them selues of their troubles and most miserable and straight life But we must not wonder though the SYBARITANS being womanish men and altogeather geuen to pleasure did so thinke that those men hated their liues who feared not death for the desire they had to doo good and goodwill they had to doo their duetie Which was contrarie in the LACEDAEMONIANS For they were of opinion that to liue and die willingly was a vertue as these funerall verses doo witnesse The dead vvhich here doe rest did not in life esteeme that life or death vvere of them selues or good or bad to deme But euen as life did end or death vvas brought to passe so life or death vvas good or bad this their opinion vvas And in deede to flye death is no shame so it proceede not of a cowardly hart nether to desire death is commendable if it be with contempt and hate of life This is the reason why Homer saith the valliantest men are euer best armed when they come to battaile The lawe makers among the GREECIANS doo euer punishe him that castes away his target but neuer him that casteth away his sworde or lawnce For euery man must first thinke to defende him selfe before he seeke to hurt his enimie and specially such as haue the whole state of a realme in their handes and be generalles of the feeld For if the comparison be true that Iphicrates the ATHENIAN captaine made that in an armie of men the light horsemeÌ resemble the handes the men of armes the feete the battaill of footemen the stomake brest the captaine the head of a mans body it seemeth then that the venturous captaine putting him selfe in daunger with out cause is not onely careles of his owne life but also of all theirs whose liues depende vpon his saftie As contrarily he being carefull of his owne person cannot but be carefull of his souldiers that serue vnder him Therefore Callicratidas a LACEDAEMONIAN captaine and a woorthie man otherwise did vnwisely aunswere a soothsaier that bad him take hede to him selfe for the signes and tokens of the sacrifices did threaten his death Sparta said he standeth not vpon one man alone It is true that to fight by sea or by land man for man Callicratidas was but one man of him selfe but as captaine or lieuetenaunt generall he had the whole power and force of the armie in his person For he was not a man alone when so manie mens liues were lost with his Now olde Antigonus was of a contrary minde For he being redie to geue battell by sea about the I le of ANDRO's made a better aunswer to one that said vnto him his enemies had moe shippes then him selfe For how many shippes doest thou recken then my selfe said he Therein he did wisely to make great accompt of the worthines of a generall specially when it is ioyned with hardines and experience For the chiefest poynte of seruice is to saue him that saueth all other For when Chares on a time shewed the ATHENIANS openly the sundrie woundes and cuttes he had receiued apoÌ his body his target also thrust through with many piks Timotheus straight said vnto him Chares I am not of thy minde For when I did besege the citie of SAMOS I was ashamed to see a darte throwne from the walles light hard by me for that I shewed my selfe a rashe young man and more venturous then became a generall of so great an armie For when it standeth much apon the whole armie and that it is necessarie the generall thereof doo put him selfe in daunger then he should put him selfe forwarde and occupie both handes and body without respect not regarding their wordes that say a good wise captaine should die for age or at the least old But where there is smal honor to be woone by very good successe and contrariewise muche losse and distruction by great misfortune no man of wisedome or iudgement would wish a generall to fight as a priuate souldier to hazard the losse of a generall I thought good therefore to make this preface before the liues of Pelopidas and of Marcellus both which were woorthie men and died otherwise then they shoulde For they both were valliant souldiers in the fielde and did both of them honor their contrie with famous victories and specially against great and dreadfull enemies For the one was the first as they saie that ouerthrewe Hanniball who was neuer ouercome by any before And the other also ouercame the LACEDAEMONIANS in battell that ruled al GREECE at that time both by sea and by land Yet they both carelesly lost their liues by venturing to boldely when their contrie stoode in greatest neede of suche men and captaines as they were This is the cause why we folowing the resemblaunce that was betweene them haue compared their liues together Pelopidas the sonne of Hippoclus came of one of the noblest houses of the citie of THEBES as Epaminondas did He being brought vp in great wealth his father left him heire of all his landes and goodes being but a young man So he straight shewed him selfe willing to doo good with his monie to those that needed helpe and were worthie to let the worlde see that his monie was not his maister For as Aristotle saith of these rich men the most part of them do not vse their goods for extreame couetousnes other againe doo abuse them as being geuen to ouermuche pleasures So riche men became slaues all their life time some to pleasure other to profit Now al Pelopidas other frendes woulde be beholding to him and take very thanckfully his curtesie and liberalitie towardes them But Epaminondas could neuer be brought to any thing at his handes Howbeit Pelopidas selfe folowed Epaminondas maner for he tooke a pride and pleasure to goe simply appareled to fare meanely to labor willingly and to make warres openly as he did He was euen such another as Euripides the Poet described Capaneus to be when he said of him He rich and vvelthie vvas yet vvas he there vvithall no vvight that purchast vvorldly hate nor insolent at all For he would haue been ashamed that the poorest man of the cittie of THEBES shoulde haue worne meaner apparell apon his backe then himselfe As for Epaminondas his pouertie was not daintie to him bicause his parentes were euer poore and yet for all that he passed it ouer more easely by studie of Philosophie which he gaue him selfe vnto and for that from his youth he liked to leade a spare life without excesse Where Pelopidas matched in a noble house and maryed highly and had two children by his wife neuerthelesse he had no minde to keepe or increase his goodes the more for that but gaue him selfe altogeather to serue the common weale as long as he liued By reason whereof his wealth decaied and his best frendes grewe angrie with him telling him how he did not well to make no more reckoning of a thing that was
of the kinge truely they had reason it was worthily done of theÌ For he tooke not only gold siluer enough as much as they would giue him but receaued a very rich bed also PERSIAN chamberlains to make and dresse it vp as if no GREECIAN seruauntes of his could haue serued that turne Moreouer he receaued foure score milche kine to the paile neateheards to keepe them hauing neede of cowes milke belike to heale a disease that fell vpon him and woulde needes be caried in a litter apon mens armes from the kings court vnto the MEDITERRANIAN sea the king rewarding them for their paines that caried him with foure Talents Yet it seemeth the gifts he tooke did not offende the ATHENIANS so much considering that Epicrates a drudge or tanckerd bearer did not onely confesse before the people howe he had taken giftes of the king of PERSIA but sayd furthermore that he would haue a law made that as they did yerely choose nine officers to rule the whole city so that they would choose nine of the poorest and meanest citizens and sende them Ambassadors vnto the king of PERSIA that they might returne home rich men with his giftes The people laughed to heare him but yet were they very angry the THEBANS had obtained all that they demaunded not considering that Pelopidas estimacion and worthinesse did more preuaile and take better effect then all the orations the other could make and specially to a Prince that sought alwaies to enterteine those GRAECIANS which were of greatest force and power in the warres This Ambassade did greatly increase euery mans loue and good will vnto Pelopidas bicause of the replenishinge againe of MESSINA with inhabitants the infranchesing setting at liberty of all the other GREECIANS But the tyran Alexander of PHERES returning againe to his old accustomed cruelty and hauing destroied many cities of THESSALIE placed his garrisons through al the contry of the PHTHIOTES ACHAIANS and MAGNESIANS the cities being aduertised of Pelopidas returne againe to THEBES they sent Ambassadors immediatly to THEBES to pray theÌ to sende theÌ an army namely Pelopidas for Captaine to deliuer theÌ froÌ the miserable bondage of the tyran The THEBANS willingly graunted them put all things in readines very sodainely But Pelopidas being ready to set forward in his iorney there fel a sodain eclipse of the sunne so as at none daies it was very darke in THEBES Pelopidas seing euery man afraid of this eclipse aboue he would not compell the people to depart with this feare nor with so ill hope to hazard the losse of seuen thowsande THEBANS being all billed to go this iorney but notwithstanding he put him selfe alone into the THESSALIANS handes with three hundred horsemen of straungers that were glad to serue with him with whom he tooke his iorney against the soothsayers mindes and against the good will of all his citizens who thought this eclipse did threaten the death of some great persone like him selfe But Pelopidas though he needed no spurre to be reuenged apon the tyran Alexander being by nature hotte and desirous of him selfe to reuenge the spite and villany he had offred him yet he had a further hope to finde the tyrans house deuided against himselfe by the former talke he had with his wife Thebe in time of his imprisonment there Neuertheles the fame and reputacion of the iorney vndertaken did wonderfully increase his noble corage and the rather bicause he was desirous all he coulde the GREECIANS should see that at the very same time when the LACEDAEMONIANS did sende gouernors captaines to Dionysius the tyran of SICILE to serue aide him that the ATHENIANS as hyerlings tooke pay of the tyran Alexander of PHERES in whose honor they had set vp a statue of brasse in their city as vnto their sauior the THEBANS only at the selfe same time tooke armes against theÌ to deliuer those whom the tyrans oppressed sought to roote out al tyrannical gouernment ouer the GREECIANS So when he came to the city of PHARSALE had gathered his army together he went presently into the field to mete with the tyran Alexander perceauing Pelopidas had very fewe THEBANS about him and that he had twise as many moe THESSALIANS with him then the other had he went to the temple of THETIS to mete with Pelopidas There one telling Pelopidas that Alexander was comminge against him with a great power Pelopidas answered him straight al the better we shal kil the more Now in the middest of the valley there are certaine round hils of a good prety height which they commonly call the dogges heads they both striued which of their footemen should first get those hils Pelopidas hauing a great number of horsemen good men at armes in the fielde sent them before to giue charge apon the enemies that preased to winne the vantage of the place hauing ouerthrowen them they followed the chase all the valley ouer But in the meane time Alexander hauing his footemeÌ hard by marched forwards got the hils bicause the THESSALIANS that were further of came to late notwithstandinge when they came to the hilles they sought forcible to clime them vp being very high and steepe But Alexander comming downe the hil gaue charge apon them to their disaduantage slue the first that gaue the attempt to get vp against the hil and the residue beinge fore hurt retyred againe without their purpose Pelopidas seeing that sounded the retreate for the horsemen that followed the chase to repayre to the standard and commaunded them they should set apon the footemen of the enemies that were in battell raye and him selfe ranne to helpe those that fought to winne the hilles So he tooke his target on his arme and passing through the rereward got to the formest tanckes to whome the sight of his persone did so redouble their force and corage that the enemies them selues thought it hadde beene a freshe supply of newe mens hartes and other bodies then theirs with whom they hadde fought before that came thus lustely to sette againe apon them And yet they did abide two or three onsettes Howebeit in the ende perceiuing those men did still more fiercely force to gette vp the hill and moreouer how their horsemen were come in from the chase they gaue way and left them the place retyring backe by litle and litle Then Pelopidas hauinge wonne the hilles stayed on the top of them viewinge the army of his enemies which were not yet returned from their flying but waued vp and downe in great disorder And there he looked all about to see if he coulde spye out Alexander and at the length he founde him out amongest others in the right winge of his battell settinge his men againe in order and incoraging of them After he had set eye on him it was no holding of him backe his hart so rose against him apon sight of him that geuinge place
the city of MILLAINE was taken After that all the other cities there about yelded of them selues without force of siege and the GAVLES wholly submitted them selues all that they had to the mercy of the ROMAINES who graunted them peace vppon easie condicions For these famous victories the Senate of ROME gaue all the honor of triumphe vnto Marcellus only and that was as wonderfull and worthy a sight as any that euer past before him what for the infinite spoyles and the numbers of great men taken prisoners and also for the exceeding sumptuousnes stately shew thereof But the goodliest sight of all for the rarenes was to behold Marcellus selfe carying on his shoulders the whole spoyle of the barbarous king to offer vp to Iupiter Feretrian For he had cut downe a goodly younge oke of the mountaine straight and shut vp very long which he had trimmed vp in forme of triumphe hanging all the armed peces he had wonne of the king very orderly rounde about it Then when all the show of his triumphe was past he him selfe tooke the oke on his shoulders and gotte vp vpon his triumphing charet and so marched through the city carying these signes thereupon which was the noblest sight and honorablest show of the whole triumphe His army followed after the charet singing verses and songes of victory in praise of the goddes and their Captaine and when he had passed through the whole city and was come to the temple of Iupiter called Feretrian there he set vp this young oke and token of triumphe This Marcellus is the third and last ROMAINE Captaine to whom happened this honor in our age For the first man that euer offered vp to Iupiter the spoyles of the general of their enemies was king Romulus who wanne the like spoyles of Acron king of the CAENINIANS The second was Cornelius Cossus who slue Tolemnius generall of the THVSCANS And the third was Marcellus who slue with his owne handes Britomarus king of the GAVLES and after him no man euer since could obtaine the like good fortune The god to whom these maner of spoyles are consecrated thus is called Iupiter Feretrian so tearmed as some write bicause they do cary this token of triumphe to him following the deriuation of this Greeke word Ferin which signifieth to cary for in those former times many Greeke words were mingled with the Latine Other affirme it is one of the surnames of Iupiter signifying as much as lightening for Ferire in the Latine tonge signifieth to strike And some say also in warres it is properly to hurt or kill with his owne handes for the ROMAINES do vse at this day when they geue a charge apon their enemies in battell or that they haue them in chase flying to crie incoraging one another Feri Feri which is as much as kill kill And the spoyles taken froÌ the enemies also are generally called Spolia but those which Lieutenantes generall or generalles do take from the generalles of their enemies when they haue slaine them they are called particulary Spolia opima Yet some hold opinion that kinge Numa Pompilius mencioning the rich spoyles or Spolia opima in his coÌmentaries speaketh of the first the second and the third and commaundeth that the first spoyles which are wonne should be consecrated to Iupiter Feretrian the second vnto Mars and the third vnto Quirinus And that they should giue to him that had wonne the first spoyles three hundred Asses the second two hundred the third a huÌdred But notwithstanding the best opinion vsuall taking of Spolia opima referreth them to be the first spoyles wonne in a foughten field those which the LieutenaÌt of an army or a general doth take froÌ the general of the enemies after he hath slaine him with his owne handes And thus much for declaracion of this matter Furthermore the ROMAINES were so ioyfull of this victory of their good successe in this warre that they caused a massie cuppe of golde to be made of the spoyle they had gotten weyinge a hundred pounde weight which they sent to offer vp in the temple of Apollo Pythias in the city of DELPHES in token of thankes and they made liberall diuision besides of the spoyles vnto their frendes and confederates and sent a great parte of it vnto Hieron king of SYRACVSA who was their confederate Not loÌg after Hanniball being entred ITALIE Marcellus was sent with an army by sea into SICILE And after the great ouerthrow was giuen at the battel of CANNES wherein there died so many thowsande ROMAINES and that very few of them saued them selues by flyinge into the city of CANNVSIVM they looked that Hanniball hauinge ouercome the flower of all the ROMAINES youth and their greatest force woulde not fayle to come straight to ROME Wherefore Marcellus first sent fifteene hundred of his men by sea to help to defende ROME and hauinge afterwardes receaued commaundement from the Senate he came to CANNVSIVM where he tooke such as were fled thither for succor after the battell so brought them out to the fielde to defende the countrie Now the ROMAINES hauing lost the most parte of all their best Captaines in diuerse sundry battells before of all those that remained Fabius Maximus was the onely able and reputed man for commendacion of his honesty and wisedom yet they misliked of him notwithstanding for a timerous man and of no corage as a man to ful of doubts and consideracion and loth to put any thing in hazard saying he was a good Captaine to defende but not to offende the enemy Whereupon they thought good to ioyne Marcellus liuely youth corage with Fabius feminine feare and wisedom and therefore some yeares they chose them both Consulls together or else they sent one of them as Consull and the other as Proconsull eche in his turne to the contrie where they hadde warres And for proofe hereof Posidonius wryteth that the ROMAINES at that time called Fabius Maximus their target and Marcellus their sword Therefore Hanniball him selfe sayed he feared Fabius Maximus as his gouernor and Marcellus as his enemy bicause the one kept him from hurting of others and the other did hurt to him selfe Immediatly after this great victory at CANNES Hannibals souldiers became so bolde so carelesse and disordered that they kept the fielde without feare of any thing and dispersed them selues farre from their campe wherefore Marcellus setting apon those stragglers he slue them euery man so by litle and litle did still lessen the power and strength of his enemy Afterwardes he aided the cities of BIZANTIVM and of NOLA and stablished the true deuotion and loue of the BIZANTINES towardes the ROMAINES from thence he went to NOLA found great sediton there betwixt the Senate people bicause the Senate coulde not keepe the people in obedience but they woulde needes take Hannibals parte The cause of the peoples stubbornnesse grewe by occasion of a
Consulls chayer where he gaue audience as Consull and dispatched diuerse causes when he had done so he rose out of his chayer and came downe among them standinge as a priuate persone to aunswere at the barre as other offenders and men accused suffering the SYRACVSANS to alleadge and say against him what they would Then were the SYRACVSANS blancke when they saw the maiesty of Marcellus and his stayed countenance in all thinges so that hauing founde him before a very valliant man in warres and vnconquerable they found him then a man no lesse dreadful in his Consuls robe that they hong downe their eyes and durst not looke him in the face Notwithstanding they being suborned by his enemies beganne at the length boldely to accuse him and yet with sorow and lamentacion the effect whereof was this That they beinge the ROMAINES frendes and confederates had abidden such iniuries at Marcellus handes as all other generalles neuer offred their very enemies Whereto Marcellus straight aunswered againe to the contrary That for many iniuries the ROMAINES had receiued of theÌ they suffred nothing but that which was vnpossible they should not suffer that resisted vntill they were taken by force and yet they might thanke them selues for any thing they suffered bicause they would not obey nor consent to reasonable capitulacions and articles of peace which he had oftentimes offered them And againe they could not alleage for their excuse that the tyrans had compelled them to make warres when they to the contrary bicause they would enter into warres were contented to be subiect to a tyran So when both parties hadde spoken their mindes the SYRACVSANS as the maneris went out of the Senate house and Marcellus also leauinge his fellowe Consull in his place in the Senate and taried without the dore attending the sentence of the Senate neuer altering his countenaunce nor wonted looke neither for feare of sentence nor for malice or anger against the SYRACVSANS quietly looking for his iudgement Afterwards when the Senators voyces were gathered together and that Marcellus was cleared by the most voyces then the SYRACVSANS fell downe at his feete weeping and besought him not to wreake his anger apon them that were present and moreouer that he would haue compassion of the residue of the citizens who did acknowledge his great grace and fauor extended to them and confessed them selues bound to him for euer Marcellus moued with pity by their intreaty he pardoned them and euer after did all the SYRACVSANS what pleasure he coulde possible For through his intreaty and request the Senate did confirme and ratifie his graunt vnto them which was that they might vse the liberty and benefit of their owne lawes and quietly enioy their goodes also which were left them To requite this special grace procured them by Marcellus the SYRACVSANS gaue him many honors among others they made a law that euer after as oft as any of Marcellus name or house came into SICILE the SYRACVSANS should kepe a solemne feast with garlands on their heades and should also sacrifice vnto the goddes After this Marcellus went against Hanniball And where all the other Consulls almost generalles after the ouerthrow at CANNES had vsed this only policie with him not to come to battell he tooke a contrarie course to them all thinkinge that tract of time whereby they thought to eate out Hannibals force was rather a direct consuming and destroying of all ITALIE and that Fabius Maximus standinge to much vpon safety tooke not the way to cure the disease and weakenes of the common weale of ROME looking to ende this warre consuming by litle and litle the strength and power of ROME committing a fearefull phisitions fault and error being afraid to heale their pacient sodainly imagining that to bring them low doth lessen the disease So first of all he went to besiege certeine great cities of the SAMNITES which were reuolted from obedience of the ROMAINES and those he wanne againe with a great prouision of corne and money he founde in them besides three thousande souldiers Hanniball left in garrison there whome he tooke prisoners Hanniball after that hauinge slaine the viceconsul Cneus Fuluius in APVLIA with eleuen Tribunis militum to wit Colonels euery one hauinge charge of a thousande footemen and ouerthrowen the greatest parte of his armies Marcellus wrote letters to ROME hoping to comforte the Senate people telling he would go thither and did warrant them he woulde driue Hanniball out of APVLIA When the ROMAINES had red his letters they were nothing the more coÌforted but rather as Liuie writeth more afraid and discouraged bicause they doubted the daunger to come woulde be greater then the losse past takinge Marcellus to be a farre greater and better generall then euer was Fuluius Neuerthelesse Marcellus performing the contentes of his letters wrytten to ROME draue Hanniball out of APVLIA and made him retyre into LVCANIA And Marcellus finding him in that contry by a city called NVMISTRON lodged apon hilles and in places of strength and aduantage he camped hard by him in the valley and the next morninge he was the first that presented his enemy battell Hanniball on the other side came downe into the valley and they ioyned battell which was so cruelly fought and so long time as it coulde not be discerned who had the better For the battell being begonne at nine of the clocke in the morning it was darke night ere they gaue ouer The next morning by pepe of day Marcellus set his men againe in battell raye in the middest of all the dead bodies that lay slaine in the fielde and chalenged Hanniball to proue who should haue the field But Hanniball refused and marched his way thence so as Marcellus thereby had good leasure left him to strippe his slaine enemies and also to bury his owne souldiers When he had finished that he presently followed his enemie by the foote who layed many ambushes for him but he coulde neuer trappe him in any and in euery encounter or skirmishe they had together Marcellus hadde euer the better which wanne him great fame and credit Nowe time beinge commen about to choose newe Consulls the Senate thought good to sende rather for the other Consul that was in SICILE then to remoue Marcellus thence who had fought with Hanniball So when the other Consull was come to ROME the Senate commaunded him to name Quintus Fuluius Dictator bicause the Dictator was neither chosen by the people nor by the Senate but one of the Consuls or Praetors in open assembly of the people nameth such a one Dictator as he liketh of Wherefore it seemeth that this word Dictator came apon that word naming for Dicere in the ROMAINE tongue signifieth to name Howebeit other holde opinion that he was called Dictator bicause he commaundeth of him selfe what he will without the counsell of the Senate the voyces of the people and this seemeth to be true bicause the
commaundements of the Senate of ROME are called Edicta which we GREECIANS call Diatagmata Now the other Consull and companion of Marcellus being come out of SICILE he would nedes name another Dictator then him whom the Senate offred him and bicause he would not be compelled to do that he was vnwilling to do he stale away one night and returned againe into SICILE Hereupon the people did name and appoint Quintus Fuluius Dictator and the Senate wrote their letters to Marcellus to confirme him which Marcellus did and authorised the peoples election So he him selfe was chosen againe Proconsul for the next yeare following in the which he hauing conferred with Fabius Maximus about the warres they were agreed that Fabius should proue if he could winne the city of TARENTVM againe and that Marcellus in the meane time shoulde keepe Hannibal occupied that he might not come to aide it This resolution being taken betwene them Marcellus went to meete Hannibal by the city of CANNVSIVM who as he still chaunged and shifted lodginge bicause he woulde not come to the battell against his will found Marcellus euer in his eye before him Insomuch as Hannibal remouinge thus his campe Marcellus plyed him so one day with continuall alaroms and skirmishes that he brought him to a battell that held all day long till night and compelled them both to leaue of til the next morning where Marcellus shewed againe in field by breake of the day in battell ray Whereat Hannibal being in a maruelous rage he called his souldiers together and made an oration to them earnestly mouinge them once againe to fight with Marcellus if euer they had heretofore fought for his sake You see sayd he that hauing fought so many battells and gotten such victories as we haue done we can not yet take breath as we would nor be in quiet how much soeuer we winne if we driue not away yonder fellow Marcellus When Hannibal had ended his oration to the CARTHAGINIANS he led them on to the battell where Marcellus to no purpose and out of time would nedes shew Hanniball a stratageame of warre that turned him selfe to the worst For Marcellus perceiuing the right wing of his army distressed made one of his legyons that was set in ray in the rereward of his hoste to marche to the fronte of his battell to helpe those that needed ayde But this remouing of the legyon troubled them that fought and gaue the enemies the victorie who slue that day two thousand seuen hundred of the ROMAINES So when Marcellus was come againe into his campe he straight called his souldiers before him to whome he spake in this maner that he saw a great deale of armor and bodies of men but he coulde see no ROMAINES The ROMAINES hearing him say so besought him to pardon the fault they had committed Marcellus aunswered he woulde neuer pardon them so long as they were ouercome but when they ouercame againe he was content to remit all So the next morning he agreed to bringe them againe to fight with the enemy that such as were at ROME should rather heare newes of their victorie then of their running away When he had sayed he appointed they shoulde geue those bandes that first turned their backes to Hanniball barley for wheate So as there were many of them in great daunger of their liues for the sore woundes they hadde geuen them in the battell yet was there not a man of them but Marcellus words did more geue them then the greuous woundes they had The next morning betimes was set out of the generalles tent the coate armor died in skarlet which is the ordinary signe of battell and the bandes that had receiued dishonor the day before were placed at their owne request in the fronte of the battell The other Captaines besides that were not ouerthrowen did leade their bandes also to the fielde and did set them in battell raye Hanniball hearing of that cried out O gods what a man is this that can not be quiet neither with good nor ill fortune for he is the only odde man that neuer giueth rest to his enemy when he hath ouercommed him nor taketh any for him self when he is ouercome We shal neuer haue done with him for any thing that I see sith shame whether he winne or loose doth still prouoke him to be bolder and vallianter After orations made of bothe sides bothe armies marched forwardes to ioyne battell The ROMAINES being as strong as the CARTHAGINIANS Hanniball put his Elephants in the voward and fronte of his battell and commaunded his men to driue them apon the ROMAINES and so they did Which in deede did somewhat trouble and disorder the first ranckes of the ROMAINES vntill such time as Flauius Tribune of the souldiers tooke an ensigne in his hande and marched before the beastes and gaue the first of them such a thrust with the poynt of his ensigne that he made her turne backe The first beast being turned backe thus ranne apon the seconde that followed her and the second made the third go backe also and so from one to an other vntill they all turned Marcellus perceiuing that commaunded his horsemen to set apon the enemies with all the fury they coulde in that place where he sawe them somewhat troubled with these beastes that turned backe againe vpon them and that they should driue them further in amongest them Which they did and gaue so hotte a charge apon the CARTHAGINIANS that they made them turne their backes runne away and they pursued them still killing them downe right euen to their campe side where was the greatest slaughter of all by reason their Elephants that were wounded fell downe starke deade within the gate of their campe And they saye of the CARTHAGINIANS there were slaine at this battell aboue eight thowsande and of the ROMAINES onely three thowsande howbeit all the rest of them for the most parte were very sore hurt Which fell out very well for Hanniball that he might march away at his pleasure as he did that night and got him away farre of from Marcellus as knowing he was not in state to follow him ouersodainely bicause of his great number of hurt men in his campe and so by small iorneys he went into CAMPANIA where he lay in garrison all the sommer in the city of SINVESSE to heale the woundes of his sore mangled souldiers Hanniball hauing now gotten him selfe at the length out of Marcellus hands hauing his army free to serue him as he thought good he burned destroyed all ITALIE where he went stoode no more in feare of any thing This made Marcellus ill spoken of at ROME and caused his enemies to take holde of such a matter against him for they straight raised Publius Bibulus Tribune to accuse him who was a hotte harebrained man but very eloquent and coulde deliuer his minde very well So this Bibulus called
mery harte to gather them selues together againe in their city Sylla so passing through THESSALIA MACEDON came to the sea side intending to go from the city of DYRRACHIVM vnto BRVNDVSIVM with twelue hundred sayle The city of APOLLONIA is hard by DYRRACHIVM and thereabouts is a parke consecrated vnto the nymphes where in a fayer goodly greene meadowe in many places there commeth out great bubles of fire that flame continually and it is sayd that there was a Satyre taken sleeping euen in the very selfe same forme the painters and image grauers haue set him out He was brought vnto Sylla and being asked by all sortes of interpreters what he was he made no aunswere that a man could vnderstand but only put forth a sharpe voyce like the neying of a horse or whynnying of a goate Sylla wondering at it abhorred him and made him to be caried from him as a monstrous thing Furthermore when Sylla had imbarked his men to passe the sea he was afrayed that so soone as they were landed in ITALIE they would shrinke from him and euery man go home to his owne But they sware and promised first of them selues that they would tary and keepe together and by their willes would doe no hurt in ITALIE Moreouer perceiuing that he stoode in neede of money they offred him of theirs euery man to lend him as his ability serued But Sylla would none yet thanked them for their goodwill and after he had exhorted them to fight like valliant souldiers he went against fifteene generalls of armies of his enemies who had foure hundred and fifty ensignes of footemen well armed as he him selfe wryteth in his commentaries But the goddes promised him good fortune in his warres by many sundry apparant signes For in a sacrifice he made by TARENTVM after he was come a lande the liuer of a certaine beast sacrificed was altogether facioned after the maner of a crowne or garland of laurell out of the which did hang two bandes or rolles And a litle before he went into CAMPANIA neere vnto the mountaine Epheum there appeared two great goates in the day time fighting together euen as two men do when they fight which neuerthelesse was no matter of trueth but a vision onely that appeared and rising from the earth dispersed it selfe by litle and litle here and there in the ayer and in th ende vanished quite away as clowdes which come to nothing Shortly after in the selfe same place Marius the younger and Norbanus the Consull who brought two great armies against him were ouerthrowen by him before he had set his men in battell or had appointed any man his place where he should fight and this proceeded onely vpon the corage and life of his souldiers whose goodwill to serue against them was such as following this victory he compelled the Consull Norbanus after he had slaine sixe thowsande of his men to take the city of CAPVA for his refuge This noble exployte as him selfe reported was the cause that his men kept so well together that they neither went home to their houses not made any reckening of their enemies although they were many against one And he sayth furthermore that in the city of SYLVIVM there was a slaue of one Pontius a citizen who beinge inspired with a propheticall spirite came to tell him from the goddesse Bellona that he should grow in strength cary away the victory of these wars howbeit that if he did nothye him the sooner the Capitoll at ROME should be burnt And so it fell out the same day according to his wordes being the sixteene day of the moneth called Quintilis and now Iuly And furthermore also Lucullus one of Syllaes Captaines being neere vnto the city of FIDENTIA with sixteene ensignes only against fifty ensignes of his enemies knowing his men to be very well affected to serue bicause the most parte of them were naked vnarmed was afrayed to hazard the battel and as he was euen bethinking him selfe what was best to determine therof there rose a litle winde out of a goodly meadow that blewe a wonderfull sorte of flowers apon the souldiers on euery parte of them These flowers stayed of them selues as they fell some apon their targets and others apon their moryans without falling to the grounde so that it seemed to their enemies a farre of as if they had bene garlandes of flowers vpon their heades This made Lucullus souldiers more lusty a great deale then they were before and with this good will they determined to geue a charge vpon their enemies whom they ouerthrew slue eighteene thowsand of them in the field tooke their campe This Lucullus was brother vnto the other Lucullus that afterwards ouerthrew the kings Mithridates Tigranes Neuertheles Sylla perceiuing that his enemies lay round about him with many great puisant armies thought good to vse policy with force therefore practised with Scipio one of the Consulls to make peace with him Scipio was willing to it thereupon were oft meetings assemblies of both sides Now Sylla draue of the conclusion of the peace as long as he could still seeking occasion of delay to th end that his souldiers which were throughly acquainted with craft and subtilty as well as him selfe might in the meane time corrupt Scipioes souldiers by repayre into his campe for they comming into Scipioes campe being very conuersaunt with theÌ straight corrupted some of them with ready money other with promises other with fayer flattering words many goodly tales they told them At the length after this practise had continued a while Sylla comming nere vnto Scipioes campe with twenty ensignes only all his men saluted Scipioes souldiers they resaluting them againe yelded them selues vnto Sylla so as Scipâo was left poste alone in his tente where he was taken but they afterwards let him goe So Sylla with his twenty ensignes like vnto the fowlers that by their stales draw other birds into their netts hauing gotten forty ensignes from his enemies by his craft brought them away with him into his campe There it was that Carbo layd of Sylla that he had to fight with a foxe a lyon both but that the foxe did him more hurte mischiefe then the lyon After this Marius the younger hauing fourescore and fiue ensignes in his campe neere vnto the citie of SIGNIVM presented battell vnto Sylla who hauing very good desire to fight and specially on that day bicause the night before he had seene this vision in his dreame that he thought he sawe Marius the father who was deceased long before warning his sonne that he should come to him Sylla for this respect desired maruelously to fight that day and thereuppon caused Dolobella to come vnto him that was before lodged farre from him But the enemies stept betwene him and home and stopped his passage to keepe him from ioyning with Sylla Syllaes souldiers to the contrarie
burnt at a tryce and the fire going out fell a great shower of raine that held on till night so that it seemed good fortune following him euen to his ende did also helpe his obsequies after his death His tombe is to be seene in the fielde of Mars and they say that he him selfe made his owne epitaphe that is wrytten vpon it which was that no man did euer passe him neither in doing good to his frendes nor in doing mischiefe to his enemies THE COMPARISON OF Sylla with Lysander NOw that we haue at large also set forth the life of the ROMANE let vs come to compare them both together In this they are both a like that both of them grew to be great men rising of theÌ selues through their owne vertue but this only is proper to Lysander that all the offices dignities which he attained vnto in the common wealth were layed apon him through the peoples good wills and consents For he compelled them to nothinge neither vsurped he any extraordinarie authoritie vppon them contrarie to lawe for as the common saying is VVhere partialitie and discorde once doe raigne There vvicked men are most esteemde and rule vvith greatest gaine As at that time in ROME the people being corrupted and the state of gouernment vtterly subuerted and brought to nought to day there rose vp one tyranne to morow an other And therefore we may not wonder if Sylla vsurped and ruled all when such fellowes as Glaucia and Saturninus did both banish and driue out of ROME such men as Metellus was and where also in open assembly they slue Consuls sonnes in the market place and where force of armes was bought sold for gold and siluer with the which the souldiers were corrupted where they made new lawes with fire and sword and forced men to obey the same Yet I speake not this in reproache of him that in such troublesome times founde meanes to make him selfe the greatest man but to shew that I measure not his honesty by the dignity he grew vnto in so vnfortunate a city although he became the chiefe And as touching him that came from SPARTA at what time it florished most and was the best gouerned common weale he in all great causes and in most honorable offices was reputed for the best of all bests and the chiefe of all chiefes Wherefore it happened that the one resigned vp the authority to his contry men the citizens which they had geuen him who also restored it to him againe many and sundry times for the honor of his vertue did alwayes remaine and made him iustly accompted for the worthiest man Where the other being once only chosen generall of an army remained tenne yeares continually in warres and hostilitie making him selfe by force sometime Consull somtime vice Consull and somtime Dictator but alwayes continued a tyranne In ede Lysander attempted to chaunge and alter the state of gouernment in his contrie howbeit it was with greater lenity and more lawfully then Sylla did For he sought it by reason and good perswasion not by the sword neither would he make a chaunge of the whole at one selfe time as Sylla did but sought only to reforme the election of kinges The which thing according to nature doubtlesse seemed very iust that he which was the best amongest good men should be chosen king of that citie which was the chiefe ouer all GREECE not for her nobility but for her vertue only For like as a good hunter doth not seeke for the whelpe of a good dogge but for the good dogge him selfe not a wise man of armes also the colte that commeth of a good horse but the good horse him selfe Euen so he that taketh vpon him to stablish a civill gouernment committeth a fowle fault if he looke of whom his Prince should be borne and not what the Prince him selfe should be considering that the LACEDAEMONIANS them selues haue depriued diuerse of their kinges from their crowne and realme bicause they were not Princely but vnprofitable and good for nothing Vice although it be in a noble man yet is it alwayes ill of it selfe but vertue is honored for her selfe alone and not bicause she is placed with nobility Now for the wronges and iniuries they both committed the one did worke only to pleasure his frendes and the other to offend them to whom he was bounden For it is certaine that Lysander did great wronges to gratifie his familliars and the most parte of them whom he put to death was to establish the tyrannicall power of certaine his frendes Where Sylla sought for spite to take away his army from Pompey and the Admirality from Dolobelle which he him selfe geuen caused Lucretius Offella to be slaine openly in his owne sight bicause he sought to be Consull for recompence of the good seruice he had done for which cruelty of his causinge his owne frendes to beslaine in such sorte he made euery man a feard of him Furthermore their behauiors touching couetousnes and pleasure doth shew that the intent of the one was the desire of a good Prince and the other that of a tyranne For we doe not finde that Lysander for all his great Princely authority did euer vse any insolency or lasciuiousnes in his deedes but alwayes auoyded as much as a man might the reproache of this common prouerbe Lyons at home and Foxes abroade He led such a true LACONIAN life straightly reformed in all poyntes Where Sylla could neuer moderate his vnlawfull lustes neither for pouerty when he was young nor yet for age when it came vpon him But whilest he gaue lawes to the ROMANES touching matrimoniall honestie and chastitie him selfe in the meane time did nothing but follow loue and commit adultries as Salust wryteth By meanes whereof he so much impouerished ROME and left it so voyde of gold and siluer that for ready money he sold absolute freedome vnto the cities their confederates yet was it his dayly study to confiscate and take for forfeit the richest and most wealthiest houses in all the whole citie of ROME But all this spoyle and hauoke was nothing in comparison of that which he dayly cast away vpon his ieasters flatterers What sparing or measure may we thinke he kept in his giftes at priuate banckets when openly in the day time all the people of ROME being present to see him sell the goodes which he had caused to be confiscate he made one of his frendes and familiars to trusse vp a great deale of household stuffe for a very litle price And when any other had out bidden his price that the crier had cried it out a lowde then was he angry and sayd My frendes I haue great wrong done me here not to suffer me sell the spoile I haue gotten at mine owne pleasure and dispose it as I list my selfe Where Lysander contrarily sent to the common wealth of SPARTA with other money the very presentes that were geuen to
for both the kinges when they were in the citie did eate together in one halle Then Agesilaus knowing that Agesipolis as him selfe was geuen to loue would euer minister talke to him of the goodly young boyes of the citie intising him to loue some one of them which he him selfe did loue and therein he was both his companion and helper For in these LACONIAN loues there was no manner of dishonestie offered but a true affection and honest regarde to frame the boy beloued vnto vertue and honest condicions as we haue more amply declared in the life of Lycurgus Agesilaus by this meanes hauinge the whole authoritie aboue all men in the citie in his handes made his halfe brother Teleutias Generall by sea and him selfe with the armie by land went to besiege the citie of CORINTHE where with his brothers helpe by sea he tooke the long walls of the same The ARGIVES which kept CORINTHE at that time at Agesilaus arriuall there were solemnisinge the feast of the Isthmian games who made them flie euen as they came from sacrificing vnto the god Neptune driuing them to leaue all their preparation and solemnity Then diuers banished men of CORINTHE that were in his armie besought him that he woulde keepe these Isthmian games But he denyed them yet was contented they shoulde them selues solemnize them and so him selfe remained there during the time of the feast for their safetie Afterwardes when Agesilaus was gone thence the ARGIVES returned and did celebrate the Isthmian games and there weresome of them which hauing wonne the game at the first did also winne it at the second time and others that were victours before were this second time ouercome Whereupon Agesilaus sayd that the ARGIVES shewed them selues rancke cowardes that esteeming so much as they did these playes and sacrifices they durst not once offer to fight with him for defence of the same For him selfe touchinge such like sportes and games he euer thought it good to keepe a meane not to be too curious For he was contented to honor such solemne assemblies and common feastes with his presence as were commonly vsed in SPARTA tooke great pleasure to see the sportes betwene the yong boyes and girles of SPARTA howbeit touching the games he seemed not to be acquainted with some of them wherein others had great delight As we read that Callipides an excellent stage player wonderfully esteemed of among the GRAECIANS for a singular man in that arte meeting Agesilaus on a time at the first did his duetie to him and then arrogantly thrust him selfe amonge them that walked with him thinking the king would haue made much of him but perceiuing he made no countenaunce to him in the end he asked him O king Agesilaus doe you not know me Agesilaus looking apon him aunswered what art not thou Callipides the stage player And so made no further account of him An other time beinge desired to heare a man that naturally counterfeated the nightingalls voyce he would not heare him saying I haue oftentimes heard the nightingall it selfe An other time also when Menecrates the Phisitian hauing by good fortune cured a desperate disease called him selfe Iupiter and arrogantly vsurped that name presuminge in a letter he wrote vnto Agesilaus to subscribe it in this manner Menecrates Iupiter vnto king Agesilaus greeting Agesilaus wrote againe vnto him Agesilaus vnto Menecrates health So whilest Agesilaus was in the territorie of CORINTHE where he had taken the temple of Iuno beholding his souldiers forraging spoiling the contrie rounde about Ambassadors came to him from THEBES to pray him to make peace with the THEBANS But he that alwayes hated the THEBANS and besides that thought it then very requisite for the good successe of his doinges to make light of it seemed as he neither heard nor saw them that spake vnto him But euen at that very instant as by diuine reuenge to crie quittance there fell a great mishappe vpon him For before the Ambassadors were gone from him he had newes that one of their bandes called the mothers were slaine euery man by Iphicrates which was the greatest losse that they in long time before had susteined For they lost a great number of valliant souldiers all naturall LACEDAEMONIANS who being well armed euery man were slaine by naked or light armed hierlinges Thereupon Agesilaus went straight into the field with hope to saue them or at the least to be reuenged But receiuing certaine intelligence by the way that they were all slaine he returned againe to the temple of Iuno from whence he came and then sent for the Ambassadors of the BOEOTIANS to geue them audience But they to requite his former disdaine vnto them made no manner of speache of peace but onely requested him to suffer them to enter into CORINTHE Agesilaus being offended aunswered them if it be to see your frendes triumphe of their victorie ye may safely do it to morrow Thereupon the next morning taking the Ambassadors with him he destroyed the CORINTHIANS contrie euen to the walles of their citie And when he had made the Ambassadors see that the citizens of CORINTHE durst not come out into the field to defend their contrie he gaue them leaue to depart Then taking the remaine of that band that was ouerthrowen which by flight had escaped he brought them into LACEDAEMON againe alwayes remouing his campe before day and neuer encamped till darke night bicause the ARCADIANS their mortall enemies should not reioyce at their losse After this voyage to gratefie the ACHAIANS he entred in with them into the contry of ACARNANIA brought great spoyles from thence after he had ouercomeÌ them in battel Moreouer when the ACHAIANS besought him to remaine with them all the winter to keepe their enemies from sowing of their grownd he made them aunswere he would not For sayde he they will be afraide of warre the next yeare when all their fieldes shall be sowen with corne and so in deede it came to passe For the army returning againe they made peace incontinently with the ACHAIANS About that time Pharnabazus and Conon with the king of PERSIENS armye being Lordes of the sea without let of any destroyed and spoyled all the coast of LACONIA Moreouer the city of ATHENS did reare vp her walls againe by helpe of Pharnabazus money wherewith he had furnished them Thereuppon the LACEDAEMONIANS thought good to make peace with the king of PERSIA and to that ende sent Antalcidas Ambassadour vnto Tiribazus most shamely and cruelly betraying to the king the GRAECIANS inhabiting in ASIA for whose libertie Agesilaus had made warres with him before So it was Agesilaus happe not to be foyled with any part of his shame for Antalcidas that was his enemie sought all the meanes he could to conclude this peace for that he saw warre did daily increase the authoritie honor and fame of Agesilaus Notwithstanding he aunswered one then that reproued him for that the LACEDAEMONIANS did
rashe of nature and as insolent and braue in his doinges as in his wordes that thereby he stirred vppe and brought vppon him as his enemies many great and mighty Princes For euen at that present time he said that he would as easely disperse and scatter a sunder that conspiracie against him as chowghes or other litle birdes comming to pecke vp the corne newly sowen are easely scared awaye with a stone or making any litle noyse So he caried to the field with him aboue three score and tenne thowsand footemen tenne thowsand horsemen and three score and fifteene Elephantes His enemies had three score and foure thowsande footemen and fiue hundred horsemen more then he with foure hundred Elephants and six score cartes of warre When the two armies were one neere vnto the other me thinkes he had some imaginacion in his head that chaunged his hope but not his corage For in all other battells and conflictes hauing commonly vsed to looke bigge of the matter to haue a lowde high voyce and to vse braue wordes and sometime also euen in the chiefest of all the battell to geue some pleasant mocke or other shewing a certaine trust he had in him selfe and a contempt of his enemie then they sawe him oftentimes alone and verie pensiue without euer a word to any man One day he called all his armie together and presented his sonne vnto the souldiers recommending him vnto them as his heire and successor and talked with him alone in his tent Whereat men maruelled the more bicause that he neuer vsed before to imparte to any man the secrets of his counsell and determination no not to his owne sonne but did all things of him selfe and then commaunded that thing openly to be done which he had secretly purposed For proofe hereof it is said Demetrius being but a young man asked him on a time when the campe should remoue and that Antigonus in anger aunswered him art thou affrayed thou shalt not heare the sownd of the trompet Furthermore there fell out many ill signes and tokens that killed their harts For Demetrius dreamed that Alexander the great appeaâed armed vnto him at all peeces and that he asked him what word or signall of battell they were determined to geue at the day of the battell He aunswered that they were determined to geue Iupiter and Victorie Then said Alexander I will goe to thine enemies that shall receiue me And afterwardes at the very day of the ouerthrow when all their armie were set in battell ray Antigonus comming out of his tent had such a great fall that he fell flat on his face on the ground and hurte him selfe verie sorely So when he was taken vp then lifting vp his handes to heauen he made his prayers vnto the goddes that it would please them to graunt him victorie or sodaine death without great paine before he shoulde see him selfe vanquished and his armie ouerthrowen When both battells came to ioyne and that they fought hand to hand Demetrius that had the most parte of the horsemen with him went and gaue charge vpon Antiochus the sonne of Seleucus and fought it out so valliantly on his side that he ouerthrewe his enemies and put them to flight But too fondly following the chase of them that fledde and out of time he marred all and was the occasion of the losse of his victorie For when he returned from the chase he could not ioyne againe with their footemen bicause the Elephants were betwene both Then Seleucus perceiuing Antigonus battell was naked of horsemen he did not presently set vpon them but turned at one side as though he woulde enuiron them behinde and made them affrayed yet making head as he would charge them only to geue them leasure to come on their side as they did For the most parte of Antigonus hoast did forsake him and yeelded vnto his enemies the rest of them fled euery man And when a great trowpe of men together went with great furie to geue charge on that side where Antigonus was one of them that were about him sayd vnto him your grace had neede take heede for these men come to charge vs He aunswered againe but how should they know me And if they did my sonne Demetrius will come and helpe me This was his last hope and still he looked euerie way if he could see his sonne comming towards him vntill at length he was slaine with arrowes darts pikes For of all his frendes and souldiers there taried not one man by his bodie but Thorax of the citie of LARISSA in THESSALIE Now the battell hauing suche successe as you haue heard the Kings and Princes that had won so glorious a victorie as if they had cut a great bodie into sundrie peeces they deuided Antigonus kingdome among them and euerie man had his part of all the prouinces and contries which Antigonus kept adding that vnto their other dominions which they possessed affore Nowe Demetrius flying with all possible speede that might be with fiue thowsand footemen and foure thowsand horsemen he got to the citie of EPHESVS where euerie man mistrusted that being needie of money as he was he would not spare the temple of Diana in EPHESVS but would rifle all the gold and siluer in it And in contrarie maner also Demetrius being affrayed of his souldiers least they would spoyle it against his will he sodainly departed thence and sayled towardes GRAECE putting his greatest confidence affiance in the ATHENIANS bicause he had left his wife Deidamia at ATHENS with shippes and some money supposing he could goe no whether with better safety in his aduersitie then to ATHENS of whose good wills he thought him selfe assured Wherefore when Ambassadors of the ATHENIANS came vnto him and found him not farre from the Iles CYCLADES as he sailed with great speede towardes ATTICA and that they had declared vnto him he should forbeare to come vnto their citie bicause the people had made an ordinance to suffer no moe kings to come into ATHENS and that they had sent Deidamia his wife honorablie accompanied vnto the citie of MEGARA then was Demetrius for verie anger passion of minde cleane out of countenaunce although vntill that time he had paciently borne his aduersitie and his hart had neuer failed him But this nipped him to the harte when he sawe that contrarie to exspectacion the ATHENIANS had deceiued and failed him in his greatest neede and that in his aduersitie he found their former frendshippe counterfeate and altogether dissembled Whereby most plainly appeareth that the most vncerteine and deceiueable prose of peoples good wills and cities towardes Kings and Princes are the immesurable and extreame honors they doe vnto them For sith it is so that the trueth and certainty of honor proceedeth from the good will of those that giue it the feare which the common people commonly stand in of the power of kings is sufficient cause for them to
make them gouernors and heades of the same Pitheus grandfather to Theseus on the mothers side was one of his sonnes and founded the litle city of TROEZEN and was reputed to be one of the wisest men of his time But the knowledge and wisedom which onely caried estimacion at that time consisted altogether in graue sentences and morall sayinges As those are which wanne the Poet Hesiodus such fame for his booke intituled The workes and dayes in the which is read euen at this present this goodly sentence which they father vpon Pitheus Thou shalt performe thy promise and thy pay to hyred men and that vvithout delay And this doth Aristotle the Philosopher himselfe testifie and the Poet Euripides also calling Hippolytus the scholler of the holy Pitheus doth sufficiently declare of what estimacion he was But AEgeus desiring as they say to know how he might haue children went vnto the city of DELPHES to the oracle of Apollo where by Apolloes Nunne that notable prophecy was geuen him for an aunswer The which did forbid him to touch or know any woman vntill he was returned againe to ATHENS And bicause the words of this prophecy were somewhat darke hard he tooke his way by the city of TROEZEN to tell it vnto Pitheus The wordes of the prophecy were these O thou vvhich art a gemme of perfect grace plucke not the tappe out of thy trusty toonne Before thou do returne vnto thy place in Athens tovvne from vvhence thy race doth roonne Pitheus vnderstanding the meaning perswaded him or rather cunningly by some deuise deceiued him in such sorte that he made him to lye with his daughter called AEthra AEgeus after he had accompanied with her knowing that she was Pitheus daughter with whom he had lyen and douting that he had gotten her with child left her a sword and a payer of shoes the which he hidde vnder a great hollow stone the hollownes wherof serued iust to receiue those things which he layed vnder it and made no liuing creature priuy to it but her alone straightly charging her that if she happened to haue a sonne when he were come to mans state of strength to remoue the stone and to take those things from vnder it which he left there that she should then sende him vnto him by those tokens as secretly as she could that no body els might knowe of it For he did greatly feare the children of one called Pallas the which laye in wayte and spyall by all the meanes they could to kill him only of despight bicause he had no children they being fiftie brethern and all begotten of one father This done he departed from her And AEthra within fewe moneths after was deliuered of a goodly sonne the which from that time was called Theseus and as some say so called bicause of the tokens of knowledge his father had layed vnder the stone Yet some others write that it was afterwardes at ATHENS when his father knewe him and allowed him for his sonne But in the meane time during his infancie childehood he was brought vp in the house of his graÌdfather Pitheus vnder the gouernmeÌt teaching of one called CoÌnidas his schoolemaster in honour of whom the ATHENIANS to this daye doe sacrifice a weather the daye before the great feaste of Theseus hauing more reason to honour the memorye of this gouernour then of a Silanion and of a Parrhesius to whom they doe honour also bicause they paynted and caste mowldes of the images of Theseus Now there was a custome at that time in GRECE that the yong men after their infancie and growth to mans state went vnto the cittie of DELPHES to offer parte of their heares in the temple of Apollo Theseus also went thither as other did and some saye that the place where the ceremonie of this offering was made hath euer sence kept the olde name and yet continueth Theseia Howbeit he dyd not shaue his head but before only as Homer sayeth like the facion of the ABANTES in olde time and this manner of shauing of heares was called for his sake Theseida And as concerning the ABANTES in trothe they were the very first that shaued them selues after this facion neuertheles they learned it not of the ARABIANS as it was thought of some neither dyd they it after the imitation of the MISSIANS But bicause they were warlike and valliant men which did ioyne neere vnto their enemie in battell and aboue all men of the worlde were skilfullest in fight hande to hande and woulde keepe their grounde as the Poet Archilochus witnesseth in these verses They vse no slynges in foughten fields to have nor bended bovves but svvords and trenchant blades For vvhen fierce Mars beginneth for to raue in bloody field then euery man inuades His fiercest foe and fighteth hand to hand then doe they deeds right cruell to reconpt For in this vvise the braue and vvarlike bande Doe shevv their force vvhich come from Negrepont The cause why they were thus shauen before was for that their enemies should not haue the vauntage to take them by the heares of the head while they were fighting And for this selfe same consideration Alexander the great commaunded his captaines to cause all the MACEDONIANS to shaue their beards bicause it is the easiest holde and readiest for the hande a man can haue of his enemie in fighting to holde him fast by the same But to returne to Theseus AEthra his mother had euer vnto that time kept it secret from him who was his true father And Pitheus also had geuen it out abroade that he was begotten of Neptune bicause the TROEZENIANS haue this god in great veneration and doe worshippe him as patron and protector of their cittie making offerings to him of their first fruites and they haue for the marke and stampe of their money the three picked mace which is the signe of Neptune called his Trident But after he was comen to the prime and lustines of his youth and that with the strength of his bodie he shewed a great courage ioyned with a naturall wisedome and stayednes of wit then his mother brought him to the place where this great hollowe stone laye and telling him truely the order of his birth and by whom he was begotten made him to take his fathers tokens of knowledge which he had hidden there gaue him counsell to goe by sea to ATHENS vnto him Theseus easilye lyft vp the stone and tooke his fathers tokens from vnder it Howbeit he answered playnely that he would not goe by sea notwithstanding that it was a great deale the safer waye and that his mother and grandfather both had instantly intreated him bicause the waye by lande from TROEZEN to ATHENS was very daungerous all the wayes being besett by robbers and murderers For the worlde at that time brought forth men which for strongnesse in their armes for swyftnes of feete and for
the people also it was graunted her that she might marie if she thought it good but yet she would not accept the benefit of that offer Thus you heare the reporte how this thing happened Tarquinius then being past hope of euer entring into his Kingdome againe went yet vnto the THVSCANS for succour which were very glad of him and so they leauied a great armie together hoping to haue put him in his Kingdome againe The Consuls also hearing thereof went out with their armie against him Both the armies presented them selues in battell raye one against another in the holy places consecrated to the goddes wherof the one was called the wodde Arsia and the other the meadowe AEsuuia And as both armies beganne to geue charge vpon eche other Aruns the eldest sonne of king Tarquine and the Consul Brutus encouÌtered together not by chaunce but sought for of set purpose to execute the deadly fode and malice they dyd beare eache other The one as against a tyrante and enemie of the libertie of his countrie the other as against him that had bene chief authour worker of their exile and expulsion So they set spurres to their horses so soone as they had spyed eche other with more fury then reason and fought so desperately together that they both fell starke dead to the ground The first onset of the battell being so cruell the end thereof was no lesse bloudy vntill both the armies hauing receyued and done like damage to eche other were parted by a maruelous great tempest that fell vpon them Nowe was Valerius maruelously perplexed for that he knewe not which of them wanne the field that daye seeing his souldiers as sorowfull for the great losse of their men lying dead before them as they were glad of the slaughter and victorie of their enemies For to viewe the multitude of the slaine bodies of either side the number was so equall in sight that it was very hard to iudge of which side fell out the greatest slaughter so that both the one and the other viewing by the eye the remaine of their campe were persuaded in their opinion that they had rather lost then woÌne coniecturing a farre of the fall of their enemies The night being come such things fell out as maye be looked for after so terrible a battell For when both campes were all layed to rest they saye the wodde wherein they laye incamped quaked and trembled and they heard a voyce saye that onely one man more was slaine on the THVSCANS side than on the ROMAINES parte Out of doubt this was some voyce froÌ heauen for the ROMAINES thereupoÌ gaue a shrill showte as those whose hartes receyued a newe quickening spirite or corage The THVSCANS on the contrarie parte were so affrayed that the most parte of them stole out of the campe scattered here and there there remained behind about the number of fiue thousand men whom the ROMAINES tooke prisoners euery one and had the spoile of their campe The carkasses were viewed afterwards they found that there were slaine in that battell eleuen thousand and three hundred of the THVSCANS and of the ROMAINES so many sauing one This battell was sought as they saye the last daye of Februarie and the Consul Valerius triumphed being the first of the Consuls that euer entered into ROME triumphing vpon a chater drawen with foure horses which sight the people found honorable goodly to beholde were not offended withall as some seeme to reporte nor yet dyd enuy him for that he beganne it For if it had bene so that custome had not bene followed with so good acceptatioÌ nor had coÌtinued so many yeres as it dyd afterwards They much commended also the honour he dyd to his fellowe Consul Brutus in setting out his funeralles obsequies at the which he made a funerall oration in his praise They did so like please the ROMAINES that they haue euer since continued that custome at the buriall of any noble man or great personage that he is openly praised at his buriall by the worthiest man that liueth among them They reporte this funerall oration is farre more auncient then the first that was made in GRECE in the like case onles they will confirme that which the orator Anaximenes hath written that the manner of praising the dead at their funeralls was first of all instituted by Solon But they dyd most enuye Valerius and beare him grudge bicause Brutus whom the people did acknowledge for father of their libertie would neuer be alone in office but had procured twise that they should appoint Valerius fellowe Consul with him This man in contrariwise sayed the people taking vpon him alone the rule soueraintie sheweth plainely he will not be Brutus successour in his Consulshippe but Tarquinius self in the Kingdome For to great purpose was it to praise Brutus in wordes to followe Tarquinius in deedes hauing borne before him selfe only all the mases the axes and the roddes when he cometh abroade out of his owne house which is farre greater and more stately then the Kings palace which he him self ouerthrewe And to saye truely Valerius dwelt in a house a litle to sumptuously built seated vpon the haÌging of the hill called mount Velia bicause it stoode highe it ouerlooked all the market place so that any man might easely see from thence what was done there Furthermore it was very ill to come to it but when he came out of his house it was a maruelous pompe and state to see him come downe from so highe a place with a traine after him that caried the maiestie of a Kings courte But herein Valerius left a noble example shewing howe much it importeth a noble man magistrate ruling weighty causes to haue his eares open to heare and willingly to receyue free speache in steade of flatteries playne trothe in place of lyes For being enformed by some of his frieÌds how the people misliked complained of it he stoode not in his owne conceit neither was angrie with them but forthwith set a worlde of workmen vpon it earely in the morning before breake of daye coÌmaunded them to plucke down his house to rase it to the ground Insomuch as the next day following wheÌ the ROMAINES were gathered together in the market place sawe this great sodaine ruine they much commended the noble acte minde of Valerius in doing that he dyd but so were they angrie and sorie both to see so fayer and stately a buylt house which was an ornament to the cittie ouerthrowen vpon a sodaine Much like in comparison to a man whom through spite and enuie they had vniustly put to death and to see their chief magistrate also like a straunger and a vacabonde compelled to seeke his lodging in another mans house For his friends receyued him into their houses vntill such time as the people had geuen him a place
are spoken of this Furius Camillus this seemeth most straunge and wonderfull aboue the rest That he hauing borne the chiefest offices of charge in his countrie and hauing done many notable and worthy deedes in the same as one that was chosen fiue times Dictator and had triumphed foure times and had wonne him selfe the name title of the seconde founder of ROME and yet neuer came to be Consul But the only cause thereof was that the common weale of ROME stoode then in such state and sorte The people were then at dissention with the Senate They would chuse no more Consuls but other kynde of gouernours whom they called Tribuni militares these dyd all things with like power authoritie as the Consuls yet were they nothing so odious vnto the people by reason of the number that was of them For it was some hope to them that could ill beare the rule of the small number of nobilitie that the gouernment of the state being put into sixe and not into two officers hands their rule would be the easier and tollerabler Nowe Camillus being at that time in his best credit and authoritie and in the prime and glorie of his doings dyd not desire to be made Consul without the good-will of the people although whilest he was in authoritie there were many times Consuls created But to all other offices and dignities he was called and chosen He behaued him selfe in such sorte that when he was alone he made his authoritie comon to other and when he had companions associates the glorie of all redounded to him self alone The cause whereof was his modestie on the one side for he commaunded euer without enuie and his great wisedome and sufficiencie on the other side for the which all others willingly gaue him place and yelded to him The house of the Furians being at that time of no great fame he was the first that beganne to set him self forwards For in a great battell which was fought against the AEques and Volsces he being but a priuate man at armes vnder the Dictator Posthumius Tubertus was the first that riding out of the army aduaunced him selfe and gaue the charge And being ronne into the thighe at that time with a staffe broken vpon his thighe he plucked the trunchen out and retired not for all that but geuing chardge againe vpon the stowest of the enemies he fought it out so valliantly to the encoraging of other that he was the chief cause they turned their backes Whereupon to requite his seruice done at that time besides other honours they dyd him they made him Censor an office at that time of great preheminence dignitie In his office of Censorshippe he dyd two notable acts The one very honest when he brought men that were not maried to marie the women whom the warres had left widows which were in nuÌber many To this he got them partly be persuasion partly by threatnings to set rouÌd fines vpoÌ their heads that refused The other very necessary in that he brought the orphanes to be coÌtributories vnto taxes subsidies which before payed nothing The cause thereof was the continuall warres about the which the common weale susteined great charges but specially about the siege of the citie of the VEIANS which some call VENETANIANS that was a very sore burden to theÌ at that time For it was the capitall cittie of all THVSCAN the which for store of armour nuÌber of souldiers was nothing inferiour vnto the cittie of ROME For the VEIANS being groweÌ to stomake corage in time by reason of their wealth prosperitie for the sundry great battells they had fought against the ROMAINES that conteÌded with them for glory and empire now it fell so out that they finding them selues weakened by many great ouerthrowes which they had receyued of the ROMAINES they did let fall their former peacokes brauery ambition to byd them battell any more in the fielde Howbeit the inhabitants of the cittie of VEIES hauing raised the walles made very great high raÌpers beganne to fortifie them selues made good prouision for armour munition besides store of corne shotte other necessary things they valliantly without feare of any thing defended the siege of the ROMAINES that coÌtinued long time was no lesse hard painefull vnto theÌ that did besiege then it was vnto those that were besieged For where the ROMAINES were woÌt before time to keepe their houses in the winter season and the field ony in the sommer time that was the first time they were compelled by the captaines and Tribuni militares to buylde fortes and to intrenche their campe with a wall euen in their enemies countrie and to winter abroade as they were wont to lye in the campe in sommer Nowe this siege had continued seuen whole yeres together The captaines were burdened that they dyd not their dueties nor stoode manfully to their charge whereupon in the end they were discharged and other captaines placed in their roomes to followe the siege Among those Camillus was one whom then the seconde time they created Tribunus militaris Who notwithstanding dyd nothing then in that siege bicause it was his happe by lot to make warres vpon the PHALERIANS and the CAPENATES These people whilest the ROMAINES were occupied other where had inuaded their countrie and done them great harme during the time of their warre with the THVSCANS But Camillus hauing ouerthrowen a great number of them in the fielde had the rest in chase and draue them to take their cittie and dyd shut them vp within their owne walles The chaunce that happened at the lake of ALBANVS about the time the THVSCAN warres were greatest dyd maruelously amate the ROMAINES being no lesse wounderfull then the most straunge and vncrediblest thing that could be tolde by man For they could not finde out the cause of it by common reason nor any naturall grounde considering it was in the later end of Autumne and sommer was ended and that there had not bene much rayne nor notable sowthewinds And although there are many lakes many brooks riuers many springs and other waters in ITALIE yet some of them dried vp altogether other ranne but faintely by reason of the drought and all the riuers then were as they are wont to be commonly in sommer very lowe and there was scante any water But the lake ALBANVS contrariwise that cometh from no other place neither runneth any whether out of him selfe being enuironned all about with hilles and mountaines and where the earthe is good beganne to swell and rise to euery mans sight wihtout any cause at all but secret and hidden vnto the goddes alone and went allwayes increasing alongest those hilles sides vntill suche time as it came to be euen with the height of the highest mountaine gathering vpwardes still without any waues or tempest of weather at all This at the first made poore
a certen booke he wrote of the soule that there was newes come from the West parte that an armie which came from the HYPERBORIANS had taken a cittie of GRECE called ROME situated in that country neere the great sea But I wonder not that Heraclides who hath written so many other fables lyes dyd amplifie the true newes of the taking of ROME with adding to of his owne deuise of the HYPERBORIANS by the great sea It is a most true tale that Aristotle the philosopher had certain knowledge it was taken by the GAVLES howbeit he sayeth also it was recouered againe afterwards by one called Lucius where in deede it was by Marcus Camillus not by Lucius But all this in manner is spoken by coÌiecture Moreouer Brennus being entred ROME dyd appointe parte of his souldiers to besiege those which were gotten into mouÌt Capitoll And he with the residue of his armie marched on towards the market place where when he saw the auncieÌt Senatours set so grauely in their chayers spake neuer a word nor offered once to rise though they saw their enemies come armed towards them neither chaunged couÌtenance nor culler at all but leaned softely on their staues they had in their hands seeming to be nothing affrayed nor abashed but looked one vpon another he maruelously wondred at it This their so straunge manner at the first dyd so dampe the GAVLES that for a space they stoode still and were in doubt to come neere to touche them fearing least they had bene some goddes vntill suche time as one of them went boldely vnto Marcus Papyrius layed his hand fayer softely vpon his loÌg bearde But Papyrius gaue him such a rappe on his pate with his staffe that he made the bloud ronne about his eares This barbarous beaste was in such a rage with the blowe that he drue out his sworde and slewe him The other souldiers also killed all the rest afterwardes and so the GAVLES continued many dayes spoyling and sacking all thinges they founde in the houses and in the ende dyd set them all a fyer and destroyed them euery one for despite of those that kept the forte of the Capitoll that would not yeld vpon their summons but valliantly repulsed them when they scaled the walles For this cause they rased the whole cittie and put all to the sworde that came in their handes young and olde man woman and childe Nowe this siege continuing long and the ROMAINES holding them out very stowtely vittells beganne to growe scante in the campe of the GAVLES in so much as they were driuen of force to seeke it abroade without the cittie Hereupon they deuided them selues whereof some remained still with the King at the siege of the Capitoll and the rest went a forraging and spoyling all the champion countrie and villages thereaboutes scattered as it were by bandes companies some here some there fearing nothing nor passing vpon watch or warde they liued in suche securitie of their victorie Howbeit the greatest company amongest them went by fortune towardes the cittie of ARDEA where Camillus dwelt liuing like a priuate man medling with no matters of state from the time of his exile vntill that present time But then he beganne not to bethinke him self as a man that was in safety and might haue escaped the handes of his enemies but rather sought to deuise and finde out all the meanes he could to subdewe them if occasion were so offered Whereupon considering that the inhabitants of ARDEA where enough in number to set vpon them although saynte harted and cowardly by reason of the slouth and negligence of their gouernours and captaines who had no manner of experience in the warres he beganne to cast out these words among the young men That they should not thinke the ROMAINES misfortune fell vpon them through the valliantnes of the GAVLES nor that their calamitie who had refused good counsaill had happened vnto them by any worke or acte of the GAVLES hauing done nothing for their parte to make them carie awaye the victorie but that they should thinke it was no other thing but fortune alone that would needes shewe her power Therefore that it were nowe a notable and honorable enterprise although somewhat daungerous to driue these straungers and barbarous people out of their countrie considering that the only ende of their victorie was but to destroye and consume as fire all that fell into their hands Wherefore if they would but only take a good lusty harte and corage vnto them he would with opportunitie and place assure them the victorie without any daunger The young men were pleased with these words of life comforte Whereupon Camillus went to breake the matter also vnto the magistrates counsellours and hauing drawen them by persuasion vnto this enterprise he armed all that were of age to carie armor would not suffer a man to goe out of the cittie for feare least the enemies which were not farre of should haue intelligeÌce of the same Now after the GAVLES had roÌne ouer all the chaÌpion countrie were loden with all sorts of spoyles they did encaÌpe them selues negligeÌtly in open fields neuer charged watch nor warde but hauing their full cariage of wine layed them down to slepe made no noyse at all in their caÌpe Camillus being aduertised therof by his seuerall skowtes caused the ARDEANS with as litle noyse as might be forthwith to goe out into the fields hauing marched somwhat rouÌdly the distance betwene the cittie the caÌpe of the GAVLES they came thither much about midnight Then he made his soldiers make great showtes cries the truÌpets to besouÌded on euery side to put a feare in their enemies who yet with all the lowde noyse they made could hardly be made to wake they were so deadly droÌke Yet there were some notwithstaÌding that for feare to be takeÌ tardy dyd bustle vp at this sodaine noyse coming to them selues fell to their weapons to resist Camillus which were slayne by and by The rest the greatest number of them laye here there scattered in the middest of the field without any weapon dead a sleepe starcke droncke with wine were put to the sworde neuer strake stroke Those that fled out of the campe that night which were but fewe in number were ouerthrowen also the next daye by the horse men which followed killed them as they tooke them straggling here there in the fieldes The brute of this victorie was blowen abroade incontinently through all the townes and villages thereabouts which caused many young men to come ioyne them selues to Camillus but specially the ROMAINES desired the same that had saued theÌ selues in the cittie of VEIES after the battell lost at ALLIA who made their mones amongest them selues there saying O goddes what a captaine hath fortune taken from the cittie of ROME What honour hath the cittie of ARDEA by
time knowing that the Trib militares with their army were straightly besieged by the LATINES and VOLSCES he was inforced to arme all the old men who for very age were priuiledged from further seruice in warres And hauing fetched a great coÌpasse about mouÌt Martian bicause he would not be seene of his enemies he came to lodge his campe behind them where he raised fiers to make the ROMAINES knowe that were besieged how he was come which as sone as they pceiued they tooke to theÌ corage again determined to fight But the LATINES VOLSCES kept within their caÌpe dyd entrenche fortifie theÌselues with a wall of wodd which they layed a crosse bicause they saw they were beset both before behind determined to tary the releefe of a new supply as well of their owne as of some further ayde besides froÌ the THVSCANS which thing Camillus pceauing fearing least they should serue him as he had already haÌdled theÌ by coÌpassing of him again behind he thought it necessary to preueÌt this So coÌsidering the inclosure fortificatioÌ of their caÌpe was all of wodde and that euery morning commonly there came a great winde from the side of the mountaines he made prouision of a number of fire brandes And leading out his armie into the fields by breake of day he appointed one parte of them to geue charge vpon the enemies on the one side with great noyse and showting and he with the other parte determined to rayse fier on the coÌtrary side from whence the winde should come looking for oportunitie to doe the same When he sawe the sunne vp and the winde beginning to whistle blowing a good gale from the side of the hilles that the skirmishe was begonne on the other side then he gaue a signall vnto the companie he led with him to set vpon the enemies and made them throwe into the inclosure of their campe diuers potts dartes with fire so that the flame finding matter to catche holde of in this inclosure of wodde trees layed ouerthwart dyd raise straight an exceding great flame in the ayer still got waye inwards into the LATINES caÌpe Whereupon the LATINES being vnprouided of present remedy to quenche the flame and seeing their campe a fyre all about their cares they gathered them selues together at the first in a very small roome Neuertheles they were inforced in the ende to get them into the field there they founde their enemies ready armed in battell raye So as fewe of those escaped that came into the field their fellowes that remained within their caÌpe were burnt to death with fyre vntill the ROMAINES them selues came to quench it for greedines of their spoyle goodes When all this was done Camillus left his sonne in the campe to keepe the prisoners spoyles he himself with the rest of the armie went to inuade his enemies contrie where he tooke the cittie of AEQVES Then after he had ouercome the VOLSCES he led his army presently from thence vnto the cittie of SVTRIVM For he had not yet harde of their misfortune Therefore he hasted him self to ayde them bicause he thought they were yet besieged by the THVSCANS But suche was their harde fortune that they had already yelded vp their cittie by composition saued no parte of their goodes but the very clothes they had on their backs So being turned out of all they had they met Camillus by the waye as they were wandring abroad lamenting their miserie with their wiues litle young children whose miserie went to the very harte of Camillus when he beheld their lamentable state Furthermore when he sawe the ROMAINES weepe for pittie also to see the mone that these vnfortunate people made vnto him and that it greued them hartely to beholde their great mischaunce he determined with him self not to deferre reuenge but presently to goe the selfe same daye before the cittie of SVTRIVM imagining that he should finde the THVSCANS out of order without keeping watch attending nothing but making good cheere bicause they had newly taken a wealthy riche cittie where they had left neuer an enemy in the same to hurte them neither feared any abroad to come neere to assaulte them And in deede it fell out rightly as he gessed For he had not only passed through the territories of the cittie without any intelligence geuen to the enemies within the same but he was come to the very gates and had taken the walles before they hard any thing of his coming by reason they neither kept watch nor warde but were dispersed abroade in the cittie in euery house eating and drincking droncke together Insomuch as when they knew their enemies were already within the cittie they were so full fraight with meate wine that the most of their wittes serued them not so much as to flye buttaried vntill they were slaine or taken like beastes in the houses Thus was the cittie of SVTRIVM twise taken in one daye And it chaunced that those which had wonne it lost it those which had lost it recouered it againe by Camillus meanes Who deserued both the honour and entrie of triumphe into ROME the which wanne him no lesse good will and glorie then the two first before had done prayse and gotten fame For euen his greatest enemies that most spighted and enuied his former noble actes ascribing them rather to fortune that fauored him then to his valliautnes or worthines were forced nowe by this deede of his to confesse that his wisedome and valliantnes deserued prayse and commendation to the skyes Camillus of all his enemies had one most bitter to him which was Marcus Manlius that was the first man that gaue the GAVLES the repulse that night they had entered the walles of the Capitoll and had thought to haue taken it whereupon they gaue him the surname of Capitolinus He aspiring to be the chief of the cittie finding no direct waye to exceede the glory of Camillus tooke the broade highe waye of them that practise tyrannie For he beganne to flatter the common people and specially those that were indebted he tooke vpon him to defende their causes and pleaded their case at the barre against their creditours Sometimes he tooke the debters out of the creditours handes and caried them awaye by force that for lacke of abilitie to paye were by rigour of the lawe condemned to be bonde slaues But by this practise in shorte time he gotte him a maruelous number of suche needie followers and poore men that the noble men and honest citizens were affrayed of the insolent partes they played and of the continuall troubles and tumultes they daylie stirred vp in the market place Therefore suspecting the worst in this case they dyd choose Quintus Capitolinus Dictator who caused the sayed Manlius immediately to be apprehended and committed him to prison Whereupon the people beganne to chaunge their apparell
which they were neuer wont to doe but in great and common calamities But the Senate fearing least some coÌmotion would ryse hereupon they dyd set him at libertie againe He being thus out of prison was no whit the better nor wiser thereby but dyd still stirre vp the commons more boldely and seditiously then before Then was Camillus chosen againe Tribunus militaris and Manlius was accused in his time of office But when this matter came to pleading the sight of the Capitoll troubled his accusers much For the very place it selfe where Manlius had repulsed the GAVLES by night and defended the Capitoll was easely seene from the market place where the matter was a hearing and he him selfe pointing with his hande shewed the place vnto the goddes and weeping tenderly he layed before them the remembraunce of the hazarde of his life in fighting for their safety This dyd moue the iudges hartes to pittie so as they knew not what to doe but many times they dyd put ouer the hearing of his case vnto another daye and neither would they geue iudgement knowing he was conuicted by manifest proofes neither could they vse the seueritie of the lawe vpon him bicause the place of his so notable good seruice was euer still before their eyes Wherefore Camillus finding the cause of delaye of iustice dyd make the place of iudgement to be remoued without the cittie into a place called the wodde Petelian from whence they could not see the Capitoll And there the accusers gaue apparent euidence against him and the iudges considering all his wicked practises conceaued a iust cause to punishe him as he had deserued So they gaue sentence of death against him that he should be caried to the mount Capitoll and there to be throwen downe hedlonge the rockes thereof Thus one and the selfe place was a memory of his notable good seruice and also a memoriall of his miserable and vnfortunate end Besides all this they rased his house and built in the same place a temple to the goddesse they call Monetaâ and made a lawe also that no Patrician from thenceforth should dwell any more in the mount Capitoll Camillus after this being called againe to take the office of Tribunus militaris the sixt time he sought to excuse him selfe as well for that he sawe he was well stepte in yeres as also for that he feared fortunes spight or some mishappe after he had obteined such glorie for his noble actes and seruice Howbeit the most apparent cause of his excuse was his sickenes which troubled him much at that time But the people would allowe no excuse by any meanes but cried out they dyd not desire he should fight a foote nor a horse backe but that he should only geue counsaill and commaunde and therefore they compelled him to take the charge and to leade the armie with one of his companions named Lucius Furius against their enemies the PRAENESTINES and the VOLSCES who ioyning together dyd inuade the confines of the ROMAINES friendes So he led his army out immediately to the field and camped as neere the enemy as he could being minded for his parte to drawe the warres out in length that he might fight afterwards if neede required when he had recouered strength But Furius contrarilie coueting glorie was whottely bent to hazarde the battell whatsoeuer perill came of it and to this ende he sturred vp and incoraged the captaines of euerie priuate bande Wherefore Camillus fearing least they should thinke for ill will he bare the young men that he went about to hinder and take awaye the meanes to winne their honour and to doe some noble acte suffered Furius against his will to put his men in order of battell and he in the meane season by reason of his sicknes remained with a fewe about him in the campe So went Lucius vpon a head to present battell to the enemie so was he as headilie also ouerthrowen But Camillus hearing the ROMAINES were ouerthrowen sicke as he was vpon his bedde got vp and taking his householde seruantes with him he went in haste to the gates of the campe and passed through those that fled vntill he came to mete with the enemies that had them in chase The ROMAINES seeing this that were already entred into the campe they followed him at the heeles forthwith and those that fled also without when they sawe him they gathered together and put them selues againe in arraye before him and persuaded one another not to forsake their captaine So their enemies hereupon stayed their chasing and would pursue no further that daye But the next morning Camillus leading his armie into the fielde gaue them battell and wanne the field of them by plaine force and following the victorie harde he entred amongest them that fled into their campe pelmel or hand ouerheade and slue the most parte of them euen there After this victorie he was aduertised howe the THVSCANS had taken the cittie of SVTRIVM and had to the sworde all the inhabitants of the same which were the ROMAINES cittizens Whereupon he sent to ROME the greatest parte of his army and keeping with him the lightest and lustiestmen went and gaue assaulte vnto the THVSCANS that nowe were harbored in the cittie of SVTRIVM Which when he had wonne againe he slue parte of them and the other saued them selues by flight After this he returned to ROME with an exceeding spoyle confirming by experience the wisedome of the ROMAINES who dyd not feare the age nor sicknes of a good captaine that was experte and valliant but had chosen him against his will though he was both olde and sicke and preferred him farre before the younger and lustier that made sute to haue the charge Newes being brought vnto the Senate that the THVSCVLANIANS were reuolted they sent Camillus thither againe willing him of fiue other companions to take out one he liked best euery of the which desired to be chosen and made their sute vnto him for the same But he refusing all other dyd chose againe Lucius Furius beyounde all expectation of men seeing not long before he needes would against his will hazarde battell in which he was ouerthrowen Howbeit Camillus hauing a desire as I thincke to hyde his faulte and shame he had receaued dyd of curtesie preferre him before all other Nowe the THVSCVLANIANS hearing of Camillus coming against them subtilly sought to culler the faulte they had already committed Wherefore they put out a great number of people into the fields some to plowe other to keepe the beastes as if they had bene in best peace and dyd set the gates of the cittie wide open sent their children openly to schoole their artificers wrought their occupation in their shoppes the men of hauiour honest cittizens walked in the market place in their long gownes the officers and gouernours of the cittie went vp and downe to euery house commaunding them to prepare lodgings for the ROMAINES
the prisoners taken of either side For it was articled betweene them that they should chaunge prisoners deliuering man for man or els two hundred and fiftie siluer drachmas for a man if the one chaunced to haue moe prisoners then the other When exchaunge was made betweene them it appeared that Hannibal had left in his handes of ROMAINE prisoners two hundred and fortie moe then Fabius had to exchaunge of his The Senate coÌmaunded there should be no money sent to redeeme them and greatly founde faulte with Fabius for making this accorde bicause it was neither honorable nor profitable for the common weale to redeeme men that cowardly suffered them selues to be taken prisoners of their enemies Fabius vnderstanding it dyd paciently beare this displeasure conceyued against him by the Senate Howbeit hauing no money and meaning to keepe his worde and not to leaue the poore citizens prisoners behinde him he sent his sonne to ROME with commission to sell his landes and to bring him money immediatly The young man went his waye to ROME and sold his fathers farmes and brought him money forthwith to the campe Fabius therewith redeemed the prisoners and sent their ransome vnto Hannibal Many of the prisoners whom he had redeemed offred to repaye him their ransome but he would neuer take any thing againe and gaue them all their ransome freely Afterwards being called to ROME by the priestes to doe certaine solemne sacrifices he left the armie in charge with Minutius to gouerne the same in his absence with condition not to set vpon the enemie nor to fight with him at all the which not only by his authoritie he dyd expressely forbid him but also as his very friende he dyd warne and intreate him in no wise to attempt Howbeit Minutius litle regarding his commaundementes or requestes so sorte as Fabius backe was turned beganne to be somewhat lustie and doing with his enemies So one daye amongest the rest Minutius perceyuing Hannibal had sent a great parte of his armie abroade to forrage and get vittells came and set vpon them that remained behinde and draue them into their campe with great slaughter and dyd put them in a maruelous feare that were saued as men that looked for no lesse but to haue bene besieged in their campe Afterwardes also when their whole armie came together againe he retired backe in spight of them all and lost not a man This exploite set Minutius in a pryde and brought the souldiers to be more rashe then they were before The newes of this ouerthrowe went with speede to ROME and there they made it a great deale more then it was Fabius hearing of it sayed he was more afeard of Minutius prosperitie then of his owne aduersitie But the common people reioyced maruelosly and made great shewe of ioye vp and downe the market place Whereupon Metellus one of the Tribunes going vp into the pulpit made an oration vnto the people in the which he highely magnified Minutius and commended his corage and contrarily charged Fabius no more of cowardlines but with flat treason Furthermore he dyd accuse the Nobilitie and greatest men of ROME saying that from the first beginning they had layed a platte to drawe these warres out at length only to destroye the peoples power and authoritie hauing brought the whole common weale to the state of a monarchy and into the handes of a priuate persone Who by his remissenes and delayes would geue Hannibal leysure to plante him selfe in ITALIE and by time geue open passage to the CARTHAGINIANS at their pleasure to send Hannibal a second ayde and armie to make a full conquest of all ITALIE Fabius hearing these wordes rose vp straight and spake to the people and taried not about the aunswering of the accusations the Tribune had burdened him withall but prayed them they would dispatche these sacrifices and ceremonies of the goddes that he might spedilie returne againe to the campe to punishe Minutius for breaking his commaundement in fighting with the enemie He had no soner spoken these wordes but there rose a maruelous tumulte and hurly burley presently among the people for the daunger Minutius stoode in then bicause the Dictator had absolute power and authoritie to imprisone and put to death whom he thought good without ordinary course of lawe or araynement Moreouer they dyd iudge since Fabius had alate left his accustomed mildnes and affabilitie that he would growe to such seueritie in his anger that it would be a hard thing to appease him Wherefore euery man held their peace for feare sauing only Metellus the Tribune He hauing authoritie by vertue of his office to saye what he thought good and who only of all other kept still his place and authoritie when any Dictator was chosen then all the officers that were put down instantly besought the people not to forsake Minutius nor to suffer the like to be done to him as Manlius Torquatus dyd alate to his sonne who strake of his head after he had valliantly fought with his enemies and ouercomed them for breaking his commaundement And beganne to persuade them further to take this tyraÌnicall power of the Dictatorshippe from Fabius and to put their affayers into the handes of him that would and could tell howe to bring them safely to passe The people were tickled maruelously with these seditious wordes but yet they durst not force Fabius to resigne his Dictatorshippe though they hare him great grudge and were angrie with him in their hartes Howbeit they ordeined that Minutius thenceforth should haue equall power and authoritie with the Dictator in the warres a thing that was neuer seene nor heard of before and yet the very same done in that sorte againe after the battell of Cannes For Marcus Iunius being at that time Dictator in the campe they dyd choose another Dictator at ROME which was Fabius Buteo to name and create newe Senators in the place of those that were slaine in the battell But after he had named them and restored the full number againe of the counsell of the Senate he discharged the selfe same daye the sergeants that caried the axes before him and sent awaye the traine that waited vpon him and dyd so put him selfe in prease of the people in the market place and followed his owne peculiar busines as a priuate persone Nowe the ROMAINES imagined that when Fabius should see howe they had made Minutius equall in authoritie with him it would greue him to harte for very anger but they came shorte to iudge of his nature for he dyd not thincke that their folly should hurte or dishonour him at all But as wise Diogenes aunswered one that sayed vnto him looke they mocke thee tushe sayd he they mocke not me Meaning thereby that he tooke them to be mocked that were offended with their mockes Thus Fabius tooke euery thing quietly that the people offered him and dyd comfort him selfe with the philosophers rules and examples who
enterprising great matters it is a thing passing mans nature but to take warning hereafter by faultes that are paste and done it is the parte of a wise and valliant man For my selfe I acknowledge I haue no lesse occasion to prayse fortune then I haue also cause to complaine of her For that which long time could neuer teach me I haue learned by experience in one litle pece of a daye and that is this That I am not able to commaunde but am my selfe fitter to be gouerned and commaunded by another and that I am but a foole to stande in mine owne conceipt thinking to ouercome those of whom it is more honour for me to confesse my selfe to be ouercome Therefore I tell you that the Dictator Fabius henceforth shal be he who alone shall commaund you in all things And to let him knowe that we doe all acknowledge the fauour which we haue presently receyued at his hands I will leade you to geue him thankes will may selfe be the first man to offer to obey him in all that he shall commaund me These wordes being spoken he commaunded his ensigne bearers to followe him he him selfe marched formest towards Fabius campe When he came thither he went directly to the Dictators tente whereat euery man wondered not knowing his intent Fabius came out to mete him Minutius after he had set downe his ensignes at his seete sayed with a lowde voyce O father and his souldiers vnto Fabius souldiers O masters which name the bondemen that are infranchesed doe vse to them that haue manumised them Afterwards euery man being silent Minutius beganne alowde to saye vnto him My lorde Dictator this daye you haue wonne two victories The one of Hannibal whom valliantly you haue ouercome the second of my selfe your companion whom also your wisedome and goodnes hath vanquished By the one you haue saued our liues and by the other you haue wisely taught vs So haue we also bene ouercome in two sortes the one by Hannibal to our shame and the other by your selfe to our honour and preseruation And therefore doe I nowe call you my father finding no other name more honorable to call you by wherewith I might honour you acknowledging my selfe more bounde vnto you for the present grace and fauour I haue receyued of you then vnto my naturall father that begatte me For by him only I was begotten but by you mine and all these honest cittizens liues haue bene saued And hauing spoken these wordes he embraced Fabius and so dyd the souldiers also hartely embrace together and kisse one another Thus the ioye was great through the whole campe and one were so glad of another that the teares trickled downe their chekes for great ioye Nowe when Fabius was afterwardes put out of his office of Dictatorshippe there were new Consuls chosen againe the two first followed directly Fabius former order he had begoÌne For they kept them selues from geuing Hannibal any battell and dyd allwayes send ayde to their subiects and friends to keepe them from rebellion vntill that Terentius Varro a man of meane birth and knowen to be very bold and rashe by flattering of the people wanne credit among them to be made Consul Then they thought that he by his rashnes and lacke of experience would incontinently hazard battell bicause he had cried out in all the assemblies before that this warre would be euerlasting so long as the people dyd chuse any of the Fabians to be their generalles and vawnted him selfe openly that the first daye he came to see his enemies he would ouerthrowe them In geuing out these braue wordes he assembled such a power that the ROMAINES neuer sawe so great a number together against any enemie that euer they had for he put into one campe foure score and eight thousand fighting men This made Fabius and the other ROMAINES men of great wisedome and iudgement greatly affrayed bicause they sawe no hope for ROME to rise againe if it fortuned that they should lose so great a number of goodly youth Therefore Fabius talked with the other Consul called Paulus AEmilius a man very skilfull and expert in warres but ill beloued of the common people whose furie he yet feared for that they had condemned him a litle before to paye a greatfine to the treasurie and after he had somwhat comforted him he beganne to persuade and encorage him to resist the fonde rashnes of his companion telling him that he should haue asmuch to doe with Terentius Varro for the preseruation and safety of his countrie as to fight with Hannibal for defence of the same For they were both Marshall men and had a like desire to fight the one bicause he knewe not wherein the vantage of his strength consisted and the other bicause he knewe very well his weaknes You shall haue reason to beleeue me better for matters touching Hannibal then Terentius Varro For I dare warrant you if you keepe Hannibal from battell but this yere he shall of necessitie if he tarie consume him self or els for shame be driuen to flye with his armie And the rather bicause hetherto though he seeme to be lorde of the field neuer one yet of his enemies came to take his parte and moreouer bicause there remaines at this daye in his campe not the third parte of his armie he brought with him out of his countrie Vnto these persuasions the Consul as it is reported aunswered thus When I looke into my selfe my lorde Fabius me thinkes my best waye were rather to fall vpon the enemies pikes then once againe to light into the hands voyces of our cittizens Therefore sith the estate of the common wealth so requireth it that it behoueth a man to doe as you haue sayed I will doe my best indeuour to shewe my selfe a wise captaine for your sake only rather then for all other that should aduise me to the coÌtrarie And so Paulus departed from ROME with this minde But Terentius his companion would in any case they should coÌmaund the whole armie by turnies eche his daye by him selfe and went to encampe harde by Hannibal by the riuer of Aufide neere vnto the village called CANNES Nowe when it came to his daye to coÌmaund by turnes early in the mourning be caused the signall of battell to be set out which was a coate armour of skarlet in graine that they dyd laye out vpon the pauilion of the generall so that the enemies at the first sight begaÌne to be afeard to see the lustines of this newe come generall and the great number of souldiers he had also in his hoste in comparison of them that were not halfe so many Yet Hannibal of a good corage commaunded euery man to arme and to put them selues in order of battell and him selfe in the meane time taking his horse backe followed with a fewe gallopped vp to the toppe of a litle hill not very steepe from whence he might
taken from the one of them the signiorie and domination of the sea Shortely after the foure hundred noblemen that had vsurped the authoritie and gouernment of ATHENS were vtterly driuen awaye and ouerthrowen by meanes of the friendly ayde assistaunce that Alcibiades friends gaue those that tooke the peoples parte So the citizens were very well pleased with Alcibiades in so muche as they sent for him to returne when he thought good But he iudging with him selfe it would be no honour nor grace vnto him to returne without some well deseruing before he had done some greater exployte as only vpon the peoples fauour and good will whereas otherwise his returne might be both glorious and triumphant departed first from SAMOS with a small number of gallyes and went sailing vp and downe the Iles of COS and of GNEDOS There he was aduertised that Mindarus the admirall of the LACEDAEMONIANS was gone with all his fleete vnto the straight of HALLESPONT and that the captaines of the ATHENIANS gaue chase vnto him Thereupon he went also and sayled thither with speede to ayde the ATHENIANS and by very good fortune came with eighteene gallyes euen at the very instant wheÌ they were both in the middest of their fight with all their shippes before the cittie of ABYDOS The battell was cruelly foughten betwene them from morning till night both the one and the other hauing the better in one parte of the battell and the worst in another place Now at the first discouerie of Alcibiades comming both partes had in deede contrarie imaginations of him For the enemies tooke harte vnto them and the ATHENIANS beganne to be afeard But Alcibiades set vp straight his flagge in the toppe of the galley of his admirall to shewe what he was Wherewithall he set vpon the PELOPONNESIANS that had the better had certen gallyes of the ATHENIANS in chase whereupon the PELOPONNESIANS gaue ouer their chase fled But Alcibiades followed them so lustely that he ranne diuers of them a ground brake their shippes slue a great number of men that lept into the sea in hope to saue them selues by swimming a lande So notwithstanding that Pharnabazus was come thither to ayde the LACEDAEMONIANS and dyd his best indeuour to saue their gallyes by the sea shore yet the ATHENIANS in the end waÌne thirtie gallyes of their enemies and saued all their owne and so dyd set vp certaine flagges of triumphe and victorie Alcibiades hauing now happely gotten this glorious victorie would nedes goe shewe him selfe in triumphe vnto Tisaphernes So hauing prepared to present him with goodly riche presents and appointed also a conuenient traine number of sayle mete for a generall he tooke his course directly to him But he found not that entertainment he hoped for For Tisaphernes standing in great hazard of displeasure and feare of punishment at the Kings handes hauing long time before bene defamed by the LACEDAEMONIANS who had coÌplained of him that he dyd not fulfill the Kings commaundement thought that Alcibiades was arriued in very happy hower whereupon he kept him prisoner in the cittie of SARDIS supposing the wrong he had done would by this meanes easely discharge and purge him to the king Yet at the ende of thirtie dayes Alcibiades by fortune got a horse and stealing from his keepers fled vnto the cittie of CLAZOMENES and this dyd more increase the suspition they had of Tisaphernes bicause they thought that vnder hand he had wrought his libertie Alcibiades toke then sea again and went to seeke out the armie of the ATHENIANS Which when he had founde heard newes that Mindarus and Pharnabazus were together in the cittie of CIZICVM he made an oration to his souldiers declared vnto them how it was very requisite they should fight with their enemies both by sea and by lande and moreouer that they should assault them within their fortes and castells bicause otherwise they could haue no money to defraye their charges His oration ended he made them immediatly hoyse sayle and so to goe lye at anker in the I le of PROCONESVS where he tooke order that they should keepe in all the pinnases and brigantines emong the shippes of warre that the enemie might haue no manner of intelligence of his coÌming The great showers of rayne also with thunder and darke weather that fell out sodainely vpon it dyd greatly further him in his attempt enterprise in so muche as not only his enemies but the ATHENIANS that were there before knewe nothing of his comming So some made their reckoning that they could doe litle or nothing all that daye yet he made them sodainely imbarke and hoyse sayle They were no sooner in the mayne sea but they discried a farre of the gallyes of their enemies which laye at rode before the hauen of CYZICVM And fearing least the great number of his fleete would make them flye and take lande before he could come to them he commaunded certaine captaines to staye behinde to rowe softely after him and him selfe with fortie gallyes with him went towards the enemies to prouoke them to fight The enemies supposing there had bene no more shippes then those that were in fight dyd set out presently to fight with them They were no sooner ioyned together but Alcibiades shippes that came behinde were also descried the enemies were so afeard thereat that they cast about and fled straight Alcibiades leauing his fleete followed the chase with twentie of the best gallyes he had and draue them a lande Thereupon he landed also and pursued them so corageously at their heeles that he slue a great nuÌber of them on the mayne laÌde who thought by flying to haue saued them selues Moreouer Mindarus Pharnabazus being come out of the cittie to rescue their people were ouerthrowen both He slue Mindarus in the field fighting valliantly as for Pharnabazus he cowardly fled away So the ATHENIANS spoyled the dead bodies which were a great number of a great deale of armour and riches and tooke besides all their enemies shippes After they tooke the cittie of CIZYCVM Pharnabazus hauing left it Then the PELOPONNESIANS being slaine they had not only the possession of the whole countrie of HELLESPONT which they kept but they draue their enemies by force out of all partes of the sea There were at that time certaine letters intercepted whereby a secretarie gaue aduertissement vnto the Ephori at SPARTA of the ouerthrowe in this sorte All is lost Mindarus is slaine our people dye for hunger and we knowe not what to doe Now the souldiers of ATHENS that had bene at this iorney and ouerthrowe grewe to suche a pryde and reputation of them selues that they would not and disdained also to serue with the others souldiers that had bene beaten many times went away with the worse Where they to the contrarie had neuer bene ouercome as a litle before it happened that the captaine Thrasyllus had bene
that he was thought no lesse eloquent in tongue then warlike in showe and declared him selfe both expert in warres and wise with valliantnes Thus he was ioyned in commission with Tullus as generall of the VOLSCES hauing absolute authoritie betwene theÌ to follow pursue the warres But Martius fearing least tract of time to bring this armie togither with all the munitioÌ furniture of the VOLSCES would robbe him of the meane he had to execute his purpose and intent left order with the rulers and chief of the cittie to assemble the rest of their power and to prepare all necessary prouision for the campe Then he with the lightest souldiers he had and that were willing to followe him state awaye vpon the sodaine and marched with all speede and entred the territories of ROME before the ROMAINES heard any newes of his comming In so much the VOLSCES found such spoyle in the fields as they had more then they could spend in their campe and were wearie to driue and carie awaye that they had Howbeit the gayne of the spoyle and the hurte they dyd to the ROMAINES in this inuasion was the least parte of his intent For his chiefest purpose was to increase still the malice and dissention betweene the nobilitie and the communaltie and to drawe that on he was very carefull to keepe the noble mens landes goods safe from harme and burning but spoyled all the whole countrie besides and would suffer no man to take or hurte any thing of the noble mens This made greater sturre and broyle betweene the nobilitie and people then was before For the noble men fell out with the people bicause they had so vniustly banished a man of so great valure and power The people on thother side accused the nobilitie how they had procured Martius to make these warres to be reuenged of them bicause it pleased them to see their goodes burnt and spoyled before their eyes whilest them selues were well at ease and dyd behold the peoples losses and misfortunes knowing their owne goodes safe and out of daunger and howe the warre was not made against the noble men that had the enemie abroad to keepe that they had in safety Now Martius hauing done this first exploite which made the VOLSCES bolder and lesse fearefull of the ROMAINES brought home all the armie againe without losse of any man After their whole armie which was maruelous great and very forward to seruice was assembled in one campe they agreed to leaue parte of it for garrison in the countrie about and the other parte should goe on and make the warre apon the ROMAINES So Martius bad Tullus choose and take which of the two charges he liked best Tullus made him aunswer he knewe by experience that Martius was no lesse valliant then him selfe and howe he euer had better fortune and good happe in all battells then him selfe had Therefore he thought it best for him to haue the leading of those that should make the warres abroade and him selfe would keepe home to prouide for the safety of the citties and of his countrie and to furnishe the campe also of all necessary prouision abroade So Martius being stronger then before went first of all vnto the cittie of CIRCEES inhabited by the ROMAINES who willingly yelded them selues and therefore had no hurte From thence he entred the countrie of the LATINES imagining the ROMAINES would fight with him there to defend the LATINES who were their confederates and had many times sent vnto the ROMAINES for their ayde But on the one side the people of ROME were very ill willing to goe and on the other side the Consuls being apon their going out of their office would not hazard them selues for so small a time so that the ambassadours of the LATINES returned home againe and dyd no good Then Martius dyd besiege their citties and hauing taken by force the townes of the TOLERINIANS VICANIANS PEDANIANS and the BOLANIANS who made resistaunce he sacked all their goodes and tooke them prisoners Suche as dyd yeld them selues willingly vnto him he was as carefull as possible might be to defend them from hurte and bicause they should receyue no damage by his will he remoued his campe as farre from their confines as he could Afterwards he tooke the cittie of BOLES by assault being about an hundred furlonge from ROME where he had a maruelous great spoyle and put euery man to the sword that was able to carie weapon The other VOLSCES that were appointed to remaine in garrison for defence of their countrie hearing this good newes would tary no lenger at home but armed them selues and ranne to Martius campe saying they dyd acknowledge no other captaine but him Hereupon his fame ranne through all ITALIE and euery one praised him for a valliant captaine for that by chaunge of one man for another suche and so straunge euents fell out in the state In this while all went still to wracke at ROME For to come into the field to fight with the enemie they could not abyde to heare of it they were one so muche against another and full of seditious wordes the nobilitie against the people the people against the nobilitie Vntill they had intelligence at the length that the enemies had layed seige to the cittie of LAVINIVM in the which were all the temples and images of the goddes their protectours and from whence came first their auncient originall for that AEneas at his first arriuall into ITALIE dyd build that cittie Then fell there out a maruelous sodain chaunge of minde among the people farre more straunge contrarie in the nobilitie For the people thought good to repeale the condemnation and exile of Martius The Senate assembled vpon it would in no case yeld to that Who either dyd it of a selfe will to be contrarie to the peoples desire or bicause Martius should not returne through the grace and fauour of the people Or els bicause they were throughly angrie and offended with him that he would set apon the whole being offended but by a fewe and in his doings would shewe him selfe an open enemie besides vnto his countrie notwithstanding the most parte of them tooke the wrong they had done him in maruelous ill parte and as if the iniurie had bene done vnto them selues Reporte being made of the Senates resolution the people founde them selues in a straight for they could authorise and confirme nothing by their voyces vnles it had bene first propounded and ordeined by the Senate But Martius hearing this sturre about him was in a greater rage with them then before in so muche as he raised his seige incontinently before the cittie of LAVINIVM and going towardes ROME lodged his campe within fortie furlonge of the cittie at the ditches called Cluiliae His incamping so neere ROME dyd put all the whole cittie in a wonderfull feare howbeit for the present time it appeased the sedition and dissention betwext the Nobilitie
their lawes paying yerely to the ROMAINES for tribute a hundred talents where before they were wont to paye vnto their Kings tenne times as muche And he made playes and games of all sortes and dyd celebrate sumptuous sacrifices vnto the goddes He kept open courte to all commers and made noble feastes and defrayed the whole charge thereof with the treasure Perseus had gathered together sparing for no coste But through his care and foresight there was suche a speciall good order taken euery man so curteously receyued and welcommed and so orderly marshalled at the table according to their estate and calling that the GRAECIANS wondred to see him so carefull in matters of sporte and pleasure and that he tooke as great paynes in his owne persone to see that small matters should be ordered as they ought as he tooke great regard for discharge of more weighty causes But this was a maruelous pleasure to him to see that among such sumptuous sightes prepared to shewe pleasure to the persones inuited no sight nor stately shewe dyd so delight them as to enioye the sight and company of his persone So he told them that seemed to wonder at his diligence and care in these matters that to order a feast well required as great iudgement and discretion as to set a battell to make the one fearefull to the enemies and the other acceptable to his friendes But men esteemed his bountie and magnanimitie for his best vertue and qualitie For he dyd not only refuse to see the Kings wonderful treasure of golde and siluer but caused it to be told and deliuered to the custodie of the treasurers to carie to the coffers of store in ROME and only suffered his sonnes that were learned to take the bookes of the Kings librarie When he dyd rewarde the souldiers for their valliant seruice in this battell he gaue his sonne in lawe AEmylius Tubero a cuppe ââg fiue talents It is the same Tubero we tolde you of before who liued with sixteene oââ of his kynne all in one house and of the only reuenue they had of a litle farme in the countrie Some saye that cuppe was the first pece of plate that euer came into the house of the AElians and yet it came for honour and reward of vertue but before that time neither them selues nor their wiues would euer haue or weare any gold or siluer After he had wery well ordered and disposed all things at the last he tooke leaue of the GRAECIANS and counselled the MACEDONIANS to remember the libertie the ROMAINES had geuen them and that they should be carefull to keepe it by their good gouernment and concorde together Then he departed from them and tooke his iorney towardes the countrie of EPIRVS hauing receyued commission from the Senate of ROME to suffer his souldiers who had done seruice in the battell and ouerthrowe of king Perseus to spoyle all the citties of that countrie Wherefore that he might surprise them on a sodaine and that they should mistrust nothing he sent to all the citties that they should send him by a certaine daye tenne of the chiefest men of euery cittie Who when they were come he commaunded them to goe and bring him by suche a daye all the golde and siluer they had within their citties aswell in their priuate houses as in their temples and churches and gaue vnto euerie one of them a captaine and garrison with them as if it had bene only to haue receaued and searched for the gold and siluer he demaunded But when the daye appointed was come the souldiers in diuers places and all at one time set vpon their enemies and dyd rifle and spoyle them of that they had and made them also paye ransome euery man So as by this policie there were taken and made slaues in one daye a hundred and fiftie thousand persones and three score and tenne citties spoyled and sacked euery one And yet when they came to deuide the spoyle of this generall destruction of a whole Realme by the polle it came not to euery souldiers parte aboue eleuen siluer Drachmes a pece Which made euery one to wonder greatly and to feare also the terrour of the warres to see the wealthe and riches of so great a Realme to amowunte to so litle for euery mans share When AEmylius had done this facte against his owne nature which was very gentle and curteous he went vnto the sea syde to the citty of ORICA and there imbarked with his armie bownde for ITALIE Where when he was arriued he went vp the riuer of Tyber against the streame in king Perseus chief galley which had sixteene owers on a side richely set out with the armour of the prisoners riche clothes of purple culler and other suche spoyles of the enemies so that the ROMAINES ronning out of ROME in multitudes of people to see this galley and going side by side by her as they rowed softely AEmylius tooke as great pleasure in it as in any open games or feastes or triumphe that had bene shewed in deede But when the souldiers sawe that the golde and siluer of king Perseus treasure was not deuided amongest them according vnto promise and that they had a great deale lesse then they looked for they were maruelously offended and inwardly grudged AEmylius in their hartes Neuertheles they durst not speake it openly but dyd accuse him that he had bene to straight vnto them in this warre and therefore they dyd shewe no great desire nor forwardnes to procure him the honour of triumphe Which Seruius Galba vnderstanding that had bene an olde enemie of his notwithstanding he had the charge of a thousand men vnder him in this warre he like an enuious viper tolde the people howe AEmylius had not deserued the honour of triumphe and sowed seditious wordes against him among the souldiers to aggrauate their ill will the more against him Moreouer he craued a daye of the Tribunes of the people to haue respit to bring forth suche matter as they determined to obiect against him saying the time then was farre spent the sunne being but foure howers highe and that it would require lenger time and leysure The Tribunes made him aunswer that he should speake then what he had to saye against him or otherwise they would not graunte him audience Hereupon he begganne to make a long oration in his dispraise full of railing wordes and spent all the rest of the daye in that rayling oration Afterwardes when night came on the Tribunes brake vp the assembly and the next morning the souldiers being incoraged by Galbaes oration and hauing confedered together dyd flocke about Galba in the mount of the Capitoll where the Tribunes had geuen warning they would ãâ¦ã e their assembly Now being broade daye AEmylius triumphe was referred to the m ãâ¦ã umber of voyces of the people and the first tribe slattly dyd denie his triumphe The Senate and the residue of the people hearing that
and to goe to the fielde with Timoleon Now the straungers that tooke pay were not aboue foure thowsand in all of them a thowsand of their hartes fayled and left him in midd way and returned home againe Saying that Timoleon was out of his wittes and more rashe then his yeares required to vndertake with fiue thowsand footemen a thowsand horse to goe against threescore and tenne thowsand men and besides to cary that small force he had to defend him selfe withal eight great dayes iorney from SYRACVSA So that if it chaunced they were compelled to flye they had no place whether they might retyre them selues vnto with safetie nor man that woulde take care to buryâ them when they were slayne Neuertheles Timoleon was glad he had that proofe of them before he came to battell Moreouer hauing incoraged those that remayned with him he made them marche with speede towards the riuer of CRIMESVS where he vnderstoode he should meete with the CARTHAGINIANS So getting vp vpoÌ a litle hil from whence he might se the campe of the enemies on the other side by chaunce certen moyles fell apon his armie loden with smallage The souldiers tooke a conceyt at the first apon sight of it and thought it was a token of ill lucke bicause it is a maner we vse to hange garlands of this erbe about the tombes of the dead Hereof came the common prouerbe they vse to speake when one lyeth a passing in his bed he lacketh but smallage Asmuch to say he is but a dead man But Timoleon to draw them from this foolish superstition discorage they tooke stayed the armie And when he had vsed certen perswasions vnto them according to the time his leysure and occasion he told them that the garland of it selfe came to offer them victorie before hand For sayd he the CORINTHIANS doe crowne them that winne the ISTMIAN games which are celebrated in their contrye with garlands of smallage And at that time also euen in the solemne ISTMIAN games they vsed the garland of smallage for reward and token of victorie and at this present it is also vsed in the games of NEMEA And it is but lately taken vp that they haue vsed braunches of pyne apple trees in the ISTMIAN games Now Timoleon had thus incoraged his men as you haue heard before he first of all tooke of this smallage and made him selfe a garland put it on his head When they sawe that the Captaines and all the souldiers also tooke of the same and made them selues the like The soothsayers in like maner at the very same time perceyued two eagles flying towards them the one of them holding a snake in her talents which she pearced through and through and the other as she flewe gaue a terrible cry So they shewed them both vnto the souldiers who did then all together with one voyce call vpon the gods for helpe Now this fortuned about the beginning of the sommer and towards the later ende of Maye the sunne drawing towards the solstyce of the sommer when there rose a great myst out of the riuer that couered all the feilds ouer so as they could not see the enemies campe but onely heard a maruelous confused noyse of mens voyces as it had come from a great armie and rising vp to the toppe of the hil they layed their targets downe on the grownd to take a litle breathe and the sunne hauing drawen and sucked vp all the moyst vapours of the myste vnto the toppe of the hills the ayer began to be so thicke that the toppes of the mountaynes were all couered ouer with clowdes and contrarily the valley vnderneath was all cleare and sayer that they might easily see the riuer of CRIMESVS and the enemies also how they passed it ouer in this sort First they had put their cartes of warre foremost which were very hotly armed and well appoynted Next vnto them there followed tenne thowsand footemen armed with white targets vpon their armes whom they seeing a farre of so well appoynted they coniectured by their stately marche and good order that they were the CARTHAGINIANS them selues After them diuers other nations followed confusedly one with an other and so they thronged ouer with great disorder There Timoleon considering the riuer gaue him oportunity to take them before they were halfe past ouer and to set vpon what number he would after he had shewed his men with his finger how the battel of their enemies was deuided in two partes by meanes of the riuer some of them being already passed ouer the other to passe He commaunded Demaratus with his horsemen to geue a charge on the voward to keepe them from putting them selues in order of battell And him selfe comming downe the hill also with all his footemen into the valley he gaue to the SICILIANS the two winges of his battell mingling with them some straungers that serued vnder him and placed with him selfe in the middest The SYRACVSANS with all the choyce best liked straungers So he taried not long to ioyne when he saw the small good his horsemen did For he perceyued they could not come to geue a lusty charge apon the battell of the CARTHAGINIANS bicause they were paled in with these armed cartes that ranne here and there before them whereupon they were compelled to wheele about continually onles they would haue put them selues in daunger to haue bene vtterly ouerthrowen and in their returnes to geue venture of charge by turnes on their enemies Wherefore Timoleon taking his target on his arme cried out alowde to his footemen to follow him coragiously to feare nothing Those that heard his voyce thought it more then the voyce of a man whether the furie of his desire to fight did so strayne it beyonde ordinary course or that some god as many thought it then did stretch his voyce to cry out so lowde sensibly His souldiers aunswered him againe with the like voyce prayed him to leade them without lenger delay Then he made his horsemen vnderstand that they should draw on the toneside from the cartes and that they should charge the CARTHAGINIANS on the flanckes and after he did set the formost rancke of his battell target to target against the enemies commaunding the trumpets withall to sownd Thus with great furie he went to gene a charge apon them who valiantly receyued the first charge their bodies being armed with good ãâ¦ã corselers and their heades with fayer murrions of copper besides the great targetts they had also which did easily reâeyue the force of their dartes and the thrust of the pyke But when they came to handle their swordes where agilitie was more requisite then force a fearfull tempest of thunder flashing lightning withall came from the mountaynes After that came darke thicke clowdes also gathered together from the toppe of the hilles and fell vppon the valley where the battel was fought with
gentleman of the city called Bandius a noble gentleman to the people and a valliant man of his hands This Bandius hauing sought valliantly at the battell of CANNES after he hadde slaine many a CARTHAGINIAN was him selfe in the ende striken downe and founde lyinge amonge deade bodies sore wounded and mangled whereupon Hanniball greatly commending his valliantnes did not onely let him go without ransome but furthermore presented him made him his hoste and frende Hereupon Bandius at his comming home to requite Hannibals honor and curtesie became one of those that most fauored Hannibal most perswaded the people of NOLA to take his parte Notwithstandinge this Marcellus thinking it to great sinne against the goddes to put a man to death that had made so great proofe of his valliantnes and had serued with the ROMAINES in their greatest warres and extremest daunger and who besides the goodnes of his nature hadde a maruelous gift also to winne mens good wills by his great curtesie when this Bandius came one day to do his duety to him Marcellus of purpose asked him what he was though he had knowen him long before only to take occasion to talke with him The other aunswered him his name was Lucius Bandius Then Marcellus seeming to be maruelous glad and to wonder at him sayed and art thou that Bandius they speake of so much at ROME whom they say did so notable seruice in persone at the battel of CANNES and neuer forsooke Paulus AEmilius the Consull but receaued so many woundes vppon thy body in defence of him Bandius aunswered that he was the man and therewith shewed him many woundes he had apon his body Marcellus then replyed alas thou that cariest such notable markes of thy vnfained loue towards vs what diddest thou meane that thou camest not straight againe vnto vs art thou perswaded we are so miserable vnthankefull that we will not worthily reward the vertue and valliantnesse of our frendes whom our enemies selues do honor After Marcellus had vsed this curteous speach vnto him and had imbraced him he gaue him a goodly horse for seruice in the warres fiue hundred Drachmes of siluer besides So after that time Bandius did euer take Marcellus parte and alwayes followed him being very faithfull to him and shewed him selfe very seueare and earnest to accuse them that tooke Hannibals parte in the city which were many in number had conspired among them selues that the first time the ROMAINES should go into the fielde to skirmishe with the enemies they woulde shut the gates after them take the spoyle of al their cariages Marcellus being informed of this treason did set his men in battel raye within the city hard by the gates behind them he placed al the sumpters cariage in good order besides that he made proclamation by trompet that no citizen apon paine of death shoulde approch the walles This occasion drew Hanniball to come hard to the city seeinge no watche apon the walles and made him the bolder to come in disorder imagininge there had bene some mutinie or sedition within betwene the noble men and the people But in the meane time Marcellus set open the gates being hard by and sayling out apon the sodaine with the best men of armes he had he gaue a charge vpoÌ Hanniball in the voward Immediatly after came out his footemen at an other gate running straight vpon Hanniball with a wonderfull crie and showte so as Hanniball to withstand them was driuen to deuide his men in two companies But as he was deuidinge of them sodainely a third gate opened apon them from whence all the residue of the ROMAINES issued out who sette vppon the CARTHAGINIANS on euery side they beinge maruelously amazed to be so sodainely set on which they looked not for so hauing their handes full with those that came first apon them beinge scant able to defende them selues against them and seeinge this newe and last charge also they were forced to retyre This was the first time that euer Hannibals souldiers beganne to giue place to the ROMAINES who draue them backe vnto their campe and slewe a great number of them and did hurt diuerse of them besides For some wryte there were slaine of the CARTHAGINIANS at that conflict aboue fiue thowsande and of the ROMAINES there died not past fiue hundred men But Titus Liuius doth not set out the ouerthrow so great and yet confesseth that Marcellius wanne great honor by it that it made the ROMAINES maruelous valliant againe after so many and sundry battels as they had lost one after another for then they were perswaded that they fought not with an enemy altogether vnuincible but that he might somtime also as well as them selues receiue both losse and hurt Therefore one of the Consulls dyinge about that time the people caused Marcellus to be sent for placed him in his roome and in spite of the Senate they deferred all deputacion vntill his returne from the campe Marcellus came no sooner to ROME but he was chosen Consull in the deade mans roome by all the voyces of the people Notwithstanding when they went to choose him it thundered maruelously which the Priestes Augures tooke for an ill token but yet they durst not openly speake against his election bicause they feared the people Howbeit Marcellus of him selfe did willingly giue vp his Consullshippe and yet was it no exception to him for his seruice in the warres for they created him Proconsull and sent him againe to the campe at NOLA where he did seuerely punishe such as tooke Hannibals parte Who being aduertised thereof came thither with all possible spede to helpe them and euen at his first comming he offered Marcellus battell which refused it at that time Neuertheles he tooke his time when Hanniball hadde sent the best parte of his army to forrage as meaning to fight no more battels and then he set apon him hauing giuen his footemen long pykes such as they vse in fight apon the sea and taught them also howe to hurt the enemy a farre of keping them still in their handes But the CARTHAGINIANS hauing no skill of their pykes and fighting with shorte iauelings in their hands did strike downe right blowes which was the cause that they being set apon by the ROMAINES were driuen to turne their backes and flee before them So there were fiue thowsande of the CARTHAGINIANS left dead in the field foure elephants slaine and two taken aliue and furthermore three dayes after the battell there came a three hundred horsemen some of them SPANIARDS and other NVMIDIANS that submitted them selues to the ROMAINES Neuer came there such a misfortune before to Hanniball who had of loÌg time kept together in great loue amity an army assembled of sundry barbarous nations and people Howbeit these three hundred continued euer after faithfull to the end both to Marcellus and to all other Lieutenants generals of the ROMAINES Shortely
on high So Marcellus tooke his horse with Quintus Crispinus his fellow Consull and his sonne one of the Tribunes of the souldiers hauing onely two hundred and twenty horsemen with him of the which there was not one ROMAINE among them but all were THVSCANS sauing forty FREGELLANIANS who from the beginning of these warres had alwayes shewed them selues very faithfull and louing to Marcellus The hill we spake of before being thicke couered with wodde and bushes the enemies hadde set a skowte to watche on the toppe of it to geue warning if they saw any comming towardes it The ROMAINES coulde not see him and he on the other side might see euen into their campe and perceiue what was done as he did aduertise those at that time that lay in ambushe for Marcellus comminge and they suffered him to passe on vntill he came directly against them Then they shewed vpon the sodaine and compassing in Marcellus they both shot and strake at him some following them that fled and other fighting with the forty FREGELLANIANS which only stucke to it who came roundly in together notwithstanding the THVSCANS were fled apon the first crie they heard to defend the two Consulls vntill such time as the Consull Crispinus hauinge two woundes on his body with a dart did turne his horse to flie And with that one of the enemies gaue Marcellus such a sore blowe with a speare hauinge a broade iron head that he ranne him quite through The FREGELLANIANS that were left aliue beinge but a few in number seeinge Marcellus slaine left him lyinge on the grounde and tooke his sonne away with them that was very sore hurt and by the swiftnes of their horses recouered their campe and saued them selues At this ouerthrowe there were not slayne aboue fortie men and fiue and twentie taken prisonners of which fiue of them were the Consulls sergeauntes and their officers that caried axes before them and the other were all horsemen Within few dayes after the other Consull Crispinus died also of his hurtes which was such a misfortune as neuer came before to the ROMAINES that both their Consulls were slaine at one battell Now Hanniball made no great reckeninge of all that were slaine or taken at this fielde but when he heard that Marcellus selfe was slaine at this ouerthrow he went him selfe straight to the place to see him So when he had viewed his body a great while standing hard by it and considering his strength his stature and countenance hauing taken full view of all the partes of him he spake no proude word against him nor shewed any glad countenance as some other would haue done that had slaine so valliant and daungerous an enemy but wondering how he came to be slaine so straungely there he tooke of his ring from one of his fingers that sealed his letters and geuing his body buriall according to his estate made it to be honorably burnt and then put all his bones and ashes into a siluer potte on which he him selfe put a crowne of golde and sent it vnto Marcellus sonne It fortuned so that certaine light horsemen of the NVMIDIANS merte with them that caried this siluer pot and would haue taken it from them by force but they stood to it and woulde not parte withall and so fightinge and striuing together for it the bones and ashes were scattered all about Hanniball hearinge this sayed to them that were about him see howe nothinge can be which the goddes will not So he punished the NVMIDIANS and cared no more to gette Marcellus bones together but perswaded him selfe it was the will of the goddes he shoulde dye so straungely and that his body shoulde haue no buriall Cornelius Nepos and Valerius Maximus wryte it thus but Liuie and Augustus Caesar say that the pot was caried vnto his sonne and honorably buried Marcellus did consecrate many monumentes in diuerse places besides those at ROME As at CATANA in SICILE a place for young men to exercise them selues in In the I le of SAMOTHRACIA in the temples of the gods called Cabires many images and tables he brought from SYRACVSA And in the I le of LINDOS in the temple of Minerua where among other there is a statue of his and this epigramme grauen vnder it as Posidonius the Philosopher wryteth O thou my frend I say vvhich passest forth by me of Claudius Marcellus here the image mayest thou see vvhose family at Rome vvas of the noblest name Seuen times he Consull chosen vvas in vvhich he ouercame great numbers infinite in open fielde and fight of such as sought his contries spoyle and put them all to flight The author of this epigramme reckeneth the two times of his being viceconsull for two whole Consullshippes but his posteritie continued alwayes in great honor vnto Marcellus the sonne of Octauia Augustus Caesars sister and of Caius Marcellus He dyed a young man being AEdilis of ROME maried vnto Iulia Augustus daughter with whom he liued no loÌg time But to honor the memory of him Octauia his mother built the library and Augustus Caesar the Theater which are called to this day Marcellus Theater and library THE COMPARISON OF Marcellus with Pelopidas THese are the greatest thinges and best worthy of memory in my opinion of all Pelopidas and Marcellus doinges and for their maners and naturall condicions otherwise they were all one bicause they were both valliant painefull and noble minded sauing that this difference onely was betwene them That Marcellus in many cities he tooke by assault did cruelly murder them and spilt much bloode where Epaminondas and Pelopidas contrarily did neuer put any to the sword they ouercame neither did they take away the libertie from any citie they tooke and it is thought the THEBANS woulde not haue handeled the ORCHOMENIANS so cruelly as they did if one or both of them had bene present Nowe for their actes it was a noble and wonderfull peece of seruice that Marcellus did with so small a company of horsemen as he tooke with him to ouerthrow so great a number of horsemen footemen both of the GAVLES a thinge that neuer Generall but him selfe did and specially that slewe with his owne handes in the fielde the Generall of his enemies Which Pelopidas could neuer attaine vnto for he seeking to kill Alexander the tyran of PHERES was slaine first him selfe and suffered that which he desired to haue done to an other And yet for that seruice may be objected the battells of LEVCTRES and of TEGYRA which were both famous and notable But to encounter with those there was no notable ambushe or secrete practise done by Marcellus that was any thing like comparable to that Pelopidas did at his returne from exile when he slew that tyrans that kept THEBES in bondage For that was as notable a policy and sodaine an enterprise stolen apon as none was euer greater or more famous It is true Marcellus was yoked with
Hanniball who was a dreadfull and a violent enemy so were the THEBANS also at that very time with the LACEDAEMONIANS who notwithstanding were ouercome of Pelopidas at the battells of TEGYRA and of LEVCTRES Whereas Marcellus did neuer so much as once ouercome Hanniball as Polybius wryteth but remained vnconquered alwayes vntill that Scipio ouercame him in battell Notwithstandinge we do geue best credit to the reportes of Caesar Liuie Cornelius Nepos and of king Iuba among the GREECIANS who wryte that Marcellus otherwhile did ouerthrow certaine of Hanniballs companies howebeit they were neuer no great ouerthrowes to speake of it seemeth rather it was through some mockerie or deceite of that AFRICAN then otherwise Yet sure it was a great matter and worthy much coÌmendacion that the ROMAINES were brought to that corage as they durst abide to fight with the CARTHAGINIANS hauing lost so many great ouerthrowes hauing so many generalls of their armies slaine in battell and hauing the whole Empire of ROME in so great daunger of vtter destruction For it was Marcellus only of all other generalls that put the ROMAINES in hart againe after so great and longe a feare thorowly rooted in them and incoraged the souldiers also to longe to fight with their enemy and not onely to hope but to assure them selues of victory For where by reason of their continuall losses and fearefull ouerthrowes they hadde they thought them selues happy men to escape Hannibals handes by runninge away he taught them to be ashamed to flie like cowardes to confesse they were in distresse to retyre leaue the fielde before they had ouercome their enemies And where Pelopidas was neuer ouercome in battell beinge generall and Marcellus did ouercome more then any generall in his time it might seeme therefore that the great number of the victories of the one should compare with the good happe of the other that was neuer ouercome It is true that Marcellus tooke the city of SYRACVSA Pelopidas failed of taking the city of SPARTA but yet do I thinke that it was more valliantly done of Pelopidas to come so neere SPARTA as he did and that he was the first that passed the riuer of EVROTAS with an army which neuer enemy did before him than it was of Marcellus to winne all SICILE Vnles some paraduenture will say againe this was Epaminondas not Pelopidas acte as also in the victorie of LEVCTRES where no man liuing can pretend any parte of glory to the doinges of Marcellus For he tooke SYRACVSA being onely generall alone and did ouerthrow the GAVLES without his fellow Consull and fought with Hanniball without any mans helpe or incoragement for all other were against it and perswaded the contrary and he was the first that altered the maner of warres the ROMAINES vsed then and that trained his souldiers that they durst fight with the enemy For their death I neither commend the one nor the other and the straungenesse of either of their deathes doth greue me maruelously as I do greatly wonder also how Hanniball in so many battells as he fought which are innumerable could alwayes scape vnhurt I can not but greatly commende also the valliantnes of one Chrysantas whom Xenophon speaketh of in his booke of the institucion of Cyrus saying that he hauing lift vp his sword in his hand ready to kill one of his enemies and hearing the trompet sound the retreate he softly retyred would not strike him Howbeit it seemeth Pelopidas is more to be excused for beside that he was very hot and desirous of battel yet his anger was honorable and iust and moued him to seeke reuenge For as the Poet Euripides sayth The best that may betyde is vvhen a captaine likes and doth suruiue the victories vvhich he vvith force achieues But if he needes must fall then let him valliantly euen thrust amid the thickest throng and there vvith honor dye For so becometh his death famous not dishonorable But now besides Pelopidas iust cause of anger yet was there an other respect that most pricked him forward to do that he did for he saw his victorie ended in the death of the tyran Otherwise he shoulde hardly haue founde so noble an occasion to haue shewed his valliantnesse as in that And Marcellus contrarily without any instant necessity and hauinge no cause of heate or choller which putteth all men valliant in fight besides them selues that they know not what they do did rashly and vnaduisedly thrust him selfe into the middest of the daunger where he dyed not as a generall but as a light horseman and skowt forsaking his three triumphes his fiue Consullshippes and his spoyles and tokens of triumphe which he had gotten of kinges with his owne hands among venturous SPANIARDS and NVMIDIANS that folde their blood and liues for pay vnto the CARTHAGINIANS so that I imagine they were angry with theÌ selues as a man would say for so great and happy a victory to haue slaine amongest FREGELLANIAN skowtes and light horsemen the noblest and worthiest person of the ROMAINES I would no man should thinke I speake this in reproch of the memory of these two famous men but as a griefe onely of them and their valliantnes which they imployed so as they bleamished all their other vertues by the vndiscrete hazarding of their persones and liues without cause as if they woulde and shoulde haue dyed for them selues and not rather for their contry and frendes And also when they were dead Pelopidas was buried by the allies confederats of the city of THEBES for whose cause he was slaine and Marcellus in like maner by the enemies selues that hadde slaine him And sure the one is a happy thing and to be wished for in such a case but the other is farre aboue it and more to be wondered at That the enemy him selfe shoulde honor his valliantnesse and worthinesse that hurt him more then the office of frendshippe performed by a thankefull frende For nothing moueth the enemy more to honor his deade enemy then the admiration of his worthines and the frende sheweth frendeship many times rather for respect of the benefit he hath receiued then for the loue he beareth to his vertue The ende of Marcellus life THE LIFE OF Aristides ARistides the sonne of Lysimachus was certeinly of the tribe of Antiochides and of the towne of ALOPECIA But for his goodes and wealth they diuersely write of him For some say he liued poorely all the daies of his life and that he left two daughters which by reason of their pouerty liued vnmaried many yeres after their fathers death And many of the oldest writers do coÌfirme that for troth Yet Demetrius Phalerius in his booke intituled Socrates wryteth the contrary that he knew certeine landes Aristides had in the village of PHALERIA which did yet beare the name of Aristides lands in the which his body is buried And furthermore to shew that he was well to liue and that his
went by water when he might haue gone by lande the thirde that he had bene Idle a whole day and had done nothing Also when he saw a vicious olde man he would say to reproue him O gray bearde age bringeth many deformities with it helpe it not besides with your vice And to a seditious Tribune of the people that was suspected to be a poysoner and would needes passe some wicked law by voyce of the people he woulde say o young man I know not which of these two be worse to drinke the drugges thou geuest or to receiue the lawes thou offerest An other time being reuiled by one that ledde a lewde and naughty life go thy way sayd he I am no man to scolde with thee For thou art so vsed to reuile and to be reuiled that it is not daynty to thee But for my selfe I neuer vse to heare scolding and much lesse delite to scolde These be his wise sayinges we finde written of him whereby we may the easilier coniecture his maners and nature Now when he was chosen Consull with his frend Valerius Flaccus the gouernment of SPAYNE fell to his lott that is on this side of the riuer of BAETIS So Cato hauinge subdued many people by force of armes and wonne others also by frendly meanes sodainly there came a maruelous great army of the barbarous people against him had enuironned him so as he was in maruelous daunger either shamefully to be taken prisonner or to be slaine in the fielde Wherefore he sent presently vnto the CELTIBERIANS to pray aide of them who were next neighbours vnto the marches where he was These CELTIBERIANS did aske him two hundred talentes to come help him but the ROMAINES that were about him coulde not abide to hyer the barbarous people to defende them Then Cato tolde them straight there was no hurt in it nor any dishonor vnto them For sayed he if the fielde be ours then we shall pay their wages we promised with the spoyle and money of our enemies and if we loose it then our selues and they lye by it beinge left neither man to pay nor yet any to aske it In the ende he wanne the battel after a sore conflict and after that time he hadde maruelous good fortune For Polybius wryteth that all the walles of the cities that were on this side the riuer of BAETIS were by his commaundement rased all in one day which were many and full of good souldiers Him selfe wryteth that he tooke moe cities in SPAYNE then he remained there dayes and it is no vaine boast if it be true that is written that there were foure hundred cities of theÌ Now though the souldiers vnder him had gotten well in this iorney and were riche yet he caused a pounde weight of siluer to be geuen to euery souldier besides sayinge he liked it better that many should returne home with siluer in their purses then a few of them with golde only But for him selfe he affirmed that of all the spoyle gotten of the enemies he neuer had any thinge sauinge that which he tooke in meate and drinke And yet sayth he I speake it not to reproue them that grow riche by such spoiles but bicause I woulde contende in vertue rather with the best then in money with the richest or in couetousnes with the most vertuous For not only he him selfe was cleare from bribes and extorcion but his officers also vnder him kept the same course In this Spanish iorney he had fiue of his seruauntes with him whereof one of them called Pauus bought three younge boyes that were taken in the warres when the spoile was solde to them that would geue most So Cato knew it But Pauus being afrayed to come neere his maister hong him selfe and then Cato solde the boyes againe and put the money made of them into the treasory chestes of sauing at ROME Now while Cato was in SPAYNE Scipio the great that was his enemy sought to hinder the course of his prosperitie and to haue the honor of conqueringe all the rest of SPAYNE he made all the frendes he could to the people to be chosen in Catoes place He was no sooner entred into his charge but he made all the possible spede he could to be gone that he might make Catoes authority ceasse the sooner Cato hearing of his hasty comminge tooke only fiue ensignes of footemen and fiue hundred horsemen to attende vpon him home with the which in his iorney homeward he ouercame a people in SPAYNE called the LACETANIANS and tooke sixe hundred traytors also that were fled from the ROMAINES campe to their enemies and did put to death euery mothers childe of them Scipio storming at that sayd Cato did him wrong But Cato to mocke him finely sayed it was the right way to bringe ROME to florish when noble borne citizens would not suffer meane borne men and vpstarts as him selfe was to go before them in honor and on the other side when meane borne men woulde contende in vertue with those that were of noblest race and farre aboue them in calling For all that when Cato came to ROME the Senate commaunded that nothing shoulde be chaunged nor altered otherwise then Cato had appointed it whilest he was in his office So that the gouernment for which Scipio made such earnest sute in SPAYNE was a greater disgrace vnto him then it was vnto Cato bicause he passed al his time office in peace hauing no occasion offered him to doe any notable seruice worthy memory Furthermore Cato after he had bene Consul and hadde graunted to him the honor to triumphe did not as many others doe that seeke not after vertue but onely for worldly honor and dignity Who when they haue bene called to the highest offices of state as to be Consulls and haue also graunted them the honor to triumphe do then leaue to deale any more in matters of state dispose them selues to liue merely and quietely at home and not to trouble them selues any more Now Cato farre otherwise behaued him selfe For he would neuer leaue to exercise vertue but beganne a freshe as if he had bene but a young nouesse in the world and as one greedy of honor and reputacion and to take as much paines and more then he did before For to pleasure his frends or any other citizen he would come to the market place and pleade their causes for them that required his counsell and go with his frendes also into the warres As he went with Tiberius Sempronius the Consul and was one of his Lieutenants at the conquest of the contry of THRACE and vnto the prouinces adioyning to the riuer of DANVBYE apon those marches After that he was in GREECE also Collonell of a thowsande footemen vnder Manius Aquilius against king Antiochus surnamed the great who made the ROMAINES as much afrayed of him as euer they were of enemy but Hanniball For when he had conquered all the regions
his groundes For he had a fayre mannor not passinge twenty furlonges out of the city whether he would walke commonly after dinner or supper and then when night came that it was bed time he would lye vpon some ill fauored mattresse as the meanest laborer he had and in the morninge by breake of the day he went out either with his vinemen to labor in his vineyard or else with his plough men to follow the plough and somtimes returned againe to the city and followed matters of the common wealth with his frendes and other officers of the same Whatsoeuer he could spare and get in the warres he spent it in buying of goodly horses in makinge of fayer armors or payinge his poore contry mens ransome that were taken prisoners in the warres but for his goodes reuenue he sought onely to increase them by the profit of tillage which he esteemed the iustest and best way of getting of goodes For he did not trifle therein but employed his whole care and study apon it as one that thought it fit for euery noble man gentleman so to trauaill gouerne and increase his owne that he should haue no occasion to couet or vsurpe an other mannes He tooke no pleasure to heare all kinde of matters nor to read all sortes of bookes of Philosophy but those onely that would teache him most to become vertuous Neither did he much care to read Homers workes sauinge those places onely that stirred vp mens hartes most vnto valliantnes But of all other stories he specially delited to read Euangelus bookes which treated of the discipline of warres how to set battells and declared the actes and geastes of Alexander the great sayinge that men shoulde euer bringe his wordes vnto deedes onlesse men would take them for vaine stories and thinges spoken but not to profit by For in his bookes of the feates of warre and how battells shoulde be ordered he was not onely contented to see them drawen and set out in cartes and mappes but would also put them in execution in the places them selues as they were set out And therefore when the army marched in order of battell in the fielde he woulde consider and study with him selfe the sodaine euentes and approches of the enemies that might light vpon them when they comming downe to the valley or going out of a plaine were to passe a riuer or a ditche or through some straight also when he should spread out his army or else gather it narrow and this he did not only forecast by him selfe but woulde also argue the same with the Captaines that were about him For Philopoemen doubtlesse was one of the odde men of the worlde that most esteemed the discipline of warre and sometime peraduenture more then he needed as the most large field and most frutefull ground that valliantnes could be exercised in so that he despised contemned all that were no souldiers as men good for nothing When he was come now to thirty yeares of age Cleomenes kinge of LACEDAEMON came one night vpon the sodaine and gaue an assault to the city of MEGALIPOLIS so lustely that he draue backe the watche and got into the market place and wanne it Philopoemen hearinge of it ranne immediatly to the rescue Neuerthelesse though he fought very valliantly and did like a noble souldier yet he coulde not repulse the enemies nor driue them out of the city But by this meanes he got his citizens leasure and some time to get them out of the towne to saue them selues staying those that followed them and made Cleomenes still waite vpon him so that in the end he had much a do to saue him selfe being the last man and very sore hurt his horse also slaine vnder him Shortely after Cleomenes being aduertised that the MEGALOPOLITANS were gotten into the city of MESSINA sent vnto them to let them vnderstaÌd that he was ready to deliuer them their city lands goods againe But Philopoemen seeing his contry men very glad of these newes that euery man prepared to returne againe in hast he stayd them with these perswasions shewing them that Cleomenes deuise was not to redeliuer theÌ their city but rather to take theÌ together with their city foreseeing well enough that he could not continue long there to keepe naked walles and empty houses and that him selfe in the ende should be compelled to goe his way This perswasion stayed the MEGALOPOLITANS but withall it gaue Cleomenes occasion to burne and plucke downe a great parte of the city and to cary away a great summe of money and a great spoyle Afterwardes when kinge Antigonus was come to aide the AGNAIANS against Cleomenes and that Cleomenes kept on the toppe of the mountaines of Sellasia and kept all the passages and wayes vnto them out of all those quarters king Antigonus set his army in battel hard by him determining to set vpon him and to driue him thence if he could possibly Philopoemen was at that time amongest the horsemen with his citizens who had the ILLYRIANS on the side of them being a great number of footemen excellent good souldiers which did shut in the taile of all the army So they were commaunded to stand stil and to kepe their place vntill such time as they did shew them a redde coate of armes on the toppe of a pyke from the other wing of the battell where the king him selfe stoode in persone Notwithstanding this straight coÌmaundement the Captaines of the ILLYRIANS would abide no lenger but went to see if they could force the LACEDAEMONIANS that kept on the top of the mountaines The ACHAIANS contrariwise kept their place and order as they were commaunded Euclidas Cleomenes brother perceiuing thus their enemies footemen were seuered from their horsemen sodainly sent the lightest armed souldiers lustiest fellowes he had in his bands to geue a charge vpon the ILLYRIANS behinde to proue if they coulde make them turne their faces on them bicause they had no horsemen for their garde This was done and these light armed men did maruelously trouble and disorder the ILLYRIANS Philopoemen perceiuinge that and considering howe these light armed men would be easily broken and driuen backe since occasion selfe inforced them to it he went to tell the kings Captaines of it that led his men of armes But when he saw he could not make them vnderstand it and that they made no reckening of his reasons but tooke him of no skill bicause he had not yet attained any credit or estimacion to be iudged a man that could inuent or execute any stratageame of warre he went thither him selfe and tooke his citizens with him And at his first comming he so troubled these light armed men that he made them flie and slue a number of them Moreouer to encorage the better king Antigonus men and to make them geue a lusty charge vppon the enemies whilest they were thus troubled and out of order he left his horse
and marched a foote vp hill and downe hill in rough and stony wayes full of springs and quauemyres being heauely armed at all peeces as a man at armes and fightinge in this sorte very painefully and vneasily he had both his thighes past through with a dart hauinge a leather thonge on the middest of it And though the blow did not take much holde of the fleshe yet was it a stronge blow for it pearced both thighes through through that the iron was seene on thother side Then was he so combered with this blow as if he had bene shackled with irons on his feete and knew not what to doe for the leather fastened in the middest of the darte did greue him maruelously when they thought to haue pulled the darte out of the place where it entred in so as neuer a man about him durst set his handes to it Philopoemen on the other side seeing the fight terrible on either side and would soone be ended it spited him to the guttes he would so faine haue bene among them So at the length he made such struggling putting backe one thigh and setting forward an other that he knapped the staffe of the darte a sunder and made them pull out the two troncheons the one on this side and the other on the other side Then when he saw he was at liberty againe he tooke his sword in his hande and ranne through the middest of them that fought vnto the foremost ranckes to meete with the enemy so that he gaue his men a newe corage and did set them on fyre with enuy to followe his valliantnesse After the battell was wonne Antigonus asked the MACEDONIAN Captaines to proue them who moued the horsemen to deuide them selues and giue the charge before the signe that was commaunded They aunswered him that they were forced to doe it against their willes bicause a young MEGALOPOLITAN gentleman gaue a charge with his company before the signe was giuen Then Antigonus laughing told them the young gentleman played the parte of a wise and valliant Captaine This exployte together with Antigonus testimony gaue great reputacion vnto Philopoemen as we may easily imagine So king Antigonus maruelously intreated him he would serue with him and offered him a bande of men at armes and great entertainement if he would go with him But Philopoemen refused his offer and chiefly bicause he knew his owne nature that he could hardly abide to be commaunded by any Notwithstandinge bicause he could not be idle he tooke sea and went into CRETA where he knewe there were warres onely to continue him selfe in exercise thereof So when he had serued a longe time with the CRETANS which were valliant souldiers and very expert in all policies and feates of warre and moreouer were men of a moderate and spare dyet he returned home againe to ACHAIA with so great credit and reputacion of euery one that he was presently chosen Generall of all the horsemen So when he entred into his charge he founde many horsemen very ill horsed vpon litle Iades such as might be gotten cheapest how they vsed not to goe them selues in persone to the warres but did sende other in their steade and to be shorre how they neither had hartes nor experience of the warres and all bicause the Generalls and Captaines of the people of the ACHAIANS that serued before him did take no heede to those matters as fearinge to offende any bicause they had the greatest authority in their handes to punish or reward whom they thought good Philopoemen fearinge none of all these thinges would leaue no parte of his charge and duety vndone but went him selfe in persone to all the cities to perswade and encorage the young gentlemen to be well horsed and well armed that they might winne honor in the fielde be able to defende them selues and ouerthrow their enemies And where perswasion could doe no good there he would set fynes vpon their heades that so refused and did vse to muster them oft and did acquainte them with tilting turning and barriers and one to fight with an other and at such times and places specially as he knew there would be multitudes of people to giue them the lookinge on that in shorte space he made them very forwarde proper and ready horsemen whose chiefest property is to keepe their order and ranckes in the battell So as when necessitie serued for the whole company of horsemen to turne together halfe turne or whole turne or else euery man by him selfe they were so throughly trained in it that all the whole troupe set in battell ray did seeme as it were to be but one body they remoued so together and withall so easily and at all times and so oft as turne they woulde on the one side or on the other Now in a great battell the ACHAIANS had with the AETOLIANS and the ELIANS by the riuer of Larissus Demophantus Generall of the horsemen of the AETOLIANS came from his company to fight with Philopoemen who also made towardes him and gaue him first such a blow with his speare that he strake him starke deade When Demophantus fell to the grounde his souldiers fled by and by vpon it This wanne Philopoemen great honor who gaue no place to the youngest men in fighting most valliantly with his owne handes nor to the oldest men in wisedome for the wise leading of his army In deede the first man that made the people of ACHAIA grow in power and greatnes was Aratus for before his time ACHAIA was of small reckeninge bicause the cities of the same stoode deuided betwene them selues and Aratus was the first manne that made them ioyne together and stablished amonge them an honest ciuill gouernment Whereby it happened that as we see in brookes and riuers where any litle thinge stoppeth and falleth to the bottome which the course of the water bringeth downe the streame there the rest that followeth doth vse to stay and goe no further euen so in the cities of GREECE that were in harde state and sore weakened by faction one against an other the ACHAIANS were the first that stayed themselues and grewe in amity one with the other and afterwardes drewe on the rest of the cities into league with them as good neighbours and confederats Some by helpinge and deliueringe them from the oppression of tyrans and winninge other also by their peaceable gouernment and good concorde they had a meaninge in this wise to bringe all the contrie of PELOPONNESVS into one body and league Neuerthelesse while Aratus liued they depended most apon the strength and power of the MACEDONIANS first with stickinge vnto kinge Ptolomie and then vnto Antigonus and last to Philip who ruled in manner all the state of GREECE But when Pholopoemen came to gouerne and to be the chiefest man the ACHAIANS beinge stronge enough to resist the strongest woulde marche then no more vnder any other bodies ensigne nor woulde suffer any more straunge
towardes the city but scattering wise abroade in the fieldes in euery place he caused the trompet to sound the retreate Then he commaunded the chase to be followed no further for that all the contry thereabout was full of thicke woddes and groues very ill for horsemen and also bicause there were many brookes vallies and quauemyres which they should passe ouer he encamped him selfe presently being yet broade day And so fearinge least his enemies would in the night time draw vnto the city one after an other and by couples he sent a great number of ACHAIANS laid them in ambush amongest the brookes and hilles neere about it which made great slaughter of Nabis souldiers bicause they came not altogether in troupes but scatteringly one after an other as they fled one here an other there and so fell into their enemies handes as birdes into the fowlers net These acts made Philopoemen singularly beloued of the GREECIANS and they did him great honor in all their Theaters and common assemblies Whereat Titus Quintius Flaminius of nature very ambitious and couetous of honor did much repine and was enuious at the matter thinking that a Consul of ROME should haue place honor amongest the ACHAIANS before a meane gentleman of ARCADIA And he imagined he had deserued better of all GREECE then Philopoemen had considering howe by the onely proclamation of an heraulde he had restored GREECE againe to her auncient liberty which before his comminge was subiect vnto kinge Philip and vnto the MACEDONIANS Afterwardes Titus Quintius made peace with the tyran Nabis Nabis was shortely after very traiterously slaine by the AETOLIANS Whereuppon the citie of SPARTA grew to a tumult and Philopoemen straight taking the occasion went thither with his army and handeled the matter so wisely that partely for loue and partely by force he wanne the city ioyned it vnto the tribe of the ACHAIANS So was he maruelously commended and esteemed of the ACHAIANS for this notable victory to haue wonne their tribe and communalty of famous a city and of so great estimacion For the city of SPARTA was no smale encrease of their power and being ioyned as a member of ACHAIA Moreouer he wan by this meanes the loue and good will of all the honest men of LACEDAEMON of the hope they had to finde him a protector and defender of their liberty Wherefore when the tyran Nabis house and goodes were solde as forfitted to the state they resolued in their counsell to make him a present of the money therof which amounted to the summe of sixe score talents and sent Ambassadors purposely vnto him to offer it him Then Philopoemen shewed himselfe plainely to be no counterfeate honest man but a good man in deede For first of all there was not one of all the LACEDAEMONIANS that durst presume to offer him this money but euery man was afrayed to tell him of it and euery body that was appointed to do it made some excuse or other for them selues Notwithstandinge in the ende they made one Timolaus to take the matter vpon him who was his familiar frend and also his hoste And yet the same Timolaus when he came vnto MEGALIPOLIS was lodged entertained in Philopoemenes house did so much reuerence him for his wise talke and conuersation for his moderate diet and iust dealing with all men that he sawe there was no likely possibility to corrupt him with money so as he durst not once open his mouth to speake to him of the present he had brought him but founde some other occasion to excuse the cause of his comminge vnto him And beinge sent vnto him againe the second time he did euen as much as at the first time And making a third proofe he ventured at the last to open the matter vnto him and told him the good will the city of SPARTA did beare him Philopoemen became a glad man to heare it and when he had heard all he had to say to him he went him selfe vnto the citie of SPARTA There he declared vnto the counsell that it was not honest men and their good frends they should seeke to winne and corrupt with money considering they might commaund their vertue vpon any occasion without cost vnto them but that they should seeke to bribe naughty men with money and such as by seditious orations in counsell did mutine and put a whole citie in vprore to the ende that hauing their mouthes stopped with giftes they should trouble them the lesse in the common wealth For said he it is more necessarie to stoppe your enemies mouthes and to sowe vp their lippes from libertie of speaking then it is to keepe your frendes from it So noble a man was Philopoemen against all couetousnesse of money Shortely after the LACEDAEMONIANS beginning to stirre againe Diophanes who was then General of the ACHAIANS beinge aduertised of it beganne to prepare to punish them The LACEDAEMONIANS on the other side preparinge for the warres did set all the contry of PELOPONNESVS in armes Hereupon Philopoemen sought to pacifie Diophanes anger declaring vnto him that king Antiochus and the ROMAINES being at warres together at that present time and they both hauing puisant armies one against an other in the middest of GREECE it was meete for a good Generall and wise gouernor to haue an eye to their doings to be carefull of the same and to beware that he did not trouble or alter any thinge within his contry at that instant but then rather to dissemble it and not to seeme to heare any fault whatsoeuer they did Diophanes would not be perswaded but entred the territories of LACEDAEMON with a great army and Titus Quintius Flaminius with him and they together marched directly towardes the city of SPARTA Philopoemen was so madde with their doings that he tooke apon him an enterprise not very lawfull nor altogether iust neuerthelesse his attempt proceeded of a noble minde and great corage For he got into the citie of SPARTA and beinge but a priuate persone kept out the General of the ACHAIANS the Consull of the ROMAINES for entring the city when he had pacified all troubles and seditions in the same he deliuered it vp againe as it was before into the handes of the communaltie of the ACHAIANS Neuerthelesse him selfe being afterwardes Generall of the ACHAIANS did compell the LACEDAEMONIANS to receiue those home againe whom they had banished for certaine faultes and did put foure score naturall borne citizens of SPARTA vnto death as Polybius wryteth Or three hundred and fifty as Aristocrates an other historiographer reciteth Then he pulled downe the walles of the city and rased them to the grounde and tooke away the most parte of their territories and gaue them to the MEGALOPOLITANS All those whome the tyrannes had made free denizens of SPARTA he compelled them to departe the contry of LACEDAEMON and forced them to dwell in ACHAIA three thousand only excepted who would
vppon him that it tooke away his sences so as he fell in a traunse before them all and few dayes after was conueyed againe by sea into ASIA where he liued not loÌg after In the meane time the BOEOTIANS came into the ROMAINES tooke their parte And Philip hauing sent Ambassadors to ROME Titus also sent thither of his men to solicite for him in two respects The one if the warres continued against Philip that then they would prolong his time there The other if the Senate did graunt him peace that they would do him the honor as to make and conclude it with Philip. For Titus of his owne nature being very ambitious did feare least they would send a successor to continew those warres who should take the glory from him and make an end of them But his frends made such earnest sute for him that neither king Philip attained that he prayed neither was there sent any other generall in Titus place but he still continued his charge in these warres Wherfore so soone as he had receiued his coÌmission authority from the Senate he went straight towards THESSALIE with great hope to ouercome Philip. For he had in his army aboue six twenty thousand fighting men whereof the AETOLIANS made six thousand footemen and three thousande horsemen King Philips army on thother side was no lesse in number they began to march one towards the other vntill at the length they both drew neere the city of SCOTVSA where they determined to try the battell So neither they nor their men were afraid to see them selues one so neere an other but rather to the contrary the ROMAINES on the one side tooke greater hart corage vnto them desiring to fight as thinking with themselues what great honor they should win to ouercome the MACEDONIANS who were so highly esteemed for their valliantnes by reason of the famous acts that Alexander the great did by them And the MACEDONIANS on the other side also taking the ROMAINES for other maner of souldiers then the PERSIANS began to haue good hope if they might winne the field to make king Philip more famous in the world then euer was Alexander his father Titus theÌ calling his men together spake exhorted theÌ to stand to it like men to show theÌselues valliant souldiers in this battel as those which were to shew the proofe of their valliantnesse in the hart of GREECE the goodliest Theater of the world against their enemies of most noble fame Philip then by chaunce or forced to it by the spede he made bicause they were both ready to ioyne did get vp vnwares vpon a charnell house where they had buried many bodies being a litle hill raised vp aboue the rest neere the trenches of his campe and there began to encorage his souldiers as all generals do before they giue battel Who when he saw them all discoraged for they tooke it for an il signe that he was gotten vp on the top of a graue to speake vnto them he of a conceite at the matter did of himselfe deferre to giue battell that day The next morning bicause the night was very wet by reason the sowthe windes had blowen the clowds were turned to a miste filled all the valley with a darke grosse thicke ayer coÌming from the mountaines thereabouts which couered the field betwene both campes with a mist all the morning by reason wherof the skowtes on both sides that were sent to discouer what the enemies did in very shorte time met together one gaue charge vpon an other in a place they call the dogges heads which are pointes of rockes placed vpon litle hills one before an other and very nere one vnto an other which haue bene called so bicause they haue had some likenes of it In this skirmish there were many chauÌges as coÌmonly falleth out when they fight in such ill fauored stony places For sometime the ROMAINES fled and the MACEDONIANS chased them an other time the MACEDONIANS that followed the chase were glad to fly themselues the ROMAINES who fled before nowe had theÌ in chase This chaunge alteracion came by sending new supplies stil from both campes to relieue them that were distressed driuen to flie Now began the miste to breake vp the ayer to clere so that both generals might seenbout thâÌ what was done in either campe by reason wherof both of theÌ drew on their army to the field battel So Philip had the vantage on the right wing of his army which was placed on the height of an hanging hill froÌ which they came so a maine to set vpon the ROMAINES with such a fury than the stroÌgest valliantest that could be had neuer bene able to abide the front of their battel so closely were they ioined together their wall of pykes was so stroÌg But on his left wing it was not so bicause the raÌcks of his battel could not ioine so nere nor close target to target the place being betwixt the hills the rocks where the battel was coÌming so as they were coÌpelled by reasoÌ of the straightnes vneuennes of the ground to leaue it open vnfurnished in many places Titus finding that disaduaÌtage went froÌ the left wing of his battel which he saw ouerlaid by the right wing of his enemies going sodainly toward the left wing of king Philips battell he set vpon the MACEDONIANS on that side where he saw they could not close their ranckes in the front nor ioyne them together in the middest of the battel which is the whole strength order of the MACEDONIAN fight bicause the field was vp hill downe hill to fight hand to hand they were so pestered behind that one thronged ouerlaid an other For the battel of the MACEDONIANS hath this property that so loÌg as the order is kept close ioyned together it semeth as it were but the body of a beast of a force inuincible But also after that it is once open that they are sundered not ioyned together it doth not only loose the force power of the whole body but also of euery priuate souldier that fighteth partly by reason of the diuersity of the weapons wherewith they fight partely for that their whole strength consisteth most in the disposing ioyning together of their ranckes orders which doth stay vp one an other more theÌ doth euery priuate souldiers strength So when this left wing of the MACEDONIANS was broken that they ran their way one parte of the ROMAINES followed the chase the other ranne to giue a charge vppon the flanckes of the right winge which fought yet and they made great slaughter of them Whereupon they now which before had the vantage beganne to stagger and breake in the ende ranne away as fast as the other did throwing downe their weapons insomuch as there were slaine of them eight thousande in the
fielde and fiue thousande taken prisoners in the chase And had not the fault bene in the AETOLIANS Philip had not saued him selfe by flyinge as he did For whilest the ROMAINES had their enemies in chase the AETOLIANS taried and rifled all kinge Philips campe so as they had left the ROMAINES nothinge to spoyle at their returne Whereupon there grew great quarell hot words betwene them one with an other But afterwardes they angered Titus worse chalenginge the honor of this victory to the selues bicause they gaue it out through GREECE that they alone had ouerthrowen king Philip in the battell So that in the songs and ballets the Poets made in praise of this victory which euery coÌtry townes man had in his mouth they alwaies put the AETOLIANS before the ROMAINES as in this that followeth which was currantly song in euery place Oh frend vvhich passest by here lye vve vvretched pheares VVithouten honor of the graue vvithout lamenting teares VVe thirty thousand vvere vvhich ended haue our dayes In cruell coasts of Thessalie vvhich caused our decayes VVe haue bene ouerthrovven by th AEtolians men of vvarre And by the Latine crevves likevvise vvhom Titus led from farre Euen out of Italie to Macedonie lande Vs to distroy he captaine like did come vvith mighty bande And Philip stovvte therevvhiles for all his provvde fierce face Is fled more svvift then hartes doe ranne vvhich are pursued in chace The Poet was Alcaeus that made these verses for to singe who did them in disgrace of kinge Philip falsely increasinge the number of his men which died in the battell only to shame and spite him the more howbeit he spited Titus thereby more then Philip bicause it was song in euery place For Philip laughed at it to encounter him againe with the like mocke he made a song to counterfeate his as followeth This gibbet on this hill vvhich passers by may marke VVas set to hang Alcaeus vp vvithout in leaues or barke But Titus tooke it greuously who chiefly desired to be honored amongest the GREECIANS by reason wherof from that time forwards he delt in the rest of his matters alone without making accompt of the AETOLIANS wherwith they were maruelous angry specially when he receiued an Ambassador from Philip and gaue care vnto a treaty of peace which he offred For then they were so netled against him that they gaue it out through all GREECE that Titus had solde peace vnto Philip when he might altogether haue ended the warre and vtterly haue destroyed Philips whole power and Empire who had first brought GREECE into bondage These slaunderous reports false tales which the AETOLIANS spred thus abroade did much trouble the ROMAINES frendes and confederates but Philip selfe pulled this suspicion out of their heades when he came in person to require peace and did submit him selfe wholly to the discretion of Titus and the ROMAINES Titus then graunted him peace and deliuered to him his realme of MACEDON and commaunded him he shoulde giue ouer all that he helde in GREECE and besides that he should pay one thousande talents for tribute taking from him all his army by sea sauing only tenne shippes and for assurance of this peace he tooke one of his sonnes for hostage whome he sent to ROME Wherein Titus certainely did very well and wisely did foresee the time to come For then Hanniball of CARTHAGE the great enemy of the ROMAINES was banished out of his contry and commen to kinge Antiochus whome he put in the head and earnestly moued to follow his good fortune and the increase of his Empire Whom Hanniball so followed with these perswasions that kinge Antiochus at length was come to it And trusting to his former good successe and notable acts whereby in the warres before he had attained the surname of great he began now to aspire to the monarchy of the whole world sought how to finde occasion to make warres with the ROMAINES So that if Titus foreseeing that a far of had not wisely inclined to peace but that the wars of Antiochus had fallen out together with the warres of king Philip and that these two the mightiest Princes of the worlde had ioyned together against the city of ROME then it had bene in as great trouble and daunger as euer it was before in the time of their warres against Hannibal Howbeit Titus hauinge happely thrust in this peace betwene both warres he cut of the warre that was present before the other that was comminge by which meanes he tooke from one of the kinges his last and from the other his first hope In the meane time the tenne commissioners that were sent by the Senate from ROME to Titus to aide and assist him in the order of the affaiers of GREECE did counsell him to set all the rest of GREECE at liberty and onely to kepe in their handes with good garrison the cities of CHALCIDE of CORINTHE and of DEMETRIADE to make sure that by practise they should not enter into league and alliance with Antiochus Then the AETOLIANS that were the common slaunderers of Titus proceedinges beganne openly to make these cities to rebell and did summone Titus to loose the chaines of GREECE for so did kinge Philip call these three cities Then they asked the GREECIANS in mockery whether they were willing now to haue heauier fetters on their legges then before being somwhat brighter and fayrer then those they had bene shackled with and also whether they were not greatly beholding to Titus for taking of the fetters from the GREECIANS legs and tyinge them about their neckes Titus beinge maruelously troubled and vexed with this moued the tenne counsellers so earnestly that he made them graunt his request in the ende that those three cities also should be deliuered froÌ garrison bicause the GREECIANS thenceforth might no more complaine that his grace and liberality was not throughly performed and accomplished in euery respect on them all Wherefore when the feast called Isthmia was come there were gathered together an infinite multitude of people come to see the sporte of the games played there for GREECE hauing bene long time troubled with warres they seeing them selues now in sure peace in very good hope of ful liberty looked after no other thing but delited only to see games and to make mery Proclamation was then made by sounde of trompet in the assembly that euery man shoulde keepe silence That done the heraulde went forward and thrust into the middest of the multitude and proclaimed out alowde that the Senate of ROME and Titus Quintius Flaminius Consul of the people of ROME now that they had ouerthrowen kinge Philip and the MACEDONIANS in battell did thenceforth discharge from all garrisons and set at liberty from all taxes subsidies and impositions for euer to liue after their olde auncient lawes and in full liberty the CORINTHIANS the LOCRIANS those of PHOCIDE those of the I le of EVBOEA
the vpper hand of Scipio and that Scipio bare it paciently and left not of walking for that neither shewed any countenaunce of misliking And in entring into discourse of many matters they discended in the ende to talke of auncient Captaines and Hanniball gaue iudgement that Alexander the great was the famousest Captaine Tyrrus the second and him selfe the thirde Then Scipio smilinge gently asked him what wouldest thou say then if I had not ouercome thee Truely quod Hanniball I would not then put my selfe the third man but the first and aboue all the Captaines that euer were So diuers greatly coÌmending the goodly sayinges and deedes of Scipio did maruelously mislike Titus for that he had as a man may say layed his handes vpon the death of an other man Other to the contray againe sayd it was well done of him sayinge that Hanniball so longe as he liued was a fire to the Empire of the ROMAINES which lacked but one to blow it and that when he was in his best force and lusty age it was not his hande nor body that troubled the ROMAINES so much but his great wisedome and skill he had in the warres and the mortall hate he bare in his hart towardes the ROMAINES which neither yeares neither age would diminishe or take away For mens naturall condicions do remaine still but fortune doth not alwayes keepe a state but chaungeth stil and then quickeneth vp our desires to set willingly vppon those that warre against vs bicause they hate vs in their hartes The thinges which fell out afterwards did greatly proue the reasons brought out for this purpose in discharge of Titus For one Aristonicus sonne of a daughter of a player vpon the citherne vnder the fame and glory of Enmenes whose bastard he was filled all ASIA with warre rebellion by reason the people rose in his fauor Againe Mithridates after so many losses he had receiued against Sylla and Eimbria and after so many armies ouerthrowen by battell and warres and after so many famous Captaines lost and killed did yet recouer againe and came to be of great power both by sea and land against Lucullus Truely Hannibal was no lower brought then Caius Marius had bene For he had a king to his frend that gaue him entertainment for him and his family and made him Admirall of his shippes and Generall of his horsemen and footemen in the field Marius also went vp and downe AFRICKE a begging for his liuing insomuch as his enemies at ROME mocked him to scorne soone after notwithstanding they fell downe at his feete before him when they saw they were whipped murthered and slaine within ROME by his commaundement Thus we see no man can say certainely he is meane or great by reason of the vncertainty of thinges to come consideringe there is but one death and chaunge of better life Some say also that Titus did not this act alone and of his owne authority but that he was sent Ambassador with Lucius Scipio to no other end but to put Hanniball to death by what meanes soeuer they could Furthermore after this Ambassade we do not finde any notable thing written of Titus worthy of memory neither in peace nor in warres For he died quietely of naturall death at home in his contrie THE COMPARISON OF Titus Quintius Flaminius with Philopoemen IT is time nowe we come to compare them together Therefore as touchinge the great benefits that came to the GREECIANS neither Philopoemen nor all the other former Captaines are to be compared with Titus For all the auncient Captaines almost being GREECIANS made warres with other GREECIANS but Titus beinge a ROMAINE and no GREECIAN made warres for the liberty of GREECE When Philopoemen was not able to helpe his poore citizens distressed sore vexed with warres he sayled away into CRETA Titus hauing ouercome Philip kinge of MACEDON in battell did restore againe to liberty all the people and cities of the same which were kept before in bondage And if any will narrowly examine battells of either partie they shall finde that Philopoemen being Generall of the ACHAIANS made more GREECIANS to be slaine then Titus did of the MACEDONIANS fightinge with them for the liberty of the GREECIANS And for their imperfections the one of them was ambitious the other was as obstinate the one was quicke and sodainly angered the other was very hard to be pacified Titus left kinge Philip his realme and crowne after he had ouercome him and vsed great clemency towardes the AETOLIANS where Philopoemen for spite malice tooke townes and villages from his owne natiue contry and city wherein he was borne that had alwayes payed them tribute Furthermore Titus continued a sounde frend to them to whome he had once professed frendshippe and done pleasure vnto and Philopoemen in a geare and anger was ready to take away that he had giuen and to ouerthrow the pleasure and good turne he had shewed For Philopoemen when he had done the LACEDAEMONIANS great pleasure did afterwards rase the walls of their city and spoyled and destroyed all their contry and lastly ouerthrew their whole gouernment It seemeth also by reason of his immoderate choller he was him selfe cause of his owne death for that he made more hast then good speede to go out of time to set vpon those of MASSINA and not as Titus who did all his affaires with wisedome and euer considered what was best to be done But if we looke into the number of battells and victories the warre which Titus made against Philip was ended with two battells Whereas Philopoemen in infinite battells in which he had the better neuer left it doutfull but that his skill did euer helpe him the more to victory then the good fortune he had Moreouer Titus wanne honor by meanes of the power of ROME when it florished most and was in best prosperitie Philopoemen made him selfe famous by his deedes when GREECE beganne to stoupe and fall all together So that the deedes of the one were common to all the ROMAINES the dedes of the other were priuate to himselfe alone For Titus was General ouer good and valliant souldiers that were already trained to his hand and Philopoemen being chosen Generall did traine his men him selfe made them afterwards very expert and valliant that were but meane and greene souldiers before And whereas Philopoemen had continuall warres with the GREECIANS it was not for any good fortune he had but that it made a certaine proofe of his valliantnesse For where all other thinges are aunswerable to his there we must iudge that such as ouercome haue the most corage Now Philopoemen making warres with the most warlike nations of all GREECE as the CRETANS and the LACEDAEMONIANS did ouercome the subtillest of them by finenesse and policy and the most valliant by prowes and hardinesse But Titus ouercame by putting that only in practise which was already found and stablished as
selfe same instant serued the ITALIANS horse in the like manner so as both their horses fell dead to the ground Howbeit Pyrrus men that were about him saued him presently and flew the ITALIAN in the fielde although he fought it out right valliantly The ITALIANS name was Oplacus borne in the city of FERENTVM and was Captaine of a bande of men of armes This mischaunce made kinge Pyrrus looke the better to him selfe afterwardes and seeinge his horsemen geue backe sent presently to hasten his footemen forward whom he straight set in order of battell and deliuering his armor and cloke to one of his familiars called Megacles and being hidden as it were in Megacles armor returned againe to the battell against the ROMAINES who valiantly resisted him so that the victory depended longe in doubt For it is sayd that both the one side and the other did chase and was chased aboue seuen times in that conflict The chaunginge of the kinges armor serued very well for the safety of his owne persone howebeit it was like to haue marred all and to haue made him loose the fielde For many of his enemies set vppon Megacles that ware the kings armor and the partie that slue him dead and threw him starke to the grounde was one Dexius by name who quickely snatched of his head peece tooke away his cloke and ranne to Leuinus the Consul crying out alowde that he had slaine Pyrrus and withall shewed foorth the spoyles he supposed to haue taken from him Which being caried about through all the bands openly shewed from hand to hand made the ROMAINES maruelous ioyfull and the GREECIANS to the contrary both afeard and right sorowfull vntill such time as Pyrrus hearing of it went and passed alongest all his bandes bare headed and bar ãâ¦ã holdinge vp his hande to his souldiers and geuinge them to vnderstande with his owne voyce that it was him selfe The elephantes in the ende were they in deede that wanne the battell and did most distresse the ROMAINES for their horses seeing them a farre of were sore afrayed and durst not abide them but caried their masters backe in despite of them Pyrrus at the sight thereof made his THESSALIAN horsemen to geue a charge apon them whilest they were in this disorder and that so lustely as they made the ROMAINES flie and susteine great slaughter For Dionysius wryteth that there dyed few lesse then fifteene thowsand ROMAINES at that battell But Hieronymus speaketh onely of seuen thowsande And of Pyrrus side Dionysius wryteth there were slaine thirteene thowsande But Hieronymus sayth lesse then foure thowsande howebeit they were all of the best men of his army and those whome most be trusted King Pyrrus presently hereupon also tooke the ROMAINES campe which they forsooke and wan many of their cities from their allyance spoyled and ouercame much of their contry Insomuch as he came within six and thirty mile of ROME whither came to his aide as confederates of the TARENTINES the LVCANIANS the SAMNITES whom he rebuked bicause they came to late to the battel Howbeit a man might easily see in his face that he was not a litle glad and proude to haue ouerthrowen so great an army of the ROMAINES with his owne men and the aide of the TARENTINES onely On thóther side the ROMAINES hartes were so great that they would not depose Leuinus from his Consullshippe notwithstandinge the losse he had receiued and Caius Fabricius sayed openly that they were not the EPIROTES that had ouercomen the ROMAINES but Pyrrus had ouercome Leuinus meaning thereby that this ouerthrow chaunced vnto them more through the subtilty and wise conduction of the Generall then through the valliant feates and worthines of his army And hereuppon they speedily supplied their legyons againe that were minished with other newe souldiers in the dead mens place and leauied a fresh force besides speaking brauely and fiercely of this warre like men whose hartes nothinge appawled Whereat Pyrrus maruelinge much thought good first to send to the ROMAINES to proue if they would geue any eare to an offer of peace knowing right well that the winning of the city of ROME was no easie matter to coÌpasse or attaine with that strength he presently had and also that it would be greatly to his glory if he could bring them to peace after this his valliant victory And hereupon he sent Cineas to ROME who spake with the chiefest of the city and offred presentes to them and their wiues in the behalfe of the king his master Howbeit neither man nor woman would receiue any at his handes but aunswered all with one voyce that if the peace might be general to all they all priuately woulde be at the kinges commaundement and woulde be glad of his frendshippe Moreouer when Cineas had talked in open audience before the Senate of many curteous offers and had deliuered them profitable capitulacions of peace they accepted none nor shewed any affection to geue care vnto them although he offered to deliuer them their prisoners home againe without raunsome that had bene taken at the battell and promised also to aide them in the conquest of ITALIE requiring no other recompence at their handes sauing their goodwills only to his master assurance for the TARENTINES that they should not be annoyed for any thinge past without demaunde of other matter Neuertheless in the ende when they had hearde these offers many of the Senators yeelded and were willinge to make peace alleaginge that they had already lost a great battell and howe they looked for a greater when the force of the confederates of ITALIE should ioyne together with king Pyrrus power But Appius Claudius a famous man who came no more to the Senate nor delt in matters of state at all by reason of his age and partely bicause he was blinde when he vnderstoode of king Pyrrus offers and of the common brute that ranne through the city howe the Senate were in minde to agree to the capitulacions of peace propounded by Cineas he could not abide but caused his seruantes to cary him in his chayer apon their armes vnto the Senate dore his sonnes and sonnes in law taking him in their armes caried him so into the Senate house The Senate made silence to honor the comming in of so notable worthy a personage and he so soone as they had sette him in his seate beganne to speake in this sorte Hitherunto with great impacience my Lordes of ROME haue I borne the losse of my sight but now I would I were also as deafe as I am blinde that I might not as I doe heare the ãâ¦ã rte of your dishonorable consultacions determined vpon in Senate which tende to subscribe the glorious fame and reputacion of ROME What is now become of all your great and mighty bragges you blased abroade through the whole worlde that if Alexander the great himselfe had come into ITALIE in the time that our fathers had bene in
letter were these Caius Fabricius and Quintus AEmylius Consuls of ROME vnto king Pyrrus greeting You haue oh king made vnfortunate choise both of your frendes and of your enemies as shall appeare vnto you by reading of this letter which one of yours hath wrytten vnto vs for you make warres with iust and honest men and do your selfe trust altogether the wicked and vnfaithfull Hereof therfore we haue thought good to aduertise you not in respect to pleasure you but for feare least the misfortune of your death might make vs vniustly to be accused imagining that by trechery of treason we haue sought to end this warre as though by valliantnesse we coulde not otherwise atchieue it Pyrrus hauing red this letter and proued the contentes thereof true executed the Phisitian as he had deserued and to requite the aduertisement of the Consulls he sent Fabricius and the ROMAINES their prisoners without payinge of raunsome and sent Cineas againe vnto them to proue if he could obtaine peace Howbeit the ROMAINES bicause they would neither receiue pleasure of their enemies and least of all reward for that they consented not vnto so wicked a deede did not only refuse to take their prisoners of free gift but they sent him againe so many SANNITES and TARENTINES And furthermore for peace and his frendshippe they would geue no eare to it before the warres were ended and that he had sent away his army againe by sea into his kingdome of EPIRVS Wherefore Pyrrus seing no remedy but that he must needes fight an other battell after he had somewhat refreshed his army drewe towardes the citie of ASCVLVM where he fought the seconde time with the ROMAINES and was brought into a maruelous ill grounde for horsemen by a very swift running riuer from whence came many brookes and deepe marishes insomuch as his elephantes could haue no space nor ground to ioine with the battel of the footemen by reason wherof there was a great number of men hurt and slaine on both sides And in the ende the battell being fought out all day longe the darke night did seuer them but the next morninge Pyrrus to winne the aduantage to fight in the plaine field where he might preuaile with the force of his elephantes sent first certaine of his bandes to sease vpon the naughty ground they had fought on the day before And by this policy hauing brought the ROMAINES into the plaine field he thrust in amongest his elephants store of shot and slingmen and then made his army marche being very well set in order with great furie against his enemies They missinge thother dayes turninges and places of retyre were now compelled to fight all on fronte in the plaine fielde and striuing to breake into the battell of Pyrrus footemen before the elephantes came they desperately preaced in apon their enemies pykes with their swordes not caring for their owne persones what became of them but only looked to kill and destroy their enemies In the ende notwithstandinge after the battell had holden out very long the ROMAINES lost it and they first beganne to breake and flie on that side where Pyrrus was by reason of the great force and furie of his charge and much more through the violence of the elephantes against which the ROMAINES valliantnes nor corage coulde ought preuaile but that they were driuen to geue them place much like the rage of surging waues or terrible tremblinge of the earth rather then tary to be troden vnder feete and ouerthrowen by them whome they were not able to hurte againe but be by them most greuously martyred and their troubles thereby yet nothinge eased The chase was not long bicause they fled but into their campe and Hieronymus the historiographer writeth that there died six thowsande men of the ROMAINES and of Pyrrus parte about three thowsande fiue hundred and fiue as the kinges owne Chronicles doe witnesse Neuerthelesse Dionysius makes no mencion of two battells geuen neere vnto the city of ASCVLVM nor that the ROMAINES were certainely ouerthrowen howbeit he confirmeth that there was one battell only that continued vntil sunne set and that they scarcely seuered also when night was come on Pyrrus being hurte on the arme with a speare and his cariage robbed and spoiled by the SAMNITES besides And further that there died in this battell aboue fifteene thowsande men as well of Pyrrus side as of the ROMAINES parte and that at the last both the one and the other did retyre And some say that it was at that time Pyrrus aunswered one who reioyced with him for the victory they had wonne if we winne an other of the price quod he we are vtterly vndone For in dede theÌ had he lost the most parte of his army he brought with him out of his realme and all his frendes and Captaines in manner euery one or at the least there lacked litle of it and besides that he had no meanes to supplie them with other from thence and perceiued also that the confederates he had in ITALIE beganne to waxe colde Where the ROMAINES to the contrary did easily renue their army with freshe souldiers which they caused to come from ROME as neede required much like vnto a liuely spring the head whereof they had at home in their contry and they fainted not at all for any losses they receiued but rather were they so much the more hotly bent stowtely determining to abide out the warres what euer betyde And thus whilest Pyrrus was troubled in this sorte newe hopes and newe enterprises were offred vnto him that made him doubtful what to do For eueÌ at a clap came Ambassadors to him out of SICILIA offering to put into his handes the cities of SYRACVSA of AGRIGENTVM and of the LEONTINES and beseeching him to aide them to driue the CARTHAGINIANS out of the I le thereby to deliuer them from all the tyrannes And on the other side also newes was brought him from GREECE howe Ptolomie surnamed the lightning was slaine and all his army ouerthrowen in battell against GAVLES and that now he shoulde come in good hower for the MACEDONIANS who lacked but a king Then he cursed his hard fortune that presented him all at once such sundry occasions to doe great thinges and as if both enterprises had bene already in his hande he made his accompt that of necessitie he must loose one of them So long debating the matter with him selfe which of the two wayes he should conclude vppon in the ende he resolued that by the warres of SICILIA there was good meane to attaine to the greater matters considering that AFRICKE was not farre from them Wherefore disposinge him selfe that way he sent Cineas thither immediatly to make his way and to speake to the townes and cities of the contry as he was wont to doe and in the meane time left a strong garrison in the city of TARENTVM to kepe it at his deuotion wherewith the TARENTINES were very angry For
disordered all his army They slew two of his elephants and cut of a great number of his rereward so as he was compelled him selfe in persone to come from his vangard to helpe them against the barbarous people which were lusty valliant men and olde trained souldiers And there Pyrrus caught a blow on his head with a sworde and was in great daunger insomuch as he was forced to retyre out of the prease and fight which did so much the more encorage his enemies Among which there was one more aduenturous then the rest a goodly man of personage fayer armed in white armor who aduauncing him selfe farre before his company cried out to the king with a bolde and fierce voyce and chalenged him to fight with him if he were aliue Pyrrus beinge mad as it were with this brauery turned againe with his garde in spight of his men hurt as he was And besides that he was all on a fire with choller and his face all bloody and terrible to behold he went through his men and came at the length to this barbarous villen that had challenged him gaue him such a blow on his head with all his force and power that what by the strength of his arme and through the goodnes of the temper and mettle of the sword the blow claue his head right in the middest downe to the shoulders so that his heade beinge thus deuided the one parte fell on the one shoulder the other parte on the other This matter sodainly stayed the barbarous people and kept them from goinge any further they were so afrayed and amased both to see so great a blowe with ones hande and it made them thinke in dede that Pyrrus was more then a man After that they let him go and troubled him no more Pyrrus holding on his iorney arriued at the length in the city of TARENTVM with twenty thowsand footemen three thowsand horse And with these ioyning thereto the choycest pyked men of the TARENTINES he went incontinently into the field to seeke out the ROMAINES who had their campe within the territories of the SAMNITES which were then in very hard state For their hartes were killed bicause that in many battells and encounters with the ROMAINES they were euer ouerthrowen They were very angry besides with Pyrrus for that he had forsaken them to goe his voyage vnto SICILIA by reason whereof there came no great number of souldiers into his campe But notwithstanding he deuided all his strength into two partes whereof he sent the one parte into LVCANIA to occupy one of the ROMAINE Consulls that was there to the end he should not come to aide his companion and with the other parte he went him selfe against Manius Curius who lay in a very straunge place of aduantage nere to the citie of BENAVENTO attending the aide that should come to him out of LVCANIA besides also that the Soothsayers by the signes tokens of the birdes and sacrifices did counsell him not to sturre from thence Pyrrus to the contrary desiring to fight with Manius before his aide came vnto him which he looked for out of LVCANIA tooke with him the best souldiers he had in all his army and the warlikest elephantes and marched away in the night supposing to steale vpon Manius on the sodaine and geue an assault vnto his campe Now Pyrrus hauing a long way to go and through a woddy contry his lightes and torches failed him by reason whereof many of his souldiers lost their way and they lost a great deale of time also before they could againe be gathered together so as in this space the night was spent and the day once broken the enemies perceiued plainely how he came downe the hills This at the first sight made theÌ muse awhile and put them in a litle feare neuerthelesse Manius hauing had the signes of the sacrifices fauorable and seeing that occasion did presse him to it went out into the field and set apon the vowarde of his enemies and made them turne their backes The which feared all the rest in such wise that there were slaine a great number of them in the fielde and certaine elephantes also taken This victory made Manius Curius leaue his strength and come into the plaine field where he set his men in battell ray and ouerthrew his enemies by plaine force on the one side but on the other he was repulsed by violence of the elephantes and compelled to drawe backe into his owne campe wherein he had left a great number of men to garde it So when he saw them vpon the rampers of his campe all armed ready to fight he called them out and they comming fresh out of places of aduantage to charge vpon the elephantes compelled them in a very shorte time to turne their backes flie through their owne men whom they put to great trouble and disorder so as in the ende the whole victory fell apon the ROMAINES side and consequently by meanes of that victory followed the greatnes and power of their Empire For the ROMAINES being growen more coragious by this battell and hauing increased their force and wonne the reputacion of men vnconquerable immediatly after conquered all ITALIE besides and soone after that all SICILIA To this ende as you see came king Pyrrus vaine hope he had to conquer ITALIE and SICILIA after he had spent sixe yeares continually in warres during which time his good fortune decayed his army consumed Notwithstanding his noble corage remained alwayes inuincible what losses soeuer he had susteined and moreouer whilest he liued he was euer esteemed the chiefest of all kings princes in his time as well for his experience sufficiency in warres as also for the valliantnes and hardines of his person But what he wanne by famous deedes he lost by vaine hopes desiring so earnestly that which he had not as he forgate to kepe that which he had Wherepore Antigonus compared him vnto a dice player that casteth well but can not vse his lucke Now hauing brought backe againe with him into EPIRVS eight thowsande footemen and fiue hundred horsemen and being without money to pay them he deuised with him selfe to seeke out some new warre to entertaine those souldiers and kepe them together Wherefore vppon a newe aide of certaine of the GAVLES beinge comen vnto him he entered into the realme of MACEDON which Antigonus Demetrius sonne held at that time with intent only to make a forrey and to get some spoyle in the contry But when he saw that he had taken diuerse holdes and moreouer that two thowsand men of warre of the contry came and yelded them selues vnto him he beganne to hope of better successe then at the first he looked for For vpon that hope he marched against king Antigonus selfe whom he met in a very straight valley and at his first comming gaue such a lusty charge vpon his rereward that he put all Antigonus army
of the barbarous people at the first sought with them bicause the most parte of their company were at dinner after they had bathed and others were still in the bathe washinge them selues finding in that place many springes of hotte naturall bathes Thus the ROMAINES founde many of the barbarous people makinge mery and taking their pleasure about these bathes for the great delite they tooke to coÌsider the pleasauntnes of the place but when they heard the noyse of them that fought they beganne to runne one after an other vnto the place from whence the noyse came Wherefore it was a hard thing for Marius any lenger to keepe the ROMAINE souldiers in from going to their helpe for that they feared their slaues should haue bene slaine of the barbarous people and moreouer bicause the valliantest souldiers of their enemies called the AMBRONS who before had ouercome Manlius and Cepis two ROMAINE Captaines with their armies and that made of them selues thirty thowsande fighting men ranne to armes being very heauy of their bodies as hauing filled their bellies well but otherwise valliant and coragious fellowes and more liuely then they were wont to be by reason of the wine they had dronke They ran not furiously to fight out of order neither did they crie out confusedly but marching all together in good array making a noyse with their harnes all after one sorte they oft rehearsed their owne name AMBRONS AMBRONS AMBRONS which was either to call one an other of them or else to feare the ROMAINES with their name only The ITALIANS also on thother side being the first that came downe to fight with them were the LIGVRIANS dwelling vpon the coast of Genuoa who hearing this noyse and crye of theirs plainely vnderstanding them aunswered them againe with the like noyse and crye LIGVRIANS LIGVRIANS LIGVRIANS saying that it was the true surname of all their nation And so before they ioyned together this crye was redoubled many a time on either side and the Captaines of both partes made their souldiers crye out all together contendinge for enuy one against an other who should crye it out lowdest This contention of crying inflamed the souldiers corages the more Now the AMBRONS hauing the riuer to passe were by this meanes put out of order and before they could put them selues in battell ray againe after they had passed the riuer the LIGVRIANS ranne with great fury to set apon the formest and after them to aide the LIGVRIANS that had begon the charge the ROMAINES them selues fell also apon the AMBRONS comming downe from the places of aduantage vpon these barbarous people and compelled them by this meanes to turne their backes and flie So the greatest slaughter they made fortuned vppon the bancke of the riuer whereinto they thrust one an other in such sorte that all the riuer ran blood being filled with dead bodies And they that could get ouer the riuer againe and were on thother side durst not gather together any more to stand to defence so as the ROMAINES slew them and draue them into their campe euen vnto their cariage Then their women came out against them with swordes and axes in their handes grinding their teeth and crying out for sorrow and anger they charged as well vpon their owne people that fled as vpon them that chased them the one as traitors and the other as enemies Furthermore they thrust them selues amongest them that fought stroue by force to plucke the ROMAINES targets out of their handes and tooke holde of their naked swordes bare handed abiding with an inuincible corage to be hacked and mangled with their swordes And thus was the first battell geuen as they say by the riuers side rather by chaunce vnlooked for then by any set purpose or through the generals counsel Now the ROMAINES after they had ouercome the most parte of the AMBRONS retyring backe by reason the night had ouertaken them did not as they were wont after they had geuen such an ouerthrow sing songes of victory and triumphe nor make good chere in their tentes one with an other and least of all sleepe which is the best sweetest refreshing for men that haue fought happely but contrarily they watched all that night with great feare and trouble bicause their campe was not trenched and fortified and bicause they knewe also that there remained almost innumerable thowsandes of barbarous people that had not yet fought besides also that the AMBRONS that had fled and scaped from the ouerthrow did howle out all night with lowd cries which were nothing like mens lamentacions and sighes but rather like wilde beastes bellowing and roaringe So that the bellowing of such a great multitude of beastly people mingled together with threates and waylinges made the mountaines thereabouts and the running riuer to rebounde againe of the sounde and ecco of their cries maruelously by reason whereof all the valley that lay betwene both thundered to heare the horrible and fearefull trembling This made the ROMAINE souldiers afeard and Marius him selfe in some doubt bicause they looked to haue bene fought withall the same night being altogether troubled and out of order Notwithstanding the barbarous people did not assault them that night nor the next day following but only prepared them selues vnto battell And in the meane time Marius knowing that there was aboue the place where they were camped certaine caues and litle valleyes couered with wodde he secretly sent Claudius Marcellus thither with three thowsand footemen well armed and commaunded him to keepe close in ambushe vntill he saw that the barbarous people were fighting with him and that then he should come and setapon their rereward The residue of his armie they supped when time came and after supper reposed them selues The next morning at the breake of day Marius brought his men into the fielde out of his forte where he put them in order of battell sending his horsemen before to draw the enemies out of skirmishe The TEVTONS seeing them come had not the pacience to tary till the ROMAINES were come downe into the plaine fielde to fight without aduantage but arming them selues in hast and in a rage ranne vp the hill to the ROMAINES where they stoodo in battell ray Marius taking good regard to that they did sent here and there vnto the priuate Captaines charging them they should not stirre and onely to temporise and forbeare vntill the enemies came within a stones cast of them and that they should then throw their dartes at them and afterwardes drawe their swordes and repulse the barbarous people with their shieldes For he did foresee before that when they should clime vp against the hill vppon the hanging whereof the ROMAINES had set their battell that their blowes would not be of great force nor their order and ranckes could stand close together to any effect or purpose bicause they could not haue sure footing not march assuredly but would easily be throwé backeward if they were neuer so
of the ATHENIANES amongest other called Philocles he that perswaded the ATHENIANS to cut of the prisoners thumbes of their right handes that were taken in the warres to th end they should no more handle the pyke but only serue to pull the ower Both the tone and the tother rested that day hoping to haue battel without faile the next morning But Lysander hauing an other meaning with him commaunded the maisters and maryners notwithstanding that they should haue their gallies ready to geue battell the next morninge by breake of day bicause euery man should get a bord betimes and should keepe them selues in order of battell making no noise at all attending what he would commaunde them and further made the armie by lande also to be ranged in battell ray by the sea side The next morning at sunne rising the ATHENIANS beganne to row with all their gallies set in order of battell in a fronte But Lysander though he had his shippes in order to fight the proes lying towardes the enemies before day towed not for all that against them but sending our pynnasies vnto the first gallies commaunded them straightly that they should not stirre at all but keepe them selues in order making no noyse nor rowing against the enemy Though the ATHENIANS also were retyred in the night he would not geue the souldiers leaue to come to lande out of the gallies before he had sent first two or three gallies to discrie the fleete of his enemies who brought him word that they had seene the ATHENIANS take lande The next morning they did the like the third day and the fourth also all in one sorte so that the ATHENIANS beganne to be bold of them selues and to despise their enemies imagining they lay thus close for feare of them and durst not come forward In the meane time Alcibiades who lay at that time in the contrie of CHERRONESVG in certaine places which he had conquered came ryding to the campe of the ATHENIANS to tell the Captaines and generalls of the armie the great faultes they committed First for that they had cast ancker and kept their shippes in an open place where there was no maner of succor nor harber to retyre vnto vpon any storme and worst of all bicause that they were to fetche their vittells farre of at the citie of SESTOS vnto which hauen they should rather draw them selues vnto considering that they had but a litle way to go also that they should haue the citie to backe them which would furnish them with all thinges necessarie and beside that they should be further of from their enemies which were gouerned by one generall onely that did commaund them all and were so well trained that at a whistle they were ready straight to execute his commaundement Alcibiades perswasions to these Captaines of the ATHENIANS were not only misliked but furthermore there was one called Tydeus that answered him very lewdly that he had nothing to doe to commaunde the armie but other that had the charge of them Alcibiades mistrusting thereby some treason quietly went his way The fift day the ATHENIANS hauing made the same countenaunce to present battell vnto their enemies and retyring the same night as of custome very negligently and in ill order as men that made no reckening of their enemies Lysander sent againe certaine galliots to discrie them commaunding the Captaines of the same that when they perceiued the ATHENIANS had left their gallies and taken lande they should then returne backe with all possible speede they could and being mid way ouer the straightes that they should lift vp a copper target into the ayre apon the top of a pyke in the foredecke for a signe to make all the whole fleete to row in battell Now Lysander him selfe in the meane time went in persone from galley to galley perswading exhorting euery Captaine that they should put their galliots maryners and souldiers in good readines to th end that when the signe should be lifted vp they should rowe with all their might in battell against the enemies Wherefore so soone as the copper target was set vp in the ayer and that Lysander had made his trompet sound out of the Admiral for a token to hale out into the sea the gallies immediatly beganne to row for life in enuy one of an other and the footemen that were apon the lande ranne with speede also to the toppe of a high cliffe neere vnto the sea to see what would be the ende of his fight bicause the distaunce from one side to the other in that place was not fully two myles which they had sone cut ouer and in a litle space through the great diligence force of rowing with their owers So Conon the chiefe Captaine of the ATHENIANS perceiuing from the shore this great flete comming with a full force to assault them he then cried out to the souldiers that they should runne to their shippes and being in a rage to see thinges in this daunger called some by their names others he intreated and the rest he compelled to take their gallies But all his diligence was to no purpose bicause the souldiers were wholly scattered here and there For so soone as they were set a lande out of their gallies at their returne some went to buy prouision other went a walking in the fieldes some were set at supper in their cabines and other were layed downe to sleepe nothing mistrusting that which happened to them through their Captaines ignoraunce and lacke of experience But when the enemies were ready to ioyne and fall vpon them with great cries and noyse of owers Conon hauing eight gallies stale secretly out of the fleete and flying vnto Euagoras saued him selfe in the I le of CIPRVS In the meane time the PELOPONNESIANS falling apon the other gallies tooke some of them emptie and brake the others as the souldiers beganne to come aborde apon them And as for the men some were flaine by their shippes as they ranne vnto them like naked men without weapon and out of order thinking to haue saued them selues other were killed in flying bicause the enemies landed and had them in chase And there were taken aliue of them three thowsand prisoners with the Captaines Lysander moreouer tooke all the whole fleete of their shippes the holie galley excepted called Paralos and the eight that fled with Conon and after he had destroyed all the campe of the ATHENIANS he fastened the gallies that were taken vnto the keele of his gallies and returned with songes of triumphe with the sound of flutes and hoboyes towards the citie of LAMPSACVS hauing wonne a great victory with litle labor and had cut of in a small time the long continuing and most diuerse warre that euer was and had brought forth so many sundrie straunge euentes of fortune as are vncredible For there had bene infinite battells fought both by sea and lande and had altered many sundry times and there
sute or open audience Like tonny fishe they be vvhich svviftly diue and doppe Into the depth of Occean sea vvithouten stay or stoppe But afterwardes also when ye take them out of their common practise and pleadinges Then are they graueld straight vvithouten grace or skill Their eloquence lyes then in dyke and they them selues be still For Lucullus had studied humanitie from his youth and was well learned in all the liberall sciences but when he came to elder yeares to refreshe his witte after great troubles he fell to the studie of Philosophie which quickened the contemplatiue parte of his soule mortified or at the least betimes brideled the ambitious and actiue parte specially after the dissention betwixt him and Pompey But to acquaint you better with his learning yet it is said that when he was a young man he layed a great wager with Hortensius the Orator and Sisenna the historiographer in iest as it were at the first but afterwardes it fell to good earnest that he would write the breuiary of the warres of MARSICVM in verse or profe in the Latin or Greeke tongue which soeuer fell to his lotte and I thinke his happe was to doe it in prose in the Greeke tongue bicause we finde a litle Greeke storie extant of the warres of the ROMANES against the MARSIANS He dearely loued his brother Marcus Lucullus as appeared by many manifest proofes but the chiefest and most noted proofe among the ROMANES was this Him selfe was elder then his brother Marcus and yet for all that would neuer sue to beare office in the common wealth nor accept any before his brother but taried alwayes till he should be chosen and let his owne time passe ouer This great curtesie to his brother so wanne the peoples hartes as Lucius being absent they chose him AEdilis and his brother Marcus with him for his sake He was in the flower of his youth in the time of the MARSIANS warres wherein he did many wise and valliant deedes The cause notwithstanding that moued Sylla to make choyce of him was rather for his constancy good curteous nature then for any other respect For when Sylla had once wonne him he euer after employed him continually in his most weightie causes as in a commission specially he gaue him to coyne money For in deede parte of the money that Sylla spent in the warres against king Mithridates was coyned by Lucullus commaundement within the contrie of PELOPONNESVS whereupon they were called Lucullian peeces and were currant a longe time amongest the souldiers to buy such things as they stoode in nede of and neuer refused by any Sylla being afterwards at ATHENS the stronger by land but the weaker by sea so as his enemies cut of his vittells from him sent Lucullus into EGYPT and LIBYA to bring him such shippes as he found in those partes It was in the deepe of winter and yet he spared not to sayle with three brigantines of GREECE and as many galliots of the RHODIANS putting him selfe not only to the daunger of the sea in so long a voyage but of his enemies in like maner who knowing them selues to be the stronger went sayling euery where with a great nauie But for all these daungers he first arriued in the I le of CRETA and wanne their goodwilles From thence went to the citie of CYRENE where he found the inhabitaunts turmoyled with ciuil warres and continuall oppressions of tyrans from which troubles he deliuered them and gaue them lawes to establishe gouernment amongest them putting them in remembraunce of Platoes wordes spoken to their auncesters in old time in the spirite of a prophecie For when they prayed Plato to write them lawes and to appoint them some forme of gouernment for their common wealth he made them aunswere it was a hard thing to geue lawes to so riche and fortunate people as they were For to say truely as nothing is harder to be ruled then a rich man so contrarily nothing readier to receiue counsell and gouernment then a man in aduersity This lesson framed the CYRENIANS at that time to be more ciuill and obedient to the lawes Lucullus gaue them When he departed thence he coasted towardes EGYPT where he lost the more parte of his shippes by pyrates but for his owne person scaping their handes he was very honorably receiued in the citie of ALEXANDRIA For all the kinges armie came to meete him at sea gallantly trimmed and appointed as they were wont to welcome home the kinge when he returned from any voyage by sea and king Ptolomye him selfe being very young at that time gaue him as honorable entertainment as he possible could For amongest other honors that he did him he lodged him in his courte and defrayed his ordinarie dyet where neuer straunge Captaine was lodged before and did not only spend the ordinary allowance in feasting of him which he vsed vnto others but commaunded foure times as much prouision more to be made as he had before Notwithstanding Lucullus tooke no more then reasonable was for his person nor yet would he receiue any maner gift althogh the king had sent him presents to the value of foure score talentes And which more is would not so much as go see the citie of MEMPHIS nor any other of the famous monumentes and wonderfull sightes in EGYPT saying that it was for a man that trauelled vp and downe for his pleasure and had leasure withall to see such thinges but not for him that had left his Captaine in the field at the siege of the walles of his enemies To conclude this young king Ptolomye would in no case fall in frendshippe with Sylla fearing least he should thereby put him selfe into warres but gaue him men and shippes ãâ¦ã bring him into CYPRVS And as he was ready to imbarke the king bidding him farewell and embracing him gaue him a goodly rich emerod set in gold which Lucullus at the first refused vntill the king shewed him his picture grauen in it and then accepted the gift fearing least the vtter refusall might cause the king thinke he went away discontented and should perhaps therefore lay an ambushe by sea for him Thus hauing gotten a certaine number of shippes together of the porte townes thereaboutes ouer and besides such as the pyrates and sea rouers had hidden being parte of their spoyles and bestowed with their receitors went on with them into CYPRVS where he vnderstoode that his enemies lay close in certaine creekes under the foreland watching to bourde him as he sayled by Whereuppon he vnrigged and bestowed his shippes in docks and sent worde to all the porte townes thereabouts that he was determined to winter there and therefore willed them to prouide him vittells other necessarie munition to be in readines against the spring But in the meane while when he saw time conuenient he put his whole fleete againe to the sea with all possible speede
a very hotte and fertile soyle where there is a great city and maruelously replenished with inhabitauntes who call it NISIBIS and the GRAECIANS call it ANTIOCH of MYGDONIA In that city Gouras was Gouernor who was Tigranes owne brother but for experieÌce in engines of battery and for sufficiencie and skill in such matters there was Callimachus also he that so maruelously troubled Lucullus before at the siege of the city of AMISVS Lucullus placing his campe before this city besieged the same by all such meanes as might enforce it and that so valliantly that in very shorte time he tooke it by assault And as for Gouras who submitted him selfe to Lucullus mercie he was very curteously intreated But for Callimachus he would not once heare him speake notwithstanding that he promised if they would saue his life he would tell them of coffers full of great treasure hidden which no man knew but him selfe onely But Lucullus commaunded them to bring him with gyues to receive the punishment he had iustly deserued for setting the city of AMISVS a fire and taking from him the meane to shewe the GRAECIANS his goodnesse affection and liberality towardes them Vntill this present time it might be truely sayd that good fortune euer fauored followed Lucullus in all his enterprises and affayres but from that time forwards it was quickely seene that the fauorable blast of fortune failed him he did all his things with so great payne and all that he did fell out contrarie vnto him and to very ill purpose In deede he did euer shew the valiancy pacience and great corage that should be in a valliant Generall or Lieutenaunt of an armie But his exployts and doinges had neuer after that easie grace nor shining glory they were wont to haue but to the contrary he was like to haue lost all that he had wonne before through the misfortunes that fell vpon him and for the brawles and vaine contention he had with his people to no purpose But the worst was that they make him selfe thonly author of all these euills bicause he could not or would not entertaine the goodwill of the multitude of his souldiers thinking that whatsoeuer a Generall or any other officer of state or calling doth to please and content them he hath vnder his charge is to dishonor him selfe and to geue cause vnto his souldiers to despise his authoritie But that which made most against him was this that he gaue no estimation to gentlemen and men of like quality to him selfe but disdained them and thought them vnworthy to be equall with him For these they say were his faultes and imperfections but otherwise that he wanted no vertues nor naturall giftes good condicions that could be possibly wished for or desired For he was a talle gentleman of goodly presence well spoken wise and discreete as well in matters of gouernment as in warres and as well to perswade the people in peace as to encorage his souldiers in warre Salust wryteth of him that his souldiers began to mislike with him euen from the first entry into these warres bicause he made them lye out two winters together in the field one after an other the one before the city of CIZICVS and the other before the city of AMISVS And euen as much did the other winters following vexe and trouble them For either they lay in their enemies contry or else if they lay in their frendes yet he made them campe abroade in the field and shrowd them selues in their tentes for Lucullus neuer entred with his army into any city or confederate towne of GRAECE Now if the souldiers of them selues misliked Lucullus the couÌsellers at ROME that were his enemies and enuied his prosperity and glory gaue them yet greater occasions to mutine against him For they coÌtinually accused him to the people in their orations that he drew out this warre in length purposely bicause he would alwayes haue occasion to rule meanes to get hauing in his hands in maner all CILICIA ASIA BITHYNIA PAPHLAGONIA GALATIA PONTVS ARMENIA and all the prouinces and regions as farre as to the riuer of Phasis and yet he had not long before spoyled the Princely houses of Tigranes as if he had bene sent thither only to sack and spoyle and not to destroy ouercome those kings And they say that it was Lucius Quintius one of the Praetors that spake these wordes It was he also that most moued the people to take order that Lucullus should be called home other sent to succeede him in the charge gouernmeÌt of the contries he had subdued By the selfe same meane it was also ordained that diuers which were vnder his charge should be dispersed with all for their othes and licenced to leaue the warres when they thought good But besides those such like great causes there was yet an other more daungerous plague that most ouerthrew Lucullus proceedings passing all the other euills being put together and that was Publius Clodius a wicked licentious and a harebrainde man He was Lucullus wiues brother and she was so light of her body that Clodius her brother was accused of incontinencie with her This Clodius being at that time in Lucullus campe caried not that estimacion and credit he thought him selfe worthy of For he tooke him selfe equall with the best and would needes haue bene holden for chiefe when in deede there were many of farre better desert he being noted both for a vitious and ill disposed person Whereupon he beganne for spight to suborne the bandes called FIMBRIANS and to stirre them vp against Lucullus sowing sweete and pleasaunt wordes amongest the souldiers which being wonted therunto looked still to be flattered For they were those whom Fimbria had procured to kill the Consull Flaccus and choose him in his steede for their Captaine By reason whereof they gaue good care to Clodius words and called him a noble Captaine and a louer of souldiers For when he spake vnto them he made as though he had pittied them for that they should neuer see an end of their great paynes and warres but should miserably consume their dayes in fighting continually sometime with one nation and sometime with an other and that they wandered through all the contries of the world receiuing no worthy reward of so long and painfull seruice seruing only to gard Lucullus cartes camells loden with plate and vessell of golde and siluer and other pretious stones Where the souldiers that had serued vnder Pompey tooke nowe their ease at home in their contry with their wiues and children and were landed men dwelling in goodly fayer cities as rich burgeses and wealthy citizens and yet they had not driuen Mithridates and Tigranes out of their kingdomes into desert places vnhabitable nor had destroyed the Princely houses of ASIA but only made a litle warre in SPAYNE against those that were banished in ITALIE against
city and at the same time also to set the ATHENIANS shippes a fire and how there were also a great number in the citie of this confederacy that did but looke euery hower for their comming And this was the noblest stratageame of warre that Nicias shewed all the time he was in SICILE For by this deuise he made the SYRACVSANS come into the fielde with all their power so that they left their citie without garde and he him selfe departing in the meane time from CATANA with all his fleete wanne the hauen of SYRACVSA at his ease and chose out a place to campe in where his enemies could not hurt him in the which he was both the stronger and might without let or difficulty set apon them with that wherein he most trusted The SYRACVSANS returning straight from CATANA and offering him battell hard by the walles of SYRACVSA he came out into the field and ouerthrew them There were not many of the SYRACVSANS slaine at this battell bicause their horsemen did hinder the chase but Nicias breaking vp the bridges apon the riuer gaue Hermocrates occasion to mocke him For comforting encoraging the SYRACVSANS he told them Nicias deserued to be laughed at bicause he did what he could that he might not fight as if he had not purposely come from ATHENS to SYRACVSA to fight This notwithstaÌding he made the SYRACVSANS quake for feare for where they had then fifteene Captaines they chose our three only to whom the people were sworne that they would suffer them to haue full power authority to commaund and take order for all thinges The temple of Iupiter Olympian was hard by the ATHENIANS campe which they would gladly haue taken for that it was full of rich iuells and offeringes of gold and siluer geuen vnto the temple afore time But Nicias of purpose still draue of time and delayed so long till the SYRACVSANS at last sent a good garrison thither to keepe it safe thinking with him selfe that if his souldiers came to take and spoyle the temple his contry should be nothing the richer by it and him selfe besides should beare all the blame of sacrilege So hauing obtained victorie without profit which ranne straight through SICILE within few dayes after he returned vnto the city of NAXOS where he lay all the winter consuming a wonderfull masse of vittells with so great an army for the doing of thinges of small moment vpon certaine SICILIANS that yelded to him The SYRACVSANS in the meane time being in hart againe and coragious returned to CATANA where they spoyled and ouerranne all the contrie and burnt the campe of the ATHENIANS Herefore euery man blamed Nicias much bicause through his long delay and protracting of time to make all thinges sure he let slippe sundry occasions of notable exployres wherein good seruice might haue bene done Yet when he would do a thing in deede he did it so thorowly as no man could take exception to his doinges for that he brought it to so good a passe and once taking it in hande he did execute it with all speede though he was both slowe to determine and a coward to enterprise Now when he remoued his army to returne to SYRACVSA he brought it so orderly also with such speede safety that he was come by sea to THAPSVS had landed taken the sorte of Epipolis before the SYRACVSANS had any intelligence of it or could possibly helpe it For the choyce men of the SYRACVSANS being set out against him hoping to haue stopped his passage he ouerthrew them tooke three hundred prisoners made their horsemen flie which before were thought inuincible But that which made the SYRACVSA most afrayed and seemed most wonderfull also to the other GRAECIANS was this that in a very short space he had almost enuironned SYRACVSANS with a walle which was as much in compasse about as the walls of ATHENS and worsse to performe by reason of the woddy contry and for the sea also that beateth apon the walles besides that there were diuers marrisses hard by itâ and yet sicke as he was of the storie he had almost finished it And sure good reason it is that we attribute the fault of the not finishing of it vnto his sickenesse For mine owne parte I wonder maruelously both of the care diligence of the Captaine and of the valiantnes and dexterity of the souldiers which appeareth by the notable feates they did For Euripides after their ouerthrowe and vtter ruine made a funerall Epitaphe in verse and sayth thus Eight tââes our men did put the men of Syracvsa to flight So long as vvith indifferenoie the goddes and vse their might But we finde it wrytten that the SYRACVSANS were not only eight times but many times more ouerthrowen by them a time at length there was in deede that both the gods and for tune sought against them euen when the ATHENIANS were of greatest power Now Nicias in his owne person was euer in the greatest and most weighty affayers striuing with his sickely body Howbeit one day when his disease grew fore apon him he was compelled to be lodged in his campe with a few of his men Lamachus in the meane time alone hauing charge of the whole army sought with the SYRACVSANS who then had brought a walle from the city vnto the wall with the which the ATHENIANS had purposed to haue shorte them in to keepe that they shoulde not compasse it rounde And bicause the ATHENIANS commonly were the stronger in these skirmishes they many times ouer rashely followed the chase of their enemies that fled As it chaunsed one day that Lamachus went so farre that he was left alone to encounter a company of horsemen of the city before whom Callictares marched formest a valliant man of his handes who challenged Lamachus hand to hand Lamachus abode him and in the conflict was first hurt but he gaue Callicrates also such a wound there withall that they both fell downe dead presently in the place At that time the SYRACVSANS being the stronger side tooke vp his body and caried it away with them but they spurted cut for life to the ATHENIANS campe where Nicias lay sicke without any gate or succor at all neuerthelesse Nicias rose with speede out of his bed and perceiuinge the daunger he was in commaunded certaine of his frendes to set the wodde a fire which they had brought within the trenches of the campe to make certaine deuices for battery and the engines of timber also that were already made That deuise onely stayed the SYRACVSANS saued Nicias and the strength of their campe together with all the siluer and cariage of the ATHENIANS For the SYRACVSANS perceiuing a farre of betwext them and the strength of their campe such a great name as rose vp in the ayer apon fight of it turned taile sraight and made towardes their city Thinges falling out thus Nicias being left fole Captaine of the army without
twelue fââlong of ioyning with Octauius There in hast he had gotten a hall which was not so steepe for horsemen neither of such strength as the other hittes were called Siâââns yet vnder them and ioyning to them by along hill that tormeth alongest the plaine so as Octauius plainly saw the daunger Crassus was in There apon he first ran downe the hilles with a few of his men that followed him but after also come all the rest saying they were cowards and if they should cary behinde At their comming they gaue such a hot onset apon the PARTHIANS that they made them geue backe from that hill and compassing Crassus in the middest of them couering him rounde with their targets they spake nobly that neuer arrow of the PARTHIANS should touche the bodie of their Generall before they were slaine one after antother and that they had fought it out to the last man in his defence Hereupon Surena pââociâing the PARTHIANS were not so coragious as they were wont to be and that if might come vpon them and that the ROMANES did once recouer the hiâ mountaines they could neuer possibly be neuer withall againe he thought cunningly to be guide Crassus once more by this deuise vse ââ let certaine prisoners goe of purpose before whome he made his men ãâ¦ã out this speeche That the king of PARTHIA would haue no mortal urge with the ROMANES but ãâ¦ã se herââher desired their friendshippe by shewing them so ãâ¦ã not as to vse Crassus very corteously And to gone coâlo ãâ¦ã this ãâ¦ã he called his ãâ¦ã fight and going him selfe in person towardes Crassus with the chiefest of the ãâ¦ã of his host in ãâ¦ã his how ãâ¦ã he held at this right hand and called Crassus talke with him of peace and sayd vnto him Though the ROMANES had felt the ãâ¦ã it was against his will for he could do no lesse but defend him selfe very willing and desirous to make them cast of his mercie ãâ¦ã and to ãâ¦ã make peace with them and to let them goe safely where they would ãâ¦ã Round ãâ¦ã Crassus were glad of Surenaes wordes But Crassus that had bene ãâ¦ã ãâ¦ã hâs and deuises considering also no cause apparant to make them ãâ¦ã would not harden to it but first consulted with his frends He whithout ãâ¦ã they tried out on him to goe and fell at wordes with him saying ãâ¦ã and ãâ¦ã though they were all slaine and that him selfe had noââhe hart onely to come downe and talke with their enemies that were vnarmed Crassus proued first to pacifie them by fayer meanes perswading them to beare a litle pacience but till night which was at hande and then they might safely departe at their pleasure and recouer the mountaines and straight passages where their enemies could not follow them and pointing them the way with his finger he prayed them not to be faint harted nor to dispaire of their safety seeing they were so neere it But in the ende Crassus perceiuing they fell to mutiny and beating of their harnes did threaten him if he went not fearing then they would doe him some villany went towardes the enemy and comming backe a litle sayd onely these wordes O Octauius and you Petronius with all you ROMANE gentlemen that haue charge in this armie you all see now how against my will I am enforced to go to the place I would not can witnes with me how I am driuen with shame and force Yet I pray you if your fortunes be to escape this daunger that ye will report wheresoeuer you come that Crassus was slaine not deliuered vp by his one souldiers into the handes of the barbarous people as I am but deceiued by the frawde suttiltie of his enemies Octauius would not tary behind on the hill but went downe with Crassus but Crassus sent a way his officers that followed him The first that cameÌ from the PARTHIANS vnto Crassus were two mongrel GRACIANS who dismounting from their horse saluted him and prayed him to sende some of his men before and Surena would shewe them that both him selfe and his trayne came vnarmed towardes him Crassus thereto made them aunswer that if he had made any accompt of his life he would not haue put him selfe into their handes Notwithstanding he sent two brethren before called the ROSCIANS to knowe what number of men and to what ende they met so many together These two brethren came no sooner to Surena but they were stayed and him selfe in the meane time kept on-his way a horse backe with the noblest men of his army Now when Surena came neere to Crassus why how now quod he what meaneth this a Consull and Lieutenaunte generall of ROME a foote and we a horse backe Therewithall he straight commaunded one of his men to bring him a horse Crassus aunswered Surena againe In that they neither of both offended following the vse and maner of their contry when any meeting is made for treatie of peace Surena replied As for the treatie of peace that was already agreed apon betwene the king Hyrodes and the ROMANES howbeit that they were to goe to the riuer and there to set downe the articles in wryting For you ROMANES sayd he doe not greatly remember the capitulacions you haue agreed apon With those wordes he gaue him his right hand As Crassus was sending for a horse you shall not neede sayd Surena for looke the kinge doth present you this And straight one was brought him with a steeââ saddle richly gilt apon the which his gentlemen mounted Crassus immediatly and following him behinde lashed his horse to make him runne the swifter Octauius seeing that first layed hand on the bridle then Petronius Colonell of a thowsand footemen and after them all the rest of the ROMANES also gathered about Crassus to stay the horse and to take him from them by force that pressed him on of eitherside So they thrust one at an other at the first very angrily and at the last fell to blowes Then Octauius drew out his sword and slue one of the barbarous noble mens horsekeepers and an other came behinde him and slue Octauius Petronius had no target and receiuing a blow on his curaces lighted from his horse and had no huâe and on the otherside came Pomaxathres one of the PARTHIANS and slue Crassus Some say notwithstanding that Pomaxathres slue him not but an other yet that he cut of his heade his hand after he fell dead to the ground But all these reportes are rather coniectures then any certainty For as for them that were there some of them were slaine in the field fighting for Crassus and other saued them selues by flying to the hill The PARTHIANS followed them and tolde them that Crassus had payed the paine he had deserued and for the rest that Surena bad them come downe with safetie Then some of them yeelded to their enemies and other dispersed them selues when night came and of them very
an other time he discomfited Toranius an other Captaine one of Metellus Lieutenaunts whom he slue in fight with all his army And Metellus selfe being taken at that time for one of the most expert men of warre and chiefest Captaines among the ROMANES him he put also so oft to distresse that Lucius Lollius was faine to come out of GAVLE NARBONââSIS now Languedocke to aide And they were furthermore driuen to sende Pompey the great with all speede from ROME with a new army Bicause Metellus knew not what course to take hauing to fight with a most valliant man one whom he could neuer either bring to any set battell nor yet entrappe in the plaine fielde so easily could he cast him selfe into all kinde of formes by reason of the dexterity and swiftnes of his spanishe souldiers being lightly armed Where he cleane contrary was wont to fight a pitched field without remouing a foote and to lead an army heauy armed which could kepe their ranckes and fighting steadely could ouerthrow their enemies with handstrokes and marche apon their bellies But to clime vp the mountaines and to be continually as they were charged in the rereward with these men armed as light as the winde and to pursue them in chase that fled still and neuer kept place it was vnpossible for them to doe it and much lesse to abide hunger and thirst to liue without a kitchin and fire and likewise to lye on the bare ground without tentes or pauillions as Sertorius souldiers did Furthermore Metellus being growen an old man hauing spent all his youth in seruice of the warres and taken suffred great paynes and troubles geuing him selfe now to quiet and pleasure was matched with Sertorius being then euen at this best age and lustiest of body besides that nature had made him both strong actiue and temperate withall For he was neuer geuen to his belly nor to be a great bibber when he was at most quiet and out of warres he was likewise acquainted with paines and hardnes from his youth could away with long iorneys watch many dayes and nightes without sleepe eate litle and content him selfe with any meate that came to hand And had he neuer so litle leasure he would continually be on horsebacke riding a hunting vp and downe the fieldes which made him very ready and expert to know how to winde him selfe out of daunger when he was distressed and contrarily also to compasse in his enemy apon any aduantage and besides to see where he might enter and where not For this cause was Metellus driuen who was still desirous to fight to abide the losses and discommodities which they suffer that be vanquished and Sertorius on thother side refusing battell and flying before him had all the vantage of him that they haue which chase their enemies whome they haue ouercomen For he cutte of his vittells on euery side tooke away his water and kept him in from foraging When he thought to marche further forwarde Sertorius stayed him And when he lay still in his campe Sertorius came and gaue him alaroms draue him to dislodge Yf Metellus layed siege to any place Sertorius straight besieged him for want of vittells So that his souldiers were euen weary of altogether Wheruppon when Sertorius challenged the combat of Metellus oh well sayd cryed all the souldiers let Captaine fight against Captaine and ROMANE against a ROMANE Howbeit Metellus refused him and the souldiers laughed him to scorne Neuerthelesse he did but smyle or them and therin shewed him selfe a wise man for as Theophrastus sayth a Captaine must dye as a Captaine not like a priuate souldier Furthermore Metellus considering that the LANGOBRITES who gaue great aide vnto Sertorius in all seruices were easie to be taken for lacke of water hauing but one onely well in all their city and that whosoeuer did besiege the same should straight be master of all the spring heades of the suburbes about it hoping thereby to make the citie yeelde vnto him within two dayes at thutmost he commaunded his souldiers to vittell them selues for fiue dayes only But Sertorius hauing intelligence thereof gaue good direction and speedy order to preuent him For he caused two thowsand goates skinnes to be filled with water and promised rounde summes of money for euery skinne brought thether Many SPANYARDS and MAVRVSIANS straight tooke apon them thenterprise Thereuppon Sertorius choosinge the lustiest men amonge them sent them away through the mountaine commaunding them withall that when they deliuered their goates skinnes with water vnto the citizens they should cause them forthwith to put out all their idle people that the water might last them the lenger which defended the city Metellus receiuing aduertisement hereof was much agrieued withall bicause his souldiers vittells were wel nere spent which they had brought according to his commaundement and therefore he sent Aquinus one of his Leiutenaunts with six thowsand men to get vittells Sertorius hauing intelligence of his purpose presently layed an ambush for his returne in a valley full of wodde and bestowed there three thowsande men to set vppon the rereward whilest he him selfe gaue charge on the voward Thus made he Aquinus flie slue the most parte of his men and tooke the rest prisoners Howbeit Aquinus selfe the Captaine hauing lost his weapons and horse by flying recouered Metellus campe who thereuppon was driuen with shame to raise his siege being mocked of all the SPANYARDS For these valliant deedes was Sertorius wonderfully beloued and honored of all the barbarous people and specially bicause he had made them good souldiers brought them from their former rude beastly fight and had taught them to be armed after the ROMANE facion to kepe their ranckes when they sought to follow their ensigne and to take the signall and word of the battell insomuch as he made them then appeare a goodly army well taught and trained being before a confused multitude of theeues and robbers Furthermore he deuided great store of gold and siluer among them shewing them how they should gilde their headpeeces sette out their shieldes and targettes with fine workemanshippe and also brauely apparell them selues with riche clokes and sleuelesse cassockes apon their armor teaching them to be fine and furnishing them with money whereby he maruelously wanne the heartes of the barbarous people Yet did he further binde them vnto him by that he did vnto their children For he sent generally for all the noble mens young sonnes through all the contries and prouinces subiect vnto him and brought them to the goodly citie of Osca where he prouided them of schoolmasters to teache them the Greeke and Latine tongue beating their parentes in hande that it was to no other ende but to make them when they came to be men meete to be imployed in the seruice of the common weale albeit in deede it was but a fine deuise of him to haue them as Ostages for their faith and
they sawe howe by this diligence Eumenes had in so shorte a time gotten about him such a number as sixe thowsand three hundred horsemen About that time Craterus and Antigonus hauing subdued the GRAECIANS came on with their army into ASIA to ouerthrow Perdiccas greatnes and power and newes also that shortly they would inuade CAPPADOCIA Whereupon Perdiccas being otherwise occupied in warres fighting against Ptolomye made Eumenes his Lieutenaunt generall and gaue him commission and full authoritie ouer all his souldiers that were for him either in CAPPADOCIA or in ARMENIA and wrote letters vnto Neoptolemus and Alcetas commaunding them by the same that they should be obedient vnto Eumenes and suffer him to order all matters according to his discretion Now for Alcetas he flatly aunswered that he would not be at this warre for the MACEDONIANS vnder his charge were ashamed to take armes against Antipater and moreouer they would not fight against Craterus but contrarily were bent to receiue him for their Captaine so much good will they bare him Neoptolemus on thother side was as ready to play the traitor and to doe Eumenes a shrewde turne as Alcetas was For being sent for by Eumenes to come to him where he should haue obeyed him he set his men in battell ray to fight with him There did Eumenes reape the first frute of his wise foresight of the horsemen which he had set vp to make head against the footemen of the MACEDONIANS For when his owne footemen were broken and ouerthrowen he ouercame Neoptolemus and put him to flight with his horsemen and tooke all his cariage Then he made them march in order of battell against the MACEDONIANS who were dispersed euery where following the chase of his footemen whom they had ouerthrowen Thus coÌming apon them in this disorder he draue them to throwe away their weapons and to yeelde vnto him and moreouer euerie man to take his othe to serue him faithfully in this warre wheresoeuer he would lead them Now Neoptolemus gathering a few together that fled went with them vnto Craterus and Antipater who sent vnto Eumenes to pray him to take their parte with condition that he should not onely enioy the contries and prouinces still which he had in gouernment but furthermore that they would geue him others vnto them and make him stronger then euer he was besides that by thacceptation of thoffer he should be taken for Antipaters good frend where before he was euer reckoned his enemy Whereunto Eumenes made aunswere that hauing alwayes bene Antipaters enemy he could not of a sodaine become his frend specially seeing him vse his frendes as enemies howebeit otherwise that he was very willing to make Craterus peace with Perdiccas and to restore him againe to his fauor apon reasonable indifferent condicions And furthermore that if he ment to assaile him that then he would aide him so longe as he had any breath in his bodie and would lose his life before he woulde breake his promise This aunswere being brought vnto Antipater they fel to consult at leasure what was to be done In the meane space Neoptolemus that fled apon his ouerthrowe was come vnto them who told them how the battell was fought and besought them both verie instantly but Craterus chiefly to geue him aide if it were possible For the MACEDONIANS were so farre in loue with him that if they did but see his hatte and heare him speake they would all arme them selues and follow him For to speake a troth Craterus was had in great estimation amoÌg the MACEDONIANS insomuch as after Alexanders death he was more desired of the common souldiers than any other Captaine remembring how often he had for their sakes incurred Alexanders disgrace and displeasure bicuase he went about to perswade him to leaue the king of PERSIAES maner whereunto Alexander by litle and litle gaue him selfe and also for that he maintained and defended the customes of the contry of MACEDON the which euery man through pride and excesse beganne to forsake and contemne At that time therefore Craterus sent Antipater into CILICIA and he him selfe with Neoptolemus went against Eumenes with the best parte of his army hoping to take him tardy and altogether vnprouided supposing he would geue him selfe to pleasure and pastime after so late a victorie But Eumenes like a wise and vigilant Captaine had taken such order that he heard newes time enough of his enemies comming and had thereupon prepared his men in readines to resist him Yet was not this the chiefest point of his skill in warre For he looked so precisely to his doings that he did not only kepe his enemies froÌ knowledge of any thing that he did but making his men also to kill Craterus in battell before they knew against whom they should fight and to keepe also so dreadfull an enemie from their knowledge that of all others shewed the passing skill of an expert Captaine And to worke this feate the better this was his policie First he made a rumor to be spred in his host how Neoptolemus Pigres were againe comen against him with certaine horsemen of all sortes gathered together CAPPADOCIANS and PAPHLAGONIANS And when he thought to haue remoued in the night a great desire of sleepe came apon him in the which he had a maruelous straunge dreame For it seemed vnto him that he saw two Alexanders preparing to fight one with an other either of them leading a battell of footemen ranged after the MACEDONIAN facion who comming to geue charge th one apon the other came the goddesse Minerus to aide the one and Ceres likewise to ayde the other Then him thought that after they had fought a long time together he whom Minerus aided was ouerthrowen and that Ceres had gathered eares of corne and made a crowne of them to geue him that had wonne the field Hereupon Eumenes perswaded him selfe that this dreame made for him and promised him victorie for that he fought for a fertile contrie of corne where was great plenty of it For all the fields were sowen with corne in euery place that it was a pleasure to behold it showing the benefit of long peace to see all the corne fields how greene they looked But wheÌ he vnderstoode that the enemies had giuen their souldiers for the signall of battell Minerus and Alexander then was his first imagination confirmed more then before Whereuppon he gaue Ceres and Alexander for signall of the battell to his souldiers and commaunded euery man to make them a garlande of wheate eares to weare on their heades and that they should wreath flowers and nose gayes about their pikes He was in a minde many times to make his trustiest Captaines priuie against whome they should fight and not alone to trust him selfe withall to keepe so necessary a thing as that secret yet in fine he kept his first resolution thinking it the safest way not to commit this daunger but to him selfe Now when he came to geue battell
cried out alowde speaking to the souldiers of the MACEDONIANS that were vnder Antigonus Ah wretches come ye to fight with your fathers And so assailing them with a lustie corage and in a rage withall in a shorte space ouerthrew the squadron of their enemies slue the most parte of them in the field Thus was Antigonus armie cleane ouerthrowen on that side but on thother side where his men of armes were through Peucestas cowardlinesse that handeled him selfe very ill at that battell he had the vpper hande and wanne all their cariage through his foresight in the greatest furie of the battell and the strength of the place where the battell was sought For it was a maruelous great plaine of length neither too depe nor yet to hard vnderfoote but couered ouer with a small fine sand much like to the drie sand the sea casteth vp leaueth apon the shore This sand being scattered abroade by riding and going to fro of so many thowsandes of men and horses during the time of the battell foughten had raised such a mightie dust and white smoke in the element as if they had sturred or tempered white lime together which troubled their sight so sore as they could see nothing before them in respect whereof Antigonus might easily lease all their cariage them selues being neuer a whit the wiser The battell being came to this passe you haue heard Teutamus sent presently vnto Antigonus to pray him to redeliuer them their cariage againe which he had taken caried into his campe Antigonus made him aunswere that he would not only redeliuer the goodes vnto the ARGYRASPIDES but would moreouer vse them with all the fauour he could so farre foorth as they deliuered Eumenes into his handes Whereupon the ARGYRASPIDES tooke presently a wicked resolution to deliuer him aliue into the handes of his enemies And with that determination they came neere vnto him not makinge any countenaunce as though they would lay handes on him but rather seeming to garde and defend his persone as their manner was some of them lamenting that their goods were gone others telling him that he cared not now that he had wonne the battell and others accusing the noble men of cowardlines saying that the fault was in them that they had not the whole victorie But infine one of theÌ hauing spied his time flew to him and tooke his sword out of his hande the others straight layed hold of him and bound both his handes behinde him with his owne girdle Antigonus vnderstanding it sent Nicaner thither to take him out of their handes and to bring him to him Then Eumenes hauing made request vnto them to suffer him to speake as they brought him through the bandes of these olde MACEDONIAN souldiers it was graunted him with condicion that he should make no motion vnto them to turne from that they were determinated to doe but to tell them of thinges which as he sayd tended greatly to their benefite Whereuppon silence being made he goe vp apon a litle hillocke and there spake vnto them putting forth his hands being bound O wretched and faithlesse men the wickedest that euer MACEDON bred What so great triumphe or victorie hath euer Antigonus wonne of you hauing sought it such infinite wayes and you your selues doe now put into his handes deliuering him your Captaine bound and manacled Will not this be to your great shame that being masters of the fielde you will graunt the honor of the victory vnto your enemy only for a litle coueteousnes of money and paltry stuffe which you haue lost And yet is not this all but the worst behinde to send your Captaine as you do to pay the ransome of your baggage For my selfe though now they lead me bound yet doe I remaine free vnouercome vanquish her of mine enemies sold by them that should be my frendes Well yet this request I onely make vnto you in the name of Iupiter protector of armes and for the honor of the goddes vnto whom all vowed othes ought faithfully to be kept I pray and coniure you to kill me your selues in this place For all commeth to one end To be slaine in Antigonus campe by the hands of mine owne enemies will euer be counted your deede and you may be assured he will not be angrie withall for he only desireth Eumenes death and not his life If you will needes hold your hands from this attempt vnlose yet one of minie only that shall suffice to doe the seate And if for feare ye will not put a sword in my hande throw me bound yet hands and feete vnto wilde beastes which if ye performe then doe I discharge you of your othe taken betwene both my handes which ye haue sworne vnto your Captaine as holily and perfectly performed Apon this speeche of Eumenes all the rest of the army had a coÌpassion of him that they wept for tender affection But the ARGYRASPIDES cried out to cary him away and not to geue eare to his preaching and that it was a good deede to punishe this wicked CHERRONESIAN according to his desertes considering that he had turmoyled the MACEDONIANS with endlesse warre and battell And moreouer that it were too much shame that the worthiest souldiers that euer serued kinge Philippe Alexander so painfully in all their warres should for recompence of their seruice in their olde age be turned a begging their wiues hauing now lyen three nightes with their enemies With those wordes they violently draue him on towardes Antigonus campe who seating least the multitude of people that ranne to see him would smother him in the prease bicause euery man ranne out of the campe he sent thither tenne of the strongest Elephantes hââ had and a good number of men of armes of the MEDES and PARTHIANS to made way for him in the prease When Eumenes was now come into Antigonus campe his hart would not serue him to see him in that miserable state for that they had once bene familiarly acquainted together Whereupon such as had him in their custodie came to Antigonus to aske him how he would haue him kept Who aunswered them like a Lyon or an Elephant Yet within a while after he tooke pitie of him and discharged him of his weightiest irons and sent one of his household seruaunts to him to see him well vsed and suffered his frendes to come bring him any thing he lacked Thus did Antigonus deferre many dayes before he would determine ought of Eumenes hearing euery man speake and pondering their purposes and seuerall opinions Nearebus CRETAN and his owne sonne Demetrius spake for Eumenes and made sute to saue his life contrarie to all the other Lordes and Captaines that were about Antigonus who would in any case haue him dye Eumenes standing in these termes asked his keeper Onomarthus one day what Antigonus ment that hauing his enemy in his hands he did not quickly tid him out of his paine or noblely deliuer
these shewes ordinarily of purpose not by chaunce to one or two but indifferently to all Lysander looking into the cause dissembled not with his frendes but told them plainly that it was for his sake they had those repulses and wronges and therefore did counsell them to waite apon the king and those that had more credit them him selfe Now Agesilaus supposed he gaue that aduise to make euery man to malice him wherfore to despite him the more he made him distributer of his vittells hauing done so some say that he spake these words in open presence to many nowe let them goe and honor my flesh distributer Lysander being grieued withall sayd vnto the king my Lord you know how to oppresse your frendes And to doe I sayd Agesilaus how to keepe them vnder that would be greater than my selfe It may be yet replied Lysander I haue not done as your grace doth say yet if you so conceiue of me put me I beseeche you in some place of charge or office where I may doe you good seruice without offence After this talke betwene theÌ Agesilaus sent him into HELLESPONT where by practice he tooke prisoner a noble man a PERSIAN called Spithridates out of Pharnabozus prouince whereof he was Gouernor and brought him to Agesilaus with a great summe of golde and siluer and neere about two hundred horsemen with him All this notwithstanding he forgate not his grudge to Agesilaus but being offended stil sought oportunitie and meanes to defeate the two houses of the priuilage of the kingdome and to bring it in common to all the other houses of SPARTA and surely he had made great broyle in my opinion in the city of SPARTA had he not bene preueÌted by death in a iorney he made into BOEOTIA Thus we see that ambitious mindes obseruing no meane are in a common weale ofttimes more hurtfull than beneficiall For though Lysander was in deede intollerable to shew him selfe so ambitious and out of time yet was not Agesilaus ignoraunt neither that there were diuers other meanes lesse reprochful to punish such a noble man that offended only by gredines of honor But to tell you my opinion they were both blinded with one selfe passion the one not to know his Princes power the other not to beare with his frendes imperfection Now Tisaphernes at the first being afrayed of Agesilaus made league with him colourably letting him vnderstand that the king would be content to set the cities of GRAECE in ASIA at liberty Notwithstanding when he thought he had gathered force sufficient to fight with him he proclaimed warre Agesilaus was very well content withall for the expectation was great of him through all GRAECE that he would doe some noble exployt in this iorney Moreouer he thought him selfe dishonored for euer that the tenne thowsande GRAECIANS which were returned backe from the furthest parte of ASIA euen vnto the sea Maior vnder the conduct and leading of Xenophon their Captaine had ouercome the king of PERSIAES army as oft as they listed theÌ selues and that he which was the Lieutenaunt generall of the LACEDAEMONIANS who at that time commaunded both sea and lande should not doe some deede worthie memorie among the GRAECIANS Presently therefore to reuenge Tisaphernes periurie by iust deceit he made a countenance as though he would first inuade the contrie of CARIA Whereuppon this barbarous person Tisaphernes gathered all his power together But Agesilaus on a sodaine returned backe againe and entred into PHRYGIA tooke there many cities and wanne great spoyle making his men see by experience that to infringe breake a league made anowed by othe was a sacriledge and contemning of the goddes On thother side also that to be guide his enemies it was not only iust and honorable but also profitable and pleasant Now Agesilaus being weaker in horsemen than his enemy and finding the liuers of the beastes which he had sacrificed without heades returned into the citie of EPHESVS and there gathered horsemen together letting the richmen vnderstand which would not them selues in person that he did dispense with their persons so that they did set out a horse and man furnished for seruice in their place Many of them tooke that course by this meanes Agesilaus within fewdayes had leauied a great number of men of armes in steade of footemen that could doe small seruice For they that were vnwilling to goe to the warres did hier them that were willing to serue in their place and such also as would not serue a horsebacke did geue them pay that were desirous to serue in their steades In this he wisely followed king Agamemnons example who did dispense with the person of a riche coward for going to the warres by taking a good mate of him Then Agesilaus had commaunded them that sold the prisoners by the ãâ¦ã taken in the warres that they should strippe them naked so sell them which they did And sundry persons willingly bought their spoyles and rayment but they scorned their bodies bicause they sawe them white skinned soft and delicate so that fewe men would our bid the price for them for that they thought those men vnprofitable and good for nothing Agesilaus also being present at this sale of purpose sayd thus vnto his men See my frendes quod he these be the men against whom ye are to fight and here be the spoyles for the which ye shall fight Time being come now to put him selfe into the field and to inuade his enemies contry againe he gaue it out that he would enter LYDIA not meaning to deceiue Tisaphernes againe but Tisaphernes deceiued him selfe For he being deceiued before by Agesilaus gaue no credit to this second rumor but perswaded him selfe that doutlesse Agesilaus ment then to enter into CARIA the rather for that it was a woddie contrie very ill for horsemen in the which he was the weaker This notwithstanding Agesilaus inuading as he had geuen it out the champion contry in the which stoode SARDIS the capitall city of LYDIA Tisaphernes was compelled to come to reskue it in haft and being come thither with great speede with his horsemen he stale apon many of his enemies whom he found straggling out of order spoyling the contrie put the most of them to the sword Agesilaus hauing intelligence of this imagined with him selfe that the footemen of his enemy could not yet be arriued considering also that he had his army whole about him thought it best forthwith to bid him battel rather theÌ to delay time any lenger Thereupon he thrust in among the horsemen his light armed footemen and commaunded them straight to charge the enemy whilest he caused the heauier armed meÌ to follow at their heeles as they did But the barbarous people fled apon it immediatly and the GRAECIANS lustely following the chase tooke their campe made great slaughter of them that fled After this field foughten they had leasure enough not
of SPARTA blessed to haue had such a kinge that so much reuerenced his contrie and obeyed the lawe as receiuing onely a litle scrolle of parchement commaunding him to returne he forsooke a worlde of goodes and wealth that he quietly enioyed with assured hope and certaintie of more and imbarked foorthwith leauing all the alies and confederates of his contrie verie sorowefull for that he had geuen ouer so noble an enterprise which he had so happely begonne Yes sure Nay furthermore he passed not for the saying of Demostratus PHAEACIAN who sayd that the LACEDAEMONIANS in publicke matters were the worthiest men and the ATHENIANS in priuate causes For as he had shewed him selfe a good king and an excellent Captaine to the common wealth so was he alwayes curteous priuately to his familiar frendes And bicause the PERSIAN coyne was stamped on the one side with the print of an archer Agesilaus being readie to departe sayd that tenne thowsand archers draue him out of ASIA For so much was brought vnto THEBES and ATHENS and distributed among the Orators and Gouernours there who through their Orations made both those great cities to rise and make warre against the SPARTANS In his return Agesilaus hauing passed the straight of HELLESPONT tooke his way through the contrie of THRACIA and neuer intreated barbarous kinge nor people to suffer him to passe but only sent vnto them to know whether they would be should passe through their contries as a frende or an enemie All contries and nacions else receiued him very honorably to their power saue the people called the TROCHALIANS vnto whom king Xerxes him selfe gaue presentes that he might passe frendly through their contry who sent vnto Agesilaus to demaund a hundred siluer talentes and a hundred women to suffer him to passe through their contrie But Agesilaus laughing them to scorne aunswered againe why how chaunceth it that they came not them selues to receiue them So therewithall he marched forwarde against these barbarous people who were ranged in battell raye to stoppe his passage howebeit he ouerthrewe them and flue a great number of them in the fielde The like demaund he made vnto the kinge of MACEDON whether he should passe through his contrie as a frende or an enemie The king made him aunswere he would consider of it Well let him thinke of it quod Agesilaus we will goe on in the meane time The king then wondering at his great boldenes and fearing least he would doe him some hurte as he went sent to pray him that he woulde passe through his contrie as a frend Now it chaunced so that the THESSALIANS at that time were in league with the enemies of the LACEDAEMONIANS therefore as he passed through their contrie he did spoyle and forage it as his enemies contrie and sent Xenocles and Scytha to the citie of LARISSE hopinge to perswade them to take parte with the LACEDAEMONIANS These two Ambassadours were retained there as prisoners The SPARTANS were maruelously offended withall and thought good that Agesilaus should besiege LARESSE with his army But he aunswered them he would not lose one of those men to winne all THESSAINE and therefore found meanes that he redeemed them againe by composition Peraduenture this is not to be marueled at in Agesilaus that newes being brought him on a time that in a great battell fought by the citie of CORINTHE where were many worthie and valliant Captaines slaine of the enemies and but few of the SPARTANS he seemed not to reioice at it but rather to fetche a grieuous sigh saying O poore GRAECE how vnfortunate art thou to haue slaine with thine owne handes so many valliant Captaines of thine owne people as ioyning together might at one field haue ouercome all the barbarous people The PHARSALIANâ harying and troubling the rereward of Agesilaus armie he put foorth fiue hundred horsemen which gaue them so lustie a charge that he ouerthrew them by force For this victorie be set vp tokens of triumphe apon the mountaine called Narthacium and this victory pleased him aboue all the rest bicause with the small number of horsemen which he had gotten together of him selfe he had ouerthrowen the glory pride of the enemies horsemen in battell wherof they had vaunted many yeares before Thither came Diphridas one of the Ephores vnto him sent of purpose from SPARTA to commaund him immediatly to inuade BOROTIA with his armie Nowe though Agesilaus intended some other time with a greater power to enter BOEOTIA yet bicause he would not disobey the counsells commaundement of SPARTA he told his men straight that the battell for the which they returned out of ASIA was at hande and therefore he sent for two companies of them which lay in campe by CORINTHE The LACEDAEMONIANS that were at SPARTA to honor Agesilaus for that he had obeyed their commaundement so readily proclaimed in the citie that as many young men as were desirous to goe aide the king should come and enter their names Notwithstanding they onely chose but fiftie of the valliantest among them and sent them vnto him In the meane time Agesilaus passed through the contrie of THERMOPYLES and coasting ouer the lande of PHOCYDE consederates to the LACEDAEMONIANS he entred into BOEOTIA and camped by the citie of CHAERONEA where immediatly after his arriuall he sodainly saw the sonne eclipsed and darkened in the facion of a new moone Euen withall came the newes of the death of Pisander vnto him who was slaine in a battell which he lost by sea fighting against Pharnabazus and Conon hard by the I le of GNIDOS These newes were very heauie vnto him both for respect of the person his kinseman whom he lost as also for the great losse that happened to the common wealth Neuerthelesse fearing his souldiers would be discoraged with the newes and become faint harted being ready to ioyne battell he commaunded them that came from the sea to brute abroade a contrarie tale to that they tolde him and he him selfe to make good their speache came out among them with a garland of flowers on his head and did sacrifice to the goddes as thanking them for the good newes sending to euery one of his frends a peece of flesh sacrificed as he commonly vsed to doe in any publicke cause of ioy Then marching forward he straight discouered his enemies farre of and they likewise him therupon put his men in battell ray and gaue the left wing vnto the ORCHOMENIANS leading him selfe the right wing The THEBANS of thother side placed them selues in the right wing of their armie and gaue the left vnto the ARGIVES Xenophon being at that battell on Agesilaus side wryteth that he neuer knewe of the like fielde fought At the first onset the conflict was not great betwene both neither helde long bicause the THEBANS brake the ORCHOMENIANS straight and Agesilaus the ARGIVES But when either side vnderstoode that the left winges of their battells were
spede after PoÌpey But bycause he had no ships ready he let him go hasted towardes SPAYNE to ioyne Pompeys army there vnto his Now Pompey in the meane space had gotten a maruelous great power together both by sea by land His armie by sea was wonderfull For he had fiue hundred good shippes of warre of gallioâs foystes pinnases an infinite nomber By land he had all the flower of the horsemeÌ of ROME and of all ITALIE to the nomber of seuen thowsand horse all riche men of great houses and valliant minds But his footemen they were men of all sorts raw souldiers vntrained whom Pompey continually exercised lying at the citie of BERROEE not sitting idely but taking paines as if he had bene in the prime of his youth Which was to great purpose to incorage others seeing Pompey being eight and fifty yeare old fight a foote armed at all peeces then a horsebacke quickly to draw out his sword while his horse was in his full career and easely to p ãâ¦ã vp againe and to throw his dart from him not onely with such agillitie to hyt pointe blanke but also with strength to cast it such a way from him that fewe young men could doe the like Thither came diuers kinges princes and great lordes of contries and yeelded them selues vnto him and of ROMANE captaines that had borne office he had of them about him the nomber of a whole Senate Amongst them came vnto him Labienus also who before was Caesars frend had alwayes bene with him in his warres in GAVLE There came vnto him also Brutus the sonne of that Brutus which was slaine in GAVLE a valliant man and which had neâer spoken vnto Pompey vntil that day bycause he tooke him for a murderer of his father but then willingly followed him as defendor of the libertie of ROME Cicero him selfe also though he had both written and geuen counsell to the contrarie thought it a shame to him not to be amongest the nomber of them that would hazard their liues for defence of their contry There came vnto him also Tidius Sextius euen into MACEDON notwithstanding that he was an old man and lame of one of his legges whom others laughing to scorne to see him come when Pompey saw him he rose went to meete him iudging it a good token of their goodwills vnto him when such olde men as he chose rather to be with him in daunger then at home with safety Hereupon they sate in counsell and following Catoes opinion decreed that they should put no citizen of ROME to death but in battel and should sacke no citie that was subiect to the Empire of ROME the which made Pompeys part the better liked For they that had nothing to doe with the warres either bycause they dwelt farre of or els for that they were so poore as otherwise they were not regarded did yet both in deede and word fauor Pompeys parte thinking him an enemie both to the goddes and men that wished not Pompey victorie Caesar also shewed him selfe very mercifull curteous where he ouercame For when he had wonne all Pompeys armie that was in SPAYNE he suffred the captaines that were taken to go at libertie onely reserued the souldiers Then comming ouer the ALPES againe he passed through all ITALY came to the citie of BRVNDVSIVM in the winter quarter and there passing ouer the sea he went vnto the citie of ORICVM laÌded there Now Caesar hauing Vibius one of Pompeys famillier frends with him whom he had takeÌ prisoner he sent him vnto Pompey to pray againe that they might meete both of them desperse their armies within three dayes and being recoÌciled geuing their faith one to an other so to retorne into ITALY like good frends together Pompey thought againe that these were new deuises to intrappe him Thereupon he sodainely weÌt downe to the sea tooke all the places of streÌgth by the sea side safly to lodge his campe in all the ports creekes harbars for ships to lie in rode so that what wind so euer blew on the skie it serued his turne to bring him either men vittels or money Caesar on thother side was so distressed both by sea by land that he was driueÌ to procuer battel to assaile Pompey euen in his owne forts to make him come out to fight with him of whom most times he euer had the better in all skirmishes sauing once when he was in daunger to haue lost all his army For Pompey had valiantly repulsed his men and made them flie and had slaine two thowsand of them in the field but he durst no enter pelmel with them into their campe as they fled Whereupon Caesar saide to his frendes that his enemie had wonne the victorie that day if he had knowen how to ouercome This victorie put Pompeys men in such courage that they would needes hasard battell And Pompey him selfe also though he wrote letters vnto straunge kinges captaines and cities of his confederacie as if he had already wonne all was yet afrayed to fight an other battell thinking it better by tracte of time and distresse of vittells to ouercome him For Caesars men being olde and expert souldiers and wont euer to haue the victorie when they sought together he knew they would be lothe to be brought to fight any other kinde of way to be driuen to often remouing of their campe from place to place and still to fortifie and intrench them selues and therefore that they would rather put it to aduenture out of hande and fight it out But notwithstanding that Pompey had before perswaded his men to be quiet and not to sturre perceyuing that after this last bickering Caesar being scanted with vittells raised his campe and departed thence to goe into THESSALY through the contrie of the ATHAMANIANââ then he could no more bridle their glorie and corage which cried Caesar is fled let vs follow him And others let vs retorne home againe into ITALY And others also sent their frendes and seruantes before to ROME to hier them houses neere the market place intending when they came thether to sue for offices in the common welth Some there were also that in a iollitie would needes take shippe and faile into the I le of LââROS â vnto Cornelia whom Pompey had sent thether to cary her that good newes that the warre was ended Thereupon assembling the counsell Afranius thought it best to winne ITALY for that was the chiefest marke to be shot at in this warre for whosoeuer obteyned that had straight all SICILE SAâDINIA CORSICA SPAYNE and GAVLE at commaundemment Furthermore that it was a dishonor to Pompey which in reason should touche him aboue all thinges to ãâ¦ã their conârie to be in such cruell bondage and subiection vnto slaues and flatterers of tyrantes offering it selfe as it were into their handes But Pompey neither thought it honorable for
him once againe to flie from Caesar and to make him follow him sithe fortune had geuen him oportunitie to haue Caesar in chase not lawfull also before the gods to forsake his father in lawe Scipio and many other also that had bene Consuls despersed abrode in GRAECE and THESSALY which should immediatly fall into Caesars handes with all their riches and armies they had Furthermore he said that they had care enough for the citie of ROME which drew the warres fardest of from them so as they remaining safe quiet at home neither hearing nor feeling the misery of warres might in th end peaceably receiue and welcome him home that remained conqueror With this determinacion he marched forward to follow Caesar being determined not to geue him battel but to beseege him only to compasse him in still being neere vnto him and so to cut him of from vittels There was also an other reason that made him to follow that determinacion For it was reported to him that there was a speech geuen out among the ROMANE knights that so soone as euer they had ouercome Caesar they must also bring Pompey to be a priuate man againe Some saye therefore that Pompey would neuer afterwardes imploy Cato in any greater matters of waight in all this warre but when he followed Caesar he left him captaine of his armie to kepe his cariage by sea fearing that so soone as Caesar were once ouercome he would make him straight also resigne his authoritie Pompey following Caesar in this maner faire and softly they cryed out apon him that he made no warre with Caesar but against his contrie and the Senate bycause he might be still in authoritie and that he would neuer leaue to haue them for his seruauntes and gard about him which should rule commaund the world Furthermore Domitius Aenobaâbus calling him continually Agamemnon and king of kinges made him much to be enuied Phaonius also mocked him as much as the other that spake most boldest for he went crying vp and downe my masters I geue you warning you are like to eate no TAVSCVLAN figges this yeare And Lucius Afranius also he that had lost the armie which he had in SPAYNE and was also suspected for a traitour seeing Pompey then refused to come to battell I maruaile said he that they which accuse me doe not lustely goe to finde him out whome they call the marchaunt and common buyer of prouinces to fight with him presently With these and many such other lewd speaches they compelled Pompey in thend who could not abide to be ill spoken of and would not denie his frendes any thinge to follow their vaine hope and desires and to forsake his owne wise determination the which thinge no good shipppe master and much lesse a chiefe and soueraine captaine ouer so many nations and so great armies should haue suffred and consented vnto Now he that did alwayes commend the positions that would not follow the fonde desire of the sicke pacientes was him selfe contented to obey the worst parte of his armie fearing their displeasure where their life or health stood in hazard For who would thinke or iudge them to be wise men and in their wittes who walking vp and downe their campe did already sue to be Consuls and Praetors considering that Spiâtheâ Dââitius Scipio were at strife together making frendes to be highe bishoppe which office Caesar had as if they should haue fought with Tigranes king of ARMENIA or with the king of the NABATHEIANS which had camped by them and not with Caesar and his armie who had taken a thowsand townes by assaulte had subdued aboue three hundred seuerall nations and had wonne infinite battells of the GERMANES and GAVLES and was neâer ouer come had also taken a million of men prisoners and had likewise slaine so many at diâers battells All this notwithstanding they of Pompeys side still being importunate of him troubling him is this sorte in fine when they were come into the fields of PHARSALIA they compelled Pompey to call a counsell There Labienus generall of the horsemen standing vp sware before them all that he would not retorne from the battell before he had made his enemies to flie The like othe all the rest did take The next night following Pompey thought in his dreame that he came into the Theater and that the people to honor him made a maruelous great clapping of their handes that he him selfe did set forth the temple of Venus the âââonenour with many spoiles This vision partly put him in good courage partly againe made him doubt for that he was affrayed bycause Caesars familie was discended from this goddesse Venus that his dreame did signifie that he should haue the honor of the victorie with the spoiles he should winne of him Besides all this there ranne sodaine fearefull noises turn ãâ¦ã in his campe without any apparant cause that waked all the campe vpon it At the fourth watche when the watche is renued in the morning there was seene a maruelous great light ouer Caesars campe and they were all at rest Of that there came as it were a torche of a burning fire and fell in Pompeys campe The which Caesar him selfe sayed he saw when he went to searche the watche At the breake of the daye Caesar being determined to raise his campe and to go to the citie of SCOTVâA as his souldiers were busie about ouerthrowing of their tents sending away their bagges and baggage before there came skowtes vnto him that brought him worde they sawe a great deale of armor and weapon caryed to and fro in their enemies campe and bard a noise and buffling besides as of men that were preparing to fight After these came in other skowtes that brought word also that their voward was already set in battell raye Then Caesar said that the daye was nowe come they had longed for so sore and that they should now fight with men not with hunger nor with want of vittells and therevpon gaue order presently that they should put out the red coates or armes vpon his tente which was the signe all the ROMANES vsed to shew that they would fight The souldiers seeing that out left their cariage and tentes and with great showres of ioye ranne to arme them selues The captaines of euery band also bestowed euery man in such place as he should fight and so they conueyed them selues into battell raye without any tumulte or disorder as quietly as if they should haue entred into a daunce Pompey him selfe led the right winge of his armie against Antony The middle of the battell he gaue vnto Scipio his father in lawe being right against Domitius Câluiâus The left winge also was led by Lucius Domitius Aenobarbus the which was garded with men of armes For all the horsemen were placed on that side to distresse Caesar if they could that was directly against them and to ouerthrowe the tenth
vnto the late king his predecessor and that when he came into the temple of Belus he sodainely vanished from him By this dreame it plainly appeared that the gods did signifie vnto him that the MACEDONIANS should haue noble successe in their doinges that Alexander should conquer all ASIA euen as king Darius had done when he was but Asgandes vnto the king and that shortly after he should end his life with great honor This furthermore made him bolde also when he saw that Alexander remained a good while in CILICIA supposing it had bene for that he was afraid of him Howbeit it was by reason of a sicknes he had the which some say he got by extreame paines and trauell others also bycause he washed him selfe in the riuer of Cydnus which was cold as Ise. Howsoeuer it came there was none of the other phisitians that durst vndertake to cure him thinking his disease vncurable and no medicines to preuaile that they could giue him and fearing also that the MACEDONIANS would laie it to their charge if Alexander miscaried But Philip ACARNANIAN considering his master was very ill and bearing him selfe of his loue and good will towardes him thought he shoulde not doe that became him if he did not proue seeing him in extremitie and daunger of life the vtmost remedies of phisicke what daunger so euer he put him selfe into and therefore tooke apon him to minister phisicke vnto Alexander and perswaded him to drincke it boldly if he would quickly be whole goe to the warres In the meane time Parmenio wrote him a letter from the campe aduertising him that he should beware of Philip his phisitian for he was bribed and corrupted by Darius with large promises of great riches that he would geue him with his daughter in mariage to kill his master Alexander when he had redde this letter layed it vnder his beddes head and made none of his neerest familliers acquainted therewith When the hower came that he should take his medicine Philip came into his chamber with other of the kings familliers brought a cup in his hand with the pocion he should drinke Alexander then gaue him the letter withall cheerefully tooke the cup of him shewing no maner of feare or mistrust of any thing It was a wonderfull thing and worth the sight how one reading the letter and thother drinking the medicine both at one instant they looked one apon another howbeit not both with like cheerefull countenaunce For Alexander looked merily apon him plainly shewing the trust he had in his phisitian Philip and how much he loued him and the phisitian also beheld Alexander like a man perplexed amazed to be so falsly accused straight lift vp his handes to heauen calling the goddes to witnesse that he was innocent and then came to Alexanders bed side and prayed him to be of good cheere and boldly to doe as if would aduise him The medicine beginning to worke ouercame the disease and draue for the time to the lowest partes of his body all his naturall strength and powers in somuch as his speach failed him and he fell into such a weaknes and almost sooning that his pulse did scant beate and his sences were welneere taken from him But that being past Philip in few days recouered him againe Now when Alexander had gotten some strength he shewed him selfe openly vnto the MACEDONIANS for they would not be pacified nor perswaded of his health vntill they had seene him In king Darius campe there was one Amyntas a MACEDONIAN banisht out of his contrie who knew Alexanders disposition very well He finding that Darius ment to meete with Alexander within the straightes and vallies of the mountaines besoughts him to tarie rather where he was being a plaine open contrie round about him considering that he had a great hoste of men to fight with a few enemies and that it was most for his aduantage to meete with him in the open field Darius aunswered him againe that he was afraid of nothing but that he would flie before he could come to him Amyntas replied for that O king I praie you feare not for I warrant you apon my life he will come to you yea and is now onwards on his way comming towards you All these perswasions of Amyntas could not turne Darius from making his campe to marche towardes CILICIA At the selfe same time also Alexander went towardes SYRIA to meete with him But it chaunced one night that the one of them missed of the other and when day was come they both retorned backe againe Alexander being glad of this happe making hast to meete with his enemy within the straights Darius also seeking to winne Alexanders lodging from whence he came and to bring his army out of the straites beganne then to find the fault error committed for that he had shut him selfe vp in the straights holden in on the one side with the mountaine and on the other with the Sea and the riuer of Pindarus that ranne betwene both and that he was driuen to disperse his armie into diuers companies in a stonie and ill fauored contrie ill for horsemen to trauel being on the contrarie side a great aduantage for his enemies which were excellent good footemen and but few in nomber But now as fortune gaue Alexander the field as he would wishe it to fight for his aduantage so could he tell excellently well how to set his men in battell raye to winne the victorie For albeit that Alexander had the lesse nomber by many then his enemie yet he had such policy and cast with him that he foresaw all and would not be enuironned For he did put out the right winge of his battell a great deale further then he did his left winge and fighting him selfe in the left winge in the foremost ranckes he made all the barbarous people flie that stood before him howbeit he was hurt on his thighe with a blow of a sword Chares writteth that Darius selfe did hurte him and that they fought together man to man Notwithstanding Alexander selfe writing of this battell vnto Antipater sayeth that in deede he was hurte on the thighe with a sword howbeit it did put him in no daunger but he writeth not that Darius did hurte him Thus hauing wonne a famous victory and slaine aboue a hundred and tenne thowsand of his enemies he could not yet take Darius bycause he fled hauing still foure or fiue forlonges vantage before him howbeit he tooke his charriot of battell wherein he fought and his bow also Then he retorned from the chase found the MACEDONIANS sacking spoiling all the rest of the campe of the barbarous people where there was infinite riches although they had left the most parte of their cariage behind them in the citie of DAMAS to come lighter to the battell but yet reserued for him selfe all king Darius tent which was full of a great nomber of officers
had bene enemies open warre proclaimed Contrarily also if Phocion had bene Capteine and generall they would send out their shippes to the sea to meete him farre of crowned with garlands in token of common ioy and so would bringe him to their cities King Philip secretly seking to winne the I le of EVZOEA sent an armie thither out of MACEDON and intised the townes by tyrannes to rebell whereuppon Plutarke ERETRIAN praied in ayde of the ATHENIANS to take this Iland from the MACEDONIANS which they daily wanne more and more if they came not presently to ayde them So Phocion was sent general thither but with a fewe men onely bicause they made account the men of that contry would straight ioyne with him for the good will they bare him But when he came thither he found them all traytors and rebells and brybed with king Philippes money which he lauished out amonge them so that he was brought into great daunger Thereupon he retyred to a litle hill that is seuered from the fieldes of Tamynes with a great large valley and there fortified him selfe with that litle armie he had Then he perswaded his Captaines not to care for all those rebels pratlers and cowards which fled out of their tents and forsooke their ensignes and Captaines but that they should let them goe out of the campe where they would For sayd he such disobedient souldiers here will doe vs no seruice and moreouer will hinder them that haue good will to serue well and at home also knowing them selues in faulte for that they forsooke the campe without licence they dare not complayne apon vs Afterwards when the enemies came to set apon him he commaunded his men to arme and put them selues in readines and not to sturre vntill he had done sacrifice but he stayed long before he came either bicause he could haue no lucky signes of the sacrifices or els for that he would draw his enemies nearer Thereuppon Plutarke ERETRIAN supposing he deferred to marche for feare went him selfe first into the field with certen light horsemen he had in pay Then the men of armes seeing them giue charge could hold no longer but followed him also stragling out of the campe one after an other disorderly and so did set apon their enemies The first being ouerthrowen all the other dispersed them selues and Plutarke him self fled Then certen bandes of the enemies thinking all had bene theirs followed them euen into their campe and came to throw downe their rampiers In the meane time Phocion hauing ended his sacrifice the ATHENIANS came out of their campe and set apon them and made part of them flie immediatly and part of them also they slue hard by the trenches of their campe Then Phocion commaunded that the battell should stand still to receiue their men that were scattered vp and downe the fieldes and in the meane space he him selfe with the choycest men of his armie gaue charge apon the enemies The fight was cruell betwene them For the ATHENIANS sought very valiantly ventring their persons but of them all two young men fighting by their generall Glaucus the sonne of Polymedes and Thâllus the sonne of Cineas caried the praise away And so did Cleophanes that daye also shewe him selfe very valiant For the crying out still apon the horsemen that fled perswading them to come and helpe their generall that was in daunger brought them backe againe and thereby goââ the footemen the victorie After this battell he draue Plutarke out of ERETRIA and tooke the castell of ZARETRA standing in a very commodious place for this warre where the I le draweth to a straightnes enuyronned on either side with the sea and would not suffer his men to take any GRAECIANS prisoners fearing least the Orators at ATHENS might moue the people sodeinly in a rage to put them to death After all these thinges were done Phocion returned backe to ATHENS But then did the confederats of the ATHENIANS straight wishe for his iustice and curtesie and the ATHENIANS them selues also knewe his skilfulnes and manhood For his successor Molossus that was generall for the rest of the warre delt so vndiscreetelye that he him selfe was taken prisoner there Then king Philip beeing put in maruailous great hope went with all his armie into HELLESPONT perswading him selfe that he should straight take all CHERRONESVS the cities of PERINTHE and BYZANTIVM The ATHENIANS thereuppon determining to send ayde to preuent king Philips comming the Orators made great sute that Chares might be chosen Captaine But he being sent thither with a good number of shippes did no seruice worthy commendacion neither would the cities receiue his nauie into their hauens but being suspected of euery man and despised of his enemies he was driuen to sayle vp and downe and to get money of the allyes The people being incensed by the Orators were maruelously offended repented them selues that they had sentayde vnto the BIZANTINES Then Phocion rising vp spake vnto the people told them that it was no reason that mistrusting their confederats they should be offended with them but to be angry with their Captaines that deserued to be mistrusted For they said he doe make your confederats affraide of you who without you notwithstanding can not saue themselues The people chaunging their mindes by his oration made Phocion againe their Captaine and sent him with an armie into HELLESPONT to helpe their confederats there which was of great importance to saue the citie of BYZANTIVM Furthermore Phocions fame was so great that Cleon the greatest man of vertue and authoritie in BYZANTIVM and had before bene Phocions companion and familiar in the Academy he made sute for him vnto the citie Then the BYZANTINES would not suffer him though he desired it to campe without the walls of their citie but opening their gates receiued him in and mingled the ATHENIANS amongest them Who perceiuing how much the Citizens trusted them did so honestly behaue them selues in their conuersation amongest them that they gaue them no maner of cause to complaine of them and shewed them selues so valiant besides in all battells and conflicts that Philip which before was thought dreadfull and inuincible euery man beeing affraid to fight any battell with him returned out of HELLESPONT without any thing done and to his great discredit where Phocion wanne some of his shippes and recouered againe the strong holdes in the which he had placed his garrisons Furthermore making diuers inuasions into his contries he destroyed his borders till that at length he was sore hurt there and so driuen to returne home againe by meanes of a great armie that came against him to defend the contry Shortly after the MEGARIANS secretly sent vnto him to deliuer their citie into his hands Phocion fearing if the BOBOTIANS vnderstood it that they would preuent him he called a common assembly earely in the morning told the people what message the MAGARIANS had sent vnto
onely temples of feare and death but also of laughter and of many other such passions of the minde They do worshippe Feare not as other spirites and deuills that are hurtfull but bicause they are perswaded that nothing preserueth a common wealth better then feare Wherefore the Ephori as Aristotle witnesseth when they are created doe by publicke proclamacion commaunde all the SPARTANS to shaue their chinnes and to obey the law least they should make them feele the rigour of the law They brought in the shauing of their chinnes in my opinion to inure youÌg men to obey the Magistrates euen in trifles Moreouer it seemes that men in olde time did esteeme fortitude to be no taking away of feare but rather a feare lothnes to incurre shame For commonly those that are most affrayed to offend the law are in the field most valliant against their enemie and shunne no perill to winne fame and honest reputacion And therefore it was wisely sayd of one That feare can not be vvithout shamefastnes And so Homer in a certaine place made Hellen say vnto king Priamus Of trueth I doe confesse deere father in lavv You are the man of vvhom I stand in avv And reuerence most of all that ere I savv And in an other place speaking of the GRAECIAN souldiers he sayth thus For feare of their Captaines they spake not a vvord For men do vse to reuerence them whom they feare And this was the cause why the chappell of Feare was by the halle of the Ephores hauing in maner a princely and absolute authoritie The next morning Cleomenes banished by trompet foure score citizens of SPARTA and ouerthrew all the chaires of the Ephores but one only the which he reserued for him selfe to sit in to geue audience Then calling the people to counsell he gaue them an account of his doings and told them that Lycurgus had ioyned the Senators with the kings how the citie had bene gouerned a long time by them without helpe of any other officers Notwithstanding afterwards the city hauing great warres with the MESSENIANS the kings being alwaies employed in that warre whereby they could not attend the affaires of the common wealth at home did choose certaine of their frendes to sitte in iudgement in their steades to determine controuersies of lawe which were called Ephores and did gouerne long time as the kinges ministers howbeit that afterwards by litle and litle they tooke apon them absolute gouernment by theÌselues And for manifest proofe hereof you see that at this present time when the Ephori do send for the king the first and second time they refuse to come but the third time he riseth and goeth vnto them The first man that gaue the Ephores this authoritie was Asteropus one of the Ephores many yeares after the first institucion of the kinges and yet if they had gouerned discreetely peraduenture they might haue continued lenger But they licentiously abusing their authoritie by suppressing the lawfull Gouernors instituted of old time taking apon them to banish some of their kings and putting other of them also to death without law and iustice and threatning others that desire to restore that noble and former blessed gouernment vnto SPARTA againe all these things I say are in no wise to be suffered any lenger And therefore if it had bene possible to haue banished all these plagues of the common wealth out of SPARTA brought from forreine nations I meane pleasures pastimes money dets and vsuries and others yet more auncient pouerty and riches he might then haue esteemed him selfe the happiest king that euer was if like a good Phisitian he had cured his contrie of that infection without griefe or sorrow But in that he was constrained to beginne with blood he followed Lycurgus example who being neither king nor other Magistrate but a priuate citizen only taking apon him the authoritie of the king boldly came into the market place with force and armed men and made king Charilaus that then raigned so affrayed that he was driuen to take sanctuarie in one of the temples But the king being a Prince of a noble nature and louing the honor of his contrie tooke parte with Lycurgus adding to his aduise and counsell for the alteracion of the state of the gouernment of the common wealth which he did confirme Hereby then it appeareth that Lycurgus saw it was a hard thing to alter the common wealth without force and feare the which he notwithstanding had vsed with as great modestie and discretion as might be possible banishing them that were against the profit and wealth of LACEDAEMON geuing all the lands of the contrie also to be equally deuided amongest them and setting all men cleere that were in dette And furthermore that he would make a choyse and proofe of the straungers to make them free citizens of SPARTA whom he knew to be honest men thereby to defende their citie the better by force of armes to th end that from henceforth we may no more see our contrie of LACONIA spoyled by the AETOLIANS and ILLYRIANS for lacke of men to defende them selues against them Then he beganne first him selfe to make all his goods common and after him Megistonus his father in law and consequently all his other frendes Then he caused the lands also to be deuided and ordeined euery banished man a part whom he him selfe had exiled promising that he would receiue them againe into the city when he had established all things So when he had replenished the number of the citizens of SPARTA with the choycest honest men their neighbours he made foure thowsand footemen well armed and taught them to vse their pykes with both handes in steade of their dartes with one hande and to carie their targets with a good strong handle and not buckled with a leather thong Afterwardes he tooke order for the education of children and to restore the auncient LACONIAN discipline againe and did all these things in maner by the helpe of Sphaerus the Philosopher Insomuch as he had quickely set vp againe schoole houses for children and also brought them to the old order of dyet and all but a very fewe without compulsion were willing to fall to their old institucion of life Then bicause the name of one king should not offend any man he made his brother Euclidas king with him But this was the first time that euer the two kings were of one house but then Furthermore vnderstanding that the ACHAIANS and Aratus were of opinion that he durst not come out of LACEDAEMON for feare to leaue it in perill of reuolting bicause of the late chaunge and alteracion in the common wealth he thought it an honorable attempt of him to make his enemies see the readines and good will of his armie Thereupon he inuaded the territories of the MEGALOPOLITANS and brought away a great praye and booty after he had done great hurt vnto his enemies Then hauing taken certaine players
and minstrells that came from MESSINA he sette vp a stage within the enemies contrie made a game of 40. Minas for the victor and sate a whole day to looke apon them for no pleasure he tooke in the sight of it but more to despite the enemies withall in making them see how muche he was stronger then they to make such a Mayegame in their owne contrie in despite of them For of all the armies otherwise of the GRAECIANS or kinges in all GRAECE there was no armie onely but his that was without players minstrells fooles and iugglers for his campe only was cleane of such rabble and foolerie and all the young men fell to some exercise of their bodies and the old men also to teache them And if they chaunced to haue any vacant time then they would pleasauntly be one merie with an other in geuing some pretie fine mocke after the LACONIAN manner And what profit they got by that kinde of exercise we haue written it at large in Lycurgus life But of all these things the king him selfe was their schoolemaister and example shewing him selfe very temperate of life and plaine without curiositie no more then any priuate souldier of all his campe the which were great helpes vnto him in his enterprises he made in GRAECE For the GRAECIANS hauing cause of sute and negociacion with other kings and Princes did not wonder so much at their pompe and riches as they did abhorre and detest their pride and insolencie so disdainfully they would aunswere them that had to doe with them But contrarily when they went vnto Cleomenes who was a king in name and deede as they were finding no purple robes nor stately mantells nor rich imbrodered beddes nor a Prince to be spoken to but by messengers gentlemen vshers and supplications and yet with great a doe and seeing him also come plainly apparelled vnto them with a good countenaunce and curteously aunswering the matters they came for he thereby did maruelously win their harts and good wills that when they returned home they said he only was the worthy king that came of the race of Hercules Now for his dyet at his bord that was very straight and LACONIAN like keping only three bords and if he chaunced to feast any Ambassadors or other his frendes that came to see him he then added to two other bords and besides made his men to see that his fare should be amended not with pastrie and conserues but with more store of meate and some better wyne then ordinarie For he one day reproued one of his frendes that bidding straungers to supper he gaue theÌ nothing but blacke broth browne bread only according to their LACONIAN maner Nay said he we may not vse straungers so hardly after our maner The bord being taken vp an other litle table was brought with three feete whereupon they set a bolle of copper full of wyne and two siluer cuppes of a pottell a peece and certaine other fewe siluer pottes besides so euery man dranke what they lifted and no man was forced to drinke more then he woulde Furthermore there was no sporte nor any pleasaunt song soung to make the companie merie for it needed not For Cleomenes selfe would entertaine them with some pretie questions or pleasaunt tale whereby as his talke was not seuere and without pleasure so was it also pleasaunt without insolencie For he was of opinion that to winne men by gifts or money as other kings and Princes did was but base and cloynelike but to seeke their good wills by curteous meanes and pleasauntnes and therewith to meane good faith that he thought most fit and honorable for a Prince For this was his minde that there was no other difference betwext a frend and hyerling but that the one is wonne with money and the other with ciuility good entertainment The first therefore that receiued king Cleomenes into their citie were the MANTINIANS who opened him the gates in the night and helping him to driue out the garrison of the ACHAIANS they yeelded them selues vnto him But he referring them to the vse and gouernment of their owne lawes and libertie departed from thence the same day and went vnto the citie of TEGEA Shortly after he compassed about ARCADIA and came vnto PHERES in ARCADIA determining one of the two either to geue the ACHAIANS battell or to bring Aratus out of fauor with the people for that he had suffred him to spoyle and destroy their contry Hyperbatas was at that time Generall of the ACHAIANS but Aratus did beare all the sway and authoritie Then the ACHAIANS comming into the field with all their people armed and encamping by the citie of DYMES neere vnto the temple of Hecatombaum Cleomenes going thither laye betwext the citie of DYMES that was against him and the campe of his enemies which men thought a verie vnwise parte of him Howebeit valliantly prouoking the ACHAIANS he procured them to the battell ouerthrew them made them flie and slue a great number in the field and tooke many of them also prisoners Departing from thence he went and set apon the citie of LANGON and draue the garrison of the ACHAIANS out of it and restored the citie againe vnto the ELIANS The ACHAIANS being then in verie hard state Aratus that of custome was wont to be their Generall or at the least once in two yeares refused now to take the charge notwithstanding the ACHAIANS did specially pray and intreate him the which was in ill act of him to let an other steere the rudder in so daungerous a storme and tempest Therefore the ACHAIANS sent Ambassadors vnto Cleomenes to treate peace vnto whome it seemed he gaue a verie sharpe aunswere After that he sent vnto them and willed them only to resigne the signiorie of GRAECE vnto him and that for all other matters he would deale reasonably with them and presently deliuer them vp their townes prisoners againe which he had taken of theirs The ACHAIANS being glad of peace with these condicions wrote vnto Cleomenes that he shoulde come vnto the citie of LERNA where the dyet and generall assemblie shoulde be kept to consult thereupon It chaunced then that Cleomenes marching thither being very hotte dranke cold water and fell of suche a bleeding withall that his voyce was taken from him and he almost stifled Wherefore he sent the ACHAIANS their chiefest prisoners home againe proroging the parlament till an other time and returned backe to LACEDAEMON It is supposed certainly that this let of his comming to the dyet was the onely cause of the vtter destruction of GRAECE the which otherwise was in good way to haue risen againe and to haue bene deliuered from the present miseries and extreame pride and couetousnes of the MACEDONIANS For Aratus either for that he trusted not Cleomenes or for that he was affrayed of his power or that he otherwise enuied his honor prosperitie to see him risen to such
no meanes suffer the MEGALOPOLITANS to accept this gracious offer of Cleomenes nor also to leaue their alliance with the ACHAIANS telling them that he ment not to geue them their citie againe but to take them also with their citie and therefore draue Thearidas and Lysandridas out of MESSENA that moued this practise It was that Philopoemen that afterwardes was the chiefest man of the ACHAIANS and that wanne suche fame and honor among the GRAECIANS as we haue particularly declared in his life This worde being brought to Cleomenes who had kept the city from spoyling vntill that time he was then so thorowly offended that he gaue the goods in praye to the souldiers sent away their goodly tables images and pictures vnto SPARTA and defaced the chiefest partes of the citie and then returned home againe being affrayed of Antigonus and the ACHAIANS Howebeit they sturred not bicause of the parlament that was kept at that time in the citie of AEGIVM where Aratus being in the pulpit for orations and holding his gowne a long time before his face the people maruelling at it willed him to tell what he ayled he answered them MEGALIPOLIS is taken and rased by Cleomenes The ACHAIANS being amazed at the sodainnes of this great losse straight brake of their parlament and assemblie But Antigonus thinking to ayde them sent presently for all his garrisons who being long a comming he willed them to stay where they were and he him selfe taking a fewe souldiers with him went vnto the citie of ARGOS Therefore the seconde enterprise of Cleomenes seemeth at the first sight a verie rashe and desperate attempt howebeit Polybius wryteth that it was an attempt of greate wisedome and policie For Cleomenes vnderstanding that the MACEDONIANS were dispersed in garrisons in diuers places and that Antigonus lay all the winter in the citie of ARGOS with a certeyne number of footemen that were straungers he inuaded the contrie of the ARGIVES with his armie perswading him selfe that either Antigonus woulde for shame come and fight with him or if he did not that then he shoulde put him in disgrace with the ARGIVES which in deede came so to passe The ARGIVES seeinge their contrie spoyled by Cleomenes were in a maruelous rage and gatheringe together at Antigonus lodginge they cryed out vnto him either to goe into the fielde and fight with the enemie or else if he were affrayed to resigne hi office of Generall of GRAECE vnto others that were vallianter than him selfe But Antigonus like a wise and excellent Captayne thinkinge it a dishonour to him rashely to put him selfe in daunger and his frendes also though he were prouoked with many iniuries and opptrobrious wordes woulde not goe into the fielde but stoode constant in his first determination Then Cleomenes hauing brought his armie hard to the walles of the citie of ARGOS and spoyled and destroyed the contrie rounde about without letter or daunger he safely returned home againe Within a while after Cleomenes beinge aduertised that Antigonus was come vnto TEGEA with intent to inuade the contrie of LACONIA he goinge an other way with his armie vnwitting to his enemies they wondered when they saw him in the morning by the citie of ARGOS spoylinge their contrie and cuttinge downe their corne not with sickles and knyues as other doe vse but with long poles in forme of Sythes that the souldiers as they went sportingewise did ouerthrowe and spoyle it But when they came to the place or exercises in the suburbes called Cyllabaris certaine of the souldiers goinge about to haue sette it afire Cleomenes woulde not suffer them and tolde them that what he had done at MEGALIPOLIS it was rather angrily then honestlie done Now Antigonus presentlye returninge backe againe beinge minded first to haue gone directly to the citie of ARGOS but sodainely alteringe his minde did campe vpon the toppe of hilles and mountaynes Cleomenes seeminge not to be affrayed of him sent Herauldes to him to desire the keyes of the temple of Iuno and then after he had done sacrifice he woulde departe his waye Thus mockinge Antigonus after he had sacrificed vnto the goddesse vnder the temple that was shut vp he sent his armie vnto PHLIVNTA and hauinge driuen awaye the garrison out of OLOGVNTA he came vnto the citie of ORCHONENVM hauinge not onely incouraged his citizens but gotten euen amongest the enemies them selues a fame also to be a noble Captaine and worthie to manage greate affaires For euerie man iudged him to be a skillfull souldier and a valliant Captaine that with the power of one onely citie did mainteine warre against the kingdom of MACEDON against all the people of PELOPONNESVS and against the treasure of so greate a king and withall not onely to keepe his owne contrie of LACONIA vnfoyled but farre otherwise to hurte his enemies contries and to take so many greate cities of theirs But he that sayed first that money was the sinewe of all thinges spake it chiefly in my opinion in respect of the warres Demades the Orator sayed on a time when the ATHENIANS commaunded certaine gallies shoulde be put out of the arsenall into the sea and presently rigged and armed with all possible speed though they lacked money he that rules the prowe must first see before him Meaning munition and vittells must be prouided before the shippes be sette out And it is reported also that the auncient Archidamus when the confederates of the LACEDAEMONIANS at the beginninge of the warre of PELOPONNESVS required that they might be sessed at a certaine rate aunswered the charges of warre haue no certeyne stinte For like as wrestlers that exercise their bodies continuallie in games are better able to wrestle and ouerthrowe them with tyme that haue no strength but onely arte and slight euen so Kinge Antigonus who by the greatnesse of his kingdome did defraye the charge of this warre did wearie and ouercome Cleomenes at the length bicause he lacked money bothe to paye the straungers that serued him and also to mayntayne his owne citizens For otherwise doubtlesse the time serued his turne well bicause the troubles that fell apon Antigonus in his realme did make him to be sent for home For the barbarous people his neighbours in his absence did spoyle and destroye the realme of MACEDON and speciallie the ILLYRIANS of the high contrie that came downe then with a greate armie whereupon the MACEDONIANS being spoyled and harried on all sides by them they sent poste vnto Antigonus to pray him to come home If these letters had bene brought him but a litle before the battell as they came afterwardes Antigonus had gone his waye and left the ACHAIANS But fortune that alwayes striketh the stroke in all weightiest causes gaue suche speede and fauour vnto time that immediatly after the battell was fought at SELASIA where Cleomenes lost his armie and citie the verie messengers arriued that came for Antigonus to come home the which made the
fancie growe from conceit to conceit altering both in passions and formes of thinges imagined For the minde of man is euer occupied and that continuall mouing is nothing but an imagination But yet there is a further cause of this in you For you being by nature giuen to melancholick discoursing and of late continually occupied your wittes and sences hauing bene ouerlabored doe easilier yeelde to such imaginations For to say that there are spirits or angells and if there were that they had the shape of men or such voyces or any power at all to come vnto vs it is a mockerye And for myne owne parte I would there were suche bicause that we shoulde not onely haue souldiers horses and shippes but also the ayde of the goddes to guide and further our honest and honorable attempts With these words Cassius did somewhat comfort and quiet Brutus When they raysed their campe there came two Eagles that flying with a maruelous force lighted vppon two of the foremoste enseignes and alwayes followed the souldiers which gaue them meate and fedde them vntill they came neare to the citie of PHILIPPES and there one daye onely before the battell they bothe flewe awaye Now Brutus had conquered the moste parte of all the people and nations of that contry but if there were any other citie or Captaine to ouercome then they made all cleere before them and so drewe towards the coasts of THASSOS There Norbanus lying in campe in a certaine place called the straights by another place called SYMBOLON which is a port of the sea Cassius and Brutus compassed him in in such sort that he was driuen to forsake the place which was of great strenght for him and he was also in daunger beside to haue lost all his armye For Octauius Caesar could not followe him bicause of his sicknes and therefore stayed behind whereuppon they had taken his army had not Antonius ayde bene which made such wonderful speede that Brutus could scant beleue it So Caesar came not thether often daies after Antonius camped against Cassius and Brutus on thother side against Caesar. The ROMANES called the valley betweene both campes the PHILIPPIAN fields and there were neuer seene two so great armies of the ROMANES one before the other ready to fight In truth Brutus army was inferior to Octauius Caesars in number of men but for brauery and rich furniture Brutus army farre excelled Caesars For the most part of their armors were siluer and gilt which Brutus had bountifully giuen them although in all other things he taught his Captaines to liue in order without excesse But for the brauery of armor weapoÌ which souldiers should cary in their hands or otherwise weare vpon their backes he thought that it was an encoragement vnto them that by nature are greedy of honor that it maketh them also fight like deuills that loue to get and be affrayd to lose bicause they fight to keepe their armor and weapon as also their goods and lands Now when they came to muster their armies Octauius Caesar tooke the muster of his army within the trenches of his campe gaue his men onely a litle corne and fiue siluer Drachmas to euery man to sacrifice to the gods to pray for victory But Brutus skorning this miserie and niggardlines first of all mustered his armie and did purifie it in the fields according to the manner of the ROMANES and then he gaue vnto euery band a number of weathers to sacrifice and fiftie siluer Drachmas to euery souldier So that Brutus and Cassius souldiers were better pleased and more coragiously bent to fight at the daye of the battell then their enemies souldiers were Notwithstanding being busily occupied about the ceremonies of this purification it is reported that there chaunced certaine vnlucky signes vnto Cassius For one of his Sergeaunts that caried the roddes before him brought him the garland of flowers turned backwards the which he should haue worne on his head in the tyme of sacrificing Moreouer it is reported also that at another tyme before in certaine sportes and triumphe where they caried an image of Cassius victorie of cleane gold it fell by chaunce the man stumbling that caried it And yet further there were seene a maruelous number of fowles of praye that feede vpon dead carkasses and beehiues also were founde where bees were gathered together in a certaine place within the trenches of the campe the which place the Soothsayers thought good to shut out of the precinct of the campe for to take away the superstitious feare and mistrust men would haue of it The which beganne somewhat to alter Cassius minde from Epicurus opinions and had put the souldiers also in a maruelous feare Thereuppon Cassius was of opinion not to trye this warre at one battell but rather to delay tyme and to drawe it out in length considering that they were the stronger in money and the weaker in men and armors But Brutus in contrary manner did alway before and at that tyme also desire nothing more then to put all to the hazard of battell assoone as might be possible to the ende he might either quickely restore his contry to her former libertie or rid him forthwith of this miserable world being still troubled in following and mainteyning of such great armies together But perceiuing that in the dayly skirmishes and byckerings they made his men were alway the stronger and euer had the better that yet quickned his spirits againe and did put him in better hart And furthermore bicause that some of their owne men had already yelded them selues to their enemies and that it was suspected moreouer diuers others would doe the like that made many of Cassius friendes which were of his minded before when it came to be debated in counsell whether the battell shoulde be fought or not that they were then of Brutus minde But yet was there one of Brutus friendes called Atellius that was against it and was of opinion that they should tary the next winter Brutus asked him what he should get by tarying a yeare lenger If I get nought els q Attellius agayne yet haue I liued so much lenger Cassius was very angry with this aunswer and Atellius was maliced and esteemed the worse for it of all men Thereuppon it was presently determined they should fight battell the next daye So Brutus all supper tyme looked with a cheerefull countenaunce like a man that had good hope and talked very wisely of Philosophie and after supper went to bed But touching Cassius Messala reporteth that he supped by him selfe in his tent with a fewe of his friendes and that all supper tyme he looked very sadly and was full of thoughts although it was against his nature and that after supper he tooke him by the hande and holding him fast in token of kindnes as his manner was tolde him in Greeke Messala I protest vnto thee and make thee my witnes that
side For nothing vndid them but that Brutus went not to helpe Cassius thinking he had ouercome them as him selfe had done and Cassius on the other side taried not for Brutus thinking he had bene ouerthrowen as him selfe was And to proue that the victorie fell on Brutus side Messala confirmeth it that they wanne three Eagles and diuers other ensignes of their enemies and their enemies wanne neuer a one of theirs Now Brutus returning from the chase after he had slaine and sacked Caesars men he wondred muche that he coulde not see Cassius tent standing vp high as it was wont neither the other tentes of his campe standing as they were before bicause all the whole caÌpe had bene spoiled and the tentes throwen downe at the first comming in of the enemies But they that were about Brutus whose sight serued them better tolde him that they sawe a great glistering of harnes and a number of siluered targets that went came into Cassius campe and were not as they tooke it the armors nor the number of men that they had left there to gard the campe and yet that they saw not such a number of dead bodies and great ouerthrow as there should haue bene if so many legions had bene slaine This made Brutus at the first mistrust that which had hapned So he appointed a number of men to keepe the campe of his enemie which he had taken and caused his men to be sent for that yet followed the chase and gathered them together thinking to leade them to aide Cassius who was in this state as you shall heare First of all he was maruelous angrie to see how Brutus men ranne to geue charge vpon their enemies and taried not for the word of the battell nor commaundement to geue charge and it grieued him beside that after he had ouercome them his men fell straight to spoyle and were not carefull to compasse in the rest of the enemies behinde But with tarying too long also more then through the valliantnesse or foresight of the Captaines his enemies Cassius founde him selfe compassed in with the right wing of his enemies armie Whereuppon his horsemen brake immediatly and fled for life towardes the sea Furthermore perceiuing his footemen to geue ground he did what he could to kepe them from flying and tooke an ensigne from one of the ensigne bearers that fled and stucke it fast at his feete although with much a do he could scant keepe his owne gard together So Cassius him selfe was at length compelled to flie with a few about him vnto a litle hill from whence they might easely see what was done in all the plaine howbeit Cassius him selfe sawe nothing for his sight was verie bad sauing that he saw and yet with much a doe how the enemies spoiled his campe before his eyes He sawe also a great troupe of horsemen whom Brutus sent to aide him and thought that they were his enemies that followed him but yet he sent Titinnius one of them that was with him to goe and know what they were Brutus horsemen sawe him comming a farre of whom when they knewe that he was one of Cassius chiefest frendes they showted out for ioy and they that were familiarly acquainted with him lighted from their horses and went and imbraced him The rest compassed him in rounde about a horsebacke with songs of victorie and great rushing of their harnes so that they made all the field ring againe for ioy But this marred all For Cassius thinking in deede that Titinnius was taken of the enemies he then spake these wordes desiring too much to liue I haue liued to see one of my best frendes taken for my sake before my face After that he gotte into a tent where no bodie was and tooke Pyndarus with him one of his freed bondmen whom he reserued euer for suche a pinche since the cursed battell of the PARTHIANS where Crassus was slaine though he notwithstanding scaped from that ouerthrow but then casting his cloke ouer his head holding out his bare neck vnto Pindarus he gaue him his head to be striken of So the head was found seuered from the bodie but after that time Pindarus was neuer seene more Wherupon some tooke occasion to say that he had slaine his master without his coÌmaundement By by they knew the horsemen that came towards them might see Titinnius crowned with a garland of triumphe who came before with great speede vnto Cassius But when he perceiued by the cries and teares of his frends which tormented them selues the misfortune that had chaunced to his Captaine Cassius by mistaking he drew out his sword cursing him selfe a thowsand times that he had taried so long and so slue him selfe presentlie in the fielde Brutus in the meane time came forward still and vnderstoode also that Cassius had bene ouerthrowen but he knew nothing of his death till he came verie neere to his campe So when he was come thither after he had lamented the death of Cassius calling him the last of all the ROMANES being vnpossible that ROME should euer breede againe so noble valliant a man as he he caused his bodie to be buried and sent it to the citie of THASSOS fearing least his funerals within the campe should cause great disorder Then he called his souldiers together did encorage them againe And when he saw that they had lost all their cariage which they could not brooke well he promised euerie man of them two thowsand Drachmas in recompence After his souldiers had heard his Oration they were al of them pretily cheered againe wondering much at his great liberalitie and waited vpon him with great cries when he went his way praising him for that he only of the foure Chieftaines was not ouercome in battell And to speake the trueth his deedes shewed that he hoped not in vaine to be conqueror For with fewe legions he had slaine and driuen all them away that made head against him and yet if all his people had fought and that the most of them had not ouergone their enemies to runne to spoyle their goods surely it was like enough he had slaine them all and had left neuer a man of them aliue There were slaine of Brutus side about eight thowsand men couÌting the souldiers slaues whom Brutus called Brigas and of the enemies side as Messala wryteth there were slaine as he supposeth more then twise as many moe Wherefore they were more discoraged then Brutus vntill that verie late at night there was one of Cassius men called Demetrius who went vnto Antonius and caried his maisters clothes whereof he was stripped not long before and his sword also This encoraged Brutus enemies and made them so braue that the next morning betimes they stoode in battell ray againe before Brutus But on Brutus side both his campes stoode wauering and that in great daunger For his owne campe being full of prisoners required a good garde to looke
it was but a lye deuised to be the better welcome for this good newes The selfe same night it is reported that the monstruous spirit which had appeared before vnto Brutus in the citie of SARDIS did now appeare againe vnto him in the selfe same shape and forme and so vanished away and sayd neuer a word Now Publius Voluminius a graue wise Philosopher that had bene with Brutus from the beginning of this warre he doth make mencion of this spirite but sayth that the greatest Eagle and ensigne was couered ouer with a swarme of bees and that there was one of the Captaines whose arme sodainly fell a sweating that it dropped oyle of roses from him and that they oftentimes went about to drie him but all would doe no good And that before the battell was fought there were two Eagles fought betwene both armies and all the time they fought there was a maruelous great silence all the valley ouer both the armies being one before the other marking this fight betwene them and that in the end the Eagle towardes Brutus gaue ouer and flew away But this is certaine and a true tale that when the gate of the campe was open the first man that standered bearer meâ that caried the Eagle was an AETHIOPIAN whome the souldiers for ill lucke mangled with their swordes Now after that Brutus had brought his armie into the fielde and had set them in battell ray directlie against the voward of his enemie he pawsed a long time before he gaue the signall of battell For Brutus riding vp and downe to view the bands and companies it came in his head to mistrust some of them besides that some came to tell him so muche as he thought Moreouer he sawe his horsemen set forward but saintly and did not goe lustely to geue charge but still stayed to see what the footemen woulde doe Then sodainly one of the chiefest Knightes he had in all his armie called Camulatius and that was alway maruelously esteemed of for his valliantnes vntill that time he came hard by Brutus a horsebacke and roade before his face to yeeld him selfe vnto his enemies Brutus was maruelous sorie for it wherefore partely for anger and partely for feare of greater treason and rebellion he sodainly caused his armie to marche being past three of the clocke in the after noone So in that place where he him selfe fought in person he had the better and brake into the left wing of his enemies which gaue him way through the helpe of his horsemen that gaue charge with his footemen when they saw the enemies in a maze and affrayed Howbeit the other also on the right wing when the Captaines would haue had them to haue marched they were affraid to haue bene compassed in behinde bicause they were fewer in number then their enemies and therefore did spred them selues and leaue the middest of their battell Whereby they hauing weakened them selues they could not withstande the force of their enemies but turned taile straight and fled And those that had put them to flight came in straight vpon it to compasse Brutus behinde who in the middest of the conflict did all that was possible for a skilfull Captaine and valliant souldier both for his wisedom as also for his hardinesse for the obtaining of victorie But that which wanne him the victorie at the first battell did now lose it him at the seconde For at the first time the enemies that were broken and fled were straight cut in peeces but at the seconde battell of Cassius men that were put to flight there were fewe slaine and they that saued them selues by speede being affrayed bicause they had bene ouercome did discourage the rest of the armie when they came to ioyne with them filled all the army with feare disorder There was the sonne of M. Cato slaine valliantly fighting amongst the lustie youths For notwithstanding that he was verie wearie and ouerharried yet would he not therefore flie but manfully fighting and laying about him telling alowde his name and also his fathers name at lenghth he was beaten downe amongest many other dead bodies of his enemies which he had slaine rounde about him So there were slaine in the field all the chiefest gentlemen and nobilitie that were in his armie who valliantlie ranne into any daunger to saue Brutus life Amongest them there was one of Brutus frendes called Lucilius who seeing a troupe of barbarous men making no reckoning of all men else they met in their way but going all together right against Brutus he determined to stay them with the hazard of his life and being left behinde told them that he was Brutus and bicause they should beleue him he prayed them to bring him to Antonius for he sayd he was affrayed of Caesar and that he did trust Antonius better These barbarous men being very glad of this good happe and thinking them selues happie men they caried him in the night and sent some before vnto Antonius to tell him of their comming He was maruelous glad of it and went out to meete them that brought him Others also vnderstanding of it that they had brought Brutus prisoner they came out of all parts of the campe to see him some pitying his hard fortune others saying that it was not done like him selfe so cowardlie to be taken aliue of the barbarous people for feare of death When they came neere together Antonius stayed a while bethinking him selfe how he should vse Brutus In the meane time Lucilius was brought to him who stowtly with a bold countenaunce sayd Antonius I dare assure thee that no enemie hath taken nor shall take Marcus Brutus aliue and I beseech God keepe him from that fortune For wheresoeuer he be found aliue or dead he will be found like him selfe And nowe for my selfe I am come vnto thee hauing deceiued these men of armes here bearing them downe that I was Brutus and doe not refuse to suffer any torment thou wilt put me to Lucilius wordes made them all amazed that heard him Antonius on the other side looking vpon all them that had brought him sayd vnto them my companions I thinke ye are sorie you haue failed of your purpose that you thinke this man hath done you great wrong but I doe assure you you haue taken a better bootie then that you followed For in steade of an enemie you haue brought me a frend and for my parte if you had brought me Brutus aliue truely I can not tell what I should haue done to him For I had rather haue suche men my frendes as this man here then enemies Then he embraced Lucilius and at that time deliuered him to one of his frendes in custodie and Lucilius euer after serued him faithfullie euen to his death Nowe Brutus hauing passed a litle riuer walled in on either side with hie rockes and shadowed with great trees being then darke night he went no further but stayed
were accused bicause that in open peace they had made warre therfore they were put in sute before the MANTINIANS at Aristippus request tyrant of ARGOS The matter was pleaded in Aratus absence the ACHAIANS were condeÌned to pay the summe of 30. Minas After this proofe atteÌpt of Aratus Aristippus being affraid of Aratus hating him to the death sought waies to kil him with the help of Antigonus who did aide him in it and almost there were spialls in euery corner that did nothing els but lye in wayte to execute Aristippus minde Now there is no suerer garde vnto a Prince then the perfit loue and good will of his subiects For after that the nobilitie and common people haue benevsed to feare not him but those that for him commaund them he then seeth with many eyes heareth with many eares and knoweth what is done farre of Here therefore I will a litle digresse from my historie to shewe you the manner of Aristippus life the tyrant whereunto he was brought by this so much desired tyrannical gouernment and smoke of signiorie so esteemed of all men Now though Aristippus had king Antigonus his friend and that he kept a great gard of souldiers about him for the safety of his person and that there was not an enemy of his left aliue in all the citie yet he made his souldiers watche and lye without his pallace vnder the cloisters and galleries thereabouts after supper turned all his men out of the dores then shut his Court gates to him and locked him selfe alone with his Concubine in a litle hie chamber with a trappe dore and set his bed vpon it so slept as one that continually was affraid of him selfe Then after he was come vp his Concubines mother came to take vp the ladder and locked it in an other chamber and so did let it downe againe the next morning and called this trymme tyrant that went downe out of his chamber like a snake that should haue crept out of her hole Where Aratus in contrary manner not hauing obtained by force of armes but lawfully through vertue a continuall gouernment being simply apparelled with a poore gowne of smal price shewing him self a mortal enemy vnto all sorts of tyrants hath left a race noble ofspring among the GRAECIANS which remaine yet vntill this present day Contrarily also there are fewe tyrants that doe vsurpe the castells of free cities that keepe so many souldiers in pay that make such prouision for armor and weapon haue so many gates and drawbridges for the safety of their persons that in the ende can keepe them selues from violent death no more then hares nether doe leaue also any posteritie house or graue why their memorie should be honored after their death So Aratus hauing diuers waies made sundry attempts both by open force and otherwise sodainely to take the citie of ARGOS and to thrust out the tyrant Aristippus he euer sayled of his purpose but specially one night among the rest when he entred the citie very daungerously with a fewe souldiers with him and slue the souldiers that came to giue supply to them that fought But after that day was broken and that the tyrant with all his forces came to set vpon him the ARGIVES sturred not at all as if Aratus had not fought for their libertie but as though they had bene Iudges appoynted to sit to see the sportes of the games Nemee to iudge the game vnto the Conqueror without partiality and with indifferency Aratus in the meane tyme fighting like a valliant man was thrust at with a pyke and ronne through the thighe This notwithstanding at length he wanne that part of the citie where he fought and was not thrust out till night what force soeuer the enemies made vpon him and if he could possibly haue holden it out all night he had vndoubtedly obtayned his purpose For the tyrant looked for no other but to flye and had already sent diuers of his goods to the sea Howbeit no man once came to tell Aratus any newes of it besides also lacking water and for that he could not helpe him selfe bicause of his wound he was driuen to leade his men away and fayled of his purpose So dispayring that he could euer take it by stelth he went thither with open warres and spoyled and destroyed all the contry of ARGOS and hauing fought a great battell against the tyrant Aristippus by the ryuer of Chares they blamed Aratus much that he forsooke the victorie and cowardly retyred out of the battell For the rest of his army doubtles had the better and had followed the enemies farre in chase when he fled being affrayd not compelled by his enemies but mistrusting his fortune and retyred to his lodging So when they that returned from the chase of their enemies were offended for that they hauing put them to flight and also slayne a greater number moe of them then they had lost of theirs and yet for cowardlines shoulde suffer their enemies whome they had ouercome and put to flight to sette vppe markes of triumphe in token of victorie Aratus beeing ashamed of it determined to fight once agayne for the markes of triumphe Whereuppon resting his men but one daye he led them agayne into the field and setting his armye in battell raye offered to fight once more This notwithstanding when he sawe a great supply comming to his enemye and that the tyrants men came to fight more lustely and with better corage then before Aratus durst not abyde them but retyred and sent to demaund leaue to take away his dead men to bury them Yet he could speake so curteously and behaue him selfe so wisely by the experience he had in gouernment and also for the good will they bare him that they forgat the fault he committed and he wanne the citie of CLEONES vnto the ACHAIANS where he caused the feastes of the games Nemee to be celebrated as belonging of great antiquitie rather vnto the CLEONEIANS then vnto the ARGIVES This notwithstanding the ARGIVES did keepe it also and then was the first time that the sanctuary and priuiledge was broken which was wont to be graunted vnto all them that came to play for the games bicause the ACHAIANS did make them prisoners that fought in ARGOS as they returned through their contry and sold them as enemies So maruelously did Aratus and the ACHAIANS hate all sortes of tyrants without respect of pardon Shortly after he was aduertised that the tyrant Aristippus did lye in wayte to spye oportunitie to take the citie of CLEONES from him howbeit that he was affrayd of it bicause he remayned at that tyme in CORINTHE So Aratus straight sent out commaundement into euery place to assemble the army of the trybe of the ACHAIANS and that they should bring vittells with them for many dayes and so craftily came downe to the citie of CENCHREES to intise Aristippus by his going
also went out to speake vnto the souldiers that garded the Emperours person Moreouer bicause the ILLYRIAN legion lay out of the campe in a place called Vipsanus they dispatched away Marius Celsus with all spede a very honest man to get that place Galba in the meane time stood in dont whether he should come out of the pallace or not for Iunius would not let him goe but Celsus and Lacon perswaded him to go out Insomuch as they fell at great words with Iunius that went about to disswade him from it In this sturre there ranne a rumor that Otho was slaine in the field Immediatly after came Iubius Atticus one of the noblest souldiers of all the Emperours gard shewed his sword drawen crying that he had slaine Caesars enemie and thrust through the prease and got to Galba and shewed him his sword bloodied Galba looking him in the face asked him who commaunded him to doe it The souldier aunswered him the faith othe he had made vnto him Therewith all the people that stoode by cried out it was nobly done of him clapped their handes for ioy Then Galba taking his litter went out of his pallace to do sacrifice to Iupiter and also to shew him selfe openly Howbeit he was no soner come into the market place but he heard contrarie newes that Otho was Lord and Maister of the whole campe and armie Then as it happeneth in so great a prease of people some cried out to him to returne backe againe others would haue him to goe forward others bad him be affrayed of nothing and others willed him to looke to him selfe So his litter being thus turmoyled to and fro as tost vpon the sea sometime borne backe otherwhile caried forward first of all they saw certaine horsemen and then footemen also armed comming from Paules pallace all of them together crying out with lowd voice hence hence priuat man Then all the people set vpon a running not flying dispersedly but in heapos vpon porches and stalls in the market place as it had bene to haue seene some sight or sport Then one called Attilius Sarcello ouerthrew one of the images of Galba which was as it were beginning of open warres Others rounde about threwe dartes on euerie side of him against his litter But when they sawe they coulde not kill him then they came nearer to his litter with their swords drawen in their hands and neuer a man of his left with him to offer to defende him sauing one man onely whom the Sunne sawe that day amongest so many thowsands of men worthy of the Empire of Rome and he was called Sempronius He hauing receiued priuately no manner of pleasure at Galbaes handes but only to discharge his othe and duetie stepped before the litter and lifting vp a vine braunche he had in his hand with the which the ROMANE Captaines doe vse to beate their souldiers that haue offended he fell out with them that did set vpon him and prayed them to holde their hands and not to hurt their Emperour But in the ende when he saw they would not leaue but that they fell to it in good earnest he then drew his sword and bare of the blowes as well as he could vntil they hought him that he sell to the ground Then Galbaes litter being ouerthrowen right in the place called Curtius lake Galba lay on the ground armed in his curaces The traiterous souldiers flew vppon him and gaue him many a wounde and Galba holding out his necke vnto them bad them strike hardily if it were to do their contrie good So he had many wounds on his armes and his thighes as it is reported howebeit the souldier that slue him was called Camurius of the fifteenth legion Others doe reporte that it was one Terentius other also say Arcadius And some other doe call him Fabius Fabulus who hauing striken of his head wrapped it in the lappe of his gowne bicause he coulde not otherwise take holde of it for that he was all balde Howebeit his fellowes and consortes woulde not suffer him to hide it but rather that his notable fact he had done should be seene Therefore he set it vpon the point of his launce and so shaking the face of this poore olde man a wise and temperate Prince and chiefe Bishoppe and Consull he ranne vp and downe like madde women possessed with the spirite and furie of Bacchus at the feastes of Bacchus bowing downe his launce being all of a goare blood When his head was brought to Otho it is sayd he cried out alowd tush my fellowes this is nothing vnlesse you bring me also Pisoes head So not long after they brought him his head also For the young man being hurt fled and was followed by one called Marcus who slue him hard by the temple of Vesta So did they also kill Titus Iunius who openly confessed that he was one of the conspiracie against Galba and cried out to them that slue him that Otho did not know they did kill him This notwithstanding the souldiers strake of his head and Lacons also and brought them both to Otho to receiue the reward Howbeit as the Poet Archiloshus sayth Of seuen peraduenture slaine dead on the ground A thovvsand vvill say that they all gaue the vvound So there were diuers men at that time who being no partakers of this murther had bloodied all their handes and swordes and so shewed them bloodied to haue rewarde also but Vitellius notwithstanding made inquirie of them afterwardes and caused them to be put to death There came into the fielde also one Marius Celsus whome diuers men accused to haue perswaded the souldiers to aide Galba and the common people cried out and bad he shoulde be put to death Howebeit Otho woulde not suffer them to kill him and yet being affrayed to contrarie the souldiers mindes he tolde them they should not kill him so rashly bicause he was first to learne some thinges more of him So he commaunded them to binde him and deliuered him to be kept of those he trusted most Afterwards the Senate were presentlie assembled who as if men had bene new sodainlie chaunged from them they were or as if there had bene goddes they all sware by the name of Otho the which othe he him selfe had before sworne vnto Galba and did not keepe it and called him besides Augustus and Caesar the bodies of them that were slaine lying yet headles on the ground in the market place all in their Consulls robes And as for their heades the souldiers after they coulde tell no more what to doe with them they solde the heade of Titus Iunius vnto his daughter for the summe of two thowsande fiue hundred Drachmas And for Pisoes head his wife through intreatie begged it of one called Veranius On the other side for Galbaes head they gaue it vnto Patrobius and Vitellius seruanuntes who after they had vsed it as vilelie as they coulde deuise they
them that to delay time was for their auaile considering that they had plentie and store of all maner of prouision where the enemies on thother side being also in their enemies contrie their vittells would quickely faile them Marius Celsus liked verie well of these perswasions And so did Annius Gallus who was not present at this counsell but gone from the campe to be cured of a fall he had from his horse but he was wrytten to by Otho to haue his opinion also So Annius Gallus returned aunswere that he thought it not best to make hast but to stay for the armie that came out of MYSIA considering they were onwardes on their way Howbeit Otho woulde not hearken to this counsell but followed their mindes that concluded of battell for the which were alleaged diuers occasions But the chiefest and likeliest cause of all was that the souldiers which are called the Praetorian gard being the dayly gard about the Emperours person finding then in effect what it was to professe to be a souldier and to liue like a souldier they lamented their continuing in ROME where they liued at ease pleasure feasting and banketing neuer feeling the discommodities and bitter paines of warre and did therefore so earnestly crie out to fight that there was no staying of them as if they should at their first crie and setting forward haue ouerthrowen their enemies Moreouer it seemed also that Otho him selfe could no more away with the feare and dout of the vncertaine successe to come neither could any lenger abide the grieuous thoughts of the daunger of his estate he was so effeminate and vnacquainted with sorowe and paines This was the cause that caried him on headlong as a man that shutteth his eyes falling from a high place and so to put all at aduenture The matter is thus reported by Secundus the Orator and Othoes secretarie Others also doe report that both armies had diuers determinations and mindes as to ioyne all together in one campe and ioyntly to choose among them if they could agree the worthiest man of all the Captaines that were there if not then to assemble the whole Senate in a place together there to suffer the Senators to choose such one Emperour as they liked best of And sure it is verie likely it was so considering that neither of them both which were then called Emperours was thought meete for the place they had and therefore that these counsells and consideracions might easely fall into the ROMANE souldiers heades who were wise men and expert souldiers that in deede it was a thing for them iustly to mislike to bring them selues into the like miserable time and calamitie which their predecessors before them had caused one an other to suffer first for Sylla and Marius sakes and afterwards for Caesar and Pompey and now to bestow the Empire of ROME either vpon Vitellius to make him the abler to follow his dronkennes and gluttony or else vpon Otho to maintaine his wanton and licentious life This was the cause that moued Celsus to delay time hoping to end the warres without trouble and daunger and that caused Otho also to make the more hast being affrayed of the same Howebeit Otho returning backe againe to BRESSELLES he committed an other fault nor only bicause he tooke his mens good wils from theÌ to fight the which his presence and the reuerence they bare vnto him did put in them but bicause also he caried away with him for the gard of his person the valliantest souldiers most resolute men of all his host About that time there chaunced a skirmish to fall out by the riuer of Po bicause Cecinna built a bridge ouer it Othoes men did what they could to hinder them Howbeit when they saw they preuailed not they laded certaine barges with faggots and drie wodde all rubbed ouer with bunistone and pitche and setting them a fire they sent them downe the streame When the barges were in the middest of the streame there sodainlie rose a winde out of the riuer which blewe vppon this woddestake they had prepared to cast among the enemies workes of this bridge that first made it smoke and immediatly after fell all on a great flame which did so trouble the men in the barges that they were driuen to leape into the riuer to saue them selues and so they lost their barges and became them selues also prisoners to their enemies to their great shame and mockerie Furthermore the GERMAINES vnder Vitellius fighting with Othoes fensers which of them should winne a litle Iland in the middest of the riuer they had the vpper hand and slue many of the sensers Thereuppon Othoes souldiers which were in BERRIACVM being in a rage withall and would nedes fight Proclus brought them into the fielde and went and camped about fiftie furlong out of the citie so fondly and to so litle purpose that being the spring of the yeare and all the contrie thereabout full of brookes and riuers yet they notwithstanding lacked water The next morning they raised their campe to meete with their enemies the same day and were driuen to march aboue a hundred furlong Now Paulinus perswaded them to go fayer and softly and not to make more hast then neded and would not so soone as they should come being wearied with their iorney and trauell set vpon their enemies that were weil armed and besides had leasure time enough to set their men in battell ray whilest they were coÌming so long a iorney with all their cariage Now the Captaines being of diuers opinions about this matter there came a horseman from Otho one of those they call the Nomades that brought them letters in the which Otho commaunded them to make all the hast they could and to loose no time but to marche with all speede towards the enemie So when these letters were red the Captaines presently marched forward with their armie Cecinna vnderstanding of their comming was astonied at the first and sodainlie forsooke the worke of his bridge to returne to his campe where he founde the most parte of his souldiers alreadie armed and Valens had geuen them their signall word of battell And in the meane time whilest the legions were taking their places to set them selues in battell ray they sent out before the choycest horsemen they had to skirmish Now there ran a rumor no man knew how nor vpon what cause that Vitellius Captaines would turne on Othoes side in battell Insomuch that when these men of armes came neare to meete with the voward of Othoes armie Othoes men did speake very gently to them and called them companions Vitellina man on the other side tooke this salutacion in euill parte and aunswered them againe in rage as men that were willing to fight Insomuch that those that had spokeÌ to them were quite discoraged cragede and the residue also beganne to suspect their companions which had spoken to them and mistrusted them to be traytors
of them had the better Howbeit in the end the ROMANES seeing the Consul hurt and also that the horsemen of the NVMIDIANS by litle and litle came to compasse them in they were driuen to geue ground and so pretily retyred defending the Consul the best they could to saue him and so at length recouered their campe It is reported that Publius Cornelius Scipio was saued at that time through his sonnes helpe who afterwardes was called AFRICAN and at that time was but a young stripling whose praise though it was wonderfull in so greene a youth yet it is likelie to be true bicause of the famous and valliant actes he did afterwardes Nowe Scipio hauing proued how much his enemie was stronger then him selfe in horsemen he determined to place his campe so as his footemen might be in best safety also fight with greatest aduantage And therefore the next night following he passed the riuer of Po and made as litle noyse as he coulde and went vnto PLACENTIA The like shortlie after did T. Sempronius Longus who had bene restored from banishment by the Senate and sent for out of SICILIA bicause both the Consuls should gouerne the common wealth by one selfe authoritie Annibal also followed them both with all his armie and pitched his campe neere vnto the riuer of Trebia hoping that bicause both campes lay so neere together some occasion would be offred to fight the which he chieflie desired both bicause he coulde not long maintaine warre for lacke of vittells as also that he mistrusted the fickelnes of the GAVLES Who like as they soone fell in league and frendship with him drawen vnto it with hope of chaunge and with the same also of his victorie obtained so he mistrusted that vpon any light occasion as if the warre should continue any long time in their contrie they would turne all the hate they bare vnto the ROMANES against him as the only author of this warre For these respectes therefore he deuised all the meanes he could to come to battell In the meane time Sempronius the other Consul met with a troupe of the enemies loden with spoyle stragling vp and downe the fieldes whom he charged and put to flight So imagining the like successe of all battell by this good fortune he had met withall he had good hope of victorie if once both the armies might come to fight Therefore being maruelous desirous to doe some noble enterprise before Scipio were recouered of his hurt and that the new Consul should be chosen he determined to ioyne battell against the will of his other colleague and fellowe Consul Scipio who thought nothing could be to lesse purpose then to put all the state and common wealth in ieopardie speciallie hauing all the whole GAVLES in maner in the field against him Now Annibal had secret intelligence of all this variance by spialls be had sent into the enemies campe Wherefore he being politike and suttle as he was found out a place straight betwene both campes couered ouer with bushes and briers and there he placed his brother Mago to lye in ambush with a companie of chosen men Then he commaunded the horsemen of the NVMIDIANS to scurrie to the trenches of the ROMANES to intise him to come to battell and thereupon made the residue of his armie to eate and so put them in verie good order of battell to be readie vpon any occasion offered Now the Consul Sempronius at the first tumult of the NVMIDIANS sodainly sent his horsemen to encounter them and after them put our six thowsande footemen and in the ende came him selfe out of his campe with all his armie It was then in the middest of winter and extreame cold and speciallie in the places inclosed about the Alpes and the mountaine Appenine Nowe the NVMIDIANS as they were commaunded intised the ROMANES by litle and litle on this side the riuer of Trebia vntill they came to the place where they might discerne their ensignes and then they sodainlie turned vpon the enemies which wereout of order For it is the manner of the NVMIDIANS oftentimes to flie of set purpose and then to stay vpon the sodaine when they see time to charge their enemie more hottely and fiercely then before Whereuppon Sempronius incontinently gathered his horsemen together and did set his men in battell ray as time required to geue charge vpon his enemie that stayed for him in order of battell For Annibal had cast his men into squadrons readie vpon any occasion The skirmish beganne first by the light horsemen afterwards increased hotter by supplie of the men of armes howbeit the ROMANE Knights being vnable to beare the shocke of the enemies they were quickelie broken So that the legions maintained the battell with such furie noble cotage that they had bene able to haue resisted so they had fought but with footemen onely But on the one side the horsemen and Elephants made them affraied and on the other side the footemen followed them âââ lusâely and fought with great furie against famished and frozen men Wherefore the ROMANES notwithstanding suffring all the miseries that vexed them on euerie side with an vnspeakable corage and magnanimitie such as was aboue their force and strength they fought still vntill that Mago comming out of his ambush came and sodainly assailed them with great show ââs and cries and that the middle squadron of the CARTHAGINIANS also through Annibals coÌmaundement flew vpon the CENOMANIANS Then the ROMANES seeing their confederats flie their harts were done and vtterly discoraged It is sayd that there were tenne thowsande footemen of the ROMANES got to PLACENTIA and came through the enemies The rest of the armie that fledde were most parte of them slaine by the CARTHAGINIANS The Consul Sempronius also scaped verie narowlie from the enemies The victorie cost Annibal the setting on also for he lost a great number of his men and the most parte of all his Elephantes were slaine After this battell Annibal ouercame all the contrie and did put all to fire and sworde and tooke also certaine townes and with a few of his men made a great number of the contrie men flie that were disorderlie gathered together in battell Then at the beginning of the spring he brought his army into the field sooner then time required meaning to goe into THVSCAN he was driuen backe by a great tempest at the verie toppe of the height of the Appenine and so compelled to bring his armie about PLACENTIA howbeit shortly after he put him selfe againe into the fields for diuers vrgent necessary causes For had he not saued him selfe by that policie he had almost bene taken tardie by the ambush of the GAVLES who being angry with him that the warre continued so long in their contry they sought to be reuenged of him as the only author occasion of the warre Therefore perceiuing it was time for him to auoyde this daunger he made all the hast
he could to leade his armie into some other prouince Furthermore he thought it would increase his estimacion much amoÌg strauÌgers also greatly encorage his owne people if he could make the power of the CARTHAGINIANS to seeme so great also their Captaine to be of so noble a corage as to dare to make warre so neere to the citie of ROME All things therefore set a part he marched with his campe by the mountaine Appenine and so comming through the contry of the LIGVRIANS he came into THVSCAN by the way that bringeth them into the champion contry to the marisses about the riuer of Arnus The riuer of Arnus at that time was very high and had ouerflowen all the fields thereabouts Annibal therefore marching with so great an army as he had could not avoyde it but that he must needes lose a number of his men horse before he could get out of those euill fauored marisses Insomuch that he him selfe lost one of his eyes by reason of the great paines he had taken day night without sleepe or rest and also through the euill ayer though he was caried vpon a high Elephants back which only was left him of all that he had brought with him In the meane time C. Flaminius Consul to whom the charge of SeÌpronius army was geuen he was come vnto ARETIVM against the Senates minde who were maruelously offended with him bicause he left his coÌpanion Cn. Seruilius at ROME went vnto his prouince by stelth as it were without the furniture of a Consul his officers This was a very hasty man of nature one whom the people had brought to that dignity office so that he was become so prowde insolent that men might see he would hazard all things without wit or iudgement Annibal hauing intelligence hereof thought it the best way to anger the Consul to do what he could possible to allure him into the field before his fellow Consul should come to ioyne with him Therfore he marching forward with his campe through the contry of FESVLA ARETIVM he burnt spoiled all the contry thereabout filled them all with feare neuer leauing to destroy all before him vntil he came to the mountaines Cortonenses so to the lake called Thrasimene When he had viewed the place he went about to surprise his enemy by some ambush wherupon he conueied certen horsemen vnder the hills hard by the straight that goeth vnto Thrasimene and behind the mountaines also he placed his light horsemeÌ TheÌ he him selfe with the rest of his army came downe into the field supposing that the Consul would not be quiet and so it fell out For hot stirring heades are easely intrapped fall into the enemies ambush oftentimes do put all in hazard bicause they will follow no counsell nor good aduise C. Flaminius therefore seeing their contry vtterly spoiled the corne destroyed and cut downe and the houses burnt he made great hast to lead his armie against the enemie contrarie to all mens minds who would haue had him taried for his companion Cn. Seruilius the other Consul So euen at sunne set when he was come to the straightes of the lake of Thrasimene he caused his campe to stay there although his men were not wearie with the long iorney they had taken by the way So the next morning by breake of day making no view of the contrie he went ouer the mountaines The Annibal who long before was prepared for this did but stay for the oportunitie to worke his feate when he saw the ROMANES come into the plaine he gaue a signall vnto all his men to geue charge vpon the enemie Thereuppon the CARTHAGINIANS breaking out on euerie side came before and behinde and on the flanckes to assaile the enemie being shut in betwene the lake and the mountaines Now in contrarie maner the ROMANES beginning to fight out of order they âought inclosed together that they could not see one an other as if it had bene darke so that it is to be wondered at how and with what minde they fought it out so long considering they were compassed in on euerie side For they fought it out aboue three howres space with such fury and corage that they heard not the terrible earthquake that was at that present time neither did they offer to flie or stirre a foote vntil they heard that the Consul C. Flaminius going from rancke to rancke to encourage his men was slaine by a man of armes called Ducarius Then when they had lost their Generall and being voyde of all hope they fled some towardes the mountaines and others towards the lake of the which diuers of them flying were ouertaken slaine So there were slaine fifteene thowsand in the field there scaped about ten thowsand Furthermore the report went that there were six thowsande footemen which forciblie at the beginning of the battell got to the mountaine and there stayed on a hill till the battell was ended and at length came downe vpon Annibals promise but they were betrayed and slaine euery mothers sonne of them After this great victorie Annibal did let diuers ITALIAN prisoners goe free without raunsome paying after he had vsed them maruelous curteouslie bicause that the same of his clemencie curtesie should be knowen vnto all nations whereas in deede his owne nature was contrarie to all vertues For he was hastie and cruell of nature and from his youth was brought vp in warres and exercised in murther treason ambushes layed for enemies and neuer cared for law order nor ciuill gouernment So by this meanes he became one of the cruellest Captaines the most suttell and craftiest to deceiue and intrap his enemie that euer was For as he was alway prying to beguile the enemie so those whom he could not ouercome in warre by plaine force he went about to intrappe by slight and policie The which appeareth true by this present battell and also by the other he fought against the Consul Sempronius by the riuer of Trebia But let vs returne to our matter and leaue this talke till an other time Now when the newes of the ouerthrow and death of the Consul Flaminius was reported at ROME hauing lost the most parte of his armie there was great mone and lamentation made through all the citie of ROME Some bewailing the common miserie of the common wealth others lamenting their priuate particular losse some also sorowing for both together But in deede it was a woefull sight to see a world of men women to run to the gates of the citie euerie one priuatly asking for their kinne and frends Some do write that there were two women who being very sorie and pensife dispairing of the safetie of their sonnes dyed sodainly for the extreame ioy they had when beyond their expectacion hope they sawe their sonnes aliue and safe At the selfe same time Cn. Seruilius
harts of many men euen so at that present time his barbarous crueltie made diuers cities misliking to be subiect to the CARTHAGINIANS rebell against him and to take part with the ROMANES Amongest them was SALAPIA the which was yelded vp vnto the Consul Marcellus by Blacius meanes chiefe of all the ROMANE faction and a band also of choyce horsemen which was left there in garrison were manner in slaine euery man of them This is the citie where Annibal fell in fancy with a gentlewoman and therefore they greatly reproue his immoderat lust and lasciuiousnes Howbeit there are others that greatly commending the continencie of this Captaine say that he did neuer eate lying and neuer drancke aboue a pint of wine nether when he came to make warre in ITALY nor after that he returned into AFRICK Some there be also that say Annibal was cruell and vnconstant and subiect to diuers such other vices howbeit they make no manner of mention of his chastitie or incontinencie But they report that his wife was a SPANYARD borne in CASTVLO a good towne and that the CARTHAGINIANS graunted her many things and trusted her very much bicause of the great faith and constancie of that nation Now Annibal after he had lost as we haue told you the citie of SALAPIA he found the meanes to cry quittance and to make the ROMANES lose more then he had lost For at the selfe same time Fuluius Viceconsul lay beseeging of HERDONEA hoping to winne the citie without resistance And bicause he stoode in no feare of any enemy round about him for Annibal was gone into the contry of the BRVTIANS he kept no watch and was altogether negligent in martiall affayres contrary to the nature of the ROMANE Captaines Annibal being aduertised thereof by spialls would not lose such a goodly oportunitie and therefore comming into APVLIA with his armye ready he came so hastely vnto HERDONEA that he had most stollen vpon Fuluius vnprouided in his campe Howbeit the ROMANES valiantly receiued the first charge with such corage that they fought it out lenger then it was looked for Notwithstanding in the ende as the ROMANES two yeare before that had bene ouercome not farre from thence with their Consul Fuluius euen so likewise vnder the conduct of this Fuluius Viceconsul the ROMANE legions were vtterly ouerthrowen and their Captaine slaine with the most part of his armye The Consul Marcellus was at that time in the citie of SAMNIVM who being aduertised of this great ouerthrow desired to be euen with him and though it seemed he came too late to helpe things past remedie yet he brought his army into the contry of the LVCANIANS whether he vnderstood Annibal was gone after his victorie and came and camped directly ouer against his enemye and soone after came to battell The which the CARTHAGINIANS refused not but gaue such a fierce onset on either side that they fought it out till Sunne set and no man knew who had the better and so the night parted them The next morning the Romanes shewing againe in field in battell raye made it knowen that the enemies were affrayd of them For Annibal kept his men within the campe and the next night following stale away without any noyse and went into APVLIA Marcellus also followed him foote by foote and sought to put all to hasard by some notable battell for he bare him selfe thus in hand that of all the ROMANE Captaines there was none machable with Annibal but him selfe either in counsell wit or policie or els in martiall discipline or warlike stratageames Howbeit the winter following kept him that he could not fight any set battell with the enemie for after he had made a fewe light skirmishes bicause he would not trouble his souldiers any more in vaine he bestowed them in garrison for the winter time At the beginning of the next springe procured partly by Fabius letters who was one of the new Consuls for that yeare and partly also through his owne disposition he brought out his garrisons sooner then they were looked for and came with his army against Annibal who lay at that time at CANVSIVM Now it chaunced that through the nearenes of both their campes and the good desire they both had to fight in fewe dayes they fought three seuerall times The first battell when they had fought it all night in manner with like hope of both sides and that it could not be iudged which of them had the better they bot of purpose retyred into their campe againe The second day Annibal was conquerer after he had slayne almost two thowsand seuen hundred enemies and put the residue of the army to flight The third day the ROMANES to recouer the shame and dishonor they had lost the day before they were the first that prayed they might fight and so Marcellus led them out to battell Annibal wondering at their valiantnes sayd vnto his people that he delt with an enemy that could nether be quiet Conquerer nor conquered So the battell was more bloudy and cruell then any that was before bicause the ROMANES did their best to be reuenged of their losse and the CARTHAGINIANS on the other side were mad in their mindes to see that the vanquished durst prouoke the vanquishers vnto battell In the ende the ROMANES being sharpely reproued and also perswaded by Marcellus to sticke to it valliantly like men that the newes of their victorie might come to ROME before the news of their ouerthrowe they flue in among the presse of their enemies and neuer left fighting till that after they had thrise broken their enemies they made them all flie At the selfe same time Fabius Maximus tooke the citie of TARENTVM againe almost after the selfe same sort it was lost This being reported vnto Annibal he sayd the ROMANES haue also their Annibal The next yeare following Marcellus and Crispinus were chosen Consuls who preparing to put them selues in readines for warre they led both the armies against the enemy Annibal dispayring that he was not able to resist them in battel he sought all the wits he had to deuise some way to intrappe them by sutteltie whome he could not ouercome by battel So Annibals head being occupied thus there was offred him a better occasion to bring this enterprises to passe then he looked for Betwene both campes there was a prety groue in the which Annibal layed certen bands of the NVMIDIANS in ambushe to intrappe the enemies passing to and fro On the other side the Consuls by consent of them all thought it best to send to view this groue and to keepe it if neede required least in leauing it behind them the enemies should come so be vpon their iacks afterwards Now before they remoued their armye both the Consuls went out of their campe with a small company of horsemen with them to view the situacion of this place and so going on very vndiscreetely and worse appoynted then became men
to set vpon the kings Mandonius Indibilis who made warre with the SVESSITANS These souldiers departing froÌ SVCRO with good hope in obtaine pardon came vnto CARTHAGE Howbeit the next day after they were come into the towne they were brought into the market place where their armorââd weapons being taken from them they were enuironned with all the legions armie Then the ROMANE Generall sitting in place of iudgement shewed him selfe before all the coÌpany in as good health good disposition of bodies as euer he was in all his youth Then he made a sharp bitter oration full of grieuous complaines insomuch as there was not one of all the souldiers that were vnarmed that durst cast vp their eyes to looke their Generall in the face they were so ashamed For their consciences did accuse them for the fault they had committed and the feare of death did take their wits and senses from them the profence of their gratious Captaine made them blush as well that were innocent at the parties that were offendors Wherefore there was a generall and sorowfull silence of all men So after he had ended his oration he caused the chiefe authors of this rebellion to be brought forth before the whole assembly who after they had bene whipped according to the maner were presently beheaded the which was a fearefull and lamentable sight to the beholders These matters thus pacified Scipio made all the other souldiers to be sworne againe and then went and proclaimed warre against Mandonius and Indibilis For they considering with them selues howe the ROMANE souldiers that had rebelled in the campe were put to death they were out of hope to obtaine any pardon Therefore they had leauied an army of twentie thowsand footemen two thowsand horsemen and came downe with them against the ROMANES Scipio hauing intelligence thereof before that the kings could increase their army that other nations could rebel he departed from CARTHAGE went with as great speede as he could to meete with the enemy The kings were camped in a very strong place and trusted so to their army that they were not determined to prouoke the enemy nor also to refuse the battell if it were offred them Howbeit it chaunced by the nerenes of both campes that within few dayes they being prouoked by the ROMANES came downe set their men in battell ray ioyned battell with Scipio so that a good while together the fight was very bloody cruel But at length the SPANYARDS seeing them selues compassed in behinde and being driuen to fight in a ring to defend the enemy on euery side they were ouercome so that the third parte of them scarcely saued them selues by flying Mandonius Indibilis seeing them selues vtterly vndone that there was no hope nor remedy left they sent Ambassadors vnto Scipio humbly to pray him to receiue them to mercy and to pardon them But Scipio knowing right well how greatly they had offended him and the ROMANES yet thinking it more honorable to ouercome the enemie by curtesie and clemency then by force he did pardon them and only coÌmaunded them to geue him money to pay his souldiers In the meane time Masinissa came from GADES landed bicause he would him selfe in person confirme the frendship he had offered Scipio in his absence by the meanes of M. Syllanus and also speake with him face to face whom he iudged to be a worthie man for the famous victories he had obteined And in truth Masinissa was not deceiued in the opinion he had of the valliantnes vertues of Scipio but found him the selfe same man whom he before had imagined him to be in his minde the which but seldom happeneth so notwithstanding For besides the great rare giftes of nature that Scipio had aboue all others there was in him also a certaine Princely grace and maiestie Furthermore he was maruelous gentle curteous vnto them that came to him and had an eloquent tongue and a passing gift to winne euerie man He was verie graue to his gesture and behauiour and euer ware long heare Masinissa being come to salute him when he sawe him he had him in suche admiration as it is reported that he could not cast his eyes of him nor haue his fill of looking on him So he thanked him maruelouslie for sending his Nephewe vnto him and promised him that his deedes shoulde confirme and witnesse the frendshippe agreed vppon betwene them the which he euer after inuiolablie kept vnto the ROMANES euen to the hower of his death So all the nations of SPAYNE became subiect to the Empire of ROME or at the least their confederates whereupon those of GADES also following the example of others came and yeelded them selues vnto the ROMANES This is a verie auncient nation and if we may credit the reporte of it as CARTHAGE was in AFRIKE and THEâES in BOEOTIA so was GADES vpon the sea a Colony of the TYRIANS Scipio after he bad conquered all SPAYNE and driuen out the CARTHAGINIANS considering that there remained nothing more for him to doe he left the gouernment of the prouince vnto L. Lentulus and to Manlius Acidinus and returned to ROME When he was arriued at ROME the Senate gaue him audience out of the citie in the temple of Belloua There when he had particularly told theÌ of the things he had valliantly fortunately brought to end further that he had ouercome foure Captaines in diuers foughteÌ fields also put to flight foure armies of the enemies driueÌ the CARTHAGINIANS out of both SPAYNES that there was no nation left in all those parts but was subdued to the ROMANES the Senate gaue iudgement that all these things were worthy of a noble triumphe But bicause neuer man yet was suffred to enter into ROME in triuÌphe for any victories he had obtained whilest he was only but Viceconsul and had not yet bene Consul the Senators thought it not good and Scipio him selfe also made no great sute for it bicause he would not be an occasion to bring in any newe custome and to breake the olde So when he came into the citie he was afterwardes declared Consul with the great good will and consent of the whole assemblie It is reported that there neuer came such a world of people to ROME as were there as that time not only for the assemblies sake but more to see P. Cor. Scipio Wherefore not the ROMANES onely but all the straungers also that were there all their eyes were vpon Scipio and sayd both openly and priuately that they should send him into AFRIKE to make warre with the CARTHAGINIANS at home in their owne contrie Scipio also being of the same opinion said that he would aske aduise of the people if the Senate would be against such a worthie enterprise For amongest the peres and Senators there were some that vehemently inueyed against that opinion and among the rest Fabius Maximus speciallie a man
not otherwise thinke of him but that he was a great and valiant Captaine Others also speaking of Scipio doe greatly prayse and commend him for the foure Chieftaines he ouercame and for the foure great armies which he defeated and put to flight in SPAINE and also for that he over came and tooke that great king Syphan prisoner In fine they come to prayse that famous battell in the which Scipio ouer came Annibal ZAMA For if Fabius sayd they were praysed bicause he was not ouercome by Annibal what estimation will they make of the AFRICAN that in a pitched battell ouercame that so famous dreadfull Captaine Annibal and also did ende so daungerous a warre Besides alfeo that Scipio did alwayes make open warre and commonly fought with the enemy in plaine field Where Annibal in contrary manner did alwayes vse craft and sââelry and was full of stratageames policie And therefore all Authors both Graeke and Laâyây doe count him very fine and suttell Furthermore they greatly commend Annibal for than he maynteyned his army of so sundry nations so long time in peace as he had warre with the ROMANES and yet that there was neuer any mutinie of rebellion in his campe On the other side they blame him againe bicause he did not follow his victory when he had ouercomen the ROMANES at that famous battell of CANNES and also bicause he spoyled his souldiers with too much ease and the pleasures of CAMPANTA and APVLIA whereby they were so chaunged that they seemed to be other souldiers then those that had ouercomen the ROMANES at the sundry battells of TREBIA THRASYMENE and CANNES All writers doe reproue these thinges in Annibal but specially his crueltie For amongest other thinges what crueltie was it of him to make a woman with her children to come from ARPIto his campe and afterwardes to burne them aliue What shall a man say of them whome he cruelly put to death in the temple of Iuno Lacinia when he departed out of ITALY For Scipio AFRICAN on the other side if we shall rather credit the best authors that write then a number of other detracters and malitious writers we may say he was a bountifull and temperate Captaine and not onely liuely and valiant in fight but also curteous and mercifull after victorye For oftentimes his enemies proued his valiantnes the vanquished his mercy and clemency all others men his faithfulnes Now therfore let vs tel you what his continency liberalitie was the which he shewed in SPAYNE vnto a young Lady taken prisoner and vnto Luceius Prince of the CELTIBERIANS doth it not deserue great prayse Nowe for their priuate doings they were both vertuously brought vp and both of them imbraced learned men For as it is reported Annibal was very famillier with Socillus LACEDAEMONIAN as the AFRICAN was with Ennius the Poet. Some saye also that Annibal was so wel learned in the Graeke tongue that he wrote an historie in Graeke touching the deedes of Manlius Volso Now truely I doe agree with Citero that sayd in his booke de Oratore that Annibal heard Phormio PERIPATETICIAN in EPHESVS discoursing very largely of the office and duety of a Chieftaine and generall and of the martiall lawes ordinaunces and that immediatly after being asked what he thought of that Philosopher he should aunswer in no very perfit Graeke but yet in Graeke that he had seene many old doting fooles but that he had neuer seene a greater doterd then Phormio Furthermore both of them had an excellent grace in their talke Annibal had a sharpe tawnting wit in his aunswers When king Antiochus on a time prepared to make warre with the ROMANES and had put his army into the field not so well furnished with armor and weapon as with gold and siluer he asked Annibal if he thought his army sufficient for the ROMANES yea Sir ê he that they be were the enemies neuer so couetous This may truely be sayd of Annibal that he obtayned many great victories in the warres but yet they turned to the destruction of his contry Scipio in contrary manner did preserue his contry in such safetie and also did so much increase the dominions thereof that as many as shall looke into his desert they can not but call ROME vnthankefull which liked rather that the AFRICAN preseruer of the citie should goe out of ROME then that they would represse the fury and insolency of a few And for myne owne opinion I can not thinke well of that citie that so vnthankfully hath suffred so worthy and innocent a person to be iniured and so would I also haue thought it more blame worthy if the citie had bene an ayder of the iniurye offred him In fine the Senate as all men doe report gaue great thankes vnto Tiberius Gracchus bicause he did defend the Scipions cause and the common people also following the AFRICAN when he visited all the temples of ROME and left the Tribunes alone that accused him did thereby shewe how much they did loue and honor the name of the Scipioes And therefore if we should iudge the Citizens harts and good wills by those things men would rather condemne them for cowards to haue suffered such outrage then vnthankfull forforgetting of his benefits for there were very few that consented to so wicked a deede and all of them in manner were very sory for it Howbeit Scipio that was a man of a great minde not much regarding the malice of his enemies was content rather to leaue the citie then by ciuill warres to destroy it For he would not come against his contry with ensignes displaied nether would he solicite straunge nations and mighty kings to come with force and their ayde to destroy the citie thew which he had beautified with so many spoyles and triumphes as Martius Coriolanus Alcibiades and diuers others did by record of auncient stories For we may easily perceiue howe carefull he was to preserue the libertie of ROME bicause when he was in SPAYNE he refused the title and name of king which was offred him and for that he was maruelous angry with the people of ROME bicause they would haue made him perpetuall Consul and Dictator and considering also that he commaunded they should set vp no statue of him nether in the place of the assembly nor in the iudgement seate nor in the Capitoll All which honors afterwardes were giuen by the Citizens vnto Caesar that had ouercomen Pompey These were the ciuill vertues of the AFRICAN which were great and true prayses of continency Now therefore to deliuer you the summe and effect of all these thinges these two so famous Captaines are not so much to be compared together in their ciuill vertues in the which Scipio chiefly excelled as in the discipline of warres and in the glory of their famous victories To conclude their deathes were somewhat a like for they both dyed out of their contries although Scipio was not condemned by his contry as
warning he had in his sleepe Themistocles loue to his country The manner of Themistocles death Themistocles children Themistocles tumbe and relickes Honour done to Themistocles after his death VVhy Camillus neuer came to be Consul The authoritie of a fewe odious to the common people Camillus wisedome and modestie Camillus hearte Camillus acts in his Censorshippe The cittie of Veies besieged The siege coÌtinued seuen yeres together Camillus twise chosen Tribune of the souldiers The wonderfull ouerflowing of the lake Albanus The crafte of a Romaine An oracle brought from Delphes Camillus chosen Dictator Matuta Leucothea The cittie of Veies taken by mining Camillus prayer when Veies was taken Fayned wonders of images Plutarches iudgement of miracles Camillus stately triumphe of the Veians A lawe for the people of Rome to dwell as Veies The chiefest cause of the peoples malice against Camillus A cuppe of golde sent to Delphes The ladyes of Rome giue their iuells towards the making of it VVhat time womens prayses beganne at funeralle in Rome Camillus chosen Tribune of the souldiers Camillus besiegeth the Falerians Camillus worthie acte to the schoolemaster betraying the FaleriaÌs children A noble saying of Camillus and wise precept for warres Valiantnes to be preferred before vilanie The Falisciäs by their ambassadours doe yelde theÌ selues and goodes vnto Camillus The message of the ambassadours of the FalisciaÌs vnto the Romaines Camillus tooke a summe of money of the Falerians and made peace with all the rest of the Falisces Lucius Apuleius accused Camillus The equitie of the Romaines who would not peruers the Lawe though they dearely loued Camillus but willingly offered to paye his fine Camillus prayer before his departure one of Rome Camillus exileth him selfe from Rome Tokens of the warres of the Gaules The originall beginning of the Gaules ArroÌ a Thuscan the procurer of the Gaules comming into Italie Lacke of iustice the cause of the destruction conquest of Thuscan by the Gaules The power of the Thuscans in olde time Clusium a cittie of ThuscaÌ besieged by the Gaules Brennus king of the Gaules Fabius Ambustus a Romaine breaketh the common laze of all nations Brennus reproueth Fabius for breaking the lawe of armes Numa Pompilius erected the colledge of the Faciales The Gaules marche towards Rome The Romaines armie were 40000 footemen To many rulers of an armie doe confound all order and putteth the army in perill Allia fl The battell at the riuer of Allia where the Gaules wanne the field of the Romaines 300. of a name slaine in one daye The Romaines superstition in obseruing of dayes The holy fier The force of fyer Fabius chief bishoppe of Rome Rome taken of the Gaules Aristotles testimonie of the taking of Rome The maiestie of the olde Senatours set in the market place of Rome The cittie of Rome rased by the Gaules The citie of Ardea Camillus wordes vnto the Ardeans in excuse of the Romaines Camillus persuadeth the Ardeans to take armes against the Gaules Camillus slue the Gaules haâd by Ardea PoÌtius Cominius got âp into the Capitoll at Rome Camillus chosen Dictator the second time The Gaules clime vp to the Capitoll in the night The holy gese saued the Capitoll Marcus Manlius rebulsed the Gaules from the Capitoll The Gaules vexed with the plague as Rome The Romaines went about to redeeme their libertie of the Gaules with golde Camillus came to Rome with his army Camillus speaketh stowtely to Brennus king of the Gaules Camillus ouerthroweth the armie of the Gaules Rome was 7. moneths in the hardes of the Gaules Camillus triumphed of the Gaules The busie headed Orators stirre the people is tumulte against Camillus Camillus Dictacorshippe proreged Camillus persuaded the people that he could ââ dwelâ in Rome ãâ¦ã leous Viââââ Rome is buildâ againe Rome was nowe built againe in a yere Romulus augures staffe founde hole after Rome was burnt Camillus chosen Dictator the third time Tutola or Philotis craf subtiltie Rome deliuered froÌwarres by Tutola the bondmayde The maydens seaââe called Nonae Capratinae Camillus stratageame against the Latines and Volsces Camillus slue the Latines Camillus tooke the citie of Aeques Camillus wonne the citie of Sutrium Marcus MaÌlius Capitolinus maneth sedition Flattery and hypocrisie sinneth the multitude common people MaÌlius clapt in prison by Q. Capitolinus Dictator Camillus cosen againe Tribunus militaris Marcus MaÌlius Capitolinus put to death Lucius Furius gaue battell to the Praenestines men and Volsces and was ouerthrowen Camillus wanne the fielde of the Praenestines and Volsces Camillus slue the Thuscans as Sutrium Camillus s ãâ¦ã again against the Thusculanians The crafte of the Thusculanians Great seditioÌ moued in Rome by Licinius Stolo Camillus created Dictator the fourth time Licinius Stolo made a laâe for enioying of landes Stolo the first offender of the same law The Gaules come againe to Rome Camillus chosen Dictator the 5 time Heââ Camillus appointed his souldiers with armour weapon to fight with advantage against the Gaules Anias st Camillus slue the Gaules againe The Romaines have they exempted priestes from the warres Sedision as Rome about choosing of Consuls Policy to yeld so necessitie A commoner chosen Consul with a noble man. Marcus AEmilius Lucius Sextus consuls Camillus died of the plague VVit allwayes to be employed to good things Antisthenes saying of a flute player The power of vertue Pericles stacke Pericles mothers dreame Pericles had a long head Pericles studies and teachers Zenon Eleatean Pericles âââners and behaviour Pericles pacience The benefits of naturall philosophie VVhat was signified by the rammes head that had but one horne was found in Pericles grounde Pericles likened as Pisistratus Pericles first beginning to deale in the coÌmoÌ wealth To much familiaritie breedeth contempt Ephialtes an orator VVhy Pericles was surnamed Olympius Thucydides Pericles aduersarie Pericles sayings Pericles common wealthe The good deedes of Cimon Pericles large distribution diminished the Areopagit authoritie Pericles causeth Cimon to be banished Athens The Ostracismon Pericles calleth Cimon from exile Pericles moderation vnto Cimon The murther of Ephialtes Thucydides Pericles aduersary in the coÌmoÌ wealth A politicke care for idle persones Sumptuous buildings erected by Pericles Diuers artificers at AtheÌs The Odeon Pericles erected games for musicke The Poets raise vp slauÌders against Pericles The noble saying of Pericles Thucydides banished by Pericles Pericles power Pericles somwhat altereth the common weale The force of eloquence Pericles commended for his good life worthines Pericles free from giftes taking Pericles good husbandrie Anaxagoras a mathematician Great diuersitie betwext contemplatiue and ciuill life Anaxagoras determined to furnish him self to death Anaxagoras saying to Pericles Pericles appointeth a generall councell to be holden as AtheÌs Pericles loued the safry of his men in warres Time the best counseller Tolmides slaine in the field Pericles iârneyes Achelous ââ Pericles would not followe the couetousnes of the people The enterprise of Siciliae Pericles an enemie to the Lacedaemonians Plistonax king of Lacedaemon
vnto him as if he had bene in deede Apolloes sonne and that he should openly read them in the presence of many witnesses And among the rest of the prophecies that he should read that specially for the which this long paltry fained drift was framed touching the kingdome of LACEDAEMONIA that it was better and meerelier for the SPARTANS they should choose them for their kinges whome they found the meetest men of all their magistrates But when Selenus was come of full age and brought into GREECE of purpose to performe this practise all the mistery was marde by the fainte heart of one of the players and companions of Lysander who holpe him to countenaunce this deuise who when the matter should haue taken effect shroncke for feare and let the misterie alone This notwithstanding nothing was bewrayed in Lysanders life time till after his death For he dyed before king Agesilaus returned out of ASIA being fallen into warres with BOEOTIA before his death or rather hauing him selfe made GREECE to fall into warres They doe reporte it other way and some lay the fault apon him other apon the THEBANS and other apon then both and they burden the THEBANS withall bicause they did vtterly ouerthrowe the common sacrifices which Agesilaus made in the city of AVLIDE And they say also that Andrââdes and Amphitheus did raise this warre among the GREECIANS being before corrupted with money by the king of PERSIA to bring warres apon the LACEDAEMONIANS in GREECE and beganne to inuade and destroy the contry of the PHOCIANS Other say that Lysander was very angry with the THEBANS bicause they onely of all other their confederates did aske the tenth parte of all the spoyle which was wonne in the warre against the ATHENIANS and that they were not pleased that Lysander had sent the money away vnto SPARTA But aboue all Lysander did malice them most bicause they were the first that made way for the ATHENIANS to be deliuered from thop pression of thirty tyrannes whom he had stablished gouernors in ATHENS and in whose fauor to make them to be dreaded the more the LACEDAEMONIANS had ordained by a common edict that they that were banished and did flee from ATHENS might lawefully be taken and apprehended in what place soeuer they fled vnto and that whosoever should resist or let them to do it they should be proclaimed rebells open enemies vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS Againe to contrary this edict the THEBANS made an other very like meete for the glorious dedes of Bacchus and Hercules their auncestors for whom it was made that euery house and city through the contry of BOEOTIA should be open for the ATHENIANS that would come thither that he that would not helpe a banished man from ATHENS against him that would take him away by force should be fined and amerced at a talent And also if there were any souldiers that went vnto ATHENS through the contrie of BOEOTIA that the THEBANS should not see nor heare it This was no dissimulation to speake of that they should ordaine thinges with so gentle wordes and so meete for the people of GREECE and then that the dedes should not aunswer vnto their edicts proclamations For Thrasybulus and his fellowes of the conspiracie who kept the castell of Phyla they departed from THEBES with armor and money and the THEBANS did helpe them to beginne and practise their enterprise so secretly that it was not discouered These were the causes why Lysander was so earnestly bent against the THEBANS his choller being so extreame by reason of his melancholines that grewe dayly apon him more and more through his age he solicited the EPHORES so that he perswaded them to sende a garrison thither and him selfe taking the charge of them vndertooke the iorney straight with his men But afterwardes they sent kinge Pausanias also with an army thither who was to fetche a great compasse about to enter into the contrie of BOEOTIA by mount Cithaeron and Lysander shoulde goe to meete him through the contry of PHOCIDES with a great company of souldiers besides Now as Lysander went he tooke the city of the ORCHOMENIANS who willingly yeelded them selues to him as soone as he came thither From thence he went to the city of LEBADIA which he spoyled from thence he wrote vnto king Pausanias that departing from PLATEES he should march directly to the city of ALIARTE where he would not faile to meete him the next morning by breake of day at the towne walles These letters were intercepted by certaine skowtes of the THEBANS who met with the messenger that caried them Thus the THEBANS hauing intelligence of their purpose left their citie in custodie vnto the ATHENIANS who were come to aide them and departed out of THEBES about midnight and marched all night with great speede that they came to ALIARTE in the morning a litle before Lysander and put halfe their men into the citie Now for Lysander he was determined at the first to keepe his men apon a hill which is nere to the city and there to tary the comming of king Pausanias But afterwards when he sawe that the day was farre spent and that he came not he could tary no lenger but arming him selfe after he had made an oration vnto the confederates which he had brought with him he marched on with his men in battell ray longer then large by the high way that went vnto the city In the meane season the THEBANS that were left without the city leauing ALIARTE on the left hande did set vppon Lysanders rerewarde of his army against the fountaine called Cissusa where the Poets faine that the nurses of Bacchus did washe him when he came out of his mothers wombe bicause the water that commeth out of it though it be very clere and sweete to drinke hath notwithstanding I can not tell by what meanes a collour like wine and not farre thence there grow great plenty of Styrap trees The which the ALIARTIANS do alleage to proue that Radamanthus heretofore dwelt in that parte doe shew his sepulchre there yet to this day which they call Alea. And hard by that also there is the monumeÌt of Alemena which was buried as they say in that place was maried to Radamanthus after the death of Amphitryon But the THEBANS who were within the city with the ALIARTIANS stirred not vntill they sawe that Lysander with the first of his troupe was neere vnto the towne walles then opening the gates on the sodaine they made a salie out vpon Lysander slue him with his soothsaier a few other bicause the most part of the voward fled into the streÌgth of the battell Howbeit the THEBANS gaue theÌ not ouer so but followed theÌ so valiantly that they brake their order made theÌ all flie through the mouÌtaines after they had slaine three thousand of theÌ in the field so were there three hundred THEBANS also slaine there who
followed their enemies so fiercely till they recouered straight narrow waies of great strength for them These three huÌdred were in maner all those that were suspected in THEBES to fauor the LACEDAEMONIANS secretly wherfore for the desire they had to take away this opinioÌ froÌ their citizens they hazarded theÌselues to no purpose were cast away in this chase King Pausanias heard newes of this ouerthrow going froÌ PLATEES vnto THESPIES went on further marching still in battel ray towards ALIARTE where Thrasybulus also arriued at the selfe same time bringing the aide of the ATHENIANS froÌ THEBES And when Pausanias was purposed to send to aske liceÌce of the enemies to take away the bodies of their men which they had slaine to thintent to bury them the olde SPARTANS that were in his army misliking it much at the first were angry in them selues But afterwardes they went vnto the king him selfe to tell him that he dishonored SPARTA to offer to take vp Lysanders bodie by his enemies leaue ãâ¦ã and that he should valliantly recouer him by force of armes and honorably burie him after that he had ouercome their enemies or else if it were their fortune to be ouerthroweÌ that yââ it should be more honorable for them to iye dead in the field by their Captaine then to aske leaue to take vp his body But notwithstanding all these wordes of the old men king Pausanias seeing that it was a hard matter to ouercome the THEBANS in battell now that they had gotten the victory and furthermore that the body of Lysander lay hard by the walls of ALIARTE and that he could not come to take it away without great daunger although they should win the battell he sent a herauld to the enemies And hauing made truce for certaine dayes he led his army away and tooke vp Lysanders body with him and buried him after they were out of the confynes of BOEOTIA within the territory of the PANOPEIANS where vntill this day his tombe remaineth apon the high way goinge from DELPHES vnto the city of CHAERONIA Thus Pausanias campe being lodged there it is sayd there was a PHOCIAN who reporting the battell vnto one that was not there sayd that the enemies came to geue a charge vpon them as Lysander had passed the Oplites Thother wondring at that there was a SPARTAN a very frend of Lysanders by hauing heard all their talke asked him what that was which he called Oplites for that he had not heard that word named before What aunswered the PHOCIAN to him againe Euen there it was where the enemies did ouerthrow the first of our men which were slaine in the fieldes for the riuer that runneth by the walles of the city is called Oplites The SPARTAN hearing that burst out of weping for sorrow saying then I see it is impossible for a man to auoyde his destinie For Lysander aforetime had an oracle that tolde him thus Lysander take good heede come not I thee aduise Neere Oplites that riuers banckes in any kinde of vvise Nor neere the Dragon he vvhich is the earth her sonne VVho at the length vvill thee assault and on thy backe vvill runne Howebeit some take it that this riuer of Oplites is not that which passeth by the walles of ALIARTE but it is the riuer that runneth neere vnto the city of CORONEA and falleth into the riuer of Phliarus hard by the city and they say that in olde time it was called Hoplia but now they call it Isomantus He that slue Lysander was an ALIARTIAN called Neochorus who caried a Dragon painted apon his target and this was that which the oracle of likelyhoode did signifie They say also that in the time of the warres of PELOPONNESVS the THEBANS had an oracle from the teÌple of Apollo Ismenias which oracle did prophecy the battell which they wanne by the castell of DELIVM and the battell of ALIARTE also which was thirty yeares after that The effect of that oracle was this VVhen thou thy nets shalt spread the vvolues for to intrappe Bevvare thou come not neere vnto a litle hill by happe Of Orchalide Nor neere to any his confynes For there the crafty foxes keepe their dennes and priuy mines He calleth the territory that is about DELIVM the vttermost confynes bicause BOEOTA doth confine there with the contry of ATTICA and the hill Orchalide which is now called Alopecon to say the foxe denne which lieth on that side of the citie of ALIARTE that looketh towardes mounte Helicon Lysander being slaine the SPARTANS tooke his death so ill that they would haue condemned king Pausanias of treason by law who durst not abide the tryall but fled vnto the citie of TEGEA where he ended the rest of his life within the sanctuarie of the temple of Minerua When Lysander was dead his pouertie appeared to the world which made his vertue farre more famous than when he liued For then they sawe that for all the gold siluer which had passed through his hands for all his great authority countenaunce that he had caried and for all that so many cities townes did come to honor him briefly for al that he had so great puissant a kingdom in maner in his hands yet he did neuer enrich nor increase his house with so much as one farthing So writeth Theopompus whom we should rather beleue when he praiseth then when he discommendeth for commonly he taketh more delite to dispraise then to praise any It fortuned not longe after as Ephorus writeth that the LACEDAEMONIANS and their confederats fel at variance together wherupon Lysanders letters were to be seene that were in his house Kinge Agesilaus goinge thither to peruse them amongest other writinges founde the oration penned by Cleon Halicarnasseus which Lysander had prepared to perswade the SPARTANS to chaunge their gouernment and to declare vnto them that they shoulde reuoke the prerogatiue which the Eurytiontides and the Agiades had that the kinges of SPARTA could not be chosen but out of those two families and to leue the prerogatiue at liberty that the chiefest magistrats might be laufully chosen kings of SPARTA Agesilaus stood indiffereÌt to haue shewed this oratioÌ openly to the people that the SPARTANS might see what manner a citizen Lysander had bene in his harte But Lacratidas a graue wise man president at that time of the counsel of the Ephori would not suffer him saying that he shoulde not digge Lysander out of his graue againe but rather bury his oration with him that was so passingly well and eloquently penned to perswade Yet notwithstandinge they did him great honor after his death and amongest others condemned two citizens in a great summe of money that were made sure to two of his daughters while he liued and refused to marye them which he was dead seeing their father dyed so poore bicause they sought to matche in his house supposing he had
only to spoyle ouerrun the kinges contry at their pleasure but also to see the reuenge taken of Tisaphernes that was a vile man and a cruell enemie to the GRAECIANS For the king of PERSIA made an other his Lieutenaunt immediatly in his roome called Tithraustes who strake of Tisaphernes head and sent vnto Agesilaus to pray him to take peace with them and to offer him store of golde and siluer to departe out of his contrie Thereto Agesilaus aunswered that for peace it was not in him to make it but in the LACEDAEMONIANS and that for his owne parte it was an easier maner to enriche his souldiers than him selfe And furthermore that the GRAECIANS thought it dishonor to them to take any gift of their enemies other then spoyles This notwithstanding to gratifie Tithraustes somewhat for that he had taken reuenge of a common enemy of all the GRAECIANS for the summe of thirtie talentes geuen him to defray his charges he withdrue his army out of LYDIA and went into PHRYGIA In his iorney he receiued from the counsell of LACEDAEMON the Scytala or scrolle of parchement wreathed about aduertising him that the citizens had made him also their Generall by sea as he was by lande Agesilaus onely of all men obtained this honor who without coÌparison was of all other the worthiest man of fame in his time as Theopompus witnesseth and yet gloried rather to be commended for his vertue than for the greatnes of his authority In this notwithstanding he was to be blamed when he made choyse of one Pisander his wiues brother to be Lieutenaunt of the nauy forsooke other Captaines of better experience and elder yeares seeking rather to please his wife and to aduaunce one of his kinne than to regarde the weale and safety of his contrie Afterwardes he led his army into Pharnabazus contrie which he had in charge where he founde not onely plenty of all sortes of vittells but gathered together also a wonderfull masse of money From thence he went into the realme of PAPHLAGONIA and made league there with kinge Cotys who for his vertue and constant fidelity was very desirous of his frendship The like did Spathridates forsaking Pharnabazus and came vnto Agesilaus and after he was come to him he neuer went from him but alwayes followed him wheresoeuer he went Spithridates had a young sonne that was passing faier called Megabetes of whom Agesilaus had great liking and likewise a fayer young woman to his daughter of age to be maried whom Agesilaus caused king Cotys to marry So taking of king Cotys a thowsand horsemen and two thowsand footemen light armed he returned backe into PHRYGIA and there destroyed Pharnabazus contrie which he had in gouernment who durst not meete him in the fielde nor trust to his holdes but still fed from him carying all his chiefest thinges with him flitting from place to place vntill that Spithridates accompanied with Erippidas the SPARTAN followed him so neere that he tooke his campe and all his treasure in it But there did Erippidas shewe him selfe so hard and cruell ouerstraightly searching our parte of the spoyle that had bene imbeaceled compelling the barbarous people to deliuer it againe ransacking euery corner for it that Spithridates was so offended withall that on a sodaine he tooke the PAPHLAGONIANS with him and went backe vnto the citie of SARDIS This more grieued Agesilaus than any thing that happened to him in all his iorney for that he had lost so valliant a man as Spithridates and such a number of good souldiers as he caried away with him Moreouer he was afrayed least they would detect him of miserable couetousnes a thing which he euer was carefull to auoid not onely in his owne persone but also to keepe all his contriemen from it But besides these knowen causes the loue he bare to Spithridates sonne pinched him neerely though when the boy was with him he striued with his owne nature to subdue that naughty affection and desire he had of him For when Megabates on a time came to make much of him to kisse him Agesilaus turned his face from the boy The boy being ashamed of the repulse durst no more come so familiarly but saluted him aloofe of Agesilaus then repenting him that he had not suffered Megabates to kisse him made as though he marueled why he did not kisse him as he was wont to doe Then aunswered some of his familiars about him your selfe O king is in faulte bicause you durst not tarie but were afrayed to kisse so fayer a boy For if he knewe your minde he would come againe so that you turned your face no more away When Agesilaus had heard them he pawsed a while and said neuer a word but in fine aunswered them It shall nor neede you say any thing to him for it would doe me more good I could refuse such an other kisse againe then if all that I see before me were golde Thus was Agesilaus disposed wheÌ Megabates was with him but in his absence he did so loue him that I dare scantly say that if the boy had come againe into his presence he would haue refused a kisse at his hands After that Pharnabazus sought to speake with him and one Apollophanes a CYZICENIAN brought them together that was a frende vnto them both Agesilaus was the first that met at the place appointed with his frends and tarying for Pharnabazus comming he layed him downe vpon the depe grasse in the shadow vnder a fayer great tree Pharnabazus also came thither they spred soft skinnes long heared and tapestry excellently wrought of diuers colours for him to sit on apon the grounde But being ashamed to see Agesilaus laied on the bare grounde in that sorte he also lay downe by him though he had vppon him a maruelous riche gowne of excellent tissue passing colour Now when they had embraced one an other Pharnabazus began first to speake and lacked no good perswasions iust complaints for that he hauing bene as he was a frende vnto the LACEDAEMONIANS in the warre against the ATHENIANS was then spoyled and sacked by them Agesilaus then finding that the SPARTANS that were about him at that meting hong downe their heades for shame not knowing how to aunswere him considering that Pharnabazus had iniuty offered him began to speake in this maner Heretofore when we were frendes with the king my Lord Pharnabazus we haue vsed his goodes like frends but now that we are his enemies like enemies we vse them and sence we see that thou wilt needes be a slaue of his maruell not though we hurt thee for his sake But when thou shalt like rather to be a frend of the GRAECIANS then a slaue to the king of PERSIA then make account that all these souldiers this armor our shippes and all we are to defend thy goodes and liberty against him without which nothing that is honest can be looked for of mortall men