vaine attempted There chanced to be a foggie mist which continued a good part of the day so thick and palpable as men could not see before them I say not so farre as without the trench but not so much as those that came close to speake one to another The Samnites hereupon taking the advantage fit for an ambushment before it was full day light and the same much overcast and dimme with the mist came as farre as the Corps de guard of the Romanes who in the gates and entrance of the campe warded but negligently being thus taken on a sodaine they had neither courage nor strength enough to resist At the back side of the camp they assalted the great gate Decumana seised the Questors pavilion and that quarter about it where the Questor himselfe L. Opimius Pansa was slaine and thereupon the alarme was given The Cos. being with this tumult raised commaunded two bands or cohorts of allies to wit the one of Lucanians and the other of Suessans which haply were next hand to defend guard the Pretors pavilion and that quarter In the meane while he marched with the legionarie bands along the high broad streete in the campe called Principalis and before they had buckled and fitted their armour about them they were raunged in battaile aray and had knowledge of the enemy by the eare and outcryes rather than by sight of the eye neither could they give an estimate what number they were At the first as doubtfull of the event and mistrusting their fortune they reculed and received their enemies in and let them come even into the middes of the campe but then the Consull cryed out and asked Whether they ment to be turned out of their owne rampiers and holds first and after have a new peece of worke to assaile and win them againe So they set up a shout and put all their might together and first made resistance only and kept their ground but afterwards they set forward and pressed upon them and having once beaten them back they drave them afore them with the same feare that they themselves began yea and chased them out of the gate and the trench but to proceede further for to pursue the chase they durst not for feare of some ambushment by reason of the mistie troubled wether contenting themselves with the saving of their campe and no more and so they retired within their rampieâ—s having slaine to the number welneere of three hundred enemies Of Romanes as well those that were in the first Corps de guard and Sentinels who kept the watch as of those that were surprised about the Questors lodging were killed 230. This bold adventure of the Samnites speeding so well made them take better hart so as they would not permit the Romanes to encamp farther into the countrie no nor so much as to go a foraging into their territorie whereupon they were compelled to retire againe and to purveie forage in the quiet and peaceable quarters of their friends about Sora. The bruit of all these occurrents more troublesome and fearefull than truth was being come to Rome caused L. Posthumius the Cos. before he was well recovered of his sicknesse to take the field but ere he departed the citie he proclaimed the Rendez-vous at Sora for his soldiers there to meete Himselfe now dedicated unto the goddesse Victoria the Temple which in the time of his curule Aedileship he tooke order to be built with the money raysed of certaine fines taken of persons condemned Then tooke he his journey to the armie and so went forward from Sora directly into Samnium to the camp of his brother Consull But the Samnites distrusting themselves as not able to withstand two armies were dislodged and departed back and the Consuls also parted one from another sundrie waies to wast the countrie and assault the townes Posthumius at his first comming assayed by fine force to assaile the towne Milionia and seeing he could do small good that way at length by rolling trenches and platformes he approched close to the walls and wan it and albeit the towne were thus forced yet there continued a sharp and long fight in all streetes and parts thereof from the fourth houre of the day untill the eight with doubtfull and variable events for a good while but in the end the Romanes became maisters of the towne Of Samnites were slaine 3200 and 4200 were taken prisoners besides the gaining of other bootie and pillage From thence he led forth the legions to Ferentinum but the inhabitants with their bag and baggage and all that ever they could drive or carie had quit the towne in the still night season and departed in great silence at a contrarie posterne gate which opened from the campe of the enemie The Consull so soone as he was come at the first approched the walls as well appointed and provided of all things as if he should have found as much to do as at Milionia but afterwards perceiving all silent and desolate throughout the citie seeing neither men nor munition within the towres and upon the walls he held back his souldiers desirous and greedie to enter upon the bare walls so abandoned and disfurnished of defence doubting tofal headlong ere he were aware into the traines of some hidden privie ambush he commanded two comets of the Cavallerie of Latine confederats to ride about the walls along the countrescarp and well to view and consider all places The horsemen finding one or two gates neere together of one side standing wide open and in the verie same waies that led from thence the fresh tracks and footing of the enemies as they fled by night rode softly neerer and neerer to the gates and there they might see streight afore them safe entrance and the citie lying open even from one end to the other whereupon they brought word back to the Consull that the citie was abandoned and the enemies gone which was verie evident apparent as well by the very solitude thereof as the new and fresh marks and traces of their dislodging and departure as also by the stuffe and goods that lay here and there scattred all abroad whiles they hastened fearefully in the darke to take their flight The Consullupon this report with his hoast drew to that side of the towne which the horsemen were at and pitching downe his ensignes not farre from the gate commaunded five other horsemen to enter into the citie geving order that when they had gone forward a pretie way three of them should stay behind in the same place if they saw all safe and out of danger and the other two bring him word what they had seene and found Who being returned made relation that they were gone so farre as they might see about them every way into all parts and could perceive nothing but silence and vast desolation all about both farre and neere then forthwith the Consull entred into the citie with certaine cohorts lightly appointed
upon themselves and to suffer yea and offer their owne territories to be spoiled and harried for the safetie forsooth of other mens lands who were but meere aliens and strangers unto them The noyse and garboile being at length husht and appeased this answere was returned to the Embassadors That neither the Romanes had deserved so well nor the Carthaginians so ill at their hands that they should take armes either for Romanes or against Carthaginians But contrariwise they were advertised that some of their nation were by the people of Rome driven out of the marches and confines of Italie put to pay tribute yea and indured other outrages and indignities The like demaunds and answeres passed too and fro in other Councels and assemblies of Gaule neither could they meete with any friendly enterteinement or have peaceable words given them before they came to Massilia where after diligent inquirie and faithfull search made by their allies they had true advertisements that Anniball aforehand had wrought the harts of the Gaules to his owne purpose and was possessed of them but they understood withall that they were not like to continue long in good termes of kindnesse and favor even to him so fierce and savage so untractable are they and untamed by nature unlesse their Princes and rulers be ever and anon well feed and plied with gold whereof that nation of all other is most greedie covetous The Romane Embassadors having thus gone their circuite over all the States of Spaine and Gaule returned to Rome not long after that the Coss. had taken their journey into their provinces where they found the whole citie possessed with the expectation of warre so rise and currant was the rumor and bruit abroad that the Carthaginians were alreadie passed over the river Iberus Anniball after the winning of Saguntum had retired himselfe to winter in new Carthage and there having intelligence what had bene done and decreed as well at Rome as at Carthage in Affrick and that he was reputed not onely the Captaine generall and conductor but also the very author and cause of all this warre so soone as he had devided and sold the rest of the bootie and pillage that remained thought good now to make no longer delaies but assembled the soldiours of the Spanish Nation and to them he spake in this manner My trustie friends and loiall consederats I am persuaded that ye yourselves do see as well as I now that all the States of Spain are in peace and quietnesse that either yee are to make an end of souldierie all our forces to be cassed and discharged from service or else that yee must remove the warre into other lands For so shall these Nations prosper and flourish and not onely enjoy the blessings of peace but also reape the fruits of war if we will seek to gain riches and to acquire glorie and honor from others Since therefore wee are to warre shortly far from home and doubt it is when you shall see again your houses and whatsoever there is deere unto you if any of you bee desirous to visite home his wife and children kinsfolke and friends I give him licence and free pasport But I commaund you withall to shew yourselves heere againe before mee in the beginning of the next spring that with the helpe of God we may in hand with that warre whereby wee shall purchase both worship and wealth There was not one in a manner but well accepted of this libertie so franckly offered by himselfe and were desirousâ— have a sight of house land both for that overy one a readie longed for their friends and kindred and foresaw in farther time to come a greater misse and cause of more longing after them This rest all Winter time betweene their travailes past and those they were soon after to endure refreshed as wel their bodies as their minds and prepared them to abide and endure all new paines whatsoever So in the very prime of the spring according to the Edict aforesaid they all assembled together againe Anniball having taken a muster and survey of the aides that were sent unto him from all those Nations went to Gades and there to Hercules he paid his old vowes and bound himselfe to new if the rest of his enterprises should speed well and have good successe After this deviding and casting care indifferently as well for offensive as defensive warre doubting least whiles hee went by land through Spaine and France into Italie Affricke should lie open and naked to the Romanes from Sicilie side purposed to fortifie and make that part sure with strong garrisons In lieu whereof hee sent for fresh supplie out of Affricke specially of Archers and Iaâ—â—lotiers and those lightly armed to the end that the Affricanes might serve in Spaine and the Spaniards in Affrick like both the one and the other to proove the better souldiours farre from their owne countries and being bound as it were with mutuall and reciprocall pledges So hee sent into Affricke 13850 footemen armed with light targets and 870 slingers of the islands Baleares 1200 horsemen also out of sundrie Nations Which forces he disposed partly for thedefense of Carthage partly to be devided through Affricke for the guard thereof Hee sent withall certaine Commissioners into all their citties to take up souldiours and enrolled 4000 of their chosen youths who should be brought to Carthage there to lie in garison and to serve for hostages And supposing that Spaine was not to be neglected and the rather because hee was not ignorant how the Romane Embassadours had visited the same round to see how they could sollicite and worke the Princes and rulers to their mind he committed the charge of that Province to his brother Asdrubal a valiant and hardie man and furnished him with good forces especially out of Affrick to wit 11850 Affricans footmen 300 Ligurians 500 Balearo Islanders To this power of footmen three hundred horse of the Libyphoenicians a Nation mixt of Carthaginians Affricanes Of Numidians and Mores that coast upon the Ocean 1900. with a small cornet of 200 horsemen of Ilergetes out of Spaine And because hee should want no manner of land helpe foureteene Elephants besides Moreover there was a fleet allowed him for the defence of the sea coasts For by what forces and service the Romanes had before gotten victorie thereby it was likely that they would still maintaine and continue their warres 50 gallies therefore of five bankes of oates hee had at sea two of four and five of three But of the five oared gallies aforesaid he had no more but two and thirtie fitted and well appointed with rowers and marriners and so were the five of three banckes From Gades the armie of Anniball returned to winter in Carthage and from thence he passed by the citie Etovissa and marched forward with his forces to Iberus the sea coasts Where it is reported that in his sleepe hee
they were once discomfited and put back which required no great ado nor long fight the Hastati or Iaveliniers of the eleventh legion gathered round together and charged upon the Elephants which now also began to breake the ranks of the footemen But when they had launced their javelins against them standing thicke together in plumps and lightly there was not one of them hit amisse but did his errand they forced them all to turne back upon their owne battaile so foure of them were sore wounded and fell downe dead Then the vaward of the enemies began somewhat to geve ground and withall the whole strength of the Romane footemen seeing the Elephants turne taile came forward at once for to encrease the disordred tumult and put them in greater feare But so long as Mago stood stoutly to it and kept his standing in the forefront of the ensignes the rankes and files as they went back softly and retired by little and little still mainteined fight as before in good order but after that they saw him shot through the thigh and fallen and therewith caried forth of the bartel for dead incontinently they were all defeated and put to flight That day were slaine of enemies upon a five thousand and of militarie ensignes eighteene woon and carried away The Romans likewise bought not this victorie without losse of bloud For of the Pretors armie were lost two thousand and three hundred and the greater part of them by farre were of the twelfth legion Wherof two Tribunes militarie or Colonels also lost their lives M. Cosconius and M. Maenius Likewise of the thirteenth legion which came last to the conflict Cn. Helvius a Colonell in renuing the fight was slaine and eighteen men of armes besides most brave and excellent horsemen with certain Centurions who were by the Elephants troden down trampled underfoot and so perished And no doubt the medley had continued longer but that by occasion of the Generall his hurt the victorie was given away and yeelded Mago in the dead time of the next night dislodged and departed and stretching out his journey so farre as possibly for his wound hee might hee marched away untill he was come to the sea side unto the Ingauni in Liguria where the Embassadors sent from Carthage who a few daies before were arived in the French gulfe repaired unto him commaunding him with all speed possible to saile over into Affricke for as much as his brother Anniball likewise unto whom also there were Embassadours gone with the like message and commission would doe the same For the State of Carthage now was not in case nor upon tearms to defend and keepe in obedience by force of armes Fraunce and Italie but to see to home Mago not onely moved with the commaundement of the Senate and the daunger of his countrie but fearing also least the enemie following the traine of his victorie would pursue and set upon him if hee made long stay and doubting least the Ligurians likewise seeing Italie abandoned of the Carthaginians would revolt and turne unto those under whosâ— obedience they were like shortly to bee reduced albeit hee had no hope that his hurt should have lesse shaking at sea by sailing than on land by travelling or to find things there more handsome and readie for the cure embarked his armie and departed But before hee was well gotten beyond the point and lands end of Sardinia he died of his wound aforesaid Certaine ships also of the Carthaginians being scattered asunder in the deepe sea were by the Romane Armada that kept about the coasts of Sardinia surprised and bourded These were the Acts performed both by sea and land on that side of Italie which lieth along the Alpes Cn. Servilius the Consull having performed no worthie and memorable exploit either in his province Hetruria or in Fraunce for thither also he went in the end but onely that he redeemed his father Cn. Servilius and his unckle C. Luctatius from servitude and bondage now sixteene yeares after they had beene taken prisoners by the Boij before the village Tanetum returned to Rome with his father going on the one side and his unckle on the other a man famous rather for his private deeds than renowmed for any publicke and honourable act worthie of remembrance And a bill was preferred unto the people that it should not bee imputed for a trespasse unto Cn. Servilius that whiles his own father who had sitten upon the yvorie chaire of estate was living and that unknowne to him hee had been both Tribune and Aedile also of the Commons against the lawes in that behalfe provided This Act being passed and graunted he returned againe into his province Vnto Cn. Servilius the Consull who was in the Brutians countrey there revolted Consentia Vffugum Vergae Besidiae Hetriculum Syphaeum Argentanum Dampetia many other peeces of small accoumpt upon occasion that they saw the Carthaginians war to waxe cold and feeble The same Consull fought a battaile with Anniball in the territorie of Croton the manner of which fight is darkly and obscurely reported For Valerius Antias saith there were slaine five thousand of the enemies a thing of such consequence that either it was meere impudencie to forge it or great negligence to overslip it But the truth is from that time forward nothing was done by Anniball in Italie for to him also there came from Carthage embassadors to cal him home into Affrick even about the same time that the others did unto Mago And as it is reported of him all the whiles that he gave audience to the embassadors he gnashed and grinded his teeth he kept a sighing and groning yea and hardly could forbeare to shed teares After they had delivered their message according to their commission Yea mary qd he now they go no more about the bush with me by covert meanes and under hand to send for me home but openly are seene in the action who all this while in suffering no supplies either of men or money to be transported over unto me sought to draw and hale me from hence Well then It is not the people of Rome so often by me deffeated and put to flight that hath by armes overcome Anniball but it is the Senate of Carthage with their backbiting and malicious envie Neither will P. Scipio rejoyce so much and beare himselfe proud upon this disgrace of my returne as Hanno will who with the ruine and subversion of Carthage hath overthrowne our house and familie when by no other meanes he could effect it Now Anniball whose mind foregave him that such a thing would fall out had prepared shipping afore-hand And therefore after he had sent away the multitude of souldiours that were of small or no service into the townes of the Brutians countrey under a colour shew of garisons for defence which townes were but few and the same rather held in by awe and feare than abiding in obedience for love and loyaltie he tooke with him the whole
the losse and overthrow of their fellowes than for any proper danger of their owne Howbeit after they saw the other inserted and the Admirall her selfe with Polyxenidas in her to abandon her companions and to halfe up sailes they likewise in hast set up all their cloth and small trinquet sailes for a good forewind they had for Ephesus and fled as fast away as they could Two and fortie ships they lost in this fight of which thirteene were bourded and taken for the use of the Romanes the rest were either consumed with fire or devoured of the sea Two Romane ships were shattered and broken to fitters and some other hurt bruised and cracked One Rhodian chaunced to be taken by a notable and memorable adventure For having with her piked beake head stricken a Sidonian ship with the violence of the blow she shooke out her owne anker which by one of the floukes tooke fast hold as if it had bene a grapling hooke by the pro of the other ship The Rhodians much troubled herewith gave over rowing streight as willing and desirous to be loose and parted from the enemie and whiles they were busie thereabout the gable which the anker drew with it caught among the ores of her owne ship and swoopt them cleane away and so left one side of it naked whereby the ship being much weakened and enseebled was taken by the other that was smitten and tied fast unto her Much after this manner was the battaile fought at sea neere Myonesus Whereupon Antiochus was sore affrighted for being thus dispossed of the sea he distrusted himselfe that he should not be able to hold and defend the places farther off and therefore commaunded the garison to retire from Lysimachia for feare it should be surprised there by the Romanes But this was but a bad peece of counsell as the sequell and issue proved afterwards For it had bene an easie matter not only to defend Lysimachia against the first assault of the Romanes but also to hold out the siege all winter yea and by drawing out the time on length to bring the very assailants themselves lying in leaguer to extreme necessitie and want of all things during which space they might have taken some occasion and opportunitie to find a meane and make way for peace Neither did he only quit Lysimachia and leave it for the enemies after this unfortunate battaile but also raised his siege before Colophon and dislodged yea and retired himselfe to Sardis from whence he sent into Cappadocia to Ariarates for aid and to all other places where he could to gather more forces and now was he set upon no deseign els but to geve battaile and to hazard all upon the fortune of the field After this Navall victorie Regillus Aemylius sailed directly to Ephesus where he embattailed his ships in array even before the haven and when by this bravado he had at last wrong again from the enemies a plaine and evident confession that they had abandoned the sea unto him he set saile for Chius unto which he had intended to shape his course from Samos before the late battaile upon the sea There he repaired and calked his ships which were shaken cracked in the foresaid fight which done he sent L. Aemylius Scaurus with thirtie saile toward Hellespontus to transport the armie And when he had rewarded the Rhodian ships with part of the pillage and honored them with the navall spoiles he gave them the renvoie and sent them home But the Rhodians lustily out-sailed Scaurus and prevented his ships to set over the forces of the Consull and after they had performed that service also then they returned to Rhodes The Romane Armada sailed from Chios to Phocaea This citie is seated farre within the gulfe of the sea builded so as that it lieth out in length The wall conteineth in compasse the space of two miles and an halfe and from both sides it groweth narrow still and meeteth in the mids resembling the forme of a wedge or coin which the inhabitants themselves call Lampter in which place the citie is a mile broad and a quarter with the vantage From which canton or corner there is a banke of firme land running a mile on end into the sea like a tongue which devideth the haven just in the mids marked out as it were just by a certeine line Where it joyneth to the narrow streights it hath two most sure harbours of both sides and those lying two contrarie wayes That which looketh toward the South is called according as it is in deed Naustathmos namely a ship-rode or harbour for it is able to receive a great number of ships the other haven is neere unto the very Lampter aforesaid When the Romane sleete was once possessed of both these most sure and safe harbours the Pretour thought good before he set in hand either to skale the walls or to raise any fabricks and plant engins against the citie to send certein of purpose to sound the minds and affections of the principall citizens and the magistrates within But after he perceived they were obstinately bent would not come on he began to lay batterie against it in two severall quarters The one part was not much peopled and had but few dwelling houses in it and the temples of their gods tooke up a good space thereof and there began he first to approch with the ramme and therewith to batter the walls and shake the turrets and by that time that the multitude ran thither in great numbers and presented themselves readie to defend the ramme was jurring also at the other part So as now the wals were laid along in both places and upon the fall therof whiles some of the Roman souldiers presently gave the assault at the very breach mounting marching upon the ruines of the stones that were falne others also assaid to gaine the top of the upright wals with skaling ladders But the townesmen withstood them so stiffely with such resolution that it was wel seene they reposed more hope of defense in armes and valor than in the strength of their wals Whereupon the Pretor seeing in what danger his souldiers stood and fearing to expose sacrifice them ere they were aware to the fury of these people so enraged like desperate and mad persons commaunded to sound the retreat And notwithstanding the assault ceased and was given over yet betooke not the townesmen themselves to rest and repose but ran from all parts every one to raise countermures fill up the breaches and repaire the ruines where the wall was downe As they were wholly employed about this businesse Q. Antonius sent from the Pretour came toward them who after hee had reprooved and rebuked their wilfull obstinacie and made remonstrance unto them that the Romanes had more care and regard than they themselves of the citie that by continuall assaults and batteries it should not utterly be destroyed and how if they would be reclaimed and
forbeare those cursed speeches and said withall it was his owne mother by the consent of his father in law that had enjoyned him so to do And is it that father in law of yours quoth she for peradventure I should not do well to blame your mother that hasteneth you by this action of yours to make shipwrack of your honestie and chastitie of your credit and good name of your hope another day and lastly to hazard your very life Here at the young man marveiled much more than before and desired earnestly to know the depth of all this matter Then after she had prayed all gods and goddesses to pardon her if for tender love and affection that she bare unto him she could neither will nor chuse but reveale those secrets that in deed were to be concealed she set tale on end and said That she herselfe once entred into that chappell when as she waited upon her mistresse but since that she was made free and at her own libertie shenever setsoote within the dore And upon my knowledge ad she it is the very shop and workhouse of all wickednes that can be devised And now for certeine these two yeares last past there is not one prosessed and admitted to those mysteries there who is above 20 yeeres of age So soone as any one is inducted and brought in thither she or he is delivered to the priests as a very sacrifice to be killed for they lead them to a place which resoundeth with yelling and crying with singing of divers consorts with jangling noyse of cymbals with thumping and beating of tabers to the end that the voice of any one that crieth and complaineth of force and violence done to the abuse of his or her bodie might not be heard Now I beseech you therefore and all loves I pray you that in any case by one meanes or other ye avoid this howsoever ye do and plunge not your selfe headlong thither where first you shall be sure to endure and suffer and afterwards to perpetrate commit all abhominable wickednes not to be named And never would she let the youth go from her untill he had made her faithfull promise to absteine and forbeare such mysteries and ceremonies When hee was come home and that his mother was in hand with him telling him what hee must do this day and that day and so forth he flatly denied and said plainly he would do neither the one nor the other and at one word prosessed and consecrated he would not be whatsoever came of it His father in law was present at one end of this resolute speech of his His mother straightwaies cried out and said that he could not find in his hart to lie apart from Hispala one ten daies and that he was so far bewitched and envenomed with the charmes poisoned allurements baits of that false serpent perilous Hydra that he had no respective regard either of his mother or mothers husband no not any reverent feare of the immortal gods The mother rated him of one side the father baited coursed him on another till in the end they hunted him out of dores with 4 bondslaves besides The young man betooke himselfe to Ebutia an aunt that he had by his fathers side and shewed her the whole matter why his mother had thrust him out of her house by the head and shoulders which done by her advise and counsell the next day he opened and declared the same in great secret without the hearing of any earthly creature to the Consull Posthumius The Consul commanded him to repaire again unto him three dayes after so for that time dismissed him Then the Consull in the meane while enquired of his wives mother Sulpitia a grave and sober matron whether she knew an old wise called Ebutia dwelling in the Aventine Yes that I do qd she and I know her to be an honest dame and a woman of the old world and sew her like now adayes I must needs speake with her qd he and therefore I would have you send a messenger unto her for to will her to come hither Ebutia at the first sending came unto Sulpitia and the Consul within a while sorted as it were by chance into their companie and began to find some talke of her brothers sonne Ebutius with that the womans eyes stood full of water and with teares she began to bewaile the case and mishap of the young man who being spoiled of all his goods and patrimonie by those who of all others should least have done it was now at home in her house chased and driven out of doores by his owne mother for that the honest good youth God blesse us all and be mercifull unto us was unwilling to be consecrated and admitted to certaine filthie and detestable sacrifices if all be true that is reported thereof The Consull had enough now and was fully persuaded of Ebutius that he had told him no lie Then hee gave Ebutia leave to goe her waies home and requested his mother in law Sulpitia aforesaid to send likewise for Hispala from thence out of the Aventine to come unto her a woman qd hee affranchised and well enough knowen to all the neighbours of that street for that I have somewhat also to say to her Hispala was somewhat disquieted at this message to think that she should be sent for to so noble and honourable a dame and knew no cause wherefore But after that she saw the Lictours before the entrie of the dore the troupe and traine also belonging to the Consull and withall the Consull himselfe in person shee was astonied and in manner halfe dead The Consull taking with him his wives mother had the woman into an inward roume of the house and said unto her That shee need not to bee affraid if so be she could find in her heart to tell the truth and for assurance thereof she should have the faithfull word and promise either of Sulpitia a ladie of so good credit and reputation or of himselfe if need were Only he would have her to urter and declare what was ordinarily done at the grove of Similla in the Bacchanals where they used to sacrifice in the night season The woman had no sooner heard that word but she fell into such a feare trembling and quaking all over her bodie that for a good while she was not able to open her lips and speake a word but after shee was come to herselfe againe out of this traunce and by them heartened and encouraged she said That when she was a very young wench and a bond-maiden shee togither with her mistresse was there prosessed and consecrated but for certaine yeeres of late and namely since that she was affranchised and made free shee was not acquainted with the place nor wist not what worke was there I con thee thanke for this yet quoth the Consull that thou deniest now how thou wert there entred into that prosession but say on and tell
friends and allies at first marvelled much at the matter but afterwards there gallopt and horseman and advertised the king that the Albanes were gone away Tullus in this so fearefull and dangerous case vowed twelve Priests Salij and two temples to Pallor and Pavor 1. to Palenesse and Feare and with a lowd voice cried out in the hearing of his enemies commanding the said horseman to return to the battel saying There was no cause at al to feare for that himselfe had commanded the Albane host to wheele and fetch about and so to charge the Fidenates on their backes where they lay open Willing him expressely moreover to cause the men of armes to hold up their launces on end By which meanes a great part of the footmen could not see the Albanes as they departed and went their waies And those that had seene them thinking it was a truth which they heard the king to speake fought so much the more hotely So the feare turned now from them and fell upon the enemies for they heard the king when hee spake so lowd and also a great manie of the Fidenatians being cohabitants with the Romanes understood Latine For feare therefore that the Albanes should all on a suddaine run down from the hils and stop their passage to the towne they turned their backes and fled Then Tullus presseth hard upon them and having discomfited the Fidenatians wing commeth back more fiercely upon the Veientians being alreadie amased at the fright of the other Neither were they able to withstand the brunt Howbeit the river behind at their backs kept them at first from flying away but afterwards when their flight bended thitherward some flinging their weapons shamefully away like blind men ran headlong into the water other lingering stil and staying on the banke side doubtfull whether to flee or to sticke to it and fight were trod under foot and hewen in peeces Never had the Romanes before that day a more cruell battell Then the Albane armie which beheld and saw all this conflict descended downe into the plaine And Metius forsooth rejoiceth much on Tullus behalfe for his victorie Tullus againe speaketh Metius faire and gave order that the Albanes in a good hower should joine their campe to the Romanes and against the next day prepared a purging or Lustrall sacrifice The morrow when it was day and that all things were in a readinesse according to the manner hee commandeth both armies to assemble together to an audience The criers beginning at the furthest part of the campe summoned the Albanes first Who also for the strangenesse of the matter and desirous to heare the Romane king to make his Oration preased forward to stand next The Roman legion for the nonce as it was before decreed stood armed round about and hemmed them in and the Centurions had in charge without delay to execute whatsoever they were commanded Then began Tullus to speake in this wise If ever in anie warre heretofore yee had cause O Romanes to render thankes first to the immortall gods and then to your owne manhood and valour certes it was in yesterdaies battell For yee fought not then with the force of your enemies more than with the trecherie and falshood of your friends and confederates which is the greater conflict and farre more dangerous For to put you cleane out of doubt and to beare you no longer in hand with a wrong persuasion The Albanes went up toward the hils without my commission neither was it my commandement that but a policie and countenance onely of command to this end that yee not knowing how ye were forsaken might not withdraw your hearts from fight and also that your enemies weening they were environned behind should be afraid and so enforced to flee Yet are not the Albanes all in generall to bee charged with this fault which I reprove They did but follow their leader as yee likewise would have done if I had willed the march to have turned anie whether from thence It is Metius that was the guide and leader of this journey Metius is hee that is the worker and deviser of this warre Metius I say it is and none but Metius the breaker of the Romane and Albane league But let who that will from henceforth presume hardly to do the like if I make not him forthwith a notable example to all the world The Centurions stood armed round about Metius and the king goeth on with the rest of his speech as hee began and said That which I pray God may turne to the good prosperitie and happinesse of the people of Rome of my selfe and you the Albanes I am minded to reduce all the Albane nation to Rome to endue the commons with the freedome of the citie to advance their cheefe gentlemen to the order of Senators to make one uniforme citie and Commonwealth that as in times past the Albanes state out of one body was divided into twain so now it may bee united and become one againe At these words the Albane youth unarmed and beset on everie side with armed men albeit they were distracted in mind yet were they forced with a generall feare to keepe silence and hold their peace Metius Suffetius quoth Tullas then If thou couldest have learned to keepe allegeance promise and covenants thou mightest have beene tought it at may hands with life But now since thy froward nature is incurable teach thou by thy fearefull example and death all mankind to hold and repute those things for sacred and holie which have by thee beene broken and violate Like as therefore erewhiles thou barest a double heart in doubtfull ballance betweene the Fidenates and the Romanes state even so streightwaies shalt thou yeeld thy bodie to be drawne a sunder and plucked into two peeces accordingly Then forthwith hee caused two teemes of foure horses to bee set to and Metius to bee stretched out and tied unto the chariots to them belonging Afterwards were the horses driven a contrarie way and carried with them in both chariots the bodie torne in peeces as farre forth as the lims hung fast together by their cords and ligaments which made all men avert their cies from beholding so cruell and horrible a spectacle This was the first and last punishment that ever the Romanes executed with so little respect or none at all to say a truth of the lawes of humanity In all other they may safely make their boast that no nation in the world hath ben lesse delighted and pleased with extremitie of torment Whilest these things were in doing there had beene certaine horsemen sent afore to Alba for to translate the multitude to Rome After whom were the legions also of the footmen thither led to rase and destroy the cittie At whose entrance within the gates ther was not that stur nor fearefull hurrie as usually is seene when citties are lost and when with breaking down the gates beating and battering the wals with rams and other engines forcing the citadell the
changed his mind from assaulting to besieging of the cittie and after he had placed a garrison in the Ianiculum hee planted himselfe and encamped on the plaine even upon the banckes of the Tyber And sending for boates and craiers from all parts both to stop the mouth and passage of Tyber that no corne should come in and bee conveâ—ed to Rome and also that the souldiors as they saw occasion might crosse the river and fetch booties in diverse and sundrie places at their pleasure in short space he brought the whole country about Rome to such streights that not onely other things were brought in but all their cartell also was faine to be driven out the fields into the cittie and no man durst put any creature forth out of the gates The Tuscanes were permitted to be thus bold not so much for feare as for a policie for Valerius the Consull waiting for some vantage and opportunitie suddainely to set upon many of them at once and at unawares as they stragled abroad disorderly making little regard to revenge small matters kept himselfe to be revenged of them throughly and to pay them home one time or other To the end therefore he might draw forth these forragers and toll them abroad hee gave his men in charge and proclaimed That the next day in great companies they should put their cattell forth at the gate Esquilina which was furthest from the enemies supposing that they would have intelligence thereof by reason that in this extremitie of long siege and pinching hunger some false knaves and disloiall rogues would flie unto them And so fell it out indeed For they had knowledge thereof by a fugitive slave Whereupon they in farre greater multitudes passe over the river in hope to make a generall spoile and havock once for all Then Valerius commanded T. Herminius with a sufficient companie to lie close in ambush at two miles end in the Sabine high way and Sp. Largius with a power of lustie tall fellows lightly armed to keep the gate Collina until the enemie were gone by and past with direction then to put himselfe betweene the river and them and so to intercept them in their returne The other Consull T. Lucretius issued forth with certaine bands of footmen at the gate Naevia and Valerius himselfe in proper Person set forth from mount Coelius certaine ensignes of his best and choice souldiors These first were descried and discovered by the enemie Herminius so soon as he heard some noise and stir arose and ran at once out of the ambush and whilest the Tuscanes turned so set upon Lucretius he charged them lustily at their backs so that on every hand from the gate Collina on the one side from the gate Naevia on the other the al'arme was given Thus the robbers were slain and cut in peeces in the midst of them both for that they were overmatched in fight also because all the waies were stopped up that they could not escape by way of flight And never after durst the Tuscanes raunge about the countrey so audaciously Howbeit the siege continued neverthelesse with great scarsitie of corne and exceeding dearth within the cittie And Porsena had good hope by sitting still to force it in the end and be maister thereof At what time one C. Mutius a noble young and gentleman who thought it a dishonour and soule shame that the people of Rome who all the while they were in bondage under kings were in no warre nor by any enemies beleagerd should now being the same still in time of their freedome be of these Tuscanes besieged whose armies they often had defeited and supposing that by some hardie and adventurous peece of service this reprochfull indignitie was to be revenged devised at first on his owne head to enter into the enemies campe but fearing afterwards to go without commission from the Consull and the knowledge of any other person least peradventure he might bee taken by the watch of the Romans and brought backe for a traiterous runagate at such a time especially when the hard estate of the cittie was ynough to bring him into a deepe suspition and to be reputed for no better presented himselfe before the Counsell into the Senate house I am right willing and I have a purpose my LL quoth hee to passe over the Tybre yea and if I can to enter the campe of the enemies not in qualities of a robber nor to bee revenged for booties from us taken with doing the semblable A greater exploit with the favour of the gods I intend to performane The Senatours gave their consent and approved his dessignment Then with a skeine hidden under his garment he setteth forward Being thither come into the campe he presseth in the thickest throng to stand neere the kings Tribunall It fortuned that then and there the souldiors were receiving their pay And the Chancellor or kings principal Secretarie sat together with the king in like array much emploied and busied in many matters and the souldiours commonly had recourse unto him Mutius fearing to enquire whether of them two were Porsena least by not knowing the king he should bewray himselfe who hee was happened see how fortune in her rathnesse directed his hand to kill the Secretarie in stead of the king then as he passed through the fearefull multitude making himselfe way with his bloudie blade there was a present outcrie and therat the kings guard came running in laid hold of him and brought him backe before the king his roâ—all throne and albeit he was now forlorne and without all succour amidst those threats of frowning fortune yet as a man more feared stil than fearing I am quoth he a citizen of Rome and Caius Mutius is my name a prosessed enemie I confesse and an enemie would I have staine as readie and willing am I to die my selfe as I was to kill another For both to doe and to suffer valiantly is the part of a noble Romane And it is not I alone that carrie this mind and resolution against thee O king there is a long traine and crue behind of them that seeke to win the same praise and honour make thee readie therefore and arme thy selfe if thou thinke good against this danger and reckon everie hower to bee in hazard of thy life and to have alwaies at the verie court gates thy enemies sword This kind of warre doe we youths of Rome denounce openly unto thee no battell no fight else shalt thou need to fear With thee alone will we all one by one have to do and with none other Hereat the king incensed with wrath and for the danger that he stood in affrighted with all commanded in menacing wise that he should be fried at a stake unlesse he would presently unfold in plaine tearmes what secret and dangerous practises he meant and threatened under this covert circuit of words and intricate circumstances Lo quoth hee againe how little they set by this carkasse that
strength of man to execute the Tutelar gods protectors of the citie and the good fortune alone that ever waited upon her preserved the maine chance This made the Volscians and Aequians to carrie with them a mind and intent rather to deale by way of robbings spoilings than to deale in any hostile maner like prosessed warriors for so small hope had they or none at all of winning the cittie so little heart so much as to approach the wals that even the very roofes of houses which they descried a saroâ— the sight of the tombs and graves so neer at hand turned their minds clean and daunted their courages So as over all the campe they began to mutter with themselves What they meant to spend time idlie and fit still without preading in a wast and desart countrey within the mortalitie and putrified aire and corruption both of people and cattell when as they might as well invade those parts that stood cleare and sound and namely the rich plentifull and fat fields of Iusculum and therwith suddainly at once they plucked up their ensignes and by crosse waies pasted through the Lavican countries even to the mountains of Tusculum and thither turned they the whole force and tempest of the war In the meane season the Hernikes and Latines moved not with pitie and compassion onely but also for very shame in case they had neither withstood their common enemies marching to Rome with a cruel armie nor relieved their besieged friends joined their powers together and set forward to Rome where not finding the enemies and following the bruit that went of them and tracing their fresh trackes and footing they encountred them as they came downe from the hillie country of Tusculum into the vale of Alba Where they made no saving bargaine of it but fought to their loffe so as their fidelitie unto their allies had but bad succesle for that present And in Rome there was no lesse mortalitie of cittizens by the sickenes than there were massacres abroad of their allies by the edge of the sword For the other Consull who alone survived hitherto now died There left this life also other noble personages M. Valerius Titus Virginius Augurs and Ser. Sulpitius the Cumio maximas But among the base and common sort the violence of the disease raged and spread I know not how farre The Senate now destitute of all helpe and comfort of man moved the people to devotion to their beads and praiers unto the gods And commandement was given to all men with their wives and children to goe in prosession to poure out their supplications crave mercie at gods hands Thus being by publike authoritie called forth to performe that which every man was forced unto by his owne proper calamities they filled all the temples and chappels The dames and ancient matrons lying groveling and sweeping the church flores and pavement with their haire and tresses hanging lose downe humblie be sought pardon of the gods and an end once of the pestilence Whereupon were it that they had obtained the mercie of God or that the more dangerous and contagious season of the yeare was now well overpast their bodies by little and little having escaped the daunger of disease began to recover and waxe more healthie Then set they their mindes about the care of the Common-weale and after certaine interreignes determined or ended P. Valerius Poplicola the third day of his Interreigne or Regencie for the time createth Consuls L. Lucretius Tricipitinus and T. Veturius Geminus or Vetusius whether yee will who three daies before the Ides of Sextilâ—â— began their Consulship By which time the cittie was growne so-strong againe that it was able not onely to maintaine a defensive warre but also to enter the field and assaile others When the Herniks therefore gave them advertisements that the enemies were passed over into their borders they made no delay but readily and willingly promised their aide and levied two Consular armies Veturius was sent against the Volscians to beginne with them and to warre within their owne countrie Tricipitinus was opposed in the Frontires of their confederates to keepe them from invasion and wasting and went no further forwarde than to the Hernikes Veturius at his first encounter and confronting of his enemies discomfired and put them to flight But Tricipitinus whiles hee lay still encamped in the marches of the Hernikes missed of the armie of the robbers which was conducted over the mountaines of Preneste from whence they came downe into the champaine and spoyled the territories of Preneste and Gabes and from thence they fetched a compasse about unto the mountaines of Tusculum The Citie of Rome likewise was put in great feare rather upon the sodaine occurrent of this al'arme than for any want of power to resist their violence Quintus Fabius at that time was Prouost of President of the Cittie who put the youth in armour disposed guards in places conuenient and made all safe and in good securitie The enemies therefore who had raised a bootie out of the parts adjoyning durst approch no neerer but cast about with their armie and retired and the further they went from their enemies cittie so much the more carelesse they were untill they light upon the Cos. Lucretius who by his espials and scouts was afore that time acquainted what waies they would take and was readie also to trie battaile So with resolute and prepared hearts they set upon them that with the sodaine feare were amazed And albeit they were in number fewer yet they discomfited and put to flight a mightie multitude of them and drave them within the hollow vallies where because they had no readie way to get out they kept them inclosed on everie side In such sort that the whole name and nation welneere of the Volscians there utterly perished In some Chronicles I find that there were 13470 slaine in the fight and chafe and 1250 taken prisoners alive and 27 ensignes or banners brought away It may well be that the number perhaps doth somewhat exceed the truth yet a great slaughter certainely there was The Consull having atchieved this victorie and gotten a mightie great prey returned into the same standing campe againe Then pitched both Consuls togither and the Volscians ioyntly with the Aequians rallied their forces thus decaied and weakened into one place and made one entire armie This was the third field fought in that one yeare and by the same good fortune the Romanes wan the victorie and having vanquished the enemies they were maisters also of the campe Thus the cittie of Rome recovered her selfe and returned to her ancient good estate But this happie successe in war immediatly stirred vp civile troubles at home C. Terentillus Arsa for that yeare a Tribune of the Commons supposing in the absence of the Consuls good opportunitie was offered to set on foote the Tribunes actions and their proceedings for certaine daies togither gave not over before the Commons
this intent even to destroy and extirp the Roman name to set free the whole world out of their servitude bondage no man thought it long then of his travaile from East to West from the setting of the sunne to the rising of the same now when as ye see the greater part by farre of our journey done and past the forrest and mountaine of Pyreneus amid most fierce and cruell nations surmounted that great river Rhodanus passed over maugre the hearts of so many thousand Gaules that would have impeached your passage yea the force of his maine streame overcome now I say when you are within the fight of the Alps to the other side whereof lieth Italie close ye faint as it were and stand still tired at the very gates of the enemies Why what other thing take ye the Alps to be but high hils And imagine they be higher than the cliffes of Pyrenei what there is no land I am sure that reach up to heaven and no place for men unsuperable But for the Alps they are inhabited and they are tilled they breede and feede living creatures and cattaile and are they accessible in deede passable for some few unpassable for whole armies These verie embassadors whom you see here flew not over the Alps with wings neither were their auncestors time out of mind borne and bred there but came from other parts as strangers and inhabited Italie before yea and oftentimes haue gone over the same Alps in huge multitudes together with their wives and children in manner of travailers pilgrimes that seeke new countries to inhabite what should there be unpassable then or impossible for the armed souldiour carying about him nothing but instruments of warre For the winning of Saguntum what perils were adventured what travailes were endured and swallowed for eight moneths space should any thing then seeme so hard and difficult as to stay them in their enterprise once begun who aime at no lesse than to conquer Rome the head citie of the world And have the Gaules indeede forced and woon that in times past which the Carthaginians despaire now to come unto Therefore either ye must confesse your selves inferior in stomack and valor to that nation which so ost these dayes passed by you have ben vanquished or else make reckoning with assured hope that the goodly faire fields that lye betweene Tyberis and the walls of Rome are the end of your iourney When in these termes he had exhorted and encouraged his souldiours he commaunded them to take their repast and repose to cherish and refresh their bodies and to prepare themselves for the march The morrow after he departed crosse from the banks of Rhodanus and entred the inland parts of France not for that it was the more direct way to the Alps but because he thought the further he went from the sea side in so much lesse danger he should be of meeting the Romans with whom he was not minded to fight before he was arrived into Italie After that he had travailed foure dayes journey he came to an Iland where the two rivers Arar and Rhodanus issuing out of sundrie parts of the Alps and taking a direct course after they have run through a good part of the countrey fall at length together and meete in one and the ground lying betweene is called by the name of the Iland Neere there inhabite the Allobroges a nation even in those dayes nothing inferior either in wealth and puissance or in same and reputation to any people or state of the Gaules whatsoever But at that very time there was some discord variance among them by occasion of two brethren who were at strife for the crowne and kingdome the elder whose name was Brancus and had before enjoyed the Seignorie was deposed and thrust out by his yonger brother and a Iustie crew of the youth who as they had lesse right on their side so they were the mightier The deciding of this variance was referred and put over unto Anniball in as good and fit a time for his purpose as he could have wished and he forsooth was made the umpire and judge to determine whether of them should be king who restored the elder to the kingdome like as it would have bene adjudged by the award of the Senators and Nobles of the countrie For which benefit and good turne he was served with victuall and store of all things aboundantly yea and with rayment and apparell which he was driven to provide aforehand for the name that went of the Alps which for their coldnesse were in great discredit Having thus appeased the debate of the Allobroges and minding now to set forward to the Alps he would not go the direct streight way but turned on the left hand to the Tricastnies and from thence passing by the frontires of the Vocontians he matched into the Tricoriahs and never was he stayed or impeached in his journey before that he came to the river Druentia which descending also out of the Alps is of all other rivers in France most hard to be passed over for although it carie with it a mightie force of water yet will it beare no vessell because it is kept and restreined with no banks but running at once by many divers chanels maketh ever new sourds and casteth up new shelves and whirlepits for which cause also a footeman hath much ado to wade therethrough and knoweth not the fourds besides it rolleth downe round stones and pibbles whereby there is no sure nor safe footing for him that would wade through And it chaunced at that time that it swelled and was risen high by fall of raine and by land-flouds and caused them to have very much to doe that passed over it and over and besides all other difficulties they were of themselves troubled and disquieted through their owne fearefulnesse and sundrie cries which they made Publius Cornelius the Consull about three daies after that Anniball dislodged from the banke of Rhodanus was arrived with his armie arraunged in a fouresquare battaille as farre as the place where the enemie was lately encamped purposing without any stay to give him battaile But seeing the hold abandoned and that hee was not like to overtake him being so farre gone forwards hee returned to his ships at sea supposing by that meanes with lesse daunger and difficultie to encounter Anniball as hee descended from the Alpes But leastthat Spaine which was the province allotted unto him should be left disfurnished of Romane succours he sent his brother Cn. Scipio with the greatest part of his forces against Asdruball not so much to defend their old allies and procure new as to drive Asdruball out of Spaine Himselfe with a verie small companie returned to Genua with intent to guard Italie with that armie which was about the Po. Anniball being departed from Druentia marched for the most part through the champion countries and came in peace and quietly to
hotely begun with exceeding stomacke and courage Whereupon the confronting and charging one of another was more eager than the slaughter bloudie betweene them and as the fight in manner was egall so they parted with losse alike For of each side there died above sixe hundred footmen and halfe as many horsemen But the losse on the Romans side was greater than in proportion of the number because certaine of the degree and calling of knights and five Colonels and three Captaines of the Allies were slaine After this iourney Anniball went into the countrey of the Ligurians and Sempronius to Luca. To welcome Anniball at his first comming into Liguria there were delivered unto him two Romane Questors or Treasurers Cn. Fulvius and L. Lucretius who were intercepted by the Ligurians and taken in a traine of ambush with two Colonels and five others besides whose fathers by calling were as good as Senators fellowes and this was done because he should assure himselfe the better that the peace and amitie contracted with them would be faithfully kept and observed Whiles these things thus passed in Italie Cn. Scipio who was sent into Spaine with a fleete armie for sea land having set saile from the mouth of Rhodanus compassed the mountaines Pyrenei arrived at a place called Emporia where he disbarked and landed his forces and reduced unto the Romane empire all the countrey beginning at the Laceranes and so from thence all the sea coast as farre as to the river Iberus partly by renewing the ancient leagues and partly by devising meanes to contract new Whereupon there rose a great name of him for his clemencie whereby he prevailed not only with the States by the sea side but also amongst the inlanders and mounteiners even to the nations that were more fierce and savage with whom he not onely made peace but also wrought them so that they tooke armes in his quarell and there were levied from among them certaine strong cohorts and bands for to aid and succour him Hanno whom Anniball had left for defense of that province was not ignorant hereof and therefore before all was gone and the countrey alienated he thought good to meete with this mischiefe and having pitched his campe in sight of the enemies set his men in ordinance of battaile The Romane captaine likewise resolved not to deferre the fight knowing that so he might be forced to encounter both with Hanno and Asdruball and rather yet he desired to deale with them one after the other single than at once with both But this battaile was not so much dangerous Sixe thousand enemies were left behinde slaine and two thousand taken prisoners together with those that were left for the gard of the camp For both the camp was forced woon and also the General himself with certain guards was taken prisoner Moreover Stissum a towne neere unto the camp was woon by assault howbeit the spoile pillage of the towne were matters of small worth and value namely the houshold stuffe and such pelfe and trumpery of barbarous people and certaine poore base slaves It was the camp that enriched the souldiers by reason that not onely the armie which was now vanquished but that also which with Anniball served in Italie had left behind them about Pyreneus all good things to speake of that they set store by because they would go lightly and not be encombred with cariages Before any certaine report of this overthrow came to Asdruball he had passed over Iberus with 8000 footemen and 1000 horsemen as purposing to make head against the Romanes at their first comming but when he heard how the field was lost and the camp withall he turned his iourney to the sea And not farre from Tarracon he found the souldiers of the Armado and the mariners besides wandering and straggling over the fields for usuall it is that happie successe should breede carelesse negligence whereupon he sent out his horsemen every way and with great slaughter and flight he chased them to their ships and not adventuring to make any longer stay thereabout for feare to be surprised by Scipio he retyred back to the other side of Iberus Scipio also upon the first report of these new enemies having rallied his forces together in great hast after he had slightly chastifed a few captaines and left behinde him a small garrison at Tarracon returned with his fleete to Emporiae He had no sooner departed from thence but Asdruball was there in his place and having induced and incited the State of the Ilergetes who had given hostages to Scipio for to revolt and rebell even with their owne youth wasted the territories of all those that continued faithfull confederates to the Romanes Afterwards when Scipio was roused once out of the place where he wintered the enemie retyred againe and quit all the countrey on that side Iberus Then Scipio having in hostile manner invaded the countries abandoned left by him that was the author cause of their rebellion and by that meanes the nation likewise of the Ilergetes after he had driven them all within Athanagia which is their capitall towne he layd siege unto it round about and within few dayes brought the whole seignorie of the Ilergetes under his obedience and besides a greater number of hostages than before which they were constreined to deliver he condemned them in a good round summe of money From thence he went forward against the Auseranes neere to Iberus being associates also to the Carthaginians having beleaguered their citie he forlaied intercepted the Lacetanes as they came by night to succour their neighbours not farre from the towne even as they were at the point to enter in There were slaine of them 12000 and the rest being welneere all disarmed fled every way scattering here and there over the fields home to their houses All the help and defense that they had who were within was only the foule and cold winter weather evermore naught and hurtfull to assailants that lye forth The siege lasted thirtie dayes during which time seldome fell the snow lesse than foure foote deepe and so covered the pentises and mantilets of the Romanes that when the enemies flung fire sundrie times thereupon that alone saved the same and nothing else In the end upon the departure of their Prince Amursitus who was fled to Asdruball they yelded upon condition to pay twentie talents of silver so Scipio returned to Tarracon there to winter But that yeare at Rome and about the citie were many strange and prodigious signes seene or at leastwise a thing usuall when mens minds are once touched with religion and given to make scruple many were reported and soone beleeved Among which this was one that a babe of condition free borne and but halfe yeere old cryed with a loud voice in the hearbe market lö Triumphe Also in the beasts market an Oxe of himselfe undriven climbed up to the third lost or storie of an house
him which were the lands and possessions of the Dictator gave expresse commandement when he had destroied the countrey about made all even with the grovnd to forbeare all kind of hostilitie there onely and to touch nothing of his either by fire or sworde to the end it might be thought there had been some packing between him Anniball and that this was the hire and consideration agreed uppon between them two Theother arose from an action of his own namely about the exchange and coursing of certein prisoners or captives which peradventure at the first appearance might have seemed doubtfull and suspicious because there in he staied not for to have the commission approbation of the Senat but in the end up-shot it turned no doubt to his singular praise and commendation In that interchaunge above sayd it was capitulate between both Generals of Romanes Carthaginians like as it had been afore in the first Punick war That whether side received more Captives than they gave again should yeild for every one soldiour two pound and a halfe of silver When it fel out therfore that the Romane Dictator Fabius had received more prisoners by 247 than Anniball the paiment of the silver for them due after much debate in the Senate house because he had not direction therin from the LL. was delated and no order taken therfore he sent his sonne to Rome of purpose to make sale of his lands which had not been endammaged by Anniball and so to his owne cost and out of his private purse discharged a publick debt Anniball now laie in leaguer before the walls of Gerion a citie which he had won and set on fire and reserved a fewe houses standing to serue him in stead of barnes gamers for his graine From thence he sent out two third parts of his forces to purvey corne remained himselfe in gard with one third part redy in armes but lightly appointed without any bag baggage in a meet and convenient place both for defence of the camp and also for discoverie of all the costs about that no assault were made vpon the purveyors The Romaine armie lay then in the territorie of Larinum the Captain generall was Minutius Commander of the horsemen because the Dictator as is above sayd was gone to the citie of Rome But whereas these had usually encamped before upon some high hill and strong place of scatritie now they began to drawe downe into the vale and the plaine ground and to deuise craftie meanes and slatagems beyond the naturall reach of the Commander himselfe namely how they might assaile either the purveyors as they stragled about in the countrey or set upon the camp of their enemies left with a small power and guard to defend it Anniball was no ignorant that togither with the Generall the whole maner and conduct of their warfar was chaunged and that the enemie would fight rather more rashly and hastilie than wisely and warily And himselfe who woulde have thought it considering the enemie was approched neerer sent out a third part onely of his soldiers to provide come andsorage and kept the other twaine with him in the camp he remoued also his tents neerer to the Romanes almost two miles off from Gerion to a little hill within the fight of the enemies to the end they might know he was minded and readie to reskue and defend the purveiors is haply they should be charged upon Then espied Anniball another hill neerer and standing even over the yerie camp of the Romaines For the gaming wherof seing that if he should haue gone by daie time openly he had been no doubt prevented by the enemies who would have seized it first by reason it was neerer unto them he sent certein Numidians by night who surprised it and kept it But the Romanes making little or no account of their small number drawe them the morrow after from thence and thither removed their owne tents so as then there was but a little distance between one camp and the other and the same in a maner wholly taken up and replenished with Romanes and withall at the same time the horsemen of the Romans with certeine footmen lightly armed we sent out at a postern gate of the camp which opened not upon the Carthaginians against the forragers whom they discomfited put to flight and flew a great number of them Neither durst Anniball yssue foorth to skirmish for hauing so few about him hee was hardly able to defend his camp in case it had been assaulted So he was driuen now to use the pollicie and shifts of Fabius for part of his forces were away managed his war sitting still as it were and keeping the enemie at a bay at staves end and so retyred with his soldiers to the former camp under the walls of Geryon Some write that ther was a field pitched and a set battaile fought with banners displaied wherein Anniball at the first encounter was discomfited and chased to his camp but from thence they yssued foorth who were within so the feare turned upon the Romanes who on a sodain were put to the worse but by the comming of Numerius Decimus a Samnite with succour the fight was reenforced and renewed This man not onely nobly descended but also of great power and wealth as well in Bovianum his native country where he was born as throughout al Samnium by order commandement from the Dictator came with a power of 8000 foot 200 horse toward the camp and being espied by Anniball on the backside gaue both parties good hope of fresh and new aid But when the voice went that Fabius at the same time was comming also from Rome Anniball for feare of being entrapped within some Ambush retired backe with his owne men the Romanes made pursuite after him and with the help of Numerius the Samnite wan in one day by force two fortresses So ther were 6000 enemies slaine and 5000 Romanes And yet as equall in a manner as the losse was of both parts the rumour ran to Rome of a brave victorie with letters also in post from the Generall of horsemen full of follie and vanitie Much arguing ther was and debate about these matters both in Senate and before the people sundry times And when all the cittie besides was joious and the Dictator alone gave no credit either to the bruit that was blased or to the letters saying withall That if all were true yet hee feared more the sawning than frowning of fortune then M. Metellus a Tribune of the Commons stepped forth sayd That this above all was not to besuffred that the Dictator not only whiles hee lay in camp opposed himselfe against all goodnes and stained all valerous service but also being absent from thence crossed and disgraced that which was well done and worthily atchieved and that he of purpose drew the war in length and prolonged the time to the end he might
As for king Philip and the Macedonians their heavie friends dangerous neighbors he had so daunted their courages abated their forces and driven them to that passe that not onely they were forced to abandon those townes which by violence they had taken wrongfully from the Aetolians but also had much adoe themselves to keepe Macedonie it selfe quiet and without perill of hostilitie promising withall That he would bring and reduce the Acarnanians for whom the Aetolians were so discontented greeved that they were dismembred from the bodie of their State under their ancient form of jurisdiction seignorie againe These relations promises made by the Roman Generall were confirmed assured unto them by the authoritie and countenance of Scopas who for the time was the Pretor or head Magistrat of that State and of Dorimachus a prince of the Aetolians who with lesse modestie greater asseveration and confidencie extolled and magnified the greatnesse power and majestie of the people of Rome The principall matter that induced and moved them was the hope of recovering keeping Acarnania Whereupon there were conditions drawne and engrossed under which they should joine in league and friendship with the people of Rome And this braunch was added to the rest of the defeazances That if they were so pleased and liked well of it there should be comprised in the same league and priviledges the Eleans and Lacedemonians together with Attalus Pleuratus and Scerdiletuss of which three Attalus was king of Asia the lesse the other were Princes and Potentates of Illyricum The articles ran in this forme Imprimis That the Aetolians should immediatly make war by land with king Philip. Item That the Romans at sea should helpe with 20 galiaces at the least bearing 5 ranks of oares Item As touching all the cities that should be conquered beginning from Aetolia so far as to Corcyra that the ground whereon the cities were seated the edifices the walls and the lands thereto belonging should bee seized to the use of the Aetolians all other goods and chattels els should be a prize for the people of Rome Item That if the Aetolians happened to make peace with Philip it must passe with this clause proviso that the peace should stand good upon this condition That Philip abstaine to make warre upon the Romanes and their Allies and all those that lived under their dominions Item In case the people of Rome fortuned to peece againe and be confederate with the king they should put in a caveat and proviso that he might have no libertie to warre upon the Aetolians or their associates These were the covenants agreed upon and being faire engrossed two yeares after into a paire of indentures the one of them remained for the Aetolians in Olympia the other for the Romanes in their Capitoll among other sacred records and monuments for a perpetuall memoriall to all posteritie The occasion of so great delay was because the Embassadours of the Aetolians were staied and kept very long at Rome But that was no let nor hinderance at all to the proceedings in the warres For the Aetolians presently made warre upon Philip and Levinus conquered Zacynthus a litle â—and neer to Aetolia having a citie within it of the same name which he forced by assault all save the castle likewise Oeniadae and Naxus which he woon from the Acarnanians before and all these hee gave to the Aetolians And supposing that Philip having his hands full of the warre upon his owne frontiers had no time to thinke upon Italie and the Carthaginians and to mind the covenants that passed betweene Anniball and him he retired himselfe into Corcyra Philip lying in winter harbor within Pella was advertised of the Aetolians revolt Therefore because he minded at the prime of the Spring to conduct an armie into Greece to the end that Macedonie and the cities bordering thereupon should not be molested by the Illyrians whom he supposed would be at quiet and not stir if they were once frighted with the harmes of others he made a sodaine rode and expedition into the marches of the Oricines and Apolloniates and when the Appolloniates issued forth against him he repelled them and with great feare and terror drave them within their walls After he had wasted the confines next to the Illyrians he turned his forces with like celeritie and speede into Pelagonia and then woon by assault a citie of the Dardanians situate in the frontires of Macedonia through which the Dardanians ment to have their passage And when he had performed these exploits in great hast not forgetting how the Aetolians Romanes both mainteined war against him jointly he descended through Pelagonia Nympheum and Bolea into Thessalie supposing verily that the people of those countries might be incited to wage war together with him against the Aetolians And leaving there behind him at the streight of Thessalie Perseus foure thousand strong for to debar the Aetolians entrance that way himselfe in person before that he should be occupied in greater affaires led forth his armie into Macedonie and from thence into Thracia and so forward against the Medians That nation was wont to make incursions and to invade Macedonie whensoever they could perceive that the king was either busied in other warres or his realme disfurnished and slenderly provided of good gard and strong garisons He began therfore to foray and spoile the territories about Phragandae and to assault Iamphorina the principall citie and chiefe strength of that region Medica Scopas having intelligence that the king was gone into Thracia and kept there occupied in the warres put all the serviceable young men of Aetolia in armes and prepared warre against Acarnania The nation of the Acarnanians albeit they were both in strength unequall and also saw alreadie that they had lost the walled citie of the Oniades Naxus knowing well that the Romane forces would come upon them besides rather upon anger than any good counsell and advisement made preparation for warre and resolved to meet them Their wives and children and elder persons such as were above fortie yeares of age they sent away into Epirus adjoining neare unto them Of all that were fifteene yeares old and upward unto three score they tooke a solemne oth that they would never returne backe without victorie They laid also a heavie curse and cruell malediction upon all those of their owne nation and framed a most humble request in as effectuall tearmes as they could devise unto all their friends that none of them should entertaine within their cities their dores houses nor admit to their table any one of them that were vanquished fled out of the field yea besought withall the Epirones to gather togither the dead bodies of as many of them as should chaunce to be slaine in battel and to enterre them all in one grave and erect a tombe and monument over them with an Epitaph and inscription to this effect
conveyed away the multitude of the inhabitants to Metapontum the Thurians he set it on fire and burnt it quite The nobles and principall citizens who were known to have had secret talke and conference with Fulvius he put to death The Romanes who out of so great an overthrow escaped made shift by divers and sundrie waies to flie halfe naked as they were to Marcellus the Cos. into Samnium But Marcellus nothing dismaied and afrighted at this so great defeature addresseth his letters to the Senate at Rome with advertisement of the losse of the captaine generall and the armie at Herdonea giving them yet to understand how himselfe even hee who after the Cannian field had tamed and daunted Annibal as lustie and proud as he was upon that victorie was minded presently to encounter him and make him take no long joy and pleasure wherein now he so vaunted and exalted himselfe And at Rome verilie as they mourned much for the losse past so they feared as greatly the future daungers The Consull having passed out of Samnium into the Lucanes countrie sate down before Numistro in the very sight of Anniball there in a plaine encamped himselfe notwithstanding the enemie was possessed before of the hill and had the vantage of the ground And for to make more shew of his owne confidence and how little he feared hee first brought foorth his men and marshalled them in order readie to bid battaile Anniball so soone as he saw the ensigns advaunced forth of the gates staied not behind And they arraunged their battailes in such manner as that the Carthaginians with the right wing tooke up part of the hill the Romanes displayed their left wing in length to the very walls of the towne After they had continued fight from the third hower of the day unto night and that the vauntguards on both sides were wearie with maintaining of skirmish so long then the first legion of the Romanes with the right wing of their horsemen the Spanish soldiors also of Anniball his part the Balearian slingers likewise together with the Elephants began to fight whiles the rest were alreadie in hote conflict and close together For a long time the medley shruncke not of any hand The first legion of the Romans was seconded with the comming in of the third among the enemies likewise there came in new souldiours that were lustie in place of the foiled and wearied Whereby of a lingring and long skirmish there began all on a suddaine a new hote and cruell battaile by reason that their courages were fresh and their bodies in heart But the night parted the fray and left the victorie doubtfull in the middest The morrow after the Romanes from sun-rising stood arraunged in the field untill it was farre day and seeing none of the enemies appeare and shew themselves they fell to gather up the spoiles by leasure heaped up in one place all the bodies of their own men that were slaine and made one great fire and burnt them to ashes The night ensuing Annibal dislodged secretly without any noise and departed into Apulia And Marcellus so soone as day-light discovered the flight of his enemie leaving his hurt wounded people at Numistro with a small guard and L. Furius Purpurio a Colonell to be their captaine followed him by his steps and at Venusia overtooke him There for certaine daies passed some sallies from the guards of both armies whiles both horse and foot one with another rather made slight skirmishes than any set battailes and lightly the Romanes had alwaies the better hand From thence the armies were conducted through Apulia without any memorable fight at all by reason that Anniball in the night season ever set forward seeking some opportunitie of forelaying entrapping his enemie and Marcellus never followed but in broad day light and sent out his espials before to cleere the coasts In this meane while Flaccus spending the time at Capua in making port-sale of the noblemens goods and in setting and letting out to ferme the land which was confiscate and forfeit to the common wealth of Rome and all for a rent of corne there hapned a new complot and practise which lay hidden for the time to be detected and come to light to the end that he might never want one matter or other to take occasion for to plague and torment the Campanes He had taken order that his souldiours should remove out of the houses within the town partly for that as well the tenements of the said towne within as the lands without should be rented forth and partly for fear least the exceeding pleasantnes and delectable seat of that citie should effeminate his armie as it had done the host of Anniball before time and commaunded them to build themselves about the gates and along the walls cotages and sheds in warlike fashion and only to serve for souldiours These were most of them made of hurdles and bourds some watteled and wound with reedes and all of them thatched with straw and stubble as it were of purpose to minister fuell for fire Now there were some hundred and seventie Campanes had conspired at one certaine houre of the night to set all a fire and the principall heads and chiefetaines were certaine brethren of the Blosij and it fortuned that by some of the same house and familie the conspiracie was disclosed Whereupon at once the gates were made fast by the commaundement of the Proconsull and the alarme being striken up and sounded all the souldiers ran together All those that were partie or privie to the intended treason were apprehended and after rigorous examination had by torture they were condemned and executed the informers were made free and had each one a reward of 10000 peeces of brasse called Asses When the Nucerines and Acerranes made mone that they wanted place of habitation for as much as Acerrae was in part burnt and Nuceria utterly rased and destroyed Marcellus referred them over to the Senate of Rome and sent them thither The men of Acerrae had leave graunted to re-edifie againe their owne edifices which were burned But they of Nuceria according to their owne desire were translated to Atella and the Atellanes commanded to remove unto Calatia there to dwell Amids the managing of many and weightie affaires which falling our variably one while well another while ill busied and amused the minds of men yet the Romanes forgot not the castle of Tarentum for M. Ogulnius and P. Aquilius went as embassadors into Aetolia for to buy up corne to be conveighed and brought to Tarentum and a thousand souldiours out of the citie armie whereof the number of Romanes and Allies was all one were sent with the sayd corne thither to lye in garison Now was the summer at an end and the time drew neere of the Consuls election But the letters of Marcellus unto the Senate wherein he signified that it was not for the good of the Common-wealth to depart one
affections Well the letters were first red in the Senate and then in the assembly of the people and there according to the divers dispositions of men some tooke joy and contentment of mind as upon a certaintie others would give no credit before they either heard the messengers speake directly from the Consuls or saw their letters After this word came that there were Embassadours themselves at hand And then in deed there ran to meet them of all sorts young and old euery one desired to be the first to see and to heare these so glad tidings And they went out so far as the bridge Milvius all the way along was full of people These embassadors or messengers were L. Veturius Philo P. Licinius Varus Q. Cecilius Metellus Who being accompanied with people of all degrees and qualities that flocked about them came as farre as to the common place some questioned with themselves others enquired of their traine and retinue what newes and how the world went And as any one had caught an end from them that the armie and captaine Generall of the enemies was slaine or the Romane legions safe and the Consuls haile and well hee would immediatly impart his joy unto others Much ado had they to come into the Curia and more ado there was to keep out the multitude that they were not mingled among the lords of the Senate But at last the letters were red in the Senate From thence were the Embassadours brought into the generall assembly of the people And L. Veturius after hee had red the letters explained himselfe from point to point in order how every thing was done with great applause and afterwards with a generall shout of all the assembly who hardly could conceive in their minds so great joy Then they ran divers waies some to the temples of the gods to render thanks others to their owne houses to communicate with their wives and children so luckie and fortunate tidings And the Senate decreed a solemne procession for three daies togither forasmuch as M. Livius and C. Claudius the Consuls with the safetie of the legions had vanquished the enemies killed their Generall and put their armie to the sword This procession C. Hostilius the Pretour published in the open assembly of the people and it was celebrated and solemnized both by men and women All the temples for three daies fully were likewise replenished with the one sex and the other For the Matrones and Dames of the citie in their best apparrell togither with their children yeelded praise and thankes to the immortall gods as if now they had beene freed from all feare and the warre come to a finall end for ever This victorie altered the very slate and course of the common-weale so as from that time forward as in time of setled peace men durst make contracts buy and sell borrow and lend yea and pay debts to their creditors C. Claudius the Consull so soone as he was entred into the campe againe caused the head of Asdruball which he had preserved with great care and brought with him to bee throwne out before the Corps de guard and stations of the enemies and that the Affricane captives should be shewed bound as they were in chaines and two of them to be sent loose unto Anniball to declare and recount in order how everything hapned Anniball having at once received this double blow mourning as well for the publicke losse of the state as for the calamitie hapned in his owne house fetched a deepe sigh by report and said Ah I see well the hard fortune of Carthage And dislodging from thence because he would bring togither all his forces which being dispearsed asunder he was not able to hold and maintaine into the utmost angle of Italie the Brutiens countrie hee brought thither as well the Metapontines even the whole state of them who abandoned their owne townes and citties as also the Lucanes as many as were subject unto him and under his obedience THE XXVIII BOOKE OF THE HISTORIES OF T. LIVIVS of Padoa from the foundation of the Cittie of Rome The Breviarie of L. Florus upon the eight and twentith Booke THE prosperous affaires in Spaine under the conduct of Syllanus the Lieutenant of Scipio and L. Scipio his brother atchieved against the Carthaginians as also the acts performed by Sulpitius the Pro-consull and Attalus the king of Asia the lesse in the quarrell and behalfe of the Aetolians against Philip king of the Macedonians are reported and set downe in this booke When there was a triumph decreed and granted unto M. Livius and C. Claudius Nero the Consuls Livius because he had performed the exploit in his owne province rode in a chariot drawne with foure steeds and Nero because hee came into the province of his colleague to helpe forward the victorie rode after him mounted on horsebacke Howbrit even thus in this habit and manner of triumph he carried the more glorie port and reverence for to say a truth in this war hee had done more good service than his brother Consull The fire went out in the chappell of Vesta by negligence of a virgin that had the keepingand tending thereof and looked no better unto it The said virgin was well whipped P. Scipio finished the warre in Spaine against the Carthaginians when it had continued foureteen yeares and in the fist yeare after that he went from the cittie of Rome And having disseized the enemies quite of the possession of Spaine he recovered it wholly for the Romanes From Taracon hee losed with two barkes and sailed into Africke unto Syphax king of the Numidians with whom he concluded a league Asdruball the sonne of Gisgo sat there with him at one table and they supped togither He exhibited a game and pastime of sword-playing at new-Carthage in the honor of his father and uncle and the same was not performed by common fencers and sword-plaiers hired thereto but by such as either for the honour of their captaine or to determine some controversie gave defiance one to the other and entred the lists in combat Among whom two great LL. of the countrie who were brethren sought at sharpe for the soveraigntie of the kingdome When the cittie Astapa was besieged and assailed by the Romanes the townsmen caused a mightie pile of wood to be made and set on fire and when they had killed their wives and children they threw themselves headlong into the fire after them Scipio himselfe whiles he lay grievously sicke and there hapned by occasion thereof a mutinie to arise in one part of his army when he was amended once made an end thereof and compelled the states of Spaine that mutined to come in and yeeld obedience againe There was likewise an amitie and societie concluded with Masanissa king of the Numidians who also promised him his aid in case he would come over into Africke With the Gaditanes also after the departure of Mago from thence who had received letters from Carthage that he
the sonne enclosed the said rundle from without-forth In the territorie of Arpi the earth in a plaine champain field setled and sunke downe and made an exceeding great chinke As one of the Consuls killed the first beast for sacrifice the liver thereof was found headlesse These monstrous tokens were expiate and purged with sacrifices of the bigger sort and the colledge of the priests and bishops shewed unto what gods the sacrifice should bee made These things once done and performed the Consuls and Pretours went forth into their provinces yet so as all of them had a speciall regard of Affricke as if it had bene their owne province fallen unto every one of them by lot either because they saw that therein rested and consisted the whole importance of all affaires and the maine state of the warre or els because they would gratifie and currie favour with Scipio whom now the whole citie made court unto and chiefly respected And therefore not only out of Sardinia as is beforesaid but also out of Sicilie and Spaine there was transported thither raiment and corne yea and armor also out of Sicilie and all kind of victuals for the maintenance of the armie And albeit it was winter season yet Scipio slaked no affaires and works of war which being many amused his mind at once on every side and kept him continually occupied For Vticahee besieged and encamped he lay opposite to Anniball and even within his sight the Carthaginians were with their ships aflote and put to sea and a navie they had rigged furnished and trimmed for to intercept all victuals that came Amid these cares he forgat not to win againe the love of Syphax if haply now hee had his fill of love-delights with his fresh wife since hee had the plentifull fruition thereof as much as heart could desire But Syphax rather tendered conditions of peace betweene the Romans and the Carthaginians to wit that the Romans should depart out of Affricke and the Carthaginians out of Italie than seemed to give any hope that he would revolt from the Carthaginians in case the warre continued still And for mine own part I would rather beleeve that these matters were treated upon by entercourse of messengers as most writers doe report than that Syphax himselfe in person as Antias Valerius recordeth came into the Romane campe to a parle and conference thereabout At the first the Romane Generall would scarcely lend his eare to heare those ouvertures but afterwards to the end that there might bee some colourable and probable cause for his people to resort unto the campe of the enemies he seemed not so streight laced nor to denie the same articles so stiffely but pretended some hope that by often debating thereof to and fro betweene them they should at length grow to some good point and finall agreement The wintering harbours of the Carthaginians were in a manner all of wood but built of slender stuffe gathered out of the fields at a venture hand over head where they could meet withall The Numidians for the most part lay in cabbins and sheds watled and wound with reeds especially and covered and thatched with mats of sedge such like here and there scattering without all order in such sort as some of them taking up their lodging at their owne pleasure without direction and commaundement of any officer quartered without the trench and rampier Scipio advertised hereof conceived good hope to find some opportunitie one time or other to fire the campe of the enemies Vpon a certaine day therfore he sent in traine of those Commissioners whom he addressed unto Syphax in steed of pages drudges and disguised in slaves and bondmens weed the bravest souldiours of a band men of approved valor wisdome and discretion who whiles the Commissioners were busie in conference should raunge about the campe some one way some another to espie and marke all the passages and waies in and out the site and forme generally of the whole leaguer and particularly of every part where the Carthaginians quartered where the Numidians lodged what distance there was betweene Asdruball his tents and the kings pavilions to observe also and learne with all the order and manner of their sentinels their wards and watches whether by night or by day they lay at more vantage to be surprised by an ambush And according as there were divers meetings and conferences so of purpose some were sent at one time some at another to the end that more and more still should have the spiall and ful knowledge of all things in the enemies camp Now when as the oftener that this matter was treated of the greater hope of peace both Syphax had and the Carthaginians likewise by his means the Delegates or Commissioners aforesaid of the Romans said that they were expressely forbidden by their Generall to returne without a full and resolute answere And therefore they willed him to make short worke at once and to bethinke himselfe what to doe either to stand upon his owne determinant purpose if he were resolved or els to consult with Asdruball and the Carthaginians and determine accordingly For now high time it is say they either to conclude peace or to presecure warre freshly and to go through with it lustily Thus while Syphax consulreth with Asdruball and Asdruball with the Carthaginians both the espials had sufficient time to view and see all and Scipio also good leasure to provide necessaries for his purpose Moreover by this motive and hope of peace as well the Carthaginians as the Numidians began as commonly in such cases it falleth out to be negligent slack in forecast and to provide that in the meane while they came by no harne and detriment from the enemie At length an answere was returned and some clauses put in without all reason and sounding to much inconvenience by occasion that the Romanes seemed too too saine and desirous of a peace Which fell out very fitly for Scipio whose only desire was to pick some just quarrell for to breake the truce and abstinence of warre and so the next day for in the meane time he said he would conferre with his counsel he answered the kings messenger in this wise That besides himselfe alone who laboured all in vaine and could do no good there was none liked of the peace and therefore he willed him to report unto the king his maister that there was no other hope for Syphax to haue peace with Romanes unlesse he renounced and cast off quite the friendship of the Carthaginians And thus he ended the truce that with free conscience being discharged of his promise in that behalfe he might go forward in his designements and bring his enterprise to his desired issue So having put his ships to sea for now the prime of spring was come he embarked in them his artillerie his ordinance and engins of batterie as if he meant to assault Vtica on the sea side And sent out two thousand souldiers to possesse
that according to the old custome they should provide for the prodigious tokens that were reported L. Iulius as he rode on horse backe into the Sabines countrie was both himselfe and his horse under him strucken dead with lightening The temple of Feronia in the territorie of Capena was likewise smitten and blasted from heaven At the temple of Moneta the yron heads of two speares were seene to burne on a light fire A Wolfe happened to enter into the citie at the gate Esquilina and ran through the most populous part thereof as farre as unto the market place and so forward to the Tuscane street and from thence through the Melium and passed foorth againe at the gate Capena untouched and in manner without taking any harme These prodigious signes were purged by the sacrifices of greater beasts At the same time Cn. Cornelius Lentulus who had governed the province of high Spaine before Tuditanus entred the citie by order from the Senate in a kind of triumph and carried before him in pompe 1515 pound weight of gold of silver likewise in bullion 20000 pound weight and in coine 34550 deniers L. Stertinius from the nether Spaine brought into the treasurie 50000 pound weight of silver and never pretended any hope that he had to obtaine a triumph Moreover of the prises and spoiles woon from the enemies he caused two arches to bee erected in the beast market even before the temple of Fortune and the goddesse Matuta and one besides in the grand Cirque or shew place And upon these arches he set up guilded Statues These were all the affairs to speake of that passed this winter season There wintered at that time in Athens Quintius And among many other suters that came unto him with their petitions the Boeotians exhibited a request and obtained the same to wit that as many of their nation as had served in the warres under Philip might bee restored and sent home againe unto them which was easily graunted by Quintius not so much for that hee thought them worthie of that favour but because hee was to win the love and affections of the States in Greece unto the Romane name now especially that he had some doubt of king Antiochus They were not delivered so soone but seene it was how little the Boeotians would bee beholden to him for it For they sent presently unto Philip and gave him thankes for the rendering of those men as if they had beene delivered by him and not by Quintius and the Romanes And in their next assembly generall for their solemne election they chose one Barcillas for their Boeotarches or lord governour of Boeotia for no other reason but because hee had beene the Colonell of those Boeotians that bare armes for the king but they passed by Zeasippus Pisistratus and others that had persuaded to make a league with the Romanes This wrought discontentment in these persons for the present and feare for the time to come For thus they reasoned with themselves If they would doe thus whiles the Romane armie lay encamped neere to their gates what should become of them when the Romanes were departed into Italie and whiles Philip was so neere at hand to assist those that sided with him and to annoy those of the adverse part and faction Therefore they complotted and concluded in the end to make away Barcillas the head of the kings bend whiles the Romane forces were at hand And so chusing a convenient and fit opportunitie for their purpose at what time as he returned homeward drunk from a publicke solemne feast accompanied with certaine pleasant and effeminate persons who to make sport and mirth had been at that great feast he was forlaied and beset with sixe armed men wherof three were Italians and three Aetolians and so murdered His traine that attended him ran away and raised hui and crie and called for helpe Much trouble hurliburly there was through out the citie much running to and fro with torch-light But they that did the deed were escaped out at the next gate In the morning betimes the people in great number assembled in the Theater being called together by the voice of the common bedle as if the murderers had beene detected Openly it was in every mans mouth that he was killed by his owne retinue even those filthie want on persons that he had about him but secretly in their minds they deemed Zeusippus the author of the murder For the present it was thought good to apprehend them that were in his traine and that they should be examined Whiles search was made for them Zeusippus came forth into the assembly with the like intent to avert all suspition of crime from himselfe saying that men were much deceived to thinke that so horrible and straunge a murder was committed by such weaklings and persons as they were This hee argued and discoursed by many likelyhoods and prohabilities to the same effect by which meanes some were verily persuaded that if himselfe had beene guiltie of the fact hee would never have offered and presented himselfe in the face of the assembly or broched any words at all of the murder especially when no man urged him thereto Others there were againe who made no doubt but by this impudent face his drift was to prevent an accusation and to turne away all suspition from himselfe The innocent and guiltlesse creatures within a while after being examined upon the racke and tortured knowing what was the generall opinion and conceit of men made their 〈◊〉 of the same for to bolt out and reveale the fact and so they named Zeusippus and 〈◊〉 for the principals without any presumption or light given how they should seem to come to the knowledge of anything Howbeit Zeusippus accompanied with one Strattoniâ—aâ— fled by night to Tanagra fearing the remorse and pricke of his owne conscience more than the appeaching and information of those persons who neither were partie nor privie to any thing But Pisistratus making no regard of these accusers remained still at Thebes Now had Zeusippus one bondslave whose hand was in all this action and had beene a courriour betweene whome Pisistratus feared that he would bewray him and by that very feare caused him to open and declare the whole matter He dispatched therefore his letters unto Zeusippus advising him to rid that slave out of the way who was privie to their dealing advertising him that in his conceit he was not so meet to conceale the thing now done as he was a fit instrument at the time to execute the same The bearer of these letters hee straightly charged to deliver them unto Zeusippus immediatly with all speed But he because he could not spie a convenient time to meet with him himselfe gave the letters to the verie same slave whom he supposed to be most fast and trustie to his master adding moreover and saying That they came from Pisistratus unto Zeusippus and imported matter of great consequence The bondslave promised to deliver them
answer as wherby they might be thought rather to have obteined pardon than to have made good and justified their cause The embassadors also of king Philip about that time had audience geven them in the Senate who came to congratulate with the Romanes testifying their owne joy and wishing theirs for their victorie and upon their request that they might sacrifice in the Capitoll and offer an oblation and present of gold in the temple of Iup. Opt. Max. the Senat gave them good leav e. So they presented and offred a crowne of gold weighing one hundred pound These embassadors had not only a friendly answere gratious dispatch but also Demetrius the sonne of king Philip who had lien as an hostage at Rome was delivered unto them for to bring home againe unto his father Thus was the warre archieved and brought to an end which M. Aciâ—has the Consull waged against king Antiochus in Greece The other Consull P. Cornelius Scipio whose lot was to governe the province of Gaule before that he tooke his journey to that warre which he was to make against the Boians demaunded of the Senate that money should be assigned unto him for to perfume those plaies and games which he had promised by vow as Viz-preotour in Spaine when he was driven to a great extremitie in a battell This seemed to be a strange unreasonable demaund Whereupon the LL. of the Senat ordained That what plaies the Consull had vowed on his owne head without asking the advise and councell of the Senat the same he should exhibit and set forth either with the issue of the spoiles gotten from the enemies if haply hee had reserved any money raised thereout to that purpose or else defray the charges out of his owne purse These plaies and games P. Cornelius represented for the space of ten daies And neere about the same time the temple of the great goddesse dame Cybele or Idaea was dedicated This goddesse being brought out of Asia in the time that P. Cornelius Scipio surnamed afterwards Africanus and P. Licintus were Consuls was conveyed from the sea side into the mount Palatine The temple was set out to be built at a price according to an act of the Senat by M. Livius and C. Claudius the Censors when M. Cornelius and T. Sempronius were Consuls Thirteene yeeres after the bargaine was made for the edifying therof M. Iunius Brutus dedicated it and for the honor of this dedication were the first stage-plaies exhibited as Valerius Antias mine author saith called thereupon Megalesia In like manner C. Licinius Lucullus one of the two Duumvirs dedicated the temple of the goddesse Iuventus in the great Race called Circus maximus The same had M. Livtus the Consull vowed sixteene yeeres before even that very day in which hee deffeited Asdraball and his armie The same Livins in his C ensorship went through and bargained for the building thereof whiles M. Cornelius and T. Sempronius were Consuls And in the honour of dedicating this temple the plaies were set forth and all was done with more devotion because there was a new warre intended against king Antiochus In the beginning of this yeere in which these things passed whiles P. Cornelius the Consull staied still behind at Rome for M. Acilius was gon forth alreadie to warre it is found in records that two tame oxen climed up a ladder in the street Carinae to the tyle-roofe of a certaine house there And the soothsayers gave expresse order that they should be burne quicke and the ashes to be throwen into Tyber Also it was reported that at Tarracina and Amiternum it rained stones sundrie times Item That in Minturnae the temple of Iupiter and the shops about the market place wer blasted and smitten with lightning and in the verie mouth of the river Vulturnus two ships caught fire from heaven and were consumed In regard of these fearefull prodigies the Decemvirs by order from the Senat went to the bookes of Sibylla and perused them and out of their learning pronounced that a solemne fast should be now instituted in the honour of Ceres and the same to be observed and holden every fift yeer also that a novendiall sacrifice for nine daies togither should continue and a supplication for one day and that they who went in this procession supplication should wear garlands and wreathes of flowers upon their heads lastly That the Consull P. Cornelius should sacrifice to what gods with what beasts the Decemvirs would appoint and pronounce When the gods were pacified as well by the accomplishment of the vowes accordingly as by taking order for the expiation of those wonderous signes the Consull tooke his journey into his province from whence hee commaunded Cneus Dominitius the Propretour after hee had cassed his armie to depart to Rome and himselfe entred with his legions into the territorie of the Boians Within a little of that time the Ligurians by vertue of a sacred law that they had levied and assembled an armie and by night assailed the campe unawares to Quintius Minutius the Proconsull Minutius kept his souldiours in order of battaile untill day within his hold having an eye and circumspect regard that the enemie should not mount over the trench and defences in any place And at the day-breake he sallied forth at two gates at once neither were the Ligurians repulsed as he hoped they should at the first charge for they sustained and held out the skirmish above two houres with doubful event on both sides At the last when band after band issued out and still fresh soldiers succeeded in the roume of the wearied for to mainteine fight the Ligurians in the end besides other distresses lost for want of sleepe also turned their backs Of the enemies were slaine above foure thousand of Romanes and allies under three hundred Two moneths after or somewhat lesse P. Cornelius the Consull gave battell to the Boians and woon the day slew 28000 enemies as Valerius Antias writeth took 3400 prisoners gained 124 militarie ensignes 1230 horses chariots 247 and of the winners as hee saith there died not above 1484. Where by the way how litle credit soever as touching the number we give unto this Writer for in that point there is none overreacheth more than he yet apparant it is that a right great victorie it was both for that the campe was woon and the Boians after that battell presently yeelded themselves as also for that in regard of this victorie a joyfull procession was by order from the Senat holden and greater beasts slaine for sacrifice Not much under or over this present time M. Fulvius Nobilior returned out of the farther province of Spaine in pompe of an Ovation and carried in shew 10000 pound weight of silver in bullion of Bigates in silver coine 130000 and in gold 126 pound weight P. Cornelius the Consull having first taken hostages of the Boian nation and disseized them of the one halfe of their countrey to the inhabiting whereof
convenient And if wee list to beleeve Val. Antias he condemned two thousand persons Semblably L. Posthumius the Pretour unto whome the government of Tarentum by lot fell did good justice upon great conspiracies made by certain grasiers and with great care and diligence followed the enquest of the Bacchanals and dispatched the reliques thereof quite and cleane Many of them who were adjourned and made not appearance but gave the slip and left in the lurch their sureties bound bodie and goods for them and lurked in that quarter of Italy he either judged and condemned as guiltie and convicted or caused them to be apprehended and sent to Rome unto the Senate who were all cast in prison by P. Cornelius In the farther part of Spaine all was quiet by reason that the Lusitanes were in the last warre subdued but in the hither part A. Terentius forced Corbio a towne of the Suessetanes which he assaulted with mantilets and other fabricks of warre and sold all the prisoners which done he passed the winter peaceably in that higher part of Spain also The old Pretours C. Calpurnius Piso and L. Quintius returned to Rome and both of them were with great accord and consent of the LL. of the Senat allowed to triumph And first C. Calpurnius triumphed over the Portugals and Celtiberians In which triumph hee carried in shew 83 coronets of gold and 12000 pound of silver Within few dayes after L. Quintius triumphed over the same Portugals and Celtiberians In which solemnitie there was represented in shew as much gold and silver as in the former The Censors M. Porcius and L. Valerius whiles men hung in suspence betweene feare and hope what they would doe held a review and a new choise of the Senate Seven Senatours they displaced and deposed from that dignitie amongst whome there was one of marke for his nobilitie of birth and honorable offices which he had borne namely L. Quintius Flamthinus who had been Consull An auncient order they say it was intime of our forefathers That when the Censors had put any out of the Senate they should note them directly for those faults which they had committed and at this day extant there be divers sharpe orations of Cato against them whome either he cassed and displaced out of Senate or from whome he tooke away horses of service but of all others the fourest and bitterest is that of his against this L. Quintius which if he had pronounced as an accuser before he had noted him with that disgrace and not as Censor after the said note his very owne brother T. Quintius if he had been then Censor could not possibly have kept L. Quintius in the state of a Senator Among other grievous matters hee articledagainst him That hee had trained with him from Rome into his province of Fraunce in hope of many great rewards one Philippus Paenus a notorious and costly Ganymede This boy as he was fooling playing the wanton with the said Quintius then Consul used to upbraid him with this That he was had away from Rome against the very time that the shew of sword-players at utterance was to bee exhibited and this hee said to shew how readie hee was to satisfie the pleasure of him his lover Now it chaunced as they were making good cheere togither and having taken their wine liberally were well heat therewith newes came and reported it was in the banket time That a certain noble man of the Boians was arrived with his children as a renegate from the adverse part and was desirous to speake with the Consull for to have assurance from his mouth of safe-conduct who being brought into the pavilion began to parlie with the Consull by a truchman or interpreter And in the mids of his speech How saith thou quoth Quintius to that wanton deintie his Catamite because thou hast missed lost the sight of those sword-players at Rome wilt thou fee presently here this Frenchman die in the place before thee He made not any great semblance unto him in good earnest of his desire that way but the Consull at the first beck of that beastly filth baggage caught the naked sword which hung over his head and first gave the poore Gaule a wound in his sconce as he was speaking unto him afterwards as he made shift to flie from him and called upon the protection of the people of Rome and the assistance of those that were present Quintius ran him quite through the sides Valerius Antias who never had read the oration of Cato but gave credit to a flying fable only without any head or author telleth the tale with some other circumstance howbeit much like in substance of matter as touching his lecherous lust bloudie crueltie He writeth that Quintius whiles he abode at Plaisance sent for a famous courtisan upon whom he was enamored to a banket and as he courted and made love to this strumpet vaunting himselfe unto her among other discourses he recounted with what rigor he had followed certein inquisitions what a number of prisoners he had in yrons condemned to death and how many of their heads hee minded to chop off Then this harlotry sitting next beneth him said That she had never in al her life seen any man to cut ones head of it was a sight that of al other she would sainest see Wherupon this kind amorous knight to gratifie the quean caused one of those poor soules condemned to die to be set out of prison into the banketting roume and presently to be beheaded before her face A cruell fact it was and inhumane whether it were committed as Cato hath objected in his Oration or as Valerius hath written in his storie that any human creature should be thus massacred like a sacrifice and the table bespreint with his bloud amid the cups standing full of wine and the dishes furnished with viands where and when the manner and custome was to tast and take the first sey in the honour of the gods and that devoutly with grace and good praiers and alto content and feed the eie of a wanton and shamelesse callor lying in the bosome of the Consull In the end of Cato his Oration this condition was offered unto Quintius That if hee would plead unguiltie and denie this fact and others which he charged him with then hee should put in a reall caution and stand to his defence and triall but if he confessed himselfe guiltie then he willed him to consider whether he thought any man would greeve and be sorrie at the ignominie which he was to receive who being transported caried beside his understanding with wine and women made but a sport pastime to shed mens bloud at a very banket In taking a review of the Cavallerie or gentlemen of Rome L. Scipio Asiaticus had his great horse of service taken from him This Censureship was likewise executed with severitie and rigor to all sorts and degrees and namely in the prising and
all others were sound asleepe they were embarked in a ship prepared aforehand by Poris making semblance as if they would returne to Thessalonica but indeed purposing to cut over to Euboea But when they had laboured and wrought to no purpose upon the wind which was full against them they were overtaken and prevented by the day-light before they were farre from the land and past sight And beeing discovered by the kings officers who had the charge and keeping of the haven there was a pinnace of foist well appointed with armed men set out to fetch in that vessell with expresse commaundement as they would answer to the contratie at their utter perill not to come againe without it Now as they approached neere Poris verily for his part was verie earnest with the towers mariners and failers to plietheir businesse and make way from them otherwhiles stretching out his hands up to heaven calling and praying unto the gods to helpe them in this their hard distresse But the courageous ladie his wise all the while turning againe to execute that designment of hers long before purposed tempered and mixed a potion of poison and brought forth certain swords withall Now when she had set the poisoned cup before the children in their very eye and drawen the swords naked Death q d. she is the only means we haue to save our libertie lo here the waies that lead to death now as every ones heart standeth to his or that take thereto and avoid the crueltie and pride of the king Come on lads and jolly striplings lead you the way first thatare the bigger and elder take sword in hand fall thereupon and worke the feat at once or if yee list rather to belong a dying drinke here of this cup. What should they doe the enemies were fast upon them readie to bourd their vessell their mother on the other side encouraging them instantly to take their death In such wise that to conclude some dying the one way and some the other were all cast headlong over shipbourd when they were but halfe dead Then shee for her part embracing her husband about the middle because she would die with him for company threw herselfe and him both togither into the sea Thus the kings men seized upon the ship when the masters thereof were gone The horrible example of this fact kindled more coales and set the malice and hatred kindled against the king as it were on a light and flaming fire anew insomuch as now commonly in al places they fell to open cursing of him and his children Which maledictions execrations it was not long but all the gods listened and gave eare unto and caused that he likewise exercised crueltie even upon his owne flesh and bloud For Perseus seeing his brother Demetrius to arise every day more than other in favour greatnesse and reputation with the whole Macedonian people and to grow also in credite and grace among the Romanes supposing with himselfe how hee had no other hope left him of attaining to the crowne but by the meanes of some wicked practise bent all his thoughts and studies that way and aimed onely at that marke But beleeving verily that he was not strong ynough sufficient alone to execute bring forth so much only as within that unmanly womanish mind of his he had devised conceived he practised with his fathers friends and eftsoones sounded their hearts one by one apart casting out ambiguous and doubtfull speeches And at the first verily some of them shewed countenance as if they could not abide to heare of any such thing because they reposed more hope in Demetrius But afterwards as the hatred of Philip grew daily greater against the Romans which Perseus still fostered and maintained whereas Demetrius with all his might laboured against it they foreseeing in their mind the unhappie end of Demetrius who lay too open and was not heedfull ynough to guard himselfe against the fraudulent and mischeevous plots of his brother sided with Perseus making this account in policie to set that agoing and helpe it forward which in the end would take effect namely to entertain and advance the hope of the mightier For the execution of the rest they reserved every thing to a meet convenient time therfore As for the present the best course they thought upon was this to incense the king all that ever possibly they could against the Romanes to induce and put him forward still to thinke of nothing but warre whereto of his owne accord his mind stood well ynough and was enclined And withall to the end that Demetrius might be from day to day more and more suspected they entred of purpose as before they were agreed into speech as touching the hope and great port of the Romanes where at when some of them would seeme againe in scornefull wise to elevate and debase their manners and fashions others to deprave their deeds and acts some scoffing in generall at the very forme and making of their cittie how it was not yet embelished and beautified either with stately edifices in publicke places or with faire houses of private men others mocking and having in derision the principall and cheefe personages of the citie in particular the inconsiderat yong gentleman carried away as well with an affectionate love to the Romanes as with a desire to crosse his brother would answere to all those points in the defence and maintenance of the Romanes by which meanes hee brought himselfe both into more jelousie with his father and also to be subject and exposed to slanderous imputations Whereupon his father acquainted him no more with any counsell as touching the Roman affairs but wholly relied upon Perseus and with him conferred therabout imparting unto him both day night al his projects designs whatsoever By this time were they returned whom he chaunced to send to the Basternes for to levie succours and aid-souldiours and brought they had with them from thence certaine noble yong gentlemen and some among of roiall bloud One of them promised to give his sister in marriage to one of Philips sonnes insomuch as the association by way of affinitie with that nation set the kings heart also alost But Perseus brake out into these words What serves all this for qd he since we have not so much help and safetie by aids from abroad as harme and daunger by a mischeefe and maladie at home We keep here foster in our bosome I dare not say a traitor but I assure you a very dangerous spie no better whose bodie verily the Romans have sent us again but his heart soule they are possessed of ever since he was an hostage at Rome All the Macedonians in a maner have their eies upon him set him they court give out in plain terms that they will no other king than whom the Romans shall set up Old Philip was of himselfe badly ynough affected in his mind but upon these suggestions buzzed into
education to the end that being there brought up hee might from his first infancie be acquainted with their fashions and converse with the people of Rome His suit and request to them was that they would vouchsafe unto him not onely the ordinarie entertaiment and protection that private persons affourd to their guests but also to take the charge of publicke tuition and as it were the guardianage of him This embassage of the king was well taken of the Senat and pleased them highly Whereupon they ordained that Cn Stnius the Pretour should let out a mansion house with all the furniture wherein the young prince and his traine might keepe their resiance The Thracian embassadours likewise presented themselves before the Senat to debate their owne controvercies in their hearing and withall desired their friendship and amitie They obtained their suite and besides their was sent unto them by way of present the summe of 2000 Asses apeece Glad were the LL. of the Senate that these States were received into their societie by reason that Thracia lyeth hard on the backe-side of Macedonie but to the end that they might have perfit intelligence and notice how all things went in Asia and the Ilands they sent thither T. Claudius Nero and M. Decimius in embassage whome they commaunded also to visit Creete and Rhodes and withall both to renew the amitie and also to spie and observe whether the hearts of those allies had been sollicited and tempted by K. Perseus As the citie was thus in doubtfull suspence and expectation of the event of this new warre behold in a tempest that arose in the night a certaine columne or pillar garnished and set out with the beake-heads of warre ships which had been erected in the Capitoll during the first Punicke warre by M. Aemylius the Consull who had for his companion in government Serg. Fulvius was by a clap of thunder and lightning rent and cloven from the very base to the chapter This was taken for a prodigious token and report thereof was made to the Senat. The LL. gave order that the Aruspices should be conferred with about it and their advise taken likewise they commaunded the Decemvirs to looke into their bookes of Sibylla The Decemvirs for their part pronounced and declared that the citie should be purged and hallowed publicke supplications and prayers made unto the gods and greater beasts killed for sacrifice as well at Rome in the Capitoll as in Campaine neere the promontorie of Minerva Also that with all convenient speed there should be plaies solemnly exhibited for ten daies togither in the honor of most mightie and most gracious Iupiter All this was done with diligence accordingly but the soothsayers and Aruspices aforesaid made answer out of their learning That this prodigie portended good and signified the advancement and enlarging of their owne territories togither with the ruine and destruction of their enemies for that those beak-heads which the storme overthrew and cast downe had been the spoiles of ships woon from the enemies There happened other occurrents besides to encrease the scrupulous religion and devotion of men for reported it was how at Saturnia within the towne it rained bloud three daies togither Item At Calatia an asse was soled with three feet and a bull togither with five kine were strucken starke dead with one thunderbolt and flash of lightning last of all at Oximum there was a showre of very earth and nothing else In regard of these woonders also sacrifices were celebrated supplications made and one day kept holiday and all shop-windowes shut Yet were not the Consuls departed into their provinces because they neither would obey and condescend unto the Senate in proposing the matter as touching Popilius at the councell table and the LL. were as resolute for their parts to let no decree passe before that were done The spight and heart-burning they bare against M. Popilius grew the more by occasion of his owne letters wherein hee wrate and gave them to understand That being Proconsull hee had now a second time fought with the Statellates in Liguria and put ten thousand of them to the sword by reason of which hard courses and extremities of warre the other nations likewise of the Ligurians were entred into armes At which newes not onely Popilius was blamed behind his backe for making warre against all law and equitie upon them that had yeelded and thereby provoking those who before were quiet to goe out and put themselves in action of rebellion but the Consuls also were checked to their faces in the Senate because they set not forward to their charge and government M. Martius Sermo and Quintius Martius Scylla two Tribunes of the Commons seeing the LL. of the Senat thus drawing all in a line tooke heart unto them and both menaced the Consuls to fine them unlesse they made more hast unto their province and also recited in the Senat a law which they had drawne and framed and were upon the point to promulge as touching the foresaid Ligurians who had submitted The tenure whereof ran in this forme THAT VVHAT PERSON SOEVER OF STATELLAE HAD YEELDED HIMSELFE AND VVAS NOT RESTORED TO LIâ—RRTIE AND FREEDOME BEFORE THE CALENDS OF SEXTILIS NEXT ENSUING THE SENAT UPON THEIR OTH SHOULD ORDAINE ONE SPECIAL COMMISSIONER TO MAKE INQUISITIONEY VVHOSE FRAUD COVIN AND NOTICE HEE VVAS IN VILLENAGE AND PUNISH THE PARTIE ACCORDINGLY Then by authoritie and approbation of the Senate they published this for a law Now before that the Consuls tooke their journey the Senat assembled in the temple of Bellona in regard and favour of C. Cicereius the Pretor of the former yeere Where audience was given him and after he had declared what exploits he had performed in Corsica there upon demaunded triumph which when hee could not obtaine he made no more adoe but rode triumphant in the Albane hill for now it was taken up and grown for a custome so to doe and aske the authoritie and the State no leave The foresaid law proposed by the Martij the Commons with a generall consent by their voices graunted and enacted By vertue of which act of the Commons C. Licinius the Pretour put to question in the Senat Whom they would have to sit upon the inquisition according to the forme of the said law And the LL. ordained himselfe to be the inquisitor Then at length and not asore the Consuls put themselves in their way toward their province received the charge of the armie from M. Popilius This Popilius durst not yet returne to Rome for feare hee should be called in question and put to his answere before that Pretour and supreme judge who had required the advise of the Senate as touching that enquest framed and drawne of purpose against him knowing full well as he did how the Senate was not well affected to him and the people much more maliciously bent and set against him But the Tribunes of the Commons thought they would prevent and meet with
could for when they were come to a place where they could see no way downe they cast their riders and governours laying them along on the earth and with the horrible braying that they made affrighted their horses especially untill such time as a devise was found for their passage They began first to make the head or entrance of a bridge at the very brow and edge of a steepe downefall this done in the lower ground beneath they set fast in the earth good strong and long posts of wood two by two distant one from the other traverse-wise little more than the largenes of one of those beasts Vpon which rested fast joined with tennon morteise certain rafters like wal-plats 30 foot in length and those being couched with planks crosse over in forine of a bridge had earth and mould cast thereupon A little way off beneath it such another bridge was made and so a third likewise and many more consequently according as the craggie ground was broken and uneven Now the Elephant from the firme ground entred upon the first bridge aforesaid but before he was gone as farre as to the foot and end therof the posts above named were cut a two underneath to the end that the bridge might fall and in the easie reeling therof the beast also gently slide as it were and be carried therewith as farre as the head of a second bridge Thus some of them glid and kept themselves standing upright on their feet others rested upon their buttockes Againe when they were come to the plaine and levell floure of another such like bridge by the fall of it in manner aforesaid they were driven unto a third bridge beneath it untill such time as they were come to a more plaine and even valley In this order the Romanes could rid little more than seven miles that day And the least part thereof went they upright on their feet but were faine most-what to tumble and roll over and over with their armour and fardels about them and thus they gat forward in all kind of paine and trouble in such sort that he who induced them to this journey and conducted them therein could not denie but the whole armie with a small power comming against them might utterly have ben defaited By night they arrived at a pretie plaine but the place beeing so enclosed on all sides they had no space and roume to view round about whether it were daungerous or no. At length after much adoe and beyond their expectation they met with a firme peece of ground whereas as they might take sure footing and there they were forced the morrow following to attend in the hollow valley the comming of Popilius and the companies left with him who also were exceedingly sore vexed and plagued with the roughnesse of the way albeit the enemies troubled and affrighted them no whit at all The third day after they had joined their forces together they tooke their way through a passe which the inhabitants call Callipeuce The fourth day they passed over a place that had no more meanes to direct them than the other before but by use and experience they were growne more skilfull and better hope they had for that the enemie in no place appeared but approached neare to the sea When they were come once downe into the plaines between Haracetus and Lebethrus the footmen whereof the greater part kept the hills pitched their tents and tooke up the valley and a good part of the plaine wherein the horsemen should quarter As the king was bathing himselfe it is said that word came How the enemies were neere at hand at which newes he was so skared that he leapt from out of his bathing vessell and in hast gat him out of the bame crying aloud That hee was vanquished without drawing sword and stroke given neither wist hee for feare which way to turne him taking sundrie counsels one in the necke of another and commaunding he knew not what sometime this and sometime that In this perplexitie hee sent for Asclepiodorus one of his two especiall friends out of the place where he lay in garrison to goe to Pella where all his money and treasure lay and by this meanes opened all the avenues for the Romanes to make warre Himselfe after he had in great hast bestowed and piled up in his ships all the gilden images at Dium to the end that the enemie should make no prize of them caused with all speed possible to trusse up and to remoove to Pydna and hereby gave occasion that the enterprise of the Consull which might have seemed rashnesse in that he had engaged himselfe so farre that he could not possibly retire againe without leave of the enemie prooved in the end no inconsiderate and unadvised designment For now the Romanes had the choice of two passages through which they might escape away the one by Tempe into Thessalie the other into Macedonie by the way neere Dium both which before were held by the kings guards So as if a resolute and fearlesse captaine could have held out and endured but one ten daies the first apparence and shew of terror that approached the Romanes could neither have returned into Thessalie by Tempe nor found way for conveiance of provision and victuals to the place they were For Tempe is of it selfe a difficult passage even without any force of armes to make it daungerous And why besides the straight gullet five miles in length yeelding a very narrow way for one beast to goe charged with burden the rocks of either hand are so steepe and upright that hardly a man is able to looke downe from them but his eyes will dazle his braines turne and his head be giddie withall Moreover the sound and noise yea and the depth of the river Peneus running directly through the mids of the valley encreaseth the feare so much the more This place so petillous of it owne nature had beene holden and guarded with the kings gaâ—â—isons in foure severall and distant places The one kept at the verie first entrance neere to Connus the second at Condylos a fort imprenable the third about Lapathus which also they call Charax and the fourth was placed even upon the verie avenue it selfe about the mids of the valley where it is at the streightest and which may be easily defended with ten men if there were no more In this maner I say the passage being stopped up by Tempe as wel for portage of provisions thither as for returne from thence the Romans must perforce have retired again up to the same mountains from whence they were descended But as they came down were not discovered so being 〈◊〉 they could not possibly have gained them again in open view considering that the enemies had possessed the tops of the mountains and no doubt the difficultie therof besides which they had tried already would have cut off all hope of that adventure so as being waded thus far into this rash enterprise
the mid-way betweene Dium and Tempe upon a rocke that commaundeth this river Popilius before that he caused his men to approch the walls sent certaine persons of purpose to persuade the magistrats and cheese of the citie to make proofe of the faithfull protection and clemencie of the people of Rome rather than to trie their rigor and violence But this motive and advise availed not because they might discerne the fires from out of the kings campe neere to Enipeus whereupon both from the land and sea-side for the fleet also being thither arrived ankered neere the shore as well by force of armes as by fabrickes and engines of batterie they began to assaile the towne Moreover certaine young and lustie Romane souldiours making use now in warre of the exercise which they had practised in the games Circenses gat over the wal where it was lowest The maner was in those daies before this wastfull prodigalitie came up of filling the whole cirque or shew-place with beasts set out of all countries to devise seek sundrie forts of publick sights spectacles to behold and not in running one course with the chariot another on horsebacke and so an end to employ in both races hardly the space of one full houre Among other seats of activitie exhibited the maisters and wardens of those exercises and games brought into the race commonly 60 and otherwhiles more lustie young men in armes well appointed Their training in part represented a shew and apparance of two armies encountering and charging one another in part also the use and practise of a more gentle and elegant exercise than militarie prosession and comming neerer to the handling and managing of weapons after the order of sword-sencers These young gallants after they had performed other ordinarie runnings and courses put themselves in a foure-square squadron with their bucklers or targuets close couched and joined together over their heads in this manner They that were formost in the front stood bolt uptight the second ranke stouped somewhat lower under the other the third course more than they and so the fourth untill the hindmost kneeled on their knees and by this meanes they resembled a pavoisade rising up higher and higher like the pent-house or rouse of aedifices This done two men well armed fetching their run filtie foot or there about backeward from thence and seeming to defie and challenge one another mounted the foresaid pavoisade and ran from the nether end up to the top upon those targuets so jointly united set close and thick together and one while they set their countenance as though they would defend the sides and edges thereof other whiles in the mids they seemed to performe their devoir and maintaine combat one with another as upon firme and steadie ground Like for all the world to this was there a pavoisade framed and brought close to one part of the wall and when armed men were mounted upon it they that stood upon the verie ridge thereof were as high full as the defendants which kept the wall who being once beaten backe and turned downe two ensignes of souldiours gat over into the citie The onely difference betweene this pavoisade and the other above described was this that they onely who stood in the front before and in the flankes bare not their targuets aloft above their own heads because their sides and bodies should not be naked and exposed to hurt but carried them before after the usuall manner of fighting men in a battaile By which meanes neither the arrowes and darts discharged from the wall hurt them affront nor the shot that light upon their targuet-fence tooke any hold but glaunced and glid downeward from the top without doing any harme like to raine water that shooteth from the ridge of an house and runneth downe the caves The Consull likewise now that Heraclea was woon advaunced forward with his armie thither pretending as though hee marched toward Dium and as if after hee had chased and driven the king from thence hee minded to passe forward also into Pieria But preparing now against winter he commaunded to make the waies fit and handsome for the cariage of provision out of Thessalie and to chuse out commodious places for garners also to build certaine houses wherein they that brought the provision might lie in couvert and lodge commodiously Perseus in the end having taken heart againe and gathered his wits together upon that late fright which had amazed his spirits wished then with all his heart that his commaundements had not been obaied at what time as in a fearefull fit hee gave expresse charge to cast the treasure into the sea at Pella and to set on fire the arcenall at Thessalonica Andromicus being sent for the same purpose to Thessalonica made no hast to execute his will but trifled out the time for the nonce leaving the king some respite to repent as it fel out indeed Nicias was not so provident and well advised at Pella in throwing away some part of the money which he there found howbeit hee thought his fault such as might in some sort be remedied and amended for that all the said treasure in maner was recovered by the means of certain dyvers that fished for it under water and fetcht it up from the bottome of the sea But the king himselfe was so ashamed of this foolish feare that in a melancholie hee commaunded those poore dyvers to bee secretly murdered yea and afterwards Andronicus and Nicias also to the end that no person should remaine alive that was privie to that sottish commaundement of his Amids these affaires C. Martius having losed to sea from Heraclea and with his fleet sailed to Thessalonica landed his armed souldiors in divers places of the shore and made wast in the territorie al about and when they made sallies out of the citie charged upon him after some fortunat skirmishes he chased them backe and beat them within the walls So as at length he terrified the towne it selfe but not onely they who raunging up and downe here and there unadvisedly approched the walls were wounded with shot discharged out of instruments of all sorts planted upon the walls but those also who were in the ships were hurt with stones weighed and levelled from engines a farre off Vpon which occasion hee commaunded his souldiours to retire a shipbourd and leaving the siege of Thessalonica they passed from thence to Aenia a cittie fifteene miles off situate in a fertile soile just over against Pydna When they had spoiled the territorie lying to that cittie they coasted along the shore and arrived at Antigonia Where being set a land first they spoiled the countrey in every quarter and brought good store of prizes to their ships but afterwards as they stragled out of order and disbanded the Macedonians as well footmen as horse ran upon them and chased them as they fled apace to the sea-side in which rout they slew upon a five hundred and tooke as many
overthrow the state of kings For so by the aid of Attalus they had brought his father Philip to ruin by the help likewise of Eumenes and partly also of his father Philip Antiochus was defaited and even now against himselfe both Eumenes and Prusias were put in arms if the kingdome of Macedonie were once subverted have at Asia next which the Romanes have in some part seized alreadie for their owne under a colour of enfranching citties and setting them free and then they will not leave untill they have Syria too For now is Prusias preferred in honour before Eumenes and Antiochus for all his conquest is chaced and debarred out of Aegypt which ought to have bene the recompence for the war by him enterprised atchieved In these regards Perseus advertised ech of them to consider and provide therefore either to force the Romanes to make peace with him or else to hold them for the common enemies of all kings in case they persisted still in so unjust a war The commission that the embassadors had to Antiochus was apert open but unto Eumenes and embassador was sent under a pretence of ransoming certain captives but practised there were under hand more secret complots which caused Eumenes even then to bee suspected odious unto the Romans yea charged afterward with more grievous matters althoughuntruly For he was reputed little better than a traitor and a professed enemie to their state wheras indeed both he Perseus strove who could compasse surprise and overtake one another better in fraud and avarice Now there was one Cydas a Cretensian an inward and most secret friend to Eumenes this man had communed first at Amphipols with one Chimarus a countrieman of his who served under Perseus in the wars and afterwards at Demetrias conferred with another named Menecrates also with a certaine third person called Antiochus all captaines to king Perseus even under the very wals of the foresaid cittie Over and besides Eropon who at this time was sent had beforetime ben emploied in two severall embassies to the same Eumenes These secret communications and embassages were badly spoken of but no man knew what was concluded between the two kings Howbeit thus the case stood Eumenes as he had no mind nor intention to war upon Perseus so he was not desirous in his hart that he should have the victory of the Romans not so much for the old enmitie which had ben between both their fathers as for the hateful quarels kindled among themselves For this concurrence and aemulation there was betweene these two princes that Eumenes could never abide to see Perseus for to purchase so great welth so much honor as he must needs acquire by the conquest of the Romanes he saw moreover that Perseus from the first beginning of this war sought by all meanes possible for peace the neerer he was to daunger domage aimed thereat every day more than other employing his whole studie and care about nothing els He perceived also that among the Romanes because the warre grew to be longer than they hoped and looked for as well their captains as the Senat were well enough content and very desirous to see an end once of so troublesome hurtfull and difficult a warre Knowing thus as he did the mind and will of both parties he enclined and framed to that which of it selfe as he thought might fall out where the stronger was wearie and the weaker in feare and therein desired he to Thew his double diligence thereby to win a thinke and purchased favour of both parts For he entred into bargaine with Perseus for a summe of money one while not to aid the Romanes either by land or sea another whiles to be a means for peace and to treat with the Romans thereabout and not to intermeddle at all in the warre but to sit still he capitulated I say for a thousand and five hundred talents making semblance and shew that for the assurance both of the one and the other readie he was not only to sweare but also to put in good and sufficient hostages Perseus was the willingest man in the world to set in hand with this as being driven thereto by the exigent of feare and presently without delay dealt with him as touching the hostages which were to be received and in fine concluded it was that they should upon their deliverie and receit be sent into Creete But when they came once to talke of the money aforesaid hee hafred and stucke at that and to say a truth either of these two summes between princes of so great name and honour was but a base and dishonest consideration a thing much unfitting ywis the giver and more the receiver Perseus verily for his part in hope to purchase peace with the Romanes was willing enough to be at the expense of so much money mary hee said that he would make paiment thereof when the thing was done and accomplished and in the meane time lay it up safe for that purpose within the temple of Samothracia Eumenes againe considering that the said Island was an appertenance to the dominion of Perseus could not see but it was all one for it to lie there and in Pella and therfore was earnest to have part therof in hand Thus betwene them there was nothing but lying in the wind for the vantage who could overreach the other and what was gained in the end but infamie and discredit As for Perseus hee not onely let fall this design and lost his opportunitie and that by his niggardise only when by the means of Eumenes he might have had either his money sure enough or peace for it which indeed he should have bought if it had cost him the one halfe of his kingdom and being once received into grace and favour of the people of Rome hee might have defamed and brought into obloquie and daunger his concurrent by charging him to have received a peece of money for a bribe and so justly have set the Romans upon his top but also the association with king Gentius which now was at the point of a contract was neglected yea and a mightie army of Gauls spred at that time all over Illyricum and presented unto him was even then refused and discharged by this pinching and saving of his mony For there came and offered their service ten thousand horsemen and as many foot and those so well practised and so good of footmanship that they were able to hold out and keepe pace with horses yea and run by their sides such I say as when the riders were unhorsed and fallen could vault and mount on the emptie horse backes ready to fight in their turnes These had bargained to have for pay every horseman ten Philip peeces of gold paied down aforehand and a footman five and their captaine a thousand Perseus departed from his leaguer lying neere the river Enipeus and with the one halfe of his own forces met these comming upon the
restored to their pristine estate and reputation he sent Perpenna presently to apprehend the friends and kinsfolke of the king who tooke his way directly to Medeo a cittie of the Labeates and brought with him into the campe at Scodra Elleva the kings wife with her two sonnes Scerdiletus and Pleuratus together with Carasvantius the king his brother Thus Anicius having ended the Illyrian war within the compasse of thirtie daies sent Perpenus to Rome with tidings of this victorie and within few daies Gentius himselfe after him together with his mother his wife and children his brother and other LL. of the Illyrians This was the onely warre atchieved and brought to an end before they heard at Rome that it was begun During the mannagement of these affaires Perseus also was in great feare and affright by reason of the comming of L. Aemylius a new Consull who as the voice went marched against him with great menaces together with Octavius the Pretour Neither was he lesse terrified with the Romane navie and the daunger of the sea coasts Eumenes and Athenagoras had the keeping and commaund of Thessalonica with a small garrison of two thousand targatiers Thither hee sent captaine Androcles also with commaundement to encampe close to the very harbour where the ships lay in rode Vnto Aenia he sent one thousand horsemen under the leading of Antigonus to guard the sea-coast to the end that in what part soever they heard the enemies ships were arrived they might incontinently advaunce to the succour of the paisants and countrie people Five thousand Macedonians were likewise sent to lie in garrison at Pythoum and Petra under the conduct of Histiaius Theagenes and Midon After these were departed he went in hand to fortifie the banke of the river Enipeus because it was passable over the very chanel on drie foot And to the end that all the multitude should be emploied hereabout the very women were compelled out of the townes adjoining to bring victuals into the campe The souldiours were commaunded from out of the woods neere byâ—â—â— Finally the waterbearers in leather bits or bottels were commaunded to follow him to the sea which was a quarter of a mile off and thereupon they stood to dig pits some in one place and some in another a pretie distance asunder The exceeding high hils all about put him in good hope and the rather because they sent out from them no rivers to be seen in open view that they conteined within them some hidden springs the veines whereof draining into the sea were intermingled with the sea water They had scarcely sunke throgh the uppermost course of sand above when they mighe small sources to boile up at the first troubled but afterward they began to yeeld sheere and cleere water in great aboundance by a speciall gift as it were of the gods above And even this occurrent also encreased the name and reputation of the captaine with his souldiours Then after hee had commaunded his men to make readie their armour himselfe with the martiall Tribunes and the principall formost rankes marched to recognise and view the passages and to see where the armed men might descend with ease and where they might with least trouble mount up the banke on the fartherside When hee had taken a sufficient survey hereof hee forecast and gave direction aforehand for all things to bee done in the armie in good order without trouble tumultuous noise even at the very beck and commandement of their leaders For when a thing to be effected is pronounced to all at once it falleth out that every man is not within the hearing and so receiving an uncertaine signall and commandement some put more of their owne head to that which was commanded and others doe lesse againe for it and so there arise from all parts dissonant cries and by this meanes the enemies know sooner whereabout they goe than many of themselves Therefore to avoid this contusision he ordained that every martiall Colonel should give a secret watch-word to the principall Centurion of the legion and round him in his eare what he would have done then he and so forth every one should deliver unto ech centurion as he is next in range place what was to be executed whither it were that the commandement was to be caried from the front of the armie to the taile or from the rereguard behind to the vaward before He broght up a new order custome forbidding the watchmen to carrie with them any targuets to their sentinels for that the watchman went not out to fight wherby he needed any armor but to keep watch that when lie desetied the enimies comming lie might retire himself raise others to take armes Item he ordeined that the helmettiers or morioners should stand upon their feet having their shields upright before them when they were wearie to leane bear upon their javelins resting their head upon the edge of their shields so to take a nap sleep to the end that their glittering armour might bee disbovered afarre off by the enemie whereas himselfe could not see farre before him The manner also of warding in the day time and of the corps de guard hee altered cleane For whereas they were wont to stand all the day long armed and the horsemen holding their horses bridled in fell out so that in summer daies when ordinarily the sunne is extreame and scorching hote both horse and man became wearie and languished againe with abiding so many houres in the heat and oftentimes the enemies being fresh although they were but fewe in number set upon them and put them to trouble and hazard enough Hereupon he commanded that the morning guard should break up at noone and others succeed in their places for toward in the afternoone By this meanes the enemie fresh and in heart could never take them weatie and so charge upon them When he had pronounced in a publicke assembly gathered together that his will was that these orders should be observed accordingly he delivered unto them a speech much resembling the former Oration which hee used before to the people within the cittie of Rome Namely that the Generall of an armie ought onely to foresee and provide for all that is meet to be done sometime by himselfe otherwhiles with those whom hee hath joined assistants unto him as for such as are not called to be of his counsell they ought neither in publick nor in privat to shoot their bolts and give their advise Three things in deed the soldior was to care provide for namely to have a body most strong and nimble withall his armor weapons decent and fit and thirdly a spirit prompt ready at all assaies to execute any commandement on a sodain For all things else he ought to know that the gods immortal and his Generall will take care for as much as in that armie wherein the soldiors the Consull and chiefe commander suffer themselves to
be caried away with rumors brutes of the common sort it is not possible for any thing to go well forward and come to good effect For his own part according to the dutie and devoir of a captain Generall he would endeavor provide to give them the occasion and opportunitie of brave exploits as for them they were not to enquire after any future thing but so soon as the signall is given then every man to performe the service of a doubtie soldior and valiant warrior After these good precepts and instructions he dismissed the assembly and the old souldiors themselves confessed commonly in plaine tearms that they had taken forth a lesson that day as yong and raw novices yea and learned in militarie profession that which they never knew before neither shewed they only by these and such like words with what consent and generall liking they heard the Consull his speech but also testified the same by present deed and visible effect For immediately you should not have seene over all the campe one man idle and doing nothing some fell to whet and sharpen their swords others surbushed their headpeeces busses and beavers some skoured their shields and bucklers others their cuiraces and corslets some fitted and buckled their harnesse to their bodies and tried how they could bestine their limmes and rule their joints under it some shooke their pikes and couched their javelins others brandished their swords and lookt that they were sharpe at point So as a man might easily perceive by them that upon the first occasion presented of encounter with the enemie they would enter into conflict either to atchieve a brave victorie or to die an honourable death Perseus also on the other side perceiving that upon the arrivall of the Consull and the beginning of the spring togither the Romane camp refounded and rung again with their stirring and rustling of armour as if there had beene some new warre toward that they were dislodged from Phylla and encamped upon the banke just over against him and that now their leader and commaunder rode up and downe to view and behold his fortifications and workes to spie no doubt some way or other for passage ********* This encouraged the Romans hearts and daunted not a litle the Macedonians and their king At the first Perseus endeavoured to suppresse secretly and stop the bruit and same thereof by sending out certein of purpose to Pantaucus as he came from thence to forbid him in anywise to approach the campe But by this time were certein children seen brought by their owne parents among the Illyrian hostages and looke how much more carefull order was taken to conceale al so much the sooner was every thing set abroad and blurted out by the prattle and babble of the kings servitours attending about his person About the same time the Rhodian embassadors came into the Romane campe with the very same charge and commission as touching peace which at Rome had set the LL. of the Senat in exceeding heat and choller but farre worse audience had they in the councell of the camp and with greater discontentment And therefore when some advised that they should be thrust out by head and shoulders without any answer at all the Consul pronounced That he would shape them an answere after fifteene daies and not before Meane while that it might appeare what a goodly reckoning was made of these Rhodian peace makers who came about a pacification he began in steed therof to debate in councell as concerning the means and maner of making war Some were of opinion and principally the elders and auncients to give the assault and force the munitions and defences planted upon the bank of the river Enipeus for that the Macedonians were never able to resist if they came upon them lustily and charged them by thicke troups for why no longer ago say they than the yeer before disseized they had ben of so many holds both higher and better fortified and the same holden with strong garisons Others were of mind that Octavius the admirall should with the fleet saile to Thessalonica and by laying wast the maritime coasts to cut off and weaken the kings forces to the end that upon another warre shewed from behind at their backes the K. might be withdrawen and trained about to defend the heart of his realme and thereby forced in some sort to open and lay naked the passage over the river Enipeus And Octavius himselfe was of this judgement that the banke as well by the naturall site thereof as for the sconses made upon it by mans hand was unsuperable and not to be gained and besides the engins planted every where thereupon hee heard say that the enemies had the slight and skill to discharge all kind of shot farre better and shoot more dead sure but the intention of the Generall Aemylius was wholly bent another way and after he had dissolved the assembly of his councell he called unto him two merchants of the Perrhaebians namely Schanus and Menophilus men of approoved fidelitie and wisdome and of them in great secret enquired What kind of passages there wereover into Perrhaebia when they answered That the wayes were nothing difficult and daungerous but ' onely that they were kept and beset by the kings guards he conceived some hope that if he assailed them by night with a valiant companie and tooke them sodainly at unawares before they looked for him hee might chase those garrisons from their holds for darts arrowes and all other shot served to little or no purpose in the darke when a man cannot see his marke a farre off before him but close sword-fight hand to hand pell mell was it that must doe the deed wherein the Romane souldior had no fellow Minding therefore to use those two as guides he sent for Octavius the Pretour and when he had declared unto him the effect of his designment he commaunded him to saile with his fleet to Heraclea and to have with him victuals baked and dressed to serve a thousand souldiours ten daies Himselfe sent out P. Scipio Nasica and Q. Fabius Maximus his owne sonne with five thousand select souldiors to Heraclea as if they were to be embarked for to wast the maritime coast of Macedonie lying farre within the countrey according as it had been before debated in councell and secretly under-hand they were given to wit that there were viands and victuals in the fleet prepared for them to the end that nothing should stay their expedition Then the guides who were to conduct them in their way had commaundement so to cast their gifts and journies that by three of the clocke in the morning the third day they might assaile Pythoum Himselfe in his owne person the next morrow with intent to amuse the king and keepe him from all regard of other enterprises earely by the breake of day began to skirmish with the enemies guards in the very mids of the channell and place of the current
contained three other altars one to the Great gods a second to the Penates and a third to those gods of heaven earth from whom all things arise and have their beginning These gods abovesaid the Romanes called Genij Penates Presidents and keepers of the citie Liber Libera Ceres and Proserpina had their temples about this place called Circus Max. which Posthumius when hee warred against the Latines vowed and the same man upon his returne with happie victorie built and dedicated them accordingly To conclude in the same compasse were the temples of the Sunne and of Flora. Moreover a temple there stood neere this Circus unto Venus which Q. Fabius Gurges the Consull caused to be made of the money raised upon the fines of certaine wives that were condemned for playing false with their husbands Lucinus dedicated a temple to Iuventus without the great cirque not farre from that place In like sort Mercurie had a temple neere this Circus Max. In Plinies daies there was seene in the Cirque Max the image of Fortuna Scia CHAP. XIII The Naumachie of the great Cirque NAumachie is a place so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. for that in it they used to skirmish with ships For there were places digged deepe like ponds where were represented some shews of navall fight for the exercise of the Romane youth that they might know how to charge and annoy the enemie at sea also And these kind of sports were exhibited and practised not in the Cirques onely but also in the Amphitheaters CHAP. XIIII The two Obelisks of the Cirque Max. THe Obeliske as Marcellinus testifieth was a very huge rough stone rising like a spire or broch by little and little to a mightie height and that it might resemble a raine or sunne-beame it groweth smaller and smaller in fashion of a steeple with foure sides or edges and in the top it is very narrow and there made plaine and smoth right artificially In most of them are engraven and cut certaine Hieroglyphicke notes and namely such as testified either the founder thereof or else other memorable matters Of these figures and characters the same Marcellinus speaketh in this wise Moreover the infinite varietie of formes and characters called Hieroglyphicks which all about we see engraven the auncient authoritie of the first learning did set forth and marke so Thus much saith he Now they drew and portraied therein divers and sundrie formes and shapes of living beasts and birds and oftentimes devised new and strange resemblances whereby they reserved and kept for their posteritie whatsoever was memorable and worth remembrance This manner continued not in Aegypt onely but also in other parts of the world untill such time as letters were found and then this was given over At the first one letter emplied a whole word and one word stood for a whole sentence But hereof yee shall find much in authors that have written of these characters Moreover as Plinie witnesseth these Obelisks were made of the stone Simithes Them they erected consecrated to the gods and principally to the Sunne and therefore in hewing and cutting them they resembled the sunne-beames as wee said before The first that ever devised these Obelisks was king Methres At Rome were none of these Obelisks wrought and cut out but brought thither from other parts and so for beautifull shew and to wonder at were erected Therefore in the Cirque aforesaid called Maximus two Obelisks were seene one standing upright aloft fourescore foot high the other lying along in the Naumachie it carried in length a hundred and thirtie foot and eight ynches besides the base or footstall which Augustus translated to Rome out of Hicropolis a cittie of Aegypt but when he would have set it up on end it fell downe and brake in twain This was hewen out of the quarrey by king Samnefreteus in whose reigne Pythagoras was in Aegypt CHAP. XV. The arch of Sertinius in the Cirque The place of the Tuberoes in the Cirque The stewes the house of Pompey and the fountaine of Iuturna SErtinius having made conquest of Spaine brought great store of money into the citie chamber and of the spoiles taken from enemies hee reared two arches the one in the beast-marker called Forum boarium the other in the great shew-place named Circus maximus Vpon these arches he set golden images and other ornaments to beautifie them The house and familie of the Helij was none of the welthiest but yet of great credit and estimation with the Romans Among whome there was so great concord and unitie that 16 of them at one time dwelt and agreed well togither in one and the same house For their singular prowesse and worthie acts they were allowed by the Senat and people of Rome a scaffold by themselves in all the shew places and Theatres to behold all sights and maistries of activitie About the Circus Maximus stood the stewes and brothel-houses where sometimes harlots and naughtic packs kept such as made profession of whoredome But this place was afterwards laid even with the ground and is now a void place The house of Pompeius was neere the Circus Maximus and therin was the statue of Hercules erected The fountaine or well of the nimph Iuturna is yet as some thinke to be seen boiling up in the Velabrum neere the common sinke or vault called Maxima CHAP. XVI The Septizonium of Severus THere should follow by course after the great Cirque the sixt part of the cittie namely the mount Coelius But because wee meet with the Septizonium of Severus and the arch of Constantine before wee come to Coelius betweene it and the mount Palatine some thing would first bee spoken of them especially being so excellent building as they are The Septizonium therefore is a mightie mount or terrace raised from the plaine ground foure square compassed about with seven circles that is to say courses or rewes of pillers one above another yeelding as it were as many porches or galleries and in this order they are disposed that the higher the pillers stand the lesser and shorter they be In the mids hereof foure wals arise conteining within them certaine holow places like cabinets In the top thereof were bestowed and laid the ashes of kings and emperours deceased Iulius Capitolinus nameth this mount Septodium for the Greekes call places much frequented wherunto many waies lead Heptodia of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. seven and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. a way Plinie calleth it Septisolium of seven losts or solars For in every course thereof the columnes meet togither in the head with marbles transomes Other beams there be besides reaching within forth from them to the mount it selfe so as every such course yeelded a stage like a gallerie or walking place Two of these Septizonia we read there were at Rome to wit the one of Titus in the street called Via nova of right great antiquitie not farre from this of Severus of which at this
Thus it was wel seen that this man of himself enclined to prefer safe proceding advised counsel before doubtful waies foole hasty courses to the end that he might persevere in that resolution more constantly Q Fabius Maximus at his departure by report bad him farewell in this or such like manner If either you ô L. Aemylius had a Colleague like unto your selfe which I could rather wish or that your selfe were sutable to your Colleague these my words to you were altogether needlesse and superfluous For you twaine being two good Consuls would even without my speech do all things faithfully to the good of the Commonweale and contrariwise if both of you were bad yee neither would vouchsafe to give care to my sayings nor ponder in mind my counsels But now when I consider your companion what he is and your selfe to be a man of that qualitie and worth you are hee to whome alone I am addressed to direct my whole speech to you I say whom me thinkes I foresee alreadie like to be in vaine and without effect an honest man and a good cittizen For if the Commonweale be halt and lame but of one side as great sway and authoritie will bad projects lewd courses carrie as the good sage and holesome counsels For you are far out of the way and much deceived ô L. Aemylius if you thinke to bee lesse troubled with Anniball than with C. Terentius And I wote not well but I greatly feare that you shall have a more comberous adversarie of the one than a daungerous enemie of the other For with Anniball you are to fight in the field and in time of battell onely but with Terentius you shal have to doe in every place and at all houres Against Annibal and his Legions you shall make head and have the help of your own Cavallerie Infanterie but Generall Varro will assaile you even with your owne souldiours Farre be from you in any ill sense the late remembrance of C. Flaminius for I love no such unluckie boding Howbeit he began his mad fits when hee was once Consull and never before when hee was in his province with commaund and in the campe with his armie and never els But his Varro even before he stood for the Consulship and all the whiles he was a suiter therefore and now likewise that he is Consull before that he seeth campe or enemie in field is hornemad and talketh like a man besides himselfe What foule worke then think you will he make when hee shall see himselfe with armed youths about him in the campe who now amongst peaceable cittizens in their gownes and long robes within the cittie stirreth so great stormes and tempests cracking vaunting at every second word of nothing but fight skirmish and battaile What a coyle I say will he keepe there where no sooner a word spoken but a blowe given and when upon direction presently ensueth execution But in case this man as hee saith flatly he will fall immediatly to strike a battaile either I know not what belongeth to Art militarie and have neither skill how to conduct this kind of warfare nor any experience of the qualitie and nature of this enemie or els there will be another place more noble and memorable by our defeature and overthrow than was the Lake Thrasymenus But it is no time now to stand upon these tearmes and to glorifie my selfe in comparison of this one person who have loved as it is wel known to exceed go beyond all measure in despising glorie and honor rather than in desiring and coveting the same But the truth is this and so it will be found in the end that the only way to war against Anniball is that which I tooke and alwaies used Neither is it the issue event alone for that is maister and teacher of fooles which sheweth and proveth this unto us but even reason it selfe which hath and will be still the same immutable as long as things in the world hold on as they doe We warre you see in Italie at home in our owne ground and place of residence all quarters round about us full of our owne citizens or friendly Allies who daily helpe us and will bee readie still to furnish us with armour men horse and victuals Sufficient proofe and testimonie of their faithfulnesse have they given us alreadie in our hard distresse and adversitie Space and processe of time maketh us better stronger wiser every day than other and more constant and resolute Contrariwise Anniball is in a strange and forraine land in his enemies countrie in the mids of all things that are crosse and adverse unto him farre from his house and home farre from his native soile having peace no where neither by land nor sea No citties receive him and give him entertainment no wals he hath within which he can retire himselfe in safetie Nothing seeth he wheresoever he goeth that he can say is his owne From day to day from hand to mouth he liveth of rapine and spoile Scarce a third part hath he of those forces which hee transported over the river Iberus Hunger and famine hath wasted more of them than the edge of the sword and for this small remainder that is left hee is hard and scant provided of food and sustenance Make you any doubt then but we shall vanquish him whiles wee 〈◊〉 still and take our ease who day by day decaieth sensiblie and 〈◊〉 old and feeble who neither hath store of victuals to maintaine an armie nor supplie of men to make up his broken bands nor masse of monie to entertaine them How long was he saine to fight for Gerion a poore little castle in Apulia as if it had been for the wals of Carthage it selfe Neither will I boast and magnifie my selfe at all before you ô Aemylius Doe you but onely consider how Cn. Servilius and Aemylius the last Consuls plaied mock holyday with him and deluded him This is the onely way of safetie ô L. Paulus which I feare me our own cittizens will make difficult and daungerous unto themselves more than the enemies can For you shall have your own soldiors your enemies both of one and the same mind Varro the Romane Consull and Anniball the Carthaginian Generall will aime and reach at one and the selfesame thing And you being but one man must make account to resist two captains and resist them you shall well ynough if you will stand firm and hold your owne against all bruits and speeches of the people if neither the vaine-glorie of your fellow that shall be blased nor the infamous rumors that shall bee falsely blowne abroad to your disgrace shall once stirre you from your constant resolution maintainance of the truth Old said sawes these be and common proverbes That right and true-dealing may well be sicke but it shall not die it may lie a bleeding but shall not miscarie And he that will despise vainglorie shall
attaine in the end to true glorie Let them call you and spare not fearefull for carefull cold and slow for wise and considerate an ill souldiour and ignorant for a skilfull warrior and experienced But be not you dismaied I had leifer heare a wise and sober enemie to fear you than see foolish and brainesicke cittizens to praise you Adventure all things boldly Anniball will contemne you enterprise nothing rashly he shall dread you And yet my purpose is not neither speake I this that you should enter into no action at all but my meaning and advise is that in all your doings you be guided and directed by sage reason not haled and carried away with blind fortune Order the matter so that all things lie within your compasse and at your disposition Stand ever armed and upon your guard Have your eie about you stil and keepe good watch that neither you lose any opportunitie that shall present it selfe unto you nor yeeld unto the enemie any occasion for his advantage Take time and leisure you shall find all things cleere plaine easie and certaine Contrariwise hast maketh wast it is ever to seeke is foreseeth nought but is starke blind The Consull answered to these speeches with no lightsome cheere and gladsome countenance as confessing That all he spake was rather true in substance than easie in execution For faith he if the Generall of horsemen were so violent and not to be endured of you who were his Dictatour soveraigne Commaunder what course shall I take what shift may I make what power and authoritie sufficient am I like to have to sway against my seditious quarrelsome and headie Colleague For mine owne part in my former Consulship I hardly escaped a scouring and much adoe I had to passe through the light fire of the flaming peoples doome and heavie censure wherein I was well scortched and halfe burnt I wish all may be well in the end Howbeit if any thing shall fall out otherwise than well I had rather hazard the pikes and darts of the enemies and leave my life behind me among them than put my selfe to be tried againe by the voices suffrages of angrie testie citizens Paulus had no sooner delivered this speech but as the report goeth he went forth on his journie the cheese LL. of the Senat accompanied him The other Commoner Consull was likewise attended of his favourites the Commons more looked on and gazed at for their multitude and number than regarded for the worth and qualitie of their persons So soone as they were arrived at the campe and that the new armie was intermingled with the old they devided the whole into two camps and ordred the matter so that the new which was the lesser should be neerer to Anniball and in the old the greater number and the whole strength and floure of the maine forces should be quartered Then they sent away to Rome M. Atilius the Consull of the former yeare who excused himselfe by reason of his old age and desired to be gone But they gave unto Cn. Servilius the charge and conduct of one Romane Legion and besides of two thousand horsemen and footemen of their allies in the lesser campe Anniball notwithstanding he well perceived that the power of his enemies was reenforced by one halfe more than before yet wonderous joyfull he was at the comming of these new Consuls For not onely he had nothing left him of victuals which from day to day he brevited for to serve his present neede and no more but also there was no more to be had and nothing remained for to fill his hands with by reason that after the territorie was not safe to travaile in the come from all parts was conveighed unto the strong walled townes and there laid up so that as afterwards it was knowne for certaine he had scarce corne ynough for to serve ten daies and the Spaniards by occasion of the dearth and want were at the point to revolt unto the Romans if they might but espie a good and commodious time therefore Over and besides to the inbred rashnesse and overhastie nature of the Consull fortune also ministred mater to confirme him therein For in a certaine tumultuarie skirmish to stop and impeach the forragers and boothalers of Anniball and which began rather by chaunce as the souldiors happened to encounter one another than upon any considerate counsell aforehand or by direction and commaundement from the Generals the Carthaginians had the soile went by the worse for of them there were 1700 slaine but of Romanes and Confederates not passing 100. And when in the traine of victorie they hotely followed the chase in disarray the Consull Paulus who that day had the absolute commaund for they governed by turnes each one his day restrained and staied them Varro thereat chaufed and frounsed crying out alowd That hee had let the enemie escape out of his hands and if he had not thus given over the pursuit the warre might have been ended at once Anniball tooke this losse and dammage nothing neere the heart but rather made full reckning that he had caught as it were with a bait and fleshed the audaciousnesse of the foolehastie Consull and of the new souldiours especially For he knew as well all that was done amongst the enemies as in his owne campe namely that the Generals were not sutable nor sorting one unto the other and that of three parts of the armie two in a manner were but rawe fresh and untrained souldiours And therefore supposing he had now gotten place and time favourable unto him to contrive and compasse some stratageme the night following he led forth his souldiors carying nothing about them but their armour and abandoned the campefull of all things as wel privat goods and furniture as publike provision and beyond the next hils he bestowed secretly in ambush his footmen well appointed in ordinance of battell on the left hand the horsemen on the right and conveighed all his cariages into the mids between the two flanks to the end that whiles the enemie was busied in rifling and ransaking the tents forlorne as it were and forsaken by the flight of the owners and masters he might surprise him laden encombred with bag and baggage He left behind him in the camp many fires burning to the end that the enemies shold verily thinke and beleeve that under a pretended shew of an armie in campe his purpose was to hold and keepe the Consuls amused still where they were whiles himselfe in the meane time might gaine more ground and escape further away like as he had plaied by Fabius the yere before When day light was come and the Coss. saw first that the standing gards were gone and perceived as they approched neerer an unwonted silence they marvailed much But after they discovered certainely that the campe was abandoned and no person remaining behind there was running of all hands who could run fastest to the pavilions