is oppos'd to the Admiral the Affection of the People to the Souldier's Rebellion but if a Minister be General of an Army Superintendent of the Treasury Admiral or if these Charges are at his disposal what is there that he cannot do if faithful he is formidable if unfaithful he is King Parmenio and Philotas were Masters of the Empire one General of the Cavalry the other of a whole Army the former Governor of several Provinces Superintendent of the Treasury having in all Battels the command of one Wing the latter awing the great Ones a Favorite and Arbiter of his Prince's Life The immense Riches of Philotas the great number of Creatures of all sorts and conditions inseparably linked to his Fortune his Authority in the Armies almost equalling the King's might well induce him young as he was cruel full of delicacy and pride to conspire the death of Alexander the only Let to him in his way to the highest pitch of Grandeur Add to these the Love of a Woman the true cause of his destruction Antigone of a noble Birth an excellent Beauty a sweet Nature a lively pleasant charming Spirit was one of those illustrious Prisoners that the Governor of Damascus delivered to Permenio with all the Treasures Darius had committed to his disloyal custody This fair Slave made her self Mistress of Philotas his Liberty he forgot that he had all power over her and shamefully submitted himself to her Laws That pride that contempt that made him but a little before despise Darius his Nobles the chiefest of the Macedonians and equal himself to his King chang'd it self immediately into submissions to his own Captive he became fearful as are the greatest part of Lovers and thought himself unworthy of her because he was not Alexander The violence of his Passion rouzes in his Heart a vehement desire of making himself King impatient of enjoying Antigone he despairs of possessing her unless he share the Empire with her At the Wars egg'd on with great Love and Courage he exposes himself to dangers more than ordinary he is liberal to prodigality gentle affable gains the Hearts of his Souldiers cloaths himself like them accommodates himself to their Manners protects them is belov'd and reigns already over the whole Army But so many good Qualities were produc'd by Love which being blind can never guide Lovers in their Conduct and in his Reason and Prudence had no share At Table in his Bed in the midst of good Cheer and Imbracements he begins to celebrate his Actions Alexander could not recompence them with a Kingdom large enough for his Ambition Philotas looks on him no longer as his Benefactor accuses him of Injustice speaks insolently of him debases this great Monarch ascribes all his Conquests to Parmenio le ts scape some injurious Language the most clear-sighted penetrate into his Designs and suspect his Loyalty Perhaps he might think that he discharg'd his Heart into the Bosom of a Woman amorous and discreet A strange thing that so many Examples of Infidelity cannot make Lovers suspicious of the usual Inconstancy of their Mistresses Fickle Antigone ceases to love Philotas and betrays him She must destroy him to preserve her new Lover She thinks it her securest way to acquaint Alexander with the imminent danger threatning him Craterus whom the King honour'd particularly with his Favour jealous of Philotas his Glory and an Enemy to his Grandeur seeks occasion to ruin him which Antigone proffers him and tells him all that miserable Wretch had discover'd to her of his Mind during the most tender moments of their privacy As it is impossible that the Dust cast into the Wind should not be scatter'd so it is very difficult for a Secret intrusted with a Woman young handsom and amorous not to be divulg'd She longs to know that that 's kept from her and when she knows it desires as much to publish it She is ardent in her Pursuit treacherous after Enjoyment cruel in her new Love No kindness can retain her the remembrance of a Man she has lov'd tenderly and amorously embrac'd affects her not like the Earth that darkens the Sun from whence it receives its warmth But if there be any thing firm in the tenderness of her Sentiments happy is the Man that has her she is an inexhaustible Sourse of Pleasures Craterus glad to destroy his Enemy by preserving the Life of his King runs to Alexander and gives him an account of what he had heard Antigone is call'd and is not asham'd to publish her own Infamy and the secret of a Man that so intirely lov'd her The King nevertheless dissembles whether it were that the consideration of Parmenio's great Services his unbyass'd Friendship his incorrupted Loyalty inclin'd him to Clemency or whether it were that he thought Philotas innocent or feared too lightly to condemn upon the bare testimony of a slave the fidelity of an ancient Servant most passionate for his Glory one of his chief Captains and Confidents adored by the Souldiers for his Liberality and Magnificence But Fortune that took a particular care of Alexander and prepar'd for him new Conquests discover'd the whole Intreigue of a most horrid Plot. Dymnus one in no great Authority at Court but of a stout Heart and great Spirit was one of those that had conspir'd the King's Death he was so in love with a young Youth call'd Nicomachus that he could not but intrust him with a Secret upon which depended his own safety and that of so many Persons of Quality who were concern'd in the Enterprize He declares it to him and endeavours to perswade him to make one as well from the consideration of their Friendship as from that of his future Grandeur after the Attempt He Weeps Caresses Threatens Urges and sometimes promising him a Kingdom sometimes setting the Image of Death before his Eyes if he refuse to hold with them Would'st thou have says he my dear Nichomachus a greater Testimony of my Affection I trust my Life to thy Faith and I call thee to be a sharer in the Empire of all Asia This young Youth bearing a great love towards his King was seized with horror at a Crime so full of cruelty he protests he 'l never be wanting to his Duty to the Loyalty he owes his Master that all he can do for his Friend is not to ruin him if he 'l repent of so great a wickedness Dymnus stood wavering between Love and Fear at length setting his Sword at his Friend's Brest calling him sometimes Coward sometimes Traitor he was going to begin with him the execution of his Design but that the young Man in a fright promis'd more than he was ask'd He feigned therefore a resolution to execute the Enterprize and desired to know the number and quality of the Conspirators Dymnus full of joy that he had gain'd him names Peucolaus Nicanor Aphaebetus Loceus Demetrius Dioxenus Archepolis and Amyntas 'T is certain he made no mention of Philotas who I am
A SCHOOL FOR PRINCES OR Political Reflections upon three Conspiracies preceding the Death of Alexander the Great Translated out of French by A. O. TF â—ONDON Printed for Thomas Fabian at the Bible in St. Pauls Church-yard 1680. Preface A Preface being no more than a Door giving entrance to a Tractate I shall here only just follow that Notion and briefly present to view the Subject of the ensuing Treatise Three Conspiracies preceding the Death of Alexander the Great are here at large represented with Political Reflections upon every remarkable Occurrence The chief of the first Conspiracy is Philotas a Favorite of his Prince and General of the Cavalry his Ambition gives Birth to his Disloyalty and Dymnus a Confederate his Affection towards Nicomachus a Youth of his Acquaintance discovers him The Author of the second Conspiracy is Hermolaus a Youth one of the King's Pages The Occasion His receiving Blows for killing a Wild Boar the King was going to encounter with his Spear His Design ready to take effect is strangely prevented by the intervening of a Woman inspir'd with a Prophetick Spirit and totally disclosed by Epimenes one of his Associates either out of Fear towards their Gods or purely for Avarice The third and last Conspiracy is promoted by Antipater for being at the instances of Olympias the King's Mother removed from his Government of Macedonia None are ingaged in this Conspiracy but Antipater and his three Sons Cassander Jollas and Philip And Jollas Alexander ' s chief Cup-bearer taking the opportunity of a Feast at Babylon poisons Hercules his Cup of which Alexander drinks and in a miserable manner breaths out the remaining minutes of his Life A. O. A SCHOOL FOR PRINCES HE that writes the Life and Death of Princes may be liken'd to a Painter that has drawn a Picture side-wayes representing two several things according as it is view'd on either side The Life of great Ones consider'd on the one side by Philosophers appears to them full of Troubles and a Happiness not to be desir'd On the other side Politicians admire in it Soveraign Power and laughing at those false Sages that never knew the worth of it reverence in a Monarch the inestimable Act of ruling Men. So likewise at the death of a Prince the Cynique exagerates the vanity of great Ones but the true Sage contemplates their End as the Limits of Glory and the birth of a new Grandeur 'T is not my design to write the Lives of Princes we read in divers Authors both Ancient and Modern all that the most expert can imagine upon the Art of Governing I shall only tie my self to the consideration of divers Events commonly preceeding accompanying or following their Death History is like a Theatre on which is represented the inconstancy of Fortune there shall we find Subjects Paricides of their Soveraigns and Soveraigns precipitating themselves from a Throne to an Abyss of Misery Sometimes there 's more Bloodshed at the death of Kings than Tears their Funerals are disturb'd by the noise of Trumpets and the clashing of glittering Arms dissipates in a moment the cloudy preparations of a Funeral-pomp so that the memory of him whom but a little before invironed with Glory and Majesty every one ador'd becomes then an abomination It may not therefore be unseasonable to draw this two-sided Portraiture Policy and Morality shall work together the latter austere and rough shall cover the Heavens with Clouds and dart down Thunderbolts on the Heads of Princes the former more clear and dextrous shall avert the Storm and shew them a Sanctuary So that when one shall frighten a Prince with an imminent Danger the other shall presently give him the Hand and it shall be easy for him to avoid the Danger if he make but good use of Political Precepts All that we can imagine most exquisite in Policy the subtilest Discourses upon the Art of Governing the acutest Precepts cannot make an Impression strong enough upon the Spirit an example of what is past prevails upon it farther than the fear of what 's to come Experience perswades with greater ease than meditation and we are more inclin'd to imitate great Actions that have bin already executed than to be the first Enterprisers of them the Event is not at all fear'd where others have bin prosperous but where they have bin successless there the Sage avoids falling into the same misfortune 'T is for this Reason I have chosen for the Subject of my Work the History of a Prince whom Fortune Merit and Reputation have advanc'd above all others and whose Actions ought to be of more Authority Never was there Prince more happy all his Life nor more constantly favoured by Fortune but after he had finish'd his course he might be reckon'd the unhappiest of all Princes if there be after Death any sentiment of earthly things I speak of Alexander the Great Kings ought to imitate his Vertues which none more eminently possess'd and at the same time abominate the Vices he plung'd himself into without any respect to his Rank or consideration for the esteem of Men. The Discreet will admire his judicious and clear Conduct and cannot but be transported at the irregularity of his Manners Never was there any had a better Birth greater Grandeur or truer Merit nor was there ever any with such notorious Vices so contrary to such a Merit Birth and Grandeur Was there ever seen a Prince more glorious more admir'd by Strangers or more often outrag'd by his Friends in whom he most confided When Fortune made him Master of the Universe hardly could he secure himself from Domestick Treasons 't is true he ran headlong to his own ruin and I find not in any History an example of such Heroick Virtue and such a prostitution to all sorts of Vices If then the remembrance of a Recompence is capable to engage the Spirit of a Man to perform Actions full of Virtue and Glory and if a sight of the Miseries that accompany Vice can frighten and deter without doubt there 's no History more clear than this to direct Princes in their Conduct Alexander's Death was preceeded by three Conspiracies accompanied with a jealousy for Superiority among his Captains and follow'd with the ruin of that great Empire The different Events that compose this History the general Desolation of several Kingdoms the malignity of Fortune and the unexpected dismal Accidents will furnish Princes with most necessary Precepts both Moral and Politick and though it may seem that all things are absolutely subject to the Order of Fate yet 't is very much for a Monarch's Glory when the Revolution of his States cannot be imputed unto him but only to that fatal and inevitable necessity that the prudence of Man cannot alter As for the rest though the Macedonians and all those other Nations conquer'd by Alexander had Laws and Customs quite different from ours they excell'd in the Art of Government Policy is from all Ages I come therefore now to
young Macedonian Nobility I have committed to his trust my Safety Hopes and Victories I have advanc'd his Father to the same degreee you advanc'd me I have given him the Government of Media the Richest of our Provinces with an absolute command over thousands of our Citizens and Allies In fine those from whom I expected most defence have bin the forwardest to ruin me Far better is it to fall at the Head of an Army by valiant Enemies than to be butcher'd in a Camp by treacherous Subjects Preserv'd from Perils I had reason to be afraid of I am now fallen into those I never fear'd Souldiers you have oftentimes desir'd me to have a care of my Life have a care of it now your selves I put my self into your hands I have recourse to your Arms I will not live except you desire it which if you do shew it in avenging me Then Philotas was introduc'd in Chains his Head cover'd with an old Cloth 'T was observ'd he was in that condition look'd on with pity by even those who not long before had envied him They had seen him the day before General of the Cavalry they knew he Supp'd the same Evening with the King and now they saw him at the same time Guilty Condemn'd and loaded with Chains They consider'd likewise the strange Fortune of Parmenio that great Captain who lately had lost two of his Sons Hector and Nicanor and would then shortly hear the sad News of his only remaining Son's Condemnation and of his own Process being made in his absence These Reflections made the Assembly incline to pity But Amyntas exasperated them afresh against Philotas telling them That they were betray'd to the Barbarians that they were in danger of never seeing their own Country their Relations their Wives that they were like to be a Body without a Head without Life without a Name expos'd in a strange Country to the derision of their Enemies This Speech though it prevailed against Philotas was not very pleasing to the King who lik'd not that his Souldiers should be discourag'd by the remembrance of their Country and their Wives Caenus Brother-in-Law to Philotas inveighed against him more violently then any He call'd him Traitor to his King to his Country to the Army and took up a great Stone to throw at his Head some have thought this was only to free him from those Torments that were prepared for him but the King holding his hand told him That the Prisoner should have liberty to speak for himself and that he would not otherwise suffer him to be condemn'd Philotas therefore is order'd to plead his own Cause But whether it were remorse of Conscience or fear of Death he dar'd not so much as look up or open his Mouth He shed Tears in abundance and fainted away in the Arms of him that held him They wip'd his Eyes brought him to himself and he was going to speak which the King perceiving The Macedonians said he shall be thy Judges tell me whether thou intendest to use the Language of thy own Country There are here answered Philotas many that are not Macedonians who will understand me better if I use the same Language you have done without doubt on purpose to be understood of most Observe says Alexander Philotas his arrogance he disdains to speak our Language as if he were asham'd of being born a Macedonian No matter let him speak how he will only remember Souldiers that our Customs and Manners are an abomination to him those of the Barbarians very agreeable Men are equally inclin'd to oppress the Great and to pity the miserable A strange thing if you are happy you are persecuted by envy if you are unhappy you are pitied by every one but none comforts you Caenus who had greater Interest than any to preserve the Honour and Life of Philotas whose Sister he had married is the first that rises up against him 't is not enough to call him Traitor to his King to his Country to the Army he is the first that takes up a Stone to throw at his Head Many have believ'd that it was then his intention to have him ston'd that so he might escape more cruel Tortures But the more expert who have try'd the Treachery and Inhumanity of the greatest part of Relations doubted not but that Caenus would have stifled the Compassion Philotas his Misfortune had bred in the Hearts of the Souldiers which taking force through the Grandeur of his Merit and the power of his Oration might at last cause him to be declar'd Innocent Caenus was one of the Council when Philotas his Death was resolv'd upon and spake not one word to justify him neither acquainted he him of this Consult for fear it may be he should suspect him or others look on him as a Traitor to his King thus far he is worthier of Praise than Censure He should have detested the Crime but not condemn'd the Criminal he should have executed Alexander's Orders but not inflam'd his Choler and Revenge As foâ— me I am ready to think that thâ— ambition of augmenting his Fortune from the ruins of Philotus's the Inheritance of the immense Riches of his Brother-in-Law a Grandeur o'retopping his induc'd him to press his Execution Thus does Interest triumph in base Spirits over Duty and Friendship thus is private hatred cover'd with the Vail of Justice thus are the Sacred Laws of Equity made Instruments of Wrath and Vengeance Certainly Alexander merits eternal Praise for with-holding Caenus his Hand Though he ardently desir'd Philotas his Death he defers it till the Army that might have declar'd him innocent has had perfect intelligence of his Crime He rather chuses to rescue Philotas from being tortur'd and to deliver him over to be judged by the Macedonians than to oppress him by his own Authority Alexander having ended his Accusation withdrew from the Assembly A Prince should never be present at the condemnation of a Criminal nor at any thing else that may make him be esteemed cruel and insensible So that leaving to the Judges the liberty of Condemning or Absolving he will acquire himself in the Hearts of the People the reputation of being Just He will avoid likewise shewing favour to the Criminal which 't is dangerous to refuse being requested by an Assembly touched with Compassion Tho severity in a Prince when it proceeds not to cruelty as in my Opinion more proper than Clemency to attract the Fear and Love of his Subjects it concerns nevertheless the Policy of a great Monarch seldom to refuse these sorts of Favours which are a great proof of his Power and Bounty But it concerns his Prudence too to avoid the persecution of the Criminal's Friends or Relations by a prompt execution of the Sentence passed by the Judges Philotas having liberty to speak said thus As naked Truth without disguise has much more force than an Eloquent and Elaborate Discourse so Innocence ought not to seek out words for its Defence I
if I hold my Peace I am look'd on as a Criminal what should I do them Presently one of the Company cry'd out Not conspire against the Life of your Prince and Benefactor Whosoever thou art thou hast spoken wisely answered Philotas and if I am guilty of that Crime I condemn my self to the worst of punishments And here I make an end since you seem unmov'd at the consideration of my Misfortunes and my last words have kindled your Choler Philotas his last words seemed neither to proceed from a Man that was innocent nor from one that had that courage he should have in the worst of Fortunes A good Conscience never despairs in bad Fortune had but Philotas guilty as he was had the confidence to answer with more vigor his Innocence would not have bin doubted the Souldiers would have bin incited to compassion A bold and resolute word utter'd in the midst of the horrors of Death has preserv'd many a Criminal's Life Nothing so easily perswades a multitude as the constancy of a great courage Without doubt Philotas his Tears and Fainting were Testimonies of his Crime as they were tokens of his Despair or Repentance His Guards had no sooner convey'd him from the Assembly but Belon a stern Man and of a base Extract who had rais'd himself to several Charges by his Valour spake to the Souldiers with greater animosity against Philotas than had bin observed in Alexander in manner following Is it possible that Macedonians who have always abhor'd Treachery should be touch'd with compassion for a Traitor to his King and Country What has he done to deserve your Clemency Have you not had sufficient proof of his Pride of his Cruelty of the Impudence of his Domesticks How often when we have bin tired has he interrupted our repose by the noise of a number of Slaves following at his Heels He that drove the Macedonians from his Tent because he would have no noise Which of you could ever speak to him without an Interpreter as if he only were born in Macedonia and all of us Barbarians Did he ever make you sensible of his Favours He that after Battel always loaded his Wagons with the Fruit of our Labours and our Conquests May we not be asham'd that we have hitherto continu'd his Slaves who has so long abused the King's Favour and our Patience He would have Hammon tell the truth and yet he reckoned him an Impostor for owning Alexander for his Son Did this Traitor consult Jupiter when he conspired against the Life of his King He would only gain â—imâ— to give his Father Intelligence that he may come down upon us with all the Forces he can raise in Media Let us send to the Oracle not to search a Truth we are already sufficiently inform'd of but to return thanks for Alexander's being preserv'd from the Snares of this Traitor There needed not all this to incense the Assembly there was none appeared concern'd for Philotas his misery they all unanimously breath'd Revenge the King's Guard cried out They should let them tear the Parricide in pieces But his Enemies reserv'd him for more cruel Tortures The King having refer'd his Sentence till the next day called a Council to advise whether it were better to have him first tortur'd or immediately delivered over to be Ston'd This last Opinion was most humane and had bin followed but that the cruelty of Hephaestion Craterus and Caenus was more prevalent They were for having him tortured and charg'd themselves with the execution All the Instruments of Torture were set before Philotas his Eyes at which the miserable Wreth shaking for fear cried out That Rack was needless since he confess'd his Crime that he had conspir'd against the Life of Alexander that he would have taken it from him if he could that they should therefore speedily give him the Death he deserved But Craterus glad of an opportunity to exercise his private revenge persisted in it that they must extort from him who were his Confederates In vain did he implore the Gods of his Country and the King's Mercy He was put to the Rack his Judges were his Enemies and Tormentors Scourges and Fire could hardly satisfy their fury A strange thing Philotas but a little before despairing at the sight of his Punishment was as it were insensible in the midst of Torment The pain he endur'd could not wrest one word from him and he suffered all that cruelty and vengeance could invent till such time as mangled all over he promised to discover what he knew His Tormentors were ordered to retire Then addressing himself to Craterus Tell me says he what thou wouldst have me say There 's no greater trouble than that of being exposed to the vengeance of Enemies the Soul feels greater pain than the Body groaning under the cruelty of Tortures Philotas who indured the Rack without giving one groan could not refrain his Choler Craterus not well brooking this derision calls again for his Tormentors Then Philotas vanquish'd by the rigor of his Stripes and infeebled by the great quantity of Blood he had lost demanded respit and began afterwards to tell them how that Hegelochus a Man of courage and ambitious who died at the last Battel not induring to worship Alexander as the Son of Jupiter resolved to take away his Life and not being able continu'd he to accomplish so great a Design himself he endeavour'd to engage my Father and me it What said Hegelochus shall we live under the tyranny of a Monster Who though he is the wicked'st of Men is not asham'd to trace his Original from the Gods If he have the confidence to abuse Jupiter himself then what can we expect from his Vanity His Pride was insupportable to us before the Oracle's ananswer and since 't is grown to that height of insolence that not content with our Blood and Lives he requires from us a base complaisance nothing lâ—ss than adoration Parmenio pursu'd Philota was very much astonished at this Discourse the next day he talk'd with me about it and not knowing whether Hegelochus had bin transported with Choler or warmed with Wine he sent a Messenger to desire him to come to him Being come he said the same he had done the Evening before and as it seem'd with more resolution adding That if we would be the chief of the Conspiracy he would undertake to execute it Parmenio and I having given him our Faith thought it best to wait till the death of Darius that all the Orient might be the reward of that Enterprize As for that of Dymnus I swear by the Life of Alexander I never knew any thing of it And why should I disown an Attempt that would be no greater Crime than the other His Judges thought he had not said enough yet They had him tortur'd a-fresh and Craterus who had not fully satisfied his revenge was glad of having further time to exercise his fury against him In fine Philotas finding himself no longer
able to undergo the violence of his Tortures confess'd That he was the Head of that last Conspiracy that his Fathers Age and Authority had equally induc'd him to it that seeing him Head of a powerful Army Master of Media and the King's Treasury and fearing further that if he did not make haste Parmenio's Death might deprive him of the opportunity of making himself King he had conceived this execrable Design As for the rest that Parmenio was no ways guilty that he never had communicated his Intention to him for proof of which they might if they would put him again to the Rack His Judges fearing he might expire in his Tortures were oblig'd to let them cease to reserve him for a death more ignominious as it was publick They returned therefore to the King and acquainted him with the Criminal's Confession Alexander commanded them to bring him the next day to the Assembly desiring that he might own what he had said in the presence of the Macedonians Philotas his Deposition was then publickly read and acknowledged by him and Demetrius one of his principal Confederates was introduc'd Never did the most Innocent Man appear more concern'd for a Reproach cast upon him than Demetrius guilty as he was seem'd offended at the Examination made into his Crime which he disown'd with all the confidence of a good Conscience and proffer'd himself to be rack'd to shew his Innocence His impudence stir'd up Philotas his Choler who looking round about him spied a young Man called Calis and asked him How he could suffer Demetrius to stand so impudently in a Lye Calis whose imprudence brought him thither knew not what to answer and the Macedonians believed that Philotas accus'd as well the Innocent as Guilty But as soon as the Youth saw himself incompass'd with Guards he confess'd his Crime and charg'd Demetrius Calis his Confession shews how false it is what some Authors have written touching Philotas his Innocence For how could he know that this young Man was of the Conspiracy if he were not in it himself since neither Ceballinus nor Nicomachus nam'd him Pholotas and all his Confederates according to the custom of Macedonia were immediately slain with Stones whilst this miserable Wretch had the power to disown so detestable a Crime The Souldiers were touch'd with his Misfortune A little more constancy would have sav'd him from Death 'T is most certain Alexander ran the risk of losing his Life and of seeing all his Souldiers revolt They were inclined to Sedition they pitied the deplorable Condition of Parmenio whom they loved as their Father and his Son had never bin sacrificed to the fury of his Enemies had he but continued firm But when they saw that he confess'd Conspiracy upon Conspiracy Crime upon Crime their Pity was converted into Rage and they all massacred him as a Parricide The Macedonians had a cruel custom When any of them was convicted for conspiring the Death of their King that attempt was not only punish'd in the Person of the Criminal but his Relations receiv'd the same Punishment Almost all the Persons of Quality and brave Souldiers in Alexander's Army were either Philotas his Relations Friends or Confederates For fear of meeting with the same Entertainment some of them provided for their security by flight and others despairing of theirs kill'd themselves Without doubt the misfortune of so many brave Men would have rais'd a tumult in the Camp had not Alexander proclaim'd a Pardon to all the Conspirators Relations Amyntas and Simmias were excepted The flight of Polemon their younger Brother was the pretext of their disgrace the true cause the strict friendship they had always had with Philotas The King on his account bestowed several Favors on them and the care this unfortunate Man took to raise his Friends brought them into the same misery with himself Alexander perswading himself that they were of the Conspiracy endeavour'd to have them condemn'd as well as the rest He represented therefore to his Souldiers That he had reason long since to suspect the fidelity of Amyntas and his Brothers that his Mother Olympias had given him notice of their evil Intentions that the private Conferences between them and Philotas increased his suspicion that the flight of their Brother was the effect of a bad Conscience that they had bin all three not long since with him had dismiss'd the rest of their Company and would have executed their Design but that the Guards coming in prevented them that the day before Philotas was taken Antiphanes Commissary of the Horse having demanded Horses from Amyntas for those that wanted them he had insolently refus'd them and threatned him besides that this arrogancy could proceed from nothing else but their conspiring his Death and the hopes they had of accomplishing their Design on the Morrow That in fine after so many proofs of their perfidiousness there was no place left for Doubts Amyntas was brought forth into the presence of the Army and having obtained liberty to defend himself he desired that his Chains might be taken off and a Javelin given him which was done accordingly as a sure presage of favour for these badges of Honour give encouragement to speak whereas a Criminal groaning under the weight of his Chains commonly makes but a languishing harangue of little efficacy to stir up the compassion of his Judges Amyntas full of hopes represented That the friendship he had with Philotas could not with justice be imputed to him as a Crime that after that manner the chiefest of the Court would be found guilty that from that height of Fortune the favour of Alexander had seated him in he had attracted the respect or envy of every one that none being able to purchase the King's Favour if he were not supported by the friendship and protection of Philotas 't was no strange thing that every one should court him that they had with Alexander esteem'd his Zeal his Courage the Grandeur of his Services his Father's Merit but that they detested his Crime that they had had private Conferences with him but that this had bin all along their custom In fine That they had hated Philotas when they knew him a Parricide and disloyal as much as they had loved him whilst a happy Favorite and Arbiter of the Fortune of the Macedonians He added That if he were guilty for refusing Horses to Antiphanes the other was no less for demanding them that he had but two which Antiphanes would have taken away by force though he could not spare them without being reduced to the necessity of fighting on foot among the Cavalry For the rest that the suspicions of Olympias were to be suspected for that being sent into Macedonia he had by Alexander's Order drawn out Troops thence contrary to the Queen's pleasure that from his Obedience and Services sprang the resentment of Olympias that they should therefore punish him for having faithfully served his King and obeyed his Orders Amyntas was interrupted by
the noise of those that brought back his Brother Polemon bound in Chains The Multitude seeing him in the condition of a Criminal could hardly forbear stoning him But the young Man for despair of having thus exposed his Brothers proffer'd to die on condition their Lives might be preserv'd As he was extream beautiful and had committed no other Fault but flying all the Souldiers were so mov'd at his Repentance that they unanimously cried out These brave Men deserved their Pardon Alexander was prevail'd with but Amyntas was inexorable the King commanded him at last to forgive Polemon as he had done and so dismiss'd the Assembly Polydamus was Parmenio's chiefest Friend in Battel he had him always at his side to make him as it were participant of his Glory he had inrich'd him with his Favours and had more confidence in him than any Alexander causing him to be called commanded him to bring in his Brothers whom he kept as Hostages and spake to him in manner following Parmenio's attempt has wrong'd you more than any for under shadow of Justice and Zeal for my Service he has particularly oblig'd you to his Interests All his Favours all his Friendship tended to no other end than to corrupt you and to render you a Complice to his Treachery 'T is you therefore that must revenge his Infidelity and the Ingratitude he has shewn towards me See what confidence I have in you that I have chosen you to carry these Letters to my Lieutenants in Media You shall present two to Parmenio one from me and one from his Son for I have his Seal he will not doubt of any thing when he sees you In the mean time I will keep your Brothers as Pledges to assure me of your Faith and when you have executed my Orders your fidelity shall be rewarded Polydamas was so allarm'd when the King caused him to be called and commanded him to bring in his Brothers that he utterly despaired of Life because of the intimate friendship between him and Parmenio Thinking therefore on nothing more than the danger he had escaped and forgetting what he owed his Friend he promised Alexander more than he required Here you may observe the Frailty of Court-friendship Interest gives it its Original and Fortune changes it every moment If you are happy you are ador'd if you are miserable you are insulted over Polydamus imploys all diligence arrives in Media by Night and instantly delivers the King's Letters to his Lieutenants Upon which they immediately assemble in Cleander's Apartment and deliberate on means to take away Parmenio's Life They resolved therefore to go to him the next day all in Company to execute Alexander's Orders Unfortunate Parmenio was walking with them in a Park when Polydamus whom he had sent for was brought unto him He runs presently to imbrace him and being glad to hear from his King and to see his Friend he receives him with extream joy Polydamas having given him Alexander's Letter Parmenio after he had read it told them That he could not but admire that the King after so many Conquests should yet think of subduing the Arachosians That it was now time for him to return into Macedonia there in quiet to enjoy his Victories and the Glory he had acquir'd After which as he was reading Philotas his Letter with great pleasure Cleander thrust him into the Bosom with his Poniard and gave him another stab in the Throat Thus expir'd Parmenio and Philotas both of great credit in the Army both intimate Friends of Alexander the most puissant of all the Nobility of the Empire the bravest of Captains the most illustrious among the Macedonians The death of Philotas was miserable full of pain and infamy that of Parmenio more cruel unjust and ominous to Alexander's Life who afterwards could find no Captain of that valour and experience in his whole Empire nor found he afterwards the same zeal and affection from his Souldiers and the chief of his Nobility We all die alike but Death is not equally grievous to us all If it be the end of our Miseries we desire it we seek it we run to it but if it terminate a Life full of Happiness Grandeur Glory and Delights it fills us with despair Parmenio had liv'd seventy Years in all prosperity he had expos'd himself to several Dangers in his King's Service he had bin the Companion of his Victories and had done many glorious Actions worthy the envy of Kings illustrious both in Peace and War he died assassin'd by his Confidents upon Suspicions not well clear'd and by Alexander's Order who was indebted to him for his Empire There 's nothing more fit to compare the Courts of Princes to than the Sea There 's no greater pleasure than to fail on this Element during a Calm Some Voyages by Sea are as pleasant as profitable but 't is dangerous to make them a Profession since early or late one must perish in them You 'l say there 's this difference That it is not in the power of Man to lay a Storm but that the Sage can in Princes Courts moderate his Passions and not suffer himself to be carried away with too much Ambition Teach us this Lesson your self and shew us how to curb Envy Some small reflection upon Philotas his Conspiracy will easily inform us how much more difficult it is for a Courtier elevated to the highest pitch of Favour to moderate his Ambition than for another who has every thing yet to wish for Nevertheless the latter has but one step to the accomplishment of Grandeur and the former is infinitely distant from it The highest fortune of a Minister differs as far from Royalty as Supream Power from the obedience of Subjects 'T is therefore a folly to think the ascent to a Throne easy for being near it THE CONSPIRACY OF HERMOLAUS THe consideration of a Danger happily avoided renders the Sage more moderate and cautious whereas all the effect it has on a Savage Spirit is to make it more extravagant rash and arrogant The fear Alexander had of the last Conspiracy was like that of those who see the falling of a Thunder-Bolt without receiving any dammage They fear just at that moment and presently forget the Danger like those that come to themselves from Swooning incapable to make reflection on an evil they have not felt Add to this that Confidence more dangerous than the Peril it self and so common to Man whereby he fears not a Danger past though when imminent it narrowly concern'd his Life Some yet more irrational are so forestalled with their good Fortune that they imagine themselves above Fate and such are oftentimes reserv'd for a tragical and miserable Catastrophe Alexander grew so outragious after the death of Parmenio that he knew no Limits the risk he ran in the last Conspiracy render'd him less provident he thought he might for the future freely injure the Macedonians The facility wherewith he had quell'd Parmenio and Philotas made him more
bold and insolent he thought himself King indeed when he saw that he was Arbiter of his Subjects Lives and that there was nothing more to be done to place himself beyond the reach of Envy than to shed the best Blood in Macedonia The more you commend the vanity of great Ones the more are they in love with it the more Blood a Tyrant sheds the more is he desirous of shedding it Lyncestes Alexander had bin imprison'd three Years upon an Accusation of two Witnesses for conspiring against the Life of Alexander the Reason his Punishment had bin so long defer'd was because he was the first that saluted Alexander King after the death of Philip. Antipater Lyncestes his Father-in-Law was Governor of Macedonia and it seem'd very probable that the intercession of one that was Master of so flourishing a Kingdom should have suspended his execution a far longer time But Alexander would no longer hearken to Policy an insatiable desire of revenge carried him on towards his own ruin He caused therefore the Criminal to be brought forth accused only by two Persons and had him dispatch'd according to their custom The Chief of the Macedonians perceived presently that Alexander grew more cruel from day to day and began to fear for themselves They were ready to think that the Heavens provok'd by the King's vanity who dared equal himself to the Gods had inspir'd Philotas with the desire of taking away his Life However they spread this Rumor through the Army the easier to engage the Souldiers to a revolt The remembrance of Parmenio's Merit and Philotas his Misfortune who died in the flower of his Age had already excited pity in the Macedonians In the one they thought they had lost the Protector of their Liberty the Avenger of the Gods and of their Country in the other a Captain of rare Valour without whom Alexander could do nothing that was great These seditious Discourses would have forg'd a Rebellion had not the King caused his Army to march against the Arachosians Without doubt that was the only means to dissipate all ill Designs Idleness spoils the Souldiers Spirits but all these murmurs vanish at the first sound of the Trumpet Nevertheless Alexander's Conduct might well have made such brave Men desperate For having known that several highly resented Parmenio's Death he form'd them into a Body and made Leonidas their Captain ordering them to incamp separately from the rest as it were out of ignominy It was not to be feared that their seditious Discourses should have corrupted the rest of the Macedonians for as is the custom of Souldiers Martial Liberty and the joy of new Conquests would have laid their Anger and their Malice In the mean while Alexander abandon'd himself to all sorts of Vices The irregularity of his Manners increased with his Victories and his Ambition no longer curb'd by Vertue carried him to that excess of Pride as to require from the Macedonians and Persians Divine Honours I cannot but pity the weakness and vanity of this Prince Could he think the Macedonians would worship as a God one born of Philip and Olympias subject to the same Infirmities with other Men These Heroës whom Antiquity has placed in the Heavens lived in such sort that Posterity reckon'd them in the number of the Gods after their Death and if during their Life they should have required from Men Adoration and Divine Worship without doubt they would have render'd themselves despicable and ridiculous to the whole World The Sages forbore not to scoff at those false Divinities and the more enlightned Pagans have themselves laugh'd at their own Religion Alexander presum'd too much upon the Grandeur of his Actions the Persians and other strange Nations might well admire them but the Macedonians could do no more than praise his Conduct and his Courage Those that run the same danger are willing to participate with the General in the Glory of the Conflict and suffer with regret that any one should attribute to himself the honour of the Victory But if he were so intent to elevate himself above the condition of Men why was he not more diligent to gain respect from his People It is not for the Majesty of a Prince to make himself too publick if he will be ador'd he must separate himself from the Commerce of the World The old Macedonian Captains taking it ill that Alexander should publickly debase his Father's Glory scoffed at his Pride and pretended Divinity Which so incensed him that he kill'd Clitus his Nourses Son with a Javelin This great Warrier who had sav'd his Life at the Battel of Granicus suffered with regret his so outragiously attacking the Memory of Philip and abhor'd his Vanity and the enormity of his Crimes Neither was he without a Second Calisthenes who made profession of Wisdom declar'd himself more openly for as Cleo one day at Table with the chief of the Macedonians and Persians propounded to render Divine Honour to Alexander This Philosopher answered him with his usual freedom That it was not in the power of Men to make a God that they could hardly make a King and that the Persians would be their Conquerors if they followed them in their barbarous Customs The freedom that Polypercon took was yet greater who seeing a Persian worshipping the King began to laugh and throwing him upon his Face bad him bow lower All these Scoffs tended to the diminution of Alexander's Glory How then could he expect Divine Honour from those that so much contemn'd him For this he must have chang'd the form of Government have made himself absolute Monarch of the Empire have usurp'd the Macedonian Freedom have bin Arbiter of their Lives and Fortunes have dispatch'd his Nobles and have kept such a distance between himself and his Subjects as might have made him seem quite different from what he was But if the horror of so great an Impiety or the necessity he then had for his Captains permitted him not to arrive to that excess of Cruelty it concern'd his prudence and wisdom to moderate his Ambition and the friendship of his Nobility would have bin far more glorious than the adoration of the Persians proceeding from the base complaisance of that Nation 'T was this unreasonable Pride which made him again run the risk of losing his Life which at last precipitated him to his ruin and has render'd his Memory odious to all Ages The Death of Calisthenes is certainly deplorable and a great proof of Alexander's Wickedness who could not suffer an honest Man in his sight In fine he fell on a sudden from that moderation that had made him admir'd and lov'd of every one to so violent Extravagancies and to so great profusion of Vice that 't is no wonder that Hermolaus should have the boldness to conspire his Death The Noblemens Children of Macedonia according to custom were oblig'd to enter into the King's Service at fifteen Years of Age. After some Years the Prince promoted them to the