breadth of the River Assus which running betwixt and at the bottom of the same Hill falling into Cephisus with an impetuous Confluence made that a safe Height to lodge on wherefore beholding the Brass Targettiers to make up hastily Sylla was willing to take prepossession and took it by the vigorous Address of the Soldiers Archelaus put back from hence bent his Forces upon Chaeronea The Chaeroneans who bore Arms in the Roman Camp beseeching Sylla not to abandon the City he dispatcht Geminius the Tribune with one Legion and withal sent out the Chaeroneans endeavouring but not able to get in before Geminius so active was he and more swift to relief than they who prayed Relief Juba writes that Ericius was the man sent not Geminius Thus narrowly escaped our Native City From Lebadea and the Cave of Trophonius there were spread abroad favourable Rumours and Prophecies of Victory to the Romans which the Inhabitants report at large And as Sylla himself affirms in the tenth Book of his Memoirs Quintus Titus an obscure Man of those who traffick into Greece came to him after the Battel won at Chaeronea and declared that Trophinius had foretold another Fight and Victory on the same place within a short time After him a Soldier by name Salvenius brought an account from the God of the issue of Affairs in Italy As to the Vision they both agreed in this that for Stature and Majestick Grace they had seen somewhat in the likeness of Jupiter Olympius Sylla when he had passed over the Assus march'd up to Edylium and encamped close to Archelaus who had intrench'd himself strongly between the Mountains Acontium and Edylium towards those called Assia The Place of his Intrenchment is to this day named from him Archelaus Sylla after one days respite having left Muraena behind him with one Legion and two Cohorts to amuse the distracted Enemy with continual Alarms went and sacrificed on the Banks of Cephisus The holy Rights ended he held on towards Chaeronea to receive the Forces there and view Mount Thurion where the Enemy had posted themselves This is a craggy Heighth running up gradually to a Point which we call Orthopagon at the foot of it is the River Morius and the Temple of Apollo Thurius The God had his Surname from Thuro Mother of Cheron whom ancient Fame makes Founder of Chaeronea Others assert that the Cow which Apollo gave to Cadmus for a Guide appeared there and that the Place took its Name from the Beast for the Phaenicians call a Cow Thor. At Sylla's approach to Chaeronea the Tribune who had been commanded out to guard the City drew his Men into Arms and meet him with a Garland of Laurel in his hand which Sylla accepting of and withal caressing and animating the Soldiers to the Encounter two Men of Chaeronea Homoloichus and Anaxidamus present themselves before him and proffer with a small Party to dislodge those who were posted on Thurium for that there lay a Path unknown to the Barbarians from Petrochus along by the Musaeum leading over head upon Thurium by this way it was easie to fall on and either stone them from above or force them down into the Plain Sylla assured of their Faith and Courage by Geminius when he had exhorted them to go on with the Enterprise Embattelled the Army and disposing of the Cavalry on both Wings himself commanded the Right and the left he committed to the direction of Muraena in the Rear of all Gallus and Hortensius his Legates had planted themselves on the upper Grounds with the Cohorts of Reserve to watch the motion of the Enemy who with infinite numbers of Horse and expedite light-armed Foot having made the Wing pliant and ready to wind about at pleasure gave suspicion that he intended to over-reach and enclose the Romans In the mean time the Chaeroneans who had Ericus for Commander by appointment of Sylla covertly surrounding Thurium and discovering themselves there arose a great Confusion and Rout and mutual Slaughter amongst the Barbarians for they kept not their stand but making down in that hurry cast themselves on their own Spears and violently bore each other headlong the Enemy from above pressing on and wounding them on the open side insomuch as there fell three thousand about Thurium Some of them who escaped being met by Muraena as he stood in Array were cut off and destroy'd Others breaking through to their Friends and falling disorderly into the Ranks filled most part of the Army with fear and Tumult and put the Chief Officers to a stand which was no small disadvantage For immediately upon the Discomposure Sylla coming full speed to the Charge disappointed the Service of their Armed Chariots which require a good space of Ground to gather strength and impetuosity in the Career whereas a short drift proves weak and ineffectual like that of Engines without a full swing Thus it fared with the Barbarians at present whose first Chariots that set forth spurtingly and made but a faint impression when the Romans had repulsed with a clattering din and slaughter they called for more as is usual in the publick Cirque By this time the Gross of both Armies met The Barbarians on one side charged their long Pikes and with Shields lock'd close together like a Roof over head strove what in them lay to preserve their Battalion entire The Romans on the other side threw by their Piles and with drawn Swords put by their Pushes the sooner to mingle with them in the rage they were then in For in the Front of the Enemy they beheld fifteen thousand Slaves whom the Royal Commanders had set free by Proclamation and rang'd amongst the Men of Arms. Whereupon a Roman Centurion is reported to say That he never knew Servants allowed to play the Masters unless on the Holy-days of Saturn These Men by reason of their deep and thick Array as well as for their daring Courage yielded but slowly to the weighty Legions till at last by slinging Engines and Darts for which the Roman spar'd not from behind they were forc'd to give way and scatter And as Archelaus was extending the the Right Wing to encompass the Enemy Hortensius with his Cohorts came down amain with intention to charge him in the Flank but Achelaus wheeling about suddenly with two thousand Horse Hortensius overlaid with numbers withdrew himself to the upper Grounds not far from the main Body and was surrounded by the Enemy When Sylla heard this he came speeding from the right to his succour before the Engagement but Archelaus guessing the matter by the dust of his Troops turned to the right Wing from whence Sylla came in hopes to have surprised it without a Commander At the same instant likewise Taxilles with his Brass-Targetiers assailed Muraena so as a Cry coming from both places and the Hills repeating it around Sylla stood in suspence which way to move it seeming best to reassume his own Station he sent in aid
which were necessary for the Archers But when he saw the armed Horse the Flower of the Army drawn up under a Hill on the top whereof was a broad and open Plain about four Furlongs high and of no difficult or troublesome access he commanded his Thracian and Gallogrecian Horse to fall upon their Flanck and beat down their Lances with their Swords The only Defence of the Men in Arms are their Lances they have nothing else to defend themselves or annoy their Enemy by reason of the weight and hardness of their Armour in which they are enclosed He himself with two Bands made to the Mountain the Souldiers briskly following on when they saw him in Arms afoot first toiling and climbing up Being on the top and standing in an open place with a loud Voice he cried out We have overcome we have overcome O my Fellow-Soldiers And having so said he marched against the armed Horsemen commanding his Men not to throw their Piles but coming up hand to hand with the Enemy to hack their Shins and Thighs which Parts alone are unguarded in armed men But there was no need of this way of fighting for they stood not to receive the Romans but with great clamour and worse Fiight they and their heavy Horses broke the Ranks of the Foot before ever the Fight began insomuch that without a Wound or Blood-shed so many thousands were overthrown The greatest Slaughter was made in the Flight or rather in endeavouring to fly away which they could not well do by reason of the depth and closeness of the Ranks which hindred them Tigranes at first fled with a few but seeing his Son in the same misfortune he took the Crown from his Head and with Tears gave it him bidding him save himself in some other way if he could But the Prince daring not to put it on gave it to one of his trustiest Servants to keep for him This Man as it hapned being taken was brought to Lucullus so among the Captives the Crown also of Tigranes was taken 'T is reported that above a hundred thousand Foot were lost and few of the Horse escaped Of the Romans a hundred were wounded and five kill'd Antiochus the Philosopher making mention of this Fight in his Book about the Gods says That the Sun never saw the like Strabo another Philosopher in his Historical Collection says That the Romans could not but blush and deride themselves for putting on Armour against such pitiful Slaves Livy also says That the Romans never fell upon an Enemy with so unequal Force for by more than a twentieth part the Conquerors were less than the Conquered The most understanding Roman Captains and expert in War have chiefly commended Lucullus for conquering two great and potent Kings by two different ways Haste and Delay For he broke the flourishing Power of Mithridates by Delay and Time and that of Tigranes by Haste being one of those rare Generals who made use of Delay for advantage and Speed for security Whereupon it was that Mithridates made no haste to come up to fight imagining Lucullus would as he had done before use Caution and Delay which made him march the slower to Tigranes And as he met some stragling Armenians in the way running in great fear and consternation he suspected the worst and when greater numbers of naked and wounded Men assured him of the Defeat he sought for Tigranes and finding him naked and destitute he by no means requited him with Insolence but lighting off his Horse and condoling the Publick Loss gave him a Princely Guard to attend him and animated him for the future and they together gathered fresh Forces about them In the City Tigranocerta the Greeks divided from the Barbarians and delivered it up to Lucullus which he came and took He seized on the Treasury himself but gave the City to be plunder'd by the Soldiers wherein were found eight thousand Tallents of coined Money Besides which also he distributed eight hundred Groats per Man out of the Spoils When he understood that many Players were taken in the City which Tigranes invited from all Parts for opening the Theatre which he had built he made use of them for celebrating his Triumphal Games and Spectacles The Greeks he sent home allowing them Money for their Journey the Barbarians also as many as had been forced away from their own dwelling insomuch that this one City being dissolved many were repaired by the restitution of their former Inhabitants By all which Lucullus was belov'd as a Benefactor and Founder Other things also prospered under him as deserved being more desirous of praise for Justice and Clemency than for Feats in War for these are due partly to the Soldiers most of all to Fortune but those are a demonstration of a gentle and liberal Soul whereby Lucullus at that time even without the help of Arms conquered the Barbarians For the Kings of Arabia came to him tendring what they had and with them the Sophenians also submitted But he dealt so with the Gordyenians that they were willing to leave their own Habitations and were ready to follow him with their Wives and Children which was for this Cause Zarbienus King of the Gordyenians as is said being grieved under the Tyranny of Tigranes by Appius had secretly made Overtures of Confederating with Lucullus but being discover'd was executed and his Wife and Children perished with him before ever the Romans had invaded Armenia Lucullus forgot not this but coming to the Gordyenians made a solemn Enterment for Zarbienus and adorning the Funeral Pile with a Royal Canopy and Gold and Spoils of Tigranes he himself being present kindled the Fire and poured in perfumes with the Friends and Domesticks of the Deceased calling him his Companion and Friend of the Romans and ordered a stately Monument for him There was a large Treasury of Gold and Silver found in Zarbienus his Palace and no less than three hundred Myriads of Measures of Corn insomuch that the Soldiers were provided for and Lucullus was highly commended for maintaining the War at his own Charge without receiving one Groat from the Publick Treasury After this came an Embassage from the King of Parthia to him desiring Amity and Confederacy which being readily embraced by Lucullus he dispatch'd another to the Parthian which discovered him to be a double minded Man and dealing privately with Tigranes to take part with him upon Condition Mesopotamia were delivered up to him Which as soon as Lucullus understood he resolved to pass by Tigranes and Mithridates as Enemies well nigh subdued and try the Power of Parthia by leading his Army against them He esteemed it a renowned act like a Wrestler to throw down three Kings one after another and like an invincible Conquerour successively to deal with three of the greatest Commanders under the Cope of Heaven He sent therefore into Pontus to the Officers with Sornatius writing to them to bring the Army thence and joyn with him in this
Italy and posted his Army by the River Athesis where blocking up the Passages on both sides the River with strong Fortifications he made a Bridge that so he might go to their assistance that were on the other side if so be the Enemy having forced the narrow Passages should storm the Fortresses The Barbarians came on with such Insolence and Contempt of their Enemies that to shew their Strength and Courage rather than out of any necessity they went naked in the showers of Snow and through the Ice and deep Snow climbed up to the tops of the Hills and from thence placing their broad Shields under their bodies let themselves slide from the Precipices along their vast slippery Descents 37. When they had pitched their Camp at a little distance from the River and surveyed the Passage they began to cast up their Banks Giant-like tearing up the neighbouring Hills and brought Trees pulled up by the roots and heaps of Earth to the River therewith damming up its course and with great heavy Materials rowlled down the Stream and dashed against the Bridge they forced away the Planks which supported it whereat the greatest part of the Roman Soldiers very much affrighted left their Camp and fled Here did Catulus shew himself a generous indulgent General in preferring the Glory of his People before his own for when he could not prevail with his Soldiers to stand to their Colours but saw how cowardly they all deserted them he commanded his own Standard to be taken up and running to the foremost of those that fled he led them forward chusing rather that the disgrace should fall upon himself than his Country and that they should not seem to fly but following their Captain to make a retreat The Barbarians assaulted and took the Fortress on the other side Athesis where admiring at the few Romans there left who had shewn themselves of an extream great Courage and had fought worthy their Country they dismissed them with an easie Composition swearing them upon their Brazen Bull which was afterwards taken in the Battel and they say carried to Catulus's House as the chief Trophy of the Victory 38. Thus falling in upon the Country destitute of defence they wasted it extreamly whereupon Marius was presently sent for to the City where when he arrived every one supposing he would Triumph the Senate too unanimously voting it he himself did not think it convenient whether that he were not willing to deprive his Soldiers and Officers of their share of the Glory or that to encourage the People in this juncture he would make the honour of his Victory give place to the present Fortune of the City deferring it now to receive it afterwards with the greater Splendour Having left such Orders as the occasion required he hast'ned to Catulus whose drooping Spirits he very much raised and sent for his Army from Gallia as soon as it came he passing the River Po endeavoured to drive the Barbarians out of that part of Italy which lies South of it 39. But they pretending they were in expectation of the Teutones and wondering they were so long in coming deferred the Battel either that they were really ignorant of their Defeat or at least were willing to seem so for they very much abused those that brought them such News and sending to Marius required some part of the Country for them and their Brethren and Cities fit for them to inhabit When Marius enquired of the Ambassadors who their Brethren were and they calling them Teutones all that were present fell out a laughing but Marius scoffingly answered them Do not trouble your selves for your Brethren for we have already provided Lands for them which they shall possess for ever The Ambassadors perceiving the jeer railed at him and threatned that the Cimbri would make him smart for it and the Teutones too when they came And they are not far off replied Marius it will be very unkindly done of you to go away before you have taken leave of your Brethren saying so he commanded the Kings of the Teutones to be brought out as they were in chains for they were taken by the Sequani before they could make their escape from the Alps. This was no sooner made known to the Cimbri but they with all expedition came against Marius who then lay still and guarded his Camp 40. 'T is said that against this Battel Marius first made their Javelins after a new fashion for before at the place where the Wood was joyned to the Iron it was made fast with two Iron-pins now Marius let one of them alone as it was and pulling out the other put a weak wooden peg in its place contriving it so that when it was stuck in the Enemy's Shield it should not stand right out but the wooden peg breaking the Iron should bend and so the Pile sticking fast by its crooked point should weigh down the Shield Now Baeorix King of the Cimbri came with a small Party of Horse to the Roman Camp and challenged Marius to appoint the time and place where they might meet and fight for the Country Marius answered That the Romans never consulted their Enemies when to fight however he would gratifie the Cimbri so far and so they pitched upon the third day after for the place the Plain near Vercellae which was convenient enough for the Roman Horse and afforded room for the Enemy to display their Numbers 41. They observed the time appointed and drew out their Forces against each other Catulus commanded 20300 and Marius 32000 who were placed in the two Wings leaving to Catulus the Main Battle Sylla who was present at the Fight gives this Relation saying withal that Marius drew up his Army in this Order out of malice to Catulus for he hoped with his Wings stretched out farther to fall in upon the Body of the Enemies Army it being customary in that manner of embattelling that the Army should represent a Crescent the two extream Points much advancing and the main Battel remaining behind and to rout them before Catulus and his Army should be able to charge them They observe likewise that Catulus himself alledgeth this in vindication of his Honour accusing this enviousness of Marius The Infantry of the Cimbri marched quietly out of their Trenches having their Flanks equal to their Front every side of the Army took up thirty furlongs their Horse that were in number 15000 made a very splendid appearance They wore Helmets whereon were the gapings of wild Beasts and other strange shapes which they heightning with Plumes of Feathers appeared greater than they were they had on Breast-plates of Iron and white glittering Shields and for their offensive Arms every one had two-edged Darts and when they came hand to hand they used great and heavy Swords 42. They did not fall directly upon the Front of the Romans but turning to the right they endeavoured to enclose them by little and little getting the Enemy between them and
to Muraena four Cohorts and commanding the fifth to follow him returned on the spur to the right Wing which then of it self held Archelaus to equal play at his appearance they gave one lusty push for all and overcoming followed them disorderly flying to the River and Mount Acontium Neither was Sylla unmindful of the danger Muraena was in for hasting thither and finding them Victorious he help'd to pursue Many Barbarians were slain on the spot many more cut in pieces as they were making to the Camp Of such infinite Multitudes ten thousand only got safe into Chalcis Sylla writes that there were but fourteen of his Soldiers wanting and that two even of those returned towards evening wherefore he inscribed on Trophies Mars Victory and Venus as having won the Day no less by Good-fortune than by true management and force of Arms. That Trophie of the Field-Battel stands on the Place where Archelaus first gave back as far as the Streums of Molus The other is erected high on the top of Thurium where the Barbarians were environ'd signifying in Greek Letters That Homoloichus and Anaxidamus were the Chief Leaders The Hymns of Victory for this Action were celebrated at Thebes where Sylla built a Stage for Musick near Oedipus's Well As for the Judges of the Performance they were Grecians chosen out of other Cities because he bore an implacable hatred to the Thebans and having cut off from them half their Territories he consecrated the same to Apollo and Jupiter commanding them out of the Revenue to make satisfaction to the Gods for the Riches himself had taken from them After this hearing that Flaccus a Man of the contrary Faction being chosen Consul had crossed the Ionian Sea with an Army to act in shew against Mithridates but in reality against himself he took the way of Thessalia designing to meet him but in his March about Meleteia received Advises from all Parts That the Countries on his back were over spread and harrased by no less a Camp-Royal than was the former For Dorilaus arriving at Chalcis with a mighty Fleet on board of which he brought over with him Eighty Thousand of the best-appointed and best disciplin'd Soldiers of Mithridates his Army had made a sudden Incursion into Baeotia and secured that Coast in hopes to bring Sylla to a Battel making no account of the disswasions of Archelaus but giving it out as to the last Fight that without Treachery so many Thousand Men could never have perished However Sylla facing about expeditiously made it appear to Dorilaus that Archelaus was a wise Man and had good skill in the Roman Valour insomuch as Dorilaus himself after some small Skirmishes with Sylla at Tilphossion was the first of those who thought it not advisable to put things to the decision of the Sword but rather by expence of Time and Treasure to wear out the War nevertheless the Field of Orchomenos where they then lay encamped gave no small encouragement to Archelaus as being most advantageous to those who excel in Cavalry to engage in For of the Baeotian Campagnes that is the fairest and largest which confining on the Principal Seat of the Orchomenians alone opens a clear Prospect void of Cover as far as the Fens where the River Melas is swallowed up Of all the Grecians Rivers this only which ariseth from under the City Orchomenus draws with it a deep and navigable Water from the very Head encreasing about the Summer Solstice like Nile and bringing forth all things growing there yet small and without Fruit. It runs not far before the main Stream loseth it self among the blind and woody Marsh Grounds a small Branch whereof mingleth with Cephisus about that place especially where the Lake is thought to produce the best Flute-reeds Now that both Armies were posted near each other Archelaus lay still but Sylla fell to casting up Ditches athwart from either side that if possible by cutting the Enemies from the firm and open Champagne he might force them into the Fens They on the other hand not enduring this but at the Word of Command issuing out furiously in full Bodies not only the Men at work were dispersed but most part of those who stood in Arms to justifie the Work cast themselves disorderly into flight Upon this Sylla leaps from his Horse and snatching hold of an Ensign rusht through the midst of the Rout upon the Enemy crying out aloud To me O Romans it seems glorious to fall here And as for you when demanded where was it you betrayed your General remember you say at Orchomenus His men Rallying again at these words and two Cohorts coming to his succour from the right-Right-Wing he gave a fierce Onset and turn'd the Day Then retiring some few Paces back and refreshing his Men he came on again to block up the Enemies Camp but they again sallied out in better Order than before Here Diogenes Son in-law to Archelaus having fought on the right-Right-Wing with much Gallantry made an Honourable end And the Archers being pressed on hard by the Romans and wanting space for a retreat took their Arrows by handfuls and striking with those as with Swords beat them back In the end they were all shut up into the entrenchment and had a sorrowful Night of it by reason of their slain and wounded The next day again Sylla leading forth his men up to their Quarters went on finishing the Line and as they were drawing out to give him Battel fell on and putting a large Party of them to the rout in the fright they were in none daring to abide he took the Camp by force whence the Marishes were filled with Bloud and the Lake with dead Bodies insomuch as to this day there be found of the Barbarian make many Bows Helmets pieces of Breast-plates and Swords buried deep in Mud some two hundred years since the Fight Thus much of the Action of Chaeronea and Orchomenus Cinna and Narbo at Rome using injustice and violence towards Persons of the greatest Eminency many of them to avoid that Tyranny repaired to Sylla's Camp as to a safe Harbour where in a short space he had about him the Majestick face of a Senate Metella likewise having with difficulty conveyed her self and Children away by stealth brought him word that his City and Country houses were set on fire by the Adversary and prayed his help at home Whilst he was in doubt what to do being impatient to hear his Country abused and not knowing how to leave so great a work as the Mithridatick-War unfinished comes unto him Archelaus a Merchant of Delos with some hopes of an accommodation and private instructions from Archelaus the King's General Sylla lik'd the business so well as to desire a speedy conference with Archelaus in Person and had a meeting at Sea on that side of Delos where the Temple of Apollo stands When Archelaus began to propose and demand of Sylla that quitting his Pretensions to Asia and Pontus he should set
Craterus had a mighty name among them and the Soldiers after Alexander's death were extremely fond of him remembring how he had often for their sakes incurred Alexander's displeasure restrained him from following the Persian Fashions to which he very much inclined and keeping up the Customs of his Country when through Pride and Delicacy they began to be disregarded Craterus therefore sent Antipater into Cilicia and himself and Neoptolemus Marcht with a great Army against Eumenes expecting to come upon him unawares and to find his Army disordered with revelling after the late Victory Now that Eumenes should suspect his coming and be prepared to receive him is an Argument of his Vigilance but no great one of his Sagacity But that he should contrive both to conceal from his Enemies the ill Posture he was in and from his own Men whom they were to fight with so as to serve against Craterus himself not knowing he commanded the Enemy this indeed seems to shew the peculiar Address and Talent of a great General He gave out therefore that Neoptolemus and Pigris with some Cappadocian and Paphlagonian Horse and designing to March by night he fell into a deep sleep and had an extraordinary Dream For he thought he saw two Alexanders ready to engage each Commanding his several Phalanx the one assisted by Minerva the other by Ceres and that after a hot dispute he on whose side Minerva was was beaten and Ceres gathering the Corn wove it into a Crown for the Victor This Vision Eumenes interpreted as boading Success to himself who was to fight for a fruitful Corn-Country the whole being sowed with Corn and the fields so thick with it that they made a beautiful shew of a long peace And he was farther confirmed in his opinion when he understood that the Enemy bore Minerva and Alexander in their Colours wherefore he also bore Ceres and Alexander and gave his Men orders to make Garlands for themselves and to dress their Arms with wreaths of Corn he found himself under many temptations to discover to his Captains and Officers whom they were to engage with and not to conceal a secret of such moment in his own breast alone yet he kept to his first resolutions and ventured to run the hazard of his own Judgment When he came to give Battel he would not trust any Macedonian to engage Craterus but appointed two Troops of Foreign Horse commanded by Pharnabazus Son to Artabazus and Phaenix of Tenedos with Order to charge as soon as ever they saw the Enemy without giving them leisure to speak or retire or receiving any Herauldor Trumpet from them for he exceedingly feared the Macedonians lest knowing Craterus they should go over to his side He himself with 300 of his best Horseled the right Wing against Neoptolemus When the Enemy having past a little Hill came in view and Eumenes his Men charged with more than ordinary briskness Craterus was amazed and bitterly reproached Neoptolemus for deceiving him with hopes of the Macedonians revolt but he encouraged his Men to do bravely forthwith charged The first Ingagement was very fierce and the Spears being soon broke to pieces they came to close fighting with their Swords and here Craterus did by no means dishonour Alexander but slew several of his Enemies and repulst divers that assaulted him but at last received a Wound in his side from a Thracian and fell off his Horse Being down many not knowing him went over him but Gorgias one of Eumenes his Captains knew him alighting from his Horse guarded his Body which was now in an ill condition and even in the very Agony of Death In the mean time Neoptolemus and Eumenes were engaged who being inveterate and mortal Enemies sought for one another but missed for the two first Courses but in the third discovering one another they drew their Swords and with loud Shouts they immediately charged their Horses striking against one another like two Galleys they quitted their reins and taking mutual hold they drew off one anothers Helmets and their Armour from their Shoulders while they were thus stripping one another each of their Horses went from under them and they fell together to the ground each of them keeping their hold and wrestling Neoptolemus getting up first Eumenes wounded him in the hamm and withal got upon his feet before him Neoptolemus staying himself upon one knee the other Leg being grievously wounded and himself undermost fought courageously though his strokes were not mortal but receiving a blow in the neck he fell down and fainted Eumenes transported with Rage and inveterate Hatred to him sell to reviling and stripping of him and perceived not that his Sword was still in his hand wherewith he wounded Eumenes in the Groin near the privy parts but in truth rather frighted than hurt him his blow being faint for want of strength Having stript the dead Body ill as he was of the Wounds he had received in his Legs and Arms he took Horse again and made towards the left Wing of his Army which he supposed to be still engaged Hearing of the Death of Craterus he rode up to him and finding there was yet some Life in him alighted from his Horse and wept and laying his right hand upon him inveighed bitterly against Neoptolemus and lamented both Craterus his Misfortune and his own hard fate that he should be necessitated to engage against an old Friend and Acquaintance and either do or suffer so much mischief This Victory Eumenes obtained about ten days after the former and got a great reputation for atchieving it partly by his Conduct and partly by his Valour But on the contrary it created him great Envy both among his own and his Enemies that he a Stranger and a Foreigner should employ the Forces and Arms of Macedon to cut off one of the bravest and most considerable Men among them Had the news of this defeat come timely enough to Perdiccas he had doubtless been the greatest of all the Macedonians but now he being slain in a Mutiny in Aegypt two days before the News arrived the Macedonians in a rage decreed Eumenes his Death giving joint-Commission to Antigonus and Antipater to prosecute the War against him Passing by Mount Ida where the King had a breed of Horses Eumenes took as many as he had occasion for and sent an account of his doing so to the Masters of his Horse Whereat Antipater is said to have laught and profest to admire the wariness of the Man who seemed to think that an account of the King's Affairs would either be expected from him or given to him Eumenes had designed to engage in the Plains of Lydia near Sardis both because his chief strength lay in Horse and to let Cleopatra see how powerful he was But at her particular request for she was afraid to give any umbrage to Antipater he marched into the upper Phrygia and Wintered in Celaene when Alcetas Polemon and Docimus disputing with him who
little advanced unexpectedly they had a view of the Enemy who had passed the Hills that lay between them and was marching down into the Plain seeing therefore the glittering of the Enemies Golden Armour which glar'd in the Sun the good Order of their March the Elephants with their Castles on their backs and the Men in their Purple as their manner was when they were going to give Battel the Front stopt their March and called out for Eumenes for they would not advance a step but under his Conduct and fixing their Arms in the ground gave the Word among themselves to stand requiring their Officers also not to stir or engage or hazard themselves without Eumenes News of this being brought to Eumenes he hastned them that carried his Litter and put forth his right hand Assoon as the Soldiers saw him they saluted him in the Macedonian Language and took up their Shields and striking them with their Pikes gave a great shout inviting the Enemy to come on for now they had a Leader But Antigonus understanding by some Prisoners he had taken that Eumenes was sick and to that degree as to be carried in a Litter presumed it would be no hard matter to tread in pieces the rest of them since he was ill Wherefore he made the greater haste to come up with them and engage But being come so near as to discover how the Enemy was drawn up and appointed he was astonished and paused for some time at last he saw the Litter carrying from one Wing of the Army to the other and as his manner was laughing aloud he said to his Friends That Litter there it seems is the thing that offers us Battel but withal he immediately wheeled about with all his Army and decamped The other side finding a little respite returned to their former custom of revelling and assuring every Man the port of a General taking up for their Winter-Quarters near the whole Country of the Gabeni so that the Front was quartered near 100 furlongs from the Rear which Antigonus understanding marcht immediately towards them taking the worst way through a Country that wanted Water but the way was short though uneven hoping if he should surprize them thus scattered in their Winter-Quarters the Soldiers would not easily be able to come up time enough and join with their Officers But being to pass through a Country uninhabited where the Winds were bleak and boisterous and the Frosts great he was very much checkt in his March and his men exceedingly tired The only relief in this case was making continual fires whereby his Enemies got notice of his coming For the Barbarians who dwelt on the Mountains bordering upon the Desart amazed at the multitude of fires they saw sent Messengers upon Dromedaries to acquaint Peucestus He being astonisht and almost struck dead with the News and finding the rest in no less disorder resolved to flee and get up what Men he could by the way But Eumenes delivered him from his great fear and trouble undertaking to stop the Enemies Career that he should arrive three days later than he was expected Having persuaded them he immediately dispatched Expresses to all Officers to draw the Men out of their Winter-Quarters and Muster them with speed He himself with some of the chief Officers rode out and chose an eminent place within view of such as travelled the Desart this he fortified and quartered out and commanded many fires to be made in it as the Custom is in a Camp This done and the Enemies seeing the fire upon the Mountains Anguish and Despair seized Antigonus supposing that his Enemies had been long advertised of his March and were prepared to receive him Wherefore lest his Army now tired and wearied out with their March should be forced immediately to encounter with fresh Men who had Wintered well and were ready for him quitting the near way he marched slowly through the Towns and Villages to refresh his Men. But meeting with no such Skirmishes as are usual when two Armies lie near one another and being assured by the People of the Country that no Army had been seen but only continual Fires in that place he concluded he had been outwitted by a Stratagem of Eumenes and being very much troubled advanced towards him resolving immediately to give Battel By this time the greatest part of the Forces were come together to Eumenes and admiring his Conduct declared him sole Commander in chief of the whole Army Whereat Antigenes and Teutamus Captains of the Argyraspides being very much offended and envying Eumenes formed a Conspiracy against him and assembling the greater part of the Lords and Officers consulted when and how to cut him off When they had unanimously agreed first to abuse his service and make him miscarry in the next Battel and thence take an occasion to destroy him Eudamus the Master of the Elephants and Phadimus gave Eumenes private advice of this design not out of kindness or good will to him but lest they should lose the Money he had lent them Eumenes having commended them retired to his Tent and telling his Friends he lived among a Herd of wild Beasts made his Will mangled and tore all his Letters lest his Correspondents after his Death should be questioned or punished for the Intelligence they had given him Having thus disposed of his Affairs he thought of letting the Enemy win the Field or of flying through Media and Armenia and seizing Cappadocia but came to no Resolution while his Friends stayed with him After forecasting divers things in his mind which his changeable Fortune made unsteady and sickle he at last put his Men in Array and encouraged the Greeks and Barbarians as for the Argyraspides they encouraged him and bid him be of good heart for the Enemy would never be able to stand them For indeed they were the oldest of Philip and Alexander's Soldiers tried Men that had long made a Trade of War that had never been beaten or so much as foiled most of them 70 none less than 60 years old Wherefore when they charged Antigonus his Men they cried out You fight against your Fathers you Rascals and furiously falling on routed the whole Troop at once no Body being able to stand them and the greatest part dying by their hands so that Antigonus his Foot were routed but his Horse got the better and he became Master of the Baggage through the Cowardise of Peucestus who behaved himself negligently and basely While Antigonus not daunted with the loss of his Infantry was vigilant and active and had the advantage of the ground For the place where they fought was a large Field neither deep nor hard under foot but like the Sea-shore covered with a fine soft sand which the treading of so many Men and Horses in the time of the Battle reduced to a small white dust that like a Cloud of Lime darkened the Air so that one could not see clearly at any distance and so made it
Circumstances wherein either the Information of the Inhabitants or his own Experience had instructed him commanded his Soldiers to shovel up a great Quantity of this light dusty Earth to heap it up together and make a Mount of it over against the the Hill wherein these Barbarous People resided who imagining that all this Preparation was for the Raising of a Fort or for the making of a Bulwark against them they looked upon it as a Design most worthy to be laughed at however he continued the Work till the Evening and brought his Soldiers back into their Camp The next Morning when a gentle Breeze arose and moved the lightest Parts of the Earth and dispersed it about as the Chaff before the Wind and when the Sun coming to be higher the blustering Northerly Wind had covered the Hills with the dust the Soldiers turned this new Mount of Earth over and over and brake the Clots of Clay in Pieces whilst others on Horseback rode through it backward and forward and raised a Cloud of dust which being committed to the Wind was blown into the Dwellings of the Characitanians the entrances into which were all towards the North and there being no other Vent or Passage than that through which blustering Caecias rushed in upon them together with all the powdered Earth and Dust tossed and blown about it quickly blinded their Eyes and filled their Lungs and causing a Difficulty of Breathing choak'd them up whilst they strove to draw in the rough harsh Air mingled with streams of Dust nor were they able with great hardship to hold out above two Days but yielded up themselves on the third This Success added not so much to the Strength and Power of Sertorius as it encreased his Glory and Renown in letting the World see that he was able to conquer those Places by Art and by the Strength of his Brain which were impregnable and never to be taken by the Force of Arms. He was continualy Successful during the whole War against Metellus who by Reason of his Age and his slow Temper was not able to resist the active Boldness and Bravery of Sertorius who commanded a light army more like a Band of Robbers than a due established Militia When Pompey also had passed over the Pyreneans and placed his Camp near him where both of them gave their utmost Proofs of their Gallantry and Skill in War both in Receiving and Attacking one another Sertorius far surpassing him either in defending himself or countermining the Designs of his Enemies his fame was then highly celebrated even in Rome it self for the most terrible Warriour and the most expert Commander of his Time For considering that the Renown of Pompey was not small who had already won much Honour by his Prowess and Magnanimity in the Wars of Sylla from whom he received the Title of Magnus and was called Pompey the Great and who had ascended to the Honour of a Triumph before the Hairs were grown on his Face and many Cities which were under Sertorius had an earest Desire to Revolt when they were deterred from it by that great Action amongst others which he performed near the City of Lauron contrary to the Expection of all As soon as Sertorius had laid siege to Lauron Pompey came with his whole Army to relieve it and there being a Hill near this City very advantagiously seated they both made haste to take it But Sertorius prevented him and took possession of it first and Pompey having drawn down his Forces was not sorry that it had thus succeeded for he imagined that he had hereby enclosed his Enemy between his own Army and the City and sent in a Messenger to the Citizens of Lauron to bid them be of good Courage and to come upon their Walls where they might see their Besieger Besieged Sertorius perceiving their Intentions smiled and told them he would now teach Sylla's Scholar for so he called Pompey in derision that it was the Part of a General to look as well behind him as before him and at the same time shewed them six thousand Soldiers which he had left in his former Camp from whence he marched out to take the Hill where if Pompey should assault him they might fall upon his Rear Pompey discovered this too late and not daring to give Battle for fear of being encompassed in on every side and yet being ashamed to leave his Friends and Confederates in extream Danger was forced to sit still and see them ruined before his Face for the Besieged despaired of Relief and delivered up themselves to Sertorius who spared their Lives and granted them their Liberties but burnt their City not out of Anger or Cruelty for of all Commanders that ever were Sertorius seems least of all to have indulged these Passions but only for the greater Shame and Consusion of the Admirers of Pompey and that it might be reported amongst the Spaniards that the Fire which burnt down his Confederates tho' 〈◊〉 was so near as to be well warm'd at it was not able to raise heat enough in him to dare to relieve them Sertorius sustained some Losses in these Wars but he always defended those with him and maintain'd himself Invincible and it was by other Commanders under him that he suffer'd and he was more admir'd for being able to repair his Losses for shewing himself brave in danger for recovering the Victory when the Field seem'd already to be lost than the Roman Generals against him for gaining these Advantages As at the Battle of Sucro against Pompey and at the Battle near Turia against him and Metellus together It is reported that the Battle near the City of Sucro was fought through the Impatience of Pompey lest that Metellus should share with him in the Victory and thro' the willingness of Sertorius to fight with him before the Arrival of Metellus However Sertorius delay'd the time till the Evening considering that the darkness of the Night would be a great disadvantage to his Enemies either Flying or Pursuing who were meer Strangers and had no knowledge of the Country When the fight began it happened that Sertorius was not placed directly against Pompey but against Afranius who had Command of the Left Wing of the Roman Army as he commanded the Right Wing of his own but when he understood that his Left Wing began to give way and yield to the furious Assaults of Pompey he committed the care of his Right Wing to other Commanders and made haste to relieve those in distress and rallying some that were flying and encouraging others that still kept their Ranks he renewed the Fight and set upon them with that Force that he routed the Enemy and brought Pompey who was pursuing into great danger of his Life for after being wounded and thrown from his Horse he escaped unexpectedly for the Africans with Sertorius who took Pompey's Horse set out with Gold and covered with rich Trappings fell out with one another and upon
their Infantry who were placed in the left Wing The Roman Commanders soon perceived the Design but could not contain the Soldiers for one happ'ning to shout out that the Enemy fled they all hastned to pursue them whereupon the Barbarian Foot came on moving like a great Ocean Here Marius having washed his hands and lifting them up towards Heaven vowed an Hecatomb to the Gods and Catulus too in the same posture solemnly promised to consecrate a Temple to the Fortune of that day they say that Marius having the Victim shewed to him as he was sacrificing cried out with a loud voice The Victory is mine 43. However in the Engagement they that write Sylla's Life say that Marius was very unfortunate for a great dust being raised which as it might very probably happen almost covered both the Armies he as soon as he had charged them leading his Forces to the pursuit missed of the Enemy and having passed by their Army for a good space wandered up and down the Field mean while the Enemy by chance engaged with Catulus and the heat of the Battel was chiefly with him and his men among whom Sylla says he was The Romans had great advantage of the heat and Sun that shone in the faces of the Cimbri for they though very well able to endure cold as having been bred up in cool and shady places as we observed before were yet overcome with the excessive Heat they sweat extreamly and were much out of breath being forced to hold their Shields before their Faces for this Battel was fought not long after the Summer Solstice or as the Romans reckon about the third of the Calends of August then called Sextilis The Dust too gave no small addition to their Courage in as much as it hid the Enemy for they could not afar off discover their number but every one advancing to encounter those that were nearest to them they were come to fight hand-to-hand before the sight of so vast a multitude had struck terror into them 44. The Romans were so much used to labour and so well exercised that in all the heat and toil of the Encounter not one of them was observed either to sweat or to be out of breath insomuch that they say Catulus recorded it in commendation of his Soldiers Here the greatest part and most valiant of the Enemies were cut in pieces for those that fought in the Front that they should not break their Ranks were fast tied to one another with long Chains put through their Belts As they pursued those that fled to their Camp they met with a most horrid Tragedy the Women standing in Mourning by their Carriages slew all that fled some their Husbands some their Brethren others their Fathers and strangling their little Children with their own hands threw them under the Wheels and Horses feet and then killed themselves They tell of one that was hanging on the very top of a Waggon with her Children tied dangling at her heels the men for want of Trees tied themselves some to the horns of the Oxen the necks of others were fastned to their legs that so pricking them on by the starting and springing of the Beasts they might be torn and troden to pieces Yet for all they thus massacred themselves above 60000 were taken Prisoners and those that were slain were said to be twice as many 45. The ordinary plunder Marius's Soldiers forcibly took away but the other Spoils as Ensigns Trumpets and the like they say were brought to Catulus's Camp which he used for the best Argument that the Victory was obtained by himself and his Army Whereupon some Dissentions arising as it often happens among the Soldiers the Ambassadors from Parma being then present were made Judges of the Controversie whom Catulus's men carried about among their slain Enemies and manifestly shewed them that they were slain by their Piles which were known by the Inscriptions having Catulus's Name cut in the Wood nevertheless the whole Glory of the Action was ascribed to Marius by reason of his former Victory and under colour of his present Authority The Populace more especially stiling him the third Founder of their City as having diverted a danger no less threatning than was that when the Gauls sacked Rome and every one rejoicing at home with his Wife and Children sacrificed to the Gods and to Marius and would have had him solely to have the honour of both the Triumphs However he would not do so but Triumphed together with Catulus being desirous to shew his Moderation even in so great Circumstances of good Fortune besides he was not a little afraid of the Soldiers in Catulus's Army lest if he should wholly bereave their General of the Honour they should endeavour to hinder him of his Triumph 46. Marius was now in his Fifth Consulship and he used for the Sixth in such a manner as never any before him had done he took the People by the hand and ingratiated himself with the Multitude by his Complaisance thereby not only derogating from the Publick Grandeur and Majesty of his Office but acting also contrary to his own inclination that so he might seem popular and obliging for which nature had never designed him He was they say exceeding timorous through his Ambition in any business which concerned the Government or was handled in Publick Assemblies and that undaunted presence of Mind he always shewed in Battel against the Enemy forsook him when he was to Harangue the People being one that was apt to shew very great Concern either at their commendation or dispraise 'T is reported that having at one time made free of the City 1000 men of Camerino who had behaved themselves valiantly in this War and this seeming to be illegally done some or other calling him to an account for it he answered that the Law spake too softly to be heard in such a noise of War however he himself appeared to be more concerned and astonished at that noise which was made by the Assemblies The need they had of him in time of War procured him his Wealth and Dignity but in Civil Affairs when he despaired of getting the first place he was forced to betake himself to the favour of the People never regarding to be a good man so that he were but a great One 47. Whereupon he became very odious to all the Nobility and especially fearing Metellus who had been so ingratefully used by him and who being truly vertuous was naturally an Enemy to those that managed the People not for the publick good but for their private pleasure Marius therefore endeavoured to banish him the City and to this purpose he contracted a familiar Acquaintance with Glaucias and Saturninus a couple of daring resolute Fellows who had a great company of poor seditious People at their beck by their assistance he enacted certain Laws and gathering some Soldiers he placed them in the Assembly and by this Faction oppressed Metellus And as