then otherwise she had acquainted him with her housewiuery in the house as Cicero him selfe reporteth she went to make report thereof vnto him and prayed him to doe execution of those men The like did Quintus Cicero his brother and also Publius Nigidius his friend and fellow student with him in Philosophie and whose counsell also Cicero followed much in the gouernment of the common wealth The next morning the matter being propounded to the arbitrement of the Senate how these malefactors should be punished Syllanus being asked his opinion first said that they should be put in prison and from thence to suffer execution Others likewise that followed him were all of that minde but Caius Caesar that afterwards came to be Dictator and was then but a young man and began to come forward but yet such a one as by his behauior and the hope he had tooke such a course that afterwards he brought the common wealth of ROME into an absolute Monarchie For at that time Cicero had vehement suspicions of Caesar but no apparant proofe to conuince him And some say that it was brought so neare as he was almost conuicted but yet saued him selfe Other write to the contrary that Cicero wittingly dissembled that he either heard or knew any signes which were told him against Caesar being affraid in deede of his friends and estimation For it was a cleere case that if they had accused Caesar with the rest he vndoubtedly had sooner saued all their liues then he should haue lost his owne Nowe when Caesar came to deliuer his opinion touching the punishment of these prisoners he stoode vp and sayde that he did not thinke it good to put them to death but to confiscate their goods and as for their persons that they should bestow them in prison some in one place some in another in such cities of ITALY as pleased Cicero best vntill the warre of Catilin were ended This sentence being very mild and the author thereof maruelous eloquent to make it good Cicero him self added thereunto a couterpease inclining vnto either of both the opinions partly allowing the first and partly also the opinion of Caesar. His friends thinking that Caesars opinion was the safest for Cicero bicause thereby he should deserue lesse blame for that he had not put the prisoners to death they followed rather the second Whereuppon Syllanus also recanted that he had spoken and expounded his opinion saying that when he spake they should be put to death he ment nothing so but thought the last punishment a Senator of ROME could haue was the prison But the first that contraried this opinion was Catulus Luctatius and after him Cato who with vehement wordes enforced Caesars suspition and furthermore filled all the Senate with wrath and corage so that euen vpon the instant it was decreed by most voyces that they should suffer death But Caesar stept vp again spake against the confiscation of their goods misliking that they should reiect the gentlest part of his opinion and that contrariwise they should sticke vnto the seâ—â—â—rest onely howbeit bicause the greatest number preuailed against him he called the Tribunes to ayde him to the ende they should withstand it but they would giue no eare vnto him Cicero thereupon yelding of him self did remit the confiscation of their goods and went with the Senate to fetche the prisoners who were not all in one house but euery Praetor had one of them So he went first to take C. Lentulus who was in the Mount Palatine and brought him through the holy streete and the market place accompanied with the chiefest men of the citie who compassed him round about and garded his person The people seeing that quaked and trembled for feare passed by and sayd neuer a word and specially the younge men who thought it had bene some solemne misterie for the health of their contry that was so accompanied with the chiefe Magistrate and the noble men of the citie with terror and feare So when he had passed through the market place and was come to the prison he deliuered Lentulus into the handes of the hangman and commaunded him to doe execution Afterwardes also Cethegus and then all the rest one after another whome he brought to the prison him selfe and caused them to be executed Furthermore seeing diuers of their accomplices in a trowpe together in the market place who knewe nothing what he had done and watched onely till night were come supposing then to take away their companions by force from the place where they were thinking they were yet aliue he turned vnto them and spake alowd they liued This is a phrase of speeche which the ROMANES vse sometyme
GRAECIANS doings adding thereunto all the fables and deuises which they doe write and reporte he was hindered of his purpose against his will by many open and priuate troubles that came vpon him at once whereof notwithstanding he him selfe was cause of the most of them For first of all he did put away his wife Terentia bicause she had made but small accompt of him in all the warres so that he departed from ROME hauing no necessarie thing with him to enterteine him out of his contrie and yet when he came backe againe into ITALIE she neuer shewed any sparke of loue or good will towardes him For she neuer came to BRVNDVSIVM to him where he remeyned a long time and worse then that his daughter hauing the hart to take so long a iorney in hand to goe to him she neither gaue her company to conduct her nor money or other furniture conuenient for her but so handled the matter that Cicero at his returne to ROME founde bare walles in his house and nothing in it and yet greatly brought in det besides And these were the honestest causes alleaged for their diuorse But besides that Terentia denyed all these Cicero him selfe gaue her a good occasion to cleere her selfe bicause he shortly after maried a young maiden being fallen in fancie with her as Terentia sayd for her beawtie or as Tyro his seruaunt wrote for her riches to th ende that with her goods he might pay his dets For she was very rich Cicero also was appointed her gardian she being left sole heire Now bicause he ought a maruelous summe of money his parents and frends did counsell him to mary this young maiden notwithstanding he was too olde for her bicause that with her goodes he might satisfie his creditors But Antonius speaking of this mariage of Cicero in his aunswers Orations he made against the PHILIPPIANS he doth reproue him for that he put away his wife with whome he was growen olde being merie with him by the way for that he had bene an idle man and neuer went from the smoke of his chimney nor had bene abroade in the warres in any seruice of his contrie or common wealth Shortly after that he had maried his second wife his daughter dyed in labor of child in Lentulus house whose seconde wife she was being before maried vnto Piso who was her first husband So the Philosophers and learned men came of all sides to comfort him but he tooke her death so sorowfully that he put away his second wife bicause he thought she did reioyce at the death of his daughter And thus muche touching the state and troubles of his house Nowe touching the conspiracie against Caesar he was not made priuie to it although he was one of Brutus greatest frendes and that it grieued him to see thinges in that state they were brought vnto and albeit also he wished for the time past as much as any other man did But in deede the conspirators were affrayed of his nature that lacked hardinesse and of his age the which oftentimes maketh the stowtest and most hardiest natures faint harted cowardly Notwithstanding the conspiracie being executed by Brutus and Cassius Caesars frendes beinge gathered together euerie man was affrayed that the citie woulde againe fall into ciuill warres And Antonius also who was Consul at that time did assemble the Senate and made some speache and mocion then to draw things againe vnto quietnes But Cicero hauing vsed diuers perswasions fit for the time in the end he moued the Senate to decree following the example of the ATHENIANS a generall obliuion of thinges done against Caesar and to assigne vnto Brutus and Cassius some gouernmentes of prouinces Howbeit nothing was concluded for the people of them selues were sorie when they sawe Caesars bodie brought through the market place And when Antonius also did shew them his gowne all be bloodied cut throst through with swordes then they were like madde men for anger and sought vp and downe the market place if they coulde meete with any of them that had slaine him and taking fire brandes in their handes they ranne to their houses to set them a fire But the conspirators hauing preuented this daunger saued them selues and fearing that if they taried at ROME they should haue many such alaroms they forsooke the citie Then Antonius began to looke aloft and became fearefull to all men as though he ment to make him selfe king but yet most of all vnto Cicero aboue all others For Antonius perceiuing that Cicero began againe to increase in credit and authoritie and knowing that he was Brutus very frend he did mislike to see him come neere him and besides there was at that time some gealousie betwext them for the diuersitie and difference of their manners and disposicions Cicero being affrayed of this was first of all in minde to go with Dolabella to his prouince of SYRIA as one of his Lieutenaunts But they that were appointed to be Consuls the next yeare following after Antonius two noble citizens Ciceroes great frends Hircius Pansa they intreated him not to forsake them vndertaking that they would plucke downe this ouergreat power of Antonius so he would remaine with them But Cicero neither beleuing not altogether mistrusting them forsooke Dolabella and promised Hircius and Pansa that he would spend the sommer at ATHENS and that he would returne againe to ROME so soone as they were entred into their Consulship With this determination Cicero tooke sea alone to goe into GRAECE But as it chaunceth oftentimes there was some let that kept him he could not saile and newes came to him daily from ROME as the manner is that Antonius was wonderfully chaunged and that nowe he did nothing any more without the authoritie consent of the Senate that there lacked no thing but his person to make all things well Then Cicero condemning his dastardly feare returned foorthwith to ROME not being deceiued in his first hope For there came suche a number of people out to meete him that he coulde doe nothing all day long but take them by the handes and imbrace them who to honor him came to meete him at the gate of the citie as also by the way to bring him to his house The next morning Antonius assembled the Senate and called for Cicero by name Cicero refused to goe and kept his bedde fayning that he was werie with his iorney and paines he had taken the day before but in deede the cause why he went not was for feare and suspicion of an ambushe that was layed for him by the way if he had gone as he was informed by one of his verie good frends Antonius was maruelously offended that they did wrongfully accuse him for laying of any ambush for him and therefore sent souldiers to his house and commaunded them to bring him by force or else to sette his house a fire After that time Cicero and he were
sent to DELPHES to Apollo Pytheas or vnto ELIDE to Iupiter Olympias at the common and solemne feasts of all GRAECE to doe the ordinary sacrifices and oblations for the health and preseruation of the cities This Stratocles in all things els was a desperate man and one that had alwayes led a wicked and dissolute life for his shameles boldnes he seemed wholy to follow the steppes of Cleons foole hardines and olde insolencie which when he liued he shewed vnto the people He openly kept a harlot in his house called Phylacion One day she hauing bought for his supper beastes heades and neckes commonly eaten he sayd vnto her why how now thou hast bought me acates which we tosse like balls that haue to doe in the common wealth Another time when the armie of the ATHENIANS was ouerthrowen by sea by the I le of AMORGOS he would needes preuent the newes of this ouerthrowe and came through the streete of Ceranicus crowned with garlands of flowers as if the ATHENIANS had wonne the battell and was also the author of a decree whereby they did sacrifice vnto the goddes to giue them thankes for the victorie and meate was giuen amongest euery tribe in token of common ioy But shortly after the Messengers arriued which brought report of the shipwracke and ouerthrowe The people were in an vprore withal and sent for Stratocles in a maruelous rage But he with a face of brasse came vnto them and arrogantly defended the peoples ill will and angrily told them well and what hurt haue I done you if I haue made you mery these two dayes Such was Stratocles impudencie and rashnes But as the Poet Aristophanes sayth But vvhotter matters vvere that time in hand Than fire that vvasteth both by sea and land For there was another that passed Stratocles in knauerie Who procured a decree that as often as Demetrius came into the citie of ATHENS he should be receiued with all ceremonies and like solemnitie as they vse in the feasts of Ceres and Bacchus and further that they should giue vnto him that did excell all the rest in sumptuousnes and riches at such time as Demetrius made his entry into the citie so much money out of the common treasure as should serue to make an image or other offring which should be consecrated to the temples in memorie of his liberalitie And last of all they chaunged the name of the moneth Munichion to wit the moneth of Ianuary and called it Demetrion and the last day of the moneth which they called before the new and old moone they then called it the Demetriade and the feastes of Bacchus also called then Dionysia they presently named Demetria But the goddes by diuers signes and tokens shewed plainly that they were offended with these chaunges and alteracions For the holy banner in the which according to the order set downe they had paynted the images of Antigonus and Demetrius with the pictures of Iupiter and Minerua as they caried it a procession through the streete Ceranicus it was torne a sonder in the middest by a tempest of winde And furthermore about the aulters which were set vp in the honor of Demetrius and Antigonus there grew a great deale of hemlocke the which otherwise was vnpossible to growe there On the feast day also of Bacchus they were compelled to leaue the pompe or procession for that daye it was such an extreame hard frost out of all season and besides there sell such a myll dewe and great frost vpon it that not onely their vines and oliues were killed with it but also the most part of the wheate blades which were newly sprong vp And therefore the Poet Philippides an enemie of the aforesayd Stratocles in one of his comedies writeth certaine verses against him to this effect The partie for vvhose vvickednes the veyle vvarent in â—vvayne VVhich vvith the honor due to God did vvorship men most vayne Is he for vvhom our budding vines vvere blasted with the frost Those thinges and not our comedies haue us so deerly cost This Philippides was very well beloued of king Lysimachus insomuch that for his sake the king had done many pleasures to the common wealth of ATHENS For he loued him so dearly that as often as he saw him or met with him at the beginning of any warre or matter of great importance he was of opinion that he brought him good lucke For in deed he did not so much esteeme him for the excellencie of his arte but he was much more to be beloued esteemed for his vertous and honest condicions He was no troublesom man nether was he infected with the finenesse of court as he shewed one day when the king made much of him and giuing him good countenance said vnto him what wilt thou haue me giue thee of my things Philippides euen what it shall please thee O king so it be one of thy secrets Thus much we thought good to speake of him in bytalke bicause air honest player of comedies should matche with a shameles and impudent Orator of the people But yet there was another Democlides of the village of SPHETTVS that dreamed out a more straunger kind of honor touching the consecration of their targets which they dedicated to the temple of Apollo in DELPHS that is to say that they should goe aske the oracle of Demetrius But I wil shew you the very effect and forme of the law as it was set downe In good howerâ— the people ordeyne that he should be chosen one of the Citizens of ATHENS which shall goe vnto our sauior and after that he hath done due sacrifice vnto him he shal aske Demetrius our sauior after what sort the people shall with greatest holines and deuotion without delay make consecration of their holiest gifts and offerings and according to the oracle it shall please him to giue them the people shal duely execute it Thus laying vpon Demetrius al these foolish mockeries who besides was no great wise man they made him a very foole Demetrius being at that time at leisure in ATHENS he married a widow called Eurydice which came of that noble and auncient house of Miltiades and had bene maried before vnto one Opheltas Prince of the CYRENIANS and that after his death returned againe to ATHENS The ATHENIANS were very glad of this marriage and thought it the greatest honor that came to their citie supposing he had done it for their sakes Howbeit he was soone wonne to be married for he had many wiues but amongest them all he loued Phila best and gaue her most honor and preheminence aboue them all partly for the respect of her father Antipater and partly also for that she had bene first maried vnto Craterus whome the MACEDONIANS loued best when he liued and most lamented after his death aboue all the other successors of Alexander His father I suppose made him to marry her by force although in deede her
rashe of nature and as insolent and braue in his doinges as in his wordes that thereby he stirred vppe and brought vppon him as his enemies many great and mighty Princes For euen at that present time he said that he would as easely disperse and scatter a sunder that conspiracie against him as chowghes or other litle birdes comming to pecke vp the corne newly sowen are easely scared awaye with a stone or making any litle noyse So he caried to the field with him aboue three score and tenne thowsand footemen tenne thowsand horsemen and three score and fifteene Elephantes His enemies had three score and foure thowsande footemen and fiue hundred horsemen more then he with foure hundred Elephants and six score cartes of warre When the two armies were one neere vnto the other me thinkes he had some imaginacion in his head that chaunged his hope but not his corage For in all other battells and conflictes hauing commonly vsed to looke bigge of the matter to haue a lowde high voyce and to vse braue wordes and sometime also euen in the chiefest of all the battell to geue some pleasant mocke or other shewing a certaine trust he had in him selfe and a contempt of his enemie then they sawe him oftentimes alone and verie pensiue without euer a word to any man One day he called all his armie together and presented his sonne vnto the souldiers recommending him vnto them as his heire and successor and talked with him alone in his tent Whereat men maruelled the more bicause that he neuer vsed before to imparte to any man the secrets of his counsell and determination no not to his owne sonne but did all things of him selfe and then commaunded that thing openly to be done which he had secretly purposed For proofe hereof it is said Demetrius being but a young man asked him on a time when the campe should remoue and that Antigonus in anger aunswered him art thou affrayed thou shalt not heare the sownd of the trompet Furthermore there fell out many ill signes and tokens that killed their harts For Demetrius dreamed that Alexander the great appeaâ—ed armed vnto him at all peeces and that he asked him what word or signall of battell they were determined to geue at the day of the battell He aunswered that they were determined to geue Iupiter and Victorie Then said Alexander I will goe to thine enemies that shall receiue me And afterwardes at the very day of the ouerthrow when all their armie were set in battell ray Antigonus comming out of his tent had such a great fall that he fell flat on his face on the ground and hurte him selfe verie sorely So when he was taken vp then lifting vp his handes to heauen he made his prayers vnto the goddes that it would please them to graunt him victorie or sodaine death without great paine before he shoulde see him selfe vanquished and his armie ouerthrowen When both battells came to ioyne and that they fought hand to hand Demetrius that had the most parte of the horsemen with him went and gaue charge vpon Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus and fought it out so valliantly on his side that he ouerthrewe his enemies and put them to flight But too fondly following the chase of them that fledde and out of time he marred all and was the occasion of the losse of his victorie For when he returned from the chase he could not ioyne againe with their footemen bicause the Elephants were betwene both Then Seleucus perceiuing Antigonus battell was naked of horsemen he did not presently set vpon them but turned at one side as though he woulde enuiron them behinde and made them affrayed yet making head as he would charge them only to geue them leasure to come on their side as they did For the most parte of Antigonus hoast did forsake him and yeelded vnto his enemies the rest of them fled euery man And when a great trowpe of men together went with great furie to geue charge on that side where Antigonus was one of them that were about him sayd vnto him your grace had neede take heede for these men come to charge vs He aunswered againe but how should they know me And if they did my sonne Demetrius will come and helpe me This was his last hope and still he looked euerie way if he could see his sonne comming towards him vntill at length he was slaine with arrowes darts pikes For of all his frendes and souldiers there taried not one man by his bodie but Thorax of the citie of LARISSA in THESSALIE Now the battell hauing suche successe as you haue heard the Kings and Princes that had won so glorious a victorie as if they had cut a great bodie into sundrie peeces they deuided Antigonus kingdome among them and euerie man had his part of all the prouinces and contries which Antigonus kept adding that vnto their other dominions which they possessed affore Nowe Demetrius flying with all possible speede that might be with fiue thowsand footemen and foure thowsand horsemen he got to the citie of EPHESVS where euerie man mistrusted that being needie of money as he was he would not spare the temple of Diana in EPHESVS but would rifle all the gold and siluer in it And in contrarie maner also Demetrius being affrayed of his souldiers least they would spoyle it against his will he sodainly departed thence and sayled towardes GRAECE putting his greatest confidence affiance in the ATHENIANS bicause he had left his wife Deidamia at ATHENS with shippes and some money supposing he could goe no whether with better safety in his aduersitie then to ATHENS of whose good wills he thought him selfe assured Wherefore when Ambassadors of the ATHENIANS came vnto him and found him not farre from the Iles CYCLADES as he sailed with great speede towardes ATTICA and that they had declared vnto him he should forbeare to come vnto their citie bicause the people had made an ordinance to suffer no moe kings to come into ATHENS and that they had sent Deidamia his wife honorablie accompanied vnto the citie of MEGARA then was Demetrius for verie anger passion of minde cleane out of countenaunce although vntill that time he had paciently borne his aduersitie and his hart had neuer failed him But this nipped him to the harte when he sawe that contrarie to exspectacion the ATHENIANS had deceiued and failed him in his greatest neede and that in his aduersitie he found their former frendshippe counterfeate and altogether dissembled Whereby most plainly appeareth that the most vncerteine and deceiueable prose of peoples good wills and cities towardes Kings and Princes are the immesurable and extreame honors they doe vnto them For sith it is so that the trueth and certainty of honor proceedeth from the good will of those that giue it the feare which the common people commonly stand in of the power of kings is sufficient cause for them to
wound he brought into his subiection againe certaine townes that had rebelled against him After that he returned againe into ATTICA and tooke the cities of ELEVSIN and of RHAMNVS and then spoyled all the contrie tooke a shippe fraight with corne and hong vp the marchaunt that ought it and the maister of the shippe that brought it Thereby to terrifie all other merchauntes that they shoulde be affrayed to bring any more corne thither and so to famish the citie by keeping them from all thinges necessarie for their sustenaunce and so it happened For a bushell of salt was sold at ATHENS for fortie siluer Drachmas and the bushell of wheate for three hundred Drachmas In this extreame necessitie the ATHENIANS had but a short ioy for the hundred and fiftie gallies they saw neere vnto AEGINA the which Ptolomy sent to aide them For when the souldiers that were in them sawe that they brought vnto Demetrius a great number of shippes out of PELOPONNESVS out of CYPRVS diuers other partes which amounted in the whole to the number of three hundred saile they weyed their anckers and fled presently Then Lachares forsooke the city and secretly saued him selfe Nowe the ATHENIANS who before had commaunded vppon paine of death that no man should make any motion to the counsell to treate of any peace with Demetrius they did then vpon Lachares flying presently open the gates next vnto Demetrius campe and sent Ambassadours vnto him not looking for any grace or peace but bicause necessitie draue them to it During this so hard and straight siege there fell out many wonderfull and straunge things but among others this one is of speciall note It is reported that the father and the sonne sitting in their house voide of all hope of life there fell a dead ratte before them from the toppe of the house and that the father and sonne fought who should haue it to eate Moreouer that at the selfe same siege the Philosopher Epicurus maintained him selfe and his schollers by getting them a proporcion of beanes euerie day by the which they liued Thus the citie of ATHENS being brought vnto this extremitie Demetrius made his entrie into it and gaue commaundement to all the citizens that they shoulde assemble euerie man within the Theater where he made them to be compassed in with armed souldiers and then placed all his gard armed about the stage Afterwards he came downe him selfe into the Theater through high galleries and entries by the which the common players vsed to come to play their partes in tragedies insomuche as the ATHENIANS were then worse affrayed then before howbeit Demetrius presently pacified their feare as soone as he beganne to speake vnto them For he did not facion his Oration with a hastie angrie voyce neither did he vse any sharpe or bitter wordes but onely after he had curteously told them their faults and discurtesie towards him he sayd he forgaue them and that he would be their frende againe and furthermore he caused tenne millions of bushells of wheate to be geuen vnto them and stablished such Gouernors there as the people misliked not of Then Democles the Orator seeing that the people gaue out great showtes of ioy in the praise of Demetrius and that the Orators dayly contended in the pulpit for Orations who should exceede other in preferring newe honors for Demetrius he caused an order to be made that the hauens of PIRAEVS and MVNYCHIA should be put into Demetrius handes to vse at his pleasure This being stablished by voyces of the people Demetrius of his owne priuate authoritie did place a greate garrison within the forte called MVSAEVM bicause the people should rebell no more against him nor diuert him from his other enterprises Thus when he had taken ATHENS he went to set vpon the LACEDAEMONIANS But Archidamus king of LACEDAEMON came against him with a puisant armie whom he discomfited in battell and put to flight by the citie of MANTINEA After that he inuaded LACONIA with all his armie and made an inrode to the citie of SPARTA where he once againe ouerthrew the LACEDAEMONIANS in set battell tooke fiue hundred of them prisoners and slue two hundred insomuch that euery man thought he might euen then goe to SPARTA without any daunger to take it the which had neuer yet bene take affore by any But there was neuer king that had so often and sodaine chaunges of fortune as Demetrius nor that in other affaires was euer so often litle and then great so sodainly downe and vp againe so weake straight so strong And therefore it is reported that in his great aduersities when fortune turned so contrarie against him he was wont to crie out vppon fortune that which AEschylus speaketh in a place Thou seemst to haue begotten me of purpose for to shovve Thy force in lifting of me vp me dovvne againe to throvv Nowe againe when his affaires prospered so well and that he was likely to recouer a great force and kingdome newes were brought him first that Lysimachus had taken all his townes from him which he helde in ASIA and on the other side that Ptolomy had won from him all the realme of CYPRVS the citie of SALAMINA onely excepted in the which he kept his mother and children very straightly besieged This notwithstanding fortune played with him as the wicked woman Archilochus speaketh of who Did in the one hand vvater shovv And in the other fire bestovv For taking him away and as it were the citie of SPARTA also out of his handes by these dreadfull newes euen when he was certaine to haue won it she presently offered him hopes of other great and new thinges by this occasion following After the death of Cassander Philip who was the eldest of all his other sonnes and left his heire and successor in the kingdome of MACEDON he reigned no long time ouer the MACEDONIANS but deceased soone after his father was dead The two other brethren also fell at great variance and warres together so that the one called Antipater slue his owne mother Thessalonica and the other being Alexander called in to aide him Demetrius and Pyrrhus the one out of the realme of EPIRVS and the other out of PELOPONNESVS Pyrrhus came first before Demetrius and kept a great parte of MACEDON for recompence of his paines comming to aide him at his desire so that he became a dreadfull neighbour vnto Alexander him selfe that had sent for him into his contrie Furthermore when he was aduertised that Demetrius did presently vpon the receite of his letters set forward with all his armie to come to aide him the young Prince Alexander was twise as muche more amazed and affrayed for the great estate and estimacion of Demetrius So he went to him notwithstanding and receiued him at a place called Deion and there imbraced and welcomed him But immediatly after he told him that his affaires were nowe in so good state
whom this young Prince fansied and the which he forced him selfe to keepe secret to the death thought that to bewray it to the king it would offend him muche but yet trusting to his great affection and fatherly loue he bare to his sonne he ventred one day to tell him that his sonnes sicknesse was no other but loue and withall that his loue was impossible to be inioyed and therefore that he must of necessitie dye for it was incurable Seleucus was cold at the harte to heare these newes so he asked him what is he incurable Yea Sir aunswered the Phisitian bicause he is in loue with my wife Then replied Seleucus againe alas Erasistratus I haue alwayes loued thee as one of my dearest frendes and wouldest thou not now doe me this pleasure to lette my sonne marry thy wife sith thou knowest it well that I haue no moe sonnes but he and that I see he is but cast away if thou helpe me not But your grace would not doe it your selfe sayd Erasistratus if he were in loue with Stratonice O sayd Seleucus to him againe that it were the wil of the gods some god or man could turne his loue that way for mine owne parte I would not only leaue him the thing he loued but I would geue my kingdom also to saue his life Thē Erasistratus seeing that the king spake these words from his hart and with abundance of teares he tooke him by the right hand and told him plainly your grace needeth not Erasistratus helpe in this For being father husbande and king your selfe also may onely be the Phisitian to cure your sonnes disease When Seleucus heard that he called an assemblie of the people and declared before them all that he was determined to crown his sonne Antiochus king of the high prouinces of ASIA Stratonice Queene to marry them together and that he was perswaded that his sonne who had alwayes shewed him selfe obedient to his fathers will would not disobey him in this mariage And as for Stratonice if she misliked this mariage and would not consent vnto it bicause it was no common matter then he prayed that his frendes would perswade her she should thinke all good comely that should please the king and withall that concerned the general benefit of the realme and common wealth Hereuppon Antiochus and Stratonice were married together But now to returne againe to the history of Demetrius Demetrius came by the kingdom of MACEDON and THESSALIE by this meanes as you haue heard and did moreouer possesse the best parte of PELOPONNESVS and on this side the straight the cities of MEGARA and ATHENS Furthermore he led his armie against the BOEOTIANS who were at the first willing to make peace with him But after that Cleonymus king of SPARTA was come into the city of THEBES with his army the BOEOTIANS encouraged by the faire wordes and allurement of one Pisis borne in the citie of THESPIS who at that time bare all the sway chiefe authoritie amongst them they gaue vp their treaty of peace they had begon with Demetrius determined to make warre Therupon Demetrius wēt to besiege the citie of THEBES layed his engines of battery vnto it insomuch as Cleonymus for feare stale secretly out of the citie Thereuppon the THEBANS being also affrayed yeelded them selues vnto Demetrius mercie who putting great garrisons into the cities hauing leauied a great summe of money of the prouince left them Hieronymus the historiographer his Lieutenant Gouernor there So it appeared that he vsed them very curteously did them many pleasures and specially vnto Pisis For when he had taken him prisoner he did him no hurt but receiued him very curteously and vsed him well and furthermore he made him Polemarchus to wit campe maister in the city of THESPIS Shortly after these things were thus brought to passe king Lysimachus by chaunce was taken by an other barbarous Prince called Dromichetes Thereupon Demetrius to take such a noble occasion offred him went with a great army to inuade the contry of THRACIA supposing he should find no man to withstande him but that he might conquer it at his pleasure Howbeit so soone as Demetrius backe was turned the BOEOTIANS reuolted againe from him therwithall newes was brought him that Lysimachus was deliuered out of prison Then he returned backe with all speede maruelously offended with the BOEOTIANS whom he found already discomfited in battell by his sonne Antigonus went againe to lay siege to the citie of THEBES being the chiefe city of al that prouince of BOEOTIA But at that present time Pyrrhus came forraged all THESSALY and entred euen to the straight of THERMOPYLES Therefore Demetrius was constrained to leaue his sonne to continewe the siege at THEBES whilest he him selfe went against Pyrrhus who sodainly returned againe into his realme So Demetrius left ten thowsand footemen and a thowsand horsemen in THESSALY to defend the contry returned with the rest of his army to win THEBES Thereuppon he brought his great engine of batterie called Elepolis against the wall as you haue heard before the which was thrust forward by litle litle with great labor by reason of the weight and heauines of it so that it could scant be driuen forward two furlongs in two months But the BOEOTIANS the THEBANS did valliantly defend them selues and Demetrius of a malicious minde desire of reuenge more oftner then needefull or to any purpose compelled his men to go to the assault to hazard them selues so that there were daily a great number of them slaine Antigonus his sonne perceiuing it alas said he why doe we thus suffer our men to be slaine and cast away to no purpose Wherefore Demetrius angrily aunswered him againe what needest thou to care Is there any corne to be distributed to those that are dead But notwithstanding bicause men should not thinke he still ment to put others in daunger and durst not venter him selfe he fought with them till at length he was shot through the necke with a sharpe arrow head that was shot at him from the wall Wherewithall he fell very sicke but yet raised not his siege nor remoued his campe but tooke the citie of THEBES againe by assault the which being not long before againe replenished with people was in ten yeares space twise won and taken Now he put the THEBANS in a maruelous feare by his cruell threats he gaue them at his cōming into THEBES so that they looked to haue receiued the extreamest punishment the vanquished could haue through the iust wrath and anger of the conqueror Howbeit after Demetrius had put thirtene of them to death and banished some he pardoned all the rest About that time fell out the celebration of the feast called Pythia in the honour of Apollo and bicause the AETOLIANS kept all the high wayes to bring them vnto the city of DELPHES in the which of olde time they
had bene very famillier with Demetrius Him Seleucus sent immediately vnto Demetrius to will him to be of good chere and not to be affrayd to come to the king his Maister for he should find him his very good friend So soone as the kings pleasure was knowen a few of his Courtiers went at the first to meete him but afterwards euery man striued who should goe meete him first bicause they were all in hope that he should presently be much made of and growe in credit with Seleucus But hereby they turned Seleucus pitie into enuie and gaue occasion also to Demetrius enemies and spitefull men to turne the kings bowntifull good nature from him For they put into his head many doubts and daungers saying that certainly so soone as the souldiers sawe him there would grow great sturre and chaunge in their campe And therefore shortly after that Apollonides was come vnto Demetrius being glad to bringe him these good newes and as others also followed him one after another bringing him some good words from Seleucus and that Demetrius him selfe after so great an ouerthrow although that before he thought it a shamefull part of him to haue yeelded his body into his enemies hands chaunged his mind at that time and began then to grow bold to haue good hope to recouer his state againe behold there came one of Seleucus Captaines called Paâ—sanias accompanied with a thowsand footemen horsemen in all who compassed in Demetrius with them and made the rest depart that were come vnto him before hauing charge giuen him not to bring him to the Court but to conuey him into CHERRONESVS of SYRIA whether he was brought and euer after had a strong garrison about him to keepe him But otherwise Seleucus sent him Officers money and all things els meete for a Princes house and his ordinary fare was so delicate that he could wishe for no more then he had And furthermore he had places of libertie and pleasure appointed him both to ride his horse in and also pleasaunt walkes and goodly arbors to walke or sit in fine parkes full of beasts where he might b 〈…〉 moreouer the king suffered his owne houshold seruaunts that followed him when he fled to remaine with him if they would And furthermore there daily came some one or other vnto him from Seleucus to comfort him and to put him in hope that so soone as Antiochus Stratonice where come they would make some good agreement and peace betwene them Demetrius remaining in this estate wrote vnto his sonne Antigonus and to his friends and Lieutenants which he had at CORINTHE ATHENS that they should giue no credit to any letters written in his name though his seale were to them but that they should keepe the townes they had in charge for his sonne Antigonus and all the rest of his forces as if him selfe were dead When Antigonus heard the pitifull captiuitie of his father he maruelous greeuously tooke his hard fortune wearing blackes for sorrow and wrote vnto all the other kings but vnto Seleucus specially beseeching him to take him as a pledge for his father that he was ready to yeld vp al that he kept to haue his fathers libertie The like request did many cities make vnto him and in manner all Princes but Lysimachus who promised Seleucus a great summe of money to put Demetrius to death But Seleucus who of long time had no great fancie to Lysimachus but rather vtterly despised him did then thinke him the more cruell and barbarous for this vile and wicked request he made vnto him Wherefore he still delayed time bicause he would haue Demetrius deliuered by his sonne Antiochus and Stratonices meanes for that Demetrius should be bownd to them for his deliuerie and for euer should acknowledge it to them Now for Demetrius as he from the beginning paciently tooke his hard fortune so did he daily more and more forget the miserie he was in For first of al he gaue him selfe to riding and hunting as farre as the place gaue him libertie Then by litle and litle he grew to be very grosse and to giue ouer such pastimes and therewithall he fell into dronkennes and dyeing so that in that sort he passed away the most part of his time as it should seeme either to auoid the greuous thoughts of his hard fortune which came into his mind when he was sober or els vnder culler of dronkennes and eating to shadow the thoughts he had or els finding in him selfe that it was that manner of life he had long desired and that through his vaine ambition and follie till that time he could neuer attayne vnto greatly turmoyling and troubling him selfe and others supposing to find in warres by sea land the felicitie and delight which he had found in ease and idlenes when he nether thought of it nor loked for it For what better ende can euill and vnaduised kings and Princes looke for of all their troubles daungers and warres who in deede deceiue them selues greatly not onely for that they followe their pleasure and delights as their chiefest felicitie in steede of vertue and honest life but also bicause that in truth they can not be mery and take their pleasure as they would So Demetrius after he had bene shut vp in CHERRONESVS three yeares together by ease grossenes dronkennes fell sicke of a disease whereof he dyed when he was foure and fiftye yeare old Therefore was Seleucus greatly blamed and he him selfe also did much repent him that he so suspected him as he did and that he followed not Dromichetes curtesie a barbarous man borne in THRACIA who had so royally and curteously intreated Lysimachus whom he had taken prisoner in the warres But yet there was some tragicall pompe in the order of his funerall For his sonne Antigonus vnderstaÌ„ding that they brought him the ashes of his bodie he tooke sea with all his shippes and went to meete them to receiue them in the Iles and when he had receiued them he set vp the funerall pot of golde in the which were his embers vppon the poope of his Admirall galley So all the cities and townes whereby they passed or harbered some of them did put garlands of flowers about the pot others also sent a number of men thether in mourning apparell to accompany and honor the conuoye to the very solemnitie of his funeralls In this sort sayled all the whole fleete towards the citie of CORINTHE the pot being plainely seene farre of standing on the toppe of the Admirall galley all the place about it being hanged about with purple and ouer it the diademe or royall band and about it also were goodly younge men armed which were as Pensioners to Demetrius Furthermore Xenophantus the famousest Musition in that time being set hard by it played a sweete and lamentable songe on the flute wherewithall the ores keeping stroke and measure the sownd did meete with a
breaketh out vnder the ground in that place where it is deuided in the narrowest place from the sea on this side So Antonius was sent before into AEGYPT with his horsemen who did not onely winne that passage but also tooke the citie of PELVSIVM which is a great citie with all the souldiers in it and thereby he cleared the way and made it safe for all the rest of the armie and the hope of the victorie also certaine for his Captaine Nowe did the enemies them selues feele the frutes of Antonius curtesie and the desire he had to winne honor For when Ptolomye after he had entred into the citie of PELVSIVM for the malice he bare vnto the citie would haue put all the AEGYPTIANS in it to the sword Antonius withstoode him by no meanes would suffer him to doe it And in all other great battells and skirmishes which they fought and were many in number Antonius did many noble actes of a valliant and wise Captaine but specially in one battell where he compassed in the enemies behind giuing them the victorie that fought against them whereby he afterwards had such honorable reward as his valliantnes deserued So was his great curtesie also much commended of all the which he shewed vnto Archelaus For hauing bene his very friend he made warre with him against his will while he liued but after his death he sought for his bodye and gaue it honorable buriall For these respects he wanne him selfe great fame of them of ALEXANDRIA and he was also thought a worthy man of all the souldiers in the ROMANES campe But besides all this he had a noble presence and shewed a countenaunce of one of a noble house he had a goodly thicke beard abroad forehead crooke nosed and there appeared such a manly looke in his countenaunce as is commonly seene in Hercules pictures stamped or grauen in mettell Now it had bene a speeche of old time that the familie of the Antonij were discended from one Anton the sonne of Hercules whereof the familie tooke name This opinion did Antonius seeke to confirme in all his doings not onely resembling him in the likenes of his bodye as we haue sayd before but also in the wearing of his garments For when he would openly shewe him selfe abroad before many people he would alwayes weare his cafsocke gyrt downe lowe vpon his hippes with a great sword hanging by his side and vpon that some ill fauored cloke Furthermore things that seeme intollerable in other men as to boast commonly to ieast with one or other to drinke like a good fellow with euery body to sit with the souldiers when they dine and to eate and drinke with them souldierlike it is incredible what wonderfull loue it wanne him amongest them And furthermore being giuen to loue that made him the more desired and by that meanes he brought many to loue him For he would further euery mans loue and also would not be angry that men should merily tell him of those he loued But besides all this that which most procured his rising and aduauncement was his liberalitie who gaue all to the souldiers and kept nothing for him selfe and when he was growen to great credit then was his authoritie and power also very great the which notwithstanding him selfe did ouerthrowe by a thowsand other faults he had In this place I will shewe you one example onely of his wonderful liberalitie He commaunded one day his coferer that kept his money to giue a friend of his 25. Myriades which the ROMANES call in their tongue Decies His coferer marueling at it and being angry withall in his minde brought him all this money in a heape together to shewe him what a maruelous masse of money it was Antonius seeing it as he went by asked what it was his coferer aunswered him it was the money he willed him to giue vnto his friend Then Antonius perceiuing the spight of his man I thought sayd he that Decies had bene a greater summe of money then it is for this is but a trifle and therefore he gaue his friend as much more another tyme but that was afterwardes Nowe the ROMANES mainteyning two factions at ROME at that tyme one against the other of the which they that tooke part with the Senate did ioyne with Pompey being then in ROME and the contrary side taking part with the people sent for Caesar to ayde them who made warres in GAVLE Then Curio Antonius friend that had chaunged his garments and at that tyme tooke parte with Caesar whose enemie he had bene before be wanne Antonius and so handled the matter partly through the great credit and swaye he bare amongest the people by reason of his eloquent tongue and partly also by his exceeding expence of money he made which Caesar gaue him that Antonius was chosen Tribune and afterwards made Augure But this was a great helpe and furtheraunce to Caesars practises For so soone as Antonius became Tribune he did oppose him selfe against those thinges which the Consul Marcellus preferred who ordeyned that certaine legions which had bene already leauied and billed should be giuen vnto Cneus Pompey with further commission and authoritie to leauye others vnto them and set downe an order that the souldiers which were already leauied and assembled should be sent into SYRIA for a newe supplie vnto Marcus Bibulus who made warre at that tyme against the PARTHIANS And furthermore prohibition that Pompey should leauy no more men and also that the souldiers should not obey him Secondly where Pompeys friends and followers would not suffer Caesars letters to be receiued and openly red in the Senate Antonius hauing power and warrant by his person through the holines of his tribuneship did read them openly and made diuers men chaunge their mindes for it appeared to them that Caesar by his letters required no vnreasonable matters At length when they preferred two matters of consideracion vnto the Senate whether they thought good that Pompey or Caesar should leaue their armie there were few of the Senators that thought it meete Pompey should leaue his armie but they all in manner commaunded Caesar to doe it Then Antonius rising vp asked whether they thought it good that Pompey and Caesar both should leaue their armies Thereunto all the Senators ioyntly together gaue their whole consent and with a great crye commending Antonius they prayed him to referre it to the iudgement of the Senate But the Consuls would not allowe of that Therefore Caesars friendes preferred other reasonable demaunds and requests againe but Cato spake against them and Leutulus one of the Consuls draue Antonius by force out of the Senate who at his going out made greuous curses against him After that he tooke a slaues gowne and speedily fled to Caesar with Quintus Cassius in a hyered coch When they came to Caesar they cryed out with open mouth that all went hand ouer head at ROME for the
this state at ROME Octauius Caesar the younger came to ROME who was the sonne of Iulius Caesars Nece as you haue heard before and was left his lawefull heire by will remayning at the tyme of the death of his great Vncle that was slayne in the citie of APOLLONIA This young man at his first arriuall went to salute Antonius as one of his late dead father Caesars friendes who by his last will and testament had made him his heire and withall he was presently in hande with him for money and other thinges which were left of trust in his handes bicause Caesar had by will bequeathed vnto the people of ROME three score and fifteene siluer Drachmas to be giuen to euery man the which he as heire stoode charged withall Antonius at the first made no reckoning of him bicause he was very younge and sayde he lacked witte and good friendes to aduise him if he looked to take such a charge in hande as to vndertake to be Caesars heire But when Antonius saw that he could not shake him of with those wordes and that he was still in hande with him for his fathers goods but specially for the ready money then he spake and did what he could against him And first of all it was he that did keepe him from being Tribune of the people and also when Octauius Caesar beganne to meddle with the dedicating of the chayer of gold which was prepared by the Senate to honor Caesar with he threatned to send him to prison and moreouer desisted not to put the people in an vnprore This young Caesar seeing his doings went vnto Cicero and others which were Antonius enemies and by them crept into fauor with the Senate and he him self sought the peoples good will euery manner of way gathering together the olde souldiers of the late deceased Caesar which were dispersed in diuers cities and colonyes Antonius being affrayd of it talked with Octauius in the capitoll and became his friend But the very same night Antonius had a straunge dreame who thought that lightning fell vpon him burnt his right hand Shortly after word was brought him that Caesar lay in waite to kil him Caesar cleered him selfe vnto him and told him there was no such matter but he could not make Antonius beleue the contrary Whereuppon they became further enemies then euer they were insomuch that both of them made friends of either side to gather together all the old souldiers through ITALY that were dispersed in diuers townes made them large promises sought also to winne the legions of their side which were already in armes Cicero on the other side being at that time the chiefest man of authoritie estimation in the citie he stirred vp al meÌ„ against Antonius so that in the end he made the Senate pronouÌ„ce him an enemy to his contry appointed young Caesar Sergeaunts to cary axes before him such other signes as were incident to the dignitie of a Consul or Praetor moreouer sent Hircius and Pausa then Consuls to driue Antonius out of ITALY These two Consuls together with Caesar who also had an armye went against Antonius that beseeged the citie of MODENA and there ouerthrew him in battell but both the Consuls were slaine there Antonius flying vpon this ouerthrowe fell into great miserie all at once but the chiefest want of all other that pinched him most was famine Howbeit he was of such a strong nature that by pacience he would ouercome any aduersitie and the heauier fortune lay vpon him the more constant shewed he him selfe Euery man that feleth want or aduersitie knoweth by vertue and discretion what he should doe but when in deede they are ouerlayed with extremitie and be sore oppressed few haue the harts to follow that which they praise and commend and much lesse to auoid that they reproue and mislike But rather to the contrary they yeld to their accustomed easie life and through faynt hart lacke of corage doe chaunge their first mind and purpose And therefore it was a wonderfull example to the souldiers to see Antonius that was brought vp in all finenes and superfluitie â—â— easily to drinke puddle water and to eate wild frutes and rootes and moreouer it is reported that euen as they passed the Alpes they did eate the barcks of trees and such beasts as neuer man tasted of their flesh before Now their intent was to ioyne with the legions that were on the other side of the Mountaines vnder Lepidus charge whoÌ„ Antonius tooke to be his friend bicause he had holpen him to many things at Caesars hand through his meanes When he was come to the place where Lepidus was he camped hard by him and when he saw that no man came to him to put him in any hope he determined to venter him selfe and to goe vnto Lepidus Since the ouerthrow he had at MODENA he suffred his beard to grow at length and neuer clypt it that it was maruelous long and the heare of his heade also without koming and besides all this he went in a mourning gowne and after this sort came hard to the trenches of Lepidus campe Then he beganne to speake vnto the souldiers and many of them their hartes yerned for pitie to see him so poorely arrayed and some also through his wordes beganne to pitie him insomuch that Lepidus beganne to be affrayd and therefore commaunded all the trompetts to sownd together to stoppe the souldiers eares that they should not harken to Antonius This notwithstanding the souldiers tooke the more pitie of him spake secretly with him by Clodius Laelius meanes whom they sent vnto him disguised in womens apparel gaue him counsel that he should not be affraid to enter into their campe for there were a great number of souldiers that would receiue him and kill Lepidus if he would say the word Antonius would not suffer them to hurt him but the next morning he went with his army to wade a ford at a litle riuer that ranne betweene them and him selfe was the foremost man that tooke the riuer to get ouer seeing a number of Lepidus campe that gaue him their handes plucked vp the stakes and layed flat the bancke of their trenche to let him in to their campe When he was come into their campe and that he had all the army at his commaundement he vsed Lepidus very curteously imbraced him and called him father and though in deede Antonius did all and ruled the whole army yet he alway gaue Lepidus the name and honor of the Captaine Munatius Plancus lying also in campe hard by with an armye vnderstanding the report of Antonius curtesie he also came and ioined with him Thus Antonius being a foote againe and growen of great power repassed ouer the Alpes leading into ITALY with him seuenteene legions and tenne thowsand horsemen besides six legions he left in garrison amonge the GAVLES vnder the charge of
make matters wrose betwene them but they made them frendes together and diuided the Empire of ROME betwene them making the sea Ionium the bounde of their diuision For they gaue all the prouinces Eastward vnto Antonius and the contries Westward vnto Caesar and left AFRICKE vnto Lepidus and made a law that they three one after an other should make their frendes Consuls when they would not be them selues This seemed to be a sound counsell but yet it was to be confirmed with a straighter bonde which fortune offered thus There was Octauia the eldest sister of Caesar not by one mother for the came of Ancharia Caesar him self afterwards of Accia It is reported that he dearly loued his sister Octauia for in deede she was a noble Ladie and left the widow of her first husband Gaius Mercellus who dyed not long before and it seemed also that Antonius had bene widower euen since the death of his wife Fuluia For he denied not that he kept Cleopatra but so did he not confesse that he had her as his wife so with reason he did defend the loue he bare vnto this AEGYPTIAN Cleopatra Thereuppon euerie man did set forward this mariage hoping thereby that this Ladie Octauia hauing an excellent grace wisedom honestie ioyned vnto so rare a beawtie that when she were with Antonius he louing her as so worthy a Ladie deserueth she should be a good meane to keepe good loue amitie betwext her brother and him So when Caesar he had made the matche betwene them they both went to ROME about this mariage although it was against the law that a widow should be maried within tenne monethes after her husbandes death Howbeit the Senate dispensed with the law and so the mariage proceeded accordingly Sextus Pompeius at that time kept in SICILIA and so made many an inrode into ITALIE with a great number of pynnasies and other pirates shippes of the which were Captaines two notable pirats Menas and Menecrates who so scoored all the sea thereabouts that none durst peepe out with a sayle Furthermore Sextus Pompeius had delt verie frendly with Antonius for he had curteously receiued his mother when she fled out of ITALIA with Fuluia and therefore they thought good to make peace with him So they met all three together by the mount of Misena vpon a hill that runneth farre into the sea Pompey hauing his shippes ryding hard by at ancker and Antonius and Caesar their armies vpon the shoare side directly ouer against him Now after they had agreed that Sextus Pompeius should haue SICILE and SARDINIA with this condicion that he should ridde the sea of all theeues and pirats and make it safe for passengers and withall that he should send a certaine of wheate of ROME one of them did feast an other and drew cuts who should beginne It was Pompeius chaunce to inuite them first Whereupon Antonius asked him where shall we suppe There said Pompey and shewed him his admirall galley which had six bankes of owers that sayd he is my father house they haue left me He spake it to taunt Antonius bicause he had his fathers house that was Pompey the great So he cast ankers enowe into the sea to make his galley fast and then bulls a bridge of wodde to conuey them to his galley from the heade of mount Misena and there he welcomed them and made them great cheere Now in the middest of the feast when they sell to be merie with Antonius loue vnto Cleopatra Manas the pirate came to Pompey and whispering in his care said vnto him shall I cut the gables of the ankers and make thee Lord not only of SICILE and SARDINIA but of the whole Empire of ROME besides Pompey hauing pawsed a while vpon it at length aunswered him thou shouldest haue done it and nether haue told it me but now we must content vs with that we haue As for my selfe I was neuer taught to breake my faith nor to be counted a traitor The other two also did likewise feast him in their campe and then he returned into SICILE Antonius after this agreement made sent Ventidius before into ASIA to stay the PARTHIANS and to keepe them they should come no further and he him selfe in the meane time to gratefie Caesar was contented to be chosen Iulius Caesars priest and sacrificer so they ioyntly together dispatched all great matters concerning the state of the Empire But in all other maner of sportes and exercises wherein they passed the time away the one with the other Antonius was euer inferior vnto Caesar and alway lost which grieued him much With Antonius there was a soothsayer or astronomer of AEGYT that coulde cast a figure and iudge of mens natiuities to tell them what should happen to them He either to please Cleopatra or else for that he founde it so by his art told Antonius plainly that his fortune which of it selfe was excellent good and very great was altogether bleamished and obscured by Caesars fortune and therefore he counselled him vtterly to leaue his company and to get him as farre from him as he could For thy Demon said he that is to say the good angell and spirit that kepeth thee is affraied of his and being coragious high when he is alone becometh fearefull and timerous when he commeth neere vnto the other Howsoeuer it was the euents ensuing proued the AEGYPTIANS words true For it is said that as often as they two drew cuts for pastime who should haue any thing or whether they plaied at dice Antonius alway lost Oftentimes when they were disposed to see cockefight or quailes that were taught to fight one with an other Caesars cockes or quailes did euer ouercome The which spighted Antonius in his mind although he made no outward shew of it and therefore he beleued the AEGYPTIAN the better In fine he recommended the affaires of his house vnto Caesar went out of ITALIE with Octauia his wife whom he caried into GRAECE after he had had a daughter by her So Antonius lying all the winter at ATHENS newes came vnto him of the victories of Ventidius who had ouercome the PARTHIANS in battel in the which also were slaine Labienus and Pharnabates the chiefest Captaine king Orodas had For these good newes be feasted all ATHENS and kept open house for all the GRAECIANS and many games of price were plaied at ATHENS of the which he him selfe would be iudge Wherfore leauing his gard his axes and tokens of his Empire at his house he came into the show place or listes where these games were played in a long gowne and slippers after the GRAECIAN facion and they caried tippestaues before him as marshalls men do cary before the Iudges to make place and he himselfe in person was a stickler to part the young men when they had fought enough After that preparing to go to the warres he made him a
him not presently for the blood stinted a litle when he was layed and when he came somwhat to him selfe againe he praied them that were about him to dispatch him But they all fled out of the chamber and lest him crying out tormenting him selfe vntill at last there came a secretarie vnto him called Diomedes who was commaunded to bring him into the tombe or monument where Cleopatra was When he heard that she was aliue he verie earnestlie prayed his men to carie his bodie thither and so he was caried in his mens armes into the entry of the monument Notwithstāding Cleopatra would not open the gates but came to the high windowes and cast out certaine chaines and ropes in the which Antonius was trussed and Cleopatra her owne selfe with two women only which she had suffered to come with her into these monumentes trised Antonius vp They that were present to behold it said they neuer saw to pitiefull a sight For they plucked vp poore Antonius all bloody as he was and drawing on with pangs of death who holding vp his hands to Cleopatra raised vp him selfe as well as he could It was a hard thing for these women to do to lift him vp but Cleopatra stowping downe with her head putting to all her strength to her vttermost power did lift him vp with much a doe and neuer let goe her hold with the helpe of the women beneath that bad her be of good corage and were as sorie to see her labor so as she her selfe So when she had gotten him in after that sorte and layed him on a bed she rent her garments vpon him clapping her brest and scratching her face stomake Then she dried vp his blood that had berayed his face and called him her Lord her husband and Emperour forgetting her owne miserie and calamity for the pitie and compassion she tooke of him Antonius made her ceasse her lamenting and called for wine either bicause he was a thirst or else for that he thought thereby to hasten his death When he had dronke he earnestly prayed her and perswaded her that she would seeke to saue her life if she could possible without reproache and dishonor and that chiefly she should trust Proculeius aboue any man else about Caesar. And as for him selfe that she should not lament nor sorowe for the miserable chaunge of his fortune at the end of his dayes but rather that she should thinke him the more fortunate for the former triumphes honors he had receiued considering that while he liued he was the noblest and greatest Prince of the world that now he was ouercome not cowardly but valiantly a ROMANE by an other ROMANE As Antonius gaue the last gaspe Proculeius came that was sent from Caesar. For after Antonius had thrust his sworde in him selfe as they caried him into the tombes and monuments of Cleopatra one of his gard called Dercetaeus tooke his sword with the which he had striken him selfe and hidde it then he secretly stale away and brought Octauius Caesar the first newes of his death shewed him his sword that was bloodied Caesar hearing these newes straight withdrewe him selfe into a secret place of his tent and there burst out with teares lamenting his hard and miserable fortune that had bene his frende and brother in law his equall in the Empire and companion with him in sundry great exploytes and battells Then he called for all his frendes and shewed them the letters Antonius had written to him and his aunsweres also sent him againe during their quarrell and strife how fiercely and prowdly the other answered him to all iust and reasonable matters he wrote vnto him After this he sent Proculeius and commaunded him to doe what he could possible to get Cleopatra aliue fearing least otherwise all the treasure would be lost and furthermore he thought that if he could take Cleopatra and bring her aliue to ROME she would maruelously beawtifie and sette out his triumphe But Cleopatra would neuer put her selfe into Proculeius handes although they spake together For Proculeius came to the gates that were very thicke strong and surely barred but yet there were some cranewes through the which her voyce might be heard and so they without vnderstoode that Cleopatra demaunded the kingdome of AEGYPT for her sonnes and that Proculeius aunswered her that she should be of good cheere and not be affrayed to referre all vnto Caesar. After he had viewed the place verie well he came and reported her aunswere vnto Caesar. Who immediatly sent Gallus to speake once againe with her and bad him purposely hold her with talke whilest Proculeius did set vp a ladder against that high windowe by the which Antonius was trised vp and came downe into the monument with two of his men hard by the gate where Cleopatra stoode to heare what Gallus sayd vnto her One of her women which was shut in her monumēts with her saw Proculeius by chaunce as he came downe and shreeked out O poore Cleopatra thou art taken Then when she sawe Proculeius behind her as she came from the gate she thought to haue stabbed her selfe in with a short dagger she ware of purpose by her side But Proculeius came sodainly vpon her and taking her by both the hands said vnto her Cleopatra first thou shalt doe thy selfe great wrong and secondly vnto Caesar to depriue him of the occasion and oportunitie openly to shew his bountie and mercie and to geue his enemies cause to accuse the most curteous and noble Prince that euer was and to appeache him as though he were a cruell and mercielesse man that were not to be trusted So euen as he spake the word he tooke her dagger from her and shooke her clothes for feare of any poyson hidden about her Afterwardes Caesar sent one of his infranchised men called Epaphroditus whom he straightly charged to looke well vnto her and to beware in any case that she made not her selfe away and for the rest to vse her with all the curtesie possible And for him selfe he in the meane time entred the citie of ALEXANDRIA and as he went talked with the Philosopher Arrius and helde him by the hande to the end that his contrie men should reuerence him the more bicause they saw Caesar so highly esteeme and honor him Then he went into the show place of exercises and so vp to his chaire of state which was prepared for him of a great height and there according to his commaundement all the people of ALEXANDRIA were assembled who quaking for feare fell downe on their knees before him and craued mercie Caesar bad them all stande vp and told them openly that he forgaue the people and pardoned the felonies and offences they had committed against him in this warre First for the founders sake of the same citie which was Alexander the great secondly for the beawtie of the citie which he muche esteemed and wondred
at thirdly for the loue he bare vnto his verie frend Arrius Thus did Caesar honor Arrius who craued pardon for him selfe and many others specially for Philostratus the eloquentest man of all the sophisters and Orators of his time for present and sodaine speech howbeit he falsly named him selfe an Academicke Philosopher Therefore Caesar that hated his nature condicions would not heare his surt Thereupon he let his gray beard grow long and followed Arrius steppe by steppe in a long mourning gowne still bussing in his eares this Greeke verse A vvise man it that he be vvise in deede May by a vvise man haue the better speede Caesar vnderstanding this not for the desire he had to deliuer Philostratus of his feare as to ridde Arrius of malice enuy that might haue fallen out against him he pardoned him Now touching Antonius sonnes Antyllus his eldest sonne by Fuluia was slaine bicause his schoole-maister Theodorus did betray him vnto the souldiers who strake of his head And the villaine tooke a pretious stone of great value from his necke the which he did sowe in his girdell and afterwards denied that he had it but it was founde about him and so Caesar trussed him vp for it For Cleopatraes children they were verie honorablie kept with their gouernors and traine that waited on them But for Caesarion who was sayd to be Iulius Ceasars sonne his mother Cleopatra had sent him vnto the INDIANS through AETHIOPIA with a great summe of money But one of his gouernors also called Rhodon euen such an other as Theodorus perswaded him to returne into his contrie told him that Caesar sent for him to geue him his mothers kingdom So as Caesar was determining with him selfe what he should doe Arrius sayd vnto him Too Many Caesars is not good Alluding vnto a certaine verse of Homer that sayth Too Many Lords doth not vvell Therefore Caesar did put Caesarion to death after the death of his mother Cleopatra Many Princes great kings and Captaines did craue Antonius body of Octauius Caesar to giue him honorable burial but Caesar would neuer take it from Cleopatra who did sumptuously and royally burie him with her owne handes whom Caesar suffred to take as much as she would to bestow vpon his funeralls Now was she altogether ouercome with sorow passion of minde for she had knocked her brest so pitiefully that she had martired it and in diuers places had raised vlsers and inflamacions so that she fell into a feuer withal whereof she was very glad hoping thereby to haue good colour to absteine from meate and that so she might haue dyed easely without any trouble She had a Phisition called Olympus whom she made priuie of her intent to th end he shoulde helpe her to ridde her out of her life as Olympus wryteth him selfe who wrote a booke of all these thinges But Caesar mistrusted the matter by many coniectures he had and therefore did put her in feare threatned her to put her children to shameful death With these threats Cleopatra for feare yelded straight as she would haue yelded vnto strokes and afterwards suffred her selfe to be cured and dicted as they listed Shortly after Caesar came him selfe in person to see her and to comfort her Cleopatra being layed vpon a litle low bed in poore estate when she sawe Caesar come into her chamber she sodainly rose vp naked in her smocke and fell downe at his feete maruelously disfigured both for that she had plucked her heare from her head as also for that she had martired all her face with her nailes and besides her voyce was small and trembling her eyes sonke into her heade with continuall blubbering and moreouer they might see the most parte of her stomake torne in sunder To be short her bodie was not much better then her minde yet her good grace and comelynes and the force of her beawtie was not altogether defaced But notwithstanding this ougly and pitiefull state of hers yet she showed her selfe within by her outward lookes and countenance When Caesar had made her lye downe againe and sate by her beddes side Cleopatra began to cleere and excuse her selfe for that she had done laying all to the feare she had of Antonius Caesar in contrarie maner reproued her in euery poynt Then she sodainly altered her speache and prayed him to pardon her as though she were affrayed to dye desirous to liue At length she gaue him a breese and memoriall of all the readie money treasure she had But by chaunce there stootle Seleucus by one of her Treasorers who to seeme a good seruant came straight to Caesar to disproue Cleopatra that she had not set in al but kept many things back of purpose Cleopatra was in such a rage with him that she flew vpon him and tooke him by the heare of the head and boxed him wellfauoredly Caesar fell a laughing and parted the fray Alas said she O Caesar is not this a great shame and reproche that thou hauing vouchesaued to take the peines to come vnto me and hast done me this honor poore wretche and caitife creature brought into this pitiefull miserable estate and that mine owne seruaunts should come now to accuse me though it may be I haue reserued some iuells trifles meete for women but not for me poore soule to set out my selfe withall but meaning to geue some pretie presents gifts vnto Octauia and Liuia that they making meanes intercession for me to thee thou mightest yet extend thy fauor and mercie vpon me Caesar was glad to heare her say so perswading him selfe thereby that she had yet a desire to saue her life So he made her answere that he did not only geue her that to dispose of at her pleasure which she had kept backe but further promised to vse her more honorably and bountifully then she would thinke for and so he tooke his leaue of her supposing he had deceiued her but in deede he was deceiued him selfe There was a young gentleman Cornelius Dolabella that was one of Caesars very great familiars besides did beare no euil will vnto Cleopatra He sent her word secretly as she had requested him that Caesar determined to take his iorney through SVRIA that within three dayes he would sende her away before with her children When this was tolde Cleopatra she requested Caesar that it would please him to suffer her to offer the last oblations of the dead vnto the soule of Antonius This being graunted her she was caried to the place where his tombe was there falling downe on her knees imbracing the tombe with her women the teares running downe her cheekes she began to speake in this sorte O my deare Lord Antonius not long sithence I buried thee here being a free woman and now I offer vnto thee the funerall sprinklinges and oblations being a captiue and prisoner and
yet I am forbidden and kept from tearing murdering this captiue body of mine with blowes which they carefully gard and keepe onely to triumphe of thee looke therefore henceforth for no other honors offeringes nor sacrifices from me for these are the last which Cleopatra can geue thee sith nowe they carie her away Whilest we liued together nothing could seuer our companies but now at our death I feare me they will make vs chaunge our contries For as thou being a ROMANE hast bene buried in AEGYPT euen so wretched creature I an AEGYPTIAN shall be buried in ITALIE which shall be all the good that I haue receiued by thy contrie If therefore the gods where thou art now haue any power and authoritie sith our gods here haue forsaken vs suffer not thy true frend and louer to be caried away aliue that in me they triumphe of thee but receiue me with thee and let me be buried in one selfe tombe with thee For though my griefes and miseries be infinite yet none hath grieued me more nor that I could lesse beare withall then this small time which I haue bene driuē to liue alone without thee Then hauing ended these doleful plaints and crowned the tombe with garlands and sundry nosegayes and maruelous louingly imbraced the same she commaunded they should prepare her bath and when she had bathed and washed her selfe she fell to her meate and was sumptuously serued Nowe whilest she was at dinner there came a contrieman and brought her a basket The souldiers that warded at the gates asked him straight what he had in his basket He opened the basket and tooke out the leaues that couered the figges and shewed them that they were figges he brought They all of them maruelled to see so goodly figges The contrieman laughed to heare them and bad them take some if they would They beleued he told them truely and so bad him carie them in After Cleopatra had dined she sent a certaine table written and sealed vnto Caesar and commaunded them all to go out of the tombes where she was but the two women then she shut the dores to her Caesar when he receiued this table and began to read her lamentation and petition requesting him that he would let her be buried with Antonius founde straight what she ment and thought to haue gone thither him selfe howbeit he sent one before in all hast that might be to see what it was Her death was very sodaine For those whom Caesar sent vnto her ran thither in all hast possible found the souldiers standing at the gate mistrusting nothing nor vnderstanding of her death But when they had opened the dores they founde Cleopatra starke dead layed vpon a bed of gold attired and araied in her royall robes and one of her two women which was called Iras dead at her feete and her other woman called Charmion halfe dead and trembling trimming the Diademe which Cleopatra ware vpon her head One of the souldiers seeing her angrily sayd vnto her is that well done Charmion Verie well sayd she againe and meete for a Princes discended from the race of so many noble kings She sayd no more but fell downe dead hard by the bed Some report that this Aspicke was brought vnto her in the basket with figs that she had cōmaunded them to hide it vnder the figge leaues that when she shoulde thinke to take out the figges the Aspicke shoulde bite her before she should see her howbeit that when shew would haue taken away the leaues for the figges she perceiued it and said art thou here then And so her arme being naked she put it to the Aspicke to be bitten Other say againe she kept it in a boxe and that she did pricke and thrust it with a spindell of golde so that the Aspicke being angerd withall lept out with great furie and bitte her in the arme Howbeit sewe can tell the troth For they report also that she had hidden poyson in a hollow raser which she caried in the heare of her head and yet was there no marke seene of her bodie or any signe discerned that she was poysoned neither also did they finde this serpent in her tombe But it was reported onely that there were seene certeine fresh steppes or trackes where it had gone on the tombe side toward the sea and specially by the dores side Some say also that they found two litle pretie bytings in her arme scant to be discerned the which it seemeth Caesar him selfe gaue credit vnto bicause in his triumphe he caried Cleopatraes image with an Aspicke byting of her arme And thus goeth the report of her death Now Caesar though he was maruelous sorie for the death of Cleopatra yet he wondred at her noble minde and corage and therefore commaunded she should be nobly buried and layed by Antonius and willed also that her two women shoulde haue honorable buriall Cleopatra dyed being eight and thirtie yeare olde after she had raigned two and twenty yeres and gouerned aboue foureteene of them with Antonius And for Antonius some say that he liued three and fiue yeares and others say six and fiftie All his statues images and mettalls were plucked downe and ouerthrowen sauing those of Cleopatra which stoode still in their places by meanes of Archibius one of her frendes who gaue Caesar a thowsande talentes that they should not be handled as those of Antonius were Antonius left seuen children by three wiues of the which Caesar did put Antyllus the eldest sonne he had by Fuluia to death Octauia his wife tooke all the rest and brought them vp with hers and maried Cleopatra Antonius daughter vnto king Iuba a maruelous curteous goodly Prince And Antonius the sonne of Fuluia came to be so great that next vnto Agrippa who was in greatest estimacion about Caesar and next vnto the children of Liuia which were the second in estimacion he had the third place Furthermore Octauia hauing had two daughters by her first husband Marcellus and a sonne also called Marcellus Caesar maried his daughter vnto that Marcellus and so did adopt him for his sonne And Octauia also maried one of her daughters vnto Agrippa But when Marcellus was deade after he had bene maried a while Octauia perceiuing that her brother Caesar was very busie to choose some one among his frends whom he trusted best to make his sonne in law she perswaded him that Agrippa should mary his daughter Marcellus widow and leaue her owne daughter Caesar first was contented withall and then Agrippa and so she afterwards tooke away her daughter and maried her vnto Antonius and Agrippa maried Iulia Caesars daughter Now there remained two daughters more of Octauia and Antonius Domitius AEnobarbus maried the one and the other which was Antonia so fayer and vertuous a young Ladie was maried vnto Drusus the sonne of Liuia and sonne in law of Caesar. Of this mariage came Germanicus and Clodius of the which Clodius afterwards
when he had found him clapped spurres to his horse and came with full cariere vnto him and cryed out O traytor and most vnfaithfull and desperate man thou now dishonorest the name of Cyrus which is the goodliest and most honorablest name of all the PERSIANS for that thou hast brought so valliant GRAECIANS hether to so wicked an enterprise to spoyle the PERSIANS goods in hope to destroy thy soueraine Lord and onely brother who hath an infinite number of slaues and seruaunts farre honester men then thou wilt be while thou liuest and that thou shalt presently knowe by proofe for thou shalt dye before thou see the king thy brothers face and therewithall he threw his dart at him with all the force he had But Cyrus armor was so good that it pearsed him not yet the blowe came with such good will that it made him stagger on his horse back When Artagerses had giuen him that blowe he presently turned his horse But Cyrus therewithall threw a dart at him so happily that he slue him right in the place aboue the bone that ioyneth the two shoulders together so that the head of his dart ranne quite through his necke Nowe that Cyrus slue Artagerses with his owne hands in the field all the Historiographers doe agree vpon it but for the death of Cyrus bicause Xenophon toucheth it but a litle by the way for that he was not present in the very place where he was slayne it shal not be hurtfull particularly to set downe the manner thereof both according to the report of Dinon and also of Ctesias First Dinon writeth that after Cyrus had slayne Artagerses he went with great fury and flue in amongest the trowpe of them which were nearest vnto the kings person and that he came so neare the king that he slue his horse starke dead vnder him and the king fell to the ground withall But Tiribazuz that was hard by him straight mownted the king againe vpon an other horse and sayd vnto him your grace will remember this battell another day for it is not to be forgotten And Cyrus clapping spurres againe to his horse threwe an other dart at Artaxerxes and hit him But at the third charge the king tolde them that were about him he could not abide this and that he had rather dye then suffer it so therewithall he spurring his horse to charge Cyrus who came fiercely and desperatly hauing an infinite number of blowes with darts throwen at him on euery side threw his dart at him also So did all those that were about his person and so was Cyrus slayne in this conflict Some saye that he was slayne with the wounde the kinge his brother gaue him Others saye that it was a man at armes of the contry of CARIA vnto whom the king for reward of his good seruice gaue him the honor in all battells to cary before the first ranke a cocke of gold on the toppe of a speare for the PERSIANS doe cal the CARIANS cocks bicause in the warres they vse to weare creasts in the toppe of their headpeeces And this is Dinons reporte But Ctesias to cowche in fewe words that which Dinon reporteth at large sayth that Cyrus after he had slaine Artagerses he gallopped on the spurre against the king him selfe and the king against him and not a worde betwene them both Ariaus one of Cyrus flatteres threwe the first dart at the king but killed him not and the king with all his force againe threwe his dart thinking to haue hit Cyrus but he missed him and slue Tisaphernes one of the valliantest and stowtest men Cyrus had about him and so fell downe dead Then Cyrus hit Artaxerxes so sore a blowe on his breast that he pearced his armor and entred into his flesh two fingers deepe The king with this blowe fell downe to the ground wherewithall the most part of his men about him were so affrayd that they forsooke him and fled Howbeit he got vp againe with the helpe of others that were about him amongest whome Ctesias sayd he was one and so recouered a litle hill not farre of to take a litle breath In the meane time Cyrus horse that was whotte in the mouth and hard headed as we haue told you caried his master spyte of his hart farre from his men amonge his enemies and no man knew him bicause it was night and his men were very busie in seeking for him But Cyrus hoping he had wonne the victory being of a whot stirring nature and valliant he went vppe and downe in the thickest of his enemies crying out in the PERSIAN tongue saue your selues poore men saue your selues When they heard him say so some made a lane for him to passe by them and did him reuerence But by euill fortune his Tiara which is the highe royall hat after the PERSIAN manner fell of of his head Then a younge PERSIAN called Mithridates passing by him hit him a blowe with his dart vpon one of his temples hard by his eye not knowing what he was His wound straight fell of a maruelous bleeding Whereuppon Cyrus staggering at it fell to the ground in a swownd and his horse ranne away from him but the capparison he had vppon him fell to the ground all bloudied and his page that had hurt him tooke it vp Shortly after Cyrus being comen to him selfe againe some of his Euenukes which were men gelt and groomes of his chamber that were about him did lift him vp thinking to set him vpon another horse and to get him out of the prease but he was not able to sit on his horse Thereuppon he proued if he could better goe a foote the Euenuks hold him vp by the armes led him amased as he was not able to stād on his feete although he thought he had won the battell bicause he heard his enemies flying about him cry the gods saue king Cyrus and they prayed him to pardon them and to receiue them to mercy But in the meane time there came certaine poore men of the citie of CAVNVS who followed the kings campe getting their liuing as drudges and slaues to doe most vile seruice They ioined with the trowpe where Cyrus was supposing they had bene the kings men but when they perceiued in the ende by the red coates they ware vpon their armors that they were enemies for that the kings men ware white coates there was one among the rest that valliantly strake at Cyrus behind with his pertisan not knowing in deede that it was Cyrus The blowe lighted full on the hamme of his legge and cut his sinewes so that Cyrus fell withall and falling by misfortune fell vpon a great stone with his browe where he had bene hurt before that he died forthwith Thus doth Ctesias report it where me thinketh he cutteth his throate with a dull edged knife he hath such a doe to bring Cyrus to his ende Now after Cyrus was dead Artasyras one
vnfortunate CARIAN fondely fell into a foolish vaine common vnto men For the sodeine ioy he felt as it seemeth to see such a goodly riche present before him as the king sent him made him so forget him selfe that he began to aspyre and to pretend greater things then became his state and calling And therefore he would not take the kings gifte as in respecte that he had brought him worde of Cyrus death but began to storme and to rage calling the gods to witnesse that it was he onely and none other that slue Cyrus and that they did him great wronge to take this honor from him The king beeing told of it tooke it so angrily that he presently commaunded them to strike of his head But Parysatis the Queene mother beeing present when the king gaue this commaundement she prayed him not to put him to death in that sort for the Villain sayd she let me alone I will chastise him well enough for his presumption and rashe speeche The king was contended she should haue him Thereuppon she sent the Sergeaunts to take this cursed CARIAN and made him be hanged vpon a gybbet ten dayes together and at the tenne dayes end caused his eyes to be pulled out of his head and last of all poored molten mettell into his eares and so killed the Villaine with this kinde of torment Mithridates also shortly after died miserably by a like sollye He was bidden to supper at a feast whether came also the king and Queene mothers Euenukes and when they came Mithridates sate downe at the bord in the kings golden gowne he gaue him When they had supped and that they beganne to drinke one to another one of Parysatis Euenukes sayd vnto Mithridates the king hath in deede giuen thee a goodly gowne Mithridates and goodly chaynes and carcanets of gold and so is the sword very riche and good he gaue thee so that when thou hast that by thy side there is no man I warrant thee but will thinke thee a happy man Mithridates then the wine fuming into his brayne aunswered straight what meanest thou by that Sparamixes I deserued a better then this when the battell was sought Then Sparamixes langhing on him aunswered I do not speak it for any hurt or euil wil I beare thee Mithridates but to speake franckly among our selues bicause the GRAECIANS haue a common prouerbe that wine telleth true I pray thee tell me what valliant acte was it to take vp a capparison of a horse that fell on the ground and to cary it to the king which the Euenuke spitefully put forth vnto him not that he was ignorant who did it but to prouoke him to speake and to put him in a rage knowing that he was a hasty man of nature could not kepe his tongue least of all when he had droncke so wel as he had done and so it fell out in deede For Mithridates could not byte it in but replyed straight you may talke as long as you lyft of the capparison of a horse such trash but I tell you plainly that Cyrus was slayne with myne owne hands and with no mans els For I hit him not in vaine as Artagerses did but full in the forehead hard by his eye and strake him through and through his head againe and so ouerthrewe him of which blow he dyed He had no soner spoken those words but the rest that were at the bord cast down their eyes foreseeing the death of this pore vnfortunat Mithridates But then the master of the feast began to speake and sayd vnto him friend Mithridates I pray thee let vs drincke and be mery and reuerence and thanke the good fortune of our king and for the rest let this talke goe it is too highe for vs When the Euenuke went from thence he tolde Parysatis the Queene mother what Mithridates had sayd before them all and she went and told the king of it Who was maruelously offended withall to be so belyed and to lose the thing that was most honorable and best pleased him in his victorie For it was his mind that all the world both GRAECIANS and barbarous people should certainly beleue that in the battell betwixt him and his brother he was hurt but yet that he slue Cyrus with his owne hand So the king cōmaunded that Mithridates should suffer the paines of death in botes the which is after this maner They take two botes made of purpose so euen that the one is nether broder nor longer then the other then lay the offender in one of thē vpon his back so couer him with the other do sow both botes together So that the parties feete hands head do come out at holes made of purpose for him the rest of his bodye is all hidden within Now they giue him meate as much as he will eate if he wil not eate they force him to it by thrusting alles in his eies then when he hath eaten they giue him hony to drinke mingled with milke they do not only powre it into his mouth but also all his face ouer turning him ful into the sunne so that his face is all couered ouer with flies furthermore being driuen to do his needes in that troughe of his excrements there ingender wormes that eate his body euen to the very priuities Then when they see the man is dead they take of the vppermost boate find all his flesh deuowred with vermine ingendring of him euen to his very intrals So when Mithridates had miserably languished in this manner seuenteene daies together at length he died in extreme torments Now Parysatis the Queene mother lacked no more to accomplish her wicked desire but Mesabates one of the kings Euenukes that had cut of Cyrus head and hand seing that he was very ware circūspect in his behauior that she could not take him at any aduauntage in the end she deuised a fine way to intrap him She had a maruelous wit amonge other things could play passingly wel at all games at dyce did many times play with the king her sonne before the warres after the warres also when he had made peace she did play at dyce with him as she had done before insomuch as she knew all his secret loue and furthered him to enioy it To be short she would neuer be out of his sight but as litle as she could would let his wife Statira haue as litle time with him as might be that she might gouerne and rule him as she would both bicause she hated her of all creatures liuing and also for that she would beare the greatest sway and credit about him When she saw the king one day at leysure not knowing how to passe the time away she inticed him to play a thowsand Darecks at dyce and was contented to lose them willingly and paied the thowsand Darecks downe seeming notwithstanding to be angry with her
losse So she prayed him also to play one of his Euenukes with her the king was well contented with it But before they would play they agreed betwene theÌ„ that they should both name except fiue of the trustiest chiefest Euenukes they had then which of them lost should presently deliuer vnto the winner his choyce of all the other Euenukes he would demaund Thus they fel to play she imploying all the cunning she had playing as warely as she could possible besides that the dyce ranne of her side her luck serued her so that she wanne then she required Mesabates for her winnings being none of those the king had excepted WheÌ„ she had him deliuered her she gaue him to the hangmen willed theÌ„ to flea him aliue then that they should crucifie him naile him to a crosse hang his skin vpon an other peece of tymber by him the which was done accordingly The king was maruelous angry withall when he knew it greeuously offended with his mother Howbeit she sported it out laughing told him in deed it becomes thee wel to be angry for losing an old gelded Villain where I lost a thowsand Darecks quietly said neuer a word So there came no other thing of it sauing that the king was a litle angry repented him that he had plaied so fondly was so finely mocked But Queene Statira on the other side besids that she was against her in al other things she spared not to tel Queene mother plainly that it was wickedly done of her to put the kings good faithful seruaunts so cruelly to death for Cyrus sake But now after that Tisaphernes king Artaxerxes Lieuetenant had deceiued Clearchus other captaines of GRAECE detestably falsifying his word he had giuen theÌ„ that he had sent them bound vnto the king Ctesiaes sayth that Clearchus praied him to helpe him to a combe that hauing had one by his meanes and also comed his head it pleased him so wel that to requite his good wil he gaue him his seale of armes from his finger wherewith he sealed his letters for a witnes of the great friendship that was betwene them two He sayth also that in the stone of this ring there was grauen the daunce of the CARYATIDES And furthermore that the other souldiers which were prisoners with Clearchus did take away the moste part of the vittells that were sent to him and left him litle or nothing and that he did remedye all this procuring a greater quantitie to be sent vnto them that they should put Clearchus portion apart and all the other souldiers part also by them selues This he did as he sayth by Parysatis consent commaundement who knowing that amongest other vittells they dayly sent Clearchus a gammon of bacon she tolde him one day he should doe well to hide a litle knife in this gammon of bacon and to send it him to th end that the life of so noble valliant a man as he was should not fall to the crueltie of the king Howbeit that he was affrayd to meddle withall and durst not doe it that the king sware promised his mother who was an earnest suter to him for Clearchus that he would not put him to death This notwithstanding the king being afterwards procured and perswaded to the contrary by Queene Statira his wife he put them all to death but Menon Therefore Parysatis Queene mother after that time sayth Ctesias deuised all the wayes she could to poyson Queene Statira and to make her out of the way But me thinketh this smelleth like a lye that Parysatis should entend so wicked and daungerous an acte as to put the kinges lawfull wife to death by whome he had sonnes that were to inherite the crowne onely for the loue and respect of Clearchus and it is too plaine that he coyned that to honor and magnifie Clearchus memorie the more But to proue it a man may easily find it by the lyes he addeth afterwards vnto it saying that after the Captaines were slayne all the bodies of the rest were torne a peeces by dogges fowles and also that there came a boysterous winde and couered all Clearchus body with a great hill of dust and that out of this hill of dust shortly after there spronge vp many palme trees which made a prety thicke groue that it shadowed all that place Insomuch that the king him selfe did afterwards maruelously repent him for putting of him to death for that he was an honest man beloued of the gods This was not for Clearchus sake but for an olde canckered malice Parysatis had long time borne in her hart against Queene Statira bicause she saw wel enough that the credit authoritie herself had with the king was in respect of a sonnes duty obedieÌ„ce to his mother in contrary maner Statiraes credit authoritie had a better ground fouÌ„dacioÌ„ bicause it came of the loue good wil the king did beare her And this is the onely cause that made her to practise the death of Quene Statira hauing determined that her self or daughter in law must nedes dye Now Quene mother had one of the women of her chamber called Gigis that was of great credit about her whome she onely trusted Diâ—on writeth that this Gigis did help Parysatis to make the poyson But Ctesias writeth contrarily saith that she onely knew it but otherwise that it was against her will that he that made the poyson was one Belitaras but Dinon calleth him Melantas Now though in outward semblance and shew Queene mother Statira semed to haue forgotteÌ„ all malice betwene them that they begaÌ„ again one of them to keepe company with the other did eate drinke together yet one of them mistrusted the other tooke great heede to them selues both of them eating one selfe meate in one dishe together and were both serued with one self officers men In PERSIA there is a litle bird of the which all the parts of it is excellent good to eate is ful of fat within so that it is thought it liueth by ayer dewe and in the PERSIAN tongue they cal it Ryntaces Parysatis as Ctesias sayth tooke one of these birdes and cut it in the middest with a litle knife the which was poysoned onely on one of the sides and gaue that halfe which was poysoned vnto Statira Yet Dinon writeth that it was not Parysatis her selfe that gaue it her but her caruer Melantas that carued her meate still gaue Queene Statyra of that meate which the side of his poisoned knife had touched So Quene Statira preseÌ„tly fel sick of the dissease wherof she died with greuous panges gripings in her bowels found plainly that she was poysoned by Parysatis meanes wheruppoÌ„ she told the king as much who was of the same opinion thought it was his mother
bicause he knew her cruel reuēging mind that neuer pardoned any against whō she conceiued any grudge The king therefore to know the troth when his wife Statira was dead apprehended all his mothers houshold seruaunts officers did put them to torments to make them confesse the troth sauing Gigis whome Queene mother kept close in her chamber a long time would neuer suffer the king to haue her who earnestly requested her to deliuer her vnto him Notwithstanding Gigis her selfe at length prayed Quene mother to giue her leaue one night to go home to her house The king vnderstanding it layed waite for her and intercepted her by the way and when she was taken he condemned her to suffer the paynes of death ordeyned for poysoners the which in PERSIA is executed in this manner They make them put their head vpon a great plaine stone and with an other stone they presse and strike it so long till they haue dashed the braynes of the malefactor out of their head After this sort was Gigis put to death Now for Parysatis his mother the king did her no other hurt nor sayd no more vnto her but confined her vnto BABYLON according to her desire sware that whilest she liued he would neuer see BABYLON In this state stoode the affaires of the king But now Artaxerxes hauing done the vtmost he could to haue ouercomen the GRAECIANS which came to make warre with him in the hart of his Realme and would haue bene as glad of that as he was to haue ouercome Cyrus to keepe his crowne Realme he could neuer preuaile against them For though they had lost Cyrus that gaue them enterteinment all their priuate Captaines that led them they saued them selues notwithstanding being in the hart of his Realme and shewed the PERSIANS by experience that all their doings was nothing but gold siluer curiositie fayer women otherwise nothing but pompe vanity Hereuppon al the GRAECIANS became couragious despised the barbarous people insomuch that the LACEDAEMONIANS thought it a great shame dishonor vnto them if they did not deliuer the GRAECIANS that dwelt in ASIA from the slauery bōdage of the PERSIANS kept them from the open violence cruelty of the barbarous people For they hauing at other times attempted to doe it by their Captaine Thimbron afterwards also by Dercyllidas whom they sent thither with an army hauing done nothing worthy memory at lēgth they determined to send their king Agesilaus thither in person who passing through ASIA with his shipps began presently to make hot warre against the PERSIANS as soone as euer he had landed his army For at the first cōglict he ouerthrew Tisaphernes the king of PERSIAES Lieuetenant in battel and made the most part of the cities of GRAECE that are in ASIA to rebel against him Artaxerxes loking into this warre wisely cōsidering what way meanes he was to take to make warre with the GRAECIANS he sent into GRAECE one Hermocrates a RHODIAN of great credit about him with a maruelous sūme of gold siluer bountifully to bestow in gifts among the nobilitie chiefe rulers of the cities of GRAECE to make all the other GRAECIANS to rise against the LACEDAEMONIANS Hermocrates wisely executed his cōmission for he made the chiefest cities of GRAECE to rebel against LACEDAEMON so that all PELOPONNESVS being vp in armes and in great garboyle the Ephori at LACEDAEMON were inforced to send for Agesilaus home again Agesilaus being sory to depart out of ASIA said vnto his friends that the king of PERSIA had driuen him out of his Realme with thirty thowsand archers bicause that the PERSIAN coyne is stāped with an archer hauing a bow in his hand Artaxerxes also draue the LACEDAEMONIANS out of all their iurisdiction by sea by the meanes of Conon general of the ATHENIANS whō Pharnabazus one of his Lieuetenant had wonne to take his part For Conon after he was ouerthrowen in battel at a place called the goates riuer kept euer after in the I le of CYPRVS not so much for the safetie of his person as also for that it was a mete place to stay in vntil the wars of GRAECE were appeased He knowing that the deuise he had in his head lacked power to put it in execution on the contrary side that the power of the king lacked a man of deepe iudgemēt to be imployed he wrote letters vnto him of his deuise what he thought to doe straightly charging him whom he deliuered his letters vnto that if he could possibly he should cause the same to be deliuered vnto the king by Zenon the CRETAN one of the kings dauncers or by one Polycritus his Phisition born in the city of MENDE in both their absences then to giue it vnto Ctesias to deliuer vnto the king It chaunced so that this letter came to the hands of Ctesias who as it is reported added moreouer vnto the cōtents of the letter that the king should send him vnto Conon bicause he was a necessary man to be employed in his seruice but specially by sea Ctesias sayth not so but writeth that the king of his owne voluntary motion gaue him this charge Now after Artaxerxes had through the leading of Conon Pharnabazus won the battell by sea neare to the I le of GNIDVS that therby he had driuen all the LACEDAEMONIANS from their iurisdiction by sea all GRAECE had him in maruelous great estimation so that he gaue vnto the GRAECIANS with such cōditions as he would that so famous peace called Antalcidas peace This Antalcidas was a citizē of SPARTA the sonne of one Leon who fauoring king Artaxerxes affaires procured by the treatie of this peace that the LACEDAEMONIANS left vnto Artaxerxes all the cities of GRAECE in ASIA all the Iles conteined in the same to enioy quietly making thē pay tribute at his pleasure This peace being cōcluded with the GRAECIANS if so shameful a treason reproch common infamy to all GRAECE may be called a peace as neuer warre fell out more dishonorable infamous for the vanquished king Artaxerxes that otherwise hated the LACEDAEMONIANS to the death that estemed thē as Dinon writeth the impudentest men liuing did notwithstanding loue Antalcidas passingly wel enterteined him very honorably when he came into PERSIA vnto him It is reported that the king one day tooke a garland of flowers did wet it with the most pretious sweetest oyle of perfume that was prepared for the feast sēt the same vnto Antalcidas insomuch as euery mā maruelled to see the kīg set so much by him In deed he was a mete than to follow the vanity curiositie of the PERSIANS had wel deserued such a garland to be sent him who was so bold to daunce a daunce before the PERSIANS mocking coūterfeating Leonidas Callicratidas two of the valliantest
was many tymes also out of fauor as at that present tyme when he had no authoritie nor estimation he deuised a stratageame whereby he saued the king and all his campe In this contry of the CADVSIANS there were two kinges in the field with their armies both of them camped a sonder one from the other Tiribazus after he had spoken with king Artaxerxes and had tolde him what he ment to doe he went vnto one of the kinges and at the selfe same tyme also secretly sent his sonne vnto the other king and told either of them that the other king had sent Ambassadors vnto Artaxerxes to make peace with him vnwitting to his companion and therefore he counselled him if they were wise one of them to seeke to preuent another with all the possible speede he could and promised them both one after another to helpe them the best he could Both the one and the other of the kings gaue credit to his wordes either of them both mistrusting one another so that the one speedily sent his Ambassadors vnto king Artaxerxes with Tiribazus and the other also his Ambassadors with his sonne But Tiribazus tarying long in his iorney king Artaxerxes beganne somewhat to suspect him his enemies also did accuse him in his absence and the king grewe very chollerycke and repented him that he had trusted him so farre and was willing to heare euery man that spake against him Howbeit Tiribazus at length returned and his sonne also and either of them brought with them the Ambassadors of the CADVSIANS and so peace was taken with them both Then was Tiribazus aloft againe and in greater credit then euer he was and so departed with the king The king then shewed plainely that cowardlines proceedeth not of pompe and curiositie as some take it beleuing that it doth effeminate mens harts but rather of a vile base mind that commonly followeth euill and the worst counsell For nether the iewells of gold the kingly robes nor other sumptuous ornaments which the king euer ware about him worth twelue thousand talents as it is reported did not hinder him at that tyme to trauaile and to take as much payne as any man in all his army For he him selfe marched a foote the foremost man carying his owne trufle in a scarfe vppon his shoulders and his target on his arme and trauelled through highe stony mountaines So that his souldiers seeing the corage and payne the king him selfe tooke they marched so nymbly that it seemed they had wings for he dayly marched aboue two hundred furlongs Now the king at length by sore trauell came to one of his owne houses where there were goodly arbors and parkes with goodly trees passingly sette forth but all the contry besides was naked and barren so that there was not a tree a great way from thence and it was maruelous cold The king suffred his souldiers to hewe downe the goodly pynes and cypres trees in his parkes and bicause they durst not presume to touch them he him selfe as he was tooke an axe in his hande and beganne to bewe downe the goodliest tree there The souldiers seeing that fell euery man of them also to hewing so that in a very short tyme they had prouided themselues well with wodde and made them great fires in euery place and so past ouer the night quietly by the fires side This notwithstanding he lost a great number of valliant men in this voyage and almost all his horses Therefore thinking his men would mocke him bicause he did fayle of his purpose he beganne to growe mistrustfull and to suspect the chiefest noble men he had about him so that in a rage he put many of them to death but much more of them remayned whome he mistrusted For there is nothing more cruell nor a greater bloud sucker then a cowardly tyrant as in contrary manner nothing is more curteous and lesse suspicious then a valliant and hardy man And therefore brute beastes that be neuer made tame nor mastered are commonly cowardly and timerous and the other to the contrary that are noble and coragious are bold straight and doe come to knowe a man bicause they haue no feare nether doe they frie from their clapping and making much of them as they doe Afterwards king Artaxerxes being growen very olde heard that there was great sturre and contencion betwene his sonnes which of them should be heire after his death and that this contencion fell out also amonge his friends and men of great calling The wisest of them wished that as he him self came vnto the crowne as his fathers eldest sonne so that he likewise should after his death leaue it vnto his eldest sonne called Darius But the younger which was called Ochus being a valliant man and of a whoe stirring nature had some in the Court also that tooke his parte and hoped to attayne to his purpose by the meanes of his sister Atossa whome he loued and honored promising to mary her and to make her Queene if he might come to be king after his fathers dissease And besides there went a report abroad that in their fathers life time he secretly kept her howbeit Artaxerxes neuer vnderstoode it Now bicause he would betimes put his sonne Ochus out of all hope to succeede him in the kingdom least this expectacion might make him to goe about to practise that which Cyrus did and that by this meanes his Realme should growe into faction and ciuill warres he proclaymed his eldest sonne Darius being fiftye yeare olde king after his death and furthermore gaue him leaue from thenceforth to weare the poynt of his hat right vp In PERSIA the custome is that when any commeth to be proclaymed successor and heire apparant to the crowne he should require a gifte of him that proclaymeth him successor The which the other doth graunt him whatsoeuer it be that he asketh so it be not impossible Darius then asked his father a concubine called Aspasia who was first with Cyrus in greatest fauor with him aboue all the rest but then was for the kings own bodye She was borne in the contry of IONIA of free parents and being vertuously brought vp she was brought one night vnto Cyrus as he was at supper with other women who sate them downe without too curious bidding hard by him and were verie glad when Cyrus offered to play and be merie with them geuing euerie one of them some pleasaunt word and they made it not coy But Aspasia stoode on her feete by the table and sayd neuer a word and notwithstanding that Cyrus called her she woulde not come at him Moreouer when one of the groomes of his chamber would haue taken her to haue brought her to him the first saith she that layeth hands on me shall repent it Thereuppon all those that were present said she was a foolish thing and simply brought vp and could not tell what was comely for her Howbeit Cyrus being
graunt the most straungest and oldest opinion of this which sayth that there be euill spirites which enuying the vertue of good men to withdraw them from their godly mindes doe make them affrayed with these fearefull sights intising them to forsake their godlynes least that persisting therein they should be rewarded with better life in the world to come then theirs is But let vs referre this disputacion to some other booke and now in this twelfth couple of these famous mens liues compared let vs first begin to write the life of him that is the elder of these two men we speake of Dionysius the elder after he had the gouernment of SICILIA in his handes he maried the daughter of Hermocrates a citizen of SYRACVSA But yet not being throughlie settled in his tyrannie that SYRACVSANS did rebell against him did so cruellie and abhominablie handle the bodie of his wife that she willinglie poysoned her selfe So after he had established him selfe in his gouernment with more suretie then before he maried againe two other wiues together the one a straunger of the citie of LOCRES called Doride and the other of the contry it selfe called Aristomaché the daughter of Hipparinus the chiefest man of all SYRACVSA and that had bene companion with Dionysius the first time he was chosen Generall It was sayd that Dionysius maried them both in one day and that they could neuer tell which of them he knewe first but otherwise that he made as much of the one as he did of the other For they commonly sate together with him at his table and did either of them lye with him by turnes though the SYRACVSANS would haue their owne contrywoman preferred before the straunger Howebeit the straunge woman had this good happe to bring foorth Dionysius his eldest sonne which was a good countenaunce to defend her being a forreiner Aristomaché in contrarie maner continued a long time with Dionysius without frute of her wombe although he was verie desirous to haue children by her so that he put the LOCRIAN womans mother to death accusing her that she had with sorceries and witchcraft kept Aristomaché from being with child Dion being the brother of Aristomaché was had in great estimation at the first for his sisters sake but afterwards the tyran finding him to be a wise man he loued him thē for his owne sake Insomuch that among many sundrie things pleasures he did for him he commaunded his Treasorers to let him haue what money he asked of them so they made him acquainted withall the selfe same day they gaue him any Nowe though Dion had euer before a noble minde in him by nature yet muche more did that magnanimitie increase when Plato by good fortune arriued in SICILE For his comming thither surelie was no mans deuise as I take it but the verie prouidence of some god who bringing farre of the first beginning and fundation of the libertie of the SYRACVSANS and to ouerthrow the tyrannicall state sent Plato out of ITALIE vnto the citie of SYRACVSA and brought him acquainted with Dion who was but a young man at that time but yet had an apter witte to learne and redier good will to follow vertue then any young man else that followed Plato as Plato him selfe writeth and his owne doinges also doe witnesse For Dion hauing from a child bene brought vp with humble conditions vnder a tyran and acquainted with a seruile timerous life with a prowde and insolent reigne with all vanity and curiositie as placing chiefe felicity in couetousnes neuerthelesse after he had felt the sweete reasons of Philosophie teaching the broad way to vertue his hart was enflamed straight with earnest desire to follow the same And bicause he found that he was so easelie perswaded to loue vertue and honestie he simplie thinking being of an honest plaine nature that the selfe same perswasions would moue a like affection in Dionysius obteined of Dionysius that being at leasure he was contented to see Plato and to speake with him When Plato came to Dionysius all their talke in maner was of vertue and they chiefely reasoned what was fortitude where Plato proued that tyrans were no valliant men From thence passing further into iustice he told him that the life of iust men was happy and contrarily the life of vniust men vnfortunate Thus the tyran Dionysius perceiuing he was ouercomen durst no more abide him and was angrie to see the standers by to make suche estimacion of Plato and that they had such delight to heare him speake At length he angrily asked him what businesse he had to doe there Plato aunswered him he came to seeke a good man Dionysius then replied againe what in Gods name by thy speache then it seemeth thou hast founde none yet Now Dion thought that Dionysius anger would proceede no further and therefore at Platoes earnest request he sent him away in a galley with three bankes of owers the which Pollis a LACEDAEMONIAN Captaine caried backe againe into GRAECE Howbeit Dionysius secretlie requested Pollis to kill Plato by the way as ouer he would doe him pleasure if not yet that he would sell him for a slaue howsoeuer he did For said he he shall be nothing the worse for that bicause if he be a iust man he shall be as happie to be a slaue as a freeman Thus as it is reported this Pollis caried Plato into the I le of AEGINA and there sold him For the AEGINETES hauing warre at that time with the ATHENIANS made a decree that all the ATHENIANS that were taken in their Ile should be sold. This notwithstanding Dionysius refused not to honor and trust Dion as much as euer he did before and did also sende him Ambassador in matters of great weight As when he sent him vnto the CARTHAGINIANS where he behaued him selfe so well that he wan great reputacion by his iorney and the tyran coulde well away with his plaine speach For no man but he durst say their mindes so boldly vnto him to speake what he thought good as on a time he reproued him for Gelon One day when they mocked Gelons gouernment before the tyrans face and that Dionysius him selfe sayd finely deskanting of his name which signifieth laughture that he was euen the verie laughing stocke him selfe of SICILE the Courtiers made as though they liked this encounter and interpretacion of laughture passingly well But Dion not being well pleased withall sayd vnto him for his sake men trusted thee whereby thou camest to be tyran but for thine owne sake they will neuer trust any man For to say truly Gelon shewed by his gouernment that it was as goodly a thing as coulde be to see a citie gouerned by an absolute Prince but Dionysius by his gouernment on thother side made it appeare as detestable a thing This Dionysius had by his LOCRIAN wife three children and by Aristomaché foure of the which two were daughters the
So when he had thus openly shewed him selfe an enemy vnto Dion he came no more that daye into the market place but the next morning he was seene ronning vp and downe the citie naked his head and face all of a gore bloud as if he had bene followed by men to haue slayne him Thus Sosis comming in this manner into the middest of the market place cryed out that Dions straungers had lyen in wayte for him and had handled him in this sort shewing his wound on his head Many of the people tooke this matter very grieuously and cried out vpon Dion and sayd it was vilely and tyrannically done of him by feare of murther and daunger to take away the libertie from the Citizens to speake Nowe though the whole assembly hereuppon fell into an vprore withall Dion notwithstanding came thither to cleare him selfe of these accusations and made them presently see that this Sosis was brother to one of Dionysius gard who had put into his head in this sort to put the citie of SYRACVSA in an vprore bicause Dionysius had no other hope nor meanes to escape but by stirring vp faction and sedition amonge them to make one of them fall out with another The Surgions were sent for forthwith to searche the wounde of this Sosis who founde that it was rather a litle scratche then any violent wound giuen him For the woundes or cuts of a sword are euer deepest in the middest and Sosis cut was but very litle and not deepe hauing had many beginnings and giuen him as it seemed at sundry times that for very paine the party that cut him was driuen to leaue of so came to cut him at diuers times Furthermore there came certaine of his friends in the meane time that brought a raser before the assembly and reported that as they came they met Sosis by the way all bloudied who sayd that he fled from Dions souldiers which had but newly hurt him Whereuppon they presently followed them but found no man and onely they saw a raser which some bodye had cast vpon a hollow stone thereabout where they first saw him comming vnto them Thus Sosis deuise had but euill successe For beside all these proofes and tokens Dions houshold seruaunts came to be a witnes against him that very earely in the morning he went abroad alone with a raser in his hand Then they that before did burden and accuse Dion knewe not what to say the matter but shroncke away whereuppon the people condēning Sosis to death they were quiet againe with Dion Yet were they alwaies affraid of these souldiers that were straungers specially when they saw the greatest conflicts they had with the tyranne was by sea after that Philistus was come from the coast of APVGLIA with a great number of gallies to ayde the tyranne For then they thought that these souldiers the straungers being armed at all partes to fight by land they would do them no more seruice by sea bicause the Citizens them selues were they that kept them in safetie for that they were men practised to fight by sea and were also the stronger by meanes of their ships But beside all this the onely thing that made them to be coragious again was the good fortune they had at the battel by sea in the which when they had ouercome Philistus they cruelly and barbarously vsed him Truely Ephorus saith that Philistus slue him selfe when he sawe his galley taken Howbeit Timonides who was alway with Dion from the first beginning of this warre writing vnto Speusippus the Philosopher saith that Philistus was taken aliue bicause his galley ranne a land and that the SYRACVSANS first tooke of his curaces and stripped him naked and after they had done him all the villanie and spight they could they cut of his head and gaue his body vnto boyes commaunding them to dragge it into that part of the citie called ACRADINE and then to cast it into the common priuie Timaus also to spight him the more sayth that the boyes tyed the deade bodye by his lame legge and so dragged him vp and downe the citie where all the SYRACVSANS did what villanie to it they could being glad to see him dragged by the legge that had sayd Dionysius should not flie from the tyranny vpon a light horse but that they should pull him out by the legge against his will. Now Philistus reporteth this matter thus not as spoken to Dionysius by him selfe but by some other But Timaus taking a iust occasion and culler to speake euil of the good will fidelitie and care that Philistus had alwayes seemed to shew in the confirmation defence of the tyrannie doth liberally bestow iniutious wordes on him in this place Nowe for them whome he had in deede offended if they of malice and spight to be reuenged did offer him crueltie peraduenture they were not much to be blamed but for them that since his death haue written the ieasts who were neuer offended by him in his life time and who ought to shewe them selues discreete in their writing me thinkes that if they had regarded their owne credit and estimation they should not so fondly and outragiously haue reproued the aduersities and misfortunes which by fortune may as well chaunce to the honestest man as vnto him Thus fondely doth Ephorus prayse Philistus who though he haue an excellent fine wit to counterfeate goodly excuses and cunningly to hide wicked and dishonest partes and eloquently to deuise by honest words to defend an euill cause yet can not he with all the fiue wits he hath excuse him self that he hath not bene the onely man of the world that hath most fauored tyrannes and that hath euer loued and specially desired power wealth and alliance with tyrannes But he in my opinion taketh the right course of an Historiographer that nether doth commend Philistus doings nor yet casteth his aduersities in his teeth to his reproche After Philistus death Dionysius sent vnto Dion to make him an offer to deliuer him the castell armor munition and souldiers that were in it with money also to paye them for fiue monethes space For him selfe he prayed that he might be suffered to goe safely into ITALY and to lye there to take the pleasure of the frutes of the contry called GYARTA which was within the territorie of SYRACVSA and lyeth out from the sea towardes the mayne land Dion refused this offer and aunswered the Ambassadors that they must moue the SYRACVSANS in it They supposing they should easily take Dionysius aliue would not heare the Ambassadors speake but turned them away Dionysius seeing no other remedie left the castell in the handes of his eldest sonne Apollocrates and hauing a lusty gale of winde he secretly imbarked certaine of his men he loued best with the richest thinges he had and so hoysed sayle vnwares to Heraclides the Admirall of SYRACVSA The people were maruelously offended with Heraclides for it and beganne to mutine
and vprore it was thought then that Brutus woulde take parte with Caesar bicause Pompey not long before had put his father vnto death But Brutus preferring the respect of his contrie and common wealth before priuate affection and perswading himselfe that Pompey had iuster cause to enter into armes then Caesar he then tooke parte with Pompey though oftentimes meting him before he thought scorne to speake to him thinking it a great sinne and offence in him to speake to the murtherer of his father But then submitting him selfe vnto Pompey as vnto the head of the common wealth he sailed into SICILIA Lieutenant vnder Sestius that was Gouernor of that prouince But when he saw that there was no way to rise nor to do any noble exployts and that Caesar Pompey were both camped together and fought for victory he went of him selfe vnsent for into MACEDON to be partaker of the daunger It is reported that Pompey being glad and wondering at his comming when he sawe him come to him he rose out of his chaire and went and imbraced him before them all and vsed him as honorablie as he could haue done the noblest man that tooke his parte Brutus being in Pompeys campe did nothing but studie all day long except he were with Pompey not only the dayes before but the selfe same day also before the great battell was fought in the fieldes of PHARSALIA where Pompey was ouerthrowen It was in the middest of sommer and the sunne was verie hotte besides that the campe was lodged neere vnto marishes and they that caried his tent taried long before they came whereuppon being verie wearie with trauell scant any meate came into his mouth at dinner time Furthermore when others slept or thought what woulde happen the morrowe after he fell to his booke and wrote all day long till night wryting a breuiarie of Polybius It is reported that Caesar did not forgette him and that he gaue his Captaines charge before the battell that they shoulde beware they killed not Brutus in fight and if he yeelded willinglie vnto them that then they shoulde bring him vnto him but if he resisted and woulde not be taken then that they shoulde lette him goe and doe him no hurte Some saye he did this for Seruiliaes sake Brutus mother For when he was a young man he had bene acquainted with Seruilia who was extreamelie in loue with him And bicause Brutus was borne in that time when their loue was hottest he perswaded him selfe that he begat him For proofe hereof the reporte goeth that when the waightiest matters were in hande in the Senate about the conspiracie of Catiline which was likelie to haue vndone the citie of ROME Caesar and Cato sate neere together and were both of contrarie mindes to eache other and then that in the meane time one deliuered Caesar a letter Caesar tooke it and red it softlie to him selfe but Cato cried out vpon Caesar and sayd he did not well to receiue aduertisementes from enemies Whereuppon the whole Senate beganne to murmure at it Then Caesar gaue Cato the letter as it was sent him who red it and founde that it was a loue letter sent from his sister Seruilia thereuppon he cast it againe to Caesar and sayde vnto him holde dronken soppe When he had done so he went on with his tale and maintayned his opinion as he did before so commonlie was the loue of Seruilia knowen which she bare vnto Caesar. So after Pompeys ouerthrowe at the battell of PHARSALIA and that he fledde to the sea when Caesar came to beseege his campe Brutus went out of the campe gates vnseene of any man and lept into a marishe full of water and reedes Then when night was come he crept out and went vnto the citie of LARISSA from whence he wrote vnto Caesar who was verie glad that he had scaped and sent for him to come vnto him When Brutus was come he did not onelie pardon him but also kept him alwayes about him and did as muche honor and esteeme him any man he had in his companie Nowe no man coulde tell whether Pompey was fledde and all were maruelous desirous to knowe it wherefore Caesar walking a good waye alone with Brutus he did aske him which way he thought Pompey tooke Caesar perceiuing by his talke that Brutus gessed certainlie whether Pompey shoulde be fledde he left all other wayes and tooke his iorney directlie towardes AEGYPT Pompey as Brutus had coniectured was in deede fledde into AEGYPT but there he was villanouslie slayne Furthermore Brutus obteyned pardon of Caesar for Cassius and defending also the king of LYBIAES cause he was ouerlayed with a worlde of accusacions against him howebeit intreating for him he saued him the best parte of his realme and kingdome They say also that Caesar sayd when he hearde Brutus pleade I knowe not sayd he what this young man woulde but what he woulde he willeth it vehementlie For as Brutus grauetie and constant minde woulde not graunt all men their requests that sued vnto him but being moued with reason and discretion did alwayes encline to that which was good and honest euen so when it was moued to followe any matter he vsed a kinde of forcible and vehement perswasion that calmed not till he had obteyned his desire For by flattering of him a man coulde neuer obteyne any thing at his handes nor make him to doe that which was vniust Further he thought it not meete for a man of calling and estimacion to yeelde vnto the requestes and intreaties of a shamelesse and importunate suter requesting thinges vnmeete the which notwithstanding some men doe for shame bicause they dare deny nothing And therefore he was wont to say that he thought them euill brought vp in their youth that coulde deny nothing Nowe when Caesar tooke sea to goe into AFRICKE against Cato and Scipio he left Brutus Gouernment of GAVLE in ITALIE on this side of the Alpes which was a great good happe for that prouince For where others were spoyled and polled by the insolencie and couetousnesse of the Gouernours as if it had bene a contrie conquered Brutus was a comforte and rest vnto their former troubles and miseries they susteyned But he referred it whollie vnto Caesars grace and goodnesse For when Caesar returned out of AFRICKE and progressed vp and downe ITALIE the things that pleased him best to see were the cities vnder Brutus charge and gouernment and Brutus him selfe who honored Caesar in person and whose companie also Caesar greatlie esteemed Now there were diuers sortes of Praetorshippes at ROME and it was looked for that Brutus or Cassius would make sute for the chiefest Praetorshippe which they called the Praetorshippe of the citie bicause he that had that office was as a Iudge to minister iustice vnto the citizens Therefore they stroue one against the other though some say that there was some litle grudge betwext them for other matters before and
side For nothing vndid them but that Brutus went not to helpe Cassius thinking he had ouercome them as him selfe had done and Cassius on the other side taried not for Brutus thinking he had bene ouerthrowen as him selfe was And to proue that the victorie fell on Brutus side Messala confirmeth it that they wanne three Eagles and diuers other ensignes of their enemies and their enemies wanne neuer a one of theirs Now Brutus returning from the chase after he had slaine and sacked Caesars men he wondred muche that he coulde not see Cassius tent standing vp high as it was wont neither the other tentes of his campe standing as they were before bicause all the whole cāpe had bene spoiled and the tentes throwen downe at the first comming in of the enemies But they that were about Brutus whose sight serued them better tolde him that they sawe a great glistering of harnes and a number of siluered targets that went came into Cassius campe and were not as they tooke it the armors nor the number of men that they had left there to gard the campe and yet that they saw not such a number of dead bodies and great ouerthrow as there should haue bene if so many legions had bene slaine This made Brutus at the first mistrust that which had hapned So he appointed a number of men to keepe the campe of his enemie which he had taken and caused his men to be sent for that yet followed the chase and gathered them together thinking to leade them to aide Cassius who was in this state as you shall heare First of all he was maruelous angrie to see how Brutus men ranne to geue charge vpon their enemies and taried not for the word of the battell nor commaundement to geue charge and it grieued him beside that after he had ouercome them his men fell straight to spoyle and were not carefull to compasse in the rest of the enemies behinde But with tarying too long also more then through the valliantnesse or foresight of the Captaines his enemies Cassius founde him selfe compassed in with the right wing of his enemies armie Whereuppon his horsemen brake immediatly and fled for life towardes the sea Furthermore perceiuing his footemen to geue ground he did what he could to kepe them from flying and tooke an ensigne from one of the ensigne bearers that fled and stucke it fast at his feete although with much a do he could scant keepe his owne gard together So Cassius him selfe was at length compelled to flie with a few about him vnto a litle hill from whence they might easely see what was done in all the plaine howbeit Cassius him selfe sawe nothing for his sight was verie bad sauing that he saw and yet with much a doe how the enemies spoiled his campe before his eyes He sawe also a great troupe of horsemen whom Brutus sent to aide him and thought that they were his enemies that followed him but yet he sent Titinnius one of them that was with him to goe and know what they were Brutus horsemen sawe him comming a farre of whom when they knewe that he was one of Cassius chiefest frendes they showted out for ioy and they that were familiarly acquainted with him lighted from their horses and went and imbraced him The rest compassed him in rounde about a horsebacke with songs of victorie and great rushing of their harnes so that they made all the field ring againe for ioy But this marred all For Cassius thinking in deede that Titinnius was taken of the enemies he then spake these wordes desiring too much to liue I haue liued to see one of my best frendes taken for my sake before my face After that he gotte into a tent where no bodie was and tooke Pyndarus with him one of his freed bondmen whom he reserued euer for suche a pinche since the cursed battell of the PARTHIANS where Crassus was slaine though he notwithstanding scaped from that ouerthrow but then casting his cloke ouer his head holding out his bare neck vnto Pindarus he gaue him his head to be striken of So the head was found seuered from the bodie but after that time Pindarus was neuer seene more Wherupon some tooke occasion to say that he had slaine his master without his cōmaundement By by they knew the horsemen that came towards them might see Titinnius crowned with a garland of triumphe who came before with great speede vnto Cassius But when he perceiued by the cries and teares of his frends which tormented them selues the misfortune that had chaunced to his Captaine Cassius by mistaking he drew out his sword cursing him selfe a thowsand times that he had taried so long and so slue him selfe presentlie in the fielde Brutus in the meane time came forward still and vnderstoode also that Cassius had bene ouerthrowen but he knew nothing of his death till he came verie neere to his campe So when he was come thither after he had lamented the death of Cassius calling him the last of all the ROMANES being vnpossible that ROME should euer breede againe so noble valliant a man as he he caused his bodie to be buried and sent it to the citie of THASSOS fearing least his funerals within the campe should cause great disorder Then he called his souldiers together did encorage them againe And when he saw that they had lost all their cariage which they could not brooke well he promised euerie man of them two thowsand Drachmas in recompence After his souldiers had heard his Oration they were al of them pretily cheered againe wondering much at his great liberalitie and waited vpon him with great cries when he went his way praising him for that he only of the foure Chieftaines was not ouercome in battell And to speake the trueth his deedes shewed that he hoped not in vaine to be conqueror For with fewe legions he had slaine and driuen all them away that made head against him and yet if all his people had fought and that the most of them had not ouergone their enemies to runne to spoyle their goods surely it was like enough he had slaine them all and had left neuer a man of them aliue There were slaine of Brutus side about eight thowsand men coūting the souldiers slaues whom Brutus called Brigas and of the enemies side as Messala wryteth there were slaine as he supposeth more then twise as many moe Wherefore they were more discoraged then Brutus vntill that verie late at night there was one of Cassius men called Demetrius who went vnto Antonius and caried his maisters clothes whereof he was stripped not long before and his sword also This encoraged Brutus enemies and made them so braue that the next morning betimes they stoode in battell ray againe before Brutus But on Brutus side both his campes stoode wauering and that in great daunger For his owne campe being full of prisoners required a good garde to looke
vnto them and Cassius campe on the other side tooke the death of their Captaine verie heauilie and beside there was some vile grudge betwene them that were ouercomen and those that did ouercome For this cause therefore Brutus did set them in battell ray but yet kept him selfe from geuing battell Now for the slaues that were prisoners which were a great number of them went came to and fro amongst the armed men not without suspicion he commaunded they shoulde kill them But for the freemen he sent them freely home and said that they were better prisoners with his enemies then with him For with them they were slaues and seruauntes and with him they were free men and citizens So when he saw that diuers Captaines and his frendes did so cruelly hate some that they would by no meanes saue their liues Brutus him selfe hid them and secretlie sent them away Among these prisoners there was one Vulumnius 2 ieaster and Secculio a common player of whom Brutus made no accompt at all Howbeit his frends brought them vnto him and did accuse them that though they were prisoners they did not let to laugh them to scorne and to ieast broadly with them Brutus made no aunswere to it bicause his heade was occupied other wayes Whereupon Messala Coruinus sayd that it were good to whippe them on a skaffold and then to sende them naked well whipped vnto the Captaines of their enemies to shewe them their shame to keepe suche mates as those in their campe to play the fooles to make them sport Some that stoode by laughed at his deuise But Publius Casca that gaue Iulius Caesar the first wounde when he was slaine sayd then It doth nor become vs to be thus merie at Cassius funeralls and for thee Brutus thou shalt showe what estimacion thou madest of suche a Captaine thy compere by putting to death or sauing the liues of these bloodes who hereafter will mocke him and defame his memorie Brutus aunswered againe in choller why then doe you come to tell me of it Casca and doe not your selues what you thinke good When they hearde him say so they tooke his aunswere for a consent against these poore vnfortunate men to suffer them to doe what they thought good and therefore they caried them away slue them Afterwards Brutus performed the promise he had made to the souldiers and gaue them the two thowsand Drachmas a peece but yet he first reproued them bicause they went gaue charge vpon the enemies at the first battell before they had the word of battell geuen them and made them a new promise also that if in the second battell they fought like men he would geue them the sacke and spoyle of two cities to wit THESSALONICA and LACEDAEMON In all Brutus life there is but this only fault to be found and that is not to be gainesaid though Antonius and Octauius Caesar did reward their souldiers farre worse for their victory For when they had driuen all the naturall ITALIANS out of ITALIE they gaue their souldiers their landes and townes to the which they had no right and moreouer the only marke they shot at in all this warre they made was but to ouercome and raigne Where in contrarie manner they had so great an opinion of Brutus vertue that the common voyce and opinion of the world would not suffer him neither to ouercome nor to saue him selfe otherwise then iustlie and honestly and speciallie after Cassius death whome men burdened that oftentimes he moued Brutus to great crueltie But nowe like as the mariners on the sea after the rudder of their shippe is broken by tempest do seeke to naile on some other peece of wodde in liew thereof and doe helpe them selues to keepe them from hurt as much as may be vpon that instant daunger euen so Brutus hauing such a great armie to gouerne and his affaires standing verie tickle and hauing no other Captaine coequall with him in dignitie and authoritie he was forced to imploy them he had and likewise to be ruled by them in many things was of mind him selfe also to graunt them any thing that he thought might make them serue like noble souldiers at time of neede For Cassius souldiers were verie euill to be ruled and did shewe them selues verie stubborne and lustie in the campe bicause they had no Chieftaine that did cōmaund them but yet rancke cowards to their enemies bicause they had once ouercome them On the other side Octauius Caesar and Antonius were not in much better state for first of all they lacked vittells And bicause they were lodged in low places they looked to abide a hard and sharpe winter being camped as they were by the marish side and also for that after the battell there had fallen plentie of raine about the autumne where through all their tents were full of myre and durt the which by reason of the colde did freeze incontinentlie But beside all these discommodities there came newes vnto them of the great losse they had of their men by sea For Brutus shippes met with a great aide and supplie of men which were sent them out of ITALIE and they ouerthrewe them in suche sorte that there scaped but few of them and yet they were so famished that they were compelled to eate the tackle and sailes of their shippes Thereuppon they were verie desirous to fight a battell againe before Brutus should haue intelligence of this good newes for him for it chaūced so that the battell was fought by sea on the selfe same day it was fought by lande But by ill fortune rather then through the malice or negligence of the Captaines this victory came not to Brutus eare till twentie dayes after For had he knowen of it before he would not haue bene brought to haue fought a second battell considering that he had excellent good prouision for his armie for a long time and besides lay in a place of great strength so as his campe could not be greatly hurt by the winter nor also distressed by his anemies and further he had bene a quiet Lord being a conqueror by sea as he was also by land This would haue maruelously encoraged him Howbeit the state of ROME in my opinion being now brought to that passe that it could no more abide to be gouerned by many Lordes but required one only absolute Gouernor God to preuent Brutus that it shoulde not come to his gouernment kept this victorie from his knowledge though in deede it came but a litle too late For the day before the last battell was geuen verie late in the night came Clodius one of his enemies into his campe who told that Caesar hearing of the ouerthrow of his armie by sea desired nothing more then to fight a battell before Brutus vnderstoode it Howebeit they gaue no credit to his words but despised him so muche that they would not vouchsafe to bring him vnto Brutus bicause they thought
it was but a lye deuised to be the better welcome for this good newes The selfe same night it is reported that the monstruous spirit which had appeared before vnto Brutus in the citie of SARDIS did now appeare againe vnto him in the selfe same shape and forme and so vanished away and sayd neuer a word Now Publius Voluminius a graue wise Philosopher that had bene with Brutus from the beginning of this warre he doth make mencion of this spirite but sayth that the greatest Eagle and ensigne was couered ouer with a swarme of bees and that there was one of the Captaines whose arme sodainly fell a sweating that it dropped oyle of roses from him and that they oftentimes went about to drie him but all would doe no good And that before the battell was fought there were two Eagles fought betwene both armies and all the time they fought there was a maruelous great silence all the valley ouer both the armies being one before the other marking this fight betwene them and that in the end the Eagle towardes Brutus gaue ouer and flew away But this is certaine and a true tale that when the gate of the campe was open the first man that standered bearer meâ— that caried the Eagle was an AETHIOPIAN whome the souldiers for ill lucke mangled with their swordes Now after that Brutus had brought his armie into the fielde and had set them in battell ray directlie against the voward of his enemie he pawsed a long time before he gaue the signall of battell For Brutus riding vp and downe to view the bands and companies it came in his head to mistrust some of them besides that some came to tell him so muche as he thought Moreouer he sawe his horsemen set forward but saintly and did not goe lustely to geue charge but still stayed to see what the footemen woulde doe Then sodainly one of the chiefest Knightes he had in all his armie called Camulatius and that was alway maruelously esteemed of for his valliantnes vntill that time he came hard by Brutus a horsebacke and roade before his face to yeeld him selfe vnto his enemies Brutus was maruelous sorie for it wherefore partely for anger and partely for feare of greater treason and rebellion he sodainly caused his armie to marche being past three of the clocke in the after noone So in that place where he him selfe fought in person he had the better and brake into the left wing of his enemies which gaue him way through the helpe of his horsemen that gaue charge with his footemen when they saw the enemies in a maze and affrayed Howbeit the other also on the right wing when the Captaines would haue had them to haue marched they were affraid to haue bene compassed in behinde bicause they were fewer in number then their enemies and therefore did spred them selues and leaue the middest of their battell Whereby they hauing weakened them selues they could not withstande the force of their enemies but turned taile straight and fled And those that had put them to flight came in straight vpon it to compasse Brutus behinde who in the middest of the conflict did all that was possible for a skilfull Captaine and valliant souldier both for his wisedom as also for his hardinesse for the obtaining of victorie But that which wanne him the victorie at the first battell did now lose it him at the seconde For at the first time the enemies that were broken and fled were straight cut in peeces but at the seconde battell of Cassius men that were put to flight there were fewe slaine and they that saued them selues by speede being affrayed bicause they had bene ouercome did discourage the rest of the armie when they came to ioyne with them filled all the army with feare disorder There was the sonne of M. Cato slaine valliantly fighting amongst the lustie youths For notwithstanding that he was verie wearie and ouerharried yet would he not therefore flie but manfully fighting and laying about him telling alowde his name and also his fathers name at lenghth he was beaten downe amongest many other dead bodies of his enemies which he had slaine rounde about him So there were slaine in the field all the chiefest gentlemen and nobilitie that were in his armie who valliantlie ranne into any daunger to saue Brutus life Amongest them there was one of Brutus frendes called Lucilius who seeing a troupe of barbarous men making no reckoning of all men else they met in their way but going all together right against Brutus he determined to stay them with the hazard of his life and being left behinde told them that he was Brutus and bicause they should beleue him he prayed them to bring him to Antonius for he sayd he was affrayed of Caesar and that he did trust Antonius better These barbarous men being very glad of this good happe and thinking them selues happie men they caried him in the night and sent some before vnto Antonius to tell him of their comming He was maruelous glad of it and went out to meete them that brought him Others also vnderstanding of it that they had brought Brutus prisoner they came out of all parts of the campe to see him some pitying his hard fortune others saying that it was not done like him selfe so cowardlie to be taken aliue of the barbarous people for feare of death When they came neere together Antonius stayed a while bethinking him selfe how he should vse Brutus In the meane time Lucilius was brought to him who stowtly with a bold countenaunce sayd Antonius I dare assure thee that no enemie hath taken nor shall take Marcus Brutus aliue and I beseech God keepe him from that fortune For wheresoeuer he be found aliue or dead he will be found like him selfe And nowe for my selfe I am come vnto thee hauing deceiued these men of armes here bearing them downe that I was Brutus and doe not refuse to suffer any torment thou wilt put me to Lucilius wordes made them all amazed that heard him Antonius on the other side looking vpon all them that had brought him sayd vnto them my companions I thinke ye are sorie you haue failed of your purpose that you thinke this man hath done you great wrong but I doe assure you you haue taken a better bootie then that you followed For in steade of an enemie you haue brought me a frend and for my parte if you had brought me Brutus aliue truely I can not tell what I should haue done to him For I had rather haue suche men my frendes as this man here then enemies Then he embraced Lucilius and at that time deliuered him to one of his frendes in custodie and Lucilius euer after serued him faithfullie euen to his death Nowe Brutus hauing passed a litle riuer walled in on either side with hie rockes and shadowed with great trees being then darke night he went no further but stayed
at the foote of a rocke with certaine of his Captaines and frends that followed him and looking vp to the firmanent that was full of starres sighing he rehearsed two verses of the which Volumnius wrote the one to this effect Let not the vvight from vvhom this mischiefe vvent O loue escape vvithout devv punishment And sayth that he had forgotten the other Within a litle while after naming his frendes that he had seene slaine in battell before his eyes he fetched a greater sigh then before specially when he came to name Labio and Flauius of the which the one was his Lieutenant and the other Captaine of the pioners of his campe In the meane time one of the companie being a thirst and seeing Brutus a thirst also he ranne to the riuer for water and brought it in his sallet At the selfe same time they heard a noyse on the other side of the riuer Whereupon Volumnius tooke Dardanus Brutus seruaunt with him to see what it was and returning straight againe asked if there were any water left Brutus smiling gentlie tolde them all was dronke but they shall bring you some more Thereuppon he sent him againe that went for water before who was in great daunger of being taken by the enemies and hardly scaped being sore hurt Furthermore Brutus thought that there was no great number of men slaine in battell and to know the trueth of it there was one called Statilius that promised to goe through his enemies for otherwise it was impossible to goe see their campe and from thence if all were well that he woulde lift vp a torche light in the ayer and then returne againe with speede to him The torche light was lift vp as he had promised for Statilius went thither Nowe Brutus seeing Statilius tarie long after that and that he came not againe he sayd if Statilius be aliue he will come againe But his euill fortune was suche that as he came backe he lighted in his enemies hands and was slaine Now the night being farre spent Brutus as he sate bowed towards Clitus one of his men and told him somwhat in his eare the other aunswered him not but fell a weeping Thereuppon he proued Dardanus and sayd somwhat also to him at length he came to Volumnius him selfe speaking to him in Graeke prayed him for the studies sake which brought them acquainted together that he woulde helpe him to put his hande to his sword to thrust it in him to kill him Volumnius denied his request and so did many others and amongest the rest one of them sayd there was no tarying for them there but that they must needes flie Then Brutus rising vp we must flie in deede sayd he but it must be with our hands not with our feete Then taking euery man by the hand he sayd these words vnto them with a cheerefull countenance It reioyceth my hart that not one of my frends hath failed me at my neede and I do not complaine of my fortune but only for my contries sake for as for me I thinke my selfe happier than they that haue ouercome considering that I leaue a perpetuall fame of our corage and manhoode the which our enemies the conquerors shall neuer attaine vnto by force nor money neither can let their posteritie to say that they being naughtie and vniust men haue slaine good men to vsurpe tyrannical power not pertaining to them Hauing sayd so he prayed euerie man to shift for them selues and then he went a litle aside with two or three only among the which Strato was one with whom he came first acquainted by the studie of Rethoricke He came as neere to him as he coulde and taking his sword by the hilts with both his hands falling downe vpon the poynt of it ran him selfe through Others say that not he but Strato at his request held the sword in his hand turned his head aside and that Brutus fell downe vpon it and so ranne him selfe through and dyed presently Messala that had bene Brutus great frend became afterwards Octauius Caesars frend So shortly after Caesar being at good leasure he brought Strato Brutus frende vnto him and weeping sayd Caesar beholde here is he that did the last seruice to my Brutus Caesar welcomed him at that time and afterwards he did him as faithfull seruice in all his affaires as any GRAECIAN els he had about him vntill the battell of ACTIVM It is reported also that this Messala him selfe aunswered Caesar one day when he gaue him great praise before his face that he had fought valliantlie and with great affection for him at the battell of ACTIVM notwithstanding that he had bene his cruell enemy before at the battell of PHILIPPES for Brutus sake I euer loued sayd he to take the best and iustest parte Now Antonius hauing found Brutus bodie he caused it to be wrapped vp in one of the richest cote armors he had Afterwards also Antonius vnderstanding that this cotearmor was stollen he put the theefe to death that had stollen it sent the ashes of his bodie vnto Seruilia his mother And for Porcia Brutus wife Nicolaus the Philosopher and Valerius Maximus doe wryte that she determining to kill her selfe her parents and frendes carefullie looking to her to kepe her from it tooke hotte burning coles and cast them into her mouth and kept her mouth so close that she choked her selfe There was a letter of Brutus found wrytten to his frendes complayning of their negligence that his wife being sicke they would not helpe her but suffred her to kill her selfe choosing to dye rather then to languish in paine Thus it appeareth that Nicolaus knewe not well that time sith the letter at the least if it were Brutus letter doth plainly declare the disease and loue of this Lady and also the maner of her death THE COMPARISON OF Dion with Brutus TO come nowe to compare these two noble personages together it is certaine that both of them hauing had great gifts in them specially Dion of small occasions they made them selues great men therfore Dion of both deserueth chiefest praise For he had no cohelper to bring him vnto that greatnesse as Brutus had of Cassius who doubtlesse was not comparable vnto Brutus for vertue and respect of honor though otherwise in matters of warre he was no lesse wise and valliant then he For many doe impute vnto Cassius the first beginning and originall of all the warre and enterprise and sayd it was he that did encourage Brutus to conspire Caesars death Where Dion furnished him selfe with armor shippes and souldiers and wanne those frendes and companions also that did helpe him to prosecute his warre Nor he did not as Brutus who rose to greatnesse by his enterprises and by warre got all his strength and riches But he in contrarie maner spent of his owne goods to make warre for the libertie of his contrie and disbursed of his
owne money that should haue kept him in his banishment Furthermore Brutus and Cassius were compelled of necessity to make warres bicause they coulde not haue liued safelie in peace when they were driuen out of ROME for that they were condemned to death and pursued by their enemies And for this cause therefore they were driuen to hazard them selues in warre more for their owne safetie then for the libertie of their contrie men Whereas Dion on the other side liuing more merily and safelie in his banishment then the tyranne Dionysius him selfe that had banished him did put him selfe to the daunger to deliuer SICILE from bondage Nowe the matter was not a like vnto the ROMANES to be deliuered from the gouernment of Caesar as it was for the SYRACVSANS to be ridde of Dionysius tyrannie For Dionysius denyed not that he was not a tyranne hauing filled SICILE with suche miserie and calamitie Howebeit Caesars power and gouernment when it came to be established did in deede much hurt at his first entrie and beginning vnto those that did resist him but afterwardes vnto them that being ouercome had receiued his gouernment it seemed he rather had the name and opinion onely of a tyranne then otherwise that he was so in deede For there neuer followed any tyrannicall nor cruell act but contrarilie it seemed that he was a mercifull Phisition whom God had ordeyned of speciall grace to be Gouernor of the Empire of ROME and to set all thinges againe at quiet stay the which required the counsell and authoritie of an absolute Prince And therefore the ROMANES were maruelous sorie for Caesar after he was slaine and afterwardes would neuer pardon them that had slaine him On the other side the cause why the SYRACVSANS did most accuse Dion was bicause he did let Dionysius escape out of the castell of SYRACVSA and bicause he did not ouerthrow and deface the tombe of his father Furthermore towching the warres Dion alway shewed him selfe a Captaine vnreprouable hauing wiselie and skilfullie taken order for those things which he had enterprised of his owne head and counsell and did amende the faults others committed and brought things to better state then he found them Where it seemeth that Brutus did not wisely to receiue the second battell considering his rest stoode vpon it For after he had lost the battell it was vnpossible for him euer to rise againe therefore his hart failed him and so gaue vp all and neuer durst striue with his euill fortune as Pompey did considering that he had present cause enough in the field to hope of his souldiers and being beside a dreadfull Lorde all the sea ouer Furthermore the greatest reproache they could obiect against Brutus was that Iulius Caesar hauing saued his life and pardoned all the prisoners also taken in battell as many as he had made request for taking him for his frende and honoring him aboue all his other frends Brutus notwithstanding had imbrued his hands in his blood wherewith they could neuer reproue Dion For on the contrarie side so long as Dion was Dionysius frende and kinseman he did alway helpe him to order and gouerne his affaires But after he was banished his contrie and that his wife was forciblie maried to an other man and his goodes also taken from him then he entred into iust and open warres against Dionysius the tyranne But in this poynt they were contrarie together For wherein their chiefest praise consisted to witte in hating of tyrannes and wicked men it is most true that Brutus desire was most sincere of both For hauing no priuate cause of complaint or grudge against Caesar he ventred to kill him onely to set his contrie againe at libertie Where if Dion had not receiued priuate cause of quarrell against Dionysius he woulde neuer haue made warre with him The which Plato proueth in his Epistells where is plainlie seene that Dion being driuen out of the tyrans Court against his will and not putting him selfe to voluntarie banishment he draue out Dionysius Furthermore the respect of the common wealth caused Brutus that before was Pompeys enemie to become his frende and enemie vnto Caesar that before was his frend only referring his frendshippe and enmitie vnto the consideracion of iustice and equitie And Dion did many things for Dionysius sake and benefit all the while he trusted him and when he beganne to mistrust him then for anger he made warre with him Wherefore all his frendes did not beleue but after he had driuen out Dionysius he would stablish the gouernment to him selfe flattering the people with a more curteous and gentle title then the name of a tyranne But for Brutus his verie enemies them selues confessed that of all those that conspired Caesars death he only had no other ende and intent to attempt his enterprise but to restore the Empire of ROME againe to her former state gouernment And furthermore it was not all one thing to deale with Dionysius as it was to haue to doe with Iulius Caesar. For no man that knew Dionysius but would haue despised him considering that he spent the most parte of his time in drinking dycing and in haunting lewde womens company But to haue vndertaken to destroy Iulius Caesar and not to haue shroncke backe for feare of his great wisedom power and fortune considering that his name only was dreadfull vnto euerie man and also not to suffer the kings of PARTHIA and INDIA to be in rest for him this could not come but of a maruelous noble minde of him that for feare neuer fainted nor let fall any part of his corage And therefore so sone as Dion came into SICILIA many thowsands of men came and ioyned with him against Dionysius But the fame of Iulius Caesar did set vp his frends againe after his death and was of suche force that it raised a young stripling Octauius Caesar that had no meanes nor power of him selfe to be one of the greatest men of ROME and they vsed him as a remedie to encounter Antonius malice and power And if men will say that Dion draue out the tyran Dionysius with force of armes and sundrie battells and that in contrarie maner Brutus slue Caesar being a naked man and without gard then doe I aunswere againe that it was a noble parte and of a wise Captaine to choose so apt a time and place to come vppon a man of so great power and to finde him naked without his gard For he went not sodainlie in a rage and alone or with a small companie to assaile him but his enterprise was long time before determined of and that with diuers men of all the which not a man of them once fayled him but it is rather to be thought that from the beginning he chose them honest men or else that by his choyse of them he made them good men Whereas Dion either from the beginning made no wise choyse in trusting of euill men or else bicause he could not
citie of EPIDAVRVM Howbeit the ARGIVES taried not Aratus comming but were all vp before he came and did set vpon king Cleomenes men and had driuen them into the castell Cleomenes being aduertised of it and fearing least his enemies keeping the citie of ARGOS should cut of his way from returning into his contrie againe with safetie if he were driuen to a straight he forsooke the castell of the Acrocorinthe and went his way by night to helpe his men in the citie of ARGOS So he came thither in time and ouerthrewe certeine of his enemies But shortly after Aratus and king Antigonus both being comen thither with all their aide Cleomenes was driuen to flie to the citie of MANTINEA After the recouery againe of the citie of ARGOS all the residue of the cities of PELOPONNESVS did againe returne to the ACHAIANS and Antigonus tooke the castell of the Acrocorinthe So Aratus being chosen Generall by the ARGIVES he counselled them to present Antigonus with all the tyrans goodes and those that had bene traitors to the common wealth And after they had cruellie tormented the tyran Aristomachus in the citie of CENCHREES in the ende they cast him into the sea and drowned him Aratus was maruelouslie reproued for his death that he woulde suffer the poore man to be so vilely handled that was a good man and one that had done him great pleasure who through his perswasion willinglie resigned vp his tyrannie and deliuered the city of ARGOS vnto the ACHAIANS But besides this they blamed him for many other things else For that the ACHAIANS through his meanes had put the citie of CORINTHE into Antigonus hands as though it had bene some meane village for that when they had sacked the citie of ORCHOMENE they suffered him to place a garrison of the MACEDONIANS there for that they had enacted by parlament that they should neither write nor sende Ambassadors any whether without Antigonus priuitie and consent furthermore for that they were compelled to geue pay to the MACEDONIANS for that they made sacrifices feastes and games vnto Antigonus as if he had bene a god following the example of Aratus citizens who were the first that began and had receiued Antigonus into the city by the perswasion of Aratus that lodged and feasted him in his owne house With all these faults they burdened Aratus and considered not that after they had put the reynes of the gouernment into Antigonus hand Aratus him selfe whether he would or not was compelled to follow the swing of the vnbridled Prince hauing no other meanes to stay it but onely the libertie of speache to admonish him and that also was not to be exercised without apparant and great daunger For it is most true that many things were done greatly against Aratus minde as amongest others that Antigonus caused the tyrans images of ARGOSTO to be set vp which he had before pulled downe and also that he made them to be ouerthrowen which Aratus had set vp for those that had taken the castell of CORINTHE and onely left Aratus owne statue notwithstanding all the earnest inn eaty Aratus made to the contrarie yet he could get no graunt of any thing he requested Besides also it appeareth the the ACHAIANS delt not so frendly with the MANTINIANS as became GRAECIANS one to an other For they hauing the citie in their handes by Antigonus meanes did put all the noblest and chiefest men of MANTINEA to death others they solde as slaues and sent the rest into MACEDON with irons on their legges and brought the poore women children into bondage and sold them for slaues and of the money they got by spoile they deuided the third parte among them selues and left the other two partes vnto the MACEDONIANS Nowe surely it can not be sayd but this was done for some cruell reuenge For though it was an ouergreat crueltie in rage passion of minde to handle people of one selfe blood and language in this lamentable sorte yet as Simonides saith when men are driuen and forced to it it is a gentle no cruell thing to ease their great stomackes inflamed with rage and malice But for that which was done afterwards vnto the citie no man can excuse Aratus nor say that he was either driuen to it by necessitie or that he had otherwise any honest occasion to doe it For king Antigonus hauing geuen the citie of MANTINEA vnto the ARGIVES they determined to make it a Colonie and chose Aratus their Generall who made a decree that thenceforth the citie should no more be called MANTINEA but ANTIGONIA as it beareth name vnto this day Thus it seemeth that gentle MANTINEA for so the Poets called it was vtterlie destroyed and bare the name of an other citie through Aratus meanes preferring the name of him that destroied the city did put all the inhabitants of the first to death After that king Cleomenes being ouerthrowen in a great battell by the citie of SELLASIA he left the citie of SPARTA and fled into AEGYPT So Antigonus hauing vsed Aratus with all kind of honorable curtesie he returned againe into MACEDON There falling sicke he sent Philip that should succeede him in the kingdom being a young strippling growen into PELOPONNESVS and straightly charged him speciallie to followe Aratus counsell and to imploy him when he would speake vnto the cities and become acquainted with the ACHAIANS So Aratus hauing receiued him in that sorte made him so well affected and louing towardes him that he sent him againe into MACEDON being throughlie determined to make warres with GRAECE So after the death of Antigonus the AETOLIANS beganne to despise the carelesnesse and cowardlinesse of the ACHAIANS bicause that they being acquainted to be defended by straungers and hauing bene altogether gouerned by the armies of the MACEDONIANS they liued verie idlely dissolutely whereupon they tooke vpon them to make them selues Lords of PELOPONNESVS So they assembled an armie and by the way as they went they onely tooke some pray and spoyle vpon the lands of the PATRAEIANS and the DYMAEIANS but inuading the territorie of MESSINA with all their armie they destroyed the whole contrie before them Aratus being angrie withall and perceiuing that Timoxenus who at that time was Generall of the ACHAIANS did still tract and delay time in vaine bicause he was vpon his going out of his yeare he being appointed Generall for the yeare following did anticipate his time fiue dayes before to goe and aide the MESSENIANS Wherefore leauing an armie of the ACHAIANS whose persons were nowe neither exercised in armes nor yet had any desire to goe to the warres he was ouerthrowen by the citie of CAPHYES Nowe bicause it was thought that he went somewhat too hottely and coragiouslie to the warres he so extremely cooled againe and left things in such case that all hope being cast a side he suffred the AETOLIANS in maner to tread PELOPONNESVS vnder their feete before his eyes with all
amongest such a heape of euills hauing but one onely ioy to haue a vertuous sonne he put him to death for spyte and malice that he saw the ROMANES honor him left his other sonne Persaeus successor of his realme who as it is reported was not his lawfull begotten sonne but taken for his sonne and borne of a taylors wife called Gnatheniuâ—â— It is that Persaeus whom Paulus AEmylius ouercame and led in triumphe in Rome and at him the race of the kings discended from Antigonus failed Where the issue and ofspring of Aratus cominueth yet vntill our time in the cities of SICYONE and PALLENA THE LIFE OF Galba IPhicrates the ATHENIAN Captaine sayd that a mercenarie souldier should be couetous a louer and voluptuous that to get wherewith to maintaine his pleasure he should be the vallianter and readier to put him selfe into any daunger But most men thinke that souldiers should be as one entere strong body that sturreth not of it selfe without the mouing of the general And to approue this opinion it is said that Paulus AEmylius ariuing in MACEDON and finding the souldiers full of words and curiositie euerie man meddling with the affaires of the General he made open proclamacion no man so hardy to medle with his office and affaires but euery man only to keepe his sword sharpe and to be quicke of hand against the enemy and for the rest to referre all to him who would take sufficient order for things of his charge and gouernment Therefore Plato that saith it litle preuaileth to haue a good and wise Captaine if the souldiers also be not wise and obedient thinking it as requisite for the vertue of obedience to haue men of a noble minde and good education as otherwise it is meere for a Captaine to know how to direct and commaunde well considering it is that which with lenity mildnes doth mitigate all fury and choller he hath diuers other examples and sufficient proofes to proue his words true and namely the great miseries and calamities which came to the ROMANES after the death of Nero do plainly shew that nothing is more daungerous nor dreadfull in an Empire then a great armie liuing licentiouslie and disorderly For Demades after the death of Alexander the great compared Alexanders armie vnto Cyclops Polyphemus after his eye was put out considering howe blindly and looselie they were gouerned Howebeit the Empire of ROME being deuided into sundrie factions at one selfe time and rising against it selfe in many places it fell into the like misfortunes and calamities sained of the Poets by the TITANS not so much through the ambiciousnes of the Emperours as by meanes of the couetousnes insolency of the souldiers who draue the Emperours out of their Imperiall seares one after an other as one naile driueth out an other And Dionysius also the tyranne of SYCILTA was wont to call Phetaus who had bene onely tyran of THESSALY tenne monethes space a tyran in a play deriding his so sodaine chaunge of state But the Imperiall house of the Caesars at ROME receiued foure Emperours in lesse then tenne monethes space the souldiers now putting in one and then taking out an other as if they had bene in a play on a scaffolde So that the ROMANES being thus grieuouslie oppressed had yet this comfort that they needed not to seeke to be reuenged of them that did oppresse them For they sawe one of them murther an other and him first and most iustlie of all other murthered that had first of all corrupted the souldiers in teaching them to make gaine of the chaunge of Emperours and so deprauing a worthie deede of it selfe which was their forsaking of Nero and mingling it with briberie made it plaine treason For Nymphidius Sabinus being Captaine of the Emperours gard which are called the Praetorian souldiers together with Tigellinus when he saw Nero in dispaire of him selfe of his estate that he was readie to flie into AEGYPT he perswaded the gard they shoulde call Galba Emperour as if Nero had not bene at ROME but fled and gone and promised euerie one seuen thowsande fiue hundred Drachmas a peece And to the rest of the souldiers that were dispersed vp and downe in garrison vpon the prouinces twelue hundred fifty Drachmas a man For the leauying of which summe they could not possiblie doe it but they must needes commit tenne thowsand times more extorcion to euery bodie then Nero had done This large promise made them presently put Nero to death and shortly after him Galba him selfe also For the souldiers forsooke Nero for the hope they had to receiue this promised gift and shortlie after they slewe the second which was Galba bicause they receiued not their gifts in time to their contentment Afterwards also in seeking who should still feede them with like gifts before could obtaine their wished hope one of them destroyed an other by treason and rebellion But nowe to set downe all thinges particularlie which hapned at that time it were to wryte one whole entere historie and therefore I will content my selfe not to passe ouer wih silence the notablest deedes and lamentable calamities which happened at that time vnto the Caesars It is manifestly knowen to all men that Sulpitius Galba of a priuate man was the richest and wealthiest that came to be in the number of the Caesars who though he came of a verie noble house deriuing him selfe from the race and family of the Seruij yet he was honored the more bicause he was a kinne vnto Quintus Catulus who for vertue and estimacion was one of the chiefest men of his time albeit that otherwise he willingly rezined his authoritie and power vnto others So Galba thereby was somwhat a kinne vnto Linia the wife of Augustus Caesar and therefore for her sake he came out of the Emperours pallace when he went to take possession of his Consulshippe Moreouer it is reported that when he had charge of the armie in GERMANIE he did valliantlie behaue him selfe And in the gouernment of LIBYA also where he was Viceconsul he did as honorablie behaue him selfe as any man whatsoeuer Howbeit his meane and simple ordinary of dyet voyde of all excesse was imputed misary niggardlines in him when he was proclaimed Emperour bicause the praise of sober temperate died which he would haue brought in vse was then so raw a thing that it was taken for a new straunge deuise He was sent Gouernor also into SPAYNE by Nero before he had learned to be astrayed of the citizens of great authority howbeit besides that he was of a curteous gentle nature his age moreouer increased the opinion they had of him that he was timerous and fearefull For when the wretched officers of Nero did cruelly vexe torment the prouinces and that it lay not in Galba any way to help them yet was it some comfort to them which were iudged sold as slaues
by the officers to see that Galba did lament the miseries calaminities they endâ—red as if they had bene done vnto him selfe So when any slaunderous rymes were made against Nero which were song vp and downe in euerie place he would neither forbid them not yet was offended as Neroes officers were Therefore he was maruelouslie beloued in the contrie with them that were acquainted with him bicause he was then in the eight years of his gouernment as Proconsul amongest them at which time Iunius Vindex being Propraetor of GAVLE rebelled against Nero who as it is reported had written vnto Galba before he entred into open action of rebellion But Galba did neither beleue him nor also accuse bewray him as diuers others which were gonernors of armies prouinces did who sent Vindex letters vnto Nero which he him selfe had written vnto them so did as much as in them lay to bindet the enterprise who afterwards being of the conspiracy did confesse they were traitor to them selues as much as vnto him Howbeit when Vindex afterwards had proclaimed opening against Nero he wrote againe vnto Galba praied him to take the Imperiall crowne vpon him and to become the head of a strong and mightie bodie which were the GAVLES that lacked nothing but a head and Gouernor being a hundred thowsand fighting men ready armed and might also leauie a great number more of them Then Galba consulted thereuppon with his frends among them some were of opinion that he should stay a while to see what change and alteracion would grow at ROME vpon this sturre Howbeit Titus Iunius Captaine of the Praetorian band said vnto him O Galba what meaneth this so doutfull a deliberacion Be not we wise men to call in question whether we shall allowe of Vindex frendship or accuse him Yea and with armes persecute him that desired rather to haue thee Emperour then Nero tyranne ouer the estate of ROME Afterwardes Galba by bills set vp euerie where appointed a day certaine to enfranchise suche as woulde make sure for it This rumor flying straight abroad he gathered a great number of souldiers together that were verie willing to rebell and he was no sooner gotten vp into the tribunall or chaire of state but all the souldiers did salute him by the name of Emperour Howbeit he was not content with this name at the first but accusing Nero and lamenting the deathes of the noblest men whome he had cruellie put to death he promised that he would imploy his best wit and discression to the seruice and benefit of his contrie neither naming him selfe Caesar nor Emperour but only Lieutenant to the Senate and state of ROME Now that Vindex did wiselie to call Galba to be Emperour Nero him selfe in his doings doth witnesse it Who hauing alwayes made a countenance as though he passed not for Vindex that he wayed not the rebellion of the GAVLES when it was told him that Galba was called Emperor he being theÌ„ at supper for spight he ouerthrew the table Moreouer though the Senate had iudged Galba an enemie yet Nero to be pleasaunt with his frends made as though he was nothing affrayed of it and said this newes made all for him bicause he stoode in neede of money also that it was a happy occasion offred him to helpe him withall For sayd he we shall soone haue all the GAVLES goodes as the spoyle of a iust warre after we haue once againe ouercomen and conquered them and moreouer Galbaes goods also would quickly be in his hands that he might sell them considering that he was become his open enemy So he presently commaunded Galbaes goods should be openly sold to them that would giue most Galba vnderstanding that did also by sound of trompet sell all Neroes goods he had in all the prouince of SPAYNE and did also finde more men readier to buy then there were goods to sell. Daily men rose against Nero in euery contry who tooke Galbaes parte Clodius Macer only excepted in AFRICK and Verginius Rufus in GAVLE both of them hauing charge of legions appointed for the safe keping of GERMANY and both of them did follow seueral directions by them selues varying in minde intent For Clodius Macer hauing robbed much put diuers men also to death through his cruelty couetousnes he shewed plainly that he swamme betwene two waters as one that could neither let go his charge nor yet kept it Verginius also on the other side being Generall ouer great mighty legions who had sundry times called him Emperour did in maner force him to take vpon him the name and Empire he notwithstanding did euer aunswere them that he neither minded to take the Empire vpon him nor yet to suffer any other to do it then such as the Senate should choose and call vnto the same This at the first somwhat amazed Galba But when both the armies of Vindex and Verginius in spight of their Captaines who could not stay nor keepe them backe no more then cochmen can keepe backe the horse with their bridells were ioyned in a great battell together where were slaine twenty thowsand GAVLES in the field and Vindex also slue him selfe shortly after it was geuen out that the conquerors after so great a victory obtained would coÌ„pell Verginius to take vpon him to be Emperour or else that they would take Neroes part againe Then Galba being not a litle perplexed wrote vnto Verginius perswaded him to ioyne with him to hold vp the Empire liberty of the ROMANES thereupon fled straight into a city of SPAYNE called COLONIA rather repeÌ„ting him of that he had done wishing for his wonted peaceable quiet life wherwith he was brought vp then otherwise occupying him selfe about any necessary or proffitable thing for the furtherance of his enterprise Now it was about the beginning of sommer and one day towards euening there came to Galba one of his slaues infranchised a SICILIAN borne that was comen froÌ„ ROME in seuen daies who vnderstanding that Galba was alone went presently to his chamber dore opened it coÌ„ming in against the wils of the groomes of the chamber that stood at the dore he told him that Nero being yet aliue but sene no more first the people of ROME then the Senate had proclaimed him Emperor that immediatly after newes came that Nero was dead the which he hardly beleuing notwithstanding went thither him selfe saw his body layed out vpon the ground then made towards him with all speede to bring him these newes These newes maruelously reuiued Galba and a multitude of men thronged straight about his dore which began to be coragious seing him liuely againe although the speede of the Messenger seemed incredible Howbeit two dayes after Titus also arriued with certaine other of the campe who told Galba perticulerly what the Senate had decreed in his behalfe So this Titus was called to great
honor and the slaue enfranchised had priuiledge giuen him to weare ringes of gold and he was called Martianus Vicellus who afterwards of all the infranchised bond men became the chiefest man about his Master Galba In the meane tyme Nymphidius SABINE began at ROME not couertly but with open sorce to take vpon him the absolute gouernment of the Empire perswading him self that Galba was so old that he could hardly be brought in a lytter vnto ROME being at the least three score and thirteene yeare olde besides also that the army of the PRAETORIANS which were in ROME did beare him good will of long tyme and then acknowledged none other Lord but him onely for the large promise he had made them for the which he receiued the thankes and Galba remained the debter So he presently commaunded Tigellinus his companion and Captaine with him of the army of the PRAETORIANS to leaue of his sword and disposing him selfe to bancketing and feasting he sent for all those that had bene Consuls Praetors or Proconsuls of prouinces and made them all to be inuited in the name of Galba So there were certaine souldiers gaue out this rumor in the campe that they should doe well to send Ambassadors vnto Galba to praye him that Nymphidius might be their onely Captaine still without any companion ioyned with him Furthermore the honor and good will the Senate bare him calling Nymphidius their benefactor and going dayly to visite him in his house procuring him to be Author of all their decrees passed in Senate and that he should authorise them this made him hie minded and the bolder by much insomuch that shortly after they that came to honor him in this sort did not onely hate and mislike his doings but moreouer he made them affrayd of him Furthermore when the Consuls had giuen to commoÌ„ purseuants any commissions vnder seale or letters pattents signifying the decrees of the Senate to cary them to the Emperor by vertue of which letters pattents when the officers of the citie doe see the seale they straight prouide the purseuants of coches and â—reshe horses to further their speede and hasty iorney Nymphidius was very angrye with them bicause they did not also come to him for his letters sealed by him and his souldiers to sende likewise vnto the Emperor But besides all this it is also reported that he was like to haue deposed the Consuls howbeit they excusing them selues vnto him and crauing pardon did appease his anger And to please the Commons also he suffred them to put any of Neroes friends to death they could meete withall Amonge other they slue a Fenser called Spicillus whome they put vnder Neroes statues which they dragged vp and downe the citie Another also called Aponius one of Neroes accusers they threw him to the ground and draue carts ouer him loden with stones And diuers others also whom they slue in that manner of the which some had done no maner of offence Hereuppon one Mauriseus one of the noblest men of the citie so esteemed sayd openly in the Senate I feare me we shall wish for Nero againe before it be long So Nymphidius being comen in manner to the fulnes of his hope he was very glad to heare that some repyned at him bicause he was the sonne of Caius Caesar that was the next Emperor after Tiberius For this Caius Caesar when he was a young man had kept Nymphidius mother which had bene a fayer young woman and the Daughter of one Callistus one of Caesars infranchised bond men whome he had gotten of a Laundres he kept Howbeit it is found contrary that this Nymphidius was borne before Caius Caesar coulde knowe his mother and men thought that he was begotten by a Fenser called Martianus with whome his mother Nymphidia fell in fancie for that he had a great name at that time in ROME and in deede Nymphidius was liker to him in fauor then vnto any other So he confessed that he was the sonne of this Nymphidia how beit he did ascrybe the glory of the death of Nero vnto him selfe and thought him selfe not sufficiently recompensed with the honors they gaue him nether also with the goods he enioyed nether for that he lay with Sporus whome Nero loued so dearely whome he sent for to Neroes funeralls whilest his bodye was yet a burning and kept him with him as if he had bene his wife and called him Poppaeus Furthermore all this did not content him but yet secretly he aspyred to be Emperor partly practising the matter in ROME it selfe by the meanes of certaine women and Senators which were secretly his friends and partly also through one Gellianus whome he sent into SPAYNE to see how all thinges went there Howbeit after the death of Nero all things prospered with Galba sauing Verginius Rufus only who stoode doubtfull yet and made him sorely mistrust him for that he was affrayd besides that he was generall ouer a great and puisant army hauing also newly ouerthrowen Vindex and secretly ruling the best parte of the Empire of ROME which was all GAVLE and then in tumult and vprore ready to rebell lest he would harken vnto them that perswaded him to take the Empire to him selfe For there was no Captaine of ROME at that tyme so famous and of so great estimation as Verginius and that deseruedly for that he had done great seruice to the Empire of ROME in tyme of extreamitie hauing deliuered ROME at one selfe tyme from a cruell tyranny and also from the daunger of the warres of the GAVLES This notwithstanding Verginius persiâ—ting still in his first determination referred the election of the Emperor vnto the Senate although that after the death of Nero was openly knowen the common sort of souldiers were earnestly in hand with him and that a Tribune of the souldiers otherwise called a Colonel of a thowsand men went into his tent with a sword drawen in his hand and bad Verginius either determine to be Emperor or els to looke to haue the sworde thrust into him Yet after that Fabius Vaelens Captaine of a legion was sworne vnto Galba and that he had receiued letters from ROME aduertising him of the ordinaunce and decree of the Senate in th end with much a doe he perswaded the souldiers to proclayme Galba Emperor who sent Flaceus Ordeonius to succeede him vnto whome he willingly gaue place So when Verginius had deliuered vp his army vnto him he went to meete with Galba on whome he wayted comming on still towards ROME And Galba all that time neither shewed him euill countenance nor yet greatly esteemed of him Galba him selfe being cause of the one who feared him and his friends of the other but specially Titus Iunius who for the malice he bare vnto Verginius thinking to hinder his rising did vnwittingly in deede further his good happe and deliuered him occasion to draw him out of the ciuill warres and mischieues the which lighted afterwards vpon
to staye such as were yet wauering he went thither him selfe with great store of torche light and caried an oration in his hand the which Ciconius Varro had made for him and the which he had learned without booke to speake vnto the souldiers But when he found the gates of the campe shut and saw diuers men armed vpon the walls he began to be affrayd and comming nearer asked them what they ment by it and by whose commaundement they had armed them selues as they did Aunswer was made him by them all that they did acknowledge no other Emperor but Galba the which he seemed to like of and also commaunded them that followed him to doe the like and therewithall drew nearer Whereuppon certaine of the souldiers that warded at the gate did open him the gate and suffred him to come in with a few men with him Howbeit assoone as he was comen in first there was a dart throwen at him the which one Septimius that went before him receiued vpon his shield then others also came with their swords drawen in their hands to set on him and followed him as he fled into a souldiers cabbone where they slue him Then they layed his body in an open place and rayled it about that euery man that would might the next day see it So Nymphidius being slayne in this sort Galba vnderstanding of his death commaunded that all Nymphidius friendes and confederators that had not bene slayne at that tyme should for his sake be put to death as in deede they were Amongest them they slue Ciconius that had made the oration for Nymphidius and Mithridates also of PONT Howbeit though in deede they had deserued it yet men thought it a very cruell part to commaund these men to be put to death in that sort which were men of such qualitie and calling as they were without due forme and order of lawe For euery man stoode in good hope vpon the comming in of this new Emperor to haue seene another manner of gouernment then they had yet seene howbeit they were deceiued of their hope at the first choppe But yet they misliked this most of all when he commaunded them to kill Petronius Tertullianus that had bene Consul bicause he was Neroes faithfull friend But nowe for the death of Clodius Macer whome Trebonianus slue in AFRICK by his commaundement and for Fonteius that was also slayne in GERMANY by Valeus he had some reason to feare them bicause they were in armes and commaunded great armies But for Tertullianus that was an olde man naked and vnarmed truely he should haue put him to his triall by law if he would haue ministred iustice the which he promised to keepe at his first comming to the Imperial crowne Herein they greatly reproued Galba Now when he drew neare to ROME within fiue and twenty furlongs he was compassed about with a multitude of Maryners and sea faring men that kept the high way on euery side wandring vp and downe in euery place These were the men whome Nero had gathered together into one legion and had taken them from the ower and made them souldiers So they were come thither to be suters to him that he would allow them still to be souldiers and they pressed so arrogantly vpon him that they would not suffer those which came to the newe Emperor to see him nor speake with him but they fell to tumult and vprore crying out to haue ensignes for their legion and to be appoynted a place to lye in in garrison Galba referred them ouer to another tyme and bad them they should then let him vnderstand their demaund They told him againe that this delay was a kind of deniall and thereuppon fell to plaine mutinie followed him with great cryes insomuch that some of them stuck not to draw out their swords Then Galba commaunded the horsemen he had about him to set vpon them So there was not a man of them that resisted but some of them were ouerthrowen and troden vnder their horse feete others also slaine as they fled This was very euil signe and presage for him to enter into ROME with such bloudshed vpon so many poore mens dead bodies as lay slayne on the ground Howbeit where some before did despise and mock him for an old feeble man euery man then was affraid of him and quaked for feare Furthermore bicause he would shew a great chaunge and alteracion from the vnreasonable vaine gifts and expenses of Nero it seemeth he did many vncomely things As when one Canus an excellent player on the recorder had played all supper tyme bicause it was a maruelous sweete Musick to heare he praysed commended it maruelously and commaunded one to bring him his casket out of the which he tooke a few crownes put them into his hand saying that it was not money of the common treasure but of his owne Furthermore he gaue straight commaundement that they should require and call backe againe the gifts Nero had geuen and bestowed vpon common players minstrells wrestlers and people of such kinde of facultie and profession and to leaue them only the tenth parte But he got litle by this deuise For the most parte of those that had giftes geuen them had spent and consumed it all as men that liue without any rule or order and spent at night that which they get in the day and besides they were to hunt after them that had either taken or bought any thing of them and to make them to restore it againe But this was an endles worke for things had bene so conueyed from man to man that in the end it came to an infinite number of mens hands But of all this the shame and dishonor returned to Galba him selfe though the malice and hatred lighted on Titus Iunius who only made the Emperour straight laced to all others whilest he him selfe tooke vnreasonably of all men making portesale of euerie thing that came to hand For Hesiodus the Poet sayth As vvell vvhen the vessell is full that it spill As vvhen it is emptie thirst craueth drinke still But Iunius perceiuing Galba to be olde and feeble woulde wisely take his fortune and time while time serued supposing it almost to be at an end so soone as he beganne to enter into it So in the meane time he did much dishonor the poore old man ouergreatlie abusing vnder cloke of his authoritie the chiefest and waightiest matters in reprouing or altogether hindering those the which the Prince him selfe had a good desire to deale vprightly in as to punish the officers of Nero. For he put some of them to death among the which Elius was one and certaine other as Polyclitus Petinus and Patrobius whereat the people maruelouslie reioiced and cried out as they went to execucion through the market place that it was a goodly and blessed procession and required Tigellinus of the goddes and men that had bene chiefe maister and
he could to leade his armie into some other prouince Furthermore he thought it would increase his estimacion much amoÌ„g strauÌ„gers also greatly encorage his owne people if he could make the power of the CARTHAGINIANS to seeme so great also their Captaine to be of so noble a corage as to dare to make warre so neere to the citie of ROME All things therefore set a part he marched with his campe by the mountaine Appenine and so comming through the contry of the LIGVRIANS he came into THVSCAN by the way that bringeth them into the champion contry to the marisses about the riuer of Arnus The riuer of Arnus at that time was very high and had ouerflowen all the fields thereabouts Annibal therefore marching with so great an army as he had could not avoyde it but that he must needes lose a number of his men horse before he could get out of those euill fauored marisses Insomuch that he him selfe lost one of his eyes by reason of the great paines he had taken day night without sleepe or rest and also through the euill ayer though he was caried vpon a high Elephants back which only was left him of all that he had brought with him In the meane time C. Flaminius Consul to whom the charge of SeÌ„pronius army was geuen he was come vnto ARETIVM against the Senates minde who were maruelously offended with him bicause he left his coÌ„panion Cn. Seruilius at ROME went vnto his prouince by stelth as it were without the furniture of a Consul his officers This was a very hasty man of nature one whom the people had brought to that dignity office so that he was become so prowde insolent that men might see he would hazard all things without wit or iudgement Annibal hauing intelligence hereof thought it the best way to anger the Consul to do what he could possible to allure him into the field before his fellow Consul should come to ioyne with him Therfore he marching forward with his campe through the contry of FESVLA ARETIVM he burnt spoiled all the contry thereabout filled them all with feare neuer leauing to destroy all before him vntil he came to the mountaines Cortonenses so to the lake called Thrasimene When he had viewed the place he went about to surprise his enemy by some ambush wherupon he conueied certen horsemen vnder the hills hard by the straight that goeth vnto Thrasimene and behind the mountaines also he placed his light horsemeÌ„ TheÌ„ he him selfe with the rest of his army came downe into the field supposing that the Consul would not be quiet and so it fell out For hot stirring heades are easely intrapped fall into the enemies ambush oftentimes do put all in hazard bicause they will follow no counsell nor good aduise C. Flaminius therefore seeing their contry vtterly spoiled the corne destroyed and cut downe and the houses burnt he made great hast to lead his armie against the enemie contrarie to all mens minds who would haue had him taried for his companion Cn. Seruilius the other Consul So euen at sunne set when he was come to the straightes of the lake of Thrasimene he caused his campe to stay there although his men were not wearie with the long iorney they had taken by the way So the next morning by breake of day making no view of the contrie he went ouer the mountaines The Annibal who long before was prepared for this did but stay for the oportunitie to worke his feate when he saw the ROMANES come into the plaine he gaue a signall vnto all his men to geue charge vpon the enemie Thereuppon the CARTHAGINIANS breaking out on euerie side came before and behinde and on the flanckes to assaile the enemie being shut in betwene the lake and the mountaines Now in contrarie maner the ROMANES beginning to fight out of order they â—ought inclosed together that they could not see one an other as if it had bene darke so that it is to be wondered at how and with what minde they fought it out so long considering they were compassed in on euerie side For they fought it out aboue three howres space with such fury and corage that they heard not the terrible earthquake that was at that present time neither did they offer to flie or stirre a foote vntil they heard that the Consul C. Flaminius going from rancke to rancke to encourage his men was slaine by a man of armes called Ducarius Then when they had lost their Generall and being voyde of all hope they fled some towardes the mountaines and others towards the lake of the which diuers of them flying were ouertaken slaine So there were slaine fifteene thowsand in the field there scaped about ten thowsand Furthermore the report went that there were six thowsande footemen which forciblie at the beginning of the battell got to the mountaine and there stayed on a hill till the battell was ended and at length came downe vpon Annibals promise but they were betrayed and slaine euery mothers sonne of them After this great victorie Annibal did let diuers ITALIAN prisoners goe free without raunsome paying after he had vsed them maruelous curteouslie bicause that the same of his clemencie curtesie should be knowen vnto all nations whereas in deede his owne nature was contrarie to all vertues For he was hastie and cruell of nature and from his youth was brought vp in warres and exercised in murther treason ambushes layed for enemies and neuer cared for law order nor ciuill gouernment So by this meanes he became one of the cruellest Captaines the most suttell and craftiest to deceiue and intrap his enemie that euer was For as he was alway prying to beguile the enemie so those whom he could not ouercome in warre by plaine force he went about to intrappe by slight and policie The which appeareth true by this present battell and also by the other he fought against the Consul Sempronius by the riuer of Trebia But let vs returne to our matter and leaue this talke till an other time Now when the newes of the ouerthrow and death of the Consul Flaminius was reported at ROME hauing lost the most parte of his armie there was great mone and lamentation made through all the citie of ROME Some bewailing the common miserie of the common wealth others lamenting their priuate particular losse some also sorowing for both together But in deede it was a woefull sight to see a world of men women to run to the gates of the citie euerie one priuatly asking for their kinne and frends Some do write that there were two women who being very sorie and pensife dispairing of the safetie of their sonnes dyed sodainly for the extreame ioy they had when beyond their expectacion hope they sawe their sonnes aliue and safe At the selfe same time Cn. Seruilius
the other Consul with C. Flaminius did send him foure thowsand horsemen not vnderstanding yet of the battell that was fought by the lake of Thrasymene But when they heard of the ouerthrowe of their men by the way and therefore thought to haue fled into VMBRIA they were compassed in by the horsemen of the enemies and so brought vnto Annibal Nowe the Empire of ROME being brought into so great extreamitie and daunger bicause of so many small losses one in the necke of an other it was ordeined that an extraordinarie Gouernor or Magistrate should be chosen who should be created Dictator an office specially vsed to be reserued for the last hope and remedie in most extreame daunger and perill of the state and common wealth But bicause the Consul Seruilius could not returne at that time to ROME all the waies being kept by the enemie the people contrarie to their custome created Q. Fabius Dictator who afterwards attained the surname of Maximus to say verie great who likewise did name M. Minutius Generall of the horsemen Now this Fabius was a graue and wise counseller and of great authoritie and estimacion in the common wealth insomuche as the citizens had all their hope and confidence in him onely perswading them selues that the honor of ROME might be better preserued vnder the gouernment and conduct of such a Generall rather then vnder the gouernment of any other man whatsoeuer So Fabius knowing it very well after he had carefullie and diligentlie geuen order for all thinges necessarie he departed from ROME and when he had receiued the armie of the late Consul Cn. Seruilius he added vnto them two other legions and so went vnto the enemie Nowe Annibal was gone from the lake of Thrasymene and went directly towardes the citie of SPOLETVM to see if he could take it at the first assault But when he saw that the townes men stoode vpon the rampers of the walls and valliantlie defended them selues he then left the towne and destroyed the contrie as he went and burnt houses and villages and so went into APVLIA through the marches of ANCONA and the contries of the MARSIANS and PELIGNIANS The Dictator followed him at the heeles and camped hard by the citie of ARPY not farre from the campe of the enemie to thend to drawe out the warre at length For the rashnesse and foolehardines of the former Captaines affore time had brought the state of ROME into such miserie that they thought it a victorie vnto them not to be ouercome by the enemie that had so often ouercome them Whereby all thinges were turned straight with the chaunge and alteracion of the Captaine For though Annibal had set his men in battell ray and afterwardes perceiuing his enemie sturred not went and destroyed the contrie hoping thereby to intise the Dictator to fight when he should see the contrie of his confederates so spoyled as it was before his face the Dictator this notwithstanding was not moued withall but still kept his men close together as if the matter had not concerned him Annibal was in a maruelous rage with the delay of the Dictator and therefore often remoued his campe to the ende that going diuers wayes some occasion or oportunitie might fall out of deceiue the enemie or else to geue battell So when he had passed the mountaine Appenine he came vnto SAMNIVM But bicause shortlie after some of CAMPANIA who hauing bene taken prisoners by the lake of Thrasymene had bene set at libertie without raunsome they putting him in hope that he might take the citie of CAPVA he made his armie march forward and tooke a guide that knew the contrie to bring him vnto CASINVM Nowe the guide ouerhearing CASINVM vnderstoode it CASILINVM so mistaking the sound of the word brought the armie a cleane contrary way vnto CALENTINVM and CALENVM and from thence about STELLA So when they came into a contry enuironned about with mountaines and riuers Annibal knew straight they had mistaken their way and so did cruelly put the guide to death Fabius the Dictator did in the meane time beare all this pacientlie and was contented to geue Annibal libertie to take his pleasure which way he woulde vntill he had gotten the mountaines of Gallicanum and Casilinum where he placed his garrison being places of great aduantage and commodity So the armie of the CARTHAGINIANS was in manner compassed in euery way and they must needes haue dyed for famine in that place or else haue fled to their great shame and dishonor had not Annibal by this stratageame preuented the daunger Who knowing the daunger all his armie stoode in and hauing spied a fit time for it he commaunded his souldiers to bring forth two thowsand oxen which they had gotten in spoyle in the fields hauing great store of them and then tying torches or fire linckes vnto their homes he appointed the nimblest men he had to light them and to driue the oxen vp the hill to the toppe of the mountaines at the reliefe of the first watche All this was duely executed according to his commaundement and the oxen running vp to the toppe of the mountaines with the torches burning the whole armie marched after them fayer and softly Now the ROMANES that had long before placed a strong garrison vpon the mountaines they were affrayed of this straunge sight and mistrusting some ambushe they soorth with forsooke their peeces and holdes Fabius him selfe mistrusting also that it was some stratageame of the enemie kept his men within the campe and coulde not well tell what to say to it In the meane time Annibal got ouer the mountaine not farre from the bathes of Swessa which the contrie men doe call the tower of the bathes and brought all his armie safe into ALBA and shortlie after he marched directlie as though he woulde goe to ROME howbeit he sodainlie turned out of the way and went presentlie into APVLIA There he tooke the citie of GLERENVM a verie riche and wealthie towne where he determined to winter The Dictator followed him harde and came and camped by LAVRINVM not farre from the CARTHAGINIANS campe So he being sent for to ROME about waightie affaires of the state there was no remedy but he must needes de pase â—hence with all the spâ—dâ— he coulde howebeit before he went he left Marcus Minutius in Generall of the horsemen his Lieutenaunt of all the armie and commaunded him in his absence noâ—oned to sturre not meddle with the enemie For he was fullie bent to follow his first determination which wast not to vexe the enemy nor to fight with him though he were prouoked â—â—it Howbeit Marcus Minutius litle regarding the Dictators commaundement his backe was no soner â—â—â—nedâ— but he set vpon a companie of the enemies dispersed in the fielde a forlaging and slue a group number of them and fought with the rest euen into their campe The rumor of this 〈…〉 flew straight to ROME and there was such great
of their authoritie place they vnfortunatly fell into Annibals ambush So when they saw them selues in a momēt compassed about on euery side with enemies that they could not goe forward and were also fought withall behind they defended them selues the best they could rather by compulsion then of any determination they had to fight So Marcellus was slaine fighting valiantly and Crispinus the other Consul also very sore hurt who hardly scaped the enemies hands Annibal being aduertised that Marcellus was slaine who was the chiefest man of all the ROMANE captaines that had most hindered the happy successe of his victories and had besides troubled him most he presently went and camped there where the battell was fought and when he had found Marcellus body he gaue it honorable pompe and funerall Hereby we may see how magnanimitie and excellent vertues are esteemed of all men considering that the cruell and most mortall enemye gaue honorable buriall to so noble and excellent a Captaine The ROMANES in the meane time seeing one of their Consuls dead and the other Consul very fore hurt they drew straight to the next mountaines and camped in a strong place Howbeit Crispinus had sent to the next townes of the mountaines to aduertise them that Marcellus his companion was dead and that the enemy had gotten the ringe he sealed his letters withall wherefore he wished them to beware of any letters written in Marcellus name Crispinus Messenger came but newly vnto SALAPIA when letters were brought also from Annibal in the behalfe of Marcellus to tell them that he would be there the next night The SALAPIANS knowing his craft they sent his Messenger away carefully looked for Annibals comming About the fourth watche of the night Annibal came to the citie of SALAPIA who of purpose had put all the ROMANES that had fled in the vauntgard bicause that they speaking the Latin tongue might make them beleue that Marcellus was there in person So when the Citizens had suffred six hundred of them to come in they shut to the gates and with their shot and darts thrust out the rest of the armye and put all them to the sword they had let into the citie Thus Annibal beeing in a maruelous rage he had missed of his purpose he remoued thence and went into the contry of the BRVTIANS to ayde the LOCRIANS that were beseeged the ROMANES both by sea and by land After all these thinges at the earnest request of the Senate and people two new Consuls were created both famous Captaines and valiant souldiers Marcus Liuius Claudius Nero who hauing deuided a the army betwixt them went vnto their seuerall charge and prouinces Claudius Nero went into the contry of the SALENTINIANS and M. Liuius into GAVLE against Hasdrubal BARCINIAN who was come ouer the Alpes made haste to ioyne with his brother Annibal bringing with him a great army both of footemen and horsemen Nowe it chaunced at the same time that Annibal had receyued great losse by Claudius the Consul For first of all he ouercame him in the contry of the LVCANIANS vsing the like policies and fetches that Annibal did Afterwardes againe meeting with Annibal in APVLIA by the citie of VENVSIA he fought such a lustye battell with him that many of his enemies lay by it in the fielde By reason of these great losses Annibal sodainly went to METAPONY to renew his army againe So hauing remayned there a few dayes he receiued the army from Hanno the which he ioyned vnto his then returned vnto VENVSIA C. Nero lay not farre from VENVSIA with his campe who hauing intercepted letters of his enemies he vnderstoode by them that Hasdrubal was at hand with his armye Thereuppon he bethought him selfe night and day what police he might vse to preuent the ioyning of two so great armies together as these So after he had taken aduise of him self he followed in sight a daungerous determination but peraduenture necessary as the time required For leauing the campe vnto the charge of his Lieutenant he tooke part of the armye with him and making great iorneyes came to PICENVM being he marches of ANCONA so that on the sixt day he came to SENA There both the Consuls ioyned their forces together and setting vpon Hasdrubal by the riuer of Metaurum they had very good lucke at that battell For as it is reported there were six and fifty thowsand of the enemies slayne on that daye so that they almost had as great an ouerthrow as the ROMANES had receiued before at the battell of CANNES Now Claudius Nero after this famous victorie returning as speedily vnto VENVSIA as he went thence he set vp Hasdrubals head where the enemies kept their watche and did let certen prisoners goe to carye newes to Annibal of this great ouerthrow For afterwardes it was knowen that Annibal knew nothing yet of Claudius secret enterprise nor of the speedy execution and great slaughter he had made Whereat sure I can but wonder that so suttill a Captaine as Annibal could be deceiued by Claudius considering both their campes lay so neare together so that he first heard the newes of the ouerthrow of his brother and all his armye before he vnderstoode any thing of the Consuls departure or heard of his returne againe to the campe Now Annibal hauing not onely receiued a generall but also a perticular great losse by the death of his brother he sayd then he plainely saw the chaunge alteracion of the CARTHAGINIANS good fortune and shortly after remoued his campe and went thence into the contry of the BRUTIANS For he knew that this great ouerthrow giuen by the riuer of Metaurum was a maruelous incoragement to the ROMANES and would also be a great logge in his way for the successe of all this warre This notwithstanding he gathered all his power he had left in ITALY after so m any great battells and conflicts and so many cities taken and mainteyned the warre with an inuincible courage But the most straungest thinge in Annibal was this that through his authoritie wisedom he kept all his army in peace and amitie together being a medley of SPANYARDS AFRICANES GAYLES and of diuers other nations and neuer was heard that there was any brawle or tumult amonge them Howbeit the ROMANES them selues after they had wonne SICILIA SARDINIA and SPAYNE againe they could neuer vtterly ouercome him nor driue him out of ITALY before they had sent Cornelius Scipio into the riske who making with the CARTHAGINIANS he brought them to such great extremitie that they were driuen to send for Annibal home out of ITALY Annibal at that time as I haue sayd before was in the contry of the BRVTIANS making warre by intodes and sodaine inuasions rather then by any fought battell sauing that once there was battell fought in haste betwixt him and the Consul Sempronius and immediatly after be name and set vpon the same Sempronius with all his armye
of ROME any more hurt they being Conquerors in manner of all the world But some againe on the other side commended Flaminius for it sayd it was a good deede of him to rid the ROMANES of their mortall enemye who though he had but a weake body yet he lacked no wit wise counsell and great experience in warres to intise king Prusias to make warre and to molest all ASIA besides with newe warres For at that time the power of the king of BITHYNIA was so great that it was not to be lightly regarded For after that Mithridates king of the same BITHYNIA did maruelously molest the ROMANES both by sea and by land moreouer fought battells with L. Lucullus and Cn. Pompey famous Captaines of the ROMANES And so the ROMANES might also be affrayd of king Prusias and specially hauing Annibal his Captaine So some iudge that Q. Flaminius was specially sent Ambassador vnto king Prusias secretly to practise Annibals death Howbeit it is to be supposed that Q. Flaminius was not so desirous to haue Annibal so sodainely put to death as he would haue bene glad otherwise to haue brought him againe to ROME that had done such mischiefe to his contry and this had bene a great benefit for ROME and much honor also vnto him selfe Such was the death of Annibal the CARTHAGINIAN a famous man doubtles highly to be commended for martiall prayse setting his other vertues aside So we may easily iudge of what power and force his noble mind his great wisedom and corage and his perfit skill of martiall discipline was in all thinges For in all the warre the CARTHAGINIANS had so vehemently and with such great preparation enterprised they neuer thought them selues ouercome till Annibal was ouerthrowen at that great battel by ZAMA So it appeareth that all their strength and skill of warres began also ended with Annibal their Captaine THE LIFE OF Scipio African PVblius Scipio a PATRICIAN of the familye of the Cornelij who was the first ROMANE Captaine against whome Annibal fought in ITALY was the father of Cornelius Scipio afterwards surnamed AFRICAN the first so called bicause he had conquered that nation The lame Scipio after he had obtayned many great victories in SPAYNE and done notable feates of armes was in the ende slayne with a wound he had in a battell against his enemies as he was plying and incoraging of his men from place to place thronging in the greatest daunger and fury of the battell Shortly after did his brother Cn. Scipio also ende his life much after one selfe manner and was slayne valliantly fighting So these two Captaines besides the same they achieued by their noble deedes left behind them great prayse of their faithfulnes modestie and corage the which made them not onely wished for of their souldiers that were then liuing but also of all the SPANYARDS besides Cn. Scipio had a sonne called P. Cornelius Nasicae one that had bene Consul and had also triumphed who beeing but a younge man was thought the meetest man of all the citie of ROME to receyue Idea the mother of the goddes This Publius had two sonnes the so famous Scipioes of the which the one was called ASIAN bicause he conquered ASIA and the other AFRICAN bicause he subdued AFRICK at that famous battell of ZAMA where he ouerthrewe Annibal and the CARTHAGINIANS as we sayd before Whose life we purpose nowe to write not so much to make the glory of his name so famous by all the Graeke Latyn Authors the greater by our history as for that we would make all men know the order of his noble deeds moral vertues to th end that all Princes noble Captaines in reading it should behold the liuely image of perfit vertue which may moue an earnest desire in thē to follow the example of P. Cornelius Scipioes life who from his childhod gaue great hope shew of a noble nature excellent vertue after he followed the instruction of martiall discipline vnder the conduct of his father He was caried into the field at the beginning of thesecond warre with the CARTHAGINIANS followed the campe being but seuenteene yeare old in a very short time grew so toward forward in al things in riding in watching in taking all maner of paynes like a soldier that he wan great cōmendacion of his own father besides great estimation also of all the army Furthermore he shewed such tokens of a sharp wit noble corage that it made him beloued also feared of his enemies For this Scipio was present at the battell of the horsemen where P. Cornelius Scipio the Consul fought with Annibal by the riuer of Thesin some writers doe affirme that Cornelius the father being hurt was almost taken by the enemye had not his sonne Scipio saued him who had then but a litle downe on his beard he was so young After that also at the battel that was sought by CANNES to the great losse in maner vtter destruction of the Empire of ROME when the ten thowsand men that fled to CANVSIVM had all together with one cōsent referred the gouernment of the army vnto Appius Pulcher that had bene AEdilis and vnto Cornelius Scipio that was yet but very young the same Scipio shewed then by his deedes what noble mind and corage was in him For when he saw certen young men consult together betwene them selues to forsake ITALY he thrust in among them drawing out his sword made them all sweare they would not forsake their contry These and such like deedes done by him with a liuely corage noble mind being then but a young man wanne him such fauor with the ROMANES that not respecting his young yeares nor their auncient custō they called him forward laid offices of great charge gouernment vpon him Insomuch that when he sued for the office of AEdilis before his due time notwithstanding that the Tribunes of the people were against his sute bicause he was so younge a man yet the people suffered him to be brought from tribe to tribe so was presently chosen AEdilis with the most voyces So after his father Vncle both famous and noble Captaines had bene slaine one after the other in SPAYNE that the ROMANES were in consultacion to appoynt some worthy captaine in the roome they could finde no man that durst vndertake this so daungerous warre considering the losse of two so great captaines before Wherfore the whole assēbly being called to choose a Viceconsul all the other Princes peeres of the Realme being silent at so worthy a motion Scipio onely of all the rest being but foure twenty yeare old stoode vp in the middest of thē laid with a good hope confidence he would willingly take the charge vpon him He had no sooner offred this promise but he was presently made Viceconsul of SPAYNE with the wōderful good wil fauor of the people who
to set vpon the kings Mandonius Indibilis who made warre with the SVESSITANS These souldiers departing froÌ„ SVCRO with good hope in obtaine pardon came vnto CARTHAGE Howbeit the next day after they were come into the towne they were brought into the market place where their armorâ—â—d weapons being taken from them they were enuironned with all the legions armie Then the ROMANE Generall sitting in place of iudgement shewed him selfe before all the coÌ„pany in as good health good disposition of bodies as euer he was in all his youth Then he made a sharp bitter oration full of grieuous complaines insomuch as there was not one of all the souldiers that were vnarmed that durst cast vp their eyes to looke their Generall in the face they were so ashamed For their consciences did accuse them for the fault they had committed and the feare of death did take their wits and senses from them the profence of their gratious Captaine made them blush as well that were innocent at the parties that were offendors Wherefore there was a generall and sorowfull silence of all men So after he had ended his oration he caused the chiefe authors of this rebellion to be brought forth before the whole assembly who after they had bene whipped according to the maner were presently beheaded the which was a fearefull and lamentable sight to the beholders These matters thus pacified Scipio made all the other souldiers to be sworne againe and then went and proclaimed warre against Mandonius and Indibilis For they considering with them selues howe the ROMANE souldiers that had rebelled in the campe were put to death they were out of hope to obtaine any pardon Therefore they had leauied an army of twentie thowsand footemen two thowsand horsemen and came downe with them against the ROMANES Scipio hauing intelligence thereof before that the kings could increase their army that other nations could rebel he departed from CARTHAGE went with as great speede as he could to meete with the enemy The kings were camped in a very strong place and trusted so to their army that they were not determined to prouoke the enemy nor also to refuse the battell if it were offred them Howbeit it chaunced by the nerenes of both campes that within few dayes they being prouoked by the ROMANES came downe set their men in battell ray ioyned battell with Scipio so that a good while together the fight was very bloody cruel But at length the SPANYARDS seeing them selues compassed in behinde and being driuen to fight in a ring to defend the enemy on euery side they were ouercome so that the third parte of them scarcely saued them selues by flying Mandonius Indibilis seeing them selues vtterly vndone that there was no hope nor remedy left they sent Ambassadors vnto Scipio humbly to pray him to receiue them to mercy and to pardon them But Scipio knowing right well how greatly they had offended him and the ROMANES yet thinking it more honorable to ouercome the enemie by curtesie and clemency then by force he did pardon them and only coÌ„maunded them to geue him money to pay his souldiers In the meane time Masinissa came from GADES landed bicause he would him selfe in person confirme the frendship he had offered Scipio in his absence by the meanes of M. Syllanus and also speake with him face to face whom he iudged to be a worthie man for the famous victories he had obteined And in truth Masinissa was not deceiued in the opinion he had of the valliantnes vertues of Scipio but found him the selfe same man whom he before had imagined him to be in his minde the which but seldom happeneth so notwithstanding For besides the great rare giftes of nature that Scipio had aboue all others there was in him also a certaine Princely grace and maiestie Furthermore he was maruelous gentle curteous vnto them that came to him and had an eloquent tongue and a passing gift to winne euerie man He was verie graue to his gesture and behauiour and euer ware long heare Masinissa being come to salute him when he sawe him he had him in suche admiration as it is reported that he could not cast his eyes of him nor haue his fill of looking on him So he thanked him maruelouslie for sending his Nephewe vnto him and promised him that his deedes shoulde confirme and witnesse the frendshippe agreed vppon betwene them the which he euer after inuiolablie kept vnto the ROMANES euen to the hower of his death So all the nations of SPAYNE became subiect to the Empire of ROME or at the least their confederates whereupon those of GADES also following the example of others came and yeelded them selues vnto the ROMANES This is a verie auncient nation and if we may credit the reporte of it as CARTHAGE was in AFRIKE and THEâ—ES in BOEOTIA so was GADES vpon the sea a Colony of the TYRIANS Scipio after he bad conquered all SPAYNE and driuen out the CARTHAGINIANS considering that there remained nothing more for him to doe he left the gouernment of the prouince vnto L. Lentulus and to Manlius Acidinus and returned to ROME When he was arriued at ROME the Senate gaue him audience out of the citie in the temple of Belloua There when he had particularly told theÌ„ of the things he had valliantly fortunately brought to end further that he had ouercome foure Captaines in diuers foughteÌ„ fields also put to flight foure armies of the enemies driueÌ„ the CARTHAGINIANS out of both SPAYNES that there was no nation left in all those parts but was subdued to the ROMANES the Senate gaue iudgement that all these things were worthy of a noble triumphe But bicause neuer man yet was suffred to enter into ROME in triuÌ„phe for any victories he had obtained whilest he was only but Viceconsul and had not yet bene Consul the Senators thought it not good and Scipio him selfe also made no great sute for it bicause he would not be an occasion to bring in any newe custome and to breake the olde So when he came into the citie he was afterwardes declared Consul with the great good will and consent of the whole assemblie It is reported that there neuer came such a world of people to ROME as were there as that time not only for the assemblies sake but more to see P. Cor. Scipio Wherefore not the ROMANES onely but all the straungers also that were there all their eyes were vpon Scipio and sayd both openly and priuately that they should send him into AFRIKE to make warre with the CARTHAGINIANS at home in their owne contrie Scipio also being of the same opinion said that he would aske aduise of the people if the Senate would be against such a worthie enterprise For amongest the peres and Senators there were some that vehemently inueyed against that opinion and among the rest Fabius Maximus speciallie a man
was in suche a rage withall that he rescued his brother by force on of the Sergeaunts hands and from the Tribunes of the people And they report beside that Tiberius Gracchus one of the Tribunes complayning first that the authoritie of the Tribuneship was troden vnder feete by a priuate person he afterwardes letting fall all the malice and enuy he bare vnto the Scipioes defended their cause bicause the Tribunes should rather seeme to be ouercome by a Tribune then by a priuate person They sayd moreouer that the selfe same daye the Senate supped in the Capitoll he perswaded the AFRICAN to let Tiberius Gracchus mary his younger Daughter This promise was no sooner made but P. Scipio comming home to his house tolde his wife that he had bestowed their Daughter Whereuppon she being angry told him againe that he should not haue married her without consent of her mother though he could haue bestowed her vpon Tiberius Gracchus This aūswer liked Scipio maruelous wel when he saw that his wife was of his mind touching the mariage of their Daughter I knowe it is thought of some that it was attributed to Tiberius the sonne and to Appius Claudius his father in lawe For Polybius and other auncient writers affirme that Cornelia the mother of Caius and Tiberius Gracchi was maried vnto Gracchus after the AFRICANS death For Scipio AFRICAN was maried vnto AEmylia the Daughter of L. Paulus AEmylius Consul that was slayne at the battell of CANNES By her he had two Daughters of the which the eldest was maried vnto P. Cornelius Nasica and the younger vnto Tiberius Gracchus either before or after the death of his father Nowe towching his sonne there is litle mention made of him in writing that a man may write of certainty to be true We haue spoken of his younger sonne that was taken by king Antiochus and afterwards franckly sent vnto his father of whome notwithstanding afterwards I find no mention in writing sauing that some say he was afterwards Praetor and that he came to this office by meanes of Cicercius his fathers Secretary There appeareth in writing also that the younger AFRICAN was adopted by the sonne of P. Scipio Cicero in his booke intituled Cato Maior sayth how weake sayd he was the sonne of P. AFRICAN that adopted thee his sonne And in his sixth booke also de repub AEmylius the father exhorteth Scipio his sonne to follow iustice and piety as his grandfather Scipio AFRICAN had done And touching the death of P. Scipio AFRICAN writers doe diuersly varye for some say that he dyed and was buryed at ROME And for proofe thereof they doe bringe forth the monument that was set vp for him by the gate Capena ouer the which stoode three statues or images two whereof were the images of P. and Lucius Scipio and the third was of Q. Ennius the Poet. And surely that which Cicero wrote seemeth to confirme it true our Ennius sayd he was maruelously beloued of AFRICAN the great and therefore it is thought that he was buryed in Scipioes tombe Other authors write also and surely they agree best with the common report that Scipio AFRICAN dyed at LINTERNVM and that there he was buried at his owne appoyntment bicause his contry so vnthankfully acknowledging his seruice should do him no honor at his death and that there they set him vp a tombe and his statue vpon that the which afterwards was blowen downe by a tempest of wind and the which Liuie him selfe witnesseth he saw Furthermore by CAIETA this Epitaphe was grauen in a plate of copper set in a marbell tombe The man that vanquishe Annibal and conquered Carthage tovvne And eke increast the Romanes both in Empire and renovvne Lyes heere a beape of dust and earth bid vnderneath this stone His deedes his provvesse and his life are altogether gone VVhom mother Europe could vvithstand nor Africk in time past Behold mans frailtie heere he lyes in litle roome at last Now touching the time of his death hauing made great searche for it I haue found in certaine Graeke Authors that the AFRICAN liued foure and fifty yeares and dyed shortly after Furthermore he was a noble Captaine and worthy of all commendacion for martiall discipline and besides excelled in all other vertues the which did so delight his mind that he was wont to say he was neuer lesse idle then when he tooke his ease nether more solitary then when he was alone For some times he would withdraw him selfe out of the assembly from all mens company and thought him self safe when he was alone The fame of his noble deedes was so great that wheresoeuer he went all fortes of people would come and see him The common report went that when he was at LINTERNVM there came certaine rouers vnto him to see so famous a man and to losse that so faithfull and victorious a hand For vertue hath great force and power with all sortes of people bicause it doth not onely make the good but the euil also to loue and honor it THE COMPARISON OF Annibal with P. Scipio African NOW let vs compare Annibal and Scipioes deedes together as touching their ciuill discipline First if we remember their deedes in warres it is manifest that both of them haue bene great and famous Captaines in warre and that they haue not onely bene comparable with the noblest Kinges and Princes in their time being also in that age when warres florished most but with those also that were before their time One thing maketh me wonder much at them that they hauing great and heauy enemies in their contry who sought to ouerthrow all their doings and enterprises could possibly goe thorough with so great matters and to obtayne such happie and famous victories in straunge and forreyne warres Therefore passing ouer all other matters what a doe had P. Scipio before he could obtayne to be sent into AFRICK to make warre with the CARTHAGINANS Fabius Maximus and other noble men of the citie being greatly against it Againe what enemy had Annibal of Hanno who was Prince and head of the contrary faction against him Now they both hauing ouercomen such great troubles at home did notwithstanding bringe thinges to end worthy perpetuall memorie not by chaunce as it hapneth vnto many but through their industrie great wisedom and counsell So diuers doe wonder greatly at Annibals corage and noble mind who after he had sacked the citie of SACVNTVS came boldly from the furdest part of the world into ITALY and brought with him a great army of footemen and horsemen and came to make warre with a great state and common wealth the which his predecessors alwayes dreaded and after he had wonne many battells and slayne sundry Consuls and Captaines of the ROMANES he came and camped hard by the citie of ROME it selfe and procured straunge kings and farre nations to make warre with the ROMANES He that was able to doe so great things as these men can
Irenes Melirenes The â—â—eeuerie of the Lacedaemonians Straight dyet causeth groeth and height Childrens exercise afect their supper The LacedamoniaÌ„s manner of liuing Short speache taught among the Lacedaemonians Lycurgus wise aunswere Lycurgus loue to god To geue a haÌ„d is to consesse him self ouercome Shorte sentences of certaint Laconians Leonidus Charilaus Archidamidas Shaâ—e sentences of the Laconians Demaratus Agis Theopompus Plistonax Pausanias sonne Archidamidas In the life of Agesilous The Lacedaemonians songes Three daunces among the Lacedaemonians Terpander of the Lacedaemonians Pyndarus of the Lacedaemonians The longe bushes and beare of the Laconians How the Laconians beganne battell The LaconiaÌ„s songe when they marched Eust. Ilia 15. How save the Lacedaemonians dyd pursue their enemies Lycurgus a very good captaine Oulames The LaconiaÌ„s opinion to serue their countrie The rest and leysure of the Lacedaemonians Idie liuers punished at Athens Sutes in lawe went aways with golde siluer that was banished How they spâ—o the time in Sparta The Lacedaemonians liued not priuately to them selues in the comm'd weale Paedaretus saying The manner of choosing the Senate in Sparta VVhat was done the Senatour being chosen The manner of buriall with the Lacedaemonians The time of mourning None allowed to trauell into other couÌ„tries without licence No straungers suffered to dwell in Sparta Cryptia with the Lacedaemonians The cruelty of the Lacedaemonians against the Ilotes Diodorus lib. 2. Plato in Timaeo Lycurgus wonderfull counsell in stablishing his lawes Lycurgus death Sparta florished fiue hundred yeres Lycurgus lawes were broke in king Agis time by Lysanders meanes Money corrupteth Lycurgus Lawes See more in Lysaders life Lysander brought in richer againe into Sparta Theopompus wordes of obeying and commauÌ„ding Good gouernmeÌ„t breedeth due obedieÌ„ce Antisthenes Socrates schollers wordes The foundation of a common weale Diuine honours to Lycurgus after his death Antiorus Lycurgus â—â—â—â—â— In what time Numa â—â—â— Cicero de Or. 2. Tuscâ—l 4. Lius Hâ—lic lib. 2. VVhether Pythagoras had any conversation with Numa Pythagoras the seconde a Spartan borne taught Numa at Rome The death of Romulus In the life of Romulus he is named Trocolus â— Dissention as Rome about choosing of their King. Liuie sayeth but a hundred Dionysius 200. Plutar. in the life of Romulus agreeth with Dionysius Interregnum Numa chosen King. Numa borne in the cittie of Cures Quirites why so called The life and manners of Numa before his raigne Tatia the wife of Numa Numa conuersant with the goddesse Egeria Goddes familliar with men VVho are beloued of the goddes Proclus and Velesus ambassadours to offer Numa the kingdom The orasion of Numa to the abassadours refusing to be King. Numa beginneth his kingdome with seruice of the goddes Numa was consecrated by the Augures The garde of Celeres discharged by Numa Flamen Quirinalis instituted of Numa Numa inducent ciuill quiet life Plato de Rep. lib. 2. Numa and Pythagoras institutions muche a like Numa worshipped Tacita one of the Muses Pythagoras taught his schollers to kept silence Pythagoras opinion of god Numa forbad images of God. Proofes for the conuersation of Numa and Pythagoras Numa instituteth Bishoppes Pontifices why so called The wodden bridge as Rome The highe bishoppe The institution of the Vestall Nunnes The holy and immortal fire How the holy fire is drawen from the pure flame of the sunne See the life of Camillus touching the Vestall Nunnes The Vestalls prerogatius The punishment of the Vestall Nunnes The temple of Vesta represenseth the figure of the worlde VVhere the fire abideth The manner of buriall Libitina honored at funeralls The time of mourning Salâ—i Feciales Pluto Probl. 62. Gell. lib. 16 c.4 Feciales called Irenophylaces Irenen a quarrell pacified with reason without the sword Rome taken by the Gaules See Camillus Life The institution of the Salij A target from heauen VVhereof they were called Salij Ancylia whereof so called Regia the Kings palace The manner of the Romaines worshipping of the goddes The Pythagorians opinion touching prayer Hoc age a watcheword to tend diuine seruice The similitude of Numa and Pythagoras precepts By what means Numa made the Romaines quiet and gentle The wonders of Numa Numaes speaking with Iupiter Picus Fannus The purifying of thunder Ilicium the name of the place Numa buylded temples to Faythe and Terme Numa made the boundes of the territorie of Rome Numa aduaunceth jillage Numa deuided his people into sundrie occupations Numa tooke away the factions of Romulus and Tatius The ordinaunce of the moneths of Numaes institution Macrob. 1. Sarâ—r 13. The yere diuersely counted * Peraduenture ye must read in the Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is to saye of the name of Iuno * Some olde Grecian copies saye in this place marg 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as much to saye as for the deade VVhy Ianus is painted with two faces At what time the temple of Ianus is thus in Rome Liu. lib. 1. The Romains had us warres in al Nunaes time Platoes saying concerning the felicitie of a coÌ„mon weale Numaes tiues and posteritie Pompilia Numaes daughter Pompilia maried to Caius Martius Corislanus Martius the Sabyne made Sunatouar at Rome Ancus Martius the sonne of Caius Martius Coviolanus The death of Numa Numaes bookes VVhy the Pythagoriâ—agrave left nothing in writing 12. bookes of priesthood 12. bookes of philosophie Good men praysed after their death The misfortunes of Numaes successours Hostilius The vertues of Numa and Lycurgus were alike but their deeds diuers VVhat things were harde to Lycurgus Slaues sai with their master as Saturnes feasts Macrob. Satur lib. 1. Diuers causes of the diuersitie of institutions of Numa and Lycurgus Description of their people Reason for mariages Numaes order for maidens the better The Laconians were to manly The Romaine women very modest The first diuorce aâ— Rome Howe much education and discipline is worthe Arist. polit 8. How Lycurgus lawes were stablished VVhy Numaes orders dyed Why Numa is to be preferred before Lycurgus Solons linage Great friendshipp betâ—ixâ— Solon Pisistratus A statute for bondmen Solon gaue him selfe in youth to trade marchauÌ„dise Solons iudgemeÌ„t of riches The commodities of merchandise A marchauns builded Massilia Thales Hippocrates Plato all marchaunts Pouerty with vertue better than riches How Solon vsed his poetrie Solon delited in morall but not in naturall philosophie Hellens three footed stoole of gold draweÌ„ vp in a drag net The rare modesty of the wise men Anacharsis and Solons meeting Anacharsis saying of Solons written lawes Solons talke with Thales at Miletum about mariage for hauing of children VVe should not let to get things necessarie fearing to lose them Cybistus Thales adopted sonne The instinct of naturall loue Proclamation vpon paâ—ne of death no man so moâ—e the counsell for the title of Salamina Solon fained madnes to recouer Salamina Solons Elegies of the Salaminians Of the temple of Venus Coliade Sâ—ab lib 4. â—â—rsan of the Athenians Solons stratageames Solon wanne Salamina Great stryfe betwext
the Megarians Athenians for Salamina Iliad lib. 2. The manner of burial with the MegariaÌ„ the Athenians Solon defendeth the cause of the teÌ„ple of Delphes Epimenides Phaestus taken for one of the 7. sages excluding Periander Solon pacified the sedition at Athens The miserie of dett and vsurie Solons equitie and vprightnes Solon by subtiltie set order betwext the poore rich Solon chosen reformer of the lawe and chief gouernour Salt refuseth to be a tyranne Tynnondas and Pittacus tyrannes Solens aunswere for tyrannie Excellent temperature Things hatefull made pleasaunt with sweete wordes Cleering of detts Solons first lawe Vsurie forbidden vpon gage of the bodie The value of money cried vp by Solon Lawes would be kept secret till they be published Ill consciences by craft preuent LaweÌ„ A good lawemaker beginneth to doe iustice in him selfe Solons absolute authority in the common weale Solon tooke awaye all DracoÌ„s lawes Solon â—ateth euerie citizen at a certen surname Pentacosiomedimnes Zeugite Thetes The darknes of the lawe increased the authoritie of the iudge The counsell of the Areopagites 3 Counsells erected in Athens Other lawes of Solon A lawe against neawters An acte for matching with inheritoâ—s Solon forbiddeth iointers and dowries Dionysius saying of mariages A law forbidding to speake euill of the dead * Drachmeâ— A lawe for willes and testaments marg A lawe for womens going abroade Craftes and occupations aduaunced The authoritie of the courte and counsaile of the Areopagites * Drachmae The tribes of the AtheniaÌ„s howe they were called An acte for welles An acte for planting and setting of trees Drachmae Feasts for townes men in the towne hall of AtheÌ„s Axones Cyrbes Thesmothetes SoloÌ„s trauell Clarius fl AEpia called Soles Solon saâ—e king Croesus in the cittie of Sardis Croesus question to Solon touching happines Solon esteemed Tellus a happie man. Cleobis Biton happy meÌ„ Solon commeÌ„deth the meane No man happie before his endâ— AEsope saying to Solon Solons aunswer to AEsope King Croesus wordes of Solon hanging vpoÌ„ a gibbeâ— to be bâ—ant Riches are but wordes opinion Sedition as AtheÌ„s in Solons absence Solon returneth to Athens Pisistratus wicked crasie subtiltie Thespis a maker of tragedies Solon reproued Thespis for lying Solons libertie constancie A good lawe for reward of seruice The house of P. Valerius Tarquinine Superbus Valerius Brutus companion in expulsing the Kings Lucius Brutus Tarquinius Collatinus Consuls The first embasâ—iâ—e of king Tarquine for recouering his Realme Another embasstate from Tarquine demaunding his goodes Good counsell of Minutius Tarquines ambassadours practise treason The Aquilij and Vitellij with Brutus sonnes traytours to their countrie The confederacy coÌ„firmed with drinking of maÌ„s bloud Vindicius heareth all their treason The conclusion of their treason Vindicius bewrayeth the treason vnto Valerius Titus Valerius Brutus sonnes Brutus seeth his â—ame sonnes punished executed Brutus praised reproued for the death of his sonnes Collatinus softnes perileus Valerius boldly appeacheth Collatinus of iniustice Collatinus resigneth his Consulshippe 〈…〉 departeth 〈…〉 S. Vindicta so called by reason of Vindicius Tarquines flied coÌ„secrated to Mars Vhereof the holy Iland came in Rome that lieth betwene both bridges Tarquine coÌ„meth with a great power of the Thuscans to wage battell with the Romaines Arsia silua AruÌ„s Brutus encountered and slue eche other The victory of the Romaines against the Thuscans Valerius the first Consul that euer triumphed vpon a cherres The first beginning of funerall oration amoÌ„g the Romaines Anaximenes sayeth Solon was the first that instituted prayses for the dead Valerius stately house staÌ„ding on mouÌ„t Velia Valerius a good example for magistrates Valerius ouerthrew his stately house The temple called Vicus Publicus VVhy Valerius was surnamed Publicola Publicolath actes and lawes VVhereof Peculium was called The first Quastores Publius Veturius Marc. Minutius Lucretius Publicola Consuls Publicola Marcus Horatius CoÌ„suls How oft a Iupiter Capitolins temple was burnt and built againe How much was spent in building the Capitoll Domitians mad building humor Personae proclaimeth warres with Rome Publicola Thus Lucretius Consuls Horatius Cocles why so called Good seruice rewarded Publicola Consul The noble acte of Mutius Secuola How Mutius come by the name of Secuola Publicolae maketh Porsena iudge betwext them and the Tarquines Peace graunted the Romaines by Porsena The boldenes of Claelia and other Romaine virgines The liberalitie of king Persona to the Romaines Marcus Valerius Posthumius Tubertus Consuls Marcus Valerius the brother of Publicola triumpheth of the Sabynes Appius Clausus goeth to dwel at Rome The familie of the Claudians The Sabynes slaine The death of Publicola His funeralles Publicola happie Publicola erected the office of Quaestores A politicke precepâ— Cynosargos a place of exercise dedicated to Hercules Thermistocles towardness Themistocles was Anaxagoras Melissus schollar Mnesiphilus Phrearian VVhat wisedome at in olde time Nowe the name of Sophisters came â—â— Themistocles youthe The priuie grudge betwext Themistocles and Aristides Aristides a iust man. Themistocles ambition Themistocles persuaded his contriemen to make gallyes The AtheniaÌ„s beÌ„t their force to sea by Themistocles persuasion Themistocles a good husbaÌ„d to looke for his profit Themistocles extremely ambitious A wise saying of Themistocles Themistocles made Aristides to be banished Epicydes an orator sued to be generall Arthmius defamed for bribing Themistocles generall of the AtheniaÌ„s against Xerxes The coast of Aretemisivm Themistocles straâ—ageame VVodden walles signifie shipps The Athenians forsake Athens by Themistocles persuasion doe goe to the sea Xanthippus dogge The dog goe graue Aristides renorneth from banishement by Themistocles decree Notable aunswers of Themistocles The Sleue is a fishe facioned like a sworde Themistocles stratageame by the which he wanne the ba'tell at Salamina Themistocles Aristides consent together to geue battell Xerxes king of Persia had a thousand ships Ariamenes Xerxes admirall The Grecians victorie of the Persians â—aâ—y by sea Aristides counsell vnto Themistocles for the breaking of Xerxes bridge Themistocles stratageame Themistocles honored aboue all the Grecians Themistocles ambition noted A prety tale of Themistocles Themistocles saying of his sonne Themistocles buylt againe the walles of the cittie of Athens A subtle fetche of Themistocles The hauen of Piraea fortified The equitie of the Athenians Themistocles goddes Loue and Force The AndriaÌ„s goddesses Pouertie Impossibilitie Themistocles banished for fiue yers Pausanias reuealeth his reason vnto Themistacles Themistocles suspected of treason Themistocles fled into the I le of Corphv The manner of supplicatioÌ„ among the Molossians Themistocles dreame The Persian iealous of their wiues Howe Themistocles was conueyed to the king of Persias courte The Persians honour their King as the image of the god of nature Themistocles talke with the â—ing of Persia An excellent comparison of Themistocles Themistocles honoured of the king of Persia. Demaratus fond demaÌ„do of the King. Themistocles had the reuenue of three citties allowed him for his dyet Themistocles escaped murder by a
warning he had in his sleepe Themistocles loue to his country The manner of Themistocles death Themistocles children Themistocles tumbe and relickes Honour done to Themistocles after his death VVhy Camillus neuer came to be Consul The authoritie of a fewe odious to the common people Camillus wisedome and modestie Camillus hearte Camillus acts in his Censorshippe The cittie of Veies besieged The siege coÌ„tinued seuen yeres together Camillus twise chosen Tribune of the souldiers The wonderfull ouerflowing of the lake Albanus The crafte of a Romaine An oracle brought from Delphes Camillus chosen Dictator Matuta Leucothea The cittie of Veies taken by mining Camillus prayer when Veies was taken Fayned wonders of images Plutarches iudgement of miracles Camillus stately triumphe of the Veians A lawe for the people of Rome to dwell as Veies The chiefest cause of the peoples malice against Camillus A cuppe of golde sent to Delphes The ladyes of Rome giue their iuells towards the making of it VVhat time womens prayses beganne at funeralle in Rome Camillus chosen Tribune of the souldiers Camillus besiegeth the Falerians Camillus worthie acte to the schoolemaster betraying the FaleriaÌ„s children A noble saying of Camillus and wise precept for warres Valiantnes to be preferred before vilanie The Falisciäs by their ambassadours doe yelde theÌ„ selues and goodes vnto Camillus The message of the ambassadours of the FalisciaÌ„s vnto the Romaines Camillus tooke a summe of money of the Falerians and made peace with all the rest of the Falisces Lucius Apuleius accused Camillus The equitie of the Romaines who would not peruers the Lawe though they dearely loued Camillus but willingly offered to paye his fine Camillus prayer before his departure one of Rome Camillus exileth him selfe from Rome Tokens of the warres of the Gaules The originall beginning of the Gaules ArroÌ„ a Thuscan the procurer of the Gaules comming into Italie Lacke of iustice the cause of the destruction conquest of Thuscan by the Gaules The power of the Thuscans in olde time Clusium a cittie of ThuscaÌ„ besieged by the Gaules Brennus king of the Gaules Fabius Ambustus a Romaine breaketh the common laze of all nations Brennus reproueth Fabius for breaking the lawe of armes Numa Pompilius erected the colledge of the Faciales The Gaules marche towards Rome The Romaines armie were 40000 footemen To many rulers of an armie doe confound all order and putteth the army in perill Allia fl The battell at the riuer of Allia where the Gaules wanne the field of the Romaines 300. of a name slaine in one daye The Romaines superstition in obseruing of dayes The holy fier The force of fyer Fabius chief bishoppe of Rome Rome taken of the Gaules Aristotles testimonie of the taking of Rome The maiestie of the olde Senatours set in the market place of Rome The cittie of Rome rased by the Gaules The citie of Ardea Camillus wordes vnto the Ardeans in excuse of the Romaines Camillus persuadeth the Ardeans to take armes against the Gaules Camillus slue the Gaules haâ—d by Ardea PoÌ„tius Cominius got â—p into the Capitoll at Rome Camillus chosen Dictator the second time The Gaules clime vp to the Capitoll in the night The holy gese saued the Capitoll Marcus Manlius rebulsed the Gaules from the Capitoll The Gaules vexed with the plague as Rome The Romaines went about to redeeme their libertie of the Gaules with golde Camillus came to Rome with his army Camillus speaketh stowtely to Brennus king of the Gaules Camillus ouerthroweth the armie of the Gaules Rome was 7. moneths in the hardes of the Gaules Camillus triumphed of the Gaules The busie headed Orators stirre the people is tumulte against Camillus Camillus Dictacorshippe proreged Camillus persuaded the people that he could â—â— dwelâ— in Rome 〈…〉 leous Viâ—â—â—â— Rome is buildâ— againe Rome was nowe built againe in a yere Romulus augures staffe founde hole after Rome was burnt Camillus chosen Dictator the third time Tutola or Philotis craf subtiltie Rome deliuered froÌ„warres by Tutola the bondmayde The maydens seaâ—â—e called Nonae Capratinae Camillus stratageame against the Latines and Volsces Camillus slue the Latines Camillus tooke the citie of Aeques Camillus wonne the citie of Sutrium Marcus MaÌ„lius Capitolinus maneth sedition Flattery and hypocrisie sinneth the multitude common people MaÌ„lius clapt in prison by Q. Capitolinus Dictator Camillus cosen againe Tribunus militaris Marcus MaÌ„lius Capitolinus put to death Lucius Furius gaue battell to the Praenestines men and Volsces and was ouerthrowen Camillus wanne the fielde of the Praenestines and Volsces Camillus slue the Thuscans as Sutrium Camillus s 〈…〉 again against the Thusculanians The crafte of the Thusculanians Great seditioÌ„ moued in Rome by Licinius Stolo Camillus created Dictator the fourth time Licinius Stolo made a laâ—e for enioying of landes Stolo the first offender of the same law The Gaules come againe to Rome Camillus chosen Dictator the 5 time Heâ—â— Camillus appointed his souldiers with armour weapon to fight with advantage against the Gaules Anias st Camillus slue the Gaules againe The Romaines have they exempted priestes from the warres Sedision as Rome about choosing of Consuls Policy to yeld so necessitie A commoner chosen Consul with a noble man. Marcus AEmilius Lucius Sextus consuls Camillus died of the plague VVit allwayes to be employed to good things Antisthenes saying of a flute player The power of vertue Pericles stacke Pericles mothers dreame Pericles had a long head Pericles studies and teachers Zenon Eleatean Pericles â—â—â—ners and behaviour Pericles pacience The benefits of naturall philosophie VVhat was signified by the rammes head that had but one horne was found in Pericles grounde Pericles likened as Pisistratus Pericles first beginning to deale in the coÌ„moÌ„ wealth To much familiaritie breedeth contempt Ephialtes an orator VVhy Pericles was surnamed Olympius Thucydides Pericles aduersarie Pericles sayings Pericles common wealthe The good deedes of Cimon Pericles large distribution diminished the Areopagit authoritie Pericles causeth Cimon to be banished Athens The Ostracismon Pericles calleth Cimon from exile Pericles moderation vnto Cimon The murther of Ephialtes Thucydides Pericles aduersary in the coÌ„moÌ„ wealth A politicke care for idle persones Sumptuous buildings erected by Pericles Diuers artificers at AtheÌ„s The Odeon Pericles erected games for musicke The Poets raise vp slauÌ„ders against Pericles The noble saying of Pericles Thucydides banished by Pericles Pericles power Pericles somwhat altereth the common weale The force of eloquence Pericles commended for his good life worthines Pericles free from giftes taking Pericles good husbandrie Anaxagoras a mathematician Great diuersitie betwext contemplatiue and ciuill life Anaxagoras determined to furnish him self to death Anaxagoras saying to Pericles Pericles appointeth a generall councell to be holden as AtheÌ„s Pericles loued the safry of his men in warres Time the best counseller Tolmides slaine in the field Pericles iâ—rneyes Achelous â—â— Pericles would not followe the couetousnes of the people The enterprise of Siciliae Pericles an enemie to the Lacedaemonians Plistonax king of Lacedaemon
winneth Bizantium Alcibiades honorable returne into his countrie Alcibiades oration to the people Alcibiades chosen generall with soueraine authoritie Plynteria Alcibiades restored the olde ceremonies Alcibiades second iorney Lacke of money the occasion of the ouershowe of the AtheniaÌ„s armie by sea Antiochus rashnes procured his owne death and the ouerthrowe of the Athenians armie Lysander being generall of the Lacedaemonious ouercame the Athenians Alcibiades accused again by Thrasybulus Alcibiades put from his authoritie of generall Lysander rode at ancker before Lampsacus The Athenians regarded not Alcibiades good counsell The Athenians ouercome by Lysander Athens taken by Lysander Alcibiades flieth into the countrie of Bithynia Lysander appointed 30. tyrannes ouer the citizens of Athens To lose repentaunce of the Athenians The Lacedaemonians will Lysander to kill Alcibiades Alcibiades dreame in Phrygia before his death Alcibiades death Timandra the curtisan buried Alcibiades Lais a curtisan of Corinthe The familie of the Martians Publius and Quintus Martius brought the water by conducts to Rome Curseland wit. The benefit of the learning VVhat this worde Virtue signifieth Coriolanus first going to the warres Coriolanus crowned with a garland of oken boughes The goodnes of the oke To soden honor in youth killeth further desier of fame Coriolanus noble endeuour to continue well deseruing Cariolanus Epaminondas did both place their desire of honour alike The obedieÌ„ce of Coriolanus to his mother Extremitie of vserers complained of at Rome by the people Counsellers promises make men valliant in hope of iust performance Ingraeiende and good seruice vnrewarded prouoketh rebellion Martius Coriolanus against the people The people leaue the cittie and doe goe to the holy hill An excellens case tolde by Menenius Agrippa to pacifie the people The first beginning of Tribuni plebis Iunius Brutus Sicinius Vellutus the 2. first Tribunes The cittie of Corioles besieged by the Consul Cominius Titus Lartius a valliaÌ„t Romaines The propertie of a souldier The cittie of Corioles takeÌ„ Souldiers testaments By Coriolanus meanes the Volsci were ouercome in battell The tenth parte of the enemies goods offered Martius for rewarde of his seruice by Cominius the Consul Valiance rewarded with honour in the fielde Martius noble aunswer refusall Martius surnamed Coriolanus by the Consul How the Romaines come to three names VVhy the GreciaÌ„s gaue Kings surnames * These were the princes that buils the cittie of Cyrene Names of mockery amoÌ„g the Romaines Sedition as Rome by vanson of famiâ—â— Velitres made a colonie to Rome Two practised to remoue the sedition in Rome Sicinius and Brutus Tribunes of the people against both those deuises Coriolanus offendeth the people Coriolanus inuadeth the Antiates and bringeth rich spoyles home The manner of fuyng for office as Rome VVhereupon this manner of suyng was so deuised Offices geuen then by deserâ— without fauour or corruption Bankets and money geuen only destroyers of common wealth Anytus the Athenian the first that with money corrupted the sentence of the iudge and voyces of the people See the sickie mindes of coÌ„mon people The fruites of selfe will and obstinacie Great store of corne brought to Rome Coriolanus evasion against the insolencie of the people Sedition at Rome for Coriolanus Articles against Coriolanus Coriolanus stowtnes in defence of him selfe Sicinius the Tribune pronounceth sentence of death vpoÌ„ Martius Coriolanus hath daye geuen him to aunswer the people Coriolanus accused that he sought to be King. Coriolanus banished for life Coriolanus constaÌ„t minde in aduersitie The force of anger Tullus Aufidius a greate persone emoÌ„g the Volsces Coriolanus disguised goeth to Antium a cittie of the Volsces Coriolanus oration to Tullus Aufidius Great dissention at Rome about Martius banishment The Romaines manner of punishing their slaues VVhereof Furcifer came A ceremonie instituted by king Numa touching religion The superstition of the Romaines Thensae The Romaines gaue the Volsces occasion of warres Martius Coriolanus craftie accusation of the Volsces Coriolanus chosen generall of the Volscesâ— with Tullus Aufidius against the Romaines Coriolanus inuadeth the territories of the Romaines A fine deuise to make the communaltie suspect the nobilitie Great harte burning betwext the nobilitie and people Lauinium built by AEneas The Romaines send ambassadours to Coriolanus to treate of peace The first occasion of the Volsces enuy to Coriolanus Another ambassade sent to Coriolanus The priestes and soothesayers sent to Coriolanus Valeria Publicolaes sister Volumnia Martius mother The wordes of Valeria vnto Volumnia and Virgilia The aunswere of Volumnia to the Romaine ladies The oration of Volumnia vnto her sonne Coriolanus Coriolanus compastion of his mother Coriolanus withdraweth his armies from Rome The temple of Fortune built for the womeÌ„ The image of Fortune spake to the Ladyes at Rome Of the sweating voyces of images Of the omnipotencie of God. Tullus Anfidius seeketh to kill Coriolanus e Coriolanus murdered in the cittie of Antium Coriolanus funeralles The time of mourning appointed by Numa Tullus Aufidius slaine in battell The acts done by both The manners of Alcibiades Coriolanus Alcibiades Coriolanus manner for money Alcibiades Coriolanus loue vnto their contrie Coriolanus notable abstinence from bribes The house of the AEmylians came of Pythagoras sonne Lucius Paulus AEmylius Consul slaine at the battell of Cannes AEmylia the daughter of Lucius AEmylius maried to Scipio the great The vertues of Paulus AEmylius Paulus AEmylius made AEdilis and Augure The philosophers opinion of religion Paulus diligence in the coÌ„moÌ„ wealth eueÌ„ in trifles The discipline of carres Paulus AEmylius sent Praetor into Spayne AEmylius skilful to choose place and time to fight Scipio the seconde Fabius Maximus were the sonnes of P. AEmylius by Papyria his first wife A prety tale of a Romaine that forsooke his wife The vertue of AElius Tubero his pouertie and quiet life In naturalitie amongest kinred infamous AEmylius Consul AEmylius ouer commeth the LigvsriaÌ„s The cowardlines of the Romaines in Spayne The successioÌ„ of Antigonus king of Macedon Antigonus Doson king of Macedon Philip king of Macedon was ouercome in battell by Titus Quintus Flaminius at the cittie of Scotvsa Philips secoÌ„d preparation for warres in Macedon Philips armorie The death of king Philip. Perseus extreme couetous King Perseus maketh warre with the Romaines Publius Licinius Consul ouerthrowen by Perseus Hostilius CoÌ„sul repulsed out of Macedon Bastarnae the Gaules dwelling apon the riuer of Danubie AEmylius chosen Consul the second time taketh charge of the warres of Macedon Good lucke pronouÌ„ced by Tertia a litle girle Paulus AEmylius oratioÌ„ of thanckes or the Romaines when he was Consul obseruing the custome See what fruite souldiers reape by obedience reason Perseus couetousnes and miserie was the destruction of him selfe and his realme of Macedon Bastarnaeâ— a mercenary people Note what became of Perseus husbandry AEmylius army against Perseus was a hundred thousand meÌ„ Gentius king of the IllyriaÌ„s ayded Perseus Perseâ— double dealing with king Gentius King Gentius ouercome by Lucius
Anicius Praetor Perseus laye at the foote of the mount Olympus with 4000 horsemeÌ„ 40000 footemen AEmylius admonition to his souldiers Paulus AEmylius would haue the watch to haue no speares nor pikes The originall of springes Fountaines compared to womeÌ„s brests Scipio Nasica and Fabius Maximus offer thens selues to take the straights The height of the mount Olympus Nasica tranne the straights of Macedon Persons pitched his caÌ„pe before the cittie of Pydne The riuers of AEson and Leucus AEmylius aunswer to Scipio Nisca for geuing charge apon the enemies The skill and foresight of a wise captaine The eclipse of the moon The superstitioÌ„ of the Romaines when the moone is eclipsed The cause of an eclipse of the moone AEmylius policie to procure shirmishe The army of the Macedonians marching against the Romaines in battell The battell betwext Perseus and AEmylius PersoÌ„ goeth out of the battell vnto Pydus Victorie woÌ„ne by labour not by slothe Salius a captaine of the Pelignians tooke the ensigne and threwe it among the enemies The valliaÌ„tnes of Marcus Cato AEmilius victorie of Perseus The battell fought and wonne in one hower The vallâ—â—â—nes of Scipio the lesse Perseus fled from Pydne to Pella Time dutie to be obserued to the Prince Death the indignation of the Prince The couetousnes of the Cretans Misers whine for their gooddes The Macedonians submit them selues to AEmylius VVonders Newes brought to Rome out of Macedon in 4. dayes of Aemylius victorie there and no man knewe howe they came AEnobarbus why so called Cn. Octanius AEmylius lleutenaunts by sea The miserable state Perseus was brought vnto by the craft subtletie of a Cretan King Perseê° yeldeth him self in Samothracia vnto Cneus Octauius Perseus vnprincely behauiour vnto AEmylius AEmylius oration vnto Perseus prisoner AEmylius oratiom touching fortune and her vnconstantie AEmylius honorable progresse in Graece AEmylius setteth Macedon at a slaye AEmylius wordes above the care and good order at feasts AEmylius abstinence AEmylius cruell acte spoyling of Epirus AEmylius tooke shippe at the cittie of Orica and returned into Italie The enuie of Seruius Galba vnto AEmylius 〈…〉 abâ—â— AEmylius triumphe Seruilius oration for the furtheraunce of AEmylius triumphe A notable description of AEmylius triumphe Perseus children king Perseus AEmylius scorneth Perseus cowardlines Foure huÌ„dred crownes of gold sent vnto AEmylius by the citties of Graece AEmylius adversitie AEmylius fortitude in his great aduersitie AEmylius oration in his trouble for the death of his children The death of king Perseus A straunge kind of death The statee of Perseus sonnes By AEmylius victorie the people payed no more subsidie AEmylius chosen CeÌ„sor The office authoritie of the Censor AEmylius sicknes AEmylius remoued from Rome and dwelt in the citty of Velia The death of AEmylius in Rome AEmylius funeralles AEmylius goodes what they came to The state of the Syracusas before Timoleons coÌ„ming Icetes tyraÌ„ne of the Leontines By what voice Timoleon came to be generall Timoleons parentage manners Timophanes Timoleons brother what he was Timoleon saued his brothers life The Corinthians enterteined 400. straungers made Timophanes captaine of them to keepe their cittie Timophanes cruelty vsurpation of the kingdom Timophanes slaine by his brothers procurement Our acts must be honest and constant Phocions saying Aristides graue saying TimoleoÌ„ chosen generall to go into Sicile Icetes tyran of the Leontines a traytor A signe happened to Timoleon Timoleon tooke shippe towards Sicile A burning torche appeared in the element vnto Timoleon Icetes beseegeth Dionysia Icetes sendeth Ambassadors vnto TimoleoÌ„ TimoleoÌ„ crafttier then the Carthaginians Rhegio a citie of Greece Timoleon laÌ„deth as Tauvomenion in Sicile Andromachâ— the Father of Timaeus the Historiographer gouerner of the citie of Tauromenion The Carthaginians Ambassador did threaten to destroy the citie of Tavromenion by shewing Andromachâ— the palme and backe of his hand The god Adranus Timoleon ouerthrew Icetes armie made him flye from Adranus The Adranitans yeld vnto Timoleon Mamercus tyran of Catana Dionysius the tyran yeldeth him selfe and the castell of Syracusa vnto Timoleon Dionysius the tyran of Syracusa sent to Corinthe The miseries calamities of Dionysius the tyran Dionysius brought to Corinthe The Inconstancie of fortune Notable sayings of Dionysius Syracusan The benefite of Philosophy A tyranes state vnfortunate This agreeth with AEsops wordes to Solon who wished him oÌ„ming to princes to please them or not to come nere them See Solons life and his answer to AEsop. Diogenes saying to Dionysius the tyrane Timoleons prosperitie Icetes hiereth two souldiers to kill Timoleon at Adranus The treason discouered to Timoleon by one of the souldiers The wonderfull worke of fortune Icetes bringeth Mago a Carthaginian with a great army to Syracusa Leon captaine of the Corinthians within the castell Leon wanne Acradina Contention of fortune and valliancie The stratageame of Hanno the admirall of the Carthaginians Timoleon marcheth to Syracvsa Mago forsaketh Sicile vpoÌ„ suspect of treason Anapus fl Timoleon wynneth the citie of Syracusa Timoleon ouerthroweth the castell of Syracvsa Timoleon made Syracvsa a popular gouernment The miserable state of Sicile Mago slue him selfe being called to aunswer his departure out of Sicile The Corinthians replenished the citie of Syracusa vvith three score thovvsand inhabitants Leptines tyran of Apollonia yelded to Timoleon The armie shippes of the CarthaginiaÌ„s against TimoleoÌ„ Asdrubal Amilcar being generalls Timoleon weÌ„t with 6000. man against the Carthaginians Crimesus fl Smallage an ill signe Prouerbe Garlandes of smallage The order of the Carthaginians armie Timoleon geueth charge apon the Carthaginians as they came ouer the riuer of Crimesus The seruice of the armed cartes Timoleons maruelous biggâ— voyce Timoleons order and fight A maruelous tempest of thunder ligthning rayne winde and â—ayle full in the Carthaginians faces as they fought Timoleons victorie of the Carthaginians Timoleon banisheth the thowsaÌ„d treytorous souldiers out of Sicile Gisco sone froÌ„ Carthage with 70. saile into Sicile Messina viseth against Timoleon Mamercus verses tyrant of Catena Calâ—â—â— of Sicile Damirias fl Strife among Timoleons captaines for passing ouer the riuer Timoleons deuise to draw lottes to pacifie the strife Timoleon taketh Icetes Eupolemus his sonne aliue and did put them to death Icetes wiues and children put to death The crueltie of Icetes towards Dion and his Mamercus ouercome in battel Abolus fl Timoleon maketh peace with the Carthaginians Lycus fl Catana yelded vp vnto Timoleon Hippon the tyranne of Messina Hippon put to death Mamercus the tyranne put to death TimoleoÌ„ quieteth all Sicile Timoleon compared with the famousest meÌ„ of Greece Timoleon attributeth his good successe vnto fortune Timoleon dwelleth still with the Syracvsans Simonides saying Timoleons accusers Timoleons great praise Timoleon in his age lost his sight The great honor the Syracusans did Timoleon being blind A laeâ—â—e made to honor Timoleon The death of Timoleon Timoleons funeralles An honorable decree of the SyracusaÌ„s for the memorie of Timoleon Timoleons
tombe built in the market place The coÌ„parison of Timoleon and Paulus AEmylius for the vvarres The woÌ„derful continencie of AEmylius from bribes Not to take giftes commended for a singular vertue AEmylius Constancie for exceeded Timoleons To be so bold veÌ„turous is not good The aunswere of a souldierâ— to king Antigonus Diuers opinions of life death why the Greecians do punish him that casteth away his target Iphicrates comparison of an armie of men A lieutenant of an armie must be careful to saue him selfe Timotheus saying Pelopidas Marcellus lost both their liues by to much venturing Pelopidas stock liberalitie Aristotles saying of rich men Pelopidas saying for the necessitie of monie The persit frendshippe betwixt Pelopidas Epaminondas The true cause of frendshippe Agesipolis king of the Lacedaemonians Cadmea the castel of Thebes taken by Phebidas captaine of the Lacedaemonians Ismenias death Pelopidas Pherenicus and Androclidas banished from Thebes Archias and Leontidas gouerners of Thebes vnder the Lacedaemonians Androclidas slayne The thanckfulnes of the Athenians vnto the Thebans Pelopidas counsel for the libertie of the Thebans Conspiracie against the Lacedaemonians for the libertie of Thebes Charon kept promise with daunger of life Pelopidas coÌ„meth into Thebes disgised in cloynes apparel Philidas secretary to the tyrans Pelopidas daunger Archias Bishop of AtheÌ„s bewraieth the treason to Archias in a letter VVeighty matters to morrow Prou. Pelopidas killeth the tyrans The Liberty of the Thebans restored Pelopidas receiueth the Castell of Cadmea by Composition Pelopidas ouerthrewe the seigniorie of the Lacedaemonians Pelopidas policy to make the Athenians fall out againe with the Lacedaemonians The Thebans exercise in armes Antalcidas saying to king Agesilaus The victory of Thebans against the Lacedaemonians Pelopidas victory of the Lacedaemonians at the battlle of Tegyra Melas ft. Latona brought to bed betwene two springes called the Palme and the Oliue Pelopidas victorie What enemies are moste terrible to be feared The first institution of the holie bande Men louing together fight desperately against their enemies Hercules Iolaus loue Platoes saying of a louer The Goddesse Harmonia Cleombrotus king of the Lacedaemonians Pelopidas princely aunsweare Se what plagues folowe where iustice is denied Pelopidas dreame vision in the fieldes of Leuetrea Agesileus dreame Godly sayings concerning God. Gods prouidence and sodaine ayde The filly slaine sacrificed The battell at Leuctres The cause of the ouerthrow of the Lacedaemonians Pelopidas and Epaminondas victorie at the battaile of Leuctres Pelopidas Epaminondas iorney into Peloponesus being both gouernors of Boeotia Apenall lawe at Thebes for resigning vp of offices at the yeers end Pelopidas Epaminondas went ouer the riuer of Eurotas with 70. thousand meÌ„ The ingratitude of the Thebans toward Pelopidas and Epaminondas The Lawe Boucation Epaminondas patience Pelopidas coÌ„demneth Meneclidas a seditious orator and accuser The practise of spitefull men Our forefathers did paint and set forth their battailes Alexander the tyran of Pheres Larissa a city Philip of Macedon deliuered for ostage vnto Pelopidas Pelopidas taken prisonner by the tyran Alexander at Pharsale Pelopidas stoutnes Thebe the wife of Alexander the tyran Epaminondas sent into Thessalie with an army The brutishe cruelty of Alexander the tyran Epaminondas deliuered Pelopidas out of prison Artaxerxes king of Persia Pelopidas sent Ambassador to the king of Persia Pelopidas greatly honored of the king of Persia. Pelopidas refused the great giftes of the kinge Artaxerxes Timagoras Ambassador for the Athenians put to death for taking great giftes of the kinge of Persia Pelopidas second iourney against the tyran AlexaÌ„der of Pheres The eclipse of the sunne made the Thebans afraid Battaâ—ll geuen by the temple of Thetis vnto the tyran Alexander Pelopidas slaine The great lamentacion mourning for Pelopidas death The oration of the ThessaliaÌ„s to the Thebans The strange manner of sorowe of Alexander the great for the death of Ephestion Pelopidas happines Esops sayinge of the happines of the dead Death a blessed thing The Thebans reuenged Pelopidas death Alexander the tyran of Pheres slaine by his wife Alexander the tyran of Pheres was the first tyran that was slaine by his wife Marcellus kinred Marcellus condicions The Romaines troubled with warres Marcellus saved his brother Octacilius Marcellus chosen AEdilis and Augure Marcellus accuseth Capitolinus The Romaines had warres with the Carthaginians two twenty yeres together The warre of the Gaules Gessates mercenary Gaules A lawe to exempt ecclesiasticall persone froÌ„ the warr The Romaines did feare the warre of the Gaules Men and women buried aliue Flaminius P. Furius Consulls Newes brought to Rome of strange things seene in Romania Flaminius ouercome the Gaules in battayle The great religion of the Romaines An ordinance for publike sacrifice Marcellus Cneus Cornelius Consulls The Gaules Gessates make warres with Rome and come ouer the Alpes Acerres a city apon the riuer of Po. Clastidium a village or this side the mountaines The maner of the Romaines when they worship The combat a horsebacke betwixt Britomarus king of the Gaules and Marcellus Marcellus slue king Britomaerus as Clastidium Marcellus prayer vnto Iupiter Feretrian The Gaule ouercome by Marcellus Marcellus wanne the city of Millaine Marcellus triumphe Marcellus offeringe up of his rich spoiles The three persones that offered vp Spolia opima in Rome Romulus Cossus Marceâ—us Iupiter Feretrian why so called Spolia opima what they be Marcellus sent into Sicile with an army Posidonius wordes of Fabius Marcellus Lucius Bandius of Nola a valliant man. Marcellus gentlenes Reward made Bandius a true subiect Marcellus victorie of Hanniball at Nola. Marcellus proconsull Certaine Spanyards and Numidians are reuolted from Hannibal Marcellus the third time Consull sent into Sicile The seuerity of the Romaines to cowardly souldiers Cowardes detested of the Romaines Hippocrates generall of the Syracusans Marcellus wanne the city of the Leontines Marcellus besiegeth Syracusa Archimedes a notable mathematician Architas and Eudoxus famous Mathematicians VVhy Plato reproued Eudoxus and Architas Archimedes with an engine drew one of the greatest hackes Hieron the king had a shore The woÌ„derful force of Archimedes engines as Marcellus siege of Syrcusa Marcellus Sambuca Marcellus wondred as Archimedes engynes Archimedes profowndely learned Archimedes Siren. Archimedes demonstracion of the Cylinder Marcellus victories in Sicile Danippus a LacedaemoniaÌ„ Captaine taken prisoner Marcellus winneth Syracusa Acradina Marcellus gentlenes Rich spoyled at Syracusa Archimedes mathematiciaÌ„ slaine in his study Marcellus clemency Engyivm a city in Sicile Nicias craft Marcellus the first that brought in finenes curious tables and pictures into Rome of the spoyles of Syracusa Marcellus entreth into Rome with Ouation triumphe VVhos the Ouation triumphe is Ouation whereof it is called The sacrifices of the quiet triumphe The sacrifices of the litle triumphe Ouation The differeÌ„ces betwixt the Spartans and Romaines in their sacrifices for victorie The Syracusans accuse Marcellus Marcellus being Consull aunswered the Syracusans accusations as a
kinge Philip Philips verses against Alcaeus Priuy grudge betwixt Quintius and the AEtoliaÌ„s T. Quintius graunted Philip peace Hannibal was with kinge Antiochus Chalcide Corinthe Demetriade called by Philip of Macedon the Chaines of Greece Isthmia Crowes flying fell downe by the sounde of mens voices Quintinâ—care to stablish the liberty of the Greecians The feast Nemea kept at Argos Lycurgus the orator rescued Zenocrates the Philosopher saued him from prison Nero did set Greece at liberty VVhy Quintius made peace with Nabis the tyran of Lacedaemon The honor of Philopoemen Twelue hundred Romaines solde for slaues The Achaians redeemed the Romaines that were solde for slaues in Greece The ceremony of slaues maâ—onised T. Quintius triumphe Manius Acilius Consud T. Quintius Lieutenaunt sene into Greece Antiochus ouerthrowen in Thermopyles by Manius the Consull Quintius intreateth for the AEtoliaÌ„s King Antiochus maried Cleoptolemus daughter in the city of Chalcide Honors done vnto T. Quintius for sauing the Chilcidians and the Greecians Quintius curtesie and good nature Emulation betwixt T. Quintius and Philopoemen T. Quintius sayinges Antiochus Ambassadors doe boast of their kinges great army Titus Quintius witty ansâ—ere to the Ambassadors braggeâ— T. Quintius chosen Censor with Marcellus P. Scipio and M. P. Cato great enemies Secret grudge betwixt Titus and Cato A cruell dede of Lucius Quintius Cato beinge Censor did put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate T. Quintius vnworthy acts against Caro. Lucius Quintius restored to his place by the people T. Quintius ambition T. Quintius cause of Hanniballs death Titus sent Ambassador vnto Prusias king of Bithynia Hannibal deceiued by an oracle concerning his death Hanniball kept at Libyssa in Bithynia Hanniballs death Midas and Themistocles poysoned them selues Hanniballs last wordes Looke in Pyrrus life for the story as large Scipio Africans clemency commended Talke betwixt Scipio African Hannibal Hannibals iudgement of Captaines Aristonicus Mithridates Marius To be meane or great in this life is nothing but death bringeth the estimacion T. Quintius benefits vnto Greece Philopoemenes malice Titus Quintius wiser theÌ„ Philopoemen Quintius coÌ„maunded good souldiers Philopoemen made good souldiers A Generall must nes be at his prayers wheÌ„ he should occupy his sword Quintius clemency to the Greecians Philopoemenes liue to the Romaines Pyrrus kinred and beginning of the kingdome of Epirus Pyrrus redd How Pyrrus being an infant was saued Megares a city of Macedon Glaucias king of Illyria Pyrrus countenaunce and teeth Pyrrus healed them that were sicke of the splene The fier could not burnt Pyrrus great set Pyrrus realme taken froÌ„ him in his absence Pyrrus valliantnes at the battell of Hipsus Pyrrus behauior Pyrrus maried to Antigona the daughter of Philip king of Macedon and of his wife a Berenice Pyrrus restored to his kingdome againe Pyrrus deuideth the realme of Epirus with Neopulemus Pyrrus slue Neoptolemus Berenicida a city of Epirus in the I le of Preseque Pyrrus first iorney into Macedon King Lysimachus craft to deceiue Pyrrus Theodotus iudgement a Soothsayer Pyrrus quarrell and warre with Demetrius Pantauchus Demetrius Lieutenant in AErolis Pyrrus fight with Pantauchus Pyrrus victory of Pantauchus Pyrrus likened to Alexander the great Pyrrus skil in warlike discipline Hanniballs iudgement of Captaines Pyrrus wise answer Pyrrus goodnes and curtesie Certaine witty sayinges of Pyrrus Pyrrus wiues and children Pyrrus called an Eagle Pyrrus inuadeth Macedon Demetrius army both by land and sea Demetrius maried Lanassa Pyrrus wife Pyrrus dreame Pyrrus secoÌ„de iorney into Macedon Pyrrus praises Her Pyrrus ware his head peece Pyrrus proclaimed kinge of Macedon Macedon deuided betwene Pyrrus and Lysimachus Couetousnes hath no ende Peace and warre vsed lyke money Pyrrus ayded the Graecians against Demetrius Lysimachus maketh warre with Pyrrus The Tarentines hauinge a warre wish the Romaines determine to make king Pyrrus their Generall Meton counterfeating the foole wisely perswaded the Tarentines not to send for Pyrrus Tarentum a city in Italie Metons counsell to the Tarentines The Tarentines sende Ambassadors to Pyrrus Cineas the orator a Thessalian borne and attending in Pyrrus courte Cineas great talke with Pyrrus to moderate his ambitious minde Pyrrus iudgemeÌ„t of orators corruption A daungerous thing to withstande the Princes mind Pyrrus iorney into Italy Pyrrus daunger by tempest on the sea Pyrrus cast on shoare apon the contry of the Messapians Pyrrus being receiued of the TereÌ„tines reformed their vaine voluptoâ—s life Marshall discipline Leuinus Consul sent against Pyrrus Pyrrus camped in the plaine betwene Pandosia and Heraclea Siris fl Pyrrus Battel Pyrrus first conflict with the Romaines Pyrrus wisedom foresight in battell Pyrrus changed his armor cloke Megacles slaine taketh for Pyrrus Pyrrus victory of Leuinus the Consull Cineas sent Ambassador to Rome The noble minde of the Romaines Appius Claudius disswated the Romaines from making peace with Pyrrus Appius Claudius oration to the Senate The maiestie of the Senate at Rome Caius Fabricius Ambassador to Pyrrus Caius Fabricius a noble Captaine but very poore Fabricius refused king Pyrrus giftes The opinion of the EpicuriaÌ„s touchinge felicity King Pyrrus Phisitian wryeth to Fabricius offereth to poyson his master Fabricius letter to Pyrrus aduertising him of his Phisitians treason Pyrrus sendeth the Romaines their prisoners without raunsome Pyrrus second battel with the Romaines by the caty of Asculum Pyrrus victory of the Romaines The wyters agree not about Pyrrus battell Ambassadors out of Sicilia to pray aide of Pyrrus Pyrrus iorney into Sicilia Pyrrus wanne the city of Erix in Sicilia Homer of valliantnes The Mamertines why so called Pyrrus cruelty in Sicilia The Samnites and Tarentines sone ser Pyrrus to returne into Italie Pyrrus returne into Italy out of Sicile Pyrrus hurt on his head with a sworde Pyrrus with a blow of his sword claue his enemies head in the middest and layed it on his shoulders Manius Curius Consull Pyrrus thirde battell with the Romaines Pyrrus ouerthrowen by Manius Curius in battell Pyrrus compared to a dyce player Pyrrus returne into Epirus out of Halie Pyrrus victory of Antigonus king of Macedon Antigonus flieth from kinge Pyrrus The couetousnesse of the Gaules Areus made king of Sparta and Cleonymus pus downe The cause of Pyrrus inuading Peloponnesus Pyrrus stratageame to the Spartans Mandricidas stowe aunswer to king Pyrrus Pyrrus besiegeth Lacedaemon The corage of the women of Sparta VVomen wrought in the trench VVomen encoraged their men to fight Pyrrus battel Acrotatus valliantnes Pyrrus dreame Pyrrus in daunger of his life at the siege of Sparta King Areus arriued in Sparta with new aide Sedition in the city of Argos Pyrrus repulsed from Sparta goeth to Argos Ptolomie kinge Pyrrus sonne slaine by Oraesus Cretan Pyrrus slue Eualcus Antigonus aunswere to Pyrrus chalenge Tokens of Pyrrus death Pyrrus fight in the city of Argos Aspides the Castell in Argos A bull and wolfe in copper set up in the â—ity of Argos fighting together Danaus wan the â—â—ty of Argos from king Gelanor Apollo Lycias Gelanor king
of the Argiues Helenus Pyrrus sâ—nne The straunge loue of an Elephant to his keeper Kinge Pyrrus slaine with a tyle throwen by a woman Alcyoneus king Antigonus sonne Antigonus courtesie towards Pyrrus body and frendes Of the names of the Romaines Marius fauor Marius could no skill of the Greeke tongue Platoes saying to Xenocrates Marius parents maners and contry Marius first iorney vnto the warres Scipio Asricous iudgement of Marius Marius Tribune of the people Costa Consull Two sortes of AEdiles AEdilitas Curulis AEdilitas popularis Marius denyed to be AEdilis Marius chosen Praetor Sabacon put of the Senate Caius Herennius pleaded in Marius behalfe touching the patron client Marius actes in Spayne The opinioÌ„ of Spanyards in olde time Eloquence riches raised men to authority How Marius credit and estimacion grew Iulia Marius wife Marius temperaunce and pacience Caecilius Metellus Consull The Labours presence of the Generall maketh the souldiers worke willingly Marius the author of Turpilius false accusation death Vacca a great city The cause of the supposed treason against Turpilius Turpilius wrongfully put to death Displeasure betwixt Metellus Marius Marius first time of being Consull Marius offended the nobility Marius depriued Metellus of the honor of conquering of king Iugurthe Bocchus kinge of Numidia deliuereth Iugurthe vnto Sylla Lucius Sylla Quaestor vnder Marius The originall cause of the ciuill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla The comming into Italie of the Teutons and Cimbres The army of the Tevtons and Cimbres 300000 men Cimbri Cimmerij Marius chosen Consull the second time against the law Law must giue place for common benefit Marius triumphe into Rome for king Iugurthe How Marius trained his souldiers Marius moyles Marius commended for his iustice Marius third Consullshippe Manius Acilius Lieutenant of the army vnder Marius Lucius Saturninus Tribune Marius fourth Consullshippe with Catulus Luctatius Rhodanus fl Marius channell The Cimbres went through Germanie into Italie The Teutons and Ambrons fall apon Marius to passe into Italie through the territory of Genua Martha a wise woman or prophetesse The attier of Martha in time of sacrifice A wonder of the Vultures shewed to Marius VVonders seene Batabaces the priest of the mother of the goddes Aulus Pompeius Tribune The enemies campe were removing sixe dayes together Marius bolde wordes to his souldiers and their aunswer Battell betwixt the Ambrons Marius Marius ouercome the Ambrons The mannishnes of the women Marius seconde battell with the Teutons Marius victory of the Teutons and Ambrons Much veine followeth after great battells Marius the fift time Consull Athesis flu Catulus Luctatius the Consull flieth from the Cimbres Marius refused to enter in triumphe Marius goeth towardes Catulus Luctatius to helpe him Po flu Marius mocke to the Cimbres The Cimbres march against Marius Marius deuise for alteringe the darte in fight Baeorix king of the Cimbres Two and fiftie thowsand and three hundred men betwene Marius and Catulus The Romaines battell The battell of the Cimbres A dust raised that neither army could see one another The sunne ful in the Cimbres faces The fielde fought the 27. of Iuly Horrible cruelty of women Prisoners 60. thowsand Men slaine six score thowsand Might ouercoÌ„meth right Metellus against people pleasers Valerius Flaccus Consull with Marius the sixt time Valerius Coruinus sixe times Consull The law Agraria An article for the othes of the Senate to confirme what the people should passe by voyce Marius duble dealing To lye cunningly Marius taketh it for a vertue Timorous policy causeth periury Metellus constant in vertue Metellus wise saying touching well doing Metellus banishment Marius doble dealing betwene the nobilitie and people Marius procureth sedition at Rome No trust on the faith of the coÌ„mon people Metellus returne from banishement Marius iorney into Cappadocia and Galatia Marius prowd wordes to Mithridates The cause of the dissension betwene Marius Sylla The warre of the confederates Siloes stowts chalenge and Marius answer Mons Misenum Marius ambition Sulpitius gard of sixe hundred knightes Sulpitius boldness Marius sedition Marius flieth from Rome Marius the sonne flieth into Africke Marius found an ayrie of Eagles How many egges the Eagle layeth Liris fl Marius set a land and forsaken of the mariners Marine hidden in the marisses Marius takeÌ„ Fanniaes curtesie vnto Marius One hiered to kill Marius The Minturnians suffered Marius to go his way with sefety Marica Sylua Marius the elder flieth into Africke Marius wise answere of surtimes inconstancy Marius the younger esâ—apeth Hyempsals hands Cinna driuen out of Rome by Octauius Marius ioyneth force with Cinna Octauius negligence in defence of the citie of Rome against Cinna Marius Octauius too much geuen to Southsaiere Octauius vertue and imperfection Octauius slaine by Marius souldiers Agreas contrariety in astronomy Cinna and Marius entry into Rome Bardini Marius caused great murder in Rome Marius crueltie Small trust of frendes in aduersitie The faithfulnes of Cornutus seruaunts to their master M. Antonius the Orator betrayed by a tauerner The force of eloquence Catulus Luctatius killed himselfe The Bardiaeians slaine of their Captaines for their crueltie Marius seuenth Consulship Marius thoughtes and feare Deuise to winne sleepe Marius the fathers death Marius mad ambition a note against the ambitious Platoes words at his death note that in Syllaes life following to appeareth that Marius the younger was besieged in the city of Preneste and not in Perusia as ye rende here So as the city seemeth to be mistakeÌ„ in one of these liues Lysanders image Licurgus the anchor of wearing longe heare The commoditie of wearing longe heare Lysanders kinred The education of the Laconian children Lysanders manners VVise man he euer melancholye Lysander a despisor of riches Lysanders words of Dionysuis liberalitie Lysander admirall for the Lacedaemonians by sea Lysander enlargeth the citie of Ephesus Sardis a citie in Lydia Lysander tooke money for paye of his souldiers Lysanders victorie of the Athenians by sea Cherronesus a contrye in Thracia Callicratidas Lysanders successor in his office of admyraltie Playnenes coÌ„mended for a vertue but liked as an olde image of a god that had bene excellent faier The spighte of Lisander to Callicratidas Nothing estemed with the Barbarians but money Callicratidas pacience The death of Callicratidas Lysander crafty and deceitfull A wise saying of Lysander The wicked dissembling and double dealing of Lysander Lysander regarded no periâ—rie following the example of Polycrates the tyran of Somos Cyrus liberaâ—itie to Lysanders Lysanders artes by sea Philocles cruel advise vnto the Athenians Lysanders craft in marine fight Alcibiades gaue good aduise to the Captaines of the AtheniaÌ„s A copper target lift vp the signe of battell by sea Conon Admirall of the Athenians Lysanders victory of the Athenians Paralos the holy galley of Athens The starres of Castor and Pollux A stone fell out of the element AEgos st Anaxagoras opinion of the starres VVhat falling starres be Damachus testimonie of the fiery stone seene in the element
An other opinion of the stone that fell Philocles coÌ„stancy Captaine of the Athenians Lysanders cruelty Theopompus the Comicall Poets sayinge of the Lacedaemonians The Athenians yeelde vp Athens_to Lysander The maner of peace offered by the Lacedaemonians to the AtheniaÌ„s A notable saying for the walle of cities Erianthus cruell aduise against the Athenians The sweete musicke so frened their cruell hearts and moued them in pity Lysander ouerthrew the walles of the city of AtheÌ„s Callibius Captaine of the Castell of Athens Autolycus as cunninge wrestler Autolycus pus to death Lysander sent money to Sparta by Gylippus Gylippus robbed parte of the money be caried to Sparta The Grekishe coyne was marked with an owle Gyllippus banishment Couetousnes of money corrupted Gylippus one of the chiefest men of LacedaemoÌ„ The iron money of Lacedaemonia At what time the Lacedaemonians receiued gold and siluer againe The ill life of the Magistrate the cause of disorder in a commoÌ„ weale A galley of gold and Iuory Lysanders honors and pride Platoes saving of the ignorant Ignoraunce coÌ„pared with blindenes Lysanders ambition pride and 〈…〉 Lysander brake his word othe and procured the deads of eight hundred people 〈…〉 Eteocles wordes of Lysander Thorax put to death for offending the law The LaconiaÌ„ Scytala what maner thing it is and how vsed Lysander carieth letters against him selfe Lysander goeth to Iupiter Ammon King Pausanias reconciled the Athenians with the Spartans Lysanders terrible words The death of king Agis Lysander depriueth Leotychides of his kingedomes Through Lysanders working Agesilaus â— was made king Ambition abideth no equalles Agesilaus priâ—ie grudge to Lysander Lysanders wisedome Lysander surueiour of the vittells Lysanders talke with king Agesilaus after the Laconian maner of speaking Lysander seeketh innouation in the state of Sparta The Families of the kinges of Lacedamon Lysander deuiseth false oracles corrupted soathsayers with money Lysanders fained deuise to possesse the kingdome The warres of Boeotia Diuers causes sâ—â—â—â—used of the beginning of these wars An edict against the banished men from Athens An edict made by the Thebans in fauor of the banished meÌ„ Lysanders iorney vnto Boeotia Cithaeron mons Cissusa sons Lysander staine by the Thebans To aske leaue of thenemie to burye the deade is dishonorable Lysanders tombe Oplites A. destinie menitable Phliarus A. Hoplia Isomantus Neochorus slâ—e Lysander Orchalide â—â—â—s Helicon moons Pausanias exile Lysanders cleane handes and pouertie commended after his deathe Lysanders counsell for altering of the kingdom Lacratidas wisdom forbearing to shewe extremitie to the deade Lysander honored by the Spartans after his death Singlenes of life late mariage and ill mariage punished by the Lacedaemonians Syllaes kinred Syllaes honesty reproued by meanes of his great wealth Syllaes flauore That is bicause that Syl in laten signifieth oker which becometh red when it is put to the fire and therfore Syllaceus color in virusâ—ia signifieth purple colour Syllace skeffing Syllaes voluptuosnes Sylla Quaestor The cause of Bocchus freÌ„dshippe vnto Sylla Iugerthe deliuered vnto Sylla by kinge Bocchus Thenor of Iugurthes takinge ascribed vnto Sylla Syllaes noble deedes vnder Marius Sillaes doings vnder Catulus Ambition is to be fled as a mortall furie Sylla chosen Praetor Orobazus Ambassador from the king of the Parthians vnto Sylla Sylla accused of extorcion Ciuill warres Timotheus Athenians would not tribune the glory of his doinges to fortune Sylla gaue fortune the honor of all his doinges Syllaes belefe in dreames A straunge fight appeared to Sylla Sylla straunge of conditions Sylla chosen Consull Metellus chiefe bishop of Rome a maried Syllaes wiues Marius fonde ambition VVonderfull signes seene before the ciuill warres The ThuscaÌ„s opinion of eight worldes The wickednes of Sulpitius the Tribune Marius and Sulpitius sedition All lawe ceased for a time by reason of Sulpitius oppressions and wicked lawes Sylla marcheth towards Rome with six legions Posthomius the deuine did prognosticate victory vnto Sylla Syllas vision on his dreams Sylla set the houses a fire in Rome Marius and Sulpitius condemned to death Treason lustly rewarded The ingrailtude of Sylla reproved Lucius Cinna Consull Cinna sware to be Syllaes frende Sylla went against Mithridates Mithridates power Sylla befiegeth the city of Athens Sylla tooke the smells and roady money out of all the temples of Greece and brought it to him to AtheÌ„s Caphis supersticion for touching the holy thinges The commendacion of the auncient Romaine Captaines for ordering of their souldiers and also for their modest expences Sylla the first man that spob led all good seruice of souldiers by ouermuch libertie and sufferauoco The wickednes of the tyran Arision The greue valianmes of Marcus Teius Athens taken by Sylla The slaughter of the Athenians after the taking of the eisit Anthesterion Marche The time of Noes flood Aristion the tyran yeelded The hauen of Piraea wonne Philoes armory burnt by Sylla Taxilles army a hundred thowsande footemen Tenne thowsand horsemen Foure score ten thowsand cartes with Sythes The force of the BarbariaÌ„s consisted in horsemen and in their carts with Sythes The straight of Thermopyles Pqrnassus hill The city of Tithora Sylla Hortensius met at Patronide The plaine of Elatea Philobaeotus mont Their whole army together 1500. horse 15000. footemen The braue armor and furniture of the Thracians MacedoniaÌ„s seruing vnder Taxilles king Mithridates lieutenaunt Many commanders make disobediens souldiers Cephisus fl Syllaes straightnes to his souldiers A good policie to weary feare full souldiers with extreame labor whereby to make them desirous to fight Edylium moÌ„t Assus fl Sylla sendeth Gabinius with a legion to aide Chaeronea Oldeles met propheths of victory vnto Sylla Saluenius aSouldiers Iupiter Olympias Acotuim Edylium mountaines Thurium mons aliue Orthopagues Morion fl Apollo Thurial Chaeron the founder of the city of Charonea Sylla ordereth his battell Sylla droue Archelaus aide from the hill The force of the armed cartes with Sythes consist in long course Syllaes conflict with Archelaus as Thurium Slaues made free by authority of the Lieutenaunts in the fielde Syllaâ—â— victory of Mithridates Lieutenauntes The field was wonne in the plaine of Elatea Molus fl Apollo Pythias Iupiter Olympias Flaccus Consull went against Sylla Dorylaus Mithridates generall against Sylla The goodly plaine before the city of Orchomene The riuer of Melas and nature therof Syllaes words to animate his souldiers Diogenes slaine Syllae victory of Mithridates Lieutenauntes as Orchomene Sylla â—â—revâ—â—â—ne â—trelâ—â— Live in the famous battells at Chaeronea and at Orchomene Talke betwixt Sylla and Archelaus at the meeting Peace concluded betwext Sylla Archelaus in Mithridates behalfe apon condicions Archelaus suspected of treason Aristion tyran of Athens poysoned by Sylla Mithridates exception to the condicioÌ„s Archelaus sene from Sylla to Mithridates Sylla Mithridates meete at DARDANE The stowtnes of Sylla Mithridates excuseth him selfe to Sylla Syllaes aunswer to Mithridates Nicomedes king of Bithynia Ariobarzanes king of Coppadocia A hundred fifty thowsand Romanes slaine in one day
in Asia by Mithridates commaundement Fimbria camped as Thyatira Fimbria slain Sylla very hardly inreated them of Asia Aristotle and Theophrastus backes Sylla went to the bathes as Adipsum for the gowte in his legges Bubbles of fire rising out of a meadow by Dyrrachivm A Satyre takeÌ„ sleeping and brought to Sylla Sylla went against fifteene Generalls foure hundred and fiftie ensignes Syllaes returne into Italie Ephewn mons Sylla ouerthrew the CoÌ„sull Norbanus and Marius the younger neere to the mountaine Epheum A slaue foreshewed Syllaes victory and the burning of the Capitoll which fell out truely A winde that blewe flowers out of a meadow vpon Lucullus souldiers by the city of Fidentia Lucullus victory as Fidenâ—a Syllaes policie with Scipio Sylla wanne 40 ensignes from Scipio by policie Carboes saying of Sylla touching the foxe and lyon Marius the younger with 85. ensignes presenteth Sylla baâ—tell by the city of Signium Syllaes vision in his dreame Marius fled to Praenesta Carbo fled into Africke Thelesinus the Samnyte faâ— Sylla in great danÌ„ger Syllaes daunger Sylla fled Lucretius Offella besieged Marius in Praeneste In the ende of Marius life it is reported contrarie that Sylla besieged Marius the younger in Perusia and not in Praeneste â—doo saued themselues in Antemna and yelded to Sylla vpon promise of life Sylla against the law of armes and his promise caused sixe thowsand men to be slaine Honor chaungeth condicions Sylla the example Infinite murthers committed in Rome by Sylla and his fauorers The boldnes of Caius Metellus to tell Sylla his cruelty in open Senate Syllaes prosâ—iripsion 〈…〉 The murder of outlawes generall through Italy Quintus Aurelius a quiet men that medled not slaine for his house Marius the younger slue him selfe as Praeneste being put all into one place together Lucius Catilinae slue his owne brother Sylla Dictator Lucretius Offella slaine Syllaes twinnes named Faustus and Fausta Sylla leaueth his Dictatorshippe Marcus Lepidus chosen Consull Sylla feasted the people VVine of forty yeres olde vpward Sylla brake his owne lawes he made Valeria desirous to be partaker of Syllaes happines Sylla maried Valeria the sister of Hottensius the Orator Syllaes impostume turned to lyce Diuers famous men that dyed of lyce Syllaes commentaries containe 22. bookes Syllaes sonne that was dead appeared to him in his dreams in ill fauored apparell Granius strangeled in Syllaes fight by his arme commaundements Syllaes death Posthumi Syllaes funeralls Syllaes epitaphe The chiefe person is not alwayes the honestest Lysander Syllaes faults Lysanders temperance and moderate life Syllaes licensious and prodigall life Syllaes tyrannicall saying Sylla for ware to be preferred before Lysander Sylla fought with men of greatest power and ouercome them Syllaes magnanimity Plutarkes iudgement of Sylla and Lysander Peripoltas his posterity The manners leud partes of Damon Peripoltas Lucius Lucullus examâ—nesh the truth of the murther Damon slaine by treason Asbolomeni who they were and why so called Chaeronea indited for the murther Lucullus called for a witnesse of the troth Historie is a certaine image of mens manners and wisedom A pretty similitude Howe to describe the life of a man. Cimon Lucullus in what thinges they were like Cimons linadge Thucidydes linadge Miltiades died in prison Cimon defamed in his youth Coalemos foole Cimons condicions Elpinicè Cimons sister vnchast Polygnotus the painter Elpinicè being poore had regarde to matche ccording to her state calling Cimon subiect to lasciuious life The praise of Cimons conditions Cimons personage commended Cimon Generall for the Athenians by sea King Pausanias through his insolency and pride lost the Lacedaemonians all their rule of Greece Pausanias killed the young Bizantine virgine Cimon iorney and victorie in Thracia Butes burneth him selfe city and frendes for feare of Cimon Statues of Mercury Sochares Decelean spake against Miltiades request for the garland of Olyue boughes Cimon wanne the I le of Scyros The counsell of the Amphictyons Theseus bones brought to Athens 400. yeres after his death by Cimon Sophocles and AEschylus contention for victory AEschylus ouercome by Sophocles dwelleth in Sicilia and dyeth there Cimon sang passing sweety Cimons cunning diuision of the spoyle Herophytus Samian gaue Counsell to choose the spoyle Cimons liberality and hospitality Cimons charity How Cimon vsed his goode The hospitality of Lichas Spartan Cimons godly actes CimoÌ„ brought the golden world againe Cimons integrity and cleane hands Resaces attempted to bribe Cimon Darickes whereof so called A noble saying of Cimon The benefit of paines seruice and the discommodity of case and idlenes CimoÌ„ plagued the Persians Chio an Ile Cimon wanne the city of Faselia Ariomandes the kinges Lieutenant of his whole army by sea ryding at ancher before the riuer of Eurymedon Cimons victory of the Persians both by sea and land Cimon tooke two hundred sayle prisoners at the battell fought by the riuer of Eurymedon Cimon ouercame the battell of the barbarous people also by lands Cimon brought the king of Persia to conditioÌ„ of peace Callias sent Ambassador to take the othe of the king of Persia Cimon was at the charge of certaine commoÌ„ buildings Cimon draue the Persians out of Thracia Cimon accussed and discharged CimoÌ„ praiseth the temperate life of the Lacedaemonians Stesimbrotus the historian * Areopagus was a village of Mars by Athens where the iudges called Areopagitae did sit to iudge causes of murder and other waightie matters concerning the common wealth Democratia rule of communalty Pericles in Cimons absence reduceth the common wealth vnto the state Democratia Optimacia the gouernment of the nobility CimoÌ„ followed the Lacedaemonians maner A maruelous great earthquake in Lacedaemon Taygetum â—â—nâ— Archidamus sodaine policy saued the city Ilotae slaues bondmen to the Lacedaemonian Cimon procured ayde for the Lacedaemonians Cimon banished for 10. yeares Cimon called from exile Cimons dreame The interpretation of the dreame Cimons death prognosticated The cause of Themistocles willing death The death of Cimon Cimons death kept very secret No famous act done by any Graecians to the barbarous people after Cimons death Cimons monuments at Athens Lucullus parents Lucullus accuseth Seruilius the Soothsayer The Romanes thought it a noble dede to accuse the wicked Lucullus eloquence Lucullus studied Philosophy in his latter time Lucullus booke of the warre of the Marsians in Greeke Lucullus loue to his brother Marcus. Lucius M. Luculâ—us both chosen AEdiles Sylla gaue Lucullus commission to coyne money in Peloponnesus Lucullus geueth lawes to the CyreniaÌ„â— A notable saying of Plato Lucullus iorney into Egypt A notable rich entered geuen Lucullus by kinge Ptolomye Lucullus doinges vnder Sylla by sea Lucullus stratageame Fimbria besieged Mithridates in Pitane Lucullus would not aide Fimbria in besieging Mithridates Neoptolemus king Mithridates Lieutenant by sea Lucullus put to flight Neoptolemus Mithridates Lieutenaunt by sea Lucullus stratageaâ—ia as the siege of the Mitylenians Lucullus honored of Sylla The first occasioÌ„ of quarrell bentwext Pompey and Lucullus Lucullus M. Cossa
Consuls Cethegus a vitious liuer Lucius Quintius a seairious Orator at Rome Lucullus ambition to make warres against king Mithridates Praecia a famous curtisan of Rome Cethegus ruled all Rome The gouernment of Cilicia the warres against king Mithridates were geuen to Lucullus FimbriaÌ„ souldiers very dissolute and corrupted Mithridates armie against Lucullus Mithridates armie Asia fell know former miseries by the Romane vserers Cotta the CoÌ„sull ouercome by Mithridates in battell The godly saying of Lucullus for the sauing of a citizen Lucullus army A flame of fire fall betwene both armies out of the element Lucullus politicke consideration to dissipher the enemy Mithridates besiegeth Cyzicus The stratageame of Mithridates souldiers A wonderfull token of a cow that came to offer her selfe to the Cizicenians to be sacrificed Aristagoras vision Extreame famine in Mithridates campe Prouerbe He lept on his belly with both his feete Rindacus fl Lucullus ouerthrew Mithridates horsemen Mithridates fled by sea Granicus fl Lucullus ouerthroweth Mithridates footemen by the riuer of Granicus Lucullus dreame Lucullus ouercame Mithridates nauy by sea Mithridates in great dauÌ„ger apon the sea by tempest Lucullus ambition commendable Lucullus iorney into Pontus An oxe bought for a Drachma The mutiny of Lucullus souldiers Lucullus oration excuse to his souldiers Tigranes king of Armenia maried Mithridates daughter Mithridates camped as Cabira Mithridates arms Lycus fl The constancy of a Romane souldier Lucullus flieth Mithridates horsemen The fight of a Generall in a battell is of maruelous force A politicke deuise of the Romanes to punishe cowardly souldiers The Dardarians what people they be Lucullus dauÌ„ger by Olthacus conspiracy Olthacus prince of the Dardarians Lucullus life saued by sleepe Lucullus victory of certaine of Mithridates Captaines Mithridates noble men familiars cause of mutiny ouerthrowe of his whole army Mithridates flieth Couetousnes the ouerthrow of souldiers A stratageama of Mithridates Mithridates slue his sisters and wives The corage of Monimé Mithridates wife Monimé her throte was cut Berenicè straÌ„gled her selfe The corage of Statira Mithridates sister Appius Clodius sent vnto Tigranes from Lucullus Callimachus gouernor of â—misus Lucullus wâ—â— Amisus Callimachus setteth fire of Amisus and flieth Lucullus curtesie towardes the citie of Amisus Lucullus gentle saying TyrannioÌ„ the graâ—â—arian taken Lucullus relieueth Asia from extreame vsery That is after the raâ—e ofâ—â— in the huÌ„dred for the yéare Lawes set downe for vserers Appius Clodius Lucullus wiues brother Euphrates fl Zarbienus king of Gordiaena Tigranes pride and power The boldnes of Appius Clodius Lucullus Ambassador vnto Tigranes Appius abstineÌ„ce from taking of giftes Tigranes and Mithridates meeting Metrodorus praise and death Amphicrates an Orator of Athens dyed in king Tigranes courte Seleucia a city standing apon Tigris fl A platter too litle to holde a Dolphin in pâ—â—an Lucullus taketh Sinope in Pontus Lucullus dreame A statue made by Sthenis Autolycus founder of the city of Sinope The Syrians why so called Syllaes note for dreames Machares Mithridates sonne pusyâ—â—b frendshippe of Lucullus Lucullus goeth against Tigranes with a small company The quarrellings counsellors at Rome enuy Lucullus prosperity Lucullus came to the riuer of Euphrates found it very high and rough The straunge and sodaine fall of the riuer of Euphrates from her great swelling Diana Persica Kyne consecrated to Diana Persica A straunge thing of a cow that came to offer her selfe to Lucullus to be sacrificed The contry of Sophene Tigris fl Tigranes slue the first messenger that brought the newes of Lucullus approach Tigranes sendeth Mithrobarzanes against Lucullus Lucullus sendeth Sextilius against Mithrobarzanes Sextilius slow Mithrobarzanes and ouerthrewe hâ— force The city of Tigranocerta built by Tigranes Lucullus besiegeth Tigranocerta Taxiles perswadeth Tigranes not to fight with the Romanes The proude saying of Tigranes Tigranes whole armie two hundred three score thowsand men Lucullus army against Tigranes The ordering of Tigranes battell Atri blacke or vnfortunate dayes Lucullus battell with Tigranes Lucullus armor Lucullus famous victorie of Tigranes Tigranes flight Tigranes diadeame taken by Lucullus Lucullus praise Two puysans kinges ouercome by contrary meanes Lucullus tooke Tigranocerta Lucullus iâ—stâ—e and clemency Zarbienus king of the Gordiaenians slaine by Tigranes Lucullus prepareth to goe against the Parthians Lucullus souldiers fall to mutiny Full purses ease maketh mutinous souldiers Lucullus besiegeth Artaxata the chief city of Armenia Artaxes king of Armenia Hanniball builded Artaxata Arsanias fl Lucullus order of his army Other do read in this place against the Astopatenians miou which are people of Media Three kinges ranged in battell Lucullus maketh Tigranes flye againe The country of Mygdonia Nisibis alias Antiochia a city of Mygdonia Lucullus taketh Nisibis by assault Callimachus did set the city of Amisus a fire Thalteracion of Lucullus good fortune Lucullus cause of all his misfortune Lucullus faults Lucullus vertues The cause why Lucullus souldiers misliked with him Lucullus army euer lay in the fielde winter and summer Phasis fl Publius Clodius a wicked man. Publius Clodius stirred vp the souldiers against Lucullus Mithridates victory of Lucullus Lieutenauntes Mithridates ouercame Triarius Lucullus Captaine The Fimbrian souldiers forsooke Lucullus Lucullus forced to humble him selfe to his mutinous souldiers The Fimbrian souldiers tarie out the sommer vpon oldiâ— lon to departe when sommer was done Pompey Lucullus successor in Asia Iniuries offered Lucullus by Pompey Lucullus and Pompeys mating Mislikinges betwene Pompey and Lucullus Lucullus â—uâ— beloued of his souldiers Crassus desire to conquer Asia apon sight of Lucullus triumphe See the life of Crassus what successe he had Lucullus returne to Rome Lucullus triumphe Lucullus forsaketh Clodia and marieth Seruilia Catoes sister as vnchast as Clodia Lucullus geueth ouer gouernment of the common wealth Lucullus buildinges and pleasures Lucullus gardens of great estimacion Lucullus called Xerxes the gowne-man Xerxes â—uâ— through the mountaine Atho made â— channell for his shippes to passe thorow Lucullus curiosity excesse in meanes and seruice Catoes saying of Lucullus Certain sayinges of Lucullus Lucullus hauing diuers hallos had appointed euery hall his certen rasâ— charge of dyes VVhat Lucullus supper was in Apollo Lucullus library Lucullus loued Philosophie Antiochus of Ascalon an eloquent to theâ—uian The opinion of the Academickes Marcus Crassus Cato Lucullus against Pompey Lucullus and Cato against Pompey Pompey Crassus Caesar conspired together against the flaâ—e * Cicero calleth him Luâ—ius Vestius howbeit it may be that he was a Brutianborne Lucullus fell out of his witâ— before his death Callisthenes poysoned Lucullus whereof he dyed Lucullus death Lucullus death blessed A good gift oâ— decay vice to â—ncrease vertue Cimons two victories obtained in one day Great difference betwext Cimon Lucullus Graue magistrates resembled by similitude vnto good SurgeoÌ„â— Mithridates king of Pontus dyed in the realme of Bosphorus Tigranes king of Armenia submitteth him selfe to Pompey The praise of Thucydides Timaeus reproueth Plato and Aristotle Nicias equalls Nicias a timerous
vnto the gods Darius army of tenne hundred thowsand fighting men against Alexander at the riuer of Euphrates The magnanimity of Alexander Alexanders third battell with Darius The armor of Alexander An Eagle flewouer Alexanders head when he went so fight with Darius The flying of Darius Alexanders third victory of Darius and liberalithe of all men * The strength and power of Nepina in the contry of Ecbatania VVhat Medaes enchantment was * In this place there lacke certaine lynes in the Greeks originall No lâ—â—e in the countrie of Babylon Tresure found by Alexander at the citie of Susa. * Is seemeth that he meaneth of silke dyed in purple whereof the best that was in Europe was made in the citie of Hermiona in Laconia Alexanders iorney into Persia. Alexander found a maruelous measure in Persia The insoleus boldnes of Thais the herles Persopolls set a fire by Alexander Alexanders prodigalitie reproued by his mother Olympias Alexander reproueth the finenes and curiositie of his frendes Alexander enemy to idlenes Alexanders care of his frendes and wonderfull curtesie towards them Alexander keps one eare for the condeÌ„med person Alexander would not pardon ill wordes spoken of him Alexanders painefull iorney in following of Darius The loue of Alexander to his souldiers and abstinence Alexander regarded not the spoyle of gold siluer in respect of pursuing his flying enemy The death of Darius The punishment and execution of Bessus The sea Hyrcanium or Caspium Alexander goeth after the maner of the Persians Some faultes are to be borne with in a man of great vertues Orexartes fl Alexander with one word of his mouth brought the Macedonians to obedience Alexander maried Roxane a Persian Quarrell betwext Hephaestion and Craterus VVhy Philotas was suspected and enuied of Alexander Limnus traizerously seeketh to kill Alexander Philotas and his father Partmenio put to death Antipater was affrayed of Alexander VVVhy Alexander slue Clitus Alexanders dreame of Clitus The malapertnes of Clitus against Alexander Alexander slue Clitus grieuously repented him Callisthenes and Anaxarchus do comfort Alexander The cause why Callisthenes was envyed Aristotle thought Callisthenes eloquent but not wise Callisthenes suspected of treasoÌ„ against Alexander Alexander offended with Aristotle The death of Callisthenes the rethoritian The iourney of Demaratus CorinthiaÌ„ vnto Alexander and his death Alexanders iourney into India Alexander burnt his cariages The crueltie of Alexander towardes his men A monsterous lamme appeared vnto Alexander A spring of oyle found by the riuer of Oxus Oyle refresheth wearynes The citie of Nisa Acuphis wise aunswer vnto Alexander King Taxiles talke with Alexander Alexanders aunswer to Taxiles Alexander dishonorably brake the peace he had made Alexanders actes against king Porus. Hydaspes fl The statute of king Porus. The quick-wit and catâ— of the ElephaÌ„t to saue the king his master Alexanders conquests in the Indiaes The death of Bucephal Alexanders horse Bucephalia a great citie built by Alexander apon the riuer of Hydaspes why so named Peritas Alexanders dogge Ganges fl Gangaridae and Prosij people of India Alexanders returne out of India Alexanders vaine deuises to make him selfe immortall King Androcottus Alexander in daunger at the citie of the Mallians The wise men of India Alexanders questions propounded to the ten Philosophers of India Alexander rewarded the ten wise men and did let them goe Onesicritus a Philosopher Calanus other wise called Sphines Dandamis Calanus a wise man of India The 〈…〉 of a kingdom shewed by a peece of leather Psitulcis an Iland Alexanders nauie in the sea Oceanum Alexanders armie going in to India Sheepe fed with fishe The contry of Gedrosia The contry of Carmania The riot of Alexanders souldiers The citie of Thapsacus The prouinces conquered by Alexanders rebelled against him The death of Polymachus Pelleian Calanus the Indian did sacrifice him selfe aliue Alexander made men drinke to wyn a game and price The Macedonians maried vnto the Persians The wonderfull giftes of Alexander Alexander payed the soldiers dets Antigenes with one eye a valiant Captaine banished the court for making a lye Thirty thowsand boyes of the Persians taught the discipline of wars by Alexanders commauÌ„dement The clemencie and liberalitie of Alexander vnto his soldiers The death of Hephaestion Alexanders sorow for the death of Hephaestion Stasicrates an excellent image maker Diuers signes before Alexanders death Alexander feared Antipater Alexander fell sicke of an agew Arsitobulus report of the sicknes and death of Alexander The death of Alexander the great Aristotle suspected for the poysoning of Alexander Statira slaine by Roxane Aridaeus Alexanders bastard brother Caesar ioyned with Cinna Marius Caesar tooke sea and went vnto Nicomedes king of Bithynia Caesar taken of pirate Iunius Praetor of Asia Caesar eloquence Caesar loued hospitalitie Caesar a follower of the poeple Ciceroes iudgement of Caesar. The loue of the people in Rome was Caesar. Caesar chosen Tribunus militum Caesar made the funerall oration at the death of his aunt Iulia. Caesar the first that praised his wife in funerall oration Caesar made Questor Pompeia Caesars third wife Caesars prodigality Caesar accused to make a rebellion in the state The death of Metellus chiefe Bishop of Rome Caesar made chiefe Bishop of Rome Caesar suspected to be coÌ„federate with Catiline in his conspiracy Caesar went about to deliuer the conspirators Catoes oration against Caesar. The loue of P. Clodius vnto Pompeia Caesars wife The good goddesse what she was and her sacrifices Clodius taken in the sacrifices of the good goddesse Clodius accused for prophaning the sacrifices of the good goddesse Caesar putteth away his wife Pompeia Clodius quit by the Iudges for prophaning the sacrifices of the good goddesse Caesar Praetor of Spaine Crassus surety for Caesar to his creditors Caesars actes in Spayne Caesar order betwext the creditor and detter Caesar souldiers called him Imperator Caesar reconÌ„cileth Pompey and Crassus together Catoes foresight and prophecy Caesars first Consulship with Calphurnius Bibulus Caesars lawes Lex agraria Caesar maried his daughter Iulia vnto Pompey Caesar maried Calphurnia the daughter of Piso. Pompey by force of armes authorised Caesars lawes Caesar sent Cato to prison Caesar by Clodius draue Cicero out of Italy Caesar a valliant souldier and a skillfull Captaine Caesars conquestes in Gaule The loue and respect of Caesars souldiers vnto him The wonderfull valliantnes of Acilius Cassius Scaua diuers others of Caesars souldiers Granius Petronius Caesar had the falling sickenes The temperance of Caesar in his dyet Caesar ciuilitie not to blame his frend The Tigurinians slaine by Labienus Arax fl Caesar refused his horse wheÌ„ he sought a battell The Heluetians slaine by Caesar. Rheynus fl Caesar made warre with king Ariouistus The wise women of Germany how they did foretell thinges to come King Ariouistus ouerthrowen by Caesar. The Belgae ouercome by Caesar. Neruij the slowtest warriers of all the Belgae The Neruij slaine by Caesar The great Lordes of Rome come to Luca to Caesar Ipes
Tenterides people of Germany Caesars horsemen put to flight The Ipes and Tenterides slaine by Caesar Sicambri a people of the Germaines Caesar made a bridge ouer the riuer of Rheyn Caesars iorney into England The death of Iulia Caesars Daughter The rebellion of the Gaules Cotta and Titurius with their armie slaine Caesar slue the Gaules led by Ambiorix The second rebellion of the Gaules against Caesar. Vercingentorix Captaine of the rebells against Caesar. * Some say that in this place is to be redde in the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the riuer Saone The Hedul rebell against the Romanes * Sequani Vercingentorix ouerthrowen by Caesar. The seege of Alexia Caesars daunger and wise policie Caesars great victorie at Alexie Alexia yelded vp to Caesar The discord betwixt Caesar and Pompey and the cause of the ciuill warres Caesars crassines The peoples voices bought at Rome for money Pompey gouerned Spain and Africk Caesar sueth the second time to be coÌ„sul and to haue his gouernment proroged Caesar bribeth the Magistrates at Rome Pompey abused by slauerers Caesars requests vnto the Senate Antonius Curio Tribunes of the people fly from Rome to Caesar Caesars doubtfull thoughts at the riuer of Rubicon The Greeke vseth this phrase of speech cast the dye Caesar tooke the citie of Arminum Caesars damnable dreame Rome in vprore with Caesars comming Pompey flyeth from Rome Labienus forsooke Caesar and fled to Pompey Domitius escaped from Caesar fled to Pompey Pompey flyeth into Epirus Silent leges inter arma Caesar taketh money out of the temple of Saturne Caesars iorney into Spayne against Pompeys Lieuetenants Caesar Dictator Caesar and Isauricus Consulls Caesar goeth into the kingdom of Epirus Complaints of the olde souldiers against Caesar. A great aduenture of Caesar. Anius â—â— Caesars daungers troubles in the Realme of Epirus Caesars armie fled from Pompey Caesars wordes of Pompeys victory Caesar troubled in mind after his losse Pompeys determination for the warre Pompey called Agamemnon and king of kings The citie of Gomphes in Thessaly Pompeys dreame in Pharsalia The securitie of the Pompeians Pompeys armie at great againe as Caesars A wonder seene in the element before the battell in Pharsalia Caesars armie and his order of battell in the fieldes of Pharsalia Pompeys army and his order of battell An ill counsel and fowle fault of Pompey The battell in the fieldes of Pharsalia Caesars strategeme Caesar ouercommeth Pompey Pompeys flight Brutus that slue Caesar taken prisoner at the battell of Pharsalia Signes tokens of Caesars victory A straunge tale of Cornelius an excellent Prognosticatos Caesars clemeÌ„cy in victory The cause of Caesars warre in Alexandria Pothinus the Euenuke caused Pompey to be slayne Cleopatra came to Caesar Cleopatra trussed vp in a mattresse and so brought to Caesar vpon Apollodorus backe The great library of Alexandria burnt Caesars swimming with bookes in his hand Caesar made Cleopatra Queene of AEgypt Caesarion Caesars sonne begotteÌ„ of Cleopatra Caesars victorie of king Pharnaces Caesar wyteth three wordes to certifie his victory Caesars iorney into Africke against Cato and Scipio Caesars troubles in Africke Alga and dogges tooth geuen to the horse to eate Caesars daungers in Africke Caesars great victorie and small losse Caesar trobled with the falling sickenes Caesar was sory for the death of Cato Caesar wrote against Cato being dead Cicero wrote a booke in praise of Cato being dead Iuba the sonne of king Iuba a famous historiographer Caesars feasting of the Romanes The muster taken of the Romanes Caesar Consull the fourth time Battell fought betwext Caesar and the young Pompeyes by the city of Mvnda Caesars victory of the sonnes of Pompey Caesar triumphe of Pompeis sonnes Caesar Dictator perpetuall The temple of clemency dedicated vnto Caesar for his curtesie Cassius and Brutus Praetors Caesars saying of death Good will of subiectes the best gard and safety for Palaces Caninius Rebilius Consull for one day Anienes Tiber flu Caesar reformed the inequality of the yeare * Mercedonius mensis intercularis VVhy Caesar was hated The feast Lipercalia Antonius being Consull was one of the Lupercalians Antonius presented the Diadeame to Caesar. Caesar saued Marcus Brutus life after the battell of Pharsalia Brutus conspireth against Caesar. Cassius stâ—roeth vp Brutus against Caesar. Predictions foreshewes of Caesars death Caesars day of his death prognosticased by a Soothsayeth The dreame of Calpurnia Caesars wife Decius Brutus Albinus perswasion to Caesar. Decius Brutus brought Caesar into the Senate house The tokens of the conspiracy against Caesar. The place where Caesar was slaine Antonius Caesars faithfull frend Casca the first that strake at Caesar. Caesar slaine and had 23. wounds apon him The murtherers of Caesar doe goe to the Capitall Caesars funeralls Cinnaes dreame of Caesar. The murther of Cinna Caesar 56. yere olde at his death The reuenge of Caesars death Cassius being ouerthrowen at the battell of Philippes slue himselfe with the selfe same sword wherewith he strake Caesar. VVonders seene in the element after Caesars death A great Comet Brutus vision A spirit appeared vnto Brutus The second appearing of the spirit vnto Brutus Demades arrogaÌ„t saying The power of vertue and fortune Aduersitie maketh men hasty Ciceroes saying of Cato the common wealth at Rome Catoes plaine maner became not the corrupt and suretie time The parâ—â—age of Phocion Phocion neuer wept nor laughed Phocions maners VVherein excellencie of speech consifieth Phocions first souldier saâ—e The victory of Chabrias and Phocion in the I le of Naxos Phocions notable sayings Aristogiton a Sycophant coward Phocion called by surname goâ—â— Phocions iorney into Euboâ—a Phocion perswadeth his Captaines to suffer the musinous souldiers cowards to depart the campe Phocions victory in Eubâ—â—a Phocion saued the citie of Byzantium PhocioÌ„ draws Philip out of Hellespont Phocion ioyned Megara vnto Athens To reioyce at any mans hurt sheweth a base mind vile nature Alexander pacified with the Athenians by Phocions meanes Phocions vertue and integrity refusing of Alexanders money Phocions house and wiues Phocus Phocions sonne what he was Phocion despiseth Harpalus money Phocion refused to defend his sonne in law in an ill cause Phocions victory of the Macedonians The Graecians ouercomeÌ„ by Antipater Phocion Ambassador vnto Antipater Xenocrates authoritie Xenocrates despised of Antipater Presages of the miseries of the Athenians The crueltie of Antipater Phocion refuseth Menyllus giftes Phocion loued pouertie The insolencie of Demades the Orator Cassander king Antipaters sonne The 〈…〉 end of Demades Polyperchon Generall of the armie of the Macedonians Polyperchon conspiracie against Phocion Nicanor to receiue then to offer an iniury Alexander the sonne of Polyperchon practiseth treason against the Athenians Phocion accused of treason Polyperchon did put Dinarchus to death Phocion sent prisoner to Athens to be condemned The furie of the Athenians against Phocion The crueltie of the Athenians vnto Phocion Phocion condemned to death The constancy and corage of Phocion being condemned
to dye Phocion gaue money to be put to death Phocions funeralls The percentage of Cato Liuius Drusus Catoes vncle Catoes maners VVhy quicke wits haue neuer good memorie Sarpedo Catoes scholemaister Catoes austeritie The maruelous constancie of Cato when he was a child Syllaes loue vnto Cato being but a boy Catoes hate being a boy against a tyran Catoes loue to his brother Antipater the Stoicke Catoes schoolemaister Catoes act for Basilica Porcia Catoes exercises Catoes drinking Ciceroes saying of Cato Catoes mariages Attilia Catoes wife Lelius mariage Catoes first souldierfare in the ware of the bondmen Cato chosen Tribunus milâ—â—an Howe Cato trained his men made them valliant The loue of vertue from whence it proceedeth Athenodorus the stoicke Catoes frend The death of Caepio Catoes brother Catoes mourning for his brother Capioes death * It seemeth to be mens of Caesar which wrote the booke called Anticaten Catoes iorney into Asia Catoes modestie A laughing matter hapned vnto Cato Demetrius a slaue great with Pompey Cato honored of Pompey in Asia Pompey rather suspected Cato then leued him Catoes iorney vnto king Deiotarus and his abstinence 〈…〉 gisu Cato made Quaestor Catulus Luctatius what he was Cato made the Quaestorshippe of great dignity Cato was reuenged of Syllaes bloody murthers Catoes notable leauing of his office Catoes care and imegritie to the commoÌ„ wealth Catoes minde and determination to take charge in the commoÌ„ wealth Cato draue Clodius out of Rome The authoritie and credit of Cato Cato tooke Philosophers with him wheÌ„ he went into the country The office authoritie of the Tribune what it is Catoes Tribuneship Cicero definded Muraena against his accuser Cato The conspiracie of Catilin against Rome Catoes oraetion against Caesar touching Catilins conspiracie Cicero taught them how to write briefly by notes and figures Cato vnfortunate in his wiues Martia Catoes wife Platoes felowship and communitie of women Cato perswaded corne to be distributed vnto the people Cato resisteth Metellus tribune of the people Iulius Caesar Praetor Catoes noble courage and constancie Catoes doings of Lucullus Cato resisteth Pompey Cato refuseth allyance with Pompey Lex agraria The allyance and friendship betwixt Caesar and Pompey Cicero by his oration brake Catoes stifnes Cato committed to prison by Caesar. P. Clodius Tribune of the people The crafty iugling betwixt Caesar and Pompey with P. Clodius Cato sent Ambassador into Cyprus Ptolomy king of AEgypt goeth vnto Cato Catoes diligence about money in Cyprus The enuy betwixt Cato Munatius To much loue oftentymes causeth hate Money gotten together by Cato in Cyprus Cato receiued into Rome with great honor of all the people VVhy Cato sued to be Praetor Cato put from the Praetorship by Pompey Cato was against the law for the prouinces of Pompey and Crassus Cato foreshewed Pompey the things which happened vnto him by Caesar Cato chosen Praetor Cato preserved a law for vnlawfull bribing The power of iustice M. Faonius Catoes frend Cato doth set forth the playes for Faonius AEdilis Catoes wise counsell for playes Pompey was created sole Consull by Catoes sentence Cato sued to be Consull to resist Caesar. Cato was denied the Consulshippe Cicero blameth Cato Catoes opinion against Caesar. Cato inueyeth against Caesar. Cato prognosticated Caesars tyrannie Cato followeth Pompey Caesar reproueth Catoes couetousnes Cato is sent into Sicile Cato leaueth Sicile Catoes law as in Pompeys army VVhy Pompey chaunged his minde for the gouernment of the army by sea VVhy Pompey left Cato at Dyrrachivm Cato saueth Ciceroes life from Pompeis sonne Cato went into Africke Psilles be men which heale the stinging of serpents * Men in olde time bathed and washed them selues then laied them downe in their bed to suppe The modestie and noble minde of Cato Cato ioyneth with Scipio in Africke Cato was made Gouernor of the city of Vtica Scipio despiseth Catoes counsell Catoes constancy in extremity Catoes 〈…〉 vnto the Romanes at Vtica The equity of Cato Cato forsaken of three hundred Romane marchant at Vtica Catoes pitie and regard vnto the Senators Cato an earnest suter for the Senators The sinceritie of Cato Catoes minde vnconquerable Cato reproueth the ambition of man. Statilius a follower of Cato Cato would not haue pardon begged of Caesar for him Cato forbad his sonne to meddle with matters of State in a corrupt time The paradoxes of the Stoicks Platoes dialogue of the soule Catoes last wordes vnto the Philosophers his frends Cato considered his sworde wherewith he killed him selfe The death of Cato Catoes funeralls Caesars saying vnto Cato the dead The sonne of Cato what conditions he had Psyche signifieth mind The death of Porcia the Daughter of Cato the youÌ„ger and wife of Brutus The death of Statilius The fable of Ixion against ambitious persons Theophrastus for the praise of vertue Immoderat praise very daungerous Phocions saying The fable of the Dragons head and taile Plutarch excuseth the Gracchi The lynage of Agis The lynage of Leonidas Aristodemus tyrant of Megalipolis Leonidas brought superfluitie and excesse into Sparta The continency of Agis The first beginning of the Lacedaemonians fall from their auncient discipline Lycurgus the â—ra for partition of landes broken by Epitadeus law Epitadues law for deuise of landes by will. Agis goeth about to reduce the common wealth of heer auncient estate How louing the Lacedamonians were vnto their wiues Agis law Pasiphaé the Daughter of Atlas Agis maketh his goods common Leonidas resisteth king Agis King Leonidas accused by Lysander Leonidas deprived of his kingdome Leonidas flyeth vnto Tegea King Agis deceiued by Agesilaus New lawes stablished by the Lacedaemonians Aratus generall of the Achaians King Agis iorney into AchaiaÌ„ King Agis gaue place vnto Araetus King Leonidas returneth from â—â—ile into Sparta The naturall loue of Chelonis Leonidas daughter vnto her father and husband The oration of Chelonis the Daughter of Leonidas The banishment of king Cleombrotus The great vertue and loue of Chelonis to her husband Cleombrotus Amphares betrayed king Agis King Agis caried vnto prison There the reuerent regard of the heatheÌ„ vnto the person of a king abhorring in lay violens handes vpon him King Agis her mother grandmother all three straÌ„gled The enemies did not willingly kill any king of Lacedaemon Here beginneth Cleomenes life Cleomenes the sonne of Leonidas Agiatis the Daughter of Gylippus and wife to king Agis Agiatis king Agis wife maryed vnto Cleomenes Sphaerus a Philosopher of Borysthenes Cleomenes did set the Lacedaemonians and Achaians together by the eares Cleomenes iorney into the contry of the Argiues The victorie of Cleomenes against Aratus The saying of the kings of Lacedaemon touching their enemies Archidamus king Agis brother slaine Lysiadas slaine Cleomenes victorie of the Achaians Lysiadas tyranne of Megalopolis gaue ouer his tyrannie and made it a popular state The dreame of one of the Ephores Cleomenes siue the Ephores Diuers teÌ„ples at Sparta of feare death such other fancies The valliantest men are most
make their slaues dronke The cause of describing the liues of the wicked Plato of vertue and vice Demetrius parentage The death of Philip the younger brother of Demetrius Demetrius baâ—â—ie Demetrius maners Demetrius loue to his father A king can abide no equall The sport of the East kings was to kill their owne children wiues and mothers Demetrius curtesie Antigonus dreame Demetrius saueth Mithridates life Mithridates king of Poni * Bicause he sayd that loue and discord were euer the efficient causes of generation and corruption of all thinges Enmitie betwixt Antigonus and Ptolomy Demetrius generall to Antigonus against Ptolomy Demetrius ouerthrowen in battaile by Ptolomy The bountifulnes of Ptolomy the Conqueror vnto Demetrius conquered Demetrius victorie of Ptolomy Demetrius thankefulnes vnto Ptolomy Demetrius inuaded Arabia Demetrius inuadeth Mesopatamia Antigonus Demetrius do goe about to set Graece at libertie Demetrius Phalerian gouernor of Athens for Cassander Demetrius restoreth the Athenians to their liberties Demetrius Antigonus honoreth Demetrius Phalerius Demetrius daunger for lechery Demetrius winneth the city of Megara and restoreth it to her libertie Stilpo a famous Philosopher in Megara Stilpoes sayings vnto Demetrius Demetrius restoreth the Athenians to their lawes libertie Democrasias popular gouernment Oligarchias the gouernment of a fewe Too much honors decreed to Demetrius by the Athenians The boldnes of Stratocles Athenian Scratocles cruell saying The moneth of Munychion altered called Demetrion for the honor of Demetrius name VVonders Hemlocke the vsuall erbe with the iâ—yâ— whereof they poysoned offenders at Athens Philippides the Poet. Philippides notable aunswer vnto king Lysimachus not desiring to heare his secrets Demetrius maried unto Eurydice at Athens Demetrius had many wiues together Phila Demetrius wife Antipaters Daughter Craterus widdow The iudgemeÌ„t of marriage obedience Battell by sea in the I le of Cyprus betwixt Demetrius Antigonus and Ptolomy Demetrius victorye of Ptolomy Lamia the famous Curtisan taken by Demetrius vpon the defeating of Ptolomy Salamina yelded vp to Demetrius Aristodemus a notorious flatterer in Antigonus Court. The first time Antigonus Demetrius were called kinges Note the force of flattery by Aristodemus Milasian Antigonus Demetrius iorney against Ptolomy Medius dreame Antigonus mirth with his sonne Demetrius A straunge custom of the Scythians in their dronkennes Demetrius a skilfull Captaine and an excellent Shipwright Sundry delights of Princes Demetrius wonderfull workes Demetrius beseged Rhodes The description of Demetrius greatest engine of battery called Elepolis Two armors made of notable temper by Zoilus an 〈…〉 Alcimus Albanian were an armor of six score pouÌ„d weight The discourtesie of the Rhodians The great courtesie of the Athenians vnto king Philip Protogenes borne in the citie of Caunus an excellent paynter Protogenes table of the citie of Ialysus greatly commended by Apelles himselfe Demetrius concludeth peace with the Rhodians Demetrius victories in Graece Antigonus shame fastnes Demetrius â—antonnesse The names of Demetrius Curtisans Demetrius iorney into Peloponnesus Demetrius maried Deidamia king Phyrrbus sister châ—â—â—ged the name of the citie of Sicyone and called it Demetriade Demetrius chosen generall of all Graece Demetrius pride Philippides verses against Stratocles the boaster Demetrius prodigall gift of 250. talents to his Curtisans to buy them sope Lamia made Demetrius a supper of her owne cost Lamia Elepolis The saying of Demo a Curtisan touching Lamia Demetrius A prety sute commenced vpon a louers dreame and the iudgement reuersed by Lamia the Curtisan The suttelrye of Lamia reuersing Bocchoris Seniece The conspiracy of the kings against Antigonus Antigonus his enemies armie Demetrius dreame and signes Demetrius vpon the first onset made Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus flie Ouerrashly chasting the enemies he lost his victorie and was ouercome The death of king Antigonus Demetrius flight The vnfaithfulnes of the Athenians towards Demetrius Ouer great honors are signes of vnconstant frendship Seleucus requireth Stratonice Demetrius daughter in mariage Plistarchus the brother of Cassander at that time Gouernor of Cilicia Demetrius inuadeth Cilicia Seleucus marieth Stratonice Demetrius daughter The death of Deidamia Demetrius wife Demetrius marieth Ptolemaide Ptolomies daughter Dissention betwext Demetrius and Seleucus Platoes saying of riches Demetrius iorney against the AtheniaÌ„s The Athenians doe yeelde vnto Demetrius A rare deuise of Epicurus at the straight siege of Athens to kepe his schollers aliue with beanes Demetrius clemency vnto the Athenians Demetrius iorney against the Lacedaemonians Demetrius variable fortune Demetrius misfortunes Great dissertion and strife for the realme of Macedon after the death of Cassander Antipater Alexander the sonnes of Cassander Demetrius invadeth Macedon VVyles betwext Alexander and Demetrius Demetrius killeth Alexander the sonne of Cassander Demetrius proclaimed king of Macedon Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus maried his mother in law Stratonice with his fathers good will. Erasistratus Phisitian to Seleucus Erasistratus the Phisitians care to finde out the young Prince Antiochus loue Sappho describeth the signes and tokens of a passioned louer Seleucus loue vnto his sonne Antiochus The citie of Thebes yeelded vnto Demetrius Hieronymus the historiographer Demetrius Lieutenant * Corne unnethly distributed to the souldiers as their wages Demetrius iorney against Pyrrhus Demetrius insolencie Demetrius cloke drawen with the figure of the world and starres The plaine aunswere of the Ambassador of Sparta vnto Demetrius Axius â—â— The praise of king Philips curtesie The bolde speache of a poore woman to king Philip The chiefest office of a king Demetrius called a Fortgainer Demetrius armie preparacion for the recouering of his realme againe Ptolomyâ—â— wonderfull galley of forty bankes of owers Three kings Seleucus Ptolomy and Lysimachus conspired against Demetrius Demetrius armie forsaketh him and goeth to Pyrrhus Phila Demetrius wife poysoneth her selfe Demetrius straunge fortune Demetrius miserie from Princely happines Crates the Philosopher deliuereth Athens from Demetrius siege Demetrius marieth Ptolemaide Demetrius troubles in Asia Plague by ill meate Demetrius famine Patrocles stirreth vp Seleucus against Demetrius Desprate men are not to be sought with Amanus â—â—â— Demetrius dispairing of his good successe an emâ—â—eth to assault Seleucus by night Demetrius army forsooke him and yelded them selves to Seleucus Demetrius flyeth from Seleucus Demetrius yeldeth him selfe vnto Seleucus Demetrius kept as a prisoner in Syria by Seleucus The naturall loue of Antigonus to his father Demotrius Demetrius turned his captiuitie into pleasure The death of Demetrius in Cherronasus The funeralls of Demetrius Xenophantus a famous musition Demetrius posteritie Perseus king of Macedon the last king of Macedon came of the posteritie of Demetrius Antonius pareneage * Bicause that by his death he ended the warre which he vnfortunately made against those of Creta The liberalitie of Antonius father Iulia the mother of M. Antonius Antonius corrupted by Curio Antonius vsed in his pleading the Asiatik phrase Antonius bad charge of horsemen vnder Gabinius Proconsul going into Syria Antonius acts against Aristobulus Antonius tooke Aristobulus prisoner
Antonius acts in AEgypt vnder Gabinius Antonius curtesie vnto Archelaus being dead Antonius shape presence The house of the Antonij discended from Hercules Antonius liberalitie Antonius Tribune of the people and Augure Antonius acts for Caesar. Antonius flyeth from Rome vnto Caesar. Cicero reproued for lying Alexander Cyrus Caesar all contended to raigne Caesars ambition the onely cause of the ciuill warre Caesar gaue the charge of Italy vnto Antonius Antonius vices Antonius taketh sea with his army at Brundusium and goeth vnto Caesar. Antonius manthood in warres Antonius led the left wing of Caesars battell at Pharsalla where Pompey left the field The dignitie of the general of the horsemen Dissention betwixt Antonius and Dolabella Antonius abominable life Antonius laid vp his stomack before the whole assembly Antonius insolency Caesar Lepidus Consuls Antonius byeth Pompeys house Antonius maried Fuluia Clodius widowe Fuluia ruled Antonius at home and abroad Caesar Antonius Consuls Antonius vnwittingly gaue Caesars enemies occasion to conspire against him Antonius Lupercian putteth the diademe vpon Caesars head Brutus Cassius conspire Caesars death Consultation about the murther of Antonius with Caesar Antonius maketh vprore among the people for the murther of Caesar. Calpurnia Caesars wife Charonites why so called M. Antonius Consul Caius Antonius Praetor Lucius Antonius Tribune all three brethren Variance betwixt Antonius and Octauius Caesar heire vnto Iulius Caesar. Octauius Caesar ioyned to friendship with Cicero Antonius and Octauius became friends Antonius dreame Antonius iudged an enemy by the Senate Hircius and Pausa Consuls Antonius ouerthrowen in battell by the citie of Modena Antonius pacient in aduersitie Antonius hardnes in aduersitie notwithstanding his fine bringing vp Antonius won all Lepidus army from him Varius surnamed Cotylon The conspiracie and meeting of Caesar Antonius Lepidus The prescription of the Tr 〈…〉 Antonius cruelty vnto Cicero Lucius Caesars life saued by his sister Antonius riot in his Triumâ—â—-rate The praise of Pompey the great The valliantnes of Antonius against Brutus The death of Cassius Brutus slue him selfe Antonius gaue honorable buriall vnto Brutus Antonius great curtesie in Graece The plagues of Italie in riot Antonius crueltie in Asia Hybraeas wordes vnto Antonius touching their great payments of money vnto him Antonius simplicity Antonius maners Antonius louâ— to Cleopatra whom he sent for into Cilicia The wonderfull sumptuousnes of Cleopatra Queene of AEgypt going vnto Antonius Cydnus fl The sumptuous preparations of the suppers of Cleopatra and Antonius Cleopatraes beawtie An order set vp by Antonius Cleopatra The excessiue expences of Antonius and Cleopatra in AEgypt Eight wilde boares rosted whole Philotas a Phisition borne in Amphissa reporter of this feast Philotas Phisition to the younger Antonius Philotas subtil proposition Plato writeth of foure kinde of flatterie Cleopatra Queene of all flatterers Antonius fishing in AEgypt The warres of Lucius Antonius and Fulvia against Octauius Caesar The death of Fuluia Antonius wife All the Empire of Rome deuided betwene the Triamuri Octania the halfe sister of Octauius Caesar daughter of Anchavia which was not Caesars mother A law at Rome for marying of widowes Antonius maried Octauia Octauius Caesar halfe sister Antonius and Octauius Caesar doe make peace with Sexius Pompeius Sextus Pompeius taunt to Antonius Sexius Pompius being offered wonderfull great fortune for his honestie and faithes sake refused it Antonius told by a Soothsayer that his fortune was inferior vnto Octauius Caesar Antonius vnfortunate in sport and earnest against Octauius Caesar Orades king of Parthia Ventidius notable victorie of the Parthians The death of Pacorus the king of Parthians sonne Ventidius the only man of the Romanes that triumphed for the Parthians Canidius conquest Newe displeasures betwext Antonius and Octauius Caesar The wordes of Octauia vnto Macinas and Agrippa Octauia pacifieth the quarrell betwixt Antonius and her brother Octanius Caesar Plato calleth coÌ„cupiscence the lawes of the minde Antonius sent for Cleopatra into Syria Antonius gaue great provinces vnto Cleopatra Antigonius king of Iuvrie the first king beheaded by Antonius Antonius twinnes by Cleopatra their names Phraortes slue his father Orodes king of Persia. Antonius great puisant army Antonius dronke with the loue of Cleopatra Antonius besiegeth the city of Phraata in Media The ParthidÌ„s tooke Antonius engines of battery Battell betwext the Parthians Antonius The Romanes good order in their march Decimation a marshall punishment The craft of the Parthians against the Romanes Antonius returneth from the iorney of the Parthian The ParthiaÌ„ doe see vpon Antonius in his returne The bold act of Flauius Gallus Canidius fault Antonius Captaine Flauius Gallus slaine Antonius care of theâ— that were wounded The loue and reuerence of the souldiers vnto Antonius The rare and singular gifts of Antonius The king of Parthia neuer came to fight in the field Antonius charitable prayer to the gods for his army The Romanes â—estudo and couering against shot Great famine in Antonius army A deadly erbe incurable without wine The valliantnes of tenne thowsand Graecians whome Xenophon brought away after the ouerthrow of Cyrus The Parthians very suttell and craftie people Mithridates a Parthian bewrayeth vnto Antonius the conspiracie of his own contry men against him A salt riuer Antonius great liberalitie vnto Mithridates for the care he had of his saftie The tumult of Antonius soldiers through courteousnes Antonius desperat minde Hroxes ft. 18. seuerall battels fought with the Parthians The trechery of Artabazus king of Armenia vnto Antonius Antonius triumphed of Artabazus king of Armenia in AEgypt Antonius pined away looking for Cleopatra Cleopatra come to BlaÌ„cbourg vnto Antonius VVarres betwixt the Parthians and Medes Octauia Antonius wife came to Athens to meete with him The flickering enticements coments of Cleopatra vnto Antonius The occasion of ciuil warres betwixt Antonius and Caesar. The loue of Octauia to Antonius her husband and her wise and womanly behauior Antonius arrogantly onely deuideth diuers prouinces vnto his children by Cleopatra Caesarian the supposed soÌ„ne of Caesar by Cleopatra Alexander Ptolomy Antonius sonnes by Cleopatra Accusations betwixt Octauius Caesar Antonius Antonius came with eight hundred saile against Octauius Caesar Antonius carieth Cleopatra with him to the warres against Octauius Caesars kept great feasting at the I le of Samos together Antonius put his wife Octauia out of his house at Rome Octauius Caesar exacteth grieuous payments of the Romanes Titius and Plancus reuolt from Antonius and doe yeld to Caesar. A famous librarie in the citie of Pergamum Furnius an eloquent Orator among the Romanes Geminius sent from Rome to Antonius to bid him take heede to him selfe Many of Antonius friends doe forsake him Antonius Empire taken from him Signes and wonders before the ciuill wares betwixt Antonius and Oct. Caesar. Pesaro a citie in Italy sonck into the gretle by an earthquake An ill signe foreshoned by swallowes breding in Cleopatraeas shippe Antonius power against Oct. Caesar. Antonius had eyght kinge
then power to ayde him The army power of Octauius Caesar against Antonius Antonius dominions Octauius Caesars dominions Antonius we which ruled by Cleopatra Antonius rode at anker at the head of ActioÌ„ where the citie of Nicopolis standeth * The grace of this taâ—â—â—it can not properly be expressed in any other tongue bicause of the equivocation of this word Toryne which signifieth citie Albania and also a Ladell to scoome the pot with as if she ment Caesar sat by the fire side scomming of the pot Domitius forsaketh Antonius goeth vnto Octauius Caesar. Amyntas and Deiotarus do both reuolt from Antonius and goe vnto Caesar. Antonius in daunger of taking as Actâ—um Antonius regardeth not the good counsell of his souldier Battel by sea as Actium betwixt Antonius and Caesar. A lucky signe vnto Octauius Caesar. Eutychus Nicon fortunate Conquerer Cleopatra flyâ—th The soule of a louer liueth in another body Antonius flyeth after Cleopatra Antonius lycenceth his friends to depart and giueth there a shippe loden with gold and siluer Antonius nauy ouerthrowen by Caesar. Antonius legions doe yeld them selues vnto Octauius Caesar Lucilius spokâ— of in Brutus life The fidelitie of Lucilius vnto Antonius The wonderful attempt of Cleopatra Antonius followeth the life and example of TimoÌ„ Misanthropus the Athenian Plato Aristophanes testimony of Timon Misanthropus what he was The epitaphe of Timon Misanâ—hropus Antonius rioting in Alexandria after his great losse ouerthrew Toge virilis Antillus the eldest sonne of Antonius by his wife Fuluia An order erected by Antonius and Cleopatra called Synapothanumenon reuoking the former called Amimetobion Cleopatra verie busie in prouing the force of poyson The property of the biting of an Aspick Antonius and Cleopatra send Ambassadors vnto Octauius Caesar Alexas treason iustly punished Pelusium was yeelded vp to Octauius Caesar. Cleopatraes monuments set vp by the temple of Isis. Straunge noises heard and nothing seene Antonius nauie doe yeeld them selues vnto Caesar. Antonius ouerthrowen by Octauius Caesar. Cleopatra flieth into her tombe or monument Eros Antonius seruant slue him selfe Antonius did thrust his sword into him selfe but died not presently Antonius caried vnto Cleopatraes tombe A lamentable sight to see Antonius and Cleopatra The death of Antonius Octauius Caesar lamenteth Antonius death Proculeius sent by Octauius Caesar to bring Cleopatra aliue Cleopatra taken Caesar tooke the citie of Alexandria Caesar greatly honored Arrius the Philosopher Philostratus the eloquentest Orator in his time for present speech vpon a sodaine Antyllus Antonius eldest sonne by Fuluia slaine The saying of Arrius the Philosopher CaesarioÌ„ Cleopatraes sonne put to death Cleopatra burieth Antonius Olympus Cleopatraes Phisition Caesar came to see Cleopatra Cleopatra a martired creature through her owne fassion and fury Seleucus out of Cleopatraes Treasorers Cleopatra bet her treasorer before Octauius Caesar Cleopatraes wordes vnto Caesar. Cleopatra finely deceiueth Octauius Caesar although she desired to liue Cleopatraes lamentation ouer Antonius tombe The death of Cleopatra Cleopatraes two waiting woman dead with her Cleopatra killed with the biting of an Aspicke The image of Cleopatra caried in triumphe at Rome with an Aspicke biting of her arme The age of Cleopatra and Antonius Of Antonius issue came Emperors The power of Demetrius Antonius Demetrius Antonius ambition to gouerne The liberalitie and bountie of Demetrius and Antonius Demetrius Antonius time Canobus and Taphosiris fl Demetrius Antonius wiues Antonius the first Romane that euer maried two wiues together Demetrius lasciuiousnes Dogges not suffred in Athens castle bicause of bitcherie The loue and impietie the faith falsehoode of Demetrius and Antonius Demetrius Antonius acts in warres The pareÌ„tage of Artaxerxes Mnemon The diuersâ—â— of natures betwixt Cyrus and Artaxerxes Arsicas surnamed Artaxerxes assigned to be king of Persia The maner of the consecrating of the kings of Persia as Pasargades Cyrus accused vnto his brother Artaxerxes Cyrus lay in waite to kill Artaxerxes Note the flatterie and dissimulation of a woman Antaxerxes curteous and easie to haue accesse vnto Artaxerxes liberalitie to apoore man that gaue him a litle water Tiribazus lightnes and Artaxerxes liberalitie Statira king Artaxerxes wife Cyrus maketh warre against his brother Artaxerxes Cyrus wonderfull promises Artaxerxes army of nyne hundred thowsand fighting men against his brother Cyrus Xenophon the Historiographer excellently describeth this battell betwixt Artaxerxes and his brother Cyrus Safetie in a generall requisite in battell Clearchus cowardlines reproued Pasacas Cyrus horse Artagerses the gouernor of the prouince of Cadusia giueth charge vpon Cyrus Cyrus slue Artagerses Dinons report of Cyrus death The Cariens be called cocks bicause they weare crests on their headpeeces Ctesias report of Cyrus death Artaxerxes hurt by Cyrus Cyrus hurt Cyrus miserable destiny King Artaxerxes being a thirst dranke stincking puddle water and sayd he neuer tasted sweeter The manner of the Persians in 〈…〉 against a traitor to the king Plutarch reproueth Ctesias for a lyer How Artaxerxes 〈…〉 the good and also punished the euill The punishment of them that slue Cyrus Parysatis straunge crueltie praising the Carian in 〈…〉 See the perill of bastâ—es rash aunswer The terrible death of offenders in boates or troughes among the Persians The miserable death of Mithridates The deuelish craft of Parysatis her great skill cunning at dyce Parysatis craft and cruelâ—ie Tisaphernes betrayeth the Captaines of Graece Clearchus other Captaines of Graece put to death by king Artaxerxes Ctesias vanity The cause of Parysatis hate vnto her Daughter in law Statyra Parysatis practiseth to poyson Queene Statira Ryntaces a bird of Persia that hath no excrements How Statira was poysoned The punishment for poysoners in Persia Agesilaus king of Lacedaemon maketh warre with the Persians The Persian coyne how it is stamped Artaxerxes dâ—aue the Lacedantonians from all their dominion by sea Gnidus Ins. Antalcidas peace Antalcidas Lacedaemonian greatly esteemed of Artaxerxes The persians full of vanitie and curiositie The death of Antalcidas Lacedaemonian Timagoras Athenian brybed by king Artaxerxes Timagoras was put to death for taking brybes and gifts of the king of Persia. King Artaxerxes killeth Tisaphernes Artaxerxes fell in againe with his mother Parysatis sent for her to come to the Court. Artaxerxes maried his eldest Daughter Atossa King Artaxerxes iorney against the Cadusians The contry of the Cadusians very barren Great famyne in Artaxerxes army Tiribazus stratageame saued Artaxerxes and all his army Note that soft apparell and riches maketh not a men cowardly and effeminate but a vile base mind that followeth euill aduise and counsell The corage of king Artaxerxes his great paynes in marching King Artaxerxes curtesie to his souldiers Darius and Ochus king Artaxerxes sonnes Artaxerxes proclaymeth his sonne Darius king Aspasia IuniaÌ„ one of Artaxerxes concubines The barbarous people can not 〈…〉 with â—inalitie in loue Tiribazus incruseth Darius against his father Artaxerxes Tiribazus maners and condicions Darius conspireth against Artaxerxes his father A
deuise of Artaxerxes how to preuent the conspirators and to saue him selfe Tiribazus the traitor slaine Darius condemned to dye and executed King Artaxerxes sonne The death of king Artaxerxes Artaxerxes was 94 yeres olde at his death Dion Brutus both Platonians Plato de virtute How mens acts should be famous in the coÌ„mon wealth A wicked spirite appeared vnto Dion Brutus Dionysius maried Hermocrates daughter Dionysius wiues Doride of Locres Aristomaché of Syracvsa Hipparinus daughter and Dions sister Dion kindred with Dionysius Plato came out of Italie vnto Syracvsa Dion Platoes schollar Plato and Dionysius the elder talke together Dionysius malice vnto Plato Plato solde in the I le of AEgina Dions boldnes in speaking plainly to the tyran Gelon signifieth laughture Sophrosynè and Areté the daughters of Dionysius by Aristomaché Dion marieth his Nece Areté the daughter of Dionysius of his sister Aristomaché The death of Dionysius the elder Flattering Courtiers do intense Dionysius the younger to hate Dion The vices of Dionysius the younger Dions maners too graue and seuere Obstinacie follow and companion of solitarines Dionysius the elder a maruelous timerous suspitious man. Dionysius dreame Dion persuadeth the younger Dionysius to fall to study The assured gard of Princes is the loue of their subiects Plaâ—â— goâ—th into Sicilia to teach Dionysius the youngeâ— Philistus the Historiographer Philistus the Historiographer banished out of Sicilia by Dionysius the elder Democratia the gouernment of the people Dion allowed not popular state Aristocratia the gouernment of a few of the nobilitie Plato came into Sicilia vnto Dionysius the younger The chaunge of Dionysius vpon Platoes comming Philistus accusations against Dion Dions letters vnto Carthage Dion sent away by Dionysius into Italie Dions wealth Dionysius tyrannicall loâ—â— to Plato Dionysius sent Plato from home Dions life in Graece Dions vertues and honors done vnto him by the Graecians Archytas a Pythagorian Philosopher Dionysius sendeth againe for Plato to come into Sicilia Platoes third iorney into Sicilia Aristippus saying of Dionysius Helycon a Mathematician Aristippus diuination Architas requireth Plato of Dionysius Dionysius maried Dions wife to an other man. Polyxenus maried Thesta his father Dionysius sister The noble answere of Thesta vnto her brother Dionysius the elder Dion beginneth to make warre against Dionysius The Philosophers aduanced Dions warre Aristotles dialogue de anima Dions army Dions sumptuous fare in feasting The eclipse of the Moone and cause of the eclipse VVonders shewed vnto Dion VVonders appearing vnto Dionysius Dions preparation Pachynus the foreland of Sicilia A tempest on the sea against Dion Synalus Captaine of Minoa for the Carthaginians Dion wanne Minoa Dion goeth to Syracusa A straunge chaunce happened vnto the Messenger sent to Dionysius A woulfe caried away the Messengers portmanteau Anapus ti Dionysius picke thankes slayne Dion receiued into Syracusa Dion restoreth the Syracusans to libertie Dionysius clocke The predictions of the Soothsayers Dionysius seÌ„t Ambassadors vnto Dion Dion fighteth with Dionysius Dion hurt Dions victory of Dionysius Hipparinus Dions sonne Dionysius craft vnto Dion Heraclides what he was Heraclides returneth to Syracusa The Syracusans do choose Heraclides Admirall to spight Dion Heraclides a dissembler practising to make the people to rebell against Dion Sosis a wicked man moueth sedition against Dion Dion cleareth Sosis accusation against him Sosis condemned to death Philistus slain Timaus and Ephorus the Historiographers reproued Dionysius flyeth from Syracusa Apollocrates the eldest sonne of Dionysius the yonger Signes appearing to the Syracusans Dion departeth out of Syracusa The cowardlines of the Syracusans The Leontines doe receiue Dion The negligence and troubles of the Syracusans The Syracusans doe send for Dion againe Dions oration vnto his souldiers perswading them to ayde the Syracusans The inconstancy of the Syracusans Syracusa set a fire by Dionysius souldiers Dions fight in the citie of Syracusa Nypsius compelled by Dion to flie into the castell Dions mercy to his enemies the great profit he tooke by study in the Academy at Athens No maÌ„ should be worse by an others wickednes The frowardnes of the Syracusans against Dion Heraclides againe stirreth vp the Syracusans to rebell against Dion Gaesylus Lacedaemonian commeth to Syracusa to be generall of the Syracusans Gaesylus maketh Dion Heraclides friends again The castell of Syracusa surrendred vnto Dion The words of Aristomaché vnto Dion at his entry into the castell of Syracusa Dion taketh his wife Areta againe which had forcibly bene maried vnto another man. Dions temperance and thriftines Heraclides conspireth againe against Dion Dion sent to the Corinthians to stablish a common wealth to the Syracusans Dion ment to abolish Democratia and to aduaunce Aristocratia The authoritie of the people resembled by Plato to a fayer or market The common wealth of the Corinthians The murther of Heraclides Callippus Athenian conspireth against Dion Note the suttletie of tale bearers A spirite appeared vnto Dion The lamentable death of Dions sonne Apollocrates Dionysius sonne The great oth of the Syracusant Dion slaine by Callippus Athenian Dions wife brought to bed of a sonne in prison The punishment of Callippus * 〈…〉 in corrupt speech signifieth a knife to scrape or cut cheese which it truelier called 〈…〉 Iulius Pollux lib. 10 cap. 24. Callippus slaine with the same dagger that slue Dion The crueltie of the Syracusans vnto Dion and his posterity The pareÌ„tage of Brutus Brutus maners Seruilia M. Brutus mother Brutus parentage by his father Seruilia Catoes sister Brutus studies Brutus followed the olde Academyks Empylus an Orator wrote a booke of Caesars death and intituled it Brutus Brutus maner of wryting his Epistels in Graeke A briefe letter to the Samians Brutus followed Cato into Cyprus * Or Canidius Brutus taketh parte with Pompey Brutus exercise in Pompeys campe Brutus studied in Pompeis campe Iulius Caesar carefull of Brutus safary Iulius Caesar loued Seruilia Brutus mother Brutus saued by Iulius Caesar after the battell of Pharsalia * This king was Iuba howbeit it is true also that Brutus made intercession for Deiotarus king of Galatia who was depriued notwithstanding of the most parte of his contrie by Caesar and therefore this place were best to be vnderstanded by Deiotorus Caesar made Brutus Gouernor of Gaule on this side the mouÌ„taines Brutus and Cassius contend for the Praetorship of the citie Cassius maried Iunia Brutus sister The first cause of Cassius malice against Caesar. Caesar suspected Brutus Caesar saying of Brutus Cassius incenseth Brutus against Caesar. Cassius Lions at Megara Cassius an enemie of tyranâ— How Brutus was incensed against Caesar. Cassius praieth Brutus first to helpe him to put downe the tyran * In an other place they cal him Quintus Brutus maketh Ligarius one of the coÌ„spiracie They do hide the conspiracy against Caesar from Cicero Ciuill warre worse then tyrannicall gouernment The wonderfull faith and secrifie of the Conspirators of Casars death Porcia Catoes daughter wife vnto Brutus Bibulus booke
suerer gard to a Prince then the loue of the subiects The miserable life of Aristippus the tyrant of Argos Aratus gouernment obtayned by vertue Chares fl Aratus gaue Aristippus the victorie Aratus straâ—agâ—â—â— to intrappe the tyrant Aristippus Aratus victory of the tyrant Aristippus Aristippus the tyrant slayne A philosophicall question whether trembling and chaunging of culler in daunger be a signe of cowardlines Lysiadas tyran of Megalipolis Lysiadas tyran of Megalipolis leaueth the tyrannie and yelded him selfe and his dominion vnto the Achaians Dissention betwixt Aratus and Lysiadas One of Isopes tales of the Cuckowes question to litle birdes Aratus noble counsell against the AEtolians Geraniamous Aratus setteth vpon his lascinious enemies A womaÌ„ with a Burganet of her head seemed a monstrous thing The signe of Diana with the Pallenians Aratus bringeth the AEtolians in league with the Achaians Aratus atteÌ„pteth to set Athens at libertie Aratus ouerthrowen by the Macedonians Aratus by perswasion deliuered Argos from tyrannie The loue and faith of the Achaians vnto Aratus Aratus ouerthrowen in battel by king Cleomenes hard by the mountaine Lycaeum Aratus tooke the citie of Mantinea The death of Lysiadas Aratus once againe ouerthrowen by king Cleomenes Aratus reproch A Gouernor of a common weale ought no more to forsake his contry in time of daunger then the maister of a shippe his shippe at storme and tempest The meanest man of Sparta was to be preferred before the greatest Prince of Macedon Esopes hunter Polybius Historiographer Philarchus the Historiographer not greatly to be credited Cleomenes winneth the citie of Megalipolis from the AchaiaÌ„s The spitefull letters that passed betwext Cleomenes and Aratus Aratus pâ—â—seth the rebells of Sicyone to death Aratus constancie in daunger Aratus sureletie when he fled out of Corinthe The citie of Corinth yeelded vp vnto Cleomenes Aratus in great daunger for his contrie King Cleomenes curtesie vnto Aratus The AchaiaÌ„s do send for king Antigonus Gouernors obey necessitie Antigonus honorable enterteinment to Aratus A woÌ„der shewed to Aratus Antigonus and Aratus sworne brethren The citie of Argos reuolted from Cleomenes Aristomachus drowned in the sea Aratus infamie for Aristomachus Mantinea called Antigonia by Aratus decree Aratus ouerthrowen in battell by the citie of Caphyes The AchaiaÌ„s sent for king Philip Antigonus sonne Aratus a wise counseller Enuy the coÌ„panion of vertue The beginning of displeasures betwext Aratus and Philip. The deepe dissimulacion and double dealing of king Philip. Aratus the sonnes wordes vnto Philip. The wise answere of Aratus vnto king Philip touching the safetie of a Prince Aratus the father forsooke Phillippe Philip of a curteous Prince became a cruell tyran Aratus poysoned by king Philippes meanes A kinges frendshippe daungerous The death of Aratus A law for buriall among the Sicyonians The Oracle for Aratus buriall Arativm Yearely sacrifices appointed to bones Aratus memorie The miserable death of Aratus the sonne Straunge kindes of poisoning King Philip punished for his wickednes Persaeus king Philippes sonne when Paulus AEmylius triumphed for in Rome Iphicrates saying what maner of man a Mercenarie souldier should be AEmylius saying of souldiers Platoes saying of an armie Demades saying of Alexanders armie after his death The Empire of Rome whereas likened Nymphidius Sabyne and Tigellinius betrayed Nero The hope of gifts destroies the Empire of Rome The wealth and nobility of Galba Galbaâ—s maners Galbaâ—s curtesie Iunius Vindex revelled against Nero In this place the Greeke is corruptly red pâ—â—bâ—â—â—s for peaâ—â—â—â—et Sulpitius Galba saluted by the souldiers an Emperour Galba iudged an enemie by the Senate of Rome and his goods sold by the â—rier Clodius Macer Gouernor of Africke Verginius Rufus Gouernor of Gaule Verginius Rufus called Emperour * Others read Clonia Colonia Citie of Spayne Nymphidius Sabine taketh vpon him to be Emperor Honors done to Nymphidius by the Senate made him grow no bold and insolent Neroes frieÌ„ds slayne at Rome by Nymphidius commaundemens The parentage of Nymphidius Verginius a famous Captaine The â—â—â—ditiâ—â—â— of Titus Iunius Nymphidius practises The oration of Antonius Honoratus Tribune of the souldiers vnto his mutinous souldiers Nymphidius aspireth to be Emperor Nymphidius Sabine slaine The crueltie of Galba Cornelius Tatanus calleth him Turpilianus Galba thired Rome with murder The vileueâ— of Galba Hesiodus saying Galba killeth Nereos seruaunts and officers The noble saying of the Emperour Galba Galba offended the souldiers Tumult amongest the souldiers and legione of the Romanes in Germany Othoes maners Poppea Othoes wife Otho sent Propraetor into Lusitania Othoes credit about Galba Othoes practise aspiring to the Emperor The legions in Germanie doe rebell against Galba The souldiers doe rebell against Galba Vitellius accepted the name of Germanicus but not of Caesar. Vitellius named Emperor by the souldiers Galba adopteth Piso his successor Euill signes appeared vnto Galba Ptoloâ—ers prediction of Othoes Empire Optio and Tesserarius why so called by the Romanes Otho bribed the Praetorian souldiers The presage of Ombricius the Soothsayer touching the treason practised against Galba Otho called Emperour Otho receiued of the Praetorian souldiers A shamefull lye of a souldiers Tamuls for Galba * Tachus doth call him Virgilio * Cornelius Tacitus doth call him Densus The velliansnes and sidelitie of Sempronius in discharge of his othe to the Emperour Galba The death of Sempronius The death of Galba his wordes at his death * Others doe read Marcus. The murther of Piso and T. Iunius The Senate sware by the name of Otho Citizens beades sold at Rome Othoes moderation at the beginning of his raigne Tigellinus killeth him selfe Otho at the beginning of his raigne tooke vpon him the name of Nero. Tumulâ— amongest the Praetorian souldiers The death of Crispinus Othoes liberalitie to the souldiers Vitellius rebellion Small difference betwext Otho and Vitellius maners of life VVonders seene at Rome The wonderfull ouerflowing of the riuer of Tiber. The srewâ—â—dnes of Otho and Vitellius souldiers PlaceÌ„tia the fertilest town of all Italie The praise of Othoes Captaines and dispraise of Vitellius Captaines Fabius Valens Cremona a goodly citie Paulinus Othoes Captaine accused for a coward Bebriacum a towne by Cremona Othoes consultacion of geuing battell Freshwater souldiers lamens their pleasaunt life at Rome fealing the paines and smart of a souldier Secundus the Orator secretarie vnto Otho the Emperour Vitellius a dronkard and glutton Otho a wanton and licentious liner The towne of Bresselles in hard by the riuer of Po. Battell bewixt the Othonians and Vitellians Legions called by prety names Denowrer Helper The valliantnes of the Battanâ—j in warres Note the â—riâ—â— seruice of Fensers and what souldiers they he The Othonians ouercomen in battell by the Vitellians The cowardlines of the fresh water souldiers Marius Celsus orationes Othoes souldiers perswading them to goe to Vatellius Othoes Captaines doe yeld them selues vnto Vitallius Me that fight a battell know not all thing that are done at the battell The great fidelitie of the souldiers vnto the Emperor
for that he went straight into his campe and spake neuer a word to say man rightly verifiyng Homers verses to this effect But mightie loue vvho sittes aloft in yuorie chariot hie Strake Aiax vvith so great a feare that Aiax byandby Let fall his lethern target made of tough oxe hide seuen folde And ran avvay not looking backe for all he vvas so bold In this estate Pompey entred into his tent and sate him downe there a great while and spake neuer a worde vntill such time as many of the enemies entred pell mell with his men that fled into his campe And then he said no more but what euen into our campe and so rising vp he put a gowne on his backe euen fit for his misfortune and secretly stale out of the campe The other legions also fled and great slaughter was made of the tent kepers and their sernantes that garded the campe For Asinius Pollio writeth who was at that battell on Caesars side that there were slaine onely but six thowsand souldiers Howbeit at the taking of their campe Caesars souldiers then sound plainly the madnes â—ovanitie of Pompeys men For all their tentes and pauilions were full of nosegayes and garlandes of mirtle their couches all couered with flowers their tables full of bowles of wine and men prepared ready to do sacrifice for ioye rather then to arme them selues to fight Thus went they to battell caried away with the vaine foolish hope WheÌ„ Pompey was gone a litle way froÌ„ his campe he forsooke his horse hauing a very few with him perceyuing that no man pursued him he went a foote faire softly his head full of such thoughts and imaginations as might be supposed a man of his like calling might haue who for foure thirty yeares space together was wont coÌ„tinually to cary victorie away and beganne then euen in his last cast to proue what it was to flie and to be ouercome and who thought then with him selfe how in one howers space he had lost the honor and riches which lie had gotten in so many foughten feildes and battels whereby he was not longe before followed and obeyed of so many thowsand men of warre of so many horsemen and of such a great flete of shippes on the sea and then to goe as he did in such poore estate and with so small a traine that his very enemies who sought him knew him not Thus when he was passed the citie of LARISSA and comming to the vallie of Tempé there being a thirst he fell downe of his bellie and dranke of the riuer Then rising vp againe he went his way thence and came to the sea side and tooke a fishers cotage where he lay all night The next morning by breake of the daye he went into a litle bote vpon the riuer and tooke the free men with him that were about himâ— and as for the slaues he sent them backe againe and did counsell them boldely to goe to Caesar and not to be affrayed Thus rowing vp and downe the shore side in this litle bote he spyed a great shippe of burden in the maine sea ryding at anker which was ready to waye anker and to saile awaye The master of the shippe was a ROMANE who though he was not familiarly acquainted with Pompey yet knew him by fight very well He was called Peticius who had dreamed the night before that he sawe Pompey speake vnto him not like the man he was wont to bâ— but in pouerty and in misery So he had tolde this dreame vnto the mariners which sailed with him as men commonly vse to doe specially when they dreame of such weighty matters and being at leasure withall and at the very instant there was one of the mariners that told him he sawe a litle bote of the riuer rowing towards them and that there were men in it that shooke their clokes at them bold out their hands Thereupon Peticius standing vp knew Pompey straight euen in like case as he had dreamed of him the night before and clapping his head for anger commaunded his mariners to let downe his bote and gaue him his hand calling him Pompey by his name mistrusting seeing him in that estate what misfortune had happened to him Therupon not looking to be intreated nor that he should tell him of his mishappe he receiued him into his shippe and all those he would haue with him and then hoised saile With Pompey there were both the Leâ—tuli Faonius Shortly after also they perceiued king Deiotarus comming from the riuer to them that beckened and made signes to receiue them which they did At supper time the master of the shippe made ready such meate as he had abord Faonius seeing Pompey for lacke of men to waite on him washing of him selfe ran vnto him washed him and annointed him and afterwardes continued still to waite vpon him and to doe such seruice about him as seruaunts do to their masters euen to washing of his feete making ready of his supper When a simple man saw him that could no skill of seruice he sayd Good gods hovv euery thing becommeth noble men Pompey passing then by the citie of AMPHIPOLIS coasted from thence into the I le of LESBOS to goe fetch his wife Cornelia and his sonne being then in the city of MITYLENE There hauing cast out his ancker and riding at rode he put a messenger on the shore sent him into the citie to his wife not according to her expectacion who was still put in good hope by continuall letters and newes brought vnto her that the warre was ended and determined by the city of DYRRACHIVM This messenger now finding her in this hope had not the hart so much as to salute her but letting her vnderstande rather by his teares then wordes the great misfortune Pompey had told her she must dispatch quickely if she would see Pompey with one shippe only and none of his but borowed The young Lady hearing these newes fell downe in a sound before him and neither spake nor sturred of long time but after she was come to herselfe remembring that it was no time to weepe and lament she went with speede through the city vnto the sea side There Pompey meeting her tooke her in his armes imbraced her But she sincking vnder him fell downe and sayd Out alas woe worth my hard fortune not thine good husband that I see thee now brought to one poore shippe who before thou mariedst thy vnfortunate Cornelia wert wont to saile these seas with fiue huÌ„dred ships Alas why art thou come to see me and why diddest thou not leaue me to cursed fate and my wicked desteny sith my selfe is cause of all this thy euill Alas how happy a woman had I bene if I had bene dead before I heard of the death of my first husband Publius Crassus whom the wretched PARTHIANS slue And how wise a woman had I bene if
according to my determinacion I had killed my selfe immediatly after him where now I liue to bring yet this misfortune vnto Pompey the great It is reported that Cornelia spake these words and that Pompey also answered herin this maner Peraduenture Cornelia mine thou hast knowen a better fortune which hath also deceiued thee bicause she hath continued lenger with me then her maner is But since we are borne men we must paciently beare these troubles and proue fortune againe For it is no impossible matter for vs againe to come into prosperitie out of this present miserie as to fall out of late prosperitie into present calamitie When Cornelia heard him say so she sent backe into the city for her stuffe and family The MITYLENIANS also came openly to salute Pompey and prayed him to come into the city and to refresh him self but Pompey would not gaue them counsell to obey the conqueror not to feare any thing for Caesar was a iust man and of a curteous nature Then Pompey turning vnto Cratippus the Philosopher who came amoÌ„g the citizens also to see him made his complaint vnto him and reasoned a litle with him about diuine prouidence Cratippus curteously yeelded vnto him putting him still in better hope fearing least he would haue growen too hot and troublesome if he would haue holden him hard to it For Pompey at the length might haue asked him what prouidence of the gods there had bene in his doings And Cratippus might haue aunswered him that for the ill gouernment of the common wealth at ROME it was of necessity that it should fall into the handes of a soueraine Prince Peraduenture Cratippus might then haue asked him how and whereby Pompey wouldest thou make vs beleue if thou haddest ouercome Caesar that thou wouldest haue vsed thy good fortune better then he But for diuine matters referre them to the goddes as it pleaseth them Pompey taking his wife and frends with him hoised saile and landed no where but compelled to take freshe acates and water The first city he came vnto was ATTALIA in the contry of PAMPHYLIA Thither came to him certaine gallies out of CILICIA many souldiers also insomuch he had a three score Senators of ROME againe in his company Then vnderstanding that his army by sea was yet whole and that Cato had gathered together a great number of his souldiers after the ouerthrowe whome he had transported with him into AFRICKE he lamented and complained vnto his frends that they had compelled him to fight by land not suffred him to helpe him selfe with his other force wherin he was the stronger and that he kept not still neere vnto his army by sea that if fortune failed him by land he might yet presently haue prepared to his power ready by sea to haue resisted his enemy To confesse a troth Pompey committed not so great a fault in all this warre neither did Caesar put foorth a better deuise then to make his enemie fight farre from his armie by sea Thus Pompey being driuen to attempt somewhat according to his small abilitie he sent Ambassadors vnto the cities To others he went him selfe in person also to require money wherewith he manned and armed some ships This notwithstanding fearing the sodaine approach of his enemy least he should preuent him before he could put any reasonable force in readines for to resist him he bethought him selfe what place he might best retyre vnto for his most safetie When he had considered of it he thought that there was neuer a prouince of the ROMANES that could saue and defend them And for other straunge realmes he thought PARTHIA aboue all other was the best place to receiue them into at that present hauing so smal power as they had and that was better able to helpe aide them with more power then they Other of his counsell were of minde to go into AFRICKE vnto king Iuba But Theophanes LESBIAN said he thought it a great folly to leaue AEGYPT which was but three dayes sailing from thence and king Ptolomy being but lately comen to mans state and bound vno Pompey for the late frendshippe and fauor his father found of him and to goe put him selfe into the handes of the PARTHIANS the vilest and vnfaithfullest nation in the world and not to proue the modesty of a ROMANE that had bene his father in law whose prosperity if he could haue endured he might haue bene the chiefest man and now to put him selfe to Arsaces good will who could not away with Crassâ—â— when he liued Further he thought it an ill parte also for him to go cary his young wife of the noble house of Scipio amongst the barbarous people who thinke it lawfull for theÌ„ to vse what villany and insolency they list to any For admit she haue no villany offered herby them yet is it an vndecent thing to thinke she might haue bene dishonored they hauing her in their power to doe it There was no perswasion as they say but this only that turned Pompey vnto Euphrates for it seemeth that Pompeys counsell and not his fortune made him take that way Being determined therefore to flie into AEGYPT he departed out of CYPRVS in a gally of SELEVCIA with his wife Cornelia The residue of his traine imbarked also some into gallies others into marchauntes shippes of great burden and so safely passed the sea without daunger When Pompey heard newes that king Ptolomy was in the citie of PELVSIVM with his armie making warre against his sister he went thither and sent a messenger before vnto the king to aduertise him of is arriuall and to intreate him to receiue him King Ptolomy was then but a young man insomuch as one Pothinus gouerned all the whole realme vnder him He assembled a counsell of the chiefest and wisest men of the court who had such credit and authoritie as it pleased him to geue them They being assembled he coÌ„maunded euery man in the kings name to say his minde touching the receiuing of Pompey whether the king should receiue him or not It was a miserable thinge to see Pothinus an eunuche of the kinges and Theodotus of CHIO an hyered schoolemaster to teache the young king rethoricke and Achillas AEGYPTIAN to consult among them selues what they should doe with Pompey the great These were the chiefest counsellers of all his eunuches and of those that had brought him vp Nowe did Pompey ride at ancker vpon the shore side expecting theresolution of this couÌ„sel in the which the opinions of other were diuers for they would not haue receiued him the other also that be should be receiued But the Rethoritian Theodotus to shew his eloquence perswaded them that heither the one nor the other was to be accepted For sayd he if we receiue him we shall haue Caesar our enemie and Pompey our Lord and if they do deny him on thother side Pompey will blame them for refusing of him
month of Nouember and the greater in the month of August beside it was not lawfull to celebrate or vse these ceremonies within the space of a yeare one of thother When these letters were openly red no man durst speake against them but Pythodorus the Priest who caried the torche lighted when they shewed these misteries Howbeit his words preuailed not for by the deuise of Stratocles it was enacted at an assembly of the citie that the month of March in the which they were at that time should be called and reputed Nouember And also as they could best helpe it by their ordinaunces of the citie they did receiue Demetrius into the fraternitie of the misteries afterwards againe this selfe month of March which they had translated into Nouember became sodainly August and in the self same yeare was celebrated the other ceremonie of these great misteries whereby Demetrius was admitted to see the most straightest and secretest ceremonies Therefore Philippides the Poet inueying against the sacriledge and impietie of religion prophaned by Stratocles made these verses of him Into one mooneth his comming hither Hath thrust vp all the yeare togither And afterwards bicause Stratocles was the procurer that Demetrius was lodged in the temple of Minerua within the castell Of chaste Mineruaze holy Church he makes a filthie stevves And in that Virgins very sight his harlots doth abuse But yet of all the insolent parts done at that time in ATHENS although many were committed none of all the rest greued the ATHENIANS more then this did that Demetrius commaunded them they should presently furnish him with two hundred fifty talents The taxation of this payment was very harde vnto them both for the shortnes of the time appoynted them as also for the impossibilitie of abating any part of it When he had seene all this masse of money laid on a heape before him he commaunded it should be giuen to Lamia among his other Curtisans to buy them sope The shame the ATHENIANS receiued by this gift greued them more than the losse of their money the words he spake to the great contempt of them and their citie did more trouble them then the payment they made Some say notwithstanding that Demetrius did not alone vse the ATHENIANS thus shamefully but the THESSALIANS also in the same manner But passing this ouer Lamia of her selfe through her owne countenance did get a great summe of money together of diuers persons for one supper she made vnto Demetrius the preparation whereof was of such exceeding charge that Lycaeus borne in the I le of SAMOS did set downe the order thereof in writing And therefore a certain Poet no lesse pleasantly then truelly called this Lamia Elepolis to were an engine to take cities And Demochares also borne in the citie of SOLI called Demetrius a fable bicause he had Lamia euer with him as in the fables which olde women tell litle children there is euer lightly a Lamia as much to say as a witche or sorceresse So that the great credit authoritie this Lamia had and the loue which Demetrius bare her did not onely cause his wiues suspect and enuy him but made him hated also of all his friends familliers And therfore certen gentlemeÌ„ whom Demetrius sent in ambassade vnto king Lysimachus he talking famillierly with them passing the time away shewed them great wounds of the clawes of a lyon vpon his armes and legges telling them also how he was forced to fight with the lyon when through king Alexanders fury he was shut vp in his denne with him they smiling to heare him told him that the king their maister had also certeine markes and bytings on his necke of a vile beast called Lamia And to say truely it was a wonderfull thing that marrying as he did his wife Philaso much against his will bicause she was too olde for him how he was so rauished with Lamia and did so constantly loue her so long together considering that she was also very old past the best Therefore Demo surnamed Mania as much to say the mad woman pleasantly aunswered Demetrius asking her one night when Lamia had plaied on the flute all supper time what she thought of Lamia an old woman O king ê™ she Another time when frute was serued in after the bord was taken vp doe you see said Demetrius how many prety fine knackes Lamia sendeth me My mother aunswered Demo againe will send you moe then these if you please to lye with her It is reported of this Lamia that she ouerthrew Bocchoris iudgement in a matter In AEgypt there was a young man that had a maruelous fancie vnto a famous Curtisan called Thonis who did aske him suche a great summe of money to lye with her that it was vnpossible for him to giue it her At length this amorous youth beeing so deepe in loue with her dreamed one night he laye with her and enioyed her so that for the pleasure he tooke by his conceyt and imagination when he awaked his earnest loue was satisfied This Curtisan whome he had cast fancie to hearing of his dreame did put him in sute before the Iudges to be payed her hyer for the pleasure the younge man had taken of her by imagination Bocchoris hearing the summe of her complaynt commaunded the younge man to bringe before him in some vessell at a daye appoynted as muche mo 〈…〉 as she did aske him to lye with her Then he badde him tosse it too and froe in his hande before the Curtisan that she shoulde but onely haue the shadowe and sight of it for ê™ he imagination and opinion is but a shadowe of truth Lamia sayde this was no equall iudgement for sayth she the shadowe onely or the sight of the money did not satisfie the couetousnes of the Curtisan as the younge mans lust was quenched by his dreame Thus enough spoken of Lamia But now the misfortunes and ieasts of him we presently write of they do transport our historie as from a comycall into a tragicall theater that is to saye from pleasaunt and light matter into lamentable and bytter teares For all the Princes and Kinges conspyred generally agaynts Antigonus and ioyned all their force and armies together Therefore Demetrius departed forthwith out of GRAECE and came to ioyne with his father whose courage he founde more liuely and better giuen to this warre then his yeares required besides that Demetrius comming made him the bolder and did lifte vppe his harte the more And yet it seemes to me that if Antigonus woulde but haue yeelded vppe a fewe trifling thinges and that he coulde or woulde haue brydeled his ouer immoderate couetous desire to raigne he had bothe kept for him selfe all the tyme of his life and also lefte after his deathe vnto his sonne the supreamest dignitie and power aboue all the other Kinges and successors of Alexander But he was so cruell and
of Brutus actes Porcia studied in Philosophie The corage of Porcia Great difference betwext a wise and a harlot Porciaes words vnto her husband Brutus The wonderfull constancy of the conspirators in killing of Caesar. Sundrie misfortunes to haue broken of the enterprise The weakenes of Porcia notwithstanding her former corage Brutus with his countenaunce encoraged his fearefull consories * In Caesars life it is sayd it was Decius Brutus Albinus that kept Antonius with a talke without * In Caesars life he is called Metellus Cimber The mother of Caesar. Casca the first that wounded him VVhy Antonius was not slayne with Ceasar Brutus with his consorts went vnto the Capitoll Honors decreed for the murtherers of Caesar. Caesars will funeralls Brutus committed two great faults after Caesars death Antonius funerall oration for Caesar. The straunge dreame of Cinna the Poet The murder of Cinna the Poet being mistaken for an other of that name Brutus and his consorts doe flye from Rome Brutus playes and sportes at Rome in his absence Octauius Caesar comming to Rome Brutus reproued Cicero for taking part with Octauius Caesar. Porciaes sorowfull returne to Rome for the absence of her husband Brutus The story of Hector and Andromachè set forth in painted tables How Brutus bestowed his time at Athens Brutus commendeth Ciceroes sonne Brutus prepareth him selfe to warre A strange disease tooke Brutus at Dyrrachium VVho by snow this hungry disease taketh men that are wearied with trauaile Brutus thankfulnes and clemency C. Antonius yelded vnto Brutus Octauius Caesar ioyneth with Antonius Brutus senteÌ„sed and condemned by Octauius Caesars meanes for the death of Iulius Caesar. The Triumuirate C. Antonius murdered Brutus and Cassius doe ioyne armies together The sharpe and cruell condicions of Cassius Brutus gentle and â—aâ—er condicions Brutus intent good if he had ouercomen Antonius testimonie of Brutus Brutus to his mind to his contry Brutus a true Prophet of Antonius Cassius wanne the citie of Rhodes Brutus â—eâ—ts in Lycia The citie of Xanethus set a fire The desperat ende of the Xanthians The Palareâ—ans doe yeld them selues vnto Brutus The extreme couetousnes and crueltie of Cassius to the Rhodians Brutus clemeÌ„cy vnto the Lycians Theodotus borne in Chio a Rethoritian Scholemaister is Ptolomy the young king of AEgypt Theodotus saying a dead man biteth not Theodotus Chian the Rethoritian that gaue counsell to kill Pompeys was put to death by Brutus Brutus and Cassius doe meete at the citie of Sardis Brutus and Cassius complaints one vnto the other M. Phaonius a follower of Cato Cynick Philosophers cowÌ„red dogges Iulius Caesar slayne at the Ides of March. The wonderfull constency of Brutus in matters of iustice and equitie Brutus care and watching A spirit appeared vnto Brutus in the citie of Sardis Cassius opinion of spirits after the Epicurians sect The cause of dreames A wonderfull signe by two Eagles Brutus and Cassius camps before the citie of Philippes against Octauius Caesar Antonius Brutus souldiers brauely armed Brutus opinion for the brauery of souldiers in their armor and weapons Vnlucky signes vnto Cassius Cassius and Brutus opinions about battell Atellius opinion for the battell Cassius words vnto Messala the night before the battell Brutus and Cassius talke before the battell Brutus aunswer to Cassius The battell at Philippes against Octauius Caesar and Antonius Octavius Caesar falsely reported to be slaine at the battell of Philippes Cassius misfortune Cassius offended with the sundrie errous Brutus and his men committed in battell Cassius valliantnes in warres The importance of error mistaking in warres Cassius slaine by his man Pindarus The death of Titinnius The number of men slaine at the battell of Philippes Brutus clemeÌ„cy courtesie Brutus fault wisely excused by Plutarke Brutus victorie by sea VVonderfull famine amoÌ„g Caesars souldiers by sea The ignoraÌ„ce of Brutus victorie by sea was his vtter destruction The euill spirit appeared againe vnto Brutus Straunge fightes before Brutus second battell Brutus second battell Brutus valliantnes and great skill in warres The death of the valliant young man Cato the sonne of Marcus Cato The fidelitie of Lucilius vnto Brutus Brutus flying Appian meaneth this by Antonius The death of Statilius Brutus saying of flying with hands not with feete Brutus slue him selfe Strato Brutus familiar and frend Strato receiued into Caesars frendship Messala Coruinus Brutus frend Brutus funeralls Porcia Brutus wife killed her selfe with burning coles In what things Dion was inferior vnto Brutus Brutus hoâ—â—aved of his enemies after his death Brutus image or statue standing in brasse in Milleine was preserued and kept by Octauius Caesar The example of our auncesters wherein profitable to their posteritie The common weale of the Sicyonians commersed into tyrannie Abantidas â—â—ran of Sicyone Aratus the sonne of Clinias scaped the handes of the tyran Abantidas Aratus malice against tyrannes Aratus fauor Aratus wrote a booke of CoÌ„mentaries Abantidas the tyran slaine Aristotle the Logitian Aratus goeth about to deliuer his contry from the tyrannie * In an other place he calleth him Ecdemus Aristomachus and Ecdelus doe ioine with Aratus Aratus preparacioÌ„ to deliuer his contrie from tyrannie Aratus policy to deceiue Nicocles spialls Aratus daungers in deliuering of his contrie from the tyranny of Nicocles Aratus was the citie of Sicyone without bloodshed Nicocles the tyrant flyeth Aratus ioyneth the citie of Sicyone vnto the Achaians Aratus referred all things to the common wealth VVhy owles set best by night and not by day Management of Philosophy be likined unto owles Aratus taketh sea to go to king Ptolomy into AEgypt The pictures and paynted tables made in the citie of Sicyone did passe all the other paintings in Graece The excelleÌ„cy of Aristratus picture the tyran of Sicyone painted by all Melanthus scholers and Apelles help Aratus consultation for the defacing of it The saying of Nealces the paynter touching tyraÌ„ne The great liberalitie of Ptolomey vnto Aratus Aratus temperances Aratus doings in his first Praetorship Presche an Island of Peloponnesus Acto or inthus means Young king Philips saying of the castell of Corinth Antigunus wife and dauise Antigonus craftily taketh the castell of the Acrocorinthe Ouergreat as lay to a simple man maketh him mad Perceiue the Philisopher made captaine of the Acrocorinthe Aratus determination for the taking of the Acrocorinthe The error and daunger by likenes of men one vnto another Aratus great daunger in taking of the castell of the Acrocorinthe The happy benefit of the Moone Aratus taketh the Acrocorinthe Aratus ioyneth the city of Corinthe vnto Achaia Zenoes opinion that a man could not be a good Captaine vnles he were a perfit wise man. Persaus aunswer to Zenoes opinion Philopaemen the last famous man of the Graecians Aratus power and authority with the Achaians Aratus gaeth about to set Argos at libertie Aratus prepared litle short daggers against the tyrants decree ordinance Aristippus tyrant of the citie of Argos Aristippus layed man to kill Aratus No