brothers injurie falling with Cyprus did build and by the name of his Countrie styled it Salamina Pirrhâ—s the sonne of Achilles possest himselfe of Epyrus Philippus of Ephyra in Thesprotia But the king of kings Agamemnon being driveÌ„ by foule weather into the I le of Crete did there build three Cities two of which hee called by his owne Countrie names the third to keep his victorie in memorie Micenae Tegea and Pergamus And not long after falling under the trechery of his Wives sonne Aegistus who bare him an hereditarie hate and the villanie of his wife was slaine Aegistus held the kingdome seven yeares Him Orestes together with his mother having his sister Electra a Woman of a masculine spirit the partner of all his designes did put to the sword That this his fact was by the gods approved of did appeare both by his long life and the happinesse of his state for he lived nintie yeares raigned seventie He also by his bravery did quit himselfe of Pirrhus the sonne of Achilles whom for that he had seised upon the marriage of Hermione the daughter of Menelaus and Hellene who was contracted to him he slew at Delphos In these times when Lydus and Tirrhenus brethren raigned in Lydia being straightned with famine they cast lotts whether of them should with part of the multitude quitte the land The lott fell upon Tirrhenus he being come into Italie did both to the place to the Inhabitants and to the Sea give a Noble and perpetuall name derived from his owne After the death of Orestes his sons Penthelus and Tisamenus raigned three yeares CHAP. 2. The race of Pelops dispossest of Peloponesus by the Heraclidae The glorious death of Codrus the Athenian King THen about the eightieth year after the taking of Troâ— and the hundreth and twentieth from Hercules his being received among the gods the off-spring of Pelops who all thiâ— time having expelled the descendants of Hercules had held the dominion of Peloponesus by those of Hercules his race werâ— deprived of it The Commaunders in this recoverie of theiâ— estate were Teminus Ctesiphontes and Pristodemas to whom hâ— was the great great GraÌ„dfatheâ— Almost in the same time Atheâ— â—eased to be any longer governed by Kings the last of whom was Codrus the sonne of Melanâ—hus a man not slightly to be pasâ—ed over For when the Lacedeâ—onians did with a sharpe warre â—resse upon Attica and the Pythiâ—n god had by his Oracle let theÌ„â—now that the Army whose Generall should happen to bee â—ain by the Enemy should be the â—onqueror he devesting himâ—â—lfe of his royall acoutrements â—â—d cloathed like a peasant put â—â—mself into the Enemies campe â—here as if by acident raising a â—ntention hee was by those â—hich knew him not slaine â—â—drus with his death was folâ—â—wed by an eternall glorie the â—thenians with the ensuing viâ—â—rie Who would not admire 〈◊〉 that with such cunning did â—â—ke his death as Cowards use to practise for the saving oâ— their lives His sonne Medon waâ— the first Governor of Athens which office they stiled Archon His posteritie were by the Attiques called Medontidae buâ— they and their Successors tâ—â— Charâ—pe did still hold that honour in their hands The Peloponesians also quitting the Countrie of Attica did build Megaâ— in the middle way between Corinth and Athens About thaâ— time the navie of Tyre whicâ— then was most powerfull at Seâ— did upon the uttermost point oâ— Spaine in the farthest end of ouâ— world possesse themselves of aâ— Island divided from the Contâ—nent with a very narrow inlet oâ— the Sea and therein built thâ— Towne of Gades And within â— few yeares by the same men wâ— Vticu in Africa founded the Dâ—scendents from Orestes being by those of Hercules thrust out and vexed long aswell with various misfortunes as with foule weather at Sea at the end of fifteene yeares did seate themselves upoÌ„ the I le of Lesbos CHAP. 3. Combustions in Greece planting in Thessaly and the founding of Corinth by Haletes THen was all Greece shaken with most bitter Contentions The Achaians being driven out of Laconia did possesse theÌ„â—selves of the laÌ„d they now hold The Pelasgi marched up to Athens and a brave young souldier by name Thessalus by his nation â— Thesprotian with a great army of his Countrymen did seaze upon the Countrie which to this day from him is named Thessalia the Citie before that time being called of the Mirmidons Concerning which name we may with reason wonder at those who writing of the times of the Troyan warre doe mention that Countrie by the title of Thessaly which as others doe fault in the Tragedians doe most commonly To whom that libertie is not to be granted for that the Poets have not spoken any thing in their owne person but all under their names that lived in those times And if any of them will maintain that they were named Thessalians from Thessalus the sonne of Hercules it were fit he should shew some reason why before the time of this later Thessalus they never were so styled A little before this Haletes the sixth from Hercules and sonne of Hippotes founded Corinth which before was called Ephyra in the Isthmus making it the enclosure of Peloponnesus Nor is there any cause why we should wonder that Homer doth mention Corinth for in the person of a Poet hee both doth name this Citie and certaine other Colonies of the Ionians as in his dayes long after the taking of Troy they were called CHAP. 4. Chalcide in Euboea founded by the Athenians and Cumae in Italy with Naples some while after Magnesia in Asia by the Spartans with many other Colonies of Greeks both in the Continent and in the Ilands THe Athenians in Euboea Chalcida dispossest the Inhabitants of the Colony of Erethria the Lacedemonians in Asia seised upon that of Magnesia Not long after the Chalcidians being as is before related descended from the Attickes did under the conduct of Hipocles and Megasthenes their leaders found the cittie of Cumae in Italie The course of that their way was directed as some report by a dove siying before them as others by a tinâ—kling found of brasen pannes such as in the night-sacrifices of Ceres is usually heard A part of these men did a long time after build Naples Both these Cities their excellent and perpetuall faithfullnes to the Romans doth render much worthy of the repute they hold and the delicacie of their scituation But some others have with more diligent care preserved their Countrie Ceremonies the neighbourhood of Osca wrought a change in those of Cumae What power those Cities have beene of in times long since past the extent and strength of their walles doth even at this day demonstrate In the age following a great multitude of Grecian youth whose mightie power emboldened them to seeke where they might settle powred themselues upon Asia for both the Ionians under the leading of Iones going from Athens planted themselves upon a most noble part of
him to be content with his estate descended to him from his Fathers that is with the Kingdome of Pontus CHAP. 24. Fimbria his boldnesse and end Laenas the Tribune executes Lucilius the last yeares tribune banisheth the rest of Sylla his party CAius Flavius Fimbria who being Generall of the horse before Sylla his comming had staine Valevius Flascus a man of Consular qualitie and possessing himselfe of his army and saluted by the title of Generall had as it hapned in a battaile routed Mithridates Vpon Sylla his passing over slew himselfe A young man he was who what he most unlawfully durst attempt did with courage put in execution The same yeare Publius Lanas Tribune of the people did throw downe from the Tarpeyan rocke Sexius Lucilius who had beene Tribune of the people the yeare before and when his fellowes in office whom he had cited and appointed a day for their tryall did for feare flie to Sylla he by proclamation declared them Rebels forbidding them the use of fire and water Sylla then having setled the affaires beyond the Sea when to him first of any Roman the Embassadors of the Parthians had presented themselves and among them certaine of their soothsayers had upon observation of some markes in his body foretold that he should passe a most glorious life and that the memorie of him should be long lived returning into Italy he at Brundusium landed with only thirtie thousand men against forces of his enimies consisting of above two hundred thousand Hardly can I esteeme any action of Syllaes more noble then that when the faction of Cinna and Marius tyrannized over al Italy he neither forbare to declare that he would make warre upon them nor yet quitted the businesse that he had in hand And thought that the publique enemie of the State was first to bee represt before he thought of private revenge and that when the feare of a forraigne force was removed and he had mastered his enemie abroad hee would also take order with those at home Before comming of Lucius Sylla in a mutiny of the Army Cinna was by them slaine A man better meriting to have beene executed at the pleasure of the Conqueror then slaughtered by the rage of the souldier of whom it may be truly said that he dared give attempt upon those things which no honest man ever durst thinke and effected that which was not to be done by any but those that were of the most dauntlesse courage and that in consultation and advice he was headily rash in execution a gallant man Carbo having no colleague subrogated in Cinna's place was for the rest of the whole yeare the sole Consull CHAP. 25. Sylla his returne into Italy the overthrow of Scipio and Norbanus neare Capua Sylla after the victory not like Sylla before it THou wouldest have thought that Sylla had not come into Italy to make a part in the war but to negotiate for and procure a peace With such quietnesse and so great care of the provisions and fruits of the earth of the countrey the people and the Townes did he lead his army through all Calabria and Apulia into Campania and did seeke to end the warre with just and equall conditions But they whose greedy desires were both extreamly wicked and unbounded could not away with peace In the meane time Sylla his army did dayly increase every one that was of the honestest â—ort and the most discreet flocking to him After that not farre from Capua he prosperously defeated Scipio and Norbanus the Consuls of whom Norbanus was overthrowne in fight Scipio forsaken by his army and betrayed by them was by Sylla dismist untoucht So unlike was Sylla the souldier to Sylla the Conqueror that while he overcomes he was more mild then the gentlest spirit after the victory more cruell then can bee spoken For both when hee was Consull as wee have already told he dismist in safety Quintus Sertorius onely disarming him a firebrand soone after of oh how great a warre with many others whom he had in his power I think that in the same man there might be seene an instance of a mind double and most different from it selfe After the victory in the descent from the mountaine Tifata where Sylla had encountered with Caius Norbanus he rendred thankes to Diana to whose Deity all that country is consecrated also dedicated to the goddess the Bathes for their virtue in curing diseases very famous with all the fieldes about them of which his gratefull devotion the brazen table fixed upon a post of the temple with the inscriptioÌ„ therof doth to this day beare witnesse and keep the memory in being CHAP. 26. Carbo and Marius the sonne Consulls Marius beaten at Sacriportum by Sylla and besieged in Preneste Murders in Rome the brave death of Calphurnia IN the meane while the Consuls for the time being Carbo the third time and Caius Marius sonne to him that was seven times Consul who then was six and twenty yeares old and one rather of his fathers courage then fitted for that age having that bravely made many attempts being at last beaten by Sylla about Sacriportum retyred with his army to Preneste which being by nature fortified he had before strengthned with a garrison When lest there should be any thing wanting to the publique calamities In that Citie where the emulation was alwayes wont to be about vertuous actions the contention was now only for the height of mischiefe he thought himself the best man who did most transcend in villany For while they were in armes and disputing the fortune of the warres at Sacriportum Damasippus the Praetor in the market place of Hostillius did cause to be murthered as favorers of Sylla his faction Domitius Scaevola who also was the soveraigne Bishop and a most famous sage of all lawes both devine and humane together with Caius Carbo of the Praetorian ranke and brother to the Consull and Antistius who had binne Aedile Nor let Calpurnia the daughter of Bactia and wife of Antistius lose the glory of her most noble resolution who when her husband as wee have related was slaine with a sword ranne her selfe thorow how great an addition to her fame and glory her vertue makes her eminent her countrey is unknowne CHAP. 27. Pontius Telesinus the Samnite his braverie and endangering Sylla in fight at the gates of Rome a Menius seeking to escape under ground from Preneste surprized and slaine BVt Pontius Telesinus Captaine of the Samnites one both at home and in the warres of an invincible spirit and of the Roman name a most irreconcileable enemy having gathered together about fortie thousand of the bravest and the most eager of warres that were to be found among the youth of his nation When Carbo and Marius were Consults about fortie yeares since upon the Kallends of November did so rudely encounter with Sylla before the gate Collina as hee brought both him and the Common wealth into the extremitie of
and punished VVHile the west was thus quieted from the East the Roman ensignes which upon the overthrow of Crassus Orodes and at the repulsing of Antonius his sonne Pharnaces had taken were rendred and sent backe to Augustus Which by the propounding of Plancus and the universall consent of the Senate and people of Rome bestowed upon him the surname of Parthian Yet were there not waÌ„ting some that could hate even his happiest state of things For Lucius Muraena and Fannius Caepio of farre differing dispositions for Muraena without this guiltineâ— might have passed for a good man but Caepio even before he was tainted with this crime the worst that might be having conspired together about the killing of Caesar seazed upon by publique authority what by violence they would have acted they by Iustice suffered Neitheâ— long after was it that Egnatiâ—â— Rufus a man in every respect more like a Fencer then a Senator having in his Edileship gotten the favour of the people which he had dayly encreased by quenching of fires with his owne private family so highly as they were content to joyne for his sake the office of Praetor to take of Edile and presently also was bold to stand for the Consulship being overwhelmed with the guilt of all manner of foulenesse and wickednes having drawne into his designe others that were likest to himselfe determined to kill Caesar That since he could not subsist if Caesar were safe at least he might yet dye when he were taken away For such is the disposition of men that every one had rather sinke with the publique ruine then be oppressed with his owne and though he suffer the same yet be lesse remarked Nor was this man more fortunate in being concealed then those that went before him and being clapt in prison he died a death of which his life was most worthy CHAP. 92. A brave act of Sentius Saturninus punishing the Customers fraud and stopping Egnatius in his demand of the Consullship LEt not a brave fact of an excellent man be defrauded of a due remembrance Caius Sentius Saturninus who about that time was Consull Caesar was then absent about ordering the affaires of Asia and the East carying about with his person the benefits of his peace When Sentius as it fell out being at that time both sole Consull and Caesar absent had both done other things with the strictnesse of former times and with admirable constancy had after the old fashion and severity of the Consuls discovered the frauds of the farmours of Customes punished their avarice and brought the revenues of the state into the publique treasury And also sitting principal Consull at the assembly for elections those that stood for the quaestorship if he judged them unworthy of it he forbade to declare themselves threatning them when they remained firme to their intentions that he would by his Consular power punish them and Egntaius who flourishing in the favour of the people did hope to couple the Consulship to the Praetorship as he before had done that to the Edileship he forbade to professe himselfe for a Candidate and when he prevailed not with him he swore that though the people by their suffrages did choose him yet that he would not declare him for elected Which fact of his I should reckon worthy to be coÌ„pared with any of the auncient CoÌ„suls whatsoever but that we doe more willingly commend the things that we heare of then those that wee see that we wait upon the present with envy but things past with reverence and doe believe that those doe overload us these instruct us CHAP. 93. The death of M. Marcellus sonne to Octavia Caesars sister Agrippa returned to Rome marries Iulia Caesars daughter late wife to Marcellus ALmost three yeares before the villany of Egnatius brake out and about the time of Muraena's and Caepio's conspiracy now fiftie yeares since Marcus Marcellus the sonne of Octavia Augustus his sister whoÌ„ all men did so reekon for his successour in his power if ought should happen to Caesar as they thought it could not yet discend upon him securely by reason of Marcus Agrippa his greatnesse having when he was Edile presented most magnificient shewes to the people departed this life a very young man and truly as they say of free and open vertues of a cheerefull disposition and witte and capable of the fortune for which he was bred After whose decease Agrippa who under colour of important service of the state was gone into Asia but as report speakes it for some secret distates with Marcellus had withdrawne himselfe from the present time returning thence tooke to wife Iulia the daughter of Augustus who had before beene married to Marcellus A woman whose wombe was neither fortunate for her selfe nor for the Common wealth CHAP. 94. Tiberius Caesar sonne to Livia called to affaires His character sent into the East quiets Armenia and receives pledges of the Parthian AT this time Tiberius Claudius Nero who when he was three yeares old as we before have said Livia the daughter of Drusus Claudius Nero to whom she had before beene married affiancing her had married Augustus Being trained up in the discipline of heavenly knowledge a young man admirably furnished by his Nobilitie shape stature the best kindes of learning and an infinite wit Who from the beginning might hope for any greatnesse that he since hath arrived at and at the first view appeared a Prince being Quaestor at the nineteenth yeare of his age began to deale in affaires of state And did at Ostia and in the Citie by the direction of his father in law so order the businesses of a pressing dearth and want of corne that by what he then did it clearely appeared how great a man for employments he would one day prove Neither long after being sent by the same his father in law to survey and put in order the Orientall provinces he having in that expedition given many singular proofes of all kindes of virtues with his Legions entred Armenia And having brought it under the coÌ„mand of the people of Rome did deliver the Crowne thereof to Artavasdes with the fame of which so great name of his the King of the Parthians also affrighted sent his sonne to Caesar for Ostages CHAP. 95. Tiberius returned with his brother Drusus sent against the Rhaetians and Vindelicians with fortunate event VVHen Nero was returned Caesar determined to make experience of him in a warre of no meane consequence giving him for an assistant his brother Drusus Claudius of whom Livia was delivered in Caesars house They both dividing their charge invaded the Rhaetians and the Vindelicians and forcing many Cities and Castles as also by some happie successe in open fights with much losse of the bloud of the conquered nations and more danger then damage of the Romane army did master them that were most strongly seated the accesse to them extreamely difficult in number multitudinous and in the fierce bravery of their courage redoubtable
admire in Caesar but the favour of fortune who can but admire For report had delivered that all the principall Captaines of the enemy were slaine but his triumph presented them to the people bound in chaines At which time it was my hap and my brothers to accompany him among the principall men and those which were honoured with rewardes of speciall esteeme Or who among the other things in which the singular moderation of Tiberius Caesar doth cleerely shine will not wonder at this that having without all question deserved seven triumphs he was yet contented with three CHAP. 122. Tiberius that had deserved seven triumphs contented with three FOr who can doubt but that for reducing of Armenia and placing a King over it upon whose head with his owne hand he put the Diademe and for setling the affaires of the East hee ought to have entred the City in a triumph Ovant And having conquered the Rhaetians and the Vindelicians to have entred in a Chariot After his adoption then with a continuall warre of three yeares standing the forces of Germany being shattered the same honour was both to have bin presented to him by him accepted And after the losse received ūder Varus the same Germany being quickly with a most prosperous successe of affaires laid flat upon the earth ought to have adorned the triumph of this greatest Captaine But in this man thou canst not well tell whether to wonder more at his observing no meane in undergoing labours and hazards or that hee was so moderate in taking honours upon him CHAP. 123. The death of Augustus at Nola in his 76. yeare VVE are now come to the time in which there was most cause of feare For Caesar Augustus when he had sent his Nephew Germanicus into Germany to make an end of the remnants of the warre and was about to send his sonne Tiberius into Illyricum to settle with peace what he had subdued by armes intending to follow him and with all to bee present at a shew of wrestlers which in his honour was by the Neapolitans dedicated to him went into Campania Although he had before felt some grudging of weakenesse and the beginnings of a declination to the worse in his health yet the strength of his minde labouring against it he followed his sonne and parting from him at Beneventum himselfe went to Nola where his malady growing daylie upon him when he knew whom he must send for if he desired that all should stand safe after him hee with all haste recalled his sonne to him He with more celeritie than was expected flew backe to the father of his country Augustus then proclaiming himselfe secure and wrapped in the embracements of his Tiberius commending to his care his his owne works nor now at al repining at his end the fates did so appoint being a little refreshed with the first sight and conference of him that was most deare to him within a while his spirit being resolved into the first originalls thereof when Pompeius and Apuleius were Consulls in his seventieth and sixth yeare of his life rendred his caelestiall soule backe againe to heaven CHAP. 124. The feares of the people upon his death wholly causelesse Tiberius refuses and at length assumes the State VVHat men then did redoubt what trembling there was in the Senate what cōfusion among the people what the whole world feared in how narrow confines either of preservation or destruction wee were placed I that make so much haste have no leisure and he that hath leasure cannot expresse This alone I have to deliver from the common mouth of the people That the City whose ruine wee feared wee did not so much as find to be moved and so great was the Majestie of one man as neither for good men nor against bad there was any need of armes one onely strugling as it were there was in the Citie the Senate and people of Rome contending with Caesar that he should succeed in his fathers place he that he might rather live a private Citizen equall with the rest then a prince in so eminent place At length he was overcome more with reason then with the honour presented to him when he saw that what he tooke not upon him would infallibly perish To him onely hath it befallen to refuse the Principality well neere a longer time then others have borne armes to get it After the returning of his father to the Gods and the funerals of his body solemnized with all humane honors his name consecrated with divine ones the first of his workes as Prince was to order the election of officers as sacred Augustus had left written with his owne hand At which time my brother and my selfe being put in the list of those that stood Candidates for the Praetorship next after the noblest men and such as had been high priests we gained this in it that neither sacred Augustus commended any after nor Tiberius Caesar any before us CHAP. 125. A mutiny in Germany and Illiricum of the Legions there the first governed by Germanicus quieted by the direction of Tiberius THe Republique did immediately receive the reward of both their advice and desire Neither was it long concealed what he had suffered if wee had not prevailed or what wee gained by obtaining of our wishes For the army that served in Germany and which was governed by Germanicus in person as also the Legions which were in Illiricum with a certain rage and a vast greedinesse of cōfounding all things sought a new Generall a new state and in summe would have also a new Common-wealth They were bold also to threaten that they would give the law to the Prince They were about to determine what their entertainement should be what the terme of their service From this they proceed to armes their swords are in their hands and almost did they rise to the heigth of lawlesse using them onely there wanted one to lead against the Comon-wealth not who should follow But all these the readinesse of their old Commander forbidding many things with gravity promising some others and amidst the severe punishing of the authors a gentle chastizing of the rest in a short time laid on sleepe and quite removed At which time truly as Germanicus did things for the most part faintly so Drusus being sent by his father against this fury of the Souldiers which was all of a light flame using the former and auntient severity with a course hazardous to himselfe in the act and of pernitious president with the same swords of the souldiours by which he was beseiged he punished those that beleaguered him wherein he used principally the assistance of Iunius Blaesus A man whō thou couldst not say whether he were of more use in the Campe then disarmed in the City who within a few yeares being Proconsul in Africa deserved and obtained triumphall ornaments and the sirname of Imperator that is soveraigne Commander when he governed Spaine the army with his virtues
Sabines although hee had now enlarged it with a Sanctuary betweene the two Groves He held about him an hundred elected called fathers instead of a Counecll and this was the originall of the name of Patricians The rape of the Sabine virgins which *************** CHAP. 9. The ruine of Perseus King of Macedon by Paulus Emilius His truimph and those of Octavius victorious by sea and Amicius over Gentius the Illyrian King Here is a vast breach in the History HEe reached what the Enemie most feared for by the space of two yeares he had fought with the Consulls with so variable fortune as for the most part he had the better of them and had drawne a great part of Greece to allye themselves with him Nay even the Rhodians also who were before that most faithfull to the Romans expecting the event did then seeme with a faithfulnesse to be doubted more enclinable to the Kings part And King Eumenes stood in that warre as a newtrall neither answering his brothers beginnings nor the fashion which himselfe had formerly carried The Senate then and the people of Rome did create Lucius Emilius Paulas Consull who had before triumphed both as Praetor and Consull A man to be praysed as farre as virtue can bee understood and valued the sonne of that Paulus who at Canna did as unwillingly fight that battaile so ruinous to the Common wealth as bravely lose his life in it Hee in a great battaile neere Cydna a City of Macedonia overthrew Perseus and having chased him and turned him out of his Campe with the ruine of all his Army compelled him quitting all his hopes to flie out of Macedonia which hee forsaking fled into the Island of Samothracia and there as Suppliant betooke himselfe to the Sanctuary of the Temple To him Cneius Octavius the Praetor who commanded the fleete did come and more with reason than force perswaded him to entrust himselfe to the fidelitie of the Romans So did Paulus lead in triumph one of the greatest and noblest Kings of that time the same yeare in which the triuÌ„phes of Octavius the Praetor of the Navie and of Anicius carrying Gentius King of the Illyrians before his Chariot were so conspicuous How perpetuall a companion of a high and eminent fortune envie is out of this may bee collected that where no man offâ—ed to oppose the triumphs of Octavius and Anicius there wanted not some that laboured hard to hinder that of Paulus whose glory did so farre outgo the others as well by the greatnesse of king Perseus by the shew of Images and Statues as by the quantity of money that he brought into the Treasury two hundred millions of Sesterces and in the magnificence of it did farre outstrippe all triumphs whatsoever had gone before him CHAP. 10. The proud commanding of Antiochus to have Egypt in quiet by Popilius Laenas the Romane Embassadour Emilius his losse of both his sonnes about the time of his triumph AT the same time when Antiochus Epiphanes who had at Athens begunne to set up the Olympick games being King of Syria did besige in Alexandria the infant King Ptolome Marcus Popilius Laena was sent Ambassador to him to command him to desist from his attempt who delivering his message and the King answering that he would thinke of it made a circle with his staffe in the sand about thâ— King and charged him to givâ— him an answere before he wenâ— out of the same So did the Romane constancy put an end to the Kings Consultations and the command was obeyed But Lucius Paulus who had gotten a great and glorious victory was father of foure sonnes Two of them being the eldest he had given to be adopted the one to Publius Scipio sonne to Publius the Africane who of his fathers greatnesse and bravery held nothing but the glory of the name a forcible eloquence the other to Fabius Maximus The other two being the younger who had not yet put on the habit accustomed to be worne by mé at the time that he obtayned the â—oremétioned victory he reteined to himselfe When according to the auncient custome before he entred the Citie he made a relation before his triumph of his carriage in his affaires He besought the immortall gods that if any of them did maligne his actions and envy his fortune that they rather would shew their spleene upon him then upon the Common wealth which words as delivered by an oracle did ere long draw a great deale of his blood from him For one of his two sons whom he had retained in his house with him he lost a few dayes before his triumph and the other within fewer dayes after it About this time there was a sharpe Censure pronounced by Fulvius Flaccus Posthumus Albinus For Cnaeus Fulvius brother to thâ— Censor Fulvius and also his partner in all things was by the samâ— Censors put out of the Senate CHAP. 11. A counterfeit Philip in Macedonia overthrowne by Metellus Macedonicus Metellus his fortunate life and death AFter the defeate and takeing of Perseus who at the end of foure yeares deceased in a free restraint at Alba a counterfeit Philip so termed by reason of his fiction in pretending a fabulous discent when he gave out himselfe to be Philip and of the royall blood being full of extreamest boldnesse having with armed hand seized upon Macedon and usurped the ensignes of majesty within a short time received for the same his due payment For the Pretor Quintus Metellus who for his valour was surnamed the Macedonian gaining a noble victory overthrew him and the whole Nation and also defeated the Achaians who were beginning to rebell in a great and bloody battaile This is that Metellus the Macedonian that built the Galleries which did compasse about the two Temples which were founded without any title of dedication and are now surrounded with the Galleries of Octavia and who brought out of Macedon that troupe of Horsemens Statues which stand in the front of the Temples and are at this day the principall ornament of that place The cause of the making that company of Statues is reported to be that Alexander the great did desire of Lysippus a principall Arts-master in those workes that he would make thâ— Statues of those horsemen oâ— his which were slaine out of his owne troupe at the river of Granicke to the life and place his owne among them He also was the first who building an house at Rome of the marble taken out of auncient Monuments did give a beginning there either to their magnificence or excesse Hardly canst thou find a man of any Nation Age or qualitie whose felicitie thou mayest compare with the fortune of Metellus For besides his glorious triumphs his honors of the highest degrees and his eminent place in the Common wealth his life prolonged to old age his sharpe yet guiltlesse Contentions with his enemies for the Common-wealths cause He had foure sonnes saw them all men grown left them all behinde him
and thinking whatsoever was not for the welfare of the publike in his owne particular was a stranger to him for these his vertues in his absence hee was first of all men created chiefe and Soveraigne Bishop When wrapping the skirt of his gowne about his left arme from the highest part of the Capitoll standing at the top of the staires hee exhorted as many as desired the preservation of the State to follow him Then the Noblemen the Senate and both the better part and greater of the Knights together with so many of the Plebeians as were untainted with these pernicious devices charged upon Gracchus standing with his troupes and labouring to draw almost all Italy to a head together He flying and running downe the cliffe of the Capitoll was strucken with the frame of a forme and so with an untimely death ended his life which hee might have passed with all glorie and honour This was the beginning of shedding bloud in civill contentions in the Citie of Rome and of swords used without punishment from thence grew all right to bee troden under foot by force And the more powerfull and former custome with the differences betweene the Citizens which before were wont to be cured by treaties and conditions were after decided by the sword Neither were warres taken in hand for just causes and reasons but as it were their way of trafficke and merchandizing which to speake truth is no wonder for examples doe not rest upon the grounds from which they had their first beginning but having made their way thorow any narrow and streight passage they afterwards take to themselves a course of free and open libertie and when once men have swarved from that which is right they runne headlong to all injustice Nor doth any man thinke that base and dishonourable to him which another hath found beneficiall CHAP. 4. Aristonicus pretending falsely to the bloud Royall of Asia which left by Attalus his will to the Romans as after Bithynia was by Nicomedes he had seized upon overthrowne by Mar. Perperna And Numantia rased by the same Emilianus who before had done as much for Carthage His death much suspected but never questioned IN the meane time while these passages are on foot in Italy Aristonicus after the death of King Attalus by whom Asia was bequeathed as an inheritance to the people of Rome as inlike sort afterward Bithynia was also left by Nicomedes falseâ—y pretending himselfe to bee of the blood Royall possest himselfe therof by force He by Marcus Perperna was overthrowne led in triumph but Manius with the losse of his head did from Aquilius receive his payment for that in the beginning of the warre he had slaine Crassus Muciarus a man most learned in the lawes as he was in qualitie of Proconsull upon his departure out of Asia And Publius Scipio the African sonne of Emilius who had rased Carthage after so many disasters about Numantia being created Consull the second time and sent into Spaine did there make good the fortune and valour of which hee had before given proofe in Africa And within a yeare and three months after his comming thither having compassed Numantia round about with his workes did level it with the ground Neither did any man of what Nation soever before his time leave his name recommended to perpetuall memorie by a more glorious destruction of any places For by the rasing of Carthage and Numantia he freed us of feare from the one and of scorne and reproach from the other He when the Tribune Carbo enquired of him what he thought of the killing of Tiberius Gracchus answered That if he had in his thoughts to possesse himselfe of the state he was worthily punished And when all the assembly cryed out I said he that have so often remained unterrified with the shouts of the armed enemie how can I be moved with yours to whom Italy is a step-mother Being reâ—urned to the Citie within a while after when Mareus Aquilius and Caius Sempronius were Consulls an hundred and fiftie yeares since after his two Consulships and two Triumphs when he twise had quitted the Common wealth of her feares he was in the morning fouÌ„d dead in his bed so that certain markes of his being strangled were found upon his necke Neither was there ever any enquirie made of the cause of a mans death of so great eminence and his body was caried out to funerall with his head covered by whose meanes the citie of Rome had lifted up her head aboue all the inhabited world So dyed he either a naturall as the most part supposed or a death procured by practise as many have delivered How ever he certainly past his course of life most nobly and was in glory inferiour to no man that before that time had beene except his Grandfather He departed this life almost at the end of his sixe and fiftieth yeare whereof if any man make a question let him looke backe to his former Consulship to which he was elected in his six and thirtieth yeare he will cease to doubt CHAP. 5. Anlus Brutus his severity of command in Spaine cause of his victorie at Controbia BEfore the destruction of Numantia the command of Aulus Brutus in Spain was very glorious who making his way through al the nations of Spaine having taken an infinite number of men and Cities reached to those people which were scarce knowne by heare-say did worthily obtaine the sirname of the Gallician And before him but a few yeares the government of that Quintus termed the Maudonian was so severe that when he assaulted a Citie called Contrabia five legionarie Cohorts being beaten downe from a clifty place he immediately commanded them to give upon the same againe And all his souldiers making their wills as they stood in their ranks as if they were to runne upon certaine death the Constancy of the CoÌ„mander not frighted from his purpose received the souldiers backe with victory whom he had sent to die Such was the effect of feare mingled with shame and a hope sprung out of despaire This man by the valour and severity of his action but Paulus Emilianus following the example of the former Paulus by his discipline in Spaine did grow very famous CHAP. 6. The stirres raised by Caius Gracchus brother to Tiberius intending the same or worse then his brother had attempted His character and overthrow by Opimius TEn yeares then being elapsed the same fury which had possessed Tiberius Gracchus did also seaze upon his brother Caius who did aswell resemble him in all his vertues as in this error but in his wit and eloquence far more excellent Who when with all tranquillitie of mind he might have been a principall man in the Citie either for revenge of his brothers death or to invest himselfe in a regall power taking him for his patterne and entred upon the Tribuneship attempting things far greater and more insupportable granted the freedome of the Citie to all Italians did
he wrote some yeares after when he was old Caelius was more auncient then Sisenna but Rutilius Claudius Quadrigarius and Valerius Antiâ—s were in the same age with him Yet let us not be ignorant that in that age was Pompouius notable for his conceipt of a harsh stile and for the new Invention of his worke praise worthy CHAP. 10. Lepidus Aelius censured for hiring a house at 6â—0 sestercesâ—a meane rate in succeeding times Domitius victorious over the Arverni and Fabius for his surnamed Allobrogian The sate of the Domitian family to have but one Sonne of a Father yet all arive at the highest honours ANd here let us observe the famous severity of the CeÌ„sors Cassius Longinus and Caepio who one hundred fiftie and seven yeares since did call in question Lepidus Aelius the Augur for that he had hired a house of six thousand Assis rent If now any man should dwell in one of that value he should scarce be acknowledged for a Senator So easily do men fall from what iâ— fit to errors from errors to crimes and from crimes to the bottome of all wickednesse In the same tract of time the victory of Domitius over the Arverni and that of Fabius of the Allobroges were glorious To Fabius the Grandchild of Paulus for that his victory the surname of the Allobrogian was added where is to be observed that in the Domitian family there was a peculiar and as it was most noble so was it a felicitie bounded within the number of a very few men As before this Cneus Domitius a young man of a most worthy and cleere roundnesse there were of the same house but all the sole sons of their Fathers yet all of them attained Consullships and priesthoods and allmost all of them the honour of Triumphs CHAP. 11. The warre of Iugurth managed first by Metellus ended by Caius Marius His character 12 Metelli or more within twelve yeares of the Caecilian family either Consulls or triumph THen followed the warre with Iugurth managed by Quintus Metellus a man inferiour to no one of his time His Lieutenant was Caius Marius of whom wee spake before borne of a family of Knights rugged and sterne of a course life as the fittest for the warrs so the worst for peace knowing no meane insatiably greedy of glory in his passions ungoverned and alwaies unquiet He by the Customers and others that traded in Africa accusing Metelius of slowenesse as who had drawne the warres out into a length of three yeares and the innate pride of the Nobilitie with their greedy desire of prolonging their Command did bring to passe that when having gotten leave he was come to Rome and created Consull the whole charge of the warre now almost brought to an end by Metellus as who had twise overthrowne Iugurth in open fielde was committed to him Yet notwithstanding was the triumph of Metellus as glorious as well deserved and for his worth and valour the sirname of Numidian bestowed upon him As before wee remembred the Noblenesse of the Domitian so heere wee must observe that of the Cecilian family in which almost within the compasse of twelve yeares at this time there were above twelve Metelli that either were Consulls or Censors or did triumph So that it appeares that as the fortune of Cities and States so also that of races or families doth now flourish now grow old now perish and come to an end CHAP. 12. Marius by Silla his Questor had Iugurth delivered up from Bocchus Overthrowes the Teâ—tones with slaughter in two daies of 150000 men And after with his colleague Catulus the Cimbres with the losse of above 10000 sâ—aine or taken BVt Caius Marius had associated to him for his treasurer Lucius Silla the destinies as it were making way for him and by him whom hee had sent to King Bochus neere one hundâ—ed and thirtie yeares since received King Iugurth delivered to him and being againe chosen Consull at his returne to the City in the Calends of Ianuary and the beginning of his second Consulship â—ed him in truimph Then aâ— before we have related when a vast multitude of the German Nations who were called the Cymbres and Teutones had powred themselves out upon us had overthrowne Capio Mâ—â—lius the Consull and before that in Gallia Carbo and â—elanâ—s and turned them out of their army and slaine Scaurus Aurelius the Consull with others of principall marke qualitie the people of Rome to repell so potent an enemie did thinke no man more fit to coÌ„mand in chiefe than Marius The third yeare then of his redoubled Consulship was spent in the preparation for the warre in which yeare Cnaeus Domitius Tribune of the people did preferre a law that the Priests whom before that their fellowes in office did institute should bee created by the people In his fourth Consulship he fought with the Teutones beyond the Alpes neere the Sextian waters and having put to the sword in that day and the next above one hundred and fiftie thousand men he did extirpate the whole Nation In his fifth on this side the Alpes in the fields which are called Raudij himselfe being Consull and Quintus Luctatius Catulus Proconsull in a most fortunate encouÌ„ter there were of the enemies slain or taken prisoners more than one hundred thousand men With this victory Marius did seeme to have deserved of the Common wealth that it should not be sorrie that he was borne in it and with his good service to have made amends for the ills that hee was author of his sixth Consulship was conferred upon him as a reward of his merits yet notwithstanding let him not be unjustly deprived of the glory of this Consulship in which he being Consull did with force of armes tame the madnesse of Servilius Glaucia and Saturniâ—us Apulcius whom borne and bent onely to doe mischiefe with their unintermitted honors tearing the Common-wealth in peâ—ces and with the sword and slaughter disordering and scattering the assemblies of the people in the Hostilian Court hee punished with death CHAP. 13. Marcus Livius Drusus intending well to the Senate but mistaken by them AFter this a few yeares being interposed Marcus Livius Drusus entred his Tribuneship a man most noble and excelling both in eloquence and goodnesse who with farre better intentions than fortune undertooke the affaires that presented themselves who when hee endeavoured to restore to the Senate their antiently former honour and to draw to that order from the Knights the power of judging and determining for the Knights having by the power of the Gracchian lâ—â—es gotten that authoritie when they had raged against many of most eminent marke and those also most innocent and also had condemned with the infinite lamentation of the whole Citie Publius Rutilius of extortion A man not of that age alone but of any whatsoever equall to the most vertuous did euen in those things which for their behoofe hee contrived finde the Senate opposite to him They not understanding tâ—â—â—
if hee proposed any thing for the advantage or benefit of the Plebeians that it was done to the end as with a baite to draw the multitude to his favour that having obtained pettie things and trifles they might give way to matters of greater import Finally such was the fortune of Drusus that the Senate did better approve the miscariage of his fellow Tribunes than his excellent intendments and scorning the honors which were by him presented to them did with an equall temper brooke the injuries of others envying him that height of glory and enduring the poore and meane repute of the rest CHAP. 14. The same man by some of their precurementâ— murthered with â— knife in a crowd at his owne house THe minde of Drusus then since his faire intentions succeeded ill being turned to granting freedome of the Citie to all Italy which when he had beene labouring for and returned out of the Market place attended with the vast and innumerable multitude which did alwayes follow him being in the court of his owne house strucken with a knife which was left sticking in his side within a few houres breathed his last But being at the last gaspe looking upon a number that stood about him and lamented for him hee let fall one word most sutable to the integritie of his conscience Will ever saâ—d he my kinsmen and friends our Common wealth finde a Citizen affected to her good like my selfe This was the end of that most noble young man of whose disposition it should be amisse to forbeare giving one argument When he built his house upon Mount Palatine in that place which once was Cicero's after that Censorinus his and now belongs to Statilius Sisenna and the Architect promised him that hee would so order it that having an open prospect abroad it should bee free from all view of any man without nor should any looke into or supervise it nay rather said he if thou hast any skill at all so frame my house as whatsoever I doe in it may be seene by all the world CHAP. 15. Carthage the first Colonie planted out of Italy that plantations out of the native continent have bin pernicious The death of Drusus cause of the Italian warre Metellus Numidicus banished by Saturninus the Tribune and recalled by the meanes of his son I Would reckon among the â— most pernicious points of the lawes of Gracchus that he planted Colonies in other countries beyond the bounds of Italy That error our Auncestors had so carefully avoyded when they observed Carthage to be growne so much more powerfull than Tyre Massilia then Phocaea Siâ—acusa then Corinth Cizicum â—nd Bizantium then Miletum which were their originall and Mother countries that out of the provinces they still recalled the Citizens to Rome to bee taxed The death of Drusius raised the warre of Italy which already and before his death was boyling For when Lucius Cesar and Publius Rutilius were Consulls now one hundred and twentie yeares since when that disease being as by contagioâ— spread from the Aesculans over all Italy for they had slaine the Praetor Servius and Fonteius the Legate and having infused it selfe among the Marsians was runne thorow the whole countrie had armed them against the Romans whose fortune as iâ— was bitter so was their causâ— most just for they required tâ— be members of that Citie whoâ—â— Empire and command they dâ—â— maintaine with their swords That at all times and in all warres they did furnish double the number both of horse and Foote that the Romans themselves brought to the field and yet might not be admitted to the priviledges of that Citie which by their meanes and valour was arrived at that heighth that â—he should loath and scorne men of both the same bloud and Naâ—ion as Forrainers and Aliens That warre consumed more â—han three hundred thousand of the youth of Italy The prinâ—pall Commanders of the Roman side in that warre were Cnaeus Pompeius father to Cnaeus Pompeius the great Caiâ—s Marius of whom wee spake â—efore Lucius Sylla who the â—eare last past had beene Praeâ—or and Quintus Metellus sonne to him that was sirnamed Numidian who deservedly purchased the sirname of Pious For by his pietie to his parent by the authoritie of the Senate and with the consent of the whole Common wealth hee restored his father to his countrie being expelled by Lucius Saturninus the Tribune of the people because he alone refused to sweare the observation of the lawes propounded by him Nor was that Metellus the Numidian more enobled by his triumphes or the honors which hee had attained than hee was by the cause of his banishment the exile it selfe or his returne from it CHAP. 16. The Italian Captaines in that warre the fortune various the end advantagious for the Romans OF the Italian partie the most remarkeable Captaines were Silo Poppedius Herius Asinius Iusterus Cato Caius Pontidius Telusius Pontius Marius Egnatius Papius Mutilius Nor will I by my bashfulnesse lessen at all the glory of my owne bloud and family so long as I but relate the truth For not a little honour is due to the memorie of Minutius Magius my great Grandfather who being Nephew to Docius Magius the noblest of all the Campanians and a man of most unspotted fidelitie did serve the Romans in this warre with so much loyaltie that with a legion which himselfe had raised among the Hirpines hee tooke Herculaneum and in it Titus Didius and consorted with Lucius Silla besieged the Pompeies and forced Cosa Of whose worth both divers other and especially as well as most clearly Quintus Hortensius in his Annalls hath made relation And whose deservings the people of Rome did afterward amply and fully remunerate both in endowing him and that not among others but singly and by himselfe with the priviledges of the Citie and in creating his two sonnes Praetors when the old man was not yet past begetting of other children but had some borne to him after that time So variable and mischievous was the fortune of that warre that in two yeares one after the other two Roman Consulls were slaine by the enemie Rutilius first and then Cato Porcius The armies of the Romans in sundry places were defeated and they compelled to weare onely their Cassocks and remaine a long time in that habite they chose for the seat of their Empire Corfinium and called it Italicum After that by degrees and incorporating into the City such as had either not taken armes at all or quickly laid them downe and made their peace our forces were repaired and the common wealth sinking and ready to perish was restored by Pompey Sylla and Marius CHAP. 17. The Italians made free of the City the refusall whereof before was cause of the warre Sylla made Consull THe Italian warre being for the greatest part ended except onely those reliques thereof which remained about Nola which setled the Romans having sheathed their swords did rather choose to graunt the libertie of the
which if he had pronounced somewhat sooner there would not have wanted those that would have followed that patterne and have proved that a Citizen was slaine then whom there had none lived more pernicious to the Common wealth nor more infestious to honest men CHAP. 48. Civill warre beginning betweene Caesar and Pompey Peace treated of hindred by Curio His character THen within a little space of time the exordiums of the civill warre began to kindle when every one that stood most for the right were of opinion that both Caesar and Pompey should east off their armies For Pompey in his second Consulship had proeured the Spâ—â—â—â—â— to be appointed to him and thâ—â— for three yeares space himselfâ— being from thence absent and sitting at the helme of affaires in the Citie might by his Lievtenants Afranius and Petraus whereof the one had beene Consull the other Praetor governâ—â— the same And those that opined that Caesar should dismisse his army he sided with but such as thought himselfe also should doe the same he opposed who if two yeares before that they fell to armes hee had dyed in Campania being oppressed with a grievous sicknesse when hee had finished all those his intendments of his Theater and the other workes which hee made about it At what time â—ll Italy did decree publique supplications for his recovery and that the first that ever were for any private Citizen Fortune might have saved her labour in reviving him and the greatnesse which he had held among the living hee had carried with him are in paired to the lower world But neither did any other man furnish the civill warre nor those so many mischiefes which for twentie yeares together did succeed to it with a greater or a more furious firebrand than Caius Curio a Tribune of the people a man noble eloquent bold and of his owne and other mens also both fortune and honour profusely lavish a man most wittily wicked and to the mischiefe of the common wealth a dainty speaker whose minde pleasure and lusts neither any wealth nor any desires would satisfie This man was at first for Pompey that is as it then was accounted for the Common wealth and presently in shew against both Caesar and Pompey but in his heart for Caesar Whether that for meere good will or for a bribe of a hundred thousand Sesterces as we have recived it wee leave uncertaine At the last those most healthfull conditions of the then springing peace which Caesar with a mind repleate with all justice did require and Pompey not unwillingly did admit hee brake and scattered in peeces Cicero above all things labouring and carting from the publique quiet the order of those things as well as hose that went before is both delivered in the compleat writings of others and shall I hope bee expressed also in these of mine CHAP. 49. Catulus two Luculli Metellus and Hortensiuâ— dead are the warre conditions of reason tendred by Caesar refused by the other The warre begunne NOw let us restore to our intended worke its owne forme yet first let me congratulate with Quintus Catulus the 2 Luculli Metellus and Hortensius who when without envie they had flourished in the Common wealth and beene eminent without danger did exchange this life before the beginning of the civill warres with a quiet or at least with a death not hastened before the due time When Lentulus and Marcellus were Consulls seven hundred and three yeares after the building of the City and the eightie and eight yeare before thou Marcus Vimcius didst enter thy Consulship the civill warre began to flame The cause of the one Captaine did seeme the better but that of the other the firmer The authoritie of the Senate did put armes into Pompeies hand into Caesars the confidence of his souldiers The Consulls and the Senate did yeeld the Soveraigne command of all to the respect of the cause not to Pompeies person Nothing was left unattempted by Caesar that might conduce to the preservation of peace nor any thing accepted by the Pompeious when one of the Consulls was more furious than reason but Lentulus if the Republique were safe could by no meanes bee preserved from ruine And Marcus Cato maintained that death was to be preferd before the admission of any conditions offered to the state by a private Citizen A man indeed grave and of the antique stampe might more coÌ„mend Pompeies part but a prudent would follow that of Caesar reputing things on that side more glorious on this more dreadfull Thus in the end all Caesars requests being with scorne rejected they decreed That contented with one onely legion to retaine the title of the Province hee should come a private man into the Citie and in demanding the Consulship submit himselfe to the suffrages of Rome CHAP. 50. Pompey quits the citie and Italy Caesar takes Domitius at Corfinium and dismisses him comes to Rome thence passes into Spaine masters Afranius and Petreius Caesar perceiving that they must come to armes passed over Rubicon Cnaeus Pompeius the Consulls the greater part of the Senate quitting the Citie and afterward Italy put over sea to Dyrrhachium But Caesar having in his power Domitius and the legions which were with him at Corfinium dismissing without delay their Commander and others that had a minde to goe to Pompey followed him to Brundusium so that it appeared that he had rather while all things stood entire and unhurt make an end of the warre by treatie than oppresse those that fled from him When hee found the Consulls were passed over the Sea he returned to the City there in the Senate and in a full assembly rendred an account of his intentions and his most miserable necessitie who was by the injurious armes of other men compelled to draw his sword Then he resolved to goe for Spaine but the haste of his journey Massilia did a while retarde with a faithfulnesse more entire than wisdome in Counsaile unseasonably taking upon them to judge of the principall forces of the side which they onely ought to take in their hand who have power to compell such as will not obey The army then which was commanded by Afranius of Consular and Patreius of Praetorian qualitie being mated with his comming his vigor and his glory rendred it selfe to him Both the Lievtenants and as many of every condition as would not follow them were dismissed and sent to Pompey CHAP. 51. Caesar goes into Greece after Pompey and besieges him in his campe The boldnesse of Balbus in going into the enemies armie Caesar shrewdly shaken in one encounter THe next yeare when Dyrrhachium and the countrie neere about it were possest by Pompeies campe who having sent for out of all the provinces beyond the seas the legions the auxiliaries both of horse and foot the forces of the Kings the Tetrarchs and also of the princes had gathered together a mightie army and held as he supposed the seas so guarded with his fleets that Caesar
the Generalls were abler than Lepidus and Antonius then many of them so long as hee was sober by â—he backe side of the Campe the â—ampire being throwne downe â—ee was by the souldiers admitâ—ed who in the name of the â—ommand did indeed give the â—recedence to Lepidus when all â—he power was in his owne â—ands When Antonius entred â—he quarter Inventius Laterensis â— man both in life and death â—he same when hee had most â—arnestly disswaded Lepidusâ—rom â—rom joyning himselfe with Antonius who was declared an enemie of the state his advice being rejected ranne himselfe thorow with his sword Then Plancus with uncertaine fidelity that is with his owne having a long time disputed with himselfe and scarce yeelding to his owne opinion and one while an assistant of Decius Brutus his fellow in office as designed Consull with him setting also himselfe to sale by his letters to the Senate and presently the betrayer of hiâ— Companion and Asinius Polliâ—â— that stood firme to his first intentions faithfull to the Iuliaâ— faction averse from the Pompeian did both of them deliver up their armies to Marcus Antonius CHAP. 64. Decius Brutus one of Caesars killers slaine by command of Antotonius And Ciceros orations against Antonius the cause of his being proscribed and slaine DEcius Brutus being first forsaken by Plancus and afterwards attempted by his treacheries his army by degrees falling off from him in his flight and in the house of a Nobleman with whom hee had a league of hospitality his name Cornelius by those that Antonius had sent for that purpose had his throat cut and so made a most just satisfaction and a speedy with his punishment to Caius Caesar that had of him deserved the best offices of whom hee was the murtherer when hee had beene the inwardest of all his friends and of the fortune whereof hee had reaped the fruit was content to tranferre the envie upon the author thereof holding it just for him to retaine what hee had received from Caesar and that Caesar who gave it should bee destroyed It was at this time that Marcus Tullius with continuall declamations against him did seare into the memorie of Antonius eternall brands of hatred to him yet hee with most glorious and heavenly eloquence but the Tribune Canutius with a perpetuated rage did flie out upon Antonius both of them with their deaths paid for their vindicating the Common liberty but with the Tribunes bloud the proscription began with the death of Cicero Antonius being then in a sort glutted it ended CHAP. 65. The instituting the Triumvirate betweene Octavius Antonius and Lepdius Ventidius who had once a Captive beene led in triumph that yeare in Consular robes who had beene formerly honoured with Praetorian and afterward triumphed LEpidus was then by the Senate declared an enemy to the state as before Antonius had bin Afterwards there began an intercourse of letters betweene Caesar Antonius and Lepidus and overtures made of agreement when both Antonius did now and then put Caesar in minde how infestious the Pompeian party was to him to what a height it was growne and also with how great care and industrie of Cicero Brutus and Cassius were advanced and withall professed that hee would joyne his forces with Brutus and Cassius who were now seventeene legions strong if Caesar did scorne his consortship adding withall that Caesar was more engaged in the revenge of his father than himselfe of his friend Then was there a society of their power agreed upon betweene them and their armies perswading and intreating it affinitie concluded betweene Caesar and Antonius the daughter in law of Antonius being betroathed to Caesar Caesar then entred his Consulship with Quintus Pedius his colleague the day before hee was twentie yeares old and the tenth of the Kalends of October seven hundred and nine yeares after the building of the City and seventy two yeares before thou Marcus Vinicius wert created Consull This yeare saw Ventidius in that City into which hee once had among the captive Picentines beene led in triumph coupling the young mans gowne with the Consular robes and the Praetors The same man also did here afterward triumph CHAP 66. The third proscription in which Caesar over-ruled by his two companions the death of Cicero his Eulogium ANtonius then full of rage equally with him Lepidus both of whom as we have said before had beene adjudged enemies to the State when each of them did more willingly heare what they had suffered than what they had merited Caesar opposing it but in vaine having two against him the proscription a mischiefe after Sylla his patterne was set on foot Not any thing was there in that time so unworthie as that either Caesar should bee compelled to proscribe any man or that Antonius should proscribe Cicero And by the villany of him It is the common saying or the people his head was cut off No man protecting and keeping him safe who for so many yeares together had defended both the publiquâ— safetie of the State and that also of many private Citizens Yet hast thou done nothing to purpose Marcus Antonius for indignation which my brest is not able to keepe from breaking out doth force me to quit the forme of my intended worke thou doest i say nothing to purpose in telling out the reward for the cutting of that most caelestiall and noblest head or with authorizing the slaughter of him that was once the preserver of the Republique and of a Consull so famous procuring the death Thou hast indeed deprived Marcus Cicero of the light of the sunne which made him full of cares shortned his old age and berest him of life to bee valued under thy principalitie at farre lower price than death in thy Triumvirate But his fame and the glory of his actions and speeches thou art so farre from taking from him that thou hast increased it It lives and shall live in the memory of all future ages And while this body of things existent in nature which whether by chance or by providence or how ever is setled shall stand which hee almost solely with the spirit of a Roman apprehended with his understanding did comprehend and with his eloquence did illuminate it shall carry with it the praise of a Cicero as the companion of that age and all posteritie shall both admire his writings against thee as well as with execrations detest thy fact for sooner shall mankinde faile in the earth than the glory of him and the horror of thee CHAP. 67. The carriage of wives freedmen servants and children towards those that were proscribed the foulenesse of the proscription of their nearest friends THe calamity of those times so impossible it is for any man in words to expresse as it is hard for any sufficiently to lament it This yet is to be observed that toward those which were proscribed there was found of some wives a singular faithfulnesse in freedmen an indifferent one in slaves now and then some
had ridden about Alexandria CHAP. 83. Plancus falls off from Antonius to Caesar His character and carriage after his revolt VVHile these preparations for warre are one foote Plancus not out of judgement to make election of the better part neither out of love of Caesar or the State for to all these he was perpetually adverse but infected as with a disease with treachery when hee had beene the basest flatterer of the Queene and an observer beneath the degree of her slaves when he had beene Antonius his Register and both the author and minister of the fithiest actions when he had to all men nd in every thing beene mercenary wsten naked and dyed of a sea-blew colour with his head crownd with reeds and dragging a long taile behinde him he had crept upon his knees and danced as Glaccus being checked by Antonius at a banquet for his manifest extortions fled unto Caesar And afterward iputing the clemency of the conquerour to his owne vertue used to say that Caesar when he had pardoned had well tryed it Titius did within a while immitate him who was his Vnckle Wittily did Caponius a man of Praetorian ranke who to his children was a father most precise carefull of their breeding the father in law of Silius answer Plancus when in the Senate he imputed many and those vile things to Antonius from whom he was lately fled upon my faith said he Antonius did many foule things the day before thou leftest him CHAP. 84. The sea preparation at Actium with the order of the Navies VVHen Caesar then and Messalla Corvinâ—s were Consulls the victory at Actium was gained where long before they came to fight the advantage of the day and the successe thereof was apparent on the Iulian side On this part both the souldier and the Commander were full of vigor and spirit on that all things languished on this were Kings most firme to the cause on that with their wants much disaffected There were ships great indeed but that could not move with any competent speed Here were others of a more dreadfull aspect From this side not one fled to Antonius from that to Caesar dayly some went over Finally in the sight of Antoniuâ— and as it were at his very beard by Marcus Agrippa was Leucas assaulted and carried Patros taken Corinth seazed upon and twice before the last and generall triall his fleete was beaten The King Amintas followed the better and more commodious course for Dellius in this warre also firme to his old fashion as hee had before from Dolobella turned to Caesar and Cnaeus Demitius a most eminent man who onely of all that sided with Antonius did never though with his great and most desperate hazard salute Cleopatra by the title of Queene but onely by her name came over to Caesar CHAP. 85. Caesars victory and the flight of Antonius after Cleopatra the rendring of the land forces to Caesar AT length the day of the maine triall came on in which Caesar and Antonius drawing out both their Navies fought the one for the preservation of the world the other for the ruine thereof The right wing of the Iulian Navie was governed by Marcus Latius the last by Arruntius the command in chiefe of the whole sea fight rested upon Agrippa Caesar designing to himselfe the place to which fortune should call him was in every part present Antonius his fleet was commanded by Publicola and Sosius As for the forces at land those of Caesars part were commanded by Taurus and Antonies by Candius when the fight began there was on the one side all things necessary the Generall Saylors or Rowers and souldiers on the other nothing but the souldiers Cleopatra began first of all to flie and Antonius did choose rather to beare the Queene company in her flight than his souldiers in fighting for him And being Generall who ought to punish runawayes severely did himselfe runne away from his owne souldiers Their constancy in fighting most bravely even when they had lost their head that should have directed them did long continue and when they dispaired of victory they fought to dye But Caesar desiring to reduce them to quiet thoughts by words whom he might have ruined with the sword calling to them and shewing them that Antonius was fled asked them for whom and with whom they would now fight But they when they had fought a long time for their Generall that was absent with much a doe and hardly laying downe their armes yeelded the victory and Caesar did more readily promise them pardon and life than they could bee perswaded to crave it And by all men it was acknowledged that the souldiers had done the duty of the bravest Generall and the Generall behaved himselfe as the most cowardly souldier So that thou mayest make a doubt whether he would have governed the victory by his owne or Cleopatra's discretion that was by her pleasure directed in his flight CHAP. 86. Caesars clemency after the victory Pollio his faire respect to Caesar as his Prince to Antonius as his benefactor THe same course also was taken by the army at land after Canidius with an inconsiderate flight had whirled after Antonius who is hee that in the cursitory way of this so contracted a worke dares take upon him to expresse what that day did beneficiall for the whole world out of what and into what an estate the fortune of the Common wealth did remove But the victory was used with all clemency very few were they who were put to death and those indeed which durst not so much as crave their lives Out of which lenity of the Generall it may well be collected what he would have made the effect of his victory either in the beginning of his Triumvirate or in the Philippian fields if it had beene in his owne power ******* at length with much wrestling for it the clemency of Caesar preserved him Let me not over-passe the memorable both fact and deed of Asinius Pollio For when after the peace of Brundusium he had still remained in Italy and had neither seene the Queene nor after the mind of Antonius was by her love enfeebled had medled with his faction Caesar requiring him to goe with him to the bataile of Actium My merits said he towards Antonius are greater but his favours to me better knowne I therefore will withdraw my selfe from your hazards and rest here a prey for the Conquerour CHAP. 87. Antonius his death at Alexandria presently after Cleopatra's None put to death by Caesar after the victory THe next yeare Caesar pursuing the Queene and Antonius to Alexandria did put the last hand to the civill warre Antonius did and that not timerously kill himselfe So as by his death he did seeme to wipe of many spots of his former faintnesse But Cleopatra abusing her gardians having an Aspick brought into her did by the biing thereof free from all womanish feare put an end to her life A thing it was worthy of both
remembred broke out in his owne house For Iulia his daughter totaly forgetting the greatnesse of both her father and her husband did leave nothing unassaied either in riot or lusts that a woman might or do or suffer filthily And measured the greatnesse of her fortune by her libertie of sinning accounting all lawfull that she had a minde to Iulius Antonius a singular instance of Caesars clemency being then the polluter of his house was also the revenger himselfe of the villany committed by him whom when his father was vanquished hee had not onely estated in a full security of his life but had also conferred upon him the Priesthood Praetorship the Consulship provinces and honours and more had in the strictest bonds of affinitie received him into his bosome by the honour of marying him to his sisters daughter And Quintus Crispinus vayling his crime with the austeritie of a sowre brow Appius Claudius Sempronius Gracchus Scipio with other of lesser note and of both the orders of Knights and Senators as if they had but corrupted the wife of any private man when they had defiled the daughter of Augustus and the wife of Nero suffered according to law Iulia being banished into an Iland was removed out of the eye of her father and her country whom yet her mother Scribonia accompanied remained with her as her fellow exile though voluntary CHAP. 101. Caius Caesar sent into the East-parlies with the Parthian in an Island in the midst of Euphrates Feasts and is feasted by him WIthin a little time after this when Caius Caesar having before had the charge of quieting other provinces was sent into Syria first visiting Tiberius Nero to whom as his superiour hee yeelded all respect he there in such various fashion carried himselfe as there was not wanting occasion and reason to praise him very highly nor yet some cause to discommend him Hee came to an interview with the Parthian King a most stately young man in an Island which the river Euphrates compassed about their number on both sides being equall Which shew being very brave and memorable of the Romane army standing on this the Parthian on that side when the two most eminent chiefes of Empires and men in the world did meet together it was my chance to see in the beginning of my souldiership being then a Tribune oâ— the souldiers which place having held before under Marcus Vinitius thy father and undeâ— Publius Sillius in Thracia and Macedonia and since in Achaia Asia and all the Easterne provinces with the mouth and both the sides of the Ponticke sea 〈◊〉 now do enjoy no unpleasing remâ—â—braÌ„ce of so many affaires places â— Nations and Cities The Parthian first feasted with us on our side And afterward Caius was entertained by the King on the enemies shore CHAP. 102. Marcus Lollius sent by Augustus supervisor to young Caius discovered in his treacheries kills himselfe Caius wounded by Abduus at a treatie enfeebled both in minde and body and upon his returne dies at Limira his brother being before dead at Massilia AT which time the treacherous devices and such as were to bee found onely in a crafty and mischievous soule of Marcus Lollius who was appointed by Augustus as the Moderator of his sonnes youth being first discovered by the Parthian were afterward by Caesars displeasure made knowne His death which within a few daies afterward followed whether it were accidentall or voluntary I cannot tell But as much as men rejoyced at his death so much did the City grievously lament within a little after the losse of Censorinus who dyed in the same parts a man that seemed borne to purchase the good will of all man kinde Caius then entering Armenia at the first beginning carried his businesse fortunately enough but within a while comming to a partie in which he in considerately had engaged himselfe he neere Artagena was sore wounded by one Abdius Vpon which hurt as his body was the weaker so his minde began to be lesse able for affaires of State Nor was there wanting the conversation of men that fed his vices with their assentation for flattery doth perpetually attend upon the greatest fortunes By which meanes hee was brought to that passe that in the uttermost and remotest corner of the world hee would rather have drawne out his daies to old age than returne to Rome Having long strugled against it and unwillingly returning toward Italy he in a City of Lycia called Limira died of sicknesse when his brother Caesar now almost three yeares before being bound for Spaine was dead at Massilia CHAP. 103. Tiberius Caesar adopted by Augustus BVt fortune which had taken away the hope of a mightie name did now at length restore to the Republique her owne guardes and safety for when Publius Vinicius thy father was Consull before the death of these two brothers Tiberius Nero returning from Rhodes had filled his countrey with incredible joy Neither did Augustus Caesar long demurre upon it for it was not to bee enquired who was to be chosen but he was to be chosen that was most eminent what therefore after the death of Lucius when Caius was yet living he would have done but was hindred the rein by Nero his stiffenesse in refusing it after the decease of both the young men he put in execution That hee both tooke him into the fellowship of the Tribunitiall power with himselfe and being Consull with Elius Catus Sentius the fifth of the Kalends of Iuly seven hundred fiftie and foure yeares after the building of the City now twentie and seven yeares since hee adopted him for his sonne The rejoycing of that day the concourse of the Citizens the prayers of those which did almost with their hands lay hold upon the gods and the hope of perpetuall tranquillity and the eternity of the Roman empire wee can scarce fully expresse in that compleate worke which wee doe intend let us not then goe about to doe it to the life in this One onely thing I am content now to deliver that then there appeared cleerely to fathers a hope of enjoying their children to husbands their wives to owners of their patrimony to all men of safety quiet peace and tranquillity so that neither could any hope expect more nor be more happily answered CHAP. 104. Agrippa also the sonne of Iulia adopted by Augustus the same day Tiberius sent to command in the German warre by the souldiers received with all joy THe same day also was adopted Marcus Agrippa the sonne of Iulia whom she bare after the death of Agrippa but in the adoption of Nero this was added by Caesar himselfe that he did it for the Common wealths sake Not long did his countrey hold him in the Citie the Protector and guardian of the Empire but presently sent him into Germany where three yeares before under Marcus Vinicius thy Grandfather a most worthy man a furious warre had broken out and by him was happily managed in some places invading in others