and even to their Tents yet would not Aratus bring the Citizens to the charge but posting himself in a hollow passage hindred them from passing on But Lysiades exrtemely vexed at all this and loading Aratus with reproaches intreated the horse that together with him they would second them that had the Enemy in Chase and not let a certain Victory slip out of their Hands nor forsake him that was going to Venture his Life for his Country And being now reinforc'd with many Stout men that turned after him he charg'd the Enemy's right Wing and routing it follow'd the pursuit hurry'd on without Fear or Wit by his Eagerness and Ambition into Crooked Ways full of Trees and broad Ditches where being ingag'd by Cleomenes he was Slain Fighting Gallantly at the very Entrance of his Country the rest flying back to their main Body and â—roubling their Ranks put the whole Army to the rout Aratus was extremely blamed for this Action suspected to have betrayed Lysiades and being constrain'd to retire with the Achaeans who returned in a Rage he followed them as far as Aegium where calling a Counsel that decreed that he should no longer be furnish'd with Mony nor have any more Soldiers hired for him but that if he Would make War he should pay them himself which Affront he resented so far as to resolve to give up the Seal and lay down the Office of General but upon second thoughts he thought it best to have Patience and afterwards marched with the Achaeans to Orchomenos to Fight with Megistonus the Father-in-law of Cleomenes where he got the Victory killing three hundred men and taking Megistonus Prisoner Now whereas he used to be chosen General every other year when his turn came he was call'd to take upon him that charge but he refused it and Timoxenus was chosen in his stead The true cause whereof was not the Pique he was suppos'd to have taken at the People but the ill Circumstances of the Achaean affairs For Cleomenes did not now invade them coldly and Cautelously as formerly as one Curb'd by the Magistrates of this City but having kill'd the Ephori equally divided the Lands and made many strangers free of the City was without controul in his Government and therefore fell in good earnest upon the Achaeans to bring them under his power Wherefore Aratus is much blamed that in a Stormy and tempestuous time like a cowardly Pilot he should forsake the Helm when he should rather have pressed whether they would or no to have saved the State or if he thought the Achaean affairs desperate to have yielded all up to Cleomenes and not to have exposed Peloponnesus to the Barbarous Macedonian Garrisons and fill'd Acro-Corinthus with Illyrick and Galatian Soldiers and under the specious name of Confederates to have made those Masters of the Cities whom he had been so great an Enemy to both by his Arms and Policy and in his Commentaries had branded with reproach and infamy and say that Cleomenes was arbitrary and Tyrannical yet was he descended from the Heraclidae and Sparta was his Country the obscurest Citizen whereof deserved to be preferred to the Generalship before the best of the Macedonians by those that had any regard to the Grecian Nobility Besides Cleomenes sued for that command over the Achaeans as one that would return the Honour of that Title with real kindnesses to the Cities whereas Antigonus being declared absolute General by Sea and Land would not accept thereof unless Acro-Corinthus were upon that Condition put into his hands following here in the Example of Aesops hunter for he would not get up and Ride the Achaeans who desired him so to do and offer'd their backs to him by Embassies and Popular degrees till by a Garrison and Hostages he had bitted and bridled them though Aratus does all he can to excuse this upon the account of pure necessity But Polybius writes that he long before this juncture apprehending the daring Temper of Cleomenes had a private conference with Antigonus and that he had before-hand prevail'd with the Megalopolitans to press the Achaeans to crave Aid from Antigonus for they were they most harrassed by the War Cleomenes continually Plundering and Ransacking their Country and so writeth also Phylarchus who unless seconded by the Testimony of Polybius would not be credited for he is most passionately partial to Cleomenes when ever he speaks of him and as if he was pleading not writing a History defends the one and accuses the other The Achaeans therefore lost Mantinea being recover'd by Cleomenes and being beaten in a great Fight near Hecatombaeum so general was the Consternation that they immediately sent to Cleomenes to desire him to come to Argos and take the the Government upon him But Aratus as soon as he understood that he was coming and was got as far as Lerna with his Army fearing the worst sent Ambassadors to him to intreat him to come accompany'd with three hundred only as to Friends and Confederates and if he mistrusted any thing he should receive Hostages but Cleomenes alledging that this was plain Mockery and Affront returned sending a Letter to the Achaeans full of Reproaches and Accusation against Aratus and he also wrote Letters against Cleomenes so that bitter Revilings and Railleries were bandied on both hands without sparing even their Marriages and Wives Hereupon Cleomenes sent a Herald to declare War against the Achaeans and in the mean time missed very narrowly of taking Sicyon by Treachery Turning from thence he stormed Pellene and took the City deserted by the Achaean General as he did Pheneon and Penteleon not long after upon which the Argives voluntarily joyned with him and the Phliasians received a Garrison and in short nothing held firm for the Achaeans but an universal Confusion surrounded Aratus who beheld all Peloponnesus shaken and the Cities Revolting by the practises of Innovators for no place was quiet or satisfied with the present condition so that amongst the Sicyonians and Corinthians themselves many were detected to have had private Conferences with Cleomenes who of a long time out of a desire to make themselves Masters of their several Cities had secretly malign'd the Government Aratus having absolute Power given him to bring these to condign Punishment executed as many of them as he could find at Sicyon but going about to find them out and Punish them at Corinth also he irritated the People already Sick and Weary of the Achaean Government Wherefore running Tumultuously to the Temple of Apollo they sent for Aratus resolving to take or kill him before they broke out into open Rebellion He came accordingly leading his Horse in his hand as if he suspected nothing Then several standing out and accusing him with Mild Words and a settled Countenance he commanded them to sit down and not to stand crying out upon him in so disorderly manner desiring also those that were about the Door to go
O Brutus that this day we may overcome and that all the rest of our time we may live a happy Life together But since the greatest of humane Concerns are the most uncertain and since it will be very difficult for us ever to see one another again if the Battel should go against us tell me what is your resolution concerning Flight and Death Brutus answer'd When I was young Cassius and unskilful in Affairs I was engaged I know not how into an Opinion of Philosophy which made me accuse Cato for killing himself as thinking it an irreligious act against the Gods nor any way valiant among Men not to submit to Divine Providence nor to be able fearlesly to receive and undergo whatever ill shall happen but to fly from it But now in the midst of danger I am quite of another mind for if Providence shall not dispose what we now undertake according to our wishes I resolve to try no faâ—ther hopes nor make any more preparations for War but will die contented with my Fortune For I already have given up my Life to the Service of my Country on the Ides of March and all the time that I have lived since has been with Liberty and Honour Cassius at these words smil'd and embracing Brutus said With these Resolutions let us go on upon the Enemy for either we our selves shall Conquer or have no cause to fear those that do After this they discoursed among their Friends about the Ordering of the Battel And Brutus desired of Cassius that he might Command the Right Wing though it was thought that this was more fit for Cassius in regard both of his Age and his Experience Yet even in this Cassius comply'd with Brutus and placed Messala with the valiantest of all his Legions in the same Wing Brutus immediately drew out his Horse excellently well equip'd and took the same care of bringing up his Foot after them Now Antony's Souldiers were casting a Trench from the Marsh by which they were encamped to cut off Cassius's passage to the Sea Caesar was at a distance in his Tent not being able to be present himself by reason of his Sickness but his Soldiers not expecting that the Enemy would come to a set Battel but only make some excursions with their Darts and light Arms to disturb those that were working in their Trenches nor taking enough notice of them that were coming directly upon them ready to give Battel were amaz'd when they heard the confus'd and the great out-cry that came from the Trenches In the mean while Brutus sent his Tickets in which was the Word of Battel to the Captains and himself riding about to all the Troops encouraged the Souldiers but there were but few of them that understood the Word before they engaged and the most of them not staying for it with great fury and shouting ran upon the Enemy This disorder caus'd a great confusion in the Army and the Legions were scatter'd and dispersed one from another That of Messala first and afterwards the next went beyond the left Wing of Caesar and having cut off and pass'd that Wing with the slaughter of not many of the Enemy fell directly into Caesar's Camp Octavius himself as his own Commentaries shew had but just before been conveyed away upon the perswasion of Artorius one of his Friends who had dreamt that he saw a Vision which commanded Caesar to be carried out of the Camp And it was believed that he was here slain for the Souldiers had pierc'd his Litter which was left empty in many places with their Darts and Pikes There was a great slaughter in the Camp that was taken and two thousand Lacedaemonians that were newly come to the Assistance of Caesar were all cut off together The rest of the Army that had not gone round by the left Wing of Caesar but had engaged his Front easily overthrew them being in great Consternation for the loss of their Camp and slew upon the place three Legions and being carried on with the stream of Victory pursuing those that fled fell into the Camp with them Brutus himself being there But they that were conquered took the Advantage of what the Conquerours did not consider for they fell upon that part of the main Body which they found shatter'd and unguarded the right Wing being broke off from them and furiously carried away in the pursuit yet they could not break into the midst of their Battel but were receiv'd with strong resistance and obstinacy Yet they put to flight the left Wing where Cassius commanded being in great disorder and ignorant of what had passed on the other Wing and pursuing 'em to their Camp they pillaged and destroyed it though neither of their Generals were present For Antony as they say to avoid the fury of the first On-set had retir'd into the Marsh that was hard by and Caesar was no where to be found after his being convey'd out of the Tents But some of the Souldiers shew'd Brutus their Swords bloody and pretended that they had kill'd him describing his Person and his Age. Now the midst of Brutus's Battel had routed all that resisted them with great slaughter and Brutus was every where as plainly Conquerour as on the other side Cassius was conquered And this one mistake was the ruine of their Affairs That Brutus did not come to the relief of Cassius thinking that he as well as himself was Conquerour and that Cassius did not expect the Relief of Brutus thinking that he too was overcome For a Proof that the Victory was on Brutus's side Messala urges his taking of three Eagles and many Ensigns of the Enemy without losing any of his own Brutus now returning from the pursuit after having destroyed Caesar's Camp wonder'd that he could not see Cassius's Tent standing high as it was wont and appearing above the rest nor any of the others appearing round about it For they were immediately overturn'd and pillaged by the Enemy upon their first falling into the Camp But some that had a more quick and discerning sight than the rest acquainted Brutus that they saw a great deal of shining Armour and Silver Targets moving to and fro about Cassius's Tents and that they thought that by their Number and their Armour they could not be those that they left to Guard the Camp but yet that there did not appear so great a number of dead Bodies thereabouts as is probable would have been after the defeat of so many Legions This first made Brutus suspect Cassius's Misfortune and leaving a Guard in the Enemies Tent call'd back those that were in the pursuit and rallyed 'em together to lead 'em to the relief of Cassius who was now in this condition First he was angry at the first On-set that Brutus his Souldiers made without the Word of Battel or Command to Charge Then after they had overcome he was as much displeased to see them all rush on to the Plunder and Spoil and neglect to
Parysatis hating Statira and being naturally implicable and savage in her anger and revenge she consulted how she might destroy her But since Dinon has left it upon Record that her bloody project took effect in the time of War and Ctesias after it I shall not quarrel the Chronology of the latter it being very unlikely that he who was a Spectator of the whole Scene of affairs should not know where to fix the Aera of one so considerable Nor indeed had he any cause designedly to misplace its date in his Narrative of it though in his History upon other occasions he frequently makes excursions from truth to meer Fiction and Romance Now as Cyrus was upon the march towards the Court tidings were brought him as though the King did deliberate about it and were not in haste to fight and presently to joyn battle with him but to wait in the heart of his Kingdom till there should be a general confluence of his Forces thither from all parts of his Dominions And to convince him of this news he had cast a Trench in his way ten fadoms in breadth and as many in depth the length of it being no less than four hundred furlongs Nor did he regard Cyrus after he had pass'd over it being within that place for which it was made a fence till he had advanc'd almost to the City of Babylon Then Tiribazus as the report goes being the first that was so hardy to tell his Majesty that he ought not to defer the conflict nor quitting Medea Babylon and Susa poorly to skulk in Persea as having an Army far more numerous than his Enemies and an infinite Company both of Nobles and Captains that were greater Soldiers and Politicians than Cyrus himself he resolv'd to begin the fight as soon as 't was possible for him Thereupon at first and in an instant appearing gloriously at the head of nine hundred thousand well marshall'd men he so startl'd and surpris'd the Rebels who with a boldness equal to their contempt march'd against him neither in order nor well arm'd that Cyrus with much noise and tumult was scarce able to range and compose them Then the King leading on his men silently and by leisure made the Grecians stand amaz'd at his good discipline who expected irregular shouting and leaping a huge confusion and distraction in so infinite a multitude as that was He also wisely plac'd the choice of his armed Chariots in the Front of his own Phalanx over against the Grecian Troops that by the fierceness of their onset they might cut down their ranks before they clos'd with them But forasmuch as this battle hath been describ'd by many Historians and particularly by Xenophon who represents it to the eye by pointing at things not as tho' past but present and by his lively draught of it engages his hearer when recited in a seeming concern and danger it would be folly in me to give any larger account of it then barely to mention those things which he has omitted and yet deserve to be recorded The place then in which the two Armies were drawn out for the fight was call'd Cunaxa being about five hundred furlongs distant from Babylon where Clearchus beseeching Cyrus before the dispute to retire behind the Battalion of Macedonians and not expose himself to hazard for his honour they say he thus replied What strange advice is this Clearchus Would you have me who aspire to the Empire appear to all these unworthy of it But as Cyrus's offence was in rushing headlong into the midst of dangers and not keeping aloof from what threatned him with ruine so Clearchus was as much too blame if not more who refus'd with his men to confront the main body of the Enemy where the King stood and joyn'd his right wing to the River for fear he should be surrounded For aiming altogether at safety and desiring nothing but to sleep in a whole Skin it had been his best way not to have stirred from home But he having come armed a vast distance from the Sea-coast no other thing inducing him to it but that he might settle Cyrus in the Imperial Throne and yet afterwards looking out for a Place and Station wherein he took footing not that he might preserve him under whose pay and conduct he was but that he might himself engage with more ease and security seem'd much like one that through fear of present dangers had quitted the consideration of his all at stake and been false to the design of his expedition For it is evident from the very event of the battle that none of those who were in array round the Kings person were able to stand the Shock of the Grecians Charge and had they been beaten out of the Field and Artaxerxes either fled or fallen that Cyrus by his conquest had purchas'd not only safety but a Crown And therefore Clearchus is more to be condemned for his caution which was manifestly the destruction of the Life and Fortune of Cyrus than he could be for his heat and rashness For had the King made it his business to discover a place where having posted the Grecians he might incounter them with the least hazard he would never have found out any other but that which was most remote from himself and those near him from whence when he was routed he was insensible of it and tho' Clearchus had the Victory yet Cyrus being ignorant of it made no advantage of it before his fall Yet he knew well enough what was expedient to be done and accordingly commanded Clearchus with his men to stand in the middle of his Forces Who when he had reply'd that it should be as well manag'd as possible afterwards spoiled all For the Grecians where they were hew'd down the Barbarians till they were weary and chas'd them successfully a very great way But Cyrus being mounted upon a fierce head-strong and unlucky Horse as Ctesias says call'd Pasacas Artagerses the Leader of the Cadusians galloped up to him crying aloud O thou most unjust and senseless wretch who art a reproach to that most August and Honourable Name among the Perseans Cyrus thou art come leading on the renowned Grecians in an ominous Voyage to the plunder of thy Countrymen Thou fondly hopest too unnatural Traitour as thou art to destroy thy Sovereign and Brother who as thou shalt soon experimentally perceive is master of ten thousand times ten thousand better men than thou art For thou shalt certainly here lose thy head before thou seest the face of our King which when he had said he cast his Javelin at him But his Coat of male stoutly repelled it and Cyrus was not wounded yet the stroke falling heavy upon him he reel'd upon his Steed Then Artagerses turning his Horse Cyrus luckily threw a Dart and struck the point of it through his neck near the Shoulder-bone So that thereupon it is indeed almost universally own'd that Artagerses was slain by him Now as to the death
surround and encompass the rest of the Enemy Besides this by his own delay and slowness more than by the briskness and conduct of the Captains of the other side he found himself hem'd in by the Right Wing of the Enemy and all his Horse making with all hast their escape and flying towards the Sea the Foot also began to fly which he perceiving labour'd as much as ever he could to hinder their flight and bring them back and snatching an Ensign out of the Hand of one that fled he stuck it at his Feet though he could hardly keep even his own Praetorian Band together So that at last he was forc'd to fly with a few about him to a little Hill that over-looked all the Plain But he himself being weak sighted discover'd nothing only the destruction of his Camp and that with much difficulty but they that were with him saw a great Body of Horse sent by Brutus moving towards him Cassius believ'd these were Enemies and in pursuit of him and sent away Titinius one of those that was with him to learn what they were As soon as Brutus's Horse saw him coming and knew him to be a Friend and a faithful Servant of Cassius those of them that were his more familiar Acquaintance shouting out for joy and alighting from their Horses saluted and embraced him and the rest rode round about him in great Triumph and Noise through their excess of gladness at sight of him But this was the occasion of the greatest mischief that could be For Cassius really thought that Titinius had been taken by the Enemy and cry'd out Through too much fondness of Life I have liv'd to endure the sight of my Friend taken by the Enemy before my face After which words he retir'd into a private Tent taking along with him only Pindarus one of his freed-men whom he had reserved for such an Occasion ever since the unhappy Battel against the Parthians where Crassus was slain But he escaped that Misfortune but now wrapping his loose Garment about his Head he made his Neck bare and held it forth to Pindarus commanding him to strike and his Head was found lying severed from his Body but no Man ever saw Pindarus after this Murther from which some suspected that he had kill'd his Master without his Command Soon after they perceived who the Horse-men were and saw Titinius crown'd with Garlands making what hast he could towards Cassius But as soon as he understood by the Cries and Lamentations of his afflicted Friends the unfortunate error and death of his General he drew his Sword and having very much accused and upbraided his own long stay that had caused it he slew himself Brutus as soon as he was assur'd of the Defeat of Cassius made haste to him but heard nothing of his Death till he came near his Camp Then having lamented over his Body calling him The last of all the Romans saying That it was impossible that the City should ever produce another man of so great a Spirit He sent away the Body to be buried at Thassus lest celebrating his Funeral within the Camp might breed some disorder He then gathered his Souldiers together and comforted them and seeing them destitute of all things necessary he promis'd to every Man 2000 Drachma's in recompence of what he had lost They at these words took courage and were astonish'd at the Magnificence of the gift and waited upon him at his parting with shouts and praises magnifying him for the only General of all the four who was not overcome in the Battel And indeed he prov'd by his Actions that it was not without reason he believ'd he should Conquer for with a few Legions he overthrew all that resisted him and if all his Soldiers had fought and the most of them had not past beyond the Enemy in pursuit of the Plunder it is very likely that he had utterly defeated them all There fell of his side eight thousand Men reckoning the Servants of the Army whom Brutus call'd Brigas And on the other side Messala says his Opinion is that there were slain above twice that number for which reason they were more out of Heart than Brutus till a Servant of Cassius named Demetrius came in the Evening to Antony and brought to him the Garment which he had taken from his Master 's dead Body and his Sword At the sight of which they were so encouraged that as soon as it was Morning they drew out their whole Force into the Field and stood in Battel-Array against Brutus But Brutus found both his Camps wavering and in disorder for his own being fill'd with Prisoners requir'd a Guard more strict than ordinary over 'em and that of Cassius was much discontented at the change of their General besides some Envy and Hatred which those that were conquer'd bore to that part of the Army which were Conquerours wherefore he thought it convenient to put his Army in Array but to abstain as much as he could from fighting All the Slaves that were taken Prisoners of which there was a great number that behav'd themselves not without suspicion among the Souldiers he commanded to be slain but of the Free-men and Citizens some he dismiss'd saying That among the Enemy they were rather Prisoners than with him for with them they were Captives and Slaves but with him Free-men and Citizens of Rome Others he was forced to hide and help them to escape privately perceiving that some of his Friends and Commanders were implacably bent upon Revenge against them Among the Captives there was one Volumnius a Mimick and Sacculio a Buffoon of these Brutus took no manner of notice but his Friends brought them before him and accused them that even then in that condition they did not refrain from their abusive Jests and scurrillous Language Brutus having his Mind taken up with other Affairs said nothing to their Accusation but the judgment of Messala Corvinus was That they should be whip'd publickly upon a Scaffold and so sent naked to the Captains of the Enemy to shew 'em what sort of Fellow-drinkers and Companions were fit for such Warriours At this some that were present laughed but Publius Casca he that gave the first Wound to Caesar said That it was not decent to jest and make so merry at the Funerals of Cassius But thou O Brutus says he will shew what esteem you have for the memory of that General in punishing or preserving those that scoff'd and spoke abusively of him To this Brutus with great indignation reply'd Why then Casca do you tell me of this and not do your self what you think fitting This Answer of Brutus was taken for his consent to the death of these wretched Men so they were carried away and slain After this he gave the Souldiers the Reward that he had promis'd them and having slightly reprov'd 'em for having fallen upon the Enemy in disorder without the Word of Battel or Command He promis'd 'em that if they behav'd
themselves bravely in the next Engagement he would give them up two Cities to spoil and plunder Thessalonica and Lacedaemon This is the only inexcusable fault in the Life of Brutus though Antony and Caesar were much more cruel in the Rewards that they gave to their Souldiers after Victory For they drove out almost all the old Inhabitants of Italy to put their Souldiers in possession of other Mens Lands and Cities but indeed their only design and end in undertaking the War was to obtain Dominion and Empire But Brutus for the reputation of his Vertue could not either overcome or save himself but with Justice and Honour especially after the death of Cassius who was generally accus'd of putting Brutus upon several violent and cruel Actions But now as in a Ship when the Rudder is broken by a Storm the Mariners fit and nail on some other piece of Wood instead of it striving against the danger not so well as before but as well as in that necessity they can So Brutus being at the Head of so great an Army and engaged in such weighty Affairs and having no Commander equal to Cassius was forc'd to make use of those that he had and to do and to say many things according to their Advice which he chiefly follow'd in whatever might conduce to the bringing of Cassius's Souldiers into better Order For they were very head-strong and intractable bold and insolent in the Camp for want of their General but in the Field cowardly and fearful remembring that they had been beaten Neither were the Affairs of Caesar and Antony in any better posture for they were streightned for Provision and the Camp being in a low Ground they expected to endure a very hard Winter For being encompass'd with Marshes and a great quantity of Rain as is usual in Autumn having fallen after the Battel their Tents were all fill'd with Mire and Water which through the coldness of the Weather immediately froze And while they were in this condition there was News brought to them of their loss at Sea For Brutus's Fleet fell upon their Ships which were bringing a great supply of Souldiers out of Italy and so entirely defeated 'em that but very few escaped being slain and they too were forc'd by Famine to feed upon the Sails and Tackle of the Ship As soon as they heard this they made what hast they could to come to the decision of a Battel before Brutus should have notice of his good Success For it happen'd that the Fight both by Sea and Land was on the same day But by some misfortune rather than the fault of his Commanders Brutus knew not of his Victory till twenty days after For had he been informed of this he would not have been brought to a second Battel since he had sufficient Provisions for his Army for a long time and was very advantageously posted his Camp being safe from the injuries of the Weather and almost inaccessible to the Enemy And his being absolute Master of the Sea and having at Land overcome on that side wherein he himself was engag'd would have mightily encourag'd him But it seems the state of Rome not enduring any longer to be govern'd by Many but necessarily requiring a Monarchy Providence that it might remove out of the way the only Man that was able to resist him that was destin'd to this Empire cut off this good Fortune from coming to the ears of Brutus Tho it came but a very little too late For the very Evening before the Fight Clodius a deserter from the Enemy came and told him that Caesar had receiv'd advice of the loss of his Fleet and for that reason was in such hast to come to a Battel This Relation met with no Credit neither would Brutus so much as admit him to his Presence but utterly despis'd him as one that had had no good Information or one that had invented Lyes to please him and bring himself into favour The same Night they say the Vision appear'd again to Brutus in the same shape that it did before but vanish'd away without speaking But Publius Volumnius a Man given to the study of Philosophy and one that had from the beginning born Arms with Brutus makes no mention of this Apparition but says that the first Standard was cover'd with a swarm of Bees and that there was one of the Captains whose Arm of it self sweated Oyl of Roses and though they often dryed and wiped it yet it would not cease And that immediately before the Battel two Eagles falling upon each other fought in the space between the two Armies that the whole Field kept incredible silence and all were intent upon the Spectacle till at last that which was on Brutus's side yielded and fled But the story of the Ethiopian is very famous who meeting the Standard-bearer at the opening the Gate of the Camp was cut to pieces by the Souldiers that took it for an ill Omen Brutus having brought his Army into the Field and set 'em in Array against the Enemy he paus'd a long while before he would fight for examining his Army he began to have some suspicions of some of them and others were accus'd to him Besides he saw his Horse begin the Fight not with any great Vigour or Resolution but still expecting what the Foot would do then suddenly Camulatius a very good Souldier and one whom for his Valour he highly esteem'd riding hard by Brutus himself went over to the Enemy the sight of which griev'd Brutus exceedingly So that partly out of Anger and partly out of fear of some greater Treason and Desertion he immediately drew on his Forces upon the Enemy after Three of the Clock in the Afternoon Brutus on his side had the better violently charging the Enemies lest Wing which gave way and retreated and the Horse too fell in together with the Foot when they saw them amaz'd and in disorder But the other Wing when the Captains order'd them to march on to the Fight fearing to be encompass'd being fewer in number than their Adversaries spread themselves and widen'd the middle of their Battel by which being weakned they could not withstand the Charge but at the first On-set fled After their defeat the Enemy surrounded Brutus behind who all the while performed all that was possible for an expert General and valiant Souldier shewing in the greatest danger a Courage and a Conduct that deserv'd to Overcome But that which was advantageous to him in the former Fight was much to his prejudice in this second For in the first Fight that part which was beaten was presently cut in pieces but in this of Cassius's Souldiers that fled few were slain and those that escaped daunted with being beaten put the greatest part of the Army when they came to joyn with them into Despair and Confusion Here Marcus the Son of Cato was slain fighting and behaving himself with great bravery in the midst of the Youth of the greatest Quality
drew off his Troops and began to retreat in the best order that he could but the Morning quickly appearing Seleucus followed hard upon his Rear and obliged him to a disadvantageous Encounter Demetrius having drawn his Army into Order and given the Command of one half of his Troops to one of his most expert Captains with the other he in Person charged so furiously that he forced his Enemies to give Ground But Seleucus lighting from his Horse and covering his Arm with a Target advanced to the foremost Ranks and having put up the Vizor of his Helmet that he might be known he addressed himself to the Souldiers of Demetrius exhorting them to lay down their Arms and not desperately throw away their Lives telling them withal that it was for their sakes only that he had so long forborn coming to Extremities And thereupon without a Blow more these perfidious Mercenaries submitted and saluted Seleucus as their King Demetrius who in the whole course of his Life had been accustomed to strange Turns from thence drew a hope that he should weather this Storm also and therefore with the slender attendance of his Friends he fled to the Mountain Amanus where in a thick and spacious Wood he secured himself resolving under the Mantle of the Night to make his Escape towards Caunus where he hoped to find his Shipping ready to transport him But upon Enquiry finding that they had not provisions for more than one day that Design was quash'd and he began to think of some other Project whilst he was rowling over a thousand irresolute Thoughts his Friend Sosigenes arrived who had four hundred Pieces of Gold about him and with this little Relief he again re-assumed his first Resolution and Hopes to recover the Coast so soon as it began to be dark he set forward towards the Mountains but perceiving by their Fires that the Enemies had possessed themselves of all the Passages and that it was impossible for him to pass undiscovered he retreated to his old Station in the Wood but not with all his Troop for divers had deserted him and the little Remainder were extremely dejected and disheartned so that some of them began to talk of rendring themselves and Demetrius to Seleucus as the only Means left them for their Safety Which Demetrius over-hearing he drew out his Sword and had infallibly passed it through his own Heart but that some of his Friends interposing prevented the fatal Attempt and began to persuade him that it was much more manly to try the Generosity of Seleucus and to reserve his Life for a better Destiny and â—uture Hopes and with these Arguments but principally by irresistable necessity he suffered himself to be overcome and therefore dispatched some of his Attendants to Seleucus to let him know that he was willing to surrender himself and his Friends to his Generosity and Mercy Seleucus transported at this News cried out It is not the good Fortune of Demetrius which hath found out this Expedient for his Safety but my own which I esteem the greatest favour she ever did me since thereby she hath given me opportunity to shew my Clemency and Generosity And instantly he gave Order to his Domestick Officers to prepare a Royal Pavillion and all things suitable for the splendid Reception and Entertainment of Demetrius There was in the Court of Seleucus one Apollonides who formerly had been intimately known to Demetrius he was therefore as the fittest Person dispatched from the King to attend Demetrius and to desire him to dissipate all manner of fear and distrust and to give him assurance that Seleucus was resolved to treat him with all the Honour due to a King and the kindness of a Relation No sooner was this message known but all the principal Courtiers and Officers of Seleucus thinking Demetrius would presently become a great favourite with the King made hast to congratulate with Demetrius and kiss his hand but this ill tim'd application and over officiousness proved very mischievous to that poor Prince for it gave occasion to his Enemies to insinuate to Seleucus that this Usage of Demetrius was a most dangerous Civility and that his presence might have very fatal influences upon the Army the Officers shewing more inclination to him already than was consistent with their Duty or the safety of Seleucus which representations made such impressions upon the spirit of Seleucus as produced different sentiments and resolutions from the former For whilest Apollonides and after him many others were relating to Demetrius the kind expressions of Seleucus and the Orders he had given and that poor Prince who before thought this Rendition of himself the greatest misfortune of his Life now began in his thoughts to applaud the Action and to flatter himself with vain hopes Pausanias with a Guard of a thousand Horse and Foot amidst all the Caresses of his Friends came and by order from the King seized him and carried him not as he hoped as a Prince to the Presence of Seleucus but a Prisoner to the Castle of Chersonesus in Syria where he was committed to the safe Custody of a strong Guard It is true he wanted nothing but Liberty for by the command of Seleucus he had a most liberal allowance for himself and retinue he had the liberty of a curious Garden and delightful Walks and was for his Exercise permitted the Freedom of hunting in a large Park excellently stored with Game of all sorts and had Horses likewise provided for his diversion and for his Chariots and to make his life more easie such of his Servants as were willing to follow his Fortune had the freedom of attending upon his Person continual messages of kindness also from time to time were brought him from Seleucus requesting him to support the present Restraint of his Liberty chearfully assuring him that so soon as Antiochus and Stratonice should arrive at the Court the Conditions and Articles of restoring him to his Liberty should be perfected But Demetrius had learnt to give little credit to these deluding pretences and therefore so soon as he was fallen into the misfortune of this Captivity he sent Express command to his Son Antigonus and to his Captains and Friends at Athens and Corinth that they should give no manner of credit to any Letters written to them in his name though they were sealed with his own Signet but that looking upon him as if he were already dead they should reserve what was left of his Empire for Antigonus and esteem him as their lawful King As for Antigonus he received the sad news of his Father's Captivity with all the Testimonies of a most afflictive sorrow he put himself into deep mourning and writ the most passionate and tender Letters to Seleucus and the rest of the Kings that his grief could dictate he offered not only whatever they had left in the World but himself to be a Hostage for the Liberty of the King his Father Several other Princes and divers
although he had invested several private persons in great Governments and Kingdoms and bereaved many Kings of theirs as Antigonus of Judea whose head he caused to be struck off the first crown'd head that ever suffer'd that opprobrious death Yet nothing was so grievous to the Romans as the vile profusions he made upon that Woman and their dissatisfaction was much augmented by giving the Sirnames of the Sun Moon to Alexander and Cleopatra Twins born to him by her But he who knew how to varnish over the most dishonest Action with specious colours would say that the greatness of the Roman Empire consisted more in giving than in taking Kingdoms and that the Noble Blood of Kings was communicated to all the World when they left their Off-spring in every place they came and that by this means he had the honour to descend from Hercules who never recommended the hopes of his Posterity to the guard of any one Woman nor feared to transgress the Laws of Solon in order to observe the great Dictates of Nature which gives such lively instruction towards the continuance of our Race After Phraortes had killed his Father Herod and taken possession of his Kingdom many of the Parthian Nobility left their Country among the rest Moneses a Nobleman of great Authority who making his application to Antony was received with great kindness for he look'd upon him as one in the Circumstances of Themistocles and his own Fortune considering his great Wealth was comparable to the Persian Kings for he gave him three Cities Larissa Arethusa and Hierapolis which was formerly called Bombyce But the King of Parthia did soon recall him giving him his Word and Honour for his Safety and Antony was not unwilling to give him leave to return hoping thereby to surprize Phráortes for he sent him word he would remain his Friend upon condition he would send back the Roman Standards and Ensigns which were taken hy the Parthians when Crassus was slain and withall the Prisoners that remained yet alive of that Battel This done he sent Cleopatra into Egypt and gathering his Forces together and joyning the associate Kings for there were many of them the most considerable was Artuasdes King of Armenia who came at the head of six thousand Horse and seven thousand Foot he made a general Muster there appeared sixty thousand Roman Foot ten thousand Horse consisting of Spannâ—rds and Gauls who were esteem'd of as Romans of other Nations horse and Foot thirty thousand and these great Preparations that made India tremble and put all Asia into a consternation were of no use to him because of Cleopatra for in order to pass the Winter with her every thing was done in haste he was so charm'd and bewitch'd with the Thoughts of his Mistress that his Soul was employ'd in overcoming the Difficulties that kept him from her more than in any design of vanquishing the Enemy for whereas he should have taken up his Winter-Quarters in Armenia to refresh his Men who were tired with long Marches having come at least five hundred Leagues and then to have taken the advantage in the beginning of the Spring to invade Media before the Parthians were drawn out of Garrison he had not patience to expect his time but march'd into the Province of Atropatene leaving Armenia on the right hand and laying waste all that Country his haste was so great that he left behind all the Engines of Battery which follow'd the Camp in three hundred Chariots among the other Engines there was a Ram of fourscore foot long which was of great use in his Designs and it was impossible if they were either lost or endamaged to repair them or make the like for the Proâ—inces of the upper Asia produce not Trees long or strait enough for such Uses nevertheless he left them all behind as a great impediment to the Designs he had then projected so that he had left a Party commanded by Tatianus to guard them and he himself laid Siege to Phraata the principal City of the King of Media wherein were that King's Wife and Children Here it was that he was soon made sensible of the Errour he committed in leaving the battering Rams behind him for not having wherewithal to make a Breach he was constrained with infinite pains to cast up a Mount of Earth against the Wall during the Siege Phraortes arrives with a great Army who understanding that the Chariots were left behind with the battering Engines he sent thither a strong Party of Horse by which Tatianus with ten thousand Horse are flain the Engines all broke in pieces many taken Prisoners and among the rest King Polemon This great Miscarriage in the opening the Campagne did much discourage Antony's Army and Artuasdes King of Armenia despairing of any better Success withdrew himself with all his Forces from the Roman Camp although he had been the chief Promoter of the War The Parthians encouraged by this Success came up to the Romans at the Siege of their Royal City and gave them many Affronts upon which Antony fearing that the Souldiers might lose Courage or have a less esteem of him if he lay idle he with all the Horse three Pretorian Cohorts and ten Legions was resolved to go out and forrage designing by this means to draw the Enemy with more advantage to a Battel and to effect this he marched a Day 's Journey from hiâ— Camp which did bring the Parthians to a Battel who were drawn up in readiness to charge him so soon as he should march he orders therefore the Tents and Baggage to be pack'd up as if his intention were to decline the giving Battel and only to lead his Men back to the Camp The Enemy was drawn up in a Half-Moon and Antony had given order to the Horse to charge them briskly so soon as the Legions were come up nigh enough to second them The Parthians standing still while the Romans march'd by them were in great admiration of their man-like Behaviour and exact Discipline nothing could be more just than the distance which was kept between the Ranks and the shaking their Pikes as they pass'd by in a profound silence was very graceful but when the Signal was given the Horse turn'd short upon the Parthians and with loud Cries charg'd them home they were bravely receiv'd at first but the Legions coming up with loud shouts and ratling of their Arms did so frighten the Horses and soon the Parthians themselves that they could keep their ground no longer Antony press'd them hard in great hopes that this Victory should give an end to the War the Foot had them in pursuit three Leagues and the Horse nine and the Advantage summ'd up they had but thirty Prisoners and there was but fourscore slain This was a great discouragement to them to consider that when they were victorious their Advantage was so small and that when they were beaten they lost so great a number of Men as it happened when the
but Gallus charging the enemies in the Front was encompass'd by a Party that fell upon his Rear which at length perceiving he sent a Messenger to demand succour but they that commanded the Legions among which was Canidius a particular Favourite of Antony's seem'd to have committed a great oversight for instead of marching up with the whole Army they sent small Parties and when they were defeated they still sent out small Parties so that by their ill management the whole Army was in danger of being routed which had certainly happen'd if Antony himself had not march'd from the front of the main Battel at the head of the third Legion which passing through them that fled fac'd the Enemies hindred them from any farther pursuit In this Engagement were killed three thousand five thousand were carried back to the Camp the wounded amongst the rest Gallus shot through the Body with four Arrows of which wounds he died Antony went from Tent to Tent to visit and comfort the wounded and was not able to see his men without weeping but they would take him by the hand chearfully and intreat him to go and get his own Wounds dress'd and not concern himself for them calling him their Emperour and their General and that if he did well they were safe For in short never since that time can Fame make mention of a General at the Head of so gallant a Body of Men whether you consider Strength and Youth or Patience and Sufferance in all Labours and Fatigues but as for the exact Obedience and particular Respect they bore their General that good will and perfect Friendship that was so universal in the Army amongst Small and Great Nobles and Peasants Officers and common Souldiers so affectionate and so devoted to him as to preferr his good Opinion of them to their very Lives and Being that in this part of Military Discipline I may boldly say they equall'd the Glory and Reputation of ancient Rome Of which Love as I have said before many were the Reasons as the Nobility and Antiquity of his Family his Eloquence his Behaviour his Liberality and Magnificence his Familiarity in entertaining every Body and particularly his Kindness in assisting visiting and bewailing the sick furnishing them with all things necessary that the poor Wretches that were sick and wounded were as heartily disposed to serve as those that enjoy'd their Health and Vigour But this last Victory had so encouraged the Enemy that they began to despise the Romans staying all night on horseback nigh the Camp in expectation of Plundering their Tents and Baggage which they concluded they must desert as a great impediment in their flight and in the morning new Forces arrived that their number was grown to be at least 40000 Horse The King having sent Guards that attended upon his own Person as to a sure and unquestion'd Victory for he himself was never present in fight Antony designing to harangue the Souldiers call'd for his mourning-habit that he might move them the more but he was persuaded by his Friends to put on the habit of General In his Speech he gave great commendations to them that had gain'd the victory as for those that fled he blam'd them much the former gave him great Encouragement in their brave Promises and the latter excusing themselves as well as they could told him they were ready to undergo decimation or if there were any other punishment he would please to inflict upon them they did submit chearfully only intreating that he would forget and not discompose himself with their faults at which he lifted up his hands to Heaven and prayed the Gods that if to balance the great favours he had received of them any judgment lay in store that they would pour it upon his head alone and grant that Army victory The next day they took better order for their march and the Parthians who thought they were marching rather to plunder than to fight were surpriz'd to find the enemy not disheartened but fresh and resolute so that they themselves began to lose courage but for all this at the descent of a little Hill where the Romans were oblig'd to pass the Parthians got together and let fly their arrows in great showers upon them and by reason of the difficulty of the way their march was very slow Here the Legions that were arm'd at all points were order'd to defend on each side the light arm'd by kneeling down on their knees aâ—d holding their shields stooping over them the next rank holding theirs over the first and so onwards that the army in this figure did much resemble the order that is observable in the tiling of a House or the degrees in a Theatre and is a sure defence against Arrows which glance upon them without doing any harm The Parthians seeing the Romans down upon their knees could not imagine but that it must proceed from weariness so that they laid down their Bows and taking their Spears made a fierce onset when the Romans with a great cry leaped upon their Legs and with their Lances slew the foremost and put the rest to flight After this rate it was every day and the trouble they gave Antony was so vexatious that his marches were short by reason of which the famine was very great in the Camp for they could get but little Corn and that which they got they were forc'd to fight for and besides this they were in great want of Instruments to grind their Corn and make their Bread they had left them behind the baggage horses being dead or otherwise employed in carrying the sick and wounded Provision was so scarce in the Army that half a Peck of Wheat was sold for five Crowns and Oats for the weight in Silver they were brought to feed upon Herbs and Roots such as are commonly eaten were very scarce so that they were constrain'd to venture upon any they found among others they happen'd upon an Herb that was mortal which did first take away all sense and understanding He that had eaten of it remembred nothing in the World and employed himself wholly in removing of stones from one place to another which he did with as much earnestness and industry as if it had been a business of the greatest consequence and required dispatch through all the Camp there was nothing to be seen but Men grubling upon the ground for stones which they carried from one place to another but in the end after having vomited much Choler they fell down dead and chiefly this when their Wine began to fail which was a sovereign remedy against this distemper When Antony saw them die so fast and the Parthian still in pursuit he was heard to cry out O the ten Thousand the ten Thousand In remembrance of the famous retreat of Xenophon who when he had a longer journey to make from Babylon and a more powerful enemy to deal with brought his Men home safe The Parthians finding that they could not
he was bred up by restoring its Liberty and to add so considerable a Town to the Achaeans Nor were there some wanting who had the courage to undertake the thing of which Aeschylus and Charimenes the Southsayer were the chief but they wanted Swords for the Tyrant had prohibited the keeping of any under a great penalty wherefore Aratus having provided some small daggers at Corinth and hiding them in the pack-saddles of the pack-horses that carried ordinary ware he sent them to Argos But Charimenes letting in another person into the design Aeschylus and his Partners being angry at it cast him off also resolving to execute the business by themselves which he discovering in a great rage went and detected them just as they were going to kill the Tyrant however the most of them made a shift to escape to Corinth Not long after Aristomacus was stain by his Servants and Aristippus a worse Tyrant than he seis'd the Government upon which Aratus mustering all the Achaeans that were of age hasted away to the aid of the City believing that he should find the Argives very ready to join with him but the people being accustomed to Slavery and none appearing to receive him he retreated giving thereby occasion to accuse the Achaeans of committing acts of Hostility in the midst of Peace upon which account they were Sued in the Court of the Mantmaeans and Aratus not making his Appearance Aristippus Cast them and had Costs given him to the value of Thirty Minae And now Hating and Fearing Aratus he sought means to kill him having the assistance and good wishes of King Antigonus so that he was perpetually dogg'd and watch'd by those that waited for an opportunity to dispatch him But the surest Guard of a Prince is the good will of his Subjects for where the Nobility and Common People are not afraid of but for their Governour he sees with many Eyes and hears with many Ears whatsoever is a doing wherefore I cannot but here digress a little from the course of my Narrative to describe that manner of Life which they so much envied Arbitrary power and the so much celebrated and admired pomp of uncontroled government oblig'd Aristippus to lead for tho' Antigonus was his Friend and allye and that he had a numerous Life-guard and hath not left one Enemy of his alive in the City yet was he forced to make his Guards watch without in the Basse-Court and for his Servants he turned them all out immediately after Supper and then shutting the doors upon them he crept up into a small Chamber together with his Wench through a trap-door upon which he placed his bed and there slept after such a fashion as one in his Condition can be supposed to sleep that is interruptedly and in great fear The Ladder was taken away by his Wenches Mother and lockt up in another Room which in the Morning she brought again and putting it to called up this Brave and Wonderful Tyrant who came creeping out like some Snake from his hole whereas Aratus not by force of Armes but Lawfully and by his Vertue having obtain'd a firmly setled Command wearing an ordinary Garment and Cloak being the common and declared Enemy of all Tyrants hath left behind him a noble off-spring remaining among the Grecians to this day but of those that usurped strong Castles maintained Life-guards fenced themselves with Arms Gates and Bolts most like poor Hares died a violent Death without either Family or honourable Monument to preserve their memory Against this Aristippus therefore Aratus made many open and secret attempts whilest he endeavoured to take Argos though without success and particularly clapping scaling Ladders one night to the wall he desperately got up upon it with a few of his Soldiers and killed the Guards that opposed him But the day appearing the Tyrant set upon him on all hands whilest the Argives as if it had not been their Liberty that was contended for but were about to distribute the Nemaean Prizes like equal and just Spectators sat looking on in great quietness Aratus fighting lustily was run through the thigh with a Lance yet he maintain'd his ground against the Enemy till night and had he held out that night also he had gain'd his point for the Tyrant thought of nothing but flying and had already ship'd most of his goods But Aratus having no intelligence thereof and wanting water being disabled himself by his wound retreated with his Soldiers and despairing to do any good this way fell openly with his Army into Argolis and plunder'd it and joyning battle with Aristippus near the River Chares he is accused to have withdrawn out of the fight and thereby abandon'd the Victory For whereas one part of his Army had apparently got the better and was pursuing the Enemy at a good distance from him yet retreated he in great disorder into his Camp not so much because he was overpressed by the Enemy on his Wing as despairing of success and through a Panick Fear But when the other Wing returning from the pursuit showed themselves extremely vexed that though they had put the Enemy to flight and killed many more of his men than they had lost yet those that were in a manner conquered should erect a Trophy as Conquerors being much asham'd he resolv'd to sight them again about the Trophy and the next day but one drew up his Army to give them battle but perceiving that they were reinforc'd with fresh Troops and came on with better courage than before he durst not hazard a Fight but desiring a Truce to bury his dead retreated however by his dexterity in managing all affairs with great Obligingness and Courtesy and by his general Favour he not only excus'd and obliterated this Fault but also brought in the Cleonaeans to the Achaean Association and celebrated the Nemaean Games at Cleonae as properly and most antiently belonging unto them These Games were also celebrated by the Argives at the same time which gave the first occasion to the violation of the priviledge of safe Conduct and immunity always granted to those that came to strive for the Prizes the Achaeans at that time selling as Enemies all those they could catch going through their Country to the Games at Argos So vehement and implacable a Hater was he of the Tyrants Not long after Aratus having notice that Aristippus had a design upon Cleonae but was afraid of him because he then resided in Corinth he assembled his Army by publick Proclamation and commanding them to take along with them provision for several days he marched to Cenchreae hoping by this Stratagem to entice Aristippus to fall upon Cleonae when he supposed him far enough off and so it happen'd for he immediately brought his Army against it from Argos But Aratus returning from Cenchreae to Corinth in the dusk of the Evening and besetting the passages with Guards he led on the Achaeans who follow'd him in so good order and with
so much speed and alacrity that they were not discover'd by Aristippus not only whilest upon their March but even when they were got into Cleonae in the night and were drawn up in order of battle As soon as it was morning the Gates being opened and the Trumpets sounding he fell upon the Enemy with great cries and fury and routing them follow'd the pursuit especially that way that Aristippus indeavour'd to make his escape through a Country full of windings and turnings The Pursuit lasted as far as Mycenae where the Tyrant was slain by a certain Cretan call'd Tragiscus as Dinias reports and of the common Soldiers above fifteen hundred Yet tho' Aratus had obtain'd so great a Victory without the loss of a man he could not make himself master of Argos nor set it at liberty because Aegias and the younger Aristomachus got into the town with the Kings forces and seis'd upon the Government But by this exploit he spoiled the Scoffs and Jeasts of those that flattered the Tyrants and in their Raillery would say that the Achaean General was usually troubled with a Looseness when he was to fight a battle that the sound of a Trumpet struck him with a Drowsiness and a Giddiness and that when he had drawn up his Army and given the word he used to ask his Lieutenants and Officers what further need there could be of his Presence since the dye was cast and then went a-loof off to expect the success And so much did these reports gain credit that when the Philosophers disputed whether to have ones Heart beat and to change Colour upon any danger be an argument of fear or rather of weakness and coldness of constitution Aratus was always quoted as a valiant Capt. but subject to be so affected in time of Battle Having thus dispatch'd Aristippus he devised with himself how to ruine Lysiades the Megalopolitan who Tyranniz'd over his Country This person was naturally of a generous temper and not insensible of true honour induced to usurp the Government not by the ordinary motives of other Tyrants Licentiousness and Avarice but being young and stimulated with the desire of Glory suffer'd his noble breast to be unwarily prepossessed with the vain and false Applauses given to Tyranny as some happy and glorious thing but he no sooner seis'd the Government than he grew weary of the weight of it and at once emulating the Tranquility and fearing the Policy of Aratus he took a most noble resolution first to free himself from Hatred and Fear from Soldiers and Guards and then his Country as a publick Benefactor and immediately sending for Aratus resign'd the Government and incorporated his City into the Achaean Community The Achaeans applauding this generous action chose him General upon which desiring to outstrip Aratus in Glory amongst many other improper things he declared war against the Lacedaemonians which Aratus opposing was thought to do it out of Envy but Eysiades was the second time chosen General tho' Aratus appear'd against him and labour'd to have that charge conferred upon another for Aratus himself had that Command every other year as has been said and Lysiades succeeded so well in his pretensions that he was thrice chosen General governing alternately as did Aratus but at last declaring himself his professed Enemy and accusing him frequently to the Achaeans he was rejected for it appeared plainly that with conterfeit and adulterated Merit he contested against true and sincere Vertue and as Aesop tells us that the Cuckoo once asking the little Birds why they flew away from her was answered because they fear'd she would one day prove a Hawk so Lysiades's former Tyranny still cast a Suspicion upon him that he was not inwardly changed But Aratus gain'd still more honour in the Aetolick War for the Achaeans resolving to fall upon the Aetolians in the Megarian Confines and Agis also the Lacaedemonian King who came to their assistance with an Army incouraging them to fight Aratus opposed this determination and patiently induring many reproaches many flouts and jearings at his soft and cowardly temper he preferr'd the true common Interest before his own Credit and suffer'd the Enemy to pass over the mountain Gerania into Peloponnesus unfought withal but understanding that they had suddenly taken Pellene in their march he chang'd his mind and not losing time in drawing together his whole force he marched towards the Enemy with such as he had about him to fall upon them being now weakned by the intemperances and disorders committed upon their good success for as soon as the Soldiers entred the City they were dispersed in the several houses quarrelling and fighting with one another about the Plunder and as for the Commanders they were running about after the Wives and Daughters of the Pellenians putting their Helmets upon their heads that every mans prize might be plainly distinguish'd thereby and not be seis'd by another In this posture were they when news came that Aratus was ready to fall upon them And being now in great amazement as must needs happen in such a confusion before all of them heard of the danger the nearest to the Gates and Suburbs skirmishing with the Achaeans immediately fled being already overcome and struck a great consternation into those that came into their assistance In this confusion one of the Captives Daughter of Epigethes being extremely handsome and tall happened to be sitting in the Temple of Diana placed there by the Commander of the band of chosen men who had taken her and put his head-peice upon her she hearing the noise and running out to see what was the matter stood looking upon those that fought having the Helmet upon her head in which posture she seemed to the Citizens to be something more than human and struck such fear and dread into the Enemy that believed it to be a divine apparition that they lost all courage to defend themselves and the Pellenians tell us that the Image of Diana stands usually untoucht and when the Priestess happens at any time to remove it to some other place no body dares look upon it but 〈…〉 turn their faces from it for not only is the sight of it terrible and hurtful to mankind but it makes even the Trees barren and to cast their fruit by which it happens to be carried This Image therefore they say the Priestess produced at that time and holding it directly in the faces of the Aetolians made them lose their reason and judgment But Aratus mentions no such thing in his Commentaries but says that having put to flight the Aetolians and falling in Pell Mell with them into the City he drove them out by main force and killed seven hundred of them This Action has been always reckon'd amongst the most famous Exploits and Timanthes the Painter has left a lively representation thereof But many and great Nations combining against the Achaeans Aratus clapt up a Peace with the Aetolians and
of Subjection that slately Monument which Dionysius at his own Expence had erected But because it was a Sun-Dial on the which he stood when he was made General they expressed some Fears that the great Actions he had performed might be subject to decline and admit a sudden change of Fortune Dion taking the Epipole released all the Prisoners and invested the Castle with a strong Work Seven days after Dionysius arrived and got into the Cittadel about the same time Dion received the Carriages with the Arms and Ammunition he left with Synalus These he distributed among the Citizens the rest that wanted furnished themselves as well as they could and expressed great Courage and Readiness for the Service Dionysius sent Agents at first privately to Dion to try what Terms they could make with him But he declaring that what Overtures they had must be in publick the Syracusians being now no longer in Subjection but at Liberty to manage their own Affairs They then addressed themselves to the Citizens with fair Words and specious Promises assuring them that they should have Abatements of their Tributes and Taxes not be compelled to serve in the Wars tho' undertaken by their own Approbation and Consent The Syracusians laught at these Offers and Dion returned their Answer That Dionysius must not think to treat with them upon any other Terms but resigning the Government which if he would actually do he would not forget how nearly he was related to him or be wanting to assist him in whatsoever was reasonable and just Dionysius seemed to consent to this and sent his Agents again desiring some of the Syracusians to come into the Cittadel and consult with him for the good of the Publick being ready to make fair Propositions which he believed they could not but yield to and equally willing to accept such as they had to offer him There were therefore some deputed such as Dion approved of and the general News from the Castle was That Dionysius would voluntarily resign his Authority and that he did it out of Choice rather than Compulsion But this was only a feigned device and crafty Trick to amuze the Syracusians for he imprisoned the Deputies that were sent to him and caused the Garrison by break of Day having first to encourage them made them drink plentifully to make a sudden salley and attack the Works Dion had made The Alarm being unexpected and the Action carried on with a great deal of Courage and Resolution on the part of the Besieged they broke through the Works and with loud Shouts assailed the Besiegers so furiously that they were not able to maintain their Post But a Party of Dion's men taking the Alarm hasted to their Relief neither did they at first know what to do or how to employ the Aid they brought not being able to hear the Commands of their Officers for the horrid Noise and Confusion of the Syracusians which fled from the Enemy and do what they could ran in among them and broke through their Ranks till Dion seeing none of his Orders could be heard resolved to let them see by his Example what they ought to do and charged into the thickest of the Enemy The Fight about him was fierce and bloody for he being signally known as well by the Enemy as his own Party they ran with great Noise and Fury to the Quarter where he fought Tho' by reason of his Age he was unfit for such a brisk Engagement yet with great Vigor and Courage he charged all he met cutting in pieces several of the Enemy that withstood him till he was wounded in the Hand with a Lance his Armour also being very much battered in this close Fight and scarce any longer serviceable and having many Hurts through his Shield by Arrows and Darts wherewith they gall'd him at distance at length he fell to the ground bâ—t was immediately rescued and carried off by his Soldiers The Command in chief he left to Timonides and mounting his Horse rid about the City rallyed those that fled and commanding a Detachment of the foreign Soldiers out of Acradina where he had posted them to guard that Place he brought them as a fresh Reserve upon the Enemy who were tired with the heat of the Action and well nigh ready to give over their Design for having hopes at their first Salley to have re-taken the City when beyond their Expectation they found such brave Resistance and now fresh Assailants they retreated into the Castle As soon as they gave ground the Greek Soldiers pressed hard upon them and pursued them to the very Walls There were lost in this Action of Dion's men seventy four and a very great number of the Enemy this being a signal Victory and principally obtained by the Valour of the foreign Soldiers The Syracusians rewarded them with a hundred Grecian Pouâ—ds and presented Dion a Crown of Gold Soon after this there came Messengers from Dionysius bringing Dion Letters from the Ladies his Relations and one was superscribed Hipparinus to his Father Dion this was the Name of Dion's Son tho' Timaeus says he was from his Mother Arete's Name called Aretoeus but I think credit is rather to be given to Timonides's Report who was his fellow-Soldier and Confident The rest of the Letters were read publickly containing many Sollicitations and humble Requests of the Ladies but the People not admitting that which was sent from his Son to be unsealed Dion forcibly broke it open It was from Dionysius seemingly writ to Dion but in effect to the Syracusians and so worded that under a plausible Justification of him and civil Requests to him was couch'd a Design of rendring him suspected to the People He reminded him of the good Service he had formerly done the Government and how vigorous an Assertor he had been of the Prerogative adding many Threats to his dearest Relations his Sister Son and Wife if he did not comply with the Contents conjuring him in the most passionate and moving Expressions to have regard to their Safeties But that which touched Dion most was he earnestly entreated him That he would not destroy the Government but take it upon himself and not put the Power into the Hands of those men who always hated him and would never forget their old Picques and Quarrels but keep it in his own and thereby secure from Injuries and Violence himself his Friends and Dependants When this Letter was read the Mobile did not as they ought in Justice pay a due Deference to the unmoveable Constancy and Bravery of Dion who withstood all his most pressing Concerns to be true to his Virtue and his Honour but from hence took occasion to fear and suspect that he lay under invincible Obligations to be favourable to Dionysius and therefore began already to be hankring after a new General and the rather because to their great Joy they received the News of Heraclides's arrival This
regarded not so much the Plunder as to destroy and kill all they met For Dionysius despairing to re-gain the Kingdom and mortally hating the Syracusians resolved to bury his lost Empire in the utter Ruin and Desolation of Syracuse The Enemy therefore to prevent Dion's Succours resolved upon the most terrible and ready way of destruction to lay the City in ashes firing all at hand with Torches and other Combustibles and at distance with flaming Arrows and other Fire-works shot from their Bows and Engines The Citizens in great distraction fled every way before them They who to avoid the Fire forsook their Houses were taken in the Streets and put to the Sword They who betook themselves for Refuge into the the Houses were forced out again by the flames Many were burnt and many kill'd by the fall of Houses and Ruines of Walls and Towers This fresh misfortune by general Consent opened the Gates for Dion It hapned that he made no extraordinary hast when he received advice that the Enemies were retreated into the Castle but early in the Morning some Horse brought him the news of another Assault and soon after some of those who before oppos'd his coming fled now to him to entreat him he would hasten his Relief The Fire and Desolation increasing Heraclides sent his Brother and after him his Uncle Theodotes to beg him to help them for that now they were not able to make any longer Opposition that he himself was wounded and the greatest part of the City was either in ashes or in flames When Dion met this sad News he was about sixty furlongs distant from the City When he had acquainted the Soldiers with the Exigency and exhorted them to behave themselves like men the Army no longer marched but ran forwards and by the way were met by several who begged them to quicken their pace By the wonderful eagerness of the Soldiers and their extraordinary Speed Dion quickly came to the City and entered at the Gate Hecatompedon sending his Vanguard presently to charge the Enemy that seeing them the Syracusians might take Courage In the mean time he drew up in good Order his main Body and all the Citizens that came in and joyn'd him forming his Battalions long and setting over them double Officers that he might as occasion required make Detachments and to amuse and terrifie the Enemy fight them in several Quarters at once As they saw him in the Streets advance at the Head of his Men to engage the Enemy a confused Noise of Shouts congratulations Vows and Prayers was rais'd by the Syracusians who now called Dion their Deliverer their Tutelar-Deity and his Soldiers their Friends Brethren and Fellow-Citizens none seem'd to regard themselves or value their safeties but to be concerned more for Dion's Life than for all their own together So daringly he marched before them to meet the danger first through Blood and Fire and over heaps of dead Bodies that lay in his way And indeed the Posture of the Enemy was in appearance terrible for they were flush'd with Victory enrag'd and had posted themselves very advantageously along the demolish'd Works which made the approach to them very hazardous and difficult yet that which discouraged Dion's Men most was the apprehension they were in of the Fire which made their march very troublesome and difficult for the Houses being in flames on all fides they were surrounded with them and treading upon burning Ruines every minute in danger of being overwhelm'd with falling Houses through clouds of Ashes and Smoak they labour'd hard to keep their Order and maintain their Ranks When they came near to the Enemy by reason of the advantage of their Post and the inconvenience of a Defile they were to pass but few of them could engage at a time but at length fighting with great Bravery and the Syracusians with shouts encouraging their Party Nypsius's Men were beaten off and routed most of them escaped into the Castle which was near at hand all that could not get in were pursued and pick'd up here and there by the Soldiers and put to the Sword The present Exigence did not suffer the Citizens to reap the benefit of their Conquest in such mutual Congratulations and expressions of Joy as become the Victorious for now all were busily employed to save what Houses were left standing labouring hard all Night and could scarce master the Fire The next day not one of the Popular Haranguers durst stay in the City but all of them knowing their own Guilt by their flight confessed it and secured their Lives Only Heraclides and Theodotus voluntarily surrendred themselves to Dion acknowledging that they had wrong'd him and begging he would be kinder to them than they had been just to him adding how much it would be for his Honour who was Master of so many excellent Accomplishments to moderate his Anger and be generously compassionate to the ungrateful confessing that they who were formerly his professed Enemies were now absolutely overcome by his Vertue Tho' they humbly addressed to him his Friends advised him not to pardon those turbulent and ill-natured Men but to leave them to the mercy of his Soldiers and utterly root out of the Common-wealth the ambitious Affectation of Populacy a Disease as pestilent and pernicious as the most Arbitrary Power whatever Dion endeavoured to satisfie them telling them That other Generals employed their thoughts and designs chiefly about warlike Acquists but that he had long studied in the Academy how to conquer his Passions and not let Emulation and Envy conquer him That to do this it is not sufficient that a Man be obliging and kind to his Friends and those that have deserved well of him but also indulgent and favourable to those from whom he has received Injuries and Affronts That he was resolved to let the World see that he valued not himself so much upon excelling Heraclides in Ability and Conduct as he did in out-doing him in Justice and Clemency herein to have the Advantage is to excell indeed The Honour of Victory in War is never entire for Fortune will be sure to claim her share tho' no man pretend to rival the Conqueror What if Heraclides be perfidious malicious and base must Dion therefore sully his Honor or injure his Vertue by a passionate Concern for it For tho' the Laws determine it juster to revenge an Injury than to do an Injury Yet it is evident that both Originally proceed from the same deficiency and weakness of Humane Nature The malicious Humor of Men tho' perverse and refractory is not so savage and invincible but it may be wrought upon by Kindness and habitually altered by repeated Obligations Dion making use of these Arguments pardon'd and dismiss'd Heraclides and Theodotes And now resolving to repair the Blockade about the Castle he commanded all the Syracusians to cut Palisado's and bring them to the Works and then dismissing them to refresh themselves and take
within his private Station and offering besides great treasure the freedom of the City where he might repose the rest of his days in pleasure and security This at first was answered only in raillery but being heated they fell to downright railing and libelling 'T was idle and ridiculous though not without ground to object those faults from which neither could be excused For which of these two exceeded in rioting and wantonness which of them had least experience in Arms or which of them before they usurped had been most oppressed with Poverty and Debt was a question not easie to determine Of the Prodigies and Apparitions that went about at this time some were vouched only by report But these were generally taken notice of how the Statue of Victory Triumphant in the Capitol had let loose the reins of her Chariot as unable to hold them And how that other of Caius Caesar in the Island of Tiber without either Earthquake or Whirlwind turned it self from West to East which by conjecture fell out near the time when Vespasian publickly took upon him the Government But none of these presages moved the multitude like the accident of Tyber It was indeed the season when Rivers use to be full but now it so swelled above its Banks and made such desolation over-flowing and covering great part of the City especially about the Corn-Market that it occasion'd a sore dearth for many days When it became known that Vitellius his Captains Caecinna and Valens had possess'd themselves of the Alpes Dolabella a Patrician then in Rome was suspected by the guard of attempting some innovations therefore whether fearing him or any other Otho sent him with assurance of his favour to the City of Aquiâ—um Among the Magistrates which were chosen to attend him in his journey he pitched upon Lucius the Brother of Vitellius whom he confirmed altogether in his former Station And took exceeding care of Vitellius's Mother and Wife that they might not apprehend any danger from him Rome he left in the hands of Flavius Sabinus Brother to Vespasian either out of Honour to Nero by whom he had been placed in that Command and outed by Galba or by Sabinus's advancement to evidence his esteem and reliance on Vespasian Otho himself staid at Brixillum a City on the River Po but he sent out the Army under the Conduct of Marcus Celsus Suetonius Paulinus Gallus and Spurina Men of Conduct and Valour but they had no Forces to put their own Counsels in Action because of the disorders and insolency of the Souldiers who owning no other Captain than Caesar thought it beneath their quality to be commanded by any but himself Neither were the Enemies Troops much better disciplined or more tractable to their Officers but heady and proud upon the same account Only they were well train'd and accustomed to labour which they could away with But these Praetorians were grown perfectly effeminate by Idleness and want of exercise having spent most of their time in Sights Entertainments and Plays And yet they were so puffed up with conceit and arrogance that they challenged their Reward as the best when their Service was of the worst Spurina once would have forced them upon Duty but it brought his person in danger and had almost cost him his Life Besides they spared for no sort of outrage and ill language calling him Traitor and charging him with ill Conduct to the ruine of Caesar and his Affairs some of them moreover in a Debauch press'd into his Tent demanding a Pass while they went to make complaint against him to the Emperour But the Reproaches of the Vitellians at Placentia did not a little help the Cause and Spurina too for the present For they marching strait up to the works upbraided Otho's Men upon the Walls terming them expert Actors Dancers and Spectators of harmless Exercises but strangers to martial Discipline and the Art of War Men that valued themselves for beheading a naked gray-Beard meaning Galba but had not the Heart to enter the open Field with Men at Arms Which Scoffs so nettled and heated them that falling down at Spurina's feet they besought him to make use of them and command them that would stick at no pains or peril So when the Walls were assaulted very strongly and many Engines of Battery were brought up Spurina's men got the day and having beat off the Enemy with great slaughter preserved one of the most flourishing and renowned Cities in Italy As to all other points Otho's Commanders were much less burdensome both to Cities and private Men than those of Vitellius of whom Caecinna was no ways acceptable in speech or behaviour but uncouth and disagreeable of a monstrous bigness dress'd after the Gallick mode in Doublet and Breeches and after that fashion he convers'd with the Roman Officers His Lady too in a magnificent Equipage follow'd the Camp on horseback with a choice Guard of Cavaliers As to Fabius Valens the other General neither the Enemies Spoil nor Countries Plunder nor the Confederates Contribution were able to satisfie his Avarice Yet for the Collection hereof he was by some concluded so to slacken his March that he could not come up at the former skirmish while others blame Caecinna of charging too soon that he might have the honour of the day to himself and whereas before he had given distaste by some miscarriages now by joyning Battel with so little Conduct and Courage he had almost ruin'd his Party Caecinna after this repulse from Placentia carried the Siege to Cremona another flourishing and large City while Annius Gallus in his March to relieve Spurina in Placentia meeting upon the way with intelligence both of that Action and the distress of Cremona wheel'd about and pitch'd down close by the Enemy and after that every one came into aid the General But when Caecinna had laid a strong party in wait among certain uneven Coverts ordering the Horse to advance and after the first Charge to make a slow Retreat till they might draw the Enemy within the Ambuscade certain Deserters discover'd it to Celsus who charging them briskly and pursuing them warily came upon the Ambuscade which he surrounded and broke in pieces sending away for the Infantry out of the Camp Which if it had arrived in time to second the Horse it is more than probable that the Enemies could not have saved a man of Caecinna's whole Army from being cut off or trodden under foot But Paulinus coming up late and slowly with his Succours was not undeservedly taxed of too much circumspection for one of his Character The common Souldiers openly accused him of absolute Treason exasperating Otho against him and boasting that the Enemy was defeated but if the Victory was not entire he might thank his Captains Otho though he gave Credit to these Suggestions yet would not seem to distrust his Commanders therefore he sent to the Army his Brother Titianus as General with Proculus Captain of the Guard who indeed had