own Physician writes that it was given him by a Caunian of mean condition Now Cyrus being thus slain Artaxerxes commanded his Head and his right Hand to be cut off after which marching to plunder his Camp he there â—eiz'd on his Brother's Phocâ—an Concubine Aspasâ—a and took her for his own as I have already shew'd After this the King beginning his March homewards and Parysatis the Queen-Mother being inform'd of her beloved Son Cyrus's death mediâ—ated upon nothing else but how to be revenged on those that were the chief Instruments of it Wherefore the Caunian and one Mithridates being both condemn'd to die each of them for bragging that they had kill'd Cyrus with their own hands because thereby they robb'd the King of that honour which he pretended unto himself Parysatis begg'd to have the torturing of them which Artaxerxes granting her she perform'd with such feminine cruelty that they were 17 days in dying The next Tragedy she acted was upon Megates the Eunuch whom having won of Artaxerxes at Dice she caused to be fâ—ea'd alive for that he was the person who cut off the Head and Hands of her Son Cyrus Afterwards her Revenge fasten'd upon the Queen Statira with whom although she carried it fair outwardly yet she hated mortally partly by reason of her former enmity to Cyrus partly for her great interest with the King her Husband and partly upon the account that she had put to death many of those who by Parysatis's means had formerly murder'd her Brother Terituchmes and her other Relations wherefore being at Supper together Parysatis cutting a Bird in the middle with a Knife that was poyson'd on one side gave that part which was next the Poyson to Statira who seeing Parysatis her self eat of the same Bird suspected nothing nevertheless Statira died of the same with great Torment and Convulsions some time before she died she began to suspect the true cause of her illness and acquainted the King with it who knowing the implacable malice of his Mother soon credited it and thereupon tortured her nearest Servants but she kept one Gygis a waiting Woman who had been accessary to the fact and would not deliver her up to him till at length having notice that she design'd to escape by night he surpriz'd and condemn'd her to have her Head bruis'd to pieces between two Stones which is the Persian Law for Poysoners As for his Mother Parysatis he hurt her not in the least either in word or deed but she desiring to go to Babylon he sent her only with this farewell that then he would not see that City so long as she lived And this is the true state of the domestick Affairs of Artaxerxes Plut. in Artax Xenoph. exped Cyri lib. 6. lib. 7. Artaxerxes after the overthrow of Cyrus sent down Tissaphernes and not Pharnabazus as Diodorus writes to the Sea-coasts to recover them again into his power which belonged to him both by Inheritance from his Father and by Conquest from his Brother all which readily submitted to his Summons Soon after the Greek Cities under Thymbro their Captain-General declared against the King and from a small power grew very considerable and successful chiefly from an Emulation and Dissention between the two Persian Generals Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus which produced frequent Miscarriages abroad and Accusations at home one of another to the King till at last Agesilaus obtaining a considerable Victory over the Persians near the River Pactolus for want of their Foot which was occasion'd by Tissaphernes's absence they accused him to the King of Treachery which Accusation being vigorously prosecuted by Parysatis who bore him a mortal grudge upon the account of her Son Cyrus Artaxerxes made Tithraustes General in his stead with a particular Commission to put to death Tissaphernes which accordingly was done for Ariaeus alluring him to Colossus in Phrygia under pretence of a new Commission for him did there seize Tissaphernes in the Baths and send him Prisoner to Tithraustes who forthwith cut off his Head and sent it to the King also the King sent it as a Present to his Mother Parysatis who greatly rejoyced at the sight Of this read more in Plutarch Xenophon Diodorus and Pausanias Now concerning this King's Reign Historians vary Plutarch makes his Rule to be 62 years others say 55 years others 49. and others 43. or 44. but the most credible opinion is that of Beda in his six Ages of the World and of Eusebius in his Chronicle who say that Artaxerxes for grief of his Sons wickedness died in the 43 d. year of his Reign being Anno Mundi 3610. ante Christi Nativit 361. 4 Artaxerxes the Son of Xerxes whose sirname was Longimanus so call'd à Longitudine manus for that as Strabo tells us lib. 15. his Hands and Arms were so long that standing straight and upright with his Body his Hands reach'd down below his Knees But Plutarch Vita Artaxerx saith that he had one Hand longer than the other excepting which blemish he was the most beautiful man of his time Xerxes the Father of this Prince being murder'd by his Uncle Artabanus left behind him three Sons viz. Darius Hystaspes and Artaxerxes Longimanus at the time of Xerxes's death the eldest and the youngest were resident in his Court but Hystaspes was absent as being then Governour of Bactria Now Artabanus having murder'd their Father went immediately in the dead time of the night to Artaxerxes the third Son and made him believe that his elder Brother Darius was the person that had kill'd his Father out of an ambition to reign himself as also that he had a design upon his life whereupon Artabanus promising him the assistance of his Guards if he would kill his Brother Darius Artaxerxes giving credit to all that he had said did forthwith put Darius to death When this was done Artabanus calling his Sons together told them that if ever they thought to obtain the Kingdom then was the time and that it could only be done by Artaxerxes's death Hereupon they drawing their Swords with a design to kill him Artaxerxes receiving but one slight wound defended himself so bravely that he slew Artabanus on the place as some will have it though others with more reason defer the time of Artabanus's death to whom also seven months in the Empire are attributed by Eusebius Now by this means Darius being slain Artaxerxes came to the Empire in his youth being the 4th year of the 78th Olympiad or in the beginning of the 79th Lysitheus being then Archon at Athens A.M. 3540. and 463 years before the Birth of Christ. Those Authorâ— who write that Artabanus survived his first Conflict say also that he made a second Attempt upon Artaxerxes's Life which design he communicated to Megabyzus who had married the Daughter of Xerxes and for her loose life was fallen into a discontent which Artabanus did as thinking nothing would make a man more valiant and desperate than an ill Wife accordingly Megabyzus
greatness of their feet whereas the lesser are no whit prejudicial to the passage of the bigger in that they make a less Cavity in the River Furthermore I have found in the Writings of Juba how the Elephants help one another in their being hunted and defend him that fainteth when if they bring him off they stand about him and anoint him with the tears of Aloes as if thâ—y were Physicians Many such like things they Philosophically discours'd of together taking occasion from such passages as seem'd most worthy their remark As for the things related by 3 Nearchus and Pythagoras concerning the River 4 Arcesinus how running into the River Indus it beareth Serpents of seventy cubâ—â—â— length they say they are so as 't is by them reported But we will adjourn the Relation of this Matter to that place where we intend to speak of Dragons of whom Damis discourseth shewing in what manner they are taken Now being arrived near the Banks of Indus and ready to pass the River they ask'd the Babylonian their Guide whether he was acquainted with the Passage who answer'd He had never forded over it nor knew where it was fordable Why then said they did yoâ— not hire a Guide There is one answer'd he bâ—ne present who will direct you which having said he shew'd them a Letter that should do it for which they say Vardanes was much admired for his kindness and care of them in as much as he had written this Letter to the Governour that was set over the River Indus although he was not in subâ—ection to his Iurisdiction recounting therein the many Favours he had shew'd him but not desiring any recompence for that 't was not his custom so to do only telling him that if he did entertain Apollonius and â—onvey him whithâ—rsoever he pleas'd he should acknowledge the courtesie He had also given Gold to the Gâ—ide that if he perceiv'd Apollonius stood in need of any thing he should furnish him with it that so he might not be put to ask it of others Wherefore the Indian receiving the Letter said he did much esteem it and that he woâ—ld shew no less respect to Apollonius than if he had been recommended to him by the King of the Indians Accordingly he sent his own Barge wherein he himself was used to be wasâ—ed together with Vessels to câ—rry over his Camels He likewise furnish'd him with a Guide for all that Countrey which Hydraotes boundeth and wrote to his own King that he would be pleas'd to shew as much courtesie towards this Greek who was a wise and divine man as King Vardanes had done By this means therefore they passed the River Indus whose breadth where it is navigable reacheth about forty Furlongs Concerning this River it is thus related that it riseth out of Mount Caucasus and runneth with a greater Current than anâ— River in Asia in his passage receiving in many Rivers thaâ— are navigable likewise thâ—â— iâ— 5 oveâ—floweth India like to Nilus leaving a grâ—at deal of Mud on the Land which gives opportunity to the Indians to sâ—we their Seed after the manner of the Egyptians Illustrations on Chap. 8. VIpâ—rs â—re bred c. The Viper hath a Body long and slender like an Eel or Snake a broad Head with red flaming Eyes As for his Teeth they be enclosed as it were 〈◊〉 little Bladder in which he carryeth his Poyson from thence infusing it into the Wound 〈◊〉 he hath bitten Pliny lib. 10. ch 62. writes that when the Vipers ingender â—he Male puâ—teth his Head into the Females Mouth which â—he being overcome with the pleasure of Copulation biteth off affirming moreover that their young use to gnaw themselves out of their Dams Belliâ—s which put an end both to Male and Female the one â—n time of Conception the other in time of Birth and are therefore called Vipers a vi pa riendo Nevertheless Aristotle Hist. Animal lib. â— cap. ultim â—aith that the Viper putteth forth her young ones infolded in a Membrane which breaketh forth the third dayâ— and that also sometimes those which are within the Belâ—y issue forth having gnawn asunder the foreâ—aid Membrane Nicholâ—us Damascenus as also Strabo make mention of Vipers sixteen Cubits long Of this Serpent is made that excellent cordial Wine called Viper-Wine so effectual in curing Leprosies Surfeits c. Of the Viper's manner of Birth see Brown's Vulg. Err lib. 3. 2 To commend Euripides the Verse which Andromache speaks is this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Concerning this Tragedy of Andromache in Euripides the Intrigue is That this Princesâ— after she had lost her Husband Hector had seen her Father Priam murther'd and the chief City of his Kingdom burâ—t became a Slave to Neopâ—olâ—mus Now Hermione the Wife of this Prince being enraged with jealousie against Andromache determin'd to kill her whereupon Menelaus Father of Hermione causes her with her Son Astyaâ—ax to be dragg'd to Execution And this is the Result of the Plot. As for Euripides he was the Son of one Mnesarchus and Clito and had not as some have reported a seller of Herbs for his Mother Suidas vindicates him from the disparagement of so mean a Descent asserting that he was of noble Birth as Philochorus well demonstrates He was born on that very day wherein Xerxes was defeated by the Athenians He flourish'd in the time of Archelaus King of Macedon by whom he was highly esteem'd He was at first a Painter but afterwards became most eminent in writing Tragedies For Rhetorick he was the Scholar of Prodicus and for Philosophy the Auditor both of Socrates and Anaxagoras He sometimes disputed with Plato and travell'd into Egypt to be inform'd of the Wisdom of their Priests as Laertius testifies His Name Euripides he took from Euripus but for his Austerity they call'd him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a hater of Women for as Suidas â—ffirms he was a married man and had two Wives being divorced from the first for her Unchastity neither found he the second more loyal to his Bed He died in the 75th year of his Age being the 93d Olympiad and was torn in pieces by Dogs as Valerius Maximus and Gellius write or rather as Suidas hath it was devoured in the night by barbarous and bloudy Women The Athenians grievously lamented his death He wrote 75 Tragedies for every year he lived a Tragedy whereof he obtained five Victories four in his life-time and one after his death his Brother's Son being the Actor of that Tragedy It is a great Question which was the better Poet he or Sophocles though they went a different way Quintilian says That all moral Philosophy iâ— comprehended in the Verses of Euripides And Heinsiâ—s speaking of him saith Omnium Oratorum non minus Pater quam optimus Poeta Aeschylus Sophocles and Euripides were the three chief Princes of the Tragick Style who exhibited to the people every year their Poems at some publick Solemnities striving who should get the victory by the approbation
It was sometimes appropriated to Bacchus besides there was Dionysius Alexandrinus a Grammarian under Trajan Dionysius Milesius an Historian that wrote the Transactions of Persia after Darius Dionysius Halicarnasseus who flourish'd in the time of Augustus a famous Historian and Orator Dionysius a Philosopher of Heraclea and one of Zeno's Scholars who being tormented with the Stone exclaim'd against his Master for teaching that pain was no â—vil Dionysius Atticus of Pergamus the Disciple of Apollodorus and a great Familiar of Augustus's Dionysius Periegetes who lived at the same time and wrote Geography in Heâ—ameter Greek Verses which are at this day extant Dionysius Areopagita who being in Egypt where he beheld the unnatural and wonderful Eclipse of the Sun at the Passion of our Saviour cry'd out Aut Deus Naturae patitur aut Mundi machina dissolvetur Either the God of Nature suffereth or the frame of the World will be dissolved There were also besides many others two eminent Tyrants of Sicily whereof the latter who was banish'd to Corinth is the person Apollonius here cites for that Laertius as I have already shew'd tells us how Aeschines continued with him till the time of his Exile Now this Dionysius the younger having heard that his Father in the time of his sicknesâ— was contriving with Dion how to impede his sole Succession conspired with the Physicians to get him poysoned which being effected the Government devolved solely upon him At the beginning of his Reign the people promised themselves much happiness under him for he recalled back Plato from Banishment as if he meant to follow his Advice and Instructions but in a short time fell out with him and sent him back to his Friends at Tarentum in Italy Plato being thus dismiss'd the next thing Dionysius did was the striking up a dishonourable Peace with the Carthaginians upon whom his Father had begun a War which his Son's Sloth and Luxury permitted him not to prosecute He likewise banish'd his Uncle Dion to Corinth for being the peoples Favourite which occasion'd the falling out betwixt Plato and him for that Dion had been Plato's Disciple Now Dion remaining thus discontented at Corinth rais'd an Army of Mercenaries and invaded Sicily where pretending he came to vindicate the ancient Liberties of the people they flockt into his assistance from all parts in so much that he took the principal City Syracuse with little or no opposition Hereupon Dionysius retired into a strong Castle of the Island from whence being likewise forced he afterwards fled into Italy Nevertheless the Citizens of Syracuse falling into Distractions for want of Money and growing weary of Dion's Government several Plots were laid against him whereof one through the Treachery of his pretended Friend Callicrates cost him his Life Now after Dion's death Callicrates first and then several others possess'd the Government of Sicily for some few months till at length Dionysius coming unawares upon them in the 10th year of his Expulsion recover'd again Syracuse and the whole Principality which he had formerly lost Now as the Restoration of a Prince may be esteem'd the more secure when the people having so lately tasted of the Ruines of a Civil War will be the less apt to run speedily into the same again so on the other side there is always left remaining some of the old leaven that will be ready to set things into the old Fermentation upon any slight occasion And thus it fared with Dionysius who being no sooner return'd to his old Dominions but likewise beginning his old Extravagancies was in less than four years time after his Restoration banish'd by Timoleon a second time to Corinth where being very poor and necessitous he turned Paedagogue for his livelihood and so ended his Life in great poverty and disgrace being the 2d year of the 109th Olympiad and A. M. 3661 Plutarch Vitâ Dionys. Aelian Var. Hist. Iustin. It is said of this Dionysius that an old Woman praying very much for his Life and he asking her why she did so her Answer was I can remember saith she one cruel Tyrant and I would ever be wishing his Death then came another and he was worse then camest thou who art worse than all the former and if thou wert gone I wonder what would become of us if we should have a worse From this Prince's Misfortune came the old Proverb Dionysius Corinthi which signifies any one that is fallen from high Honours into Contempt 3 Charybdis is a Gulf in the Straits of Sicily now called Golofaro it is very dangerous by reason of the whirling Streams flowing contrary each to other it is situated over against Scylla no less dangerous for its Rocks The Moral of this Fable teaches us Mediocrity to avoid running out of one extream into another wherefore Incidit in Scyllam qui vult vitare Charybdim is no more than our common English Proverb To fall out of the Frying-pan into the Fire Charybdis is saith Bochartus no other than Chor-obdan i. e. Foramen perditionis The Poets feign this Charybdis to have been a Woman of a savage Nature that ran upon all Passengers to rob them Also that having stolen the Oxen of Hercules Iupiter kill'd her with his Thunderbolts and afterwards converting her into a furious Monster he cast her into a Gulf which bears her Name See more of this in Homer's Odyss 12. Ovid Met. lib. 7 8. Ovid Pontic 4. and Virgil Aen. 3. 4 Aristippus the Cyrenean a Disciple of Socrates and Son of Aretades after the death of his Master Socrates returned home into his own Countrey Cyrene in Africa from whence the Doctrine which his Scholars retain'd had the Name of Cyrenaick Suidas and Laertius Whilst he was under the Instruction of Socrates he resided at Athens afterwards he dwelt sometime at Aegina where he became acquainted with Lais the famous Corinthian Courtezan who came there once a year to the Feast of Neptune and with whom Athenaeus writes he return'd to Corinth Deipn 13. To Corinth Love the Cyrenean led Where he enjoy'd Thessalian Lais Bed No Art the subtil Aristippus knew Whereby he might the power of Love subdue Deipnos 13. We read in Laertius of his Voyage to Dionysius's Court which Philostratus here mentions he soon became a Favourite with Dionysius being of such an humour as could conform it self to every place time and person acting any part and construing whatever happen'd to the best as Horace speaks of him Omnis Aristippum decuit color status res Lib. 1. Ep. 17. When Dionysius spit upon him he took it patiently for which being reproved Fishermen saith he suffer themselves to be wet all over that they may catch a Gudgeon and shall I be troubled at a little Spittle who mean to take a Tyrant This servile compliance rendred him more acceptable to Dionysius than all the other Philosophers He begg'd money of Dionysius who said to him You told me A wise man wanted nothing Give it me first said he and
them by Nature in that they learned it not as they have done many other things from men having never lived amongst them but receiv'd it from Nature so to love their young ones Say not this Oh Damis only of Elephants for this 2 Beast I rank next after men for Vnderstanding and Prudence but I consider likewise how â—â—en Beasts exceeding other Beasts in fierceness do yet suffer any thing for their Cubs also how 3 Wolves being continually intent on their prey make the Female keep the Whelps whilst the Male for the preservation of her young bringeth her in food The like may be observ'd of Panthers who by reason of their heat rejoyce to become Dams for that they then rule over the Males and govern the House whilst the Males in the mean â—ime suffer all things for their Whelps sake As for Lionesses this Story is related of them that they draw the 4 Leopards to love them and take them into the Bed of the Lions in the Champain Fields but afterwards when the time of their Delivery 〈◊〉 come they run away to the Mountains and to the dens of the Leopards For the young ones which they then bring forth being spotted they secretly nourish them in the Woods making 〈◊〉 if they absented themselves from the Males that they may â—unt for if the Lions happen to spy the Whelps they tear them in pieces as an adulterate Brood You have also observ'd in some of 5 Homer's Lions how sterâ—ly they will look and summon up their strength to fight for their Whelps Furthermore they report that a 6 Tyger being a most fierce Creature will in this Countrey as also about the Red-sea run to the very Ships to fetch back their young ones and having gotten them will returâ— with much joy when if the Sea man sail away with them she will howl most grievously on the shoar and sometimes die for grief Who likewise doth not observe the Manners of Birds how Eagles and 7 Storks never build their Nests but they place in them the 8 Eagle-stone and the Stork the Lamp-stone both being to fâ—rther the laying and hatching of their Eggs as weâ—â— as to keep away Serpents But if we reflect on the living Creatures in the Sea we shall not admire that 9 Dolphins being naturally very kind love their young ones But how shall we not admire at 10 Whales 11 Sea-calves and those kinds that bring forth living young ones when as in the Island Aege I saw â— Seâ—-calf taken by Fishermen so exceedingly to bewâ—â—â— her dead young one whom she had brought forth in the House that for three 〈◊〉 â—ogether she abstain'd from food though she 〈◊〉 otherwise a most ravenouâ— Creatâ—â—e Likewise the Whale hideth her young ones in the Cavities of her Throat if she fly from a greater Fish and a Viper hath been also seen to lick the young Serpents which she had brought forth and so to pollish them with her Tongue Illustrations on Chap. 7. 1 WHether the Love of Parents in theâ—r yoâ—ng be natural Can a Mother forget her Child It was lookt upon as a thing impossible and yeâ— we see there are too many evil-disposed Parents in â—his World who conâ—â—th themselves no further than with the getting of them Such of old were those unnatural Law-makers amongst the Româ—ns as Romuluâ— who â—nacted that all Children who were any ways lame or imperfecâ— should be put to death Dionys Halicarâ—â—ss Also the Father in Apuleius who going to travel when his Wife was big with Child commanded her is it proved a Girl to destroy it Sâ— sexus sequipris edidisset faetus protinuâ— qâ—â—dâ—sset editiâ—â— necareâ—ur The same Command doth Chreâ—es give to Sâ—straâ—â— in Terâ—â—ce Autâ—interficâ—â—e 〈◊〉 exponere Either to kill them or expose them to wild Beasts Heaâ—ront Act. 4. Scen. 2. So frequent a practice waâ— this amongsâ— them that the Christian Emperors Valentinian Vâ—lens and Graâ—ian were 〈◊〉 to interdict it by a severe penal Law Si qâ—is nâ—candi infantis piaculum aggressus aggressâ—ve â—it â—r it capitale istud malum which Law is extant in both the Codes as well of Tâ—eodâ—sius as Iustinâ—â—n Of private Instances there were many amongst them to the same purpose as Lucius Iuniâ—â— Brutus who caused his own Sons to be beheaded for that they favour'd Tâ—rqâ—inâ— and Cassius who put his own Son to death out of a jealousie that he affectâ—d the Kingdom Titus Manlius Torquatus upon a complaint made by the Macedonian Ambassadors against his own Son Silaâ—us condemn'd him to be put to death at which unkind seâ—tence of his Father's the Son in discontent hanged himself M. Scaurâ—s being put to flight by the 〈◊〉 his Father commanded him to fall upon his own Sword ratheâ— than outlive that shame which accordingly he did in like manner did A. Fâ—lâ—iâ—s put his own Son to death for joyning with Catiline iâ— the Conspiracy against his Countrey Valer. 〈◊〉 lib. 5. The Cruelty of these was mix'd with somewhat of Gallantry but amongst us we have many no less cruel only out of selfishness and ill nature who boaâ—â—â—ng that they will not put off their Clâ—aths before they be ready to go to Bed keep their Children often starving till they be as fit for a Bed 〈◊〉 their Parents Commonly we are better pleas'd with the little prattling of our Childâ—en which we so often repeat to others for wit and with the apish gestures of their Infancy than with the actions of their riper years as if we only loved them for our pastimes as we do Parrots and Monkeys How often have I heard a fond Father or affected Mother persecute a whole meals conversation in venting to the company their own wittiness as coming from young Master or Missâ— with a thousand times more care and pains than they take to provide them Poâ—tions Many that liberally furniâ—â—t them with Toys and Ratiâ—es while they be Children will gâ—udge at every small expence for Necessaries for them when they be Men and Women Some grieve to see their Children follow them so close at their heels as if they solicited their deaths Others envy them to think that they must enjoy the World after them as if since we must bequeath our Estates to some body we had not better bestow it on a piece of our selves than on a Stranger It is says Montaign a meer piece of Injustice to see an old crazy Sinew-shrunk and half-dead Father sitting alone in a Chimney corner to enjoy so much Riches as would suffice for the preferment of many Children when in the mean while for want of Estate he suffers them to lose their best days and years without introducing them into any publick Employ or Acquaintance whereby oftentimes being cast into despair they seek by any means how unlawful soever to supply their own necessary Wants this forces them to ply Women and Drink which are the most frequent and fatal ruines that attend the young Gentry of this Nation Tyranny in a Parent is no lesâ—