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
ready to think according to the custom of great Ones lay expecting the issue of the Conspiracy and left others to carry it on that if it were discover'd he might cast the whole Design on them Nicomachus transported with joy that it lay in his power to shew his King a proof of his Fidelity runs to his Brother Ceballinus and acquaints him with the whole Matter 'T is a wonder that the greatest Conspiracies mention'd in History have bin always discover'd by the most wicked of those that have enterpriz'd them Intemperance of speech is the inseparable Companion of Villany and incompatible with Prudence which chiefly consists in hearing all in distrusting even Reason it self and in keeping silence It was not convenient for Nicomachus to go to the King in Person the Conspirators might have suspected his Fidelity they doubted nothing of Ceballinus who was usually in the Palace And he not losing a minute of time endeavour'd to speak with Alexander At first there was none to introduce him but afterwards there appear'd Philotas to whom in a great fright he relates what he had heard of the Conspiracy and prays him to advertise the King Philotas his silence is for certain a most convincing proof of his disloyalty He is not troubled at this Relation the danger he sees himself expos'd to concerns him not the Interest of his own preservation cannot abate his Courage fierce and cruel towards himself he praises Ceballinus his Loyalty and is himself disloyal he returns again to the King for he could not well do otherwise without giving suspicion but discourses with him all the while of other Matters The Night came on Ceballinus wondered there was no stir made the King being in so imminent danger and meeting with Philotas asked him if he had inform'd Alexander of what he had told him His answer was That he had not the opportunity Ceballinus grew more mistrustful when he saw the Conspirators the next day walking freely in the Palace Alexander having done nothing to them suitable to the resolution his resentment should have made him take and addressing himself again to Philotas he intreated him not to neglect an Affair of that Consequence that concern'd the King's Life He answered him again He would be mindful of it Several Historians have thought Philotas innocent because say they there 's no likelihood that a Man of his Courage and Reputation should have bin two days without provideing for his safety either by dispatching Ceballinus and his Brother or by an ingenuous acknowledgment of his perfidious Crime Plutarch a great stickler for the Glory of the Grecians endeavours to justify him but that Learned Man as innocent as he makes Philotas did not well consider that his silence could not but be esteem'd a Crime in the judgment of all Politicians 'T was for his security to hold his peace in speaking there was danger either of losing his Life or his Reputation It may be the King might have pardon'd him Can a Man of Spirit survive an Infamy His Authority might have shelter'd him from the storm and have made the cloud break over others heads What likelihood Do those that are drawn to Execution fear after Death the disgrace of great Ones What then tell the Conspirators that their Plot was discover'd He who was the Head of the Conspiracy cared not to frighten those that were to execute it There 's no Resolution but staggers at the fear of Punishment Constancy shakes at the apprehension of being call'd in question there must be then a recourse to new Measures Philotas must rather animate his Confederates than terrify them What if he had made away with Ceballinus in the King's Palace in the Camp in the very Arms of his Companions what would Nicomachus have said whom 't was impossible for him to find as he had hid himself All these Precautions were destructive Philotas did like a great Politician to say nothing to the King to say nothing to the Conspirators and to make no noise He entertain'd Ceballinus with fair words the day for the Enterprise was come and according to all appearance Ceballinus shou'd have rely'd on the fidelity of Philotas a Favorite of Alexander's and one who had greater Interest than any in his preservation But Ceballinus not believing that the King wou'd slight his Information began to be mistrustful He goes to Metron a young Gentleman that kept the King's Wardrobe and discovers the Enterprise to him who presently causing him to be hid acquaints the King with it as he was bathing himself Alexander immediately gives order to apprehend Dymnus he enters his Wardrobe Ceballinus cries out I see Sir you are deliver'd from the hands of Traitors The King afterwards enquiring touching the Circumstances of the Conspiracy he told him every thing that Dymnus had declar'd But having confess'd that it was three days since his Brother gave him notice Alexander doubted not but that he was one of the Confederates since he had so long defer'd his Information And therefore he caus'd him presently to be shackl'd Ceballinus who expected a recompence for his fidelity feeling the weight of his Chains cries out in an astonishment That the very first moment he knew of the Conspiracy he ran and gave notice of it to Philotas the only cause of this delay Then Alexander pierced with grief to see himself so basely betray'd by a Man loaded with his Favours and so particularly honour'd with his Friendship lifted up his hands towards Heaven and as it were seiz'd with horror detested with Tears so hideous an Ingratitude Without doubt there 's no Grief equals that of having passionately lov'd one that proves ingrateful and perfidious When we call to mind that after all the pains we have taken after all the proofs we have given of a true Affection and great Trust we are paid with Ingratitude we can blame none but our selves we must condemn our own Judgments One would think Nature declares her self against us since she has indu'd the meanest Plant with acknowledgment and seems to rob us of it This example of Ingratitude will teach an honest Man not to expect returns from a Person he obliges Favours should only proceed from our inclination to do good the Heart of a Man 's the more noble the less 't is interessed and the pleasure of venting his Generosity is to the honest Man recompence enough Dymnus seeing himself inviron'd with Guards troubled at the enormity of his Crime and the Image of a Death accompanied with a thousand pains ran himself through with his own Sword and would have made an end of himself upon the Spot had not the Souldiers interrupted him To kill ones self is in my opinion the basest and the unworthiest of all Actions Let Antiquity drain its Eloquence to praise the resolution of Cato or Lucretia as for me I cannot but blame Antiquity for calling Cowardise Valour Folly Wisdom Despair Virtue He has no Heart that kills himself because he will not survive a
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
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
his Favours on the Wicked and Vicious The Honest if they are in misery seek not to get out of it by ways of Honesty they esteem them useless they take the shortest way and indeavour to invest themselves in charges through dissimulation malice and base complaisance when flattery and such other indirect means fail them their Spirits corrupted by new Maxims and imagining that the Wicked cannot be without a Recompence prompt them to Violence Injustice Treachery and oftentimes to conspire their Prince's Death Princes therefore should seek their security in the Hearts of those that live under their Dominion They should extend their 〈…〉 erosity to all their Subjects Not that a Monarch is oblig'd to bestow his Favours equally on all sorts of Persons Such a magnificence would rather attract Contempt than Love and Gratitude Presents like Meats disgust if they are not season'd with justice and distinction of Merit That Prince cannot be esteemed liberal that gives indifferently to every one That 's a prodigality proceeding neither from esteem nor friendship the only ingredients to gain Hearts in bestowing Benefits We have no acknowledgment barely upon the account of a Benefit our Gratitude has a more noble and worthy Object it considers principally the good Will and Affection of the Giver But on the other hand a Prince should avoid being so inconsiderately profuse as to give so largely to his Favorites Ministers or Friends as to deprive himself of the means to shew them further Favours nor indeed should he remove them from the necessity of desiring them for then they grow insolent in their good Fortune they look on their Prince as an exhausted Source they contemn his Affection grown barren they fly their Benefactor they hate him When a Man is elevated to the highest degree of his Ambition Ingratitude and Avarice are the inseparable Companions of his Pride A Prince should therefore comfort the Miserable but not make them happy do good but not all the good he can promote some many degrees above others but never to the highest Epimenes one of the Conspirators whether vanquish'd by Alexander's Liberality as considering that he might expect both a Pardon for his Crime and an extraordinary Recompence besides if he sav'd his King's Life who for a service of little consideration had given him fifty thousand Sesterces or whether fearing the Anger of the Gods reveal'd the Conspiracy to his Brother Eurylochus Who presently carries him to the Palace and asks to speak with the King Ptolomaeus and Leonatus who guarded his Chamber-dore having learnt from him that he had something to tell the King that concern'd his Life warn'd by Philotas his Example gave them entrance though the King after his debauch had need of rest Presently Epimenes relates the whole Order of the Conspiracy and Alexander though frighten'd at the danger he had run was glad of finding this Pretext to ruin Calisthenes Touching whom he ask'd Eurylochus several times if he were not a Confederate or Friend to the Conspirators But Eurylochus could give him no other Answer than that Calisthenes gave ear to the Invectives of those that spake boldly concerning his Conduct and Behaviour Alexander nevertheless treated him as a Confederate and calling to mind the freedom of that Philosopher who had refused to render him Divine Honour he ordered him to be shut up close Prisoner with the Conspirators As Alexander was severe to the Conspirators so he was liberal and grateful to Eurylochus and Epimenes To the latter he gave his Life to the former fifty Talents and the confiscation of Tiridates his Goods who was very rich So great Interest has a Prince in recompensing the fidelity of his Subjects that his Favours proceed rather from his Justice than his Liberality As many Favours as he confers so many Sentinels has he to watch for him Rewards have greater force than Punishments and the expectation of Good than the fear of Evil. The custom of pardoning those that reveal Crimes themselves are guilty of is no less ancient than necessary Impunity rouses the Conscience causes it to reveal the Treason and preserves the Life of the Prince However such Traitors are not to be confided in and 't is dangerous to seem to mistrust them they are like those Animals that are tam'd only for a time early or late they return to their first fierceness The next day Alexander caused the Conspirators all but Calisthenes to be brought forth into the Assembly The Criminals Relations were called and in their presence the King ask'd those Traitors What he had done to them to induce them to conspire his Death They as resolute as if they had bin upon the point of executing their Design answered him boldly That they were sorry they could not yet take away his Life These words stirr'd up the Souldiers indignation and they demanded those Parricides to be deliver'd to them A Crime if acknowledged with some Tokens of Repentance excites compassion if with impudent Confidence it creates Horror The Offence it self deserves pardon the vanity of boasting in it is insufferable For in this there is malice the other is a weakness that may be born with The King admiring the boldness and contumacy of these Youths represented to them That he had loved them all as his Children that not long since they had bin sensible of the effects of his Affection that they should therefore freely declare the occasion that led them to conceive so detestable a Design At these words they began to relent only Hermolaus with more constancy than a good Conscience could furnish took the word and addressing himself to Alexander Know you not said he that we are born free how comes it then that you handle us like Slaves A Tyrant as you are does not deserve to live To whom Alexander said Continue boldly what thou hast learnt of thy Master Calisthenes I accept of thy favour answer'd Hermolaus and in giving me leave to speak thou sufficiently declarest thy impiety Setting aside all thy other Actions Can there be a greater proof of thy licentiousness than the opinion thou hast of the Grandeur of thy Merit after having render'd thy self unworthy of protection from the Gods or the esteem of Men thou askest What induc'd us to conspire thy Death Does there any thing represent it self to my Eyes or Memory that does not mind me of thy intolerable Vanity of thy Cruelty worthy not of one but a thousand deaths If I look on thee I see a Monster of Pride who disowns great Philip for his Father and has the insolence to call himself the Son of Jupiter Nay such is thy impudence that thou requirest Worship from us as if thou wer't really in the number of the Gods and not the Object of their Fury If I look upon the Army I find I am first to make reflection on my self thou hast used me unworthily for couragiously killing of a Wild Boar. After this I must pity the misfortune of so many brave Men and
his Disobedience that his Reasons were no other than Aristotle ' s Fallacies and that he would not suffer Antipater vain and treacherous as he was to go unpunish'd Not long after this Antipater arriv'd He saw the Storm hovering over his Head and thought how he might prevent the Danger Wherefore he call'd his Sons Cassander Jollas and Philip and with all the authority and tenderness of a Father represents unto them That in vain he had given them Being if he did not endeavour to procure them a Life full of Happiness and Pleasure and that he should be himself very unhappy if he did not live after his Death in his Children succeeding him in his Revenues and Imploiments Those said he have no reason to applaud Nature that are born of an Illustrious Race and live unfortunately the more splendid their Birth the more heavy and insupportable is their Misery As Man is a part of the Universe through the qualities of his Temperaments and his Spirits so he is no part of the World Politick without Riches and Promotions To be without these is not to live but to die nay to die every day as long as ones Life lasts These Thoughts my dear Children disturb me only upon your account You know what great Glory I have acquir'd in the Armies which gain'd me a large share in Philip's Affection You have seen me rais'd to the highest degree of Grandeur Arbiter of a flourishing Kingdom caressed by Alexander till such time as his mind of late as much corrupted by the effeminacy of the Persians as it was formerly well instructed by the Precepts of Divine Aristotle induc'd him to depose me from governing Macedonia and upon the Report of my Enemies to suspect my Fidelity always incorruptible So that 't is impossible to support our Grandeur unless we take off the Head of this Monster Can you be of so base a Spirit as to resolve to live unhappy without Wealth without Honour Can you be so unnatural as to survive my Misfortune What say I Can you think to escape Death after they have taken away my Life Cassander thou hast had experience of this Tyrant's Cruelty thou hast heard his Threats Canst thou doubt of suddenly seeing the Effects Olympias infamous as she is has prevail'd against our Merit shall we wait like Clitus and Parmenio to be sacrific'd to Alexander's Fury No I can never think that the Off-spring of Antipater will degenerate from his Glory and that of his Ancestors Be not daunted at the Death of Philotas and Hermolaus like a good Pilot I have learnt to avoid those Rocks where others have bin Shipwrack'd Those were forc'd to have several Associates to intrust a Secret to many Persons we our selves can execute the Design I meditate They would have kill'd Alexander in the midst of his Guards in the sight of the the Army We will take him off by Poison at Table in the midst of good Cheer His Sickness and his Death will be imputed to his debauching Jollas is his chief Cup-bearer what is there more easy than to convey the Poison into his Wine or into his Water My dear Children 't is now no longer time to deliberate we must speedily kill Alexander or he will kill us Cassander Jollas and Philip presently resolv'd upon that great Villany and expected only the conveniency of some Feast that they might execute their Design In the mean while Alexander hastens towards Babylon where Embassadors from all parts of the World attended his coming to congratulate with him for his Conquests Nearchus one of his chief Officers advertised him of a Prediction of the Chaldeans threatning him with inevitable peril if he enter'd the City Babylon Though he was as much given to Superstition as any one yet nothing could stop his Journey In appearance he went thither as to the Diet of the Universe to impose Laws on all the Earth but in reality his Destiny drew him thither he went to his own destruction As he drew near the Walls of Babylon several Presages troubled him and he remember'd the counsel of Nearchus Nevertheless he would not return back but entred the City foreseeing as it were his Misfortune Not long after a Thessalian Physician made a Feast and invited Alexander and the chief of his Courtiers thither He failed not to be there and having drank of Hercules his Cup he felt such violent pain that he desir'd them to kill him with his Sword It was presently given out that drinking too much Wine had occasion'd his Distemper and thus Antipater's Authority stifled the Infamy of his Treason Plutarch writes that Alexander died of a violent Feaver and reports for proof of what he alleages that his Body continued for several days as fresh and sound as at the moment of his expiring I wonder that so Learned a Man should be ignorant of the nature of some Poisons that preserve from corrupting and leave no marks of their effect Whatsoever may be said 't is certain that perfidious Jollas poison'd the King's Water and then mix'd it with his Wine Thus expir'd great Alexander quell'd by Domestick Treason after he had conquer'd all the East The eminent Qualities appearing in him at the beginning of his Reign made every one admire him the enormity of his Vices proceeding from his Fortune render'd him odious to all the World He continu'd a long time magnificent liberal of a sweet and gentle disposition inclin'd to Justice and Clemency he became at once unjust cruel extravagant mistrustful superstitious and so addicted to all sorts of Vice that there was no hopes of his returning So Illustious an Example as this may serve to instruct all Princes that there is no Power stronger than a resolute Heart that there is no Prudence but may be o're-reach'd by Malice and that the Dispair of one Man is more to be fear'd than an Army FINIS