fame of them but no solid use to the owner For my own part although my poor Fortune would not admit of Extravagancies yet did it never restrain 〈◊〉 even in my youth from things convenient nor do I think the coming early to a moderate use of Money doth a 〈…〉 prevents him from using those many base actions of cozening cheating pawning and selling Cloaths and the like which necessity inclines them to I ever observ'd that Plenty produceth Covetousness sooner than Want for as Bion said The hairy man grieves as much at the pulling out of his hair as he that is bald and he that hath once accustomed and fixed his thoughts upon a neap of Money it is no longer at his service he dares not diminish it it is a Building which if he touch or take any part from it he thinks it will all fall nay he will sooner pawn his Horse or sell his Cloaths than make a breach into his beloved Purse he is only a keeper or treasurer of his own Money and deserves no more the name of a rich man than he that keeps another man's flock of Sheep which he dares neither sell nor kill A covetous man is the person in the World to save whose House from firing I would not lend my helping hand the bounty of Providence is shipwrackt on him there is no villany he will not perpetrate for the lucre of Money The Poets feign that when Plutus which is Riches is sent from Iupiter he limps and goes slowly but when he is sent from Pluto he runs meaning that Riches gotten by good means and just labour pace slowly but when by the deaths of others or by any unjust means they come full gallop According to the Italian Proverb He that resolves to be rich within a year 't is an even Wager but he 's hang'd before half the year comes about The Expences whereby young men are most commonly ruin'd are Gaming and Women a little good fortune at first which like Water put into a Pump to make it give ten-fold draws them to the love of Play a Vice whereby none thrive but the Box keeper and for Women many thinking it cheaper to buy a quart of Milk for a penny than to keep a Cow run into the Extravagancies of keeping Misses at such a rate till at last the charitable Miss is fain to keep them As for the Vices that bring men of riper years to poverty they are commonly living above their Fortune in Equipage and Hospitality or else being bound for a dear Friend over a glass of Wine For the first of these when by keeping a good Table you fall into the distress of poverty those that have lived upon your Bounty shall only say you are a brave Fellow 't is a thousand pities and the like but will not go one step out of their way to relieve you And for being bound for men they are commonly Relations that desire it and I am confident eighteen in twenty that are so bound are left in the lurch by their Principals which made me so soon as ever I came of age voluntarily enter into a Bond never to be bound for any one living but my own Children These and the like Follies of our own bring us into misery and then we lay the blame upon Fortune as vicious and intemperate persons cast their own wickedness upon Nature when Fortune no more than Nature is in the fault Natura beatis Omnibus esse dedit si quis cognoverit uti Claud. lib. 1. 4 They that sail towards the Eaters of Lotus this relates to a passage in Homer in the 9 th Book of his Odysses where he writes after this manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For the description of this Lotus Pliny lib. 16. ch 30. gives it thus There are some Trees saith he that branch only towards the top as the Pine and the Greek Bean which at Rome for the pleasant taste of the Fruit much resembling Cherries although it be of a wild nature they call Lotus This Tree is much planted about great Houses in the Court-yards by reason of the large spreading of the Boughs for albeit the stock or bodyit self be but very short and small yet it brancheth so as that it yieldeth much shade yea and oftentimes the Boughs reach to the neighbouring Houses Nevertheless the shade of this Tree expireth as soon as any for when Winter comes the Leaves drop off and no longer exclude the heat of the Sun Moreover no Tree beareth a fairer Bark nor more pleasant to the eye nor carrieth either longer Boughs more in number or stronger insomuch that whosoever sees them would think each Bough a several Tree Now for the use that is made of this Tree the Bark serveth to colour Skins and Leather the Root to dye Wool and the Fruit or Apples which it bears they are a distinct kind by themselves resembling the Snouts or Muzzles of wild Beasts and many of the smaller sort seem to be joyn'd to one that is bigger than the rest Also the same Author tells us lib. 13. ch 17. that the Fruit is as big as a Bean and of a yellow colour like Saffron See more of this in Homer's Iliad 2. in Polybius lib. 2. and in Athenaeus The Lotophagites are Islands over against the Coasts of Barbary as saith Pliny lib. 5. ch 7. It is now call'd L'isle des Gerbes by the French It is a little Island of the Kingdom of Tripoly in Africa lying upon the Mediterranean Sea It is 18 miles in compass and there were in it formerly two great Cities whereof only one Castle and two Villages remain It was heretofore possess'd by the Spaniards but now by the Moors 5 Camels whereon you may ride of Camels there be chiefly three sorts The first call'd Hugiun of great stature and strength able to carry a thousand pound weight the second less with two bunches on the Back and sometimes one upon the Breast these are call'd Becheti being found only in Asia and are fit both for Carriage and to ride on The third sort is meagre and small not used to Burdens yet able to travel above an hundred miles in a day this kind they call Raguabill Swan's Specul Mund. The Arabian and Bactrian Camels although they want Horns yet have they Teeth but on one side And of all the sorts their Necks are most long and nimble by which the whole Body is much reliev'd seeing it can reach to most parts their Heads are small and Feet fleshy in regard of which they use to be shod with Leather for fear of graveling I mean such as are tame and made serviceable They love Grass especially the blades of Barley and when they drink the Water must not be clear but muddy the sirname therefore of the Camel is Trouble-bank for they will mud the Water with their feet before they take any delight to drink it
because the Senate would not ratifie the Peacâ— which the said Consul and Tribunes had made with them Cicero lib. 3. de off Sextus Pompeius Pompey the Great 's Son having Wars with Antonius the Triumvir and meeting him at the Sea-side upon a Treaty of Peace invited him to Supper in his Galley giving him his Oath for his assurance and being demanded secretly by Metrodorus the Pirate whether he would have him weigh Anchor and set Sayl and so make himself the Lord of the World he answer'd That he was not used to forswear himself esteeming it neither honourable nor profitable to gain the Empire of the World by Perjury Plat. in Anton. Of no less Honour and Fidelity was Lycurgus Brother to Polydectes King of Lacedaemonâ—a whose Widow offering to stifle the Child in her Womb begotten by the late King Polydectes if Lycurgus would marry her he not only refused it but also proclaim'd the young Child his Nephew King so soon as it was born Plat. in Lyc. Also for the Honour of the Romans no less famous is that Story of Fabricius to whom his Enemy's Physician coming and offering to poyson the King his Master and thereby to render Fabricius victorious he not oâ—ly refused his Treason but also seized the Traytor and sâ—nt him bound in fetters to his Master with a full discovery of his treacherous intentions against him Eutrop. Brev. Romani Scelerum semper sprevêre ministros Noxia pollicitum domino miscere venena Fabricius regi nudat a fraude remisit Infesto quem Marte peâ—it bellumque negavit Per famuli paâ—rare nefas ductosque Camillus Trans murum pueros obsessae reddidit urbi Claud. de bello Gild. Cicero tells us that Fides est Fundamentum Iustitiae Wherefore we see how Plutarch inveighs against Alexander the Great for killing certain Indian Souldiers that had rendred themselves upon his word saying that that one act had spotted and stained all his glorious Conquests and other royal Vertues Plat. in Al. Also in Thucydides lib. 3. de bello Pelep We see how Paches the Athenian Captain is condemned for violating his Faith with Hippias So sacred were Oaths and Faith given among the Ancients that on many of their old Coyns for Testimonies of Faith kept we see two hands joyned together with this Inscription Fides Exercituum or Fides Legionum and sometimes Fides Romanorum The Stoicks say Faith is derived of the Verb facâ—re to do because all things that are faithfully promisâ—d ought to be executed But still provided there be no compulsion for if a Thief on the High-way should with a Sword or Pistol at my Throat make me swear to pay him on such a day all the Money I have in the World I think no man will presume to say this Oath is binding either in honour or conscience neither could I avoid taking it without running into a greater evil and rendring my self Felo de se. Quid si me Tonsor quum stricta novacula supra est Tunc libertatem divitiasque roget Promittam nec enim rogat illo tempore Tonsor Latro rogat res est imperiosa Timor Mart. Epig. lib. 11. Which may be thus paraphrased in imitation of Martial If Shaver Howard with Razor at my ear The Author of Bucks Ballad should enquire A Rogue not Howard imposes on my fear I 'de promise but not grant him his desire However for any man to violate his Faith or Oath when made upon just grounds nothing can be more dishonourable or more destructive to humane Society And if we believe Historians those violaters of Faith have been oftentimes severely punish'd for so doing First In sacred Writ we find how Simeon and Levi were cursed by their Father Iacob for violating their League with Sichem Gen. 49. How Saul's posterity were punish'd for his breach of the League with the Gibeonites 2 Kings ch 21. How Andronicus a Favourite of King Antiochus was punished for his Treachery to Onias the high-Priest 2 Machab. ch 4. Also we see the great regard that Ioshua had of his Oath and League with the Gibeonites saying when the Children of Israel murmur'd against it We have sworn unto them in the Name of the Lord God of Israel and therefore may we not touch them lest the wrath of God fall upon us for breaking our Oath Joshua 9. Neither is prophane History less filled with Examples of this nature for Plutarch to the same purpose instances in that Story of Cleomenes King of Lacedaemonia who making a Truce with the Argives for seven days set upon their Camp in the night excusing himself with this Equivocation that the Truce was made for the days and not for the nights however this perfidiousness was his ruine as the sequel of the Story shews Plut. in Apoth Lacedaem The same Author likewise tells us of one Calippus who being justly charged with a Conspiracy against Dion of Sicily and having denied it with many solemn Oaths in the Temple of Ceres was deservedly slain with the same Dagger wherewith Dion was killed before by his consent Plut. in Dion And many other notable Examples of this kind are recorded amongst the Writings of the Ethnicks who were highly sensible of that Vice in so much that when Tissaphernes the Persian broke his Truce which he had made with the Grecians Agesilaus rejoyced at it saying We are beholden to Tissaphernes for making the Gods his Enemies and our Friends wherefore let us boldly give him Battel which he did and overthrew him Polian lib. 2. Ah Miser si quis primo perjuria celat Sera tamen tacitis poena venit pedibus Tibull Eleg. 9. lib. 1. 6 Then Apollonius looking on him with a stern Countenance This Chapter gives not only a sufficient Testimony of Apollonius's great Chastity but also of his wonderful Patience when he returned so high an affront with so much modesty and gentleness rendring himself a fit pattern for all good Philosophers and Christians to imitate 7 Oh that pleasant day This expression as well here as throughout the History ever relates to the time to come 8 Archelaus King of Cappadocia There were several Kings of this Name one of Macedonia one of Iudea and two of Cappadocia whereof one was overthrown by Sylla and the other kept prisoner at Rome by Tiberius But the person mention'd here by Philostratus I take to be the same Archelaus mention'd by Iosephus in his Wars of the Iews lib. 1. ch 17. who married his Daughter to Alexander the Son of Herod and Mariamne There was also a Milesian Philosopher of this Name who was himself Scholar to Anaxagoras and Master to Socrates CHAP. X. Of the death of Apollonius's Parents and the plentiful Estate that his Father left him also by what means he reclaim'd his vicious Brother And lastly of his wonderful Chastity SO soon as he receiv'd intelligence of his Fathers death he went away to 1 Tyana and there with his own hands interred him near the Sepulcher of his Mother who died not
long before The Estate being very large he divided with his Brother who was a very intemperate young man and much given to drinking being twenty three years of 2 age which by the Law rendred him above the protectiâ—n of a Tutor whereas Apollonius being but twenty years old was under the discipline of Tutors Therefore returning again to his Philosophical Studies at Aegas he there instituted both a Temple and a 3 Lycaeum for there was in him an Eccho of all manner of Philosophy In a short time after being arrived to full age and become Master of his Estate he return'd to Tyana where when one told him that it was his duty to reclaim his Brother and reform his Intemperance Apollonius replied Truly this would argue great confidence in me for how should I being a younger reform an elder Nevertheless I will endeavour as well as I am able to cure him of these Distempers Therefore in the first place he bestows on his Brother half his own Portion saying that he wanted many things whereas himself needed but little Then insinuating himself into his company and wisely alluring him to yield to one that would reform him our Father said he who used to instruct and admonish us is now departed it remains then that you admonish me and I you By this means as men are used to do when they break Colts he by little and little prevail'd with him to reform his Life and give over his numerous Vices being addicted to Dicing Drinking and Whoring and so proud of his Hair as to dye it walking in a haughty and stately manner Now he had no sooner reform'd his Brother but he began to work â—pon his other Kindred and to render them the more observant of his Admonitions he bestow'd on such as were in want the remaining part of his Estate reserving but very little to himself For he was used to say that 4 Anaxagoras the Clazomenian spending his Estate on stocks and herds of Camels was a Philosopher for Sheep rather than for Men And that 5 Crates the Theban who threw his Money into the Sea was useful neither to Men nor Cattel And Pythagoras being famous for this saying That a man should inwardly converse with none but his own Wife Apollonius reply'd This I conceive was spoken unto others but as for me I am resolv'd never to marry but to abstain from the company of all Women whatsoever In which respect he seem'd far to surpass that of 6 Sophocles who being grown old said that he was deliver'd from a mad and fierce Master Whereas Apollonius by his own vertue and temperance was not overcome by him even in his youth for being both youthful and of a strong Body he master'd and subdued that mad passion Yet some still accuse him of Venery as following the errors of Love and for that very reason continuing one whole year among the Scythians whereas indeed he did never go into Scythia nor was he ever captivated with the passions of Love And therefore notwithstanding Euphrates hath composed false Accusations against him yet did he never accuse him of Venery as we shall demonstrate when we come to speak concerning the business of Euphrates This Euphrates had a quarrel with Apollonius because he jeer'd him for his love of Money and endeavour'd to withdraw him from the study of gain and from making merchandize of Wisdom But let us adjourn these Matters to be treated of in their due place Illustrations on Chap. 10. 1 TYana a City of Cappadocia famous for the Birth of Apollonius 2 Three and twenty years of Age which by the Law rendred him above a Tutor The Ancients divided the Age of man into seven parts which they resembled to the seven Planets comparing our Infancy to the Moon wherein we seem only to live and grow as the Plants the second Age or Childhood to Mercury wherein we are taught and instructed the third Age or Youth to Venus the days of Lust Desire or Vanity at which time being wrapt in the third Heaven of Love we there both see and do things not fitting to be utter'd the fourth to the Sun the most strong flourishing and beautiful Age of man's Life the fifth to Mars in which we seek Honour and Victory travelling to ambitious ends the sixth to Iupiter wherein we begin to take an account of our Times to judge of our selves and to perfect our undestanding the seventh and last to Saturn wherein our days are sad and overcast with old age sickness and infirmities Rodeg 10.61 62. Macrobius in his first Book of Scipio's Dream chap. 6. extolling the singular effects of the septenary Number expresses the remarkable changes of Nature every seventh year in the course of man's Age As casting of the Teeth in the first seven springing of the Pubes in the second of the Beard in the third the utmost period of Growth and Stature in the fourth of Strength in the fifth a Consistence in the sixth and a Declination in the seventh Philo Iudaeus in that excellent Book of the Workmanship of the World affirms likewise that at the end of every seventh year there is some notable change in the Body of man and for better proof thereof he produces the Authority of Hippocrates and this Elogy of Solon's Impubes pueri septem volventibus annis Claudunt enatis dentibus eloquium Post alios totidem Divorum numine dextro Occulâ—um pubis nascitur indicium Annus ter septem prima Lanugine malas Vestiet aetatis robore conspicuus c. The Ancients had great respect for Old Age vainly judging of mens wisdom by the length of their Beards in so much that they had their particular years prescribed for such and such undertakings The Age of one and twenty freed them from the Tyranny of Masters and Tutors therefore Philostratus here tells us that Apollonius's Brother being 23 years of Age was exempt from the Jurisdiction of a Tutor They had also their particular years wherein they were capacitated for Marriage and publick imploys the Iewish Talmud as also the Civil Laws and Canons of the Church allow a woman to be married at twelve Hesiod at fifteen Xenophon and the Comedian at sixteen Aristotle at eighteen and Plato at twenty of all which I conceive the marrying at twelve to be the most unreasonable first because there is not one in a hundred but what is fitter for a Joynted â—aby than to look after the concerns of a Family at that Age and secondly because it seems very unfit that she who by the Law has not a Testamentary power to bequeath an old pair of Shoes should yet at the same time have power to dispose of her own Person and Fortune in marriage The Lex Papia made by Tiberius prohibited such men as were past sixty or women above fifty to marry as being unapt for Generation the chief end of marriage which Law was repeal'd in part by Claudius but more fully by Iustinian The blessed Virgin when she
adored by the Inhabitants of that Countrey as so many Gods And this saith Diodorus is the account which Fables give of Semiramis's Birth which as Sabellicus observes very much resembles the Fictions which Posterity invented of Cyrus and Romulus not to mention the true and sacred Narrative of Moses Now Semiramis surpassing all other Virgins in beauty and being then marriageable Menon the Governour of Syria who had been sent by the King to take an account of his Cattel and residing at Simma's House fell in Love with her and married her then carrying her back with him to the City of Niniveh he there had two Sons by her Iapetes and Idaspes Now her beauty did so totally influence Menon that wholly resigning up himself to Semiramis he would do nothing without her advice But Fortune who envies nothing so much as the happiness of Lovers would not permit them long to enjoy this mutual and calm satisfaction for the Prince is engaged in the Fields of Mars and the Subject must not lye sleeping at home in the Embraces of Venus King Ninus is storming the City Bactria and Menon his Officer must no longer absent himself from the Camp Therefore leaving Venus for Mars his Semiramis for the War Menon posts away to the King who was then besieging Bactria where he had not continued long but impatient of his Wifes absence he sends for Semiramis to accompany him in the Camp Thereupon she being a most prudent Woman and endued with more courage than is usually found in that Sex making use of this opportunity of shewing her extraordinary vertue undertakes the Journey in obedience to her Husband notwithstanding it was long and tedious But to render it the less difficult she attires her self in such a Garment as she might pass either for Man or Woman upon occasion and which would not only protect her from the heat of the Weather but was withall so light as it could no ways incommode her in case of any Action which Habit was so generally approved of that first the Medes and afterwards the Persians when they possest the Asiatick Empire did for a long time use no other than this Semirian Garment Now in this Dress she arrived incognito at the Assyrian Camp where having observ'd the posture of the Siege as also the situation of the City she discover'd that the Castle naturally strong and difficult of access was therefore neglected and unprovided of men for its Guard the Bactrians at that time being wholly imploy'd in defending the Outworks of the City which the Assyrians only assaulted as looking upon the Castle impregnable Whereupon Semiramis having privately made this observation selects out of the whole Army a Detachment of such men as were best skill'd in climbing up steep Rocks and Mountains who with much difficulty ascending up thorow the rough and narrow passages made themselves Masters of one part of the Castle when to amaze the Enemy she makes a dreadful noise withall giving notice to the Besiegers that the Castle was taken whereat the Besieged within were so terrified that evacuating themselves they abandoned the defence of the Town and attempted nothing more but the saving of their own Lives by flight The City thus taken and Semiramis discover'd all persons were in admiration of her heroick Vertue and Beauty in so much that King Ninus himself who is call'd in the Scripture Ashur falling desperately in Love with her did first by fair means require her Husband Menon to resign up his Wife to him which he refusing to do the King at length threatned him with the loss of both his Eyes to prevent which Torture Menon desiring of Evils to choose the least did with his own hands strangle himself Hereupon the King married his Widow Semiramis by whom he had one Son called Ninus the second or Ninyas and soon after died leaving the Government both of his Son and Kingdom to Semiramis There are various Reports concerning this Ninus's Death for some with Orosius and Reusnerus will have it that he died of a Wound receiv'd by a Dart in the Bactrian War but Diodorus tells us that the Athenians and other Historians affirm that Semiramis presuming upon the influence of her Beauty requested Ninus that she might be invested with the Royal Robes and rule absolutely but for five days whereunto he assenting she after having made experiment of the Fidelity and Obedience of some of her Guards commands them to imprison the King her Husband which immediately they perform'd and by this means she assumed the Government of the Empire Herewith likewise both Aelian and Plutarch agree differing only in these Circumstances that whereas Diodorus saith she imprison'd him they affirm that she kill'd him also whereas Diodorus and Aelian write that she requested to rule five days Plutarch says her petition was but for one day Now for Semiramis's Government after her Husband's Death Iustin gives us this Account of it That Ninus himself being slain and his Son Ninus but young Semiramis not daring to commit the Government of so great an Empire to a Boy nor openly to exercise the Command of it her self so many and so powerful Nations being scarcely obedient to a Man would be much less to a Woman did counterfeit her self to be the Son instead of the Wife of Ninus and a Boy instead of a Woman They were both of a middle Stature their Voice but soft their Complexion and Features of Face as likewise the Lineaments of their Bodies were alike both in Mother and Son she therefore with Rayment cover'd her Arms and Thighs putting a Tire on her Head and that she might not seem to conceal any thing by her new Habit she commanded the people all to be cloath'd in the same Attire which that whole Nation have ever since observ'd having thus counterfeited her Sex she was believ'd to be a young Man After this she made her self famous by great Atchievements by the magnificence whereof when she thought shâ— had overcome all Envy she confess'd who she was and whom she had counterfeited neither did this detract from the dignity of her Government but rather increas'd her admiration that a Woman not only surpass'd her own Sex but also the bravest of Men in Vertue She builded Babylon as I shew'd before and being not contented to defend the bounds of the Empire obtain'd by her Husband she not only made an addition to the same of all Aethiopia but also carried the War into India which besides her self and Alexander the Great never any invaded At last when she desired to lye with her own Son she was kill'd by him Thus far Iustin lib. 1. Arrianus and others allow her a more honourable death and say that marching against the Indians with an Army of 3000000 Infantry and 50000 Cavalry besides 100000 Chariots she was overthrown by Stanrobates upon the Banks of Indus and there slain or as some will have it turn'd into a Dove Venus's Bird whence the Babylonians ever after carried a
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
in so much that Appion the Grammarian invoked his Ghost to come forth from the dead and declare which was his Countrey that so the Controversie might be ended Concerning his Countrey and Age there is so great variation amongst Authors that no Question about Antiquity seems more difficult to be resolved Some make him a Native of Aeolia and say that he was born about 168 years after the Siege of Troy Aristotle in 3. de Poetic affirms he was born in the Isle of Io Michael Glycas places him under Solomon's Reign but Cedrenus saith that he lived under both Solomon and David as also that the Destruction of Troy happen'd under Saul Nevertheless that Book of Homer's Life which follows the ninth Muse of Herodotus and whether composed by him or no is very ancient makes the Labour of those men very ridiculous who even at this day pretend to so much certainty of Homer's Countrey which was not then known But of this Leo Allatius hath written a distinct Treatise Neither is there less uncertainty concerning his Parentage Aristotle affiâ—ms he was begot in the Isle of Io by a Genius on the Body of a Virgin of that Isle who being quick with Child for shame of the deed retired into a Place call'd Aegina and there being seiz'd on by Thieves was brought to Smyrna to Maeon King of the Lydians who for her Beauty married her after which she walking near the Floud Meletes being on that shoar overtaken with the Throws of her Delivery she brought forth Homer and instantly died the Infant was receiv'd by Maeon and brought up as his own tiâ—l he himself likewise died Alex. Paphius saith Eustathius makes Homer to be born of Egyptian Parents Dmasagoras being his Father and Aetbra his Mother also that his Nurse was a certain Prophetess and the Daughter of Oris one of Isis's Priests from whose Breasts Honey often flow'd in the Mouth of the Infant after which in the night he is reported to utter nine several Notes or Voices of Birds viz. of a Swallow a Peacock a Dove a Crow a Partridge a Wren a Stare a Blackbird and a Nightingale also that being a little Boy he was found playing in his Bed with nine Doves Others make him the Son of Maeona and Ornithus and others the Off-spring of some Nymph as Gyraldus writes Hist. Poet. Dial. 2. But the opinion of many is that he was born of Critheis Daughter of Melanopus and Omyris who after her Father and Mothers death was left to a Friend of her Fathers at Cuma who finding she was with Child sent her away in high displeasure to a Friends House near the River Meles where at a Feast among other young Women she was deliver'd of a Son whose Name she call'd Melesigenes from the Place where he was born That Critheis went with her Son to Ismenias and from thence to Smyrna where she dressed Wooll to get a Livelyhood for her self and her Son at which Place the Schoolmaster Phemius falling in Love with her married her and took her Son into the School who by his sharpness of Wit surpass'd all the other Scholars in Wisdom and Learning in so much that upon the death of his Master Homer succeeded him in teaching the same School whereby he acquired great Reputation for his Learning not only at Smyrna but all the Countreys round about for the Merchants that did frequent Smyrna with Corn spread abroad his Fame in all Parts where they came But above all one Mentes Master of â— Leucadian Ship took so great a kindness for him that he perswaded him to leave his School and travel with him which he did and was plentifully maintain'd by Mentes throughout their Travels Their first Voyage was to Spain from thence to Italy and from Italy through several Countreys till at last they arrived at Ithaca where a violent Rheum falling into Homer's Eyes prevented his farther progress so that Mentes was fain to leave him with a Friend of his called Mentor a person of great Honour and Riches in Ithaca where Homer learn'd the principal Matters relating to Vlysses's Life but Mentes the next year returning back the same way and finding Homer recover'd of his Eyes took him along with him in his Travels passing through many Countreys till they arrived at Colophon where relapsing into his old Distemper he quite lost the use of his Eyes after which he addicted himself to Poetry when being poor he return'd back again to Smyrna expecting to find better Entertainment there whereof being disappointed he removed from thence to Cuma in which passage he rested at a Town called New-wall where repeating some of his Veâ—ses one Tichiâ— a Leather-seller took such delight to hear them that he entertain'd him kindly a long time Afterwards he proceeded on his Journey to Cuma where he was so well receiv'd that some of his Friends in the Senate did propose to have a Maintenance settled on him for Life though others opposed the rewarding so great a man Some will have it that at this Place he first receiv'd the Name of Homer Now being denied Relief at Cuma he removed from thence to Phocaea where lived one Thestorides a Schoolmaster who invited him to live with him by which means Thestorides procured some of his Verses which he afterwards taught as his own at Chios Whereupon Homer hearing how Thestorides had abused him immediately followed him to Chios and by the way falling into discourse with a Shepherd who was keeping his Master's Sheep the Shepherd was so taken with Homer that he reliev'd him and carried him to his Master where he lived some time and taught his Children till being impatient to discover Thestorides his Cheat he went to Chios which Place Thestorides left when he heard of Homer's coming who tarried there some time taught a School grew rich married and had two Daughters whereof one died young and the other he married to the Shepherd's Master that entertain'd him at Bollisus When he grew old he left Chios and went to Samos where he remain'd some time singing of Verses at Feasts and at new-Moons at great mens Houses From Samos he was going to Athens but as some say fell sick at Ios where dying he was buried on the Sea-shoar And long after when his Poems had gotten â—n universal Applause the people of Ios built him a Sepulchre with this Epitaph upon it â—s saith Suidas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hac sacrum terra caput occultatâ—r Homeri Qui canere Heroum praestantia facta solebat Melancthon Or rather as Gyraldus renders it Sacrum hic terra caput divinum claudit Homerum Herâ—um atque virum cecinit qui fortia facta Hist. Poet. Dial. 2. This is the most rational account of his Death and not that he pined away upon the Riddle of the Fishermen as others would have it and so saith Herodotus or whoever it was that wrote that Book de Vita Homeri Ex hac aegritudine inquit extremum