being wonderfully beloued of the Romanes and honoured excéedingly for his happie successes in his warres grew in the ende so proud that he disdained anie superiour which ambitious minde caused his shamefull destruction First being but a youth he entered into Africke committing there most horrible slaughters of the Africans subduing their Countrey to the Romane Empire returning to Rome from thence he spéedely marched into Spaine where he ouercame in Battaile the most valiaunt Captaine Sertorius beeing then an Exile in Spaine and before inuincible He also vanquished the great king of Pontus called Mithridates with a mightie number of people For which great victories he triumphed in Rome twise not being filled with these great conquests and murders of distressed people nor satisfied with his stately triumphs but forthwith inuaded and conquered these realmes and nations as Armenia Cappadocia Paphlagonia Media Cilicia Mesopotamia Iudea Arabia Colchis Iberia Albania and Syria for the which also he triumphed in Rome In these warres he gathered a mightie masse of treasure whereby he both inriched the common treasure-house of Rome and also himselfe the gold which he brought to Rome from the spoiles of these wars was 2000. talents which amounteth of our mony to 28026600. pounds beside that which he gaue to euery priuat souldior which was sixe pounds to euery man therefore it is to be thought that in so great an hoast as pertained to the cōquests of so many countries must needs extend to a wonderfull summe of money If then the summe which was preserued did amount to such a mightie masse It is also to be supposed the priuat spoiles and booties of the common souldiors did arise to a great quantitie which was not openly declared Wherefore it is to be considered how that Pompey thorough his vnsatiable appetite did spoile and sacke on infinite number of statelie Cities and rich towns with the sheding of huge streams of bloud in the gathering together of this mucke for which cause also manie thousands of his people lost their liues Returning to Rome with the rich spoiles his haughtie pride much more increased in somuch that no Romane in what office soeuer might be his péere no nor scant his equall and to establish his estate the better he married Iulia the daughter of Iulius Caesar a mightie Roman but this friendship not long continued for Iulia died then coulde not Caesar and Pompey agrée for the stately pride of the one could not brooke or digest the haughty mind of the other whereby there grew amongst the Romans great controuersie and debate insomuch that in the ende it came to bloudie blows and mightie slaughters as wel of Romans themselues as of infinite thousands of strange nations and forren people but at the last Pompey was vanquished and forced to flie priuily by sea into Aegypt where by the conduct of king Ptolomeus he was slaine in a bote his head being stricken off and his body cast on the stround where it was but poorely buried Thus died Pompey when he had liued thrée score yeares spending his time in sheding bloud whose proude minde in his aged time would not suffer his body to rest but in striuing and contending for superioritie he most shamefully lost his life Thus good friend it is manifest what aspiring mindes gaine in the end For further proofe whereof it might more sufficiently be prooued by the fall of diuers other kings and princes which at this time I omit hoping that these few examples shall as well suffice as if I had more amply related or apparantly expressed them by further examples Scho. Sir for your great courtesie herein I yéelde you most hartie thankes not being willing to trouble you any further in these examples for you haue most plainely manifested the reward of discontentment the incident ende of aspiring mindes the imminent perill which doeth dayly hang ouer the climers for superioritie so that first from the beginning being certified of the state of man wherein is shewed that he holdeth nothing proper of himselfe but borroweth what he hath of others by reason of his nakednesse then also what an vncertaine thing life it selfe is in this naked bodie of man so that man being of this bare and base mettell ought not to thinke himselfe immortall then also what was more necessary to gouerne the fraile life and naked bodie of man than temperance showing the quietnesse and happie state to the possessors thereof And now in like sort in these your last examples what troubles vexations perilles and vtter confusion dooth happen and fall consequently to the wanters of the afore saide gift therefore as you haue orderlie begun so my request is that you will accordinglie procéede forward Fa. Truly friend there are many enimies to the life of man which for their pleasantnesse at the first are taken as deere friends for the nature of man is to account that a friendlie pleasure which fullie satisfieth his lewde vaine and gréedie appetite although after it shortly turneth him to destruction The wise Marcus Cato finding out and perceiuing that worldlie muck as heapes of gould and siluer which is but mettle of the earth was one of the chiefest enimies and aduersaries to the quiet state and peaceable rest of man when hee came from the conquest of Spaine hauing gathered a great masse of treasure together First considered to himselfe what inconuenience this money and coyne might purchase either to himselfe or to any of his friends which might possesse too great a quantitie thereof also fearing that if he should bring it into the tresurie of Rome it would trouble and disquiet the whole bodie of the Senat who hauing sufficient before as Cato thought might therewith purchase the death and destruction of many thousands of Romans and other people for as he thought if they had such a huge masse of treasure they would haue prouided to conquer the world if it had bin possible for them Which thing he might well conceiue for that he at that time was commanded and sent by the Senat to make a cōquest of Spaine but wise Cato foreséeing all these euills and expected harmes at his retourne out of Spaine towards Rome gaue to euerie one of his Souldiers which were a mightie number a pound waight of siluer because hee would dissolue and seperate the suspected mischiefe knowing also that the monie was vnreuocable againe out of so many holders hands saying better it were that many should returne to Rome with siluer then a few with golde which as Cato supposeth is one of the most speciallest enimies to the quiet state and gouernement of man bréeding trouble and vexation to the minde which otherwise would be in quiet rest In like manner Crates a Philosopher perceiuing what vnquietnesse the goods of this world bred to the mind of man threw his riches and treasure into the sea because they should neither molest or trouble himselfe nor otherwise infect his friends with auarice saying Packe hence you vngratious appetites
it is most certainly reported that Bonosus a Romane Emperour was such an excéeding quaffer and bibber of wine that Aurelius writeth of him in this sort saying that Hee was not borne to lead a life but to lift a pot In the end for his misgouernment by reason of his vnsatiable quaffing he was disinherited of his Empire by Probus who succéeded him for which cause he went and most shamefully hanged himselfe who being beheld of manie they scoffed and flouted at him saying It was a tankard or wine pot did hang there and not a man In like sort Tiberius the 3. Emperour of Rome delighting in such inordinate quaffing and sucking of wine and being so immoderately taken would lie so disorderly drunke that his owne subiects reproachfully and despitefully termed him whose name was Claudius Tiberius Nero to be Caldius Biberius Mero which is a most monstrous quaffer and gréedie deuourer of liquor Also Philip King of Macedonia sonne to Amintas and father to Alexander the great who although he had manie good most singular vertues yet notwithstanding the vice of drunkennesse so drowned all the rest of his good qualities and curteous behauiours that the reproach of one vice was more often spokē of after his death to the great slaunder of his noble acts than all the rest of his most worthie merites could be noted to his euerlasting praise His propertie was being either in garrison or camp after a banquet or merrie making his head somwhat drowned in wine as his common custome was would set out on his enemies and fight with them presently in that braue moode which often turned to his great losse and also made his bodie receiue manie a wound which easely he might haue preuented in his sobernesse In his drunkennesse he was alwayes found a truce breaker kéeping neither promise nor faith which before he had plighted insomuch as on a time being demanded why he kept not the league which he was sworne vnto at Melitus which indéed he had broken being in his accustomed folly and not much better when hee was asked the question Tush said he as children are trained beguiled with trisles euen so are men to be deluded and mocked with oaths Of which dooings and sayings being sober he would greatly repent himselfe and gouerne his procéedings wonderfull wisely For at what time he had gotten a great victorie conquest against the Athenians at Cheronea doubting least that he should grow too proud of this his great good hap prouided a bridle to kéepe vnder such inordinate pride causing a boy euerie day in the morning without fayling to come to his chamber dore calling aloud saying Philip remember thou art a man mortall Thus he vsed to heare the boy thrice euerie morning before he would permit or suffer anie suters or others whatsoeuer to tread ouer his chamber threshold or come néere his presence Hee was also a man of great humilitie and patience for on a time the Athenians sending an Ambassade to him whom he patiently heard and at their departure said Know ye said he anie thing wherin I may be beneficiall to you or your countrey for that I greatly desire both to pleasure your selues and also to doo the Towne of Athens some good Democrates at that time being companion in the Athenian ambassage said Yes mary Philip if thou wilt hang vp thy selfe Which answere sore troubled his companions But Philip most gently and coollie answered saying Say ye to the Athenians that they which for anger cannot abstaine from such words are much prowder of courage than they which suffer it spoken without punishment and doe easilie digest so proud an iniurie He had also like patience at Meton For when he had long besieged the Citie and could not get it at last he gaue a sharpe allarme and fierce assault on the Citie In which conflict he lost his eye to his great griefe and paine But when the Citizens of Meton humbly requested mercie at his hands when their towne could holde out no longer he notwithstanding his gréefe and great iniurie remitted their trespasse vpon their duetifull submission In iustice also when he was sober he was very vpright for on a time sitting in iudgement and hearing a matter in controuersie before him taking at that time litle regard what was spoken and sometime stumbring at the last gaue iudgement against one Machetas who crying out with a lowde voice saide O Philip I appeale Whereat he being sore moued with an angrie looke said To whom doest thou appeale I appeale said Machetas to Philip being thorowly awaked and not to thee O king when thou sleepest Whereat he thorowly awaking himselfe perceiued that Machetas had manifest wrong after that he had heard the matter openly explaned and related geuing thereunto good eare what was spoken Yet notwithstanding by no meanes he would reuerse his iudgement but the summe of money wherein he was condemned he paid it of his treasure himselfe Yet againe in the ende he fell to his accustomed cuppes forgetting himselfe satisfiing his gréedy appetite in vnmeasurable swilling and bibbing insomuch that when Pausanias a lusty young Gentleman came to him to complaine of a great and vile iniurie which he had suffered by one of the kings noble-men when he was but a youth and kept in the Court by reason of his nonage And now crauing for iustice and equitie at his hand and to stand an vpright king and iust gouernour betwixt them both The abuse was Attalus a noble-man in the Court which was then counseller to Philip the king had taken the youth Pausanias being a propper yong boy to his house where he ordeyned a costly banquette vpon purpose making Pausanias dronken and afterward abused his body most filthely after the detestable maner of the Sodomites Which vile villanie the youth tooke gréeuously and now being at mans estate came to the king to complaine of this most mōsterous abuse which Attalus had offered him being but a boye Whereat Philip being at that time as it séemeth somewhat merry in his cuppes deriding and mocking him for his labour with great laughter nothing entering into the cause of the abuse Wherewith Pausanias being sore moued finding no redresse of the king who shoulde haue shewed him true iustice Wherefore he turned his anger from Attalus to the king himselfe and as Philip came walking along in the middest of his friends not once suspecting the matter this Pausanias stabbed him thorow with a sword So that Philip the king of Macedonia forthwith died Thus ended this Prince by not ministring true iustice to his Subiects which especially procéeded by his accustomed folly in such excessiue quaffing who otherwise might well haue béen called the good Prince of Macedonia In like case his sonne Alexander surnamed the great nothing digressing from the steppes of his father Philippe but rather excelled him in this vile and detestable qualitie of quaffing insomuch that it is certainly reported of him being frée and
be as ioyfull vnto them as the restitution of their daughter vndefiled Then Scipio being ouercome with their long and vehement intercession caused the saide summe to be layd on the ground before his feete and calling Lucius againe to him hee said Beside the dowrie that you shall receiue of your Father in law for the mariage of his daughter ye also shall take this gift at my hande With which his great gift and also much honor done to him beside he returned home to his house countrey declaring to euery man the honor magnificence of noble Scipio saying There was a young man come most like a God who both with his power in warre and also with his gentlenes and liberalitie in peace had ouercome all the countrey Not long after this young Gentleman leauing his house and familie in good order returned to Scipio bringing with him 1400. good horsemen to the ayde and succour of the Romanes Thus first Scipio began with mercy lenity and gentle courtesie which was the cause that he gote in the end to the Romanes such notable and mightie victories The great Pompey neuer gate the like renowne in all his conquest of Spaine and Affrike nor in the subduing of the valiant Sertorius neither in the victories of Armenia Cappadocia Arabia Iberia Mesopotamia with diuers other Prouinces and Kingdomes as he did by his great courtesie For when in his warres against Mithridates he had taken certaine noble matrons and beutifulll virgins he caried a vigilant eye ouer them neither abusing any of them himselfe nor suffering his captains or souldiers to dishonour or dishonest them in any case calling them all together before him comforting them with sweete wordes in the best maner he coulde saying That none vnder paine of death should offer them villanie graunting foorth his safeconduct to them that they might be conueyed to their husbandes parents and friends with honour vndefiled richly rewarding them with iewels which he had taken in his warres protesting also vnto them that he for his part was most heartely sorrie that it was his hap so to fright and terrifie such hurtlesse creatures requesting them to take it in good part for such was the chaunce and casualtie of warre for which gentle behauiours had it not béen for certaine other lewd vices which are before mentioned he had attained to péerlesse praise Alexander the great king of Macedon although hee frequented a number of most notable and bad vices yet were it no reason to burie in obliuion and forgetfulnesse couering as it were in the graue of silence the gentle courtesie and manly pietie which hee showed in most ample maner to the distressed houshold and familie of king Darius For euen at such time as the mightie Warres began betwéene these two Princes In the second Battaile and conflict Alexander had a great victorie against Darius and the Persians taking the tents with all the bag baggage appertaining to the King and the Persians and also for a pray amongst other booties hee tooke prisoners the mother wife sister and the two daughters of King Darius his enemie whome when Alexander came to comfort beeing in great sorrow and distresse they beholding him comming with an armed troupe pitifully schritched and lamentably cried out as if they then should presently haue been slaine falling downe prostrate at the féete of Alexander beséeching him that they might before they died burie the dead bodie of their Lord Darius whom they supposed to be slaine in that bloudie fight and that now wheras he was a man and had at this time gotten a most noble and manly victorie against Darius their Lord and King so to behaue himselfe towards those poore distressed creatures who were altogether vnguiltie of that pitiful slaughter being as it were present in the Armie with their friend for their countreyes cause and in defence of their libertie in which also their Lord King Darius was now slaine therefore now that he would vouchsafe to bestow the bodie of their slain friend on them that they might doo to him in their life the rights of buriall and then said they O Alexander our liues be at thy cōmaundement Alexander beeing greatly mooued with pitie séeing their bitter teares and considering the hard hap and bad destinie of so noble Dames bewayled their distressed case with wéeping further comforting them saying that Darius theyr Lord and King was aliue and at libertie still with his owne force and power and although he was ouercome in that fight yet was he readie to giue newe battaile againe as in déede hee did causing them to banish feare from them for that no iniurie or wrong should happen to them giuing also commaundement that they should be prouided for and vsed as to their high estate and dignitie appertained giuing good words and comfort vnto the two yong Daughters of Darius wishing them assuredly to thinke and firmely to perswade themselues that hee woulde haue as great care to bestowe them in marriage if King Darius their father did die and perish in these warres as he liuing with a fatherly care would prouide for them and that with no base or obscure mates Which thing when Darius was truely certified of and of the courteous entertainement of his mother wife and sister being all prisoners and captiues at the hands of Alexander his enemie although he then was able to geue battaile to the strongest king of the earth for he agayne had gathered a most mightie and huge armie was already ouercome and conquered with the gentle courtesies of his enemie altogether vnwilling to fight against so friendly a foe wherfore he sent his letters to Alexander requiring him that he might redéeme his captiues promising a mightie summe masse of money for their raunsome Notwithstanding Alexander would receiue no money but required his whole kingdome for their redemption Darius not willing to fight with so friēdly an enemie sent his letters to Alexander the second time offering one of his daughters in mariage with part of his kingdome to him if it might please him to accept thereof But the vnsatiable Alexander could not be content with part vnlesse he might haue all the whole And as for the offer of his daughters he returned this answere saying He had them already and could doe with them his pleasure Now was Darius forced to goe against his friendly foe the thirde time hoping to get his prisoners and yet notwithstanding louing and honouring the very name of Alexander for the great courtesie and lenitie he had shewed to his familie The army and power of Darius was at this time foure hundred thousand footmen and an hundred thousand horsmen thus marching toward his enemie Alexander it was told him in his iorney that his wife was dead whose death Alexander lamented with teares and caused a noble funerall to be appointed doing to her the greatest honor he could deuise comforting the rest requesting them not so heauely to take the death of their friend whose
vntill such time that experience hath caught their follie But now againe to our purposed procéedings Hath it not béen séene that the stately pride and loftie lordlinesse of diuers hath purchased to others great quietnes Is it not sufficiently knowen that before this last warre betwixt the Carthaginians the Romanes there was an auncient peace and league taken and agreed vpon betwixt them deuiding their Empires with the riuer of Iberius and that their two Segniories should ioyntly be knowen the one from the other for that the haughtie pride and loftie statelinesse of them both could not brook the controlment each of other therefore they thus diuided their Empires not tollerating the imperial minds of each other because they were both a strong and mightie people still contending vntill that agreement which of them both shuld enioy possesse the whole This at that time happened thorough the stately pride of them both There were a people namely the Saguntines who dwelt betwixt both their Empires and deuided their Segniories in equall sort which people before were vnder the obedience of the Romanes but now in great controuersie which of those stately Empires should inioy and possesse them for that it did lye so cōuenient for them both Thus after long contending when neither partie would yeeld that the other should enioy it at the last this was agreed vpon betwixt them both that the Saguntines lying so in the middle should be a border and bank to both their Empires remaining a tree people at libertie frō both their powers neither of them medling with the gouernment of theyr Common wealth nor troubling their Countrey in respect vppon paine of the breach of auncient amitie but should let them wholly alone to their owne rule and gouernment Thus was Sagunt freed from her proud neighbors who for a long time had kept her vnder subiection and seruitude by reason of their imperiall mindes and now againe through their stately pride set at libertie and fréed from such slauerie as before they were holden in In like case when the Athenians and Megarences had manie times fought togeather in diuers most cruell and bloudie battailes for the superioritie and regiment of the Isle Salamina hauing on both parts well tyred themselues with the dayly slaughters and lamentable losses of their people in the end being so wearied with the calamities of warre they were willing on either sior to constitute and ordaine a law that none vnder paine of death should dare on either part to speak or moue warre against Salamina but that it shuld be at frée libertie from them both Did not Ptolome King of Aegypt and Antigone Prince of the Phrigians so mallice and contemne one the other that to despite and displease each other they restored to libertie manie Cities of Greece which were quietly possessed by them before so that the Grecians although for a time they were restrained from their libertie yet notwithstanding they were in the ende againe clearely fréed from such seruitude by the malicious and proud contending of those Imperiall minded Princes Now whereas our purpose is to showe the inconueniences of cruell warre rather commending the peaceable and quiet state of the weale publique than the bitternesse of warre and bloudie fight neither is my entent so to disswade a Common wealth from the prouision of warre that in time of néede they should altogether be destitute of armour men weapon to beate downe and kéepe backe the proud inuading foe but rather exhorting earnestly wishing them to vse and practise all manner of commendable actions in militarie and martiall affaires to become both expert and skilfull in warlike prowesse onely to the end to defend their owne quiet and well gouerned Common wealth but forasmuch as the hazard of battaile and the stay wheron the whole state dependeth ought not to be giuen and yéelded into the hands of such desperate youths such fresh water souldiors and such proud minded perfons as will neither heare anie friendly counsaile wise aduice nor sage warning of him who hath béene before taught by experience but will with an ouer-rash and vnbridled selfe will as they say with a flantarowe all a brauado run headlong without anie good or gouernment hazarding the spoyle of their souldiers ieoparding the subuersion of a Kingdome venturing the whole state to them committed in one hower to the mutable and vnstedfast chaunce of frowning Fortune There I say is to bee expected as great calamitie as Minutius brought to the Romanes Hanniball to the Carthaginians and Paris to the Troians who by their wilfull follies wrought great miserie to their Countryes neither is the Enemie to bee repelled nor battaile to bee prouided for with superfluous and excessiue brauerie as though they would contend with feathers scarffes trim knackes and such other painted and gilded stuffe hoping to daunt and feare the foe with such vaine toyes Nay surely it dooth incoruage the Enemie hoping to recouer that rich pray spoyle perswading themselues that such vaine pride procéedeth from a fond and foolish wit through which conceipt the enemie is the more better stirred to battaile It may be that some will obiect this saying It is not wisedome nor by anie meanes tollerable to disswade the yong souldiour from that which dooth increase his courage more willingly to follow martiall feates and warlike affaires saying also it is for the honour of his Countrey to come to the field like a braue souldiour meaning by his outward braue attyre gorgeous furniture and other their ordinarie brauerie by them vsed Whereunto I aunswere after this manner Hanniball after he had contended in sharpe and mortall warres long time against the Romanes and was in conclusion beaten out of Italy by the prudence of the valiant Scipio he fled to King Antiochus who at that time had gathered a great power to warre on the Romanes The Armie beeing in a readinesse Antiochus called the wife and politike Captaine Hanniball to the top of a verie high hill shewing him all his whole power being gathered together from all parts of his Dominions for the same purpose This Armie was excéeding sure in the Kings opinion for the Souldiours targets glittered all with Orient golde their armours also wonderfully furnished with golde and rich pearle to conclude euerie thing marueilous sumptuous and braue Antiochus heereat greatly boasting saide vnto Hanniball My good friend doost thou not thinke this my rich and mightie Armie to be inough and sufficient for the proud Romanes Who presently fell into a great laughter laughing Antiochus to scorne for his superfluous vanitie and foolish folly saving in slouting sort Yes truely Antiochus although the Romanes were the most vnsatiable people and discontented Nation of the world Meaning that their rich booties and spoyles would be sufficient and inough againe for the Romanes knowing notwithstanding that their power would prooue small inough to match with them for that he himselfe before had well tried and felt their force
flout and mock me that I despaired whether euer I should speake with your person or no so many of your abusers did represent your presence but now hoping to bee certified with the true reports of your owne mouth of those things and doubtes wherein you haue béen so often abused For it is crediblie reported that you are the greatest traueller in the world and haue séene all Kingdomes and nations of the earth by your vnspeakeable swiftnes the vttermost Iles in the maine Ocean hath had your presence the mightiest Kings and Princes of the earth can neither stop or hinder your appointed trauaile you passe their priuie chambers and know their secret counsailes your eyes haue séene the vncertaintie of time the mutabilitie of honor the vnconstancie of fortune the instabilitie varietie of the life of man the subuersion of kingdomes the ouerthrow of empires the ruine and destruction of stately townes and cities your eyes hath séene your eares hath heard your vnderstanding doth remember from the creation of the world and shall remaine vsque ad consummationem seculi therefore séeing your trauaile so wonderfull your cōtinuance so ancient and your memorie so notable I shall request you to vnfolde relate part of those things which your selfe are a witnesse of and haue with present eies beheld as the nature of things the condition of people with the inconueniences of this transitorie life and what calamities miseries troubles enormities and vexations doth commonly happen and incidently fall to man Fa. My good friend if the speaches of my mouth may chalenge such credite with you I am content to make you partaker of my great trauaile and what I know concerning the state of the world on this condition that your mind shall detaine carie away and perceiue with more liuelines of sense the effect of my words thā my tōgue by vttring can expresse so with your willing audience I shall bee content to resolue you in anie part wherein you shall demaund Scho. Sir I most hartely thanke you the condition shall be obserued kept to the vttermost of my power mine eares shal also be attendant in silent sort to uote your speaches wel therefore I pray you begin while I am armed with audience Fa. Well then my good friend it is requisit that I first begin with the enormities and inconueniences of the life state of man which he falleth oft into by the defalt of temperance without which gift he runneth headlong to his owne ruine destruction for Seneca saith If thou wilt esteeme and iudge truly what man is then set him naked before thee behold him well setting aside and laying a part from him possessions authoritie and all other giftes subiect to fortune then shall you see what he hath proper of himselfe and what he borroweth of other then shall you well perceiue this naked life of man without which gift it cannot well be preserued or gouerned but of necessitie must needes soone perish and decay Scho. Sir then by your leaue is temperance such a speciall necessary to the life of man Fa. Yea truely for on that hangeth and dependeth all other vertues requisite to the state and life of man it is the good ground of al gouernement a right direction to honest liuing and the true nurse and fosterer of prouident wisedom it keepeth the vnsatiable appetites of ambition vnder the yoke of reason and holdeth downe the immoderate desires of superioritie to be short I referre thée to the definition of Cicero who defineth it on this maner The property of temperance saith he is to couet nothing that afterward may be repented so that thorough the want thereof man falleth into infinite miseries Scho. Well sir then I perceiue that this gift is a most necessary and speciall maxime to the life and gouernement of man wherein I trust to be better instructed heereafter by some familiar examples which doth shew the fall and destruction in the wanters thereof and the quiet state and contentment to the possessors of the same Fa. Friend I will rehearse a very briefe example in the meane time for your better vnderstanding which shall shew a differēce betwixt the vnsatiable appetite of aspiring minds and the quiet state and peaceable contentment which is thorowly to be perceiued in the life of Aleaxnder the Great and Diogenes the philosopher Scho. First sir crauing pardon for interrupting your speeches me think this comparison is very vnfit vnseemely and the difference of vertue and vice will hardly be made manifest by the liues of these two the one being a great Prince and Emperour of many stately countries and kingdoms the other a poore seely beggar who liued by the almes of the people hauing for his house a simple tunne or barrell to harbour himselfe in without any other wealth or substaunce at all Fa. Nay then my good friend you will driue mee from the matter and cause me to make digression for argument sake but before I proceede any further it shall not be amisse to manifest the state of these two and descry your errour Alexander indeede was a great Prince and Emperour of the most part of the world and yet not so rich as Diogenes was for whereas you think the comparison altogether vnfit the one being a beggar and wonderfull poore the other a king and inestimable rich therefore I referre thee to the wise saying of Marcus Cato who saieth Qui contentus est sua sorte Diues est He that is content with his owne estate and calling is sufficient rich We find that Diogenes was content with his poore estate and Alexander not satisfied with al his kingdomes wherefore according vnto the opinion of Cato Diogenes was rich and Alexander poore for truely he can not be rich which is not satisfied neither can he be poore that is contented And further to confirme this argument Mandanus a wise philosopher of India to whom this Alexander sent messengers commanding him to come to the feast of Iupiters sonne which was holden at Babilon meaning himselfe to be the sonne of Ioue declaring further That if hee would come he should haue great rewards and riches giuen him but if he refused and would not obey his commandement he should be put to a most cruell death wherevnto the graue Philosopher answered stoutly saying That Alexander was neither the sonne of God nor yet certaine lord of any part or parcel of the earth but was as mortall as himself as for the gifts rewards of him that was himselfe so vnsatiable couetous hee nothing regarded returning this answere That if it wold please him to receiue accept a gift at his hād he would willingly giue it might very conueniently spare it which was his good counsel that he should holde himselfe content and satisfied with sufficient and to couet no more than were necessary saying That his abilitie was better able to giue than Alexanders for saith he hee woulde
the mother did take rest with her children in the morning her two sonnes were founde dead whereby it was gathered that the greatest benefit that man could haue was in the middest of his glory and praise to end his fraile life that the vnconstancie of fickle fortune might not blot out any part of that which he had before gotten Croesus the rich King of Lydia demanding on a time of Solon who was the happiest man that euer he did sée thinking that he would say Croesus for his great riches and wealth but Solon said Tellus a man of Athens who had honest and good sonnes and they also had good children all which he sawe in his life and when he had liued a good time honestly at the last fighting against and vanquishing the enemies of his countrie he died a faire death was in the same place honorably buried of the Athenians When Croesus asked who was most happy next Tellus Solon named those whome hee knewe to liue and die most happiest not naming Croesus at al where at he being abashed said vnto Solon My friend of Athens settest thou so little by our felicitie that thou preferrest before vs these priuat persoÌ„s SoloÌ„ answered Truly Croesus in proces of time many things are seene that men would not see and many things are suffered that men would not suffer and speaking much of mans calamitie at the last he concluded saying Ante obitum nemo supremáque funera foelix No man is happie or thorowly blessed before his last and vttermost end and that the end of euery thing is to be looked on where to it shall come for God plucketh vp many men by the rootes vnto whom he gaue all thinges at pleasure therefore I cannot account any man happy before his end be knowne Croesus made hereto no countenance at al but esteeming Solon for a foole considering hee passed so lightly vpon things which appeared good let him depart A good space after Croesus attempting warre against Cyrus king of Persia was at the last taken of him who caused a great pile of wood to be made redy and Croesus to be gyued and set on the top therof to be burned Then forthwith Croesus remembring the words of Solon that no man liuing was blessed or on all parts happy lamenting cried O Solon Solon Solon which Cyrus hearing caused it to be demaunded of him who it was that he named Croesus with much difficultie told who it was and declared all that was before rehearsed which wheÌ„ Cyrus had heard remembring himselfe to be also a man sore repented that he went about to burne him which was equall to himselfe in honour and riches and commaunded him to be taken from the fire which then began to flame so with great difficultie he was deliuered who coulde not perceiue his own errour before experience had made him wise wherefore in such causes it may aptly be sayd Phryx plagis emendatur he bethought himselfe too late Scho. It is sufficiently apparant by your examples that the life of man cannot be happy vntill his ende and that man ought to liue accordingly to attaine to that happinesse but the nature of men is so farre from that consideration that they rather thinke themselues immortall and without end as doth appeare by their liues most euident for they liue now in these our dayes according as the Agragentines did in times past for the wise Plato said of them They bâ—â—ded as if they would liue euer and fedd as if they should alwayes die because of their costlines in building and their delicatenes in eating the one shewing the immortall minde of man and by the other contrary to their meaning they runne headlong to an vntimely death which surfetting end according to the opinion of the wise Philosophers can not be accounted happy but whereas temperance hath beene the originall ground of our conference it shalbe also expedient that you would make manifest what the want thereof is as well in princes and high estates as in the meanest subiect and what by their vnsatiable coueting they gaine Fa. It is very requisite and necessary truely to shew the vnsatiable appetite of aspiring mindes and what by their inordinate coueting they gaine which commeth by the want of the aforesaid gift whereof I am right wel content my good friend so that you will diligently marke what I shall say herein I will first begin with a king of the Hebrewes whose name was Amasius liued before the incarnation of Christ 853. yeares who although he liued well and contentedly for a space yet in the ende he forgat himselfe and especially he forgat the liuing GOD whom he before had serued which hapned by his successes and innumerable riches where withall he grew so proude that not contenting himselfe he wrote to Ioas king of the Israelites commaunding him his people to be vnder his obedience and gouernement But Ioas after defiance gathered an army and went against Amasius whose people fled before they came to strokes for feare of Ioas himselfe being taken and brought to the king who threatned to kill him except he caused the gates of Ierusalem to be opened that he with his army might enter in there Amasius was forced to breake downe of his owne Citie walles foure hundred cubites by which way his enemie Ioas might enter in being also led as prisoner by his foe into his owne where his aduersary spoyled and robbed him before his face of al the treasure of his house and citie with the treasure of the temple which he commanded to be caried to Samaria and afterward being deliuered his owne people slew him This gained he for his discontentment In like sort Marcus Antonius a noble Roman whome Augustus the Emperour highly fauoured making him companion in the Romane Empire with himselfe vsing him so louingly and friendly that hee wholie ruled and commaunded the Empire so far foorth as Augustus himselfe in consideration wherof Antonius by the lewd enticement of Cleopatra Q. of Aegypt aspired to the whole Empire and to put downe his true and trusty friend Augustus who before had aduanced him to that dignitie for which vnsatiable appetite he was destroyed of his very louing and faithfull friend Also if Caesar Pompey Cyrus Alexander Hanniball and diuers other great Princes had bene coutented with their owne large kingdomes and possessions they had neuer bin driuen to those extreme and shamefull ends as they were so that it may well be prouerbially spoken Aurum Tolosanum habem they died most miserably whose liues and ends I would sufficiently relate and vnfold to the better vnderstanding and perceiuing of the quiet state of contentment and the shamefull fall and destruction of couetous and aspiring mindes but it may be that I shoulde ouer-weary your eares with tediousnesse for where a briefe will serue it were méere folly to make a volume Therefore for the auoyding of the blameable cause of ouer much tediousnesse
to bée slaine but both by the face and similitude of the youth and by the confession of the shepheard and the time of the receit thereof Hee then knewe that hee was his right Nephew vanishing all feare from himselfe of the aforesaide Dreame and Prophecie for thinking himself to bée as a dead man in his sleepe and his Nephew to bee King and as the Southsayers had declared hee should be thought himselfe clearelie freede from all perill But Harpagus scaped not vnpunished for breaking the kings commandement for Astiages catching the sonne of Harpagus slew him and caused his cookes to dresse the mangled boy inuiting after the father of the child causing him vnawares to eate his owne flesh Which thing being afterward knowne vnto Harpagus he dissembled the matter vntill he might with fit oportunitie reuenge this villanie foorthwith sending priuily into Persia to Cyrus shewing him how his grandfather had dealt with him for sauing his life wishing him also to prepare an army and come to chalenge his kingdome which his grandfather meant to defraud him of Cyrus hauing receiued the letters considering the ancient wrongs that his grandfather had offered him before and nowe also howe greatly hee had abused him who had preserued his life wherefore he presently gathered an army minding now to chalenge his right whilest that he had such a faithfull friend as Harpagus was who offered himselfe to do his vttermost in the behalfe of Cyrus But Astiages hearing of such great preparation against him by his nephew in like sort also prouided a mightie hand against him the conduction whereof he committed whollie to the gouernement of his counseller Harpagus who presently when he had receiued them yéelded vp the whole army to Cyrus to reuenge himselfe on the king for the great iniurie hee had offered him the king hauing knowledge thereof gathered a newe power of men and went himselfe against his nephew marching on to the borders of Persia where was fought betwixt the grandfather and the nephew a most cruell and bitter fight in which conflict this notable courage in the Persian women is remembred for the battell being planted on both partes woonderfull strong And Astiages to the intent his souldiours should fight manfully had diuided his army in such sorte that he placed at the backes of those that should fight the battell an other army of souldiors saying Vnles they ouercame and went forward they should finde as hard fight behinde them as their enemies were before them If in case they should offer to retire backe the battelles on both sides being come to handstrokes and deadly blowes the Persian army at the first began to flee backe and retire which sorrowfull sight the Persian women had soone espied wherefore foorthwith the matrons wiues and daughters assembled themselues in haste and running to méet them who came fléeing before Astiages and the Medeans as men despairing of their good fortune plucking and folding vp their clothes shewing the priuie secrets of their bodies asking them whether or no they would flée for succor into the wombs of their mothers or wiues requesting them ernestly to returne into the battell and fight for their liues saying That if they would needes runne home they coulde neither succour or helpe them any otherwise than by what meanes they had already shewed them By which castigation of the women the Persian souldiours retired into the battell againe and put their enemies to shamefull flight taking also prisoner Astiages the Medean king Thus far digressing from our purpose to shew both the crueltie of Astiages the valiantnesse of the Persian women and the good happe of Cyrus in attaining vnto the crowne But now to returne to our purpose againe Cyrus possessing all Persia and Medea was not contented with those large kingdomes and dominions but still coueted to enlarge his possessions delighting in bloudie battailes reioycing at the ruine and destruction of statelie Townes and Cities For after manie cruell fightes and bloudie broyles hee entered into Lydia where in a great battaile hee tooke Croesus the rich King thereof Notwithstanding he was not satisfied with all the treasure Kingdome of Lydia which was then the most richest Region vnder the heauens but marched forward into Asia conquering that also returning at the last with all the East part of the world which he held vnder the subiection Yet being not filled with bloudie fight nor satisfied with victorie he waged warre with the Scythians who at that time were gouerned by Quéene Thomyris which sent her Sonne with a great Armie to defend her Countrey but the subtile Captaine Cyrus perceiuing the yong man to be but a fresh water soldier fraughted his Tents well with wine and fresh vittaile in which he knewe the Scythians much delighted and after faining a flight as if thorough feare of the Scythian Armie he departed leauing his Tents wholly furnished to intrap the Scythians withall which fel out accordingly for the lustie youth ouer rashly and without good consideration seazed on those Tents being forsaken of the enemie and according to their accustomed manner fell to such excessiue quaffing and bibbing that the whole Armie was soone drunken therewith being void of all feare for that they supposed the Enemie to be fled But Cyrus being aduertised therof returned in the night to his tents againe finding the Scythians ouercome with his wine so that he easily slew the Sonne of Thomyris and the whole Scythian Armie The Quéene hearing of the losse of her deere Sonne also of her Armie did not spende the time in wéeping but presently sought meanes to reuenge her selfe on that vnsatiable wretch with such like subtiltie as Cyrus beguyled her sonne with such pollicie she trained him to his destruction for the Persians greatly reioycing in their first victorie and happie successe in the beginning and the Scythians contrariwise making shew as if they were greatly discomfited with the losse of their Armie and former foyle retiring still backe from their enemies to traine them in like sort into the marishes and straight places of their Countrey where the enemie was intangled before they knewe of any such practise or suspected anie such craft at all There was Cyrus slaine with 200000. Persians whereof there remained not one to carrie newes or message back into Persia how they had sped in Scythia in which great conflict slaughter when Thomyris had found out the dead bodie of Cyrus she caused the head to be cut from the carkasse flinging the head into a tub of mans blood which was filled for the same purpose saying Satia te sanguine quem sit isti cuiúsque insatiabilis semper fuisti Cyrus now satisfie thy selfe with blood which thou hast long thirsted after wherof thou couldest neuer haue thy fill Thus died Cyrus when he had raigned 30. 〈◊〉 Pompeius Magnus so called for his incomparable Uictories being the sonne of Pompeius Strabo in like case wanted the gift of temperance for
life by no meanes he coulde saue or preserue Now was Darius ouercome when his power was most strongest with the benefites and friendlinesse of his foe so honouring in his heart his aduersarie that for loue he bare him he could not arange his battaile against him reioysing greatly in himselfe and also saying to his friends If I am ouercome in this warre yet notwithstāding I haue great cause to reioyse that I shall be conquered by so noble a minded prince Wherefore againe he sent his letters to Alexander offering him the greater part of his kingdome to the riuer of Euphrates with his other daughter and for the other captiues he offered three hundred thousand talents But Alexander returned this answere refusing the compositiō saying It was need lessethankes of his enemie for he alwaies had vsed to reuenge himselfe on armed men and on his fighting foe and not vpon hurtlesse women Thus by the hautie courage of Alexander Darius was forced and drawen into the fielde vnwillinglie to fight against his enemie whom he estéemed as a friendly foe notwithstanding there was fought betwixt them a fierce and cruell battaile the Persians in the end being ouerthrowen with great slaughter for that Darius their Captaine could not encourage or stirre them vp to fight against his friend In which conflict certaine of the friends and alliance of Darius séeing the battaile vtterly lost and that Alexander was like presently to be Lord of the field sought to betray their king into the hands of Alexander thereby to pick a thanke or as they say to currie fauour In accōplishing of which thing Darius was sore wounded by his allies notwithstanding he escaped preuented their purpose But Alexander not hearing of Darius sent out seuen thousand horsmen to prosecute after him whō when they could not finde they requested leaue to rest themselues and their ouer wearied horses then one of the souldiers going to water his horse at a certaine riuer thereby by chaunce found out Darius lying in a coach or chariot being mortally wounded with many gréeuous hurtes ready to yéeld vp his life comming néere to the coach he did plainly perceiue that it was Darius and Darius did well knowe that he was one of the crewe or bande of Alexander wherefore he called him to his coache saying My good friend I greatly reioyce that it is my good fortune before I die to haue so fitte a messenger as yourselfe to carrie these my last words not to my enemie but to my good frend Alexander at whose handes I haue founde great fauour say thou my friende that I confesse I die greatly indebted vnto him being altogether vnable to requite the very least of his courtesies shewed to my mother wife and children and that I haue of him a more happier enemie than my kinsmen are frendly For my mother wife and children haue found both fauour and life at the hand of mine enemie and I my selfe am depriued of life by my kinsmen and allies to whom I gaue both life and land Wherefore I wish as great happines to fall on him as he being victor can wish or desire and that I euen now dying doe wholy committe and betake both myself my landes and goods into the hands of so noble a minded prince praying both to the high Gods and also to the infernall powers that he may be victor against whomsoeuer he wageth warre and that all blessings may happen to him according to his owne hartes desire And for the further acknowledging of my vnfeined loue and well wishing desire towardes Alexander my approued friend take here of me this my right hande which thou seest me cut of willingly being aliue and carrie it to thy Lord and master my good friend as a sure seale and firme pledge of my vnfeyned good will and hartie well wishing towards him Thus died Darius when hee coulde no otherwise gratifie and recompence his friendly foe for the great fauoures and courtesies shewed to his familie than by the acknowledging of his clemencie and and gentlenes This friendly fauour of Alexander was soone spred thorow the world and more often repeated to his high praise and commendation than the great and famous victorie which he had against the Persians which was a most wonderfull conquest and remayneth at this day the very chiefe and most principall praise and merite to Alexander Was there not likewise singular courtesie and wonderful gentlenes in King Darius which Alexander conquered For at such time as certaine of his noble men sought to entangle and take him by treason which were of no small account amongst the Persians Darius the King hauing intelligence of their wicked practise thus considered with himselfe and brake it vnto his secrete friend saying Here are diuers noble men which traiterously haue conspired my death if now I shoulde put them all to the sworde there is no doubt but that I should stirre vp against me many of their friends and allies and so be forced to make great effusion of bloud which truely is contrarie and repugnant to my nature The cause surely to me is vnknowen why they should thus wickedly worke my hurt It may be they would be better cōtent with another king to raign ouer them than with me now their present prince yet truely I rather chuse to haue it registred of their disloyaltie toward their Prince by my death than to purchase to my selfe the name of a cruell tyrant by their bloudy slaughters With these considerations he concealed the matter making a shew as though he nothing mistrusted any such thing on a time riding foorth a hunting these noblemen which had conspired against him flocked together hoping now to get some conuenient time and place for their purpose riding with the king to the forrest making a shewe of great ioy and gladnes to the end the king should suspect no euill but he full well knew their intent though he dissembled the matter Thus following their game they trouped together hoping that the king would come that way which they had laide and stauled for him which indéede he did The King séeing their intent and spying their order singled himself from the rest of his companie going directly to the traytors who stoode in ambush redy to fulfill and accomplish that for which cause they came The king boldly rushed into the middest of them saying Now ye traytors dispatch and committe that which ye are determined to doe I haue long time knowē your intent for because I would not be counted a bloudy prince I haue spared you all rather chusing that your handes should be unbrued in the bloud of your giltlesse Prince to your euerlasting infamie and dishonor than my sworde should be stayned with the slaughter of so many Subiectes wishing rather here to die and free your troubled mindes than to liue and remaine such an eyesore to so many noble estates though traytors to their Prince Therefore said he Quid igitur non exequimini id cuius
necessaries to be brought them Gracchus then captaine of a band of Romans which lay thereabout waiting if Hanniball would remooue his siege seeing what great extremitie they suffered receiuing letters daylie from them which signified in what lamentable case they stoode and what mortalitie was in the city for want of sustenance so that they were faine to eate their boots and other straps and thongs of leather being much moued with these great miseries also seeing the Citizens to stand on the walls to the end that some dart shot or other weapon might abridge and shorten their griefe yet for all this hee might not fight with Hanniball although hee surelie thought hee might wyth ease haue rescued the Towne for that hee was commaunded to the contrarie by the Dictatour nowe seeing the Citie in such distresse and that he might not fight for their succours he gathered certaine corne and put it into barrels and hogsheads sending priuie word to the towne that the next night he would sende them downe the riuer with the tide willing thē to be ready to receiue the barrels as they came for the riuer came close to their citie Thus at diuers times he beguiled Hanniball vntill at last the craft was bewrayed and then againe the citie disappointed of vittaile Which when the cownesmen perceiued they then had no other shift but secretely to steale out of the towne and get grasse and rootes such as they could finde and bring it in for their reliefe Which Hanniball had soone espied therefore hee caused the ground thereabout to be plowed vp to preuent them of that hope also Then the Citizens séeing there was no way to hold the towne and saue their liues from the fury of the enemie sent word to Gracchus that they perforce must yeelde the citie to Hanniball Whereat Gracchus seeing their great necessitie requested them to haue patience yet for two or three dayes also shewing them that it in case they would follow his his aduice and counsell he doubted not but shortly to free their citie and set them at libertie willing them to take parsnipseede and sowe it on the plowed ground without the Citie defending themselues manfully for that time if need should be They all being willing to try what effect this could worke sowed a great quantitie of parsnipseede on the ground which was plowed vp about the citie Of which thing when Hanniball was aduertised hee foorthwith remoued his siege and departed from the towne saying What shall I stay here vntill these seedes bee rootes that will I not for ten such Cities as Cassilinum is Thinking that they had sufficient in the towne to relieue them in the meane time or els they would neuer haue beene so fonde to sowe their seede Thus was subtile Hanniball drylie flouted himself who in sēblable sort had often beguyled others for the citie could not haue indured the siege foure dayes longer at the vttermost Yong Pub. Cornelius Scipio being made somwhat wise by the subtile sleights that Hanniball had vsed before in Italie remembring the craftie policie which was put in practise to bring Q. Fabius into mistrust with the Romanes by Hanniball now in the end plagued him with such like practise For when the Carthaginians were driuen out of Italie and lost their owne Empire of Affrica and Hanniball their chiefe captaine forced to flie to Antiochus who then had prepared a great armie to warre on the Romanes At the same time this young Scipio was sent by the Senate to Antiochus to know why hee prepared himselfe to warre on the Romanes his friends and being there arriued he perceiued that it was much by the instigation and pricking on of Hanniball their auncient enemie who already had gotten full graunt to leade and conduct halfe the power of Antiochus against the Romanes both for his great wisdome and policie and also for his approued experiēce as well in the countrey of Italie as of the Romanes themselues Which thing yong Scipio diligently noted fearing least the Romanes should be againe troubled with such a cunning warrior and approued Captaine as Hanniball was To preuent which cause he practised this meane He would often frequent the companie of Hanniball falling into friendly conference about the battailes fought betwixt them before in Italie and Affrica feeding and pleasing the humor of Hanniball least that hee might leese his companie and so faile of his purpose for his meaning was by priuie speech and communication with him to bring Antiochus in mistrust of him to the ende he should not committe his power into his hand Thus dayly Scipio vsed the companie of Hanniball comming priuely to his lodging secretly talking and conferring with him making as though Antiochus or his companie should not once suspect him wherfore he would most commonly come in the night yet he woulde euer chuse and picke out such a time that he would be seene by some of Antiochus his friendes to the ende the cause might the more be suspected and also if in the day Hanniball and hee had beene in any conference of causes so soone as he had espied either Antiochus himselfe or any other of his friendes then hee foorthwith would holde his peace sodainly depart as though he woulde not haue them to heare what conference they had which indeede was nothing but what they might haue heard very well without offence This inuention of last fell out accordingly and happy for the Romanes for Antiochus grewe greatly to suspect their priuie meetings and secrete whisperinges fearing least there were some compounded trecheries agreed vpon betwixt them And further for that Scipio had alwaies so praysed the wisdome policie and circumspect carefulnes of Hanniball openly to be both the wisest captaine carefullest Leader and valiantest man that then liued saying Happie were the Souldiers that marched vnder his conduct Which thing Antiochus liked not well of thinking that Scipio did it for this purpose that he should cōmit his armie into the handes of Hanniball and then to be betrayed as their secrete meetings argued Wherfore he would not that Hannibal should bear any charge of his being so cōuersant with his enemie saying he was glad he had so found out their practise before it took effect and that yet it rested in him to preuent their inuention By this stratageme Scipio set frée the Romans from such a politike captain that had so spoyled their coūtrey before which otherwise by quarreliing against him coulde neuer haue been brought to passe but would haue turned y e Romanes to much sorow Also Hasdruball vsed this subtiltie to escape the hands of Appius Claudius the Roman Consal for being inuironed with difficult passages the mouth easiest way whereof the Romanes held and possessed so that Hasdruball his army could not escape out any way without great danger of losing his whole hoast Wherefore he sent to Appius shewing him that if they could agrée vpon certaine articles he would be content to depart the countrey and
render into his hands other townes and castles which he had in kéeping Which thing pleased Claudius well hoping to free that countrey without battail from so dangerous a foe Wherefore he willingly consented to the parle appointing time and place for their méeting where there were bookes and articles drawen betweene them for the assurāce of both their promises Their méeting thus continuing thrée or foure dayes together Appius Claudius suspecting no craft for that the motiō came first by Hasdruball himself thinking that all things were plainly and simply meant without fraude or deceite Now Hasdruball in the meane time euery night sent part of his armie with their grosse cariages ouer certaine straite and perillous places which could neuer haue beene passed if the Romanes had knowen thereof himselfe euery day came foorth of the Campe to meet Claudius where they argued of waighty causes and were at a full composition sauing that their agreements were not confirmed and sealed which Hasdrubal shifted off in this sort saying that he would be so bold with Claudius as to conferre with his frendes the next day in his Campe which day also he sayd was euer kept holy among the Carthaginians and therefore he craued such like fauour at the hands of Appius with this knot also that they might be suffered quietly to peruse and conferre on those couenants agreements without any skirmish or battaile offered for that time promising the like for his part that his armie should neither inuade the Romanes nor trouble any of their frends as that day of truce protesting further that the next day his determination shoulde bee plainly declared to Appius and the Romans Now was Appius well quieted in his minde for that he hoped euery thing woulde effectually fall out yet for all that he gaue no great trust to the promise of Hasdruball for not inuading his men the next day Wherefore he caused watch and warde with good order to bee kept circumspectly in his campe to be ready if neede should require But Hasdruball minded nothing lesse than to inuade the campe of the Romanes but rather sought how to deliuer himselfe and his people out of that dangerous place therefore hee neglected no time in folowing so waightie a cause Insomuch that the same night he stole out of his campe with the rest that remayned behinde as close and priuely without noyse as they might ayding and helping one another ouer those harde passages which was wonderfull difficult to them by reason of the darkenes of the night But in the ende they well escaped the danger and were by the daylight safe inough from the Romanes Appius hauing intelligence in the morning of the escape of Hasdruball did then presently pursue after him but all in vain seeing himselfe thus flouted by Hasdruball then hee thought full well that he might cancell the agreements and burne the bands repenting his follie too late in suffering his enemie so easily to scape out of such a perillous straight L. Silla in the warres against Archelaus Mithridates lieutenant at Pirea perceiuing his souldiors had little courage to fight he so wearied them with continual labour that they were glad to desire to fight that the warres might be ended Also Cyrus king of Persia in the wars betwixt him Astyages king of the Medes minding to stirre vp the minds of his souldiors fiercely to giue battaile to their enemy vsed this policy he wearied them with paineful labour all one day in hewing downe a certaine wood and on the morrow after hee made a plenteous feast for them demaunding in the feast time which day liked them best and when they all allowed the pastime of the day present and yet quoth he this pleasure must be obtained by the other dayes paine for except ye first ouercome the Medes yee can neuer liue in fréedome and at pleasure whereby they tooke great courage to fight When Agesilaus had pitcht his field not farre from Orchomeno a City that was in league wyth him and perceyuing that many of the army had their treasure and cheefe riches in the Campe he commanded the townesmen to receyue nothing into the Towne belonging to his army to the intent his Souldiours might fight the more fiercely knowing they should fight both for their liues goods Gelon king of Syracusa entring warre against the Persians after he had taken many of them brought forth the weakest and most vncomely persons naked in the sight of all his army to persuade them that their enemies were but wretches and men worthy to be despised Epaminondas being ready to giue battell to the Lacedemonians seing the courage of his souldiours began somewhat to quaile he vsed this meane to animate their mindes furiously to fight pronouncing in an oration to them how that the Lacedemonians had determined if they gate the victory to slay all their men to make their wiues and children bond-slaues for euer and to beate downe the City of Thebes flat to the ground With which wordes the Thebans were so mooued and agreeued that at the first brunt they ouercame the Lacedemonians Thus we sée oftentimes that subtile policy auaileth where force and strength can hardly resist therefore it is both conuenient and necessarie that the Stratagems of warre be exercised and studied against néedefull times but in my opinion the force of mony is great in causes of warre and winneth by corruption strong castells and inuincible townes insomuch that the wise Erasmus seeing the wonderfull force of money so strong and auaileable sayth thus thereof Porrò nihil est iam sanctum quod non violari nihil tam munitum quodnon expugnari pecunia possit Nothing sayth he is so holie and sacred but by money it may be violated neither is any thing so strong but by the corruption of mony it may be taken and subdued Philip king of Macedon hauing by practise and experience found out the vnincounterable force thereof at such time in his warres as he minded to take a certaine Citie perforce it was tolde him that the passage thereto was very difficult and hard and the towne by common iudgement inuincible An praesidium tam esset difficile accessu rogauit vt asinus auro onustus accedere non posset Wherevnto he demanded this Whether or no is the way or straight so difficult in passing that an asse being loden with golde cannot passe and enter in making then a trifle of it when he heard that there were but such sufficient passage accounting all things possible enough to be won where onely there were but place for money to passe For sayth he Pecuniae obediunt omnia All thinges are obedient to money Yet notwithstanding it is to be wished that whosoeuer wil violate or breake sacred rites or betray things committed to his charge on trust by corruption of mony or for auarice sake that we had as the olde saying is his skinne full of angells The miserable murders and deadly debates that happened betweene
mserable perdition and destruction Whereby it is manifest whatsoeuer Alexander had gathered together in forreine warres with the slaughter and destruction of diuers people was lost againe by ciuill dissention with the lamentable murder of his friends children allyes neither in the ende was there anie thing els gained by his vnsatiable minde sauing onely dolor lamentation sorrow and distressed wretchednesse which is a most common consequent and incident hap vneuitable to ruinous warre The cause why stately Carthage lost her Empire and what miserable slaughters of men hapned to be betwixt the Romanes and the Carthaginians which first chaunced through the enuious mindes of the Affricans themselues WHen the two stately Empires of Rome and Carthage had long contended in warre and fought manie fierce Battailes perilous conflicts to the great slaughter and perishing of manie thousands on both sides they in the ende being tyred and ouer wearied with the miserable murders and calamities of cruell warre were on both parts willing to haue a league and peace concluded and agréed upon betwéene them for certaine yeares and places limitted for diuision betwixt their Empires whereby they might knowe each others Countreyes apart Which thing being done and confirmed on both parts by solemne vowe to remaine unuiolated vnbroken betwixt them during the same limited time But not long after whē both wealth power began to encrease in their Countreyes then the stately pride of the one began likewise to maligne and disdaine at the flourishing estate of the other and also that Hannibal sonne of Hamilcar was come to mans estate who had sworne before his father beeing but a boy that he from thencefoorth would become a deadly foe to the Romans as before hath partly been showen Now forasmuch as the forefathers and diuers other friends of Hannibal had béen cruelly dealt withall by the Romanes in the first warre wherefore his minde was the more whetted on to take reuengement of such crueltie Insomuch that being come to mans estate also hauing authoritie and power committed to him by the Senate of Carthage to be the chiefe Leader and Captaine against the Romanes as his father Hamilcar had béen before him in the first warre remembred now afresh the ancient iniuries that the Romanes had offered to the Carthaginians and his predecessours that in token of his mallice toward them he stroke his foote into the ground and therewithall tooke vp the fragments of dust and earth scattering them about saying Tum belli finis erit cum alterutra pars in habitum pulueris redacta fuerit Then shall the warre betwixt the Romanes and the Carthaginians ende saith he when euerie part and parcell of this dust shall returne into one clod and lumpe againe Departing from Affrica with 90000. footmen and 12000. horsmen to inuade the Romanes their auncient aduersaries not doubting but to inlarge theirs with the Romane Empire to raign as Kings ouer the earth for that no Nation in the world did come néere them in statelinesse but onely the Romanes whome now they minded to suppresse Thus when Hannibal had obtained an Armie and also firmely had assured to him the faithfull friendship of diuers of the Senators at all times to fauour his procéedings and also to supply his wants he then with banner displayed first warred on their friendes and after marched into Italy to make sharpe warre on the Romanes themselues where he fought manie cruell and bloudie battailes slaying murdring manie thousandes of their people gaining daylie in their countrey subduing their cities and townes winning from them their anexed prouinces marching at the last to the verie wals of Rome viewing the scituation therof minding wher it was weakest to make a breach and to bend his greatest forces against it to the ende hee might with more ease take the Citie which indéed he had done if the immortal Gods had not preuented his purpose as the Romans themselues doo witnesse for when hee had slaine diuers of their Consulls with a number of their auncient Senators in manie battailes discomfited their valiauntest Captaines and Leaders so that there were none almost left liuing that durst incoūter the victorious Carthaginian so terrible was the name of Hannibal unto the Romanes Insomuch that now when he approached their walls they were all stroken with such feare and terror that their stréetes were filled with lamentations and pitifull howlings of the terrified and ouer frighted people shutting their windowes and doores in all the Citie mourning and making such lamentable dole and pitifull wayling as if then the executioner had bin present within the walls of their Citie Notwithstanding Fuluius Flaccus then being Consul hearing the dolefull cries of the distressed Citizens being mooued with their present miserie gathered a sufficient Armie of the trembling Romanes and marched out of the Citie in good order against his enemie Hannibal aranging his battels readie to encounter the fierce foe which also came marching against them to giue downe right battaile to Flaccus the Consull but the trēbling Romanes being so terrefied with the name of Hannibal were now at the sight of his displayed banners and presence of his mightie person so wounded with an vnspeakable feare and terror that their hearts quite failed them standing all as if they were more readie to flie than fight which the Consull right well perceiued to his great griefe and sorrow But thus well it happened to the distressed Romanes before the Armies could could ioyne battaile there fell a wonderful storme with such violence and mightie force that both the Armies were driuen into their holdes without battaile The next day also when they likewise came foorth to fight they were in like manner seperated and driuen backe with another mightie storme so that Hānibal was forced to retire from the Citie which as both the Romanes themselues and also the Carthaginians affirme was by the prouidence of the immortall Gods not to suffer Hannibal at that time to fight with the fearefull Romanes but protracting the time that the Carthaginians might be plaged for their vnfaithfulnesse For if by common iudgement they had at that time fought Rome had bin sacked their Empire lost and their liues vnder the mercie of Hannibal Therefore said Hanno a Carthaginian As the immortall Gods prouided for the safetie of the Romanes so in like sort they prouided grieuously to plague our vnfaithfulnesse for breaking of our sacred vow plighted promise For when all hope of the Romanes were taken away their chiefe forces and powers diminished their prudent Consulls and Senators slaine their valiant Captaines soldiers consumed their Countrey wasted and destroyed with the continuance of warre insomuch that they despaired for euer to recouer their libertie or holde the Carthaginians from conquest of their Countrey Nowe in this great extremitie yong P.C. Scipio craued of the remnant of the Senators which wer left aliue that he might haue an Army to fight against Hannibal and the Carthaginians not doubting
and yong through euery streete in mournefull manner cride His funeralls and other rites in order al well done And Troyans al had wailde their fill for losse of this my sonne Then Helen faire her sorrow slackt by course of weeping tears Her beauty bright to Deiphoebe in secret sort appeeres So that the man halfe mad for her doth earnestly require The Grecian Dame and that he might foorthwith haue his desire He was my sonne wherefore as then I seemed well content He had his choice but then ere long the acte he did repent The Greekes that knew how al things went came fierce againe ere long When they had filld their rankes with men to maintaine battaile strong And gaue sharpe siege to Troyan walls which Troyans did defend From that time foorth the angry Greekes no idle time did spend But day by day did still inuent to worke our great annoy And plots did lay how to betray the stately towne of Troy For now they found no force preuailde against so strong a towne Their hope was past by open force to beate our turrets downe Though diuers of our states were dead and men of great account The Grecian peeres which Troyans slewe our number did surmount Our losse was great and ouer great whereof the Grecians bost We also knew what mighty states the Grecian army lost Yet were we strong and strong enough for all the Grecian states And dayly put their men to foile before the Troyan gates Which well they spide wherefore at length by secret meanes they sought To take our towne and with our states full priuily they wrought They promise that these traytors vile should haue their goods and liues And all their friendes whome they thought good their children and their wiues Should freed be from sacke or spoile if that they would betray Both Prince and towne into their power to be a Grecian pray Aeneas that disloyall man especially I blame And false Antenor who at first consented to the same Both vile disloyall wretches they thus to betray their King And Grecian armies set in rankes within our towne to bring But sure I thinke the gods decreede at first it should be so Wherefore I lesse do blame these men for bringing in our fo Fell destinie so frownd on me wherefore this latest fate Was first decreede for Paris fault against King Pryams state To plague me oft with wofull sights to see my children torne Both planets sure and fortune vile against me wretch had sworne Our towne betrayde not knowing as yet til after when too late For that the Greekes with mightie troups were entred in the gate In silent night by helpe of friends when Troyans were at rest They marched on for well they knew the lowring night was best For this their subtile policie when we to rest were laide The Greekes came in our gates were ope loe thus we were betraide Now was my woe afresh renude my miseries forepast To this mishap a trifle was but sorrow now full fast In spitefull wise did shew her force to vexe me more and more And fortune frownd in worser sort than she had done before For now my friends and deere alies in paued streetes so wide Besmerde with blood do gaping lie as they to succour hide The conquerde towne which then was lost in vaine they sought to saue With rankes of men not armde for haste they lusty larums gaue But al in vaine was this their force for that the Grecians fell With murdring minds so laide about a greeuous thing to tell And so be hact and hewde our men vnarmed as they stoode That like to streames the Troyans streetes did flowe with gory bloode There lay the States and Peeres of Troy whome angry Greekes had slaine For that they thought to saue the towne which Grecians meant to gaine Thus passing vp our stately streets such mighty spoile they made So that I thinke it grieude the Greekes in Troyan blood to wade Yet for because we had abusde the Grecians in such sort The slaughters vile of guiltlesse men was to the Greekes a sport At last when all the towne was wonne the states for succour flewe To Pryams pallace hoping that the foe would not pursue Nor there to spoile the aged Prince for reuerence of his yeares Who long had liude in Phrygia land as at this day appeares But they to reuerence aged yeares so little had regarde That Prince and Peere both olde and yong by Grecians was not sparde The pallace faire of Pryamus the greedy Greekes beset With weapons bright and fiercely fought their hoped pray to get There now the battaile great was vp as if no place else where Had felt of warre and die did none in all the towne but there So mightily the Greekes did run to houses tops we see The posts brake down and gates brake ope beset that none might flee The wals with scaling ladders laide and props for scaffolds hie That vp by staires they climbe and backe they driue the darts that flie To battlements full fast they cling on battred walls they holde While Troyans downe vpon their heads the tops of towers rolde Full fierce a while the Troyans fought but al their force was vaine For that the gods had vowde there should no part of Troy remaine Vnconquered and Pryamus the King of Troy should knowe How that he did not wel when first he made the Greekes his foe At last the gates too weake to holde by force were opened wide And fearefull foes with armour bright passde in on euery side The peeres within right wel perceiude the cruel foes intent Vnable to withstand their force to dreadfull death were sent Which I beheld from secret place where I my selfe did shrowde And other moe that time with me to saue themselues did crowde My kinsmen deere and faithfull friends before my face they made To be as wood before the axe and buckler to the blade Dismembring them in wofull sort a lamentable thing And oft enquirde for Pryamus that they might kill the King Which well I wist wherefore from thence my selfe I did conuay And word did send to Pryamus that there he should not stay But seeke someway by priuy doores to scape their bloody hand And not to bide amongst their force nor to their mercy stand And then into the streetes I passde by secret wayes vnknowne Where chanells deepe ah grieuous sight with blood was ouer-flowne And martred men scarce dead did lie there breathing out their last A worser hap then this I spide as I by chaunce did cast Mine eies aside where I perceiude sir Menelaus he In armour bright so lyon-like fast marching towards me And as he came he soone had spide how Deiphoebe my sonne Made haste to shun his cruel hand and swiftly thence did runne For that he feared the desperate foe and knowing iust cause why Made greater haste to saue himselfe and fast away did fly The Greeke despising that my sonne of al the rest should scape