Pompey was named in his hearing with the Title of Great forbear asking in a scoffing manner how much he was taller than himself Caesar who thought himself at this time too young to become the head of a Party embarqued himself in Crassus his interest as well to balance the Credit of Pompey as to assist himself with that of Crassus against his own Creditours who at this time began to be importunate and yet for all this there was little resemblance between their Inclinations Crassus was a good Husband even to Avarice and Caesar liberal to Prodigality Either his love or his State-Intrigues had already ruined him and we may judge of his other Expences by the Present he once made to Servilia the Mother of Brutus of a Pearl that cost six thousand Sesterces These three men already began to give suspicion and jealousie to all the other Senatours such as were Catulus Bibulus and Marcellus but above all the rest Cicero who endeavoured as much as any to signalize his Zeal for the Commonwealth and though he could pretend no great Authority from his Extraction nor was much Ambitious to be thought a very great Souldier yet the advantages of his Wit the Charms of his Eloquence and the happy discovery which he had made of Catiline's Conspiracy in the time of his Consulship brought him into very great consideration But besides that this Action of which he always in his Harangues took occasion to make mention and very often too to very little purpose had occasioned some railery upon his Vanity the Punishment of Lentulus and other great Ones concerned in the Conspiracy had created him many powerfull Enemies And it may be upon that occasion the Troubles of Rome were renew'd CHAP. II. Caesar's design upon Cicero and Cicero's reply to Metellus Nepos CAesar had had very strait Alliances with many of Catiline's Accomplices which made him not altogether unsuspected But Cicero thought it not fit to insist much upon that point lest his Credit might become an Argument in favour of the other Offenders Caesar had other Causes to be angry with the Senate by reason of some dispute he had with them during the time of his being Pretor He consulted with Metellus Nepos Tribune of the People to bring Cicero to an account of his Conduct and Nepos seconded by Bestia the other Tribune declared aloud that he could not suffer that Cicero should have the liberty of speaking to the people in quitting his Consulship in regard that he himself had Condemned Senatours without hearing their Defences It is true that Cicero had done so by reason of the present danger but it is true too that he did it with the advice of the Senate Nevertheless when he presented himself to speak the Tribunes opposed him and onely would permit him to take the usual Oath which was That he had never done any thing to the prejudice of the Commonwealth Cicero who upon that occasion was very present to himself contrived to turn all that Indignity they designed him to his Honour and swore that he not onely had not prejudiced the Common-wealth but had saved the Senate and the People of Rome All the Assembly Applauded the thing and the next day Cicero complained to the Senate of the insolency of the Tribunes To this Nepos made his reply and in the heat of the dispute Cicero who never wanted an Answer had an occasion of making a very good one For Nepos who mistook the extraction of Cicero demanded of him very often who was his Father To which he replyed If any Credit may be given to the behaviour of your Mother that were a harder Question for you to answer than me Afterwards when the matter was put to a debate the Senate judged that for the reputation of their Authority they ought to stand by Cicero and so made a Decree that no body should be called henceforward to account for the death of any of the Conspiratours and that they who should presume to speak before the People should be looked upon as Enemies to their Countrey The Tribunes provoked by that Decree which ty'd up their mouths and established as they said the Tyranny of Cicero proposed to the People by the advice of Caesar to recall Pompey who at that time Commanded a powerfull Army in Asia the pretence was to put into his care the interests of the Commonwealth which this new growing Tyranny seem'd to threaten But Caesar's secret designs indeed were to unite himself with him This Proposition entangled the Senatours many of whom were Pompey's Friends and the other afraid of his Army so that they durst not openly oppose it but were for finding out some one man who upon that occasion would for their interests sacrifice himself to the hatred of Pompey Cato offered himself very frankly and perhaps was drawn into it by the cunning of Cicero Cato had been bred up in the Austere Maximes of his great Grand-father Cato the Censor and in the rigid Opinions of the Stoicks Cicero knew his Character very well and has defined it very pleasantly that he was severe in his Manners steady in his Conduct unalterable in his Opinions pitiless towards Offenders and no mincer of faults believing that a wise man could never be deceived and therefore never repented and that the Vertuous onely were really happy rich and handsome in a word of an excellent disposition but seldom thought right and one that spoke in the Senate as if he had been in the Commonwealth of Plato when he was in the midst of the corruptions of Rome To speak truth he was the onely man amongst them that heartily designed the real good of the Republick and it was by that he justly acquired the reputation of his Vertue He was at that time Tribune of the people with Nepos and Bestia the principal Authority of which charge consisted in putting stop to any thing which other Magistrates might propose to the prejudice of the people So he opposed in the Senate the Opinion of Nepos and afterwards when that Tribune brought the matter before the people and had gathered together a great many Souldiers in Arms to make the Law pass Cato onely presented himself with Thermus one of his Acquaintance and looking upon those that threatned him with an undaunted air he went and seated himself between Caesar and Nepos He told Nepos That it argued very little Courage in him to Assemble together so many men in Arms against one single and without any and afterwards when the Register would have read the Edict he tore it out of his hand Nepos who knew it by heart would have pronounced it but Thermus laid his hand upon his mouth At which Nepos gave the sign to his Souldiers when instantly and in a moments time Vollies of Clubs and Stones were flying round the place the people ran away and Cato had certainly been slain had not Murena covered him with his
at Rome during the five last years of Caesar's Government and which have no relation to the subject in hand besides that the repetition would be tedious and that it may be in some measure guessed at by what we have said of the Intrigues about Elections the struglings and hostilities before It seemeth enough at present in gross and without the order of time to take notice that Pompey acquitted himself in what he promised Clodius even to the hazard of his life Since in the Assembly for the Election of Ediles he had a Man killed so near him that his Mantle was cover'd with the bloud He revenged himself signally upon Cato who when he demanded the Pretorship Pompey caused his pretensions to be thrown out and named in prejudice of him one Vatinius who was one of the worst and most obnoxious Men of that time And in process of time too he brought it about that Ptolemy was established in his Kingdom by Gabinius with a powerfull Army and all this merely by his own Authority in spight of the Sybills Prophecy Gabinius was afterwards called to an account for it when he came back to Rome but by his Money and Pompey's favour he escaped a Condemnation which he could never have avoided had his miscarriages been severely prosecuted These things 〈◊〉 now may see plainly have no relation to the Civil War otherwise than as they discover the Power and Ambition of Pompey which will much more appear in what is to follow and belongs to the subject in hand Now Crassus and he seemed to affect a great deal of moderation in regard of those Governments which according to Custome were to be allotted them upon the expiration of their Consulship but yet nevertheless manag'd matters otherwise under-hand by the Tribunes of the People who were to propose for them Syria and Spain with Africk or Libya as it was then called To each of these Governments Armies were to be added with full power and authority to make Peace and War at discretion which gave opportunity too to Caesar's Friends to mention his five years The whole affair being privately agreed upon between the Triumviri passed against all objection Pompey got Libya and Spain and Crassus Syria with power to make War upon the Parthians so that their Union did still support it self in appearance though it were really already ruined in the foundation at least between Pompey and Caesar nor need we seek for other reasons for it than the Jealousie which the Emulation of those two great Men raised of each other Pompey had seen himself for many years at the head of the rank of Romans and to give him his due it was not without Justice for he had enlarged the Roman Empire farther than any other had done before him He had Triumphed over three parts of the World over Africk by the defeat of Domitius in Libya over Europe by that of Perpenna in Spain and over Asia after having vanquished King Mithridates one of the most formidable Enemies Rome ever had and all this too without the least disgrace From this high degree of Glory he lookt down upon all other Romans as his Inferiours And therefore as he knew the Merits of Caesar and the advantages which accrued to him from his Illustrious Birth and Education He could not without much regret see that his great actions in the Gallick War began to put him in a condition of disputing even with himself for Glory gotten in Arms. On the other side Caesar having received both by Nature and Education all those qualifications that go to the Composition of a Great Man had too much fire to hear with patience any Man's Pride that affected to appear above him and therefore whenever he had an occasion of shewing his abilities he made so good use of it that he quickly found himself in a condition to ease Pompey of that advantage by which he thought he deserved so very much above all other Romans And Fortune too was as indulgent to him now as she had been to Pompey before but she utterly abandoned Crassus who could never rise up to the least pretensions for he was defeated and lost his life in the Parthian War and the death of that Triumvir who while he lived was as a check upon the other two left them now an open field for their Ambition and Emulation to work in CHAP. X. The death of Pompey's Wife Julia. The Magnificent Shews he gave the People The death of Clodius POmpey had now for some time done all that was in his power to diminish the reputation of Caesar's Conquests obliging the Magistrates not to publish any Letters they received till he had fore-stalled the credit of them by spreading false and disadvantageous reports This gave great cause of trouble to all those who foresaw the miseries that must attend a Rupture between two so extraordinary Men and what augmented their fears more was the death of Pompey's Wife which happen'd at the same time Pompey loved her even with passion which one would have thought might have been of consideration enough to have healed differences between the Father and the Son-in-law For Iulia had Wit as well as Virtue and always a great ascendant over both their dispositions The People of Rome gave sufficient testimony of the respect they bore her by publick demonstrations of their sorrow and when Pompey would have carried her Body to one of his houses near Alba the People opposed it and bore it into the Field of Mars where they paid it the last Rites of Funeral with all Magnificence From this moment Pompey resolved to think of nothing but his own particular advancement and for the restoring of himself to the favour of the People caused a stately Theatre to be builded which he dedicated to them by Plays and other magnificent Shews which were not at all pleasing to Cicero as appears from one of his Epistles It was reported too afterwards at Rome That that Theatre was not built at the expences of Pompey but that Demetrius one of his Freed-men had defray'd the charge of it as a piece of gratitude and acknowledgment for the Immense fortune he had raised under his Master so that Pompey himself reap'd little advantage from that undertaking The spirits of the People too were sharpened against him by the extreme violence which he used in raising those Troops which were to follow Crassus at the time when that General departed upon his unfortunate Expedition against the Parthians For it was a thing disapproved of at Rome and approved by one of the Tribunes who when he could not hinder it uttered such horrible Cursts and Imprecations against Crassus as it was believed called down that misfortune upon his head which cost the Romans a Hundred thousand Men and Crassus himself his own life as well as his Son whom Cicero takes occasion to mention with an extraordinary Character In the mean time Pompey whose Government was now expired took other measures and pretended
for a design he had to demand a second Consulship when the employ he was at present in should be expired In the mean time to gain the good will of the People he caused a new Market to be set up at Rome the place whereof cost him a Hundred thousand Sesterces He gave also to the Romans certain Plays and a Publick Feast in acknowledgment of the Honours they had done to his Daughter Iulia. He desired the Knights and such of the Senatours as were his Friends that they themselves would Exercise and Instruct the Gladiatours and sent them Rules and Directions accordingly Giving order at the same time that those Gladiatours who pleased not the People in their Combats should be turned out and others more agreeable put in their places The Grandeur of his Mein his extraordinary Generosity and the greatness of his Actions had entirely engaged to him the affections of his Souldiers who all loved him even to adoration he caused their Pay to be doubled and the Corn which used to be distributed among the Troops by regulated proportions was now given to them without stint or measure Again on the other side a great many of the Senatours stood obliged to him for considerable Sums of Money which he had lent them without any Interest he entertained with Magnificence all such as served under him even to those slaves whom he loved and his Army was a perfect refuge to all manner of Criminals and such as were burthened with Debts a great many whereof he discharged at his own proper expence but to those who stood engaged for mighty sums indeed he used to say That one Civil War would make all even In a word all stranger Princes and the best Cities tasted of his Munificence by considerable Presents And all this done at the expence of the Gauls So that it was not improperly observed by one who said That Caesar conquer'd the Gauls with the Roman Steel and the Romans with the Gallick Gold Pompey's Friends to be sure were not now backward to make their reflexions upon the occasion of these Liberalities and to exaggerate the danger that might thence threaten the Commonwealth Nevertheless Caesar resolved once more to try if it were possible to preserve the Friendship of Pompey and before his last Marriage offered him his Neice Octavia and demanded Pompey's Daughter for himself but Pompey thought fitting to make choice of an Alliance with Scipio whom he caused afterwards to be joined with him in the Consular dignity for the last five Months and as he very well knew that Caesar was beloved by the People his business was to establish his Interest among the Senatours These two Factions have been always opposite under the Title of the Nobility and the Populace And their division had produced very terrible effects especially in the Sedition of the Gracchi and afterwards in the Wars between Marius and Sylla The People usually prevailed by their Numbers but the Senate by their Authority and it is without doubt that Union of Pompey with the Senate which has caused Caesar's Party to be so much decry'd and the advantages of Pompey in all Writings to be celebrated with so much Passion that under the Reign of one of the most terrible of Caesar's Successours there lived an Authour who durst publish a Work which we have now amongst us wherein he has most barbarously violated the memory of that Great Man CHAP. XII Pompey's Laws Curio goes over to Caesar's Interest THE first appearance of Division began from Pompey by the two Laws which he published during his Consulship the first whereof was for an enquiry into the miscarriages of Officers in the executing their Charges for the twenty years last past that is from his first Consulship down to that which he then held Hereupon Caesar's Friends remonstrated that a Law of that kind might be injurious to several illustrious Men and more particularly to Caesar who had within that time been Consul At that name he cryed out that it was shamefull for them to imagine that such an Ordinance could in any manner have regard to a man of Caesar's Merits and Vertue and that his Friends did him the greatest injury to suspect it so that no alteration of that Law could be admitted and many persons were condemned upon it amongst the rest Hypseus Memmius Sextus and Gabinius himself yet afterwards when Memmius in his turn accused Pompey's Brother-in-Law Pompey was not ashamed himself openly to appear against that very Law of his own making to bring off Scipio by his Authority The other Law of Pompey or rather an Article of the Precedent was That no man being absent should be admitted to demand any Employment these Laws being approved of were forthwith engraved upon Copper Tables and carried to the publick Treasury after which formality no change or alteration in them was to be admitted Pompey was for an exception in favour of Caesar but in regard that it was contrary to Form Marcus Marcellus who had succeeded Pompey in his Consulship no way respecting any such exception after giving notice that he had matters to communicate of the highest importance proposed that since the Conquest of Gaul was now completed some body might be sent to succeed Caesar and at the same time that he might be excluded from demanding the Consulship This Declaration allarum'd all Caesar's Friends Servius Sulpitius the other Consul declared himself of the contrary Opinion and the Tribunes Caius Caelius and Vibius Pansa opposed the Decree Pompey too was at a loss how to distinguish handsomely upon this Subject He said indeed it was great Injury to Caesar to propose a thing of that Nature at least before the Kalends of March since till that time came his Government of Gaul was not expired upon which when it was asked of him what was to be done if they met with opposition it signifies nothing says he whether or no Caesar obey the Decrees of the Senate since he will find those that shall oppose him but it was answered again if he will be Consul if he will keep his Army To which Pompey reply'd If my Son should provoke and rebell against me what would you advise me to This discourse sufficiently discovered how Pompey stood affected as to Caesar's Interest For all this matters were managed with all Artfull and fair Conduct and Intrigue till the Election of the new Consuls who were Emilius Paulus and Calidius Marcellus a Kinsman of Marcus This affair at that time wholly employed the Senate and stopt the course of any other business Every one expected with impatience how the two Consuls would declare themselves the first had been pretty well secured by a Present from Caesar of fifteen Talents with which he built himself a sumptuous Palace and called it after his own Name but Callidius was Caesar's Enemy and being carried on by the same Spirit with his Kinsman Marcus followed also his Methods and renewed the old Propositions We have
the greatness of Rome he found himself reduced to seek for a retreat in a poor Fisher-man's Cabbin where having for some time reposed himself he went on board a small Barque to try if he could reach Amphipolis as he sailed along by the Shore his Friends espied a Merchant Ship commanded by Petilius This Petilius was a Roman of the order of the People and knowing Pompey by sight onely had Dream't that he saw him in a mean condition far beneath that Lustre with which he had heretofore appeared at Rome as he was telling this Dream to his Friends about him news was brought him that they discover'd a Barque Rowing towards the Vessel that those who were in her seemed in distress upon this he came up above-Deck from whence he discover'd and knew Pompey so he order'd his Shallop to be hoisted out and Rowed on Board him where calling for the General he gave him his hand to help him into the Boat and all those who were with him forbearing for the respect he bore him to enquire into the Misfortune which had reduced him to that extremity They had now hoisted Sail to stand off from the Coast when they discovered from the Sea-side King Dejoâ—arus with stretched-out hands making a sign to be taken in they sent off the Barque which brought him on Board the Ship and then Pompey stood over for Amphipolis In this place he consulted with his Friends what course he should take the great confidence with which he relied on the number and valour of his Troops and the over-positive hopes of Victory had hindred him from thinking of any provision against the Misfortune he was now fallen into For though he had been often sensible of the disgraces of Fortune yet as she had never surprised him so lulled in security as now he had always found means to recover himself with advantage But upon this occasion as he foresaw nothing in his mind but an assured Victory his defeat was therefore the more intolerable for that it left him naked and disarmed of all relief Moreover this was the reason of all the false steps he made at the latter end of this War when he left the Sea-side to follow Caesar into Thessaly And his Misfortune so far infatuated him that he could not think of laying hold of those advantages which he yet had by Sea where he had a powerfull and Victorious Army Laelius who Commanded one part of it had besieged Caesar's Lieutenant in the Port at Brundusium and Cassius in two Reincounters had burnt above Forty of the Enemies Ships in the narrow passage within the Port of Messina But the astonishment Pompey was in together with his evil destiny hindred him from helping himself by the advantage he might have made of these Victories if he had headed his Navy For he stayed but one day at Amphipolis where to disguise his designs he caused Orders to be published for all the Citizens of Rome and Youth of Greece to come to him But when he heard that Caesar was upon his March he stayed for no body and Sailed towards Lesbos CHAP. L. Pompey goes to meet his Wife at Lesbos he resolves to retire into Aegypt Achillas Photinus and Theodotus advised the King to put him to death Pompey slain by a Roman called Septinius HIS Wife Cornelia was at Metylena the Capital City of that Island with their youngest Children Pompey's Letters after the Battel of Durazzo had given her great hopes and she was daily expecting news of the total defeat of Caesar when Pompey arriving in the Haven sent one of his Friends to her The sadness with which this Messenger approached her and the Tears that fell from him soon made Cornelia apprehend the misfortune that had happened She fell down dead upon the floor and remained a long time insensible but at last coming to her self and being told that Pompey stayed for her at the Port alone in a poor Vessel which he had borrowed she ran on foot to the place where Pompey came to imbrace her and that Meeting had something in it more sad and touching than can well be expressed She accused her self of being the onely cause of her Husband's Misfortunes complaining of the ill destiny which Allied her to Crassus first and afterwards to Pompey onely to bring about the Ruine of two so Illustrious Families Pompey endeavoured all he was able to forget his own grief and alleviate that of Cornelia and at last more by his tenderness than any reasons he was able to urge with much ado appeased her But afterwards could not forbear complaining against the Gods and their Providence to Cratippus a famous Philosopher who was then at Metilena The Pride of Man having always the property to use God Insolently even at the time when they find themselves forced to be humble towards their fellow Creatures In fine Pompey carried away Cornelia and went with some Vessels that came to join him into Cilicia from whence he returned to the Island of Cyprus there he learnt the news that the Cities of Antioch and Rhodes had declared against him This made him resolve after many deliberations to retire into Aegypt where Ptolemy then Reigned the Son of that other Ptolemy whom he had caused to be restored to his Kingdom by Gabinius which made him prefer this Countrey above any other else which could be proposed for his Retreat This King was very young and absolutely governed by Achillas who Commanded his Army Photinus the first Gentleman of his Bedchamber and Theodotus his Tutour he was then at Pelusium with an Army which he was leading against his Sister Cleopatra whom these Ministers had driven from the Court Pompey sent some of his Friends to the King to desire Succours and a Retreat within his Countrey which demand much perplexing him he referred the matter to his Council and which means the fate of Pompey the great came to be in the hands of these three miserable Fellows Photinus and Archillas were of different opinions the one was for sending of him back and the other for entertaining of him when Theodotus to shew his Eloquence Remonstrated That neither of those opinions was according to the Rules of true Policy that by following the last they should make Pompey their Master and Caesar their Enemy and by the first offend them both Pompey for being sent away and Caesar for letting of him escape therefore That they ought to Invite him to shore and kill him being sure by that means to obtain Caesar's Friendship and never hereafter be afraid of Pompey Concluding with that Maxim which is since grown into a Proverb That a dead Lion never bites According to this Resolution they sent Achillas accompanied by Septimius who was then Tribune and had been a Centurion under Pompey Salvius another Roman and three or four Souldiers they went into a Barque which carried them to the Ship where Pompey was with his Wife and all his Friends this manner of reception appeared a very ill
to the custome of the Age he was wont to make use of for a Signet This Mournfull Spectacle the Friendship which he heretofore had had with Pompey and the sad Imagination of those Misfortunes which attend the greatest Men drew Tears from his eyes So he turned away his Face with horrour and ordered him who brought him the Present to retire keeping onely the Ring upon the stone whereof was ingraved a Lion holding a Sword in his Paw Afterwards he made his entry into the City as Consul The Souldiers who were there in Garrison were offended for that he caused the Axes to be carried before him and said That it was done in Contempt of the Royal Authority which was the occasion that for some days together several disorders happened in which a great many Roman Souldiers were slain This forced Caesar to send new Orders to his Troops to come and join him with all speed with fair Promises and Presents gaining to his side a great many of Pompey's Souldiers who were then wandring about that Kingdom and wrote word to his Friends at Rome That the greatest pleasure which he found from his Victory was the saving every day the life of some one of those who had born Arms against him In the mean while as an argument of his Confidence he made great entertainments and assisted at the Conferences of Philosophers who were in great numbers within that City But Photinus who was come to Alexandria with the King gave him every day fresh marks of his untoward intentions he had written to Achillas who Commanded the Army to come to Alexandria and those Succours made him insolent for he caused musty Corn to be distributed to Caesar's Souldiers and one day when Ptolemy treated him in his Palace he caused him to be served in earthen Vessels saying That the Gold and Silver Plate was engaged for the payment of the King's debts This was because Ptolemy owed Caesar a Milion seven hundred and fifty thousand Crowns the seven hundred and fifty thousand Caesar abated in favour of his Children but demanded the remaining Milion for the necessity of his present affairs and when Photinus told him That he would doe better to think of other matters that were of greater consequence Caesar answered him He was not come into Aegypt to ask Counsel In fine the insolence of that Eunuch which provoked him upon all occasions and it may be also the reputation of the admirable beauty of Cleopatra caused him to declare That being the first Magistrate of Rome he was resolved to enquire into the difference between the King and his Sister For Ptolemy the Father had by his last Will named for his Heirs the eldest of his two Daughters having conjured the people of Rome by the Gods and by the Alliance that was between them to see his will put in execution a Copy whereof he had sent to Rome and it was upon this foundation that Caesar proceeded But while this matter was in dispute Achillas came to Alexandria at the head of his Army These Troops were very formidable both their number and for their valour they were composed in part of Gabinius his old Souldiers who were most of them married in Aegypt and had taken upon them the Customes and Discipline of the Aegyptians The other part was made up of such men as had been disbanded in Syria and Cilicia and the other Neighbouring Provinces and the rest were banished men and run-away slaves who were sure of a safe retreat in Alexandria and if they took party in the Troops a certain protection from the other Souldiers who frequently rescued them by force of Arms from their Masters that pursued them These Troops by a horrible Licence but what was ordinary amongst those sort of people had usurped a privilege of demanding the head of any of the King's Ministers when ever they thought fitting and plunder the richest of their Goods under pretence of augmenting their pay and also to depose and set up their Kings There were here at this time 2000 old Cavalry exercised in all the Wars of Alexandria and these were the men who had restored Ptolemy to his Throne who had slain the two Sons of Bibulus and for a long time had made War upon the Aegyptians CHAP. LIII Caesar fortifies himself in Alexandria He is attacked by Achillas He seizes upon Pharos Falls in love with Cleopatra He is besieged by the Aegyptians CAesar knowing well the valour and experience of these Troops and finding himself not strong enough to make head against them in the Field took care to fortify those Quarters of the City where his Legions were and to secure himself of the King's Person in whose name he deputed to the Army Dioscorides and Serapion who were the two principal Friends of the old Ptolemy and who had been Ambassadours at Rome But Achillas instead of giving them Audience charged upon them in such manner that one of them was killed upon the place and the other saved his life by feigning to be dead After this act of violence Caesar caused the Quarters of Alexandria to be fortified where his Troops were retreated and was the next day attacked by Caesar's Souldiers sustained the first onset and repulsed the Enemy whose chief design was to get possession of the 50 Ships and 22 Gallies that were in the Haven which obliged Caesar after a long and doubtfull fight to possess himself of Pharos and set fire to those Vessels whose flames being driven by the wind upon some Houses near the Port burnt them to the ground by a misfortune in which we can never enough lament that famous Library belonging to the Kings of Aegypt consisting as some Authours report of 700000 Volumes The Pharos is a Tower built in the Island which makes the Haven of Alexandria and it was built with so much Art and Magnificence that it has ever been lookt upon for one of the seven Wonders of the World There was moreover in the Island several Houses and other Edifices being joined to the Continent by a Bridge at the end of a Peer that was very narrow and in length 800 paces the taking of this Post made Caesar Master by Sea but he was very close shut up towards the land by the Troops of Achillas the People also of Alexandria were against him and without any respect to the Person of their Prince had several times attacked the Palace where they were lodged together But Ptolemy encouraged to it by Caesar appeased their tumult by his Presence Caesar that he might not have any longer an Enemy to fear but those who were without got himself at last rid of Photinus and had sent for Cleopatra who he said he would marry to her Brother according to the Aegyptian Custome and the intent of their Fathers Will. The Eunuch was killed going from an entertainment at the King's Lodgings under pretence that he would have taken away the young Ptolemy and carried him into the Aegyptian Camp which was not
it almost over all the parts of the World Cato was at Durazzo during the Battle at Pharsalia where he Commanded a Powerfull Fleet From thence he went into the Island of Corsira meeting there with Cicero who had not been at the Battel and many other Senatours who had escaped thither from it amongst whom was the Eldest Son of Pompey Cato who always was for governing himself according to the prescription of the Law offered the Command of the Army to Cicero who had been Consul who not thinking himself fit for such a Charge refused it which provoked this Pompey's Son and all the young Men of his Party against him They called him Traitour and drew their Swords upon him So that had not Cato's Authority interposed and appeased him they had certainly slain him he escaped in a terrible fright to Brundusium from whence he Wrote to Oppius and Balbus who were with Caesar to excuse the choice he had made of an unfortunate Party and though his Brother Quintus by some provocation whereof he complains in many of his Letters without mentioning the Cause had accused him to Caesar and though Quintus his Son had done him very ill offices nevertheless Caesar pardoned him and treated him very kindly in his return to Italy The others took different Parties and Cato retreated into Africa where he expected to meet with Pompey whose eldest Son he sent into Spain Cassius Longinus whom Caesar had left there was very much embroiled with those People and with his Souldiers themselves whom he had used so ill that he was wounded as he sate in his Tribunal This affair had very great consequences and Marcellus though Caesar's Friend had declared himself against Longinus and made War upon him when Lepidus arrived on Caesar's part to inquire into the cause of their Division Longinus refused to obey But as he retreated by Sea with what Booty he had got together in his Government he perished in the Mouth of the Ebre These Divisions gave time to young Pompey to practise upon those People and many of the Roman Souldiers who still retained a great veneration for the Name of his Father and to gather together some time afterwards a considerable Army When Scipio had joined himself in Africa with King Iuba and Attius Varus and by that means enabled himself to renew a dangerous War in that Province being assisted by Ten thousand Men which Cato brought him The youngest of Pompey's Children had met him upon the Coasts of Africa where he understood from Cato the death of his Father which obliged him to go and cast Anchor at Cyrena where he passed the Winter from thence he went forward to the Desarts of Lybia after having furnished himself with Provisions and Water and especially of those sort of Men who by sucking cure the Wounds made by the bites of Serpents who very much abound in these Desarts and who have also the art of Charming them It was in this seven days journey that the Constancy of Cato ought much to be admired for he Marched always on foot the foremost at the head of his Troops always drinking the last nor that neither till all the rest of his Army had undergon the extremest Thirst and were running to quench it at the Wells which they found in those Desarts At last he arrived at Scipio and Iuba's Camp But the Insolence of that King of the Barbarians grew soon disgustfull to him and caused him to retire into the City of Vtica after having left his Troops with Scipio who with those of Iuba formed them into a Body very formidable to Caesar who besides had received advice that his Affairs were extremely intangled at Rome whither he had sent Anthony in quality of the General of the Cavalry This was the second Dignity next to that of Dictatour and in Caesar's absence gave Antonius absolute Command of the Republick Dolabella was then Tribune of the People and Antonius's Friend and in Caesar's Interest he had conceived a Project in his head to cause all the ancient Contracts to be broken that so he might be called upon at Rome to make new Tables and Antonius at the first assisted his design but entertaining some suspicion that Dolabella had gotten too familiar an acquaintance with his Wife he turned her away and joined himself with some of the Senatours who were for opposing the Tribune As they were both fierce young Men and of great Quality this Division of theirs had very ill consequences they came in Arms to the Publick Place where after a great Combat Dolabella was put to flight CHAP. LVII Caesar goes into Asia THIS news extremely troubled Caesar who was afraid lest these Divisions might at last ruine his Party and that the Insolence of his Officers might render him yet more Odious to the Romans He knew besides that the Souldiers which he had sent into Italy had thrown off all manner of Military Discipline and that his presence onely could be of force to bring them back to their duty So he resolved to take a Journey into Asia for the establishing of Peace in those Provinces and then go to Rome Syria being in Peace he left there Sextus Caesar his Kinsman with one Legion and afterwards embarked himself to go into Cilicia where landing he advanced by great Marches as far as Galatia There Dejotarus the Tetrarch of that Province called King of Armenia by the Senate came to find him out and excuse himself for having followed Pompey's Party Caesar received him with a great deal of Humanity and after having something reproached him with the good Offices which he had heretofore done him at Rome he caused Dejotarus to take again those marks of Royalty which he had quitted and join the Troops of that King with his own From thence he marched against Pharnaces who had possessed himself of Cappadocia and the lesser Armenia under Dejotarus and who had defeated Domitius Calvinus one of his Lieutenants This Prince who knew what necessity of Affairs called Caesar to Rome sought onely to gain time and to that purpose sent Ambassadours to Caesar They besought him not to treat their King as an Enemy for the sake of Dejotarus who had sent Troops to Pompey since Pharnaces had never assisted him neither with Men nor Money that at least he would be as favourable to him as he had been to that Prince whom he had pardoned but that nevertheless in what manner soever it should be his fortune to be treated he should always observe his Orders Caesar answered That that would be the best way of shewing himself a Friend That what he said of Dejotarus had no relation to the affairs in hand since all the world knew that he received not less joy in pardoning those many particular injuries which were done to himself than in revenging such as had been offered to the Republick This was because Pharnaces pufft up with his Victory had treated the Roman Citizens which were in his Provinces with
already taken frequent occasion to mention the privileges of the Tribunes of the People who were ten Curio and Marcus Anthonius were of the number for this year Curio was in great esteem both for his Quality and his Abilities being one of the ablest men which Rome could at that time boast of for Eloquence and Pleadings at the Bar he had great Parts and equal resolution but stood charged with abundance of Debts both in his own Name and for many of his Friends among the rest for Anthony for whom he had entered into Securities He had been one of the most violent against Caesar's Interest But Caesar who knew well enough where his shoe wrung him quickly found the way to give him ease and bring him over by furnishing him with means to quit himself of those encumbrances Curio afterwards made use of a management that was very refined forbearing to declare himself of Caesar's Party that he might the better enter into the Counsels and Designs of his Enemies and after that he sought an opportunity to break with Pompey For this Design he demanded that the charge of overseeing the reparation of the High-ways might be conferred upon him which he at the same time knew well enough would be deny'd so that upon the refusal of it he made known his resentment and afterwards when the Consul made his report to the Senate touching the Governments he praised his Zeal and his Opinion adding that it was but Justice that Pompey and Caesar should be called from their Governments both together CHAP. XIII Curio declareth himself against Pompey Caesar returns the Legion that Pompey had lent him THE Spirits of this Age were two refined not to apprehend at first sight the meaning of this Proposition All that were Pompey's Friends began to grow very uneasie to Curio Appius one of the Censors and who had been raised to his Authority by Pompey threatned to expell him the Senate and proposed it in one of the Assemblies Curio submitted to every thing that might be Decreed particularly against himself but would abate nothing where Caesar's Interest seem'd to be struck at and the Consul Paulus withstood the Affront that was like to have been offered him Curio imparted upon this his Proposition to the People who received it so well and with such Joy that they covered him with flowers and in that manner accompanied him home to his House He himself afterwards in an Assembly of the People when they ordered that Caesar though absent should have power to demand the Consulship This obliged Pompey to leave Rome under pretence of going to his Government but he went no farther than to one of his Countrey houses where falling sick he wrote to the Senate that he was ready to give up all all his Employments when Caesar would ever consent to part with his and that he would confirm this upon his return to Rome Curio took him at his word and told him it was his duty to begin what he proposed and that he would engage on Caesar's part that the Example should be followed The business was then put into debate but came to no conclusion onely it was ordained that two Legions should be drawn out of the Troops of Caesar and Pompey to go into Syria against the Parthians this was onely done to weaken Caesar's Army for Pompey at the beginning of the War had lent him a Legion of his Appius was sent into Gaul to draw out this Legion and to oblige Caesar to give another of his own who though he easily discerned the reason of this order by no means in the least opposed it but surrendred both the Legions to Appius and at the same time ordered two hundred and fifty Drachma's to be given to every Souldier Cicero at this time came back to Rome from his Government of Cilicia where he pretended for his great Exploits to have merited the Honour of Triumph His absence had hindered him from taking either Party in these differences and his present Pretensions obliged him to be a Mediatour between both so he made some Propositions for an Accommodation but they would not be hearkned to for that Appius was returned and had published abroad that Caesar stood very ill in the Opinion of his Army that he knew little or nothing of their Inclinations and that they would certainly come over to the Senates Party whenever they recovered this side of the Alpes This relation gave Pompey great confidence so that he rejected all Projects of the least Accommodation Cicero could not be heard and when he afterwards asked him what Powers he had wherewith to oppose Pompey's answer was that he need onely to stamp with his foot and that the Earth would bring him forth an Army Many of the Senatours began already to talk very meanly of Caesar and Cato himself haughtily declared that he would bring him to an account of his Actions and that he should be treated as Milo had been used before him CHAP. XIV Caesar sends a letter to the Senate They declare War against him Anthony and Curio the Tribunes of the People go to find out Caesar. CAesar had written several times to the Senate to beg them that they would have some regard to the services he had done the Republick He proposed alternately that he might either be continued in his Government as Pompey had been or that he might be permitted in his absence to demand the Dignity of Consul and when this Proposition was rejected he requested again that Curio's expedient might be admitted of but in these his last Letters he proposed the surrendring up the Government of Illyria with two Legions which Cicero urged afterwards in Argument for a Peace but as we observed before his endeavours became altogether unprofitable and Caesar upon the news he received of the ill success of his pretensions repassed the Alpes with the third Legion and marched to Ravenna from thence he sent Fabius one of his Lieutenants with Letters to the Consuls who were Cornelius Lentulus and Clodius Marcellus newly chosen Lentulus refused to reade his Letters but Anthony and Quintus Cassius Longinus the Tribunes obliged them to be read before the Senate they contained a Catalogue of Caesar's Services and an assurance that he would send back his Troops when ever Pompey should disarm Lentulus would by no means admit of any deliberation upon these Letters onely told the Senate that upon condition they themselves would be vigorous upon this occasion he was ready to serve the Republick with the utmost hazard of his life but if they suffered themselves to be remiss and negligent he knew very well there was another would take party with Caesar. Scipio declared at the same time that Pompey was ready to Sacrifice himself for the interests of the Senate if they would stand by him but if they once appeared to be slow or irresolute in their deliberations it would after that be vain to expect any assistence from him And though Pompey were at
for himself against his Enemies He was heard to say That he had rather fall by Treason once than be so miserable as to be always afraid of it And another time That the Republick had more interest than himself in his preservation that he had gotten Glory and Power enough but that after his death the Commonwealth would be more harassed with Civil Wars than ever yet it had been And one day before his death being at Supper with Lepidus as his Friends disputed amongst themselves whilst he was writing what death was easiest It is that said he turning towards them which is the most sudden and the least foreseen He disbanded his Company of Spanish Guards and contented himself to be defended with the protection of his Friends which facilitated an enterprise upon his life Above threescore Senatours entred into this Conspiracy the Principals whereof were Brutus whose life Caesar had saved after the Battel of Pharsalia and Cassius who had surrendred Pompey's Fleet to him in the Hellespont they were both Pretors and Enemies because that Caesar had named Brutus for the eldest Pretor to the prejudice of Cassius who was above him in Age and Dignity the name of Brutus had been famous in Rome ever since the Consul so called who had banished the Kings There was found written at the foot of his Statue WOVLD TO GOD THOV WERT ALIVE And certain Billets were thrown into the Pretors Tribunal wherein were written these words Brutus thou art asleep and not a true Brutus Cassius was Authour of most of these things He hated Caesar for several reasons but chiefly because he had taken from him the Lions wherewith he intended to have given a shew to the People so Caesar mistrusted him and when his Friends advised him to look narrowly into the Conduct of Antonius and Dolabella It is not said he those perfumed and plump Sparks that I distrust but those meagre and pale Gentlemen He omitted not nevertheless to prepare his Expedition against the Parthians and caused sixteen Legions to march and Ten Thousand Horse for his going into Asia His design was to depart four days after to put himself at the head of them when the Conspiratours caused a report to be spread that according to the Sybill's Oracles the Parthians could not be overcome but by a King and that upon this pretence Cotta was to propose to the Senate the giving of him that Title Cassius took this occasion to go and visit Brutus demanding of him If he would go to the Senate upon the Ides of March when Caesar's Friends were to propose the declaring of him King Brutus said That he would not be there But replyed Cassius if you should be called thither Then said Brutus I shall think it my Duty to speak contradict and dye rather than lose our liberty Ah answered Cassius what Roman is there that would suffer you to dye for his Liberty you are ignorant Brutus who you are if you believe that those Billets which are thrown into the Tribunal come from any mean People and not from the most Illustrious and bravest Men of Rome They demand from other Pretors Games Shews and Gladiatours but they expect from you as a debt of Succession the ruine of Tyranny being ready to expose themselves to all hazards for your sake if you can find in your heart to dispose your self to their Wishes After this Conversation they parted and the Name of Brutus whose Person was very much Esteemed ingaged a great many in the Conspiracy so they resolved to put their design in execution upon the very Ides of March and in the Hall of the Senate A great many Prodigies foretold this misfortune to Caesar there was found in an old Tomb at Cappua a place of Brass whereon it was written in Greek Letters that when the Bones of Capys should be found a Man of the Race of Iülus should be slain by the hands of his Kinsmen and that his death should be â—evenged by the desolation of all Italy Word was brought him that those Horses which he had Consecrated and let loose at the passage of the Rubicon had not eaten for several days and were seen to weep Spurina a very able Diviner told him when he Sacrificed that great dangers threatned him upon the Ides of March and upon the Eve of that day a Wren flying into the Hall of Pompey with a Branch of Laurel in her Mouth was torn to pieces by other Birds who pursued her from a Neighbouring Wood. He dreamt the same Night that he was carried above the Clouds and that he shook hands with Iove and his Wife Calphurnia dreamt also that the top of her House fell down and that her Husband was Assassinated in her Armes the Doors of the Chamber opening at the same time of their own accord with great noise This last accident something confounded him and his Wife by her Prayers and Tears prevailed that he would not go abroad that day But another Brutus sirnamed Decimus who was one of the Conspiratours though of the number of his nearest Friends caused him to change his resolution in remonstrating to him He was expected at the Senate and that it would be a shame for him not to venture out of doors but when it should please Calphurnia to dream favourably so Deâ—imus carried him almost by force out of his Lodgings and as every thing seemed to contribute to his destruction a Slave who came to give him advice of the Conspiracy could never get up through the croud of People that surrounded him Artimedorus of Cnidus his Host and Friend having presented him with a Memorial to the same purpose he mingled it without reading amongst other Papers that were given him and Lena who was one of the Conspiratours entertaining him a great while in private as he came out of his Litter The others who believed themselves discovered thought already of killing themselves with the Daggers which they had under their Robes when Lena quitting Caesar and kissing his hand gave them to understand that he thanked him for some favour which he came to obtain The Assembly of the Senate was held in a place which Pompey had caused to be built for that purpose and which for that reason was called the Court or Hall of Pompey where was to be seen his Statue in Marble raised upon a Pedestal Caesar as he was entring met Spurina and smiling told him The Ides of March were come Yes answered the Divinor but they are not past When he had taken his place the Conspiratours turned towards him under pretence of saluting him and Tullius Cymber approached to ask pardon for his Brother who was then in Exile Caesar deferred the matter and put back Cymber who pressed upon him so far as to take hold on both sides of his Robe and when Caesar cryed out It was a violent Proceeding Casca who was behind him gave him the first stab with a Poniard near the Shoulder the wound glanced and was not
in all Parties and that the opposite Interest which imbroiled them had raised amongst them mortal hatreds Atticus behaved himself evermore with such dexterity that he preserved his interest in them all This management preserved him from the miseries of the age he lived in and gave him at last the Honour of seeing his Family Allied to the Caesars which considering the fury of the Civil Wars between Caesar and Pompey that of the Triumvirate and that which followed and how many noble Persons perished in those Divisions I know not where we can find an Example like him Cicero was of no great Birth and had been often reproached for the Novelty of his Nobility but the Beauty of his Wit his Eloquence wherein he exceeded the best Oratours of those times when that qualification was in its highest lustre and a certain kind of Courage which rendred him fearless upon every occasion that required not the drawing of his Sword and where he managed the interest of the Commonwealth had raised him to the highest Honours he discharged the Consulship with a great deal of Glory in putting a stop to Catiline's Conspiracy so that in speaking of it he almost made himself ridiculous and insupportable to his Friends even Brutus could not forbear rallying of him for it very sharply in a Letter which he wrote to Atticus and which is still extant Atticus therefore who knew how little assurance was to be had from the inconstancy of the People could not forbear declaring to his Friends his fears lest the opening of Caesar's Will and the publick Honours that were to be done him should occasion new Troubles His apprehensions were but too well grounded for Piso brought the Will which was opened in Antonius's House and read in the presence of the People Octavius the Grand-son of Caesar's Sister was by it Adopted to take upon him his Name and constituted Heir of nine parts of hs Estate and Pinarius and Pedius of three other parts To the Roman People he left the Gardens which he had on the other side of the Tiber and to every Citizen in particular 24 Drachma's Amongst his second Heirs who were to inherit in case of Mortality according to Custome he substituted Decimus Brutus who was one of the Conspiratours Several others also who had dipped their hands in his bloud were named for Tutours to his Son in case he had left one At these Tokens of Caesar's Goodness and his Affection for the People none could forbear their Tears and Lamentations But Decimus his being substituted an Heir provoked the Indignation of the whole Assembly After this Piso caused the Body to be brought forth with a great deal of Pomp those who carried it were all Men in Office and of the most Illustrious in the Senate It was set down in the middle of the Forum upon a place called the Rostra with a guard of Armed Souldiers in this place there was erected a little Temple of guilded Wood according to the Model of that of Venus which they called the Mother because the Family of Iulus which was the name of the Caesars pretended to have their Original from that Goddess In this little Temple was a Bed of Ivory Magnificently Adorn'd with Curtains of Cloth of Gold and Purple at the head of the Bed was a Trophy with the Robe which he wore when he was assassinated For the Pile it was prepared in the Field of Mars All the People ran to see this sight weeping and lamenting a new even those who bore Arms made a great noise as if they demanded Vengeance Now that Custome among the Romans was that one of the Kinsmen of the dead Man one of his Friends or at least one of his Brethren in Office should speak in his Praise Antonius who was Consul with Caesar when he was slain was his Friend also and his Ally so he laid hold of that occasion for the improvement of what he designed Gentlemen said he though I alone present my self to praise the Memory of that great Man whose Body you see here before you methinks I reade in your faces that upon this occasion you are all of the same Opinion with me and that there is not one of those who hears me now but in his heart praises him also By this means when I shall recount to you his great Actions his Vertues and then those Honours wherewith the Senate and you afterwards have Rewarded them I shall not speak only what I think my self but moreover as your Interpreter Then he made a report of all those Titles of Honour which had been given to Caesar his Dictatourship his being several times Consul with the Name of the Father of his Countrey from thence he passed on to his Vertues praising his Courage his Eloquence his Humanity and his Mildness which was so great said he that he was never able to withhold his good inclinations even from those who had offended him After this he repeated the Oath which the People of Rome had made to Câ—sar by which they swore That his Person should be Sacred and Inviolable and took the Gods to Witness that they would defend it with the hazard of their lives But observing at this discourse some alteration in several of the Senatours he concluded with saying That what had been done ought to be forgotten that it was the Crime of some Demons that were Enemies to Rome rather than Men and that nothing now ought farther to be thought of than the Honouring of the Memory of the Illustrious Dead and placing him amongst the Gods CHAP. VII The Pomp of Caesar's Funeral The Rising of the People of Rome and their Fury against the Conspiratours WHILE this Discourse lasted one of those who were called Archimimi who assisted where great Men were to attend and often represented them as if some Fury had possessed him tore Caesar's Robe off from the Trophy and shewed it to the People crying out That it was the spoil of a Person beloved of the Gods and reverenced of all the People even to Adoration He added several things of the like nature in a terrible Tone and weeping between while with Outcries and strange postures of Sorrow which stirred up the compassion of the People At the same time was to be seen the Figure of Câ—sar in Wax which moved it self by Springs and shewed the Wounds which he had received upon his face and in his Body this sight transported the People even to Madness they cryed out They would inflict most cruel punishments on those that had murthered him Some proposed the burning the Body in the Capitol to doe him the more Honour others said That that duty ought to be paid him in the Hall of Pompey when two Armed Men carrying each of them two Javelins set fire with Flambeaus to the little Temple where the Bed was so every Body ran thither some with the first bits of Wood they could get together others with the Benches and Chairs of the Magistrates
who held Courts of Justice in that place so that the Body the Bed and the Temple were all consumed in a moment All Authours agree in this but Plutarch says That he who shewed Caesar 's Robe to the People was Antonius himself Now as the commotion of a furious People runs always to extremity many round about the Funeral Pile took up flaming Brands and ran to set fire to the Conspiratours Houses who being all of the most Illustrious Families of Rome by the great number of their Domesticks repulsed the Violence so the People retired with terrible Threats which very much affrighted them they reasonably judged that there was no longer safety for them in the City especially after an extraordinary Accident which arrived at the same time One of Caesar's Friends who was a Versifier and to his Misfortune called Cinna had dreamt the night before that Caesar had invited him to Supper and upon his refusal had taken him by the hand and forcibly dragged him into a dark place this dream had given him a Fever nevertheless that hindred him not from rising to go and pay his last Offices to his Friend he came just in the nick of time when the People were returning in rage from the Conspiratours Houses when some body unluckily called him by his Name and that Name so odious for the sake of the other Cinna who had made an Oration the day before was as a signal for them to fall upon him with such rage that the poor Wretch was torn in a thousand pieces in a moment There are a hundred other instances how much Caesar was beloved the old Souldiers who had served under him threw into the fire all their Coronets Pikes Bracelets and other Tokens of Honour which he had given them A great many Ladies of Quality also threw in their Childrens Robes and Ornaments with every thing which they had of Value about them All the Strangers who were at Rome mourned after their Customs and particularly the Jews who watched several nights at the Pile At last Divine Honours were given him and an Altar was erected in the place where he had been burnt and where Octavius Caesar since called Augustus caused a Temple to be built and a Pillar of Jaspar twenty foot high with this Title To the Father of his Countrey CHAP. VIII The Artifices of Antonius He procures himself Guards Brutus and Cassius withdraw from Rome Antonius gets the Government of Macedonia for his Brother Cyrene is given to Cassius and Bithynia to Brutus THE Commotions and Fury of the People made the Senatours very much suspect the Conduct of Antonius who had still need of their favour so he resolved to regain it by a desperate undertaking which happened to please them Amatius who called himself the Son of Marius committed great disorders in the City with some People whom the reputation of his Father had gathered about him Antonius caused him to be apprehended and slain without more formality The Senate approved the Action since it assured the Conspiratours amongst the others Brutus and Cassius whom those Mutineers had threatned But the manner of this Proceeding did not please them and Antonius's boldness made them afraid Amatius his People publickly complained and Assembled themselves about the Altar of Caesar whence Antonius and his Collegue Dollabella caused the Souldiers to disperse them and Dollabella erected a Statue with this Inscription To the good Father which very much displeased Cicero This provoked the Mutineers they came together the next day in the same place where they appeared washing the foot of the Altar and the Statue with their tears at last their Compassion was turned into Madness and they ran to the place where the Image which Dollabella had set up was guarded to set it on fire but Dollabella commanded them to be fallen upon where many were killed and of those who were taken the Slaves by his order were hanged and the others thrown down Rocks This Chastisement appeased the Sedition but it made the Consuls hatefull to the People Antonius preserved himself well with the Senate and to gain them intirely proposed the recalling of the young Pompey and that some Recompence might be allotted him for the loss of his Father's Estate and the Command of the Fleets put into his hands These things extremely pleased all the Senatours to see the safety of Brutus and the other Conspiratours as well as the Authority of Pompey's Party established Cicero praised Anthony and in an Eloquent Oration thanked him in the Senate Anthony took this occasion to demand Guards for the safety of his Person nor was there any who durst refuse it a Magistrate who had sacrificed himself to the hatred of the People for the interest of the Senate Upon this pretence he raised about 6000 Men all old Souldiers who had served under Iulius Caesar and almost all of them Men fit to Command This was the first but not the onely step which the Senate made against their own Interest and it was wonderfull to see the most discerning Persons of so refined an age act with so much inconstancy as then appeared in all their proceedings But they soon repented of what they had agreed to and it was remonstrated to Antonius That so great a number of Guards were but unprofitable as well as odious He promised to reduce them when the hatred of the People should be appeased In the mean time he gained to his interest Caesar's Secretary called Faberius and by that means made himself Master of all his Memorials Now there had been published a general approbation of all that Caesar had ordained and under this pretence Antonius by the help of the Secretary brought into the Senate People wholly in his Interest he called home the banished Men created new Officers and all said he in pursuance of Caesar's Memorials which he fashioned according to his fancy the People laughed at these Officers and new Senatours calling them Charonitae and all this was the occasion that new distrusts arose and those of the Conspiratours to whom Caesar had given Governments withdrew themselves Decimus into the Cisalpine Gall which is to say Piedmont the Countrey of Milan and all that which is called Lombardy Tribonius into Asia Cimber into Bithynia Brutus and Cassius had Macedonia and Syria They would not yet abandon the City and their Friends so they tryed if they could make their Authority prevail as they were Pretors but as they could not secure themselves of the minds of the People they lived as private Men and wrote to their Friends to fortify in their Provinces The Proceedings of Antonius increased dayly their Suspicions and that private life of theirs seemed a kind of dishonour to the Senate whose Idols to speak properly they were so they were ordered to go and procure Victualling and Provisions of Corn for the City to the end that they might have a plausible pretence of quitting it and afterwards retire themselves to their Governments without making
who believed themselves now more obliged to him than to the very Caesar who had left them the Money The Souldiers came also from all parts of Italy to partake of his liberality so that though Brutus his Games were very Magnificent and the People extremely pleased with them his Friends no sooner demanded that he and Cassius might be recalled home but Caesar's Party put a stop to the Shews and would not let them go on till that request were absolutely rejected It was easie to perceive that this refusal was the work of young Caesar and those who before wondred at his boldness for making Head against Anthony were now as much surprized at his Address also and Power By this means Brutus and Cassius lost all hopes of returning to Rome and went one into Macedonia and the other into Syria they pretended that Caesar had allotted them those Provinces which had since been unjustly taken from them and Dollabella whose interest was Syria departed with all diligence to take possession of his Government Antonius very well knew at this time that he had need of new Forces he had his Eyes upon the Army which was in Macedonia composed of six Legions of seasoned Souldiers abundance of Lancers and Cavalry with a great Equipage of Engines and all sorts of Ammunition he was afraid lest Dollabella should take these Troops and carry them against the Parthians so he resolved to send for them into Italy and to keep them the mean while in Macedonia caused a report to be spread that the Getae had made an incursion there with great powers Now as his Brother was already Governour of that Province it was his Opinion that the Command of those Troops would not be deny'd him for the making head against those Barbarians when the Senate made an Order that some body should be sent to inquire into the truth of that news So Antonius taking notice how his Plot had alarum'd them and that they were afraid lest he should make himself Dictatour proposed That that Office might be abolished for ever with free liberty to kill and destroy whomsoever should have the boldness to offer at it This Proposition so agreeable to all Parties confirmed the Senate when at last by under-hand management and presents which he made Antonius obtained the Command of the Army He sent his Brother Cajus in all diligence to acquaint the Troops with the Decree of the Senate with private orders to bring them into Italy so those Deputies who had been sent to inquire into the state of that Province returned and brought word that the Getae were not yet entred there but that an erruption of them was expected CHAP. XII Antonius demands the Government of the Cisalpine Gaul He offends young Caesar. The Souldiers oblige him to an agreement with him Antonius gets the Government IN the mean time Brutus and Cassius made preparations for War and Tribonius whom they had sent into Asia fortified the places of that Countrey while Antonius Triumphed at Rome all his Artifices succeeded in the Senate and he thought there was nothing now which he might not hope for Gaul where Decimus Commanded appeared very convenient for his designs so he was not afraid to demand the Government of it out of the confidence he had in his Authority This Proposition began to open the Eyes of the Senatours who now saw openly the Ambition of Antonius so they absolutely rejected his Demands and sent Deputies to Decimus to advise him To strengthen himself against the pretensions of Antonius who was now resolved to obtain that from the People which had been refused him by the Senate But to the end that he might first try all means of preserving himself in their favour he took an occasion of falling out with young Caesar whose Power already began to be formidable Critonius who was Aedilis was to give Games to the People according to the Custome I before mentioned It was Ordained That the Image of Caesar should assist at all the Shews placed in a Magnificent Seat and Crowned with Gold Now as his Adopted Son caused the Seat to be brought Critonius opposed him upon the place saying He would not allow that Caesar should be honoured at his expence Young Caesar made his Complaints of this to the Consul who was Antonius but he refused to doe him Justice saying That it was none of his business to interpose in that matter at which Octavius being provoked fiercely replyed In spight of the uneasiness of those Men who are thus impertinently squeamish my Father's Image shall appear in the place that is designed for it nay and by your own Decree too These words offended Antonius or rather to speak properly Antonius had a mind to be offended so he reproached young Caesar that all his Proceedings tended to the stirring up of the People and threatned him to commit him to Prison forbidding him at last to bring his Father's Image not onely to Critonius his Games but even to those which Caesar himself was to exhibit in Honour of his Father before the Temple of Venus These prohibitions appeared so full of Injustice and Violence that they extremely exasperated the People so young Caesar made the right use of the Quarrel for he went into the publick Places where he complained of the injury done to the Memory of his Father Wherefore said he as if Antonius had been himself present should thy hatred to me extend it self to Caesar who has deserved so well of thee I am ready joyfully to Sacrifice my self to thy Revenge provided thou wilt have regard to the Memory of my Father who preferred thee above all other Friendships I here to thy insatiable Avarice freely abandon all the Fortune which he left to me onely permit me enough wherewith to satisfy his last desires I beg this of thee for the Peoples sake and not my own for I shall think my self rich and honourable enough if I can but doe Iustice to his Memory in distributing amongst the People what he has left them This discourse was immediately spread all over the City and made so great impression that Antonius began to be desperate and threatned Revenge When Caesar's Friends and even the old Souldiers whom Antonius had taken for his Guards remonstrated to him How shamefull it was in this manner to wrong the Memory of their General as well as his own since it would turn at last to their confusion and purchase him but little Honour As he had need of these People he thought fit to hearken to them and after having complained of young Caesar's Proceedings whom he accused of Arrogance and aspiring to an equality with himself who was elder than he and of an established Reputation he said That he was willing that all things might be forgotten in complyance to the desires of so many brave men He had besides this another reason for his complyance He was now to try what Reputation Caesar had amongst the People which he pretended he would
to any Sedition but on the contrary appeared always to be most bold when his Friends were trembling for his safety Upon these occasions one word onely pronounced with Authority was sufficient to quell a Mutiny and this was indeed the effect of such an esteem as is supported by extraordinary Merit Nevertheless this manner of proceeding has not succeeded with every body nor did Antonius find it seasonable though he afterwards changed all the Officers and put others in their places whom he thought better disposed towards him so he Commanded them to march to Rimini keeping onely a thousand Men about his Person with which he went to Rome He made his entry there in a very fierce manner with his Souldiers in Arms causing them to keep Watch and Guard about his House as if they had been in the Camp But as he was designing to go to the Senate and there complain against Caesar news was brought him that one of his Legions called the Martial was gone over to the contrary Party which news very much amazed him so that he doubted whether he ought to go to the Senate House or not especially when he understood farther that the fourth Legion had followed the Example and was revolted also Nevertheless he went thither but spoke little especially of the subject he came about After this he went to Alba to try if he might reduce those two Legions which were retreated thither they refused him entrance which was the reason that he sent in all haste and offered his Souldiers 500 Drachma's a Man as Caesar had done before him From this place he went to Tibur where his Ammunitions were lodged and where such Troops as he had remaining being confirmed by the offers he had made them came and met him with an addition of the tenth Legion which was newly arrived by Sea The folly of the Senate and Roman People was again apparent upon this occasion many of the Senatours a great number of Knights and several of the People ran to offer him their services so that there became a Question in Rome In what Countrey lived the Enemies of Antonius They found him busie in receiving the Oaths of his Souldiery which they themselves offered also to take This action gave him great Reputation and was the occasion that many of those People who had yet taken no Party came and joined themselves with him so that he marched to Rimini with four Legions of old Souldiers a considerable number of Horsemen and Launcers as also one Legion of new raised Men besides this Lepidus had four more in Spain Assinius Pollio two Plancus also Commanded three in the Transalpine Gall and at this time all those Leaders appeared in the interests of Antonius CHAP. XVI Caesar's force He assures himself of the affections of his Troops ON the other side Caesar was at Alba with the two Legions that deserted Antonius one of new raised Souldiers and two of such old ones as had served under his Father from this place he sent Deputies to the Senate who were now no longer Masters of their own proceedings for either fear or particular hatred carried them away and those very Men who could prostrate themselves before Antonius were for applauding Caesar from the very moment that he appeared powerfull enough to make them afraid of him They would have been very glad if the deserting Legions had come and offered them their service but as there was no Remedy for the present Disease they approved so heartily of their proceeding as well as Caesar's that it became now another Question at Rome If Antonious had ever had a Friend there In the mean while being of Opinion that it would not become their Wisedom and Gravity to doe any thing contrary to Form they sent word to Caesar that they would adjourn all affairs till the new Election of Consuls but his Souldiers who were not altogether so formal were for obliging him to take upon him the Quality of Consul or Emperour saying That they had been used to serve under no Generals but who had been so qualified And they had already prepared for him the Rods and Axes which were wont to be born before those Magistrates The name of Emperour was not then in such force as it is now for it signified no more than the General of an Army it is true that it was given to any man but after some famous Victory or great Conquest and then their Souldiers gave it with great Acclamations it being then a mark of Honour which has since grown into a Title Caesar refused it and seeing they would press it upon him thought himself obliged to acquaint his Officers with his Reasons My Friends said he It is not the love which the Senate bears us that obliges them to declare in our behalf but the fear that they have of the power of Antonius for they would make use of us to destroy him and the murtherers of my Father who are all their Relations and Friends have imagined that this is the way to save themselves pretending to fortify themselves in weakning of us but this is no time to let them understand that we have penetrated so far into their Policy which we should certainly doe should I accept of those Honours which you offer me and which they would look upon as an incroachment upon their Authority We ought therefore to manage our selves with more subtilty and persuade them of our respect by our Obedience for by that way of proceeding we shall more surely obtain the thing we wish for and they will voluntarily bestow a Dignity upon me which they well know you are able to give me in spight of them CHAP. XVII Antonius besieges Decimus Brutus in Modena AFTER this discourse Caesar went to exercise his Troops where the Martial and fourth Legion skirmished before him he took opportunely that occasion to ingage them by fresh bounty so he again gave 500 Drachma's to each Souldier and promised as much more if they carried the Victory These Intrigues had given Decimus time to fortify himself in his Government and when Antonius sent him the Ordinance of the People by which he was invested in that Employment Decimus's answer was That he had been established there by a Decree of the Senate In answer to this Antonius onely gave him a short time for his departure but the other demanded from day to day that it might be prolonged which Antonius refused him and he could have easily defeated him but was unwilling so soon to use force and therefore contented himself with seizing of the best places of the Province Decimus who apprehended a general Revolt pretended that he had received Orders from the Senate to come to Rome so he marched to Modena which he took possession of with his Troops this was then a great and rich City and Decimus made choice of it to oppose Antonius without fear of being forc't thence He had one good Troop of Gladiatours and three Legions two of old Souldiers
side by which means Cassius was in a short time at the head of 12 Legions He imparted this good news to all his Friends and went afterwards to besiege Dolabella in Laodicea which is a City of Syria On the other side Brutus in Macedonia the Government whereof Hortentius had put into his hands by the means of Apuloius's Money had drawn to him all such of Pompey's Souldiers as were in Thessaly and all the Neighbouring Princes who still had a respect for the Memory of Pompey assisted him with their Troops so that the whole World was again divided between two Men for they were no more since it was in effect the Credit of Caesar and Pompey which kept up the War between those of their several Parties Cajus the Brother of Antonius was gone with one Legion into Macedonia where Brutus who was much stronger than he might easily have destroyed him but resolving to Husband well the lives of his Fellow Citizens and the Repute which he had already gotten for great Moderation he contented himself to weary him out with moving from one place to another and it was Cicero's Son who Commanded the Party against him He was as yet but a young Man though of great expectation and Brutus praised him extremely in the Letters which he wrote to Cicero He got the better of Cajus in two or three little encounters the ill success whereof at last was the reason that all Cajus his Souldiers surrendred themselves to Brutus and he himself was at last forc't to follow their example Brutus used him very well without depriving him of any marks of his Dignity till the death of Cicero CHAP. XXV Caesar demands the Honour of Triumph which is refused him He attempts the Consulship by Cicero's interference THE news of these proceedings was received in Italy with very different sentiments the Senate were extremely rejoiced at it but young Caesar seemed to have a very little share in their pleasure the last advice of Pansa wholly employed his thoughts and to sound the inclinations of the Senate he sent to demand a Triumph but that Honour was denied to Caesar who from the very moment resolved to use his best indeavours to re-unite himself with Antonius He sent him back all the Prisoners which he had taken at the Battel of Modena and amongst the rest Decius a particular friend of Antonius having first discovered to him his intentions he let Ventidius's Army pass which he might have destroyed and also saw him particularly himself to complain to him of the Divisions that ruined the interest of their Party At last he sent to Lepidus and Pollio to give them to understand the same thing and all this with the greatest secrecy in the world In the mean time Decimus wrote word to the Senate that Antonius was ruined that he was not able to stand before him and that he would undertake in a short time to chase him to the other side of the Alps the joy for this news was every where apparent so without any farther consideration a Committee was appointed of ten Senatours for the drawing up of a Process against Antonius and abolishing all that he had done during his Consulship This was an oblique blow with which they intended to wound the Ordinances of Iulius Caesar. Those of Pompey's Party solicited Decimus that he would demand the Consulship in the room of Hirtius and Pansa Caesar also had the same design but discovered it at first onely to Cicero to whom he sent word That he much desired to see himself once Consul with him that so he might be instructed in those rules and methods which are requisite for the government of the Commonwealth That for his part he onely desired the name of Consul to recompence himself in some measure for the loss of his Triumph but that he would leave the Authority intirely to Cicero He could not have thought of any thing better to prevail upon the weakness of that Man all his great knowledge and experience gave way to that bait of Vain-glory so he proposed it to the Senate with a great many circumlocutions which nevertheless could not disguise it so well but that his vanity was perceived and made light of by the Senate who laughed at him for his pains and the Kinsmen of the Conspiratours hindred any farther proceeding towards the Election of Consuls CHAP. XXVI Antonius makes his retreat into Gall. He makes himself Master of Lepidus's Army He returns into Italy with seventeen Legions ANTONIVS began now to understand his true interest those Friends which Caesar had sent to him had opened his Eyes but he had a mind in the first place throughly to discover the intentions of Lepidus who was advanced out of Spain as far as the place where the Rivers of Rhone and Saone meet the Senate had given orders to him and Plancus to fortify themselves in that place and it was at this time that Plancus laid the foundation of the City of Lyons Antonius passed over the Alps having first gained Culeâ— who guarded the narrow passages in all that march his Army suffered most extremely and Antonius even out-did himself in instructing his Souldiers by his own example to indure their weariness and their wants at last he came and incamped hard by Lepidus but fortified himself not in the least because he would make it known that he thought himself near his Friends Nevertheless Lepidus sent him word that the Senate had given him orders to prosecute him as an Enemy but Antonius who had let his beard and hair grow came and shewed himself in that condition to Lepidus's Souldiers they had all served with him under Iulius Caesar esteemed him for his Courage and the Civility of his Manners so that the condition they now saw him in moved them to compassion he spoke to them several times between the two Camps where they would meet him though Lepidus did all that lay in his power to prevent it Antonius Souldiers were dayly telling them stories of the goodness of their General that he marched the first on foot into the middle of the Snow himself comforting those whom he saw were wearied which gained the very hearts of them at last Lepidus perceiving that he was no longer Master of his Troops that they had sent Claudius and Laelius to Antonius to invite him to come into their Camp where they would receive him for their General and at the same time cut off Lepidus if he would give them Orders Antonius forbad them the doing of him any violence and the next day passed over a shallow part of the River which separated them and came into Lepidus's Camp The Souldiers received him with great Acclamations and Lepidus being very much terrified offered him his Command Antonius refused it but was willing to divide with him though the Authority should still remain intirely his Plancus who was loath to expose himself to the like disgrace past Iserum with four Legions and retreated into Savoy as if
and broke them to pieces then that Line gave way and turning upon the second produced nothing but fear and disorder a proceeding contrary to what had been used in the first Battel caused at this time the loss of Brutus for those Troops terrified and prest hard by Caesar came tumbling upon the Wing which Brutus commanded and notwithstanding all that he could doe to rally them broke it in pieces Cato's Son who commanded under him seeing that all must now inevitably be lost ran into the thickest of the Enemy's Battalions and uttring aloud his own Name and his Father's was there slain Caesar and Antonius neglected none of their advantages and on every side charged those Troops which were in disorder Antonius took care to follow the victory and Caesar not being able to doe it commanded Norbanus to go to the Enemy's Camp where a great slaughter was made of those who confusedly were retreating Almost all Brutus's best Officers perished in this fight by endeavouring to save the person of their General A body of Thracian Cavalry commanded by Rhastus persued him very hard and must have taken him had it not been for Lucilius who was his best friend This Man charged the Thracians and stopped them till seeing himself encompassed round he cried out that he was Brutus and demanded Quarter desiring that they would carry him to Antonius These Cavaliers transported with their good fortune sent word of it to Antonius and brought him their Prisoner He notwithstanding all his hatred could not but be concerned at this adventure which cost him many reflexions He was extremely confounded to think how he ought to be have himself to those that brought him the news and who appeared before him with different opinions of the matter when Lucilius shewing himself in the midst of those who conducted him No Man said he to Antonius shall ever have the honour to take Brutus alive nor will the Gods permit that Fortune shall have such advantage over his Vertue but he will always be found whether dead or living in a condition that becomes his Courage I have here delivered my self up to save him I am now in your hands and you may dispose of my life just as you please Antonius could not but admire the vertue of the Man and told the Thracians that they were much happier than they believed they were since in stead of the enemy whom they thought they had brought him they had made him a present of a friend Indeed Lucilius was afterwards one of his first friends and to the day of his death discharged himself with an inviolable fidelity CHAP. LII Brutus's last Words and Death Messala goes over to Caesar with all his Forces THIS contrivance of Lucilius and the night together gave Brutus time to pass over a little River and make his retreat up to an advanced ground which was hard by There lifting up his eyes to Heaven * unhappy Vertue said he I follow thee as a solid good but thou art onely a thing merely talked of a vain empty name or at best a slave of fortune He afterwards repeated several times another Greek Verse which signifies Punish great Jove the authour of these evils by which it was thought he designed Antonius who afterwards remembred it when he was driven to that extremity by Caesar after the Battel of Actium Afterwards with abundance of praises as well as sighs he repeated the names of all those of his friends whom he had seen perish upon that occasion One of those who was still with him complained that he was thirsty and the Souldiers running to the River fetched water in their Helmets and brought it Volumnius a noble Senatour who had been gone out to discover what might be the reason of a certain noise which they had then heard returned at this time and asking if there were any water We have all drank said Brutus to him smiling but do not you be troubled for the spring is not far off so the Souldiers returned to the River but had much adoe to get back again and were several of them wounded which gave Brutus to understand that he was invested then he exhorted those that were with him to make some attempt to get to their Camp which yet held out but they had lost all their courage and told him that he would doe better to think of saving himself I know very well answered he that I ought to doe it but it is with my hands and not with my feet Then Statilius one of his Officers offered to go by himself to the Camp and that if it were not taken to advance a lighted Flambeau in the air for a signal The Flambeau appeared which gave some hopes to Brutus so he expected a long time saying Statilius would come if he were alive But he was slain in his return by some Souldiers belonging to one of those Corps du guard which the Triumviri had every where posted At last Brutus wearied with expectation and seeing that the day approached whispered something in the ear of one of his Domesticks whose name was Clitus and who answered him nothing but fell a-weeping which made Brutus call Dardanus who served him as General of his Horse to him also he said something and addressed himself afterwards to Volumnius who has written all these particulars But seeing they onely answered him with their tears he raised himself up and made them a short discourse to thank them for that fidelity wherewith they had so generously and to the last extremity followed his fortune He said he lookt upon himself much happier than any of his Conquerours since he should enjoy that reputation which always follows Vertue and which Tyranny and Injustice can never deserve He conjured his friends to think of preserving their lives since he hoped that Caesar and Antonius being satisfied with his death would not persue their cruelty any farther He afterwards went aside some few paces with a certain Greek whose name was Strato a very learned Rhetorician and for that reason by him highly esteemed he begged of this man by that strict League that was made between them to doe that office for him which those other friends had refused and seeing that he could not resolve upon it he called for a slave Ah! then said Strato it shall never be said that Brutus in his last extremity stood in need of the assistence of a slave for want of a friend so turning away his head he presented the point of his sword to Brutus who threw himself upon it with such violence that it pierced him through and he died immediately Thus did this Man born with so great advantages and qualified so well by a tragical end pay for that horrible ingratitude wherewith he had dyed his hands in the bloud of a Man to whom he stood indebted for the highest favours It is a crime which can never be washed off from his memory no not by all the Vertue which he so ill employed both
He sent to Pompey to advance with his Forces and enter Anthony's Troops besides took Sigionte in Ausonia and Pompey besieged the Cities of Thuria and Cosance Caesar marched with his Army in all haste after he had detached Agrippa against Pompey Agrippa re-took Sigionte and beat Pompey from Thuria The Veterans were vexed at this War and while they were drawn together by order of Caesar to goe against Pompey as soon as they knew Anthony and he were joined they refused to march Caesar though he found they were so distasted made them follow him which they did but onely out of a design to come to an agreement In the mean time Anthony had sent for his Army from Macedonia and hardly pressed the besieged He had besides manned several Vessels with Peasants and useless People and brought them into the Port of Brundusium which did much intimidate the besieged thinking he had been re-inforced with considerable Succours He had here a misfortune which yet he fully repaired by his Valour Servilius one of his Officers with 1200 Horse which he commanded went over to Caesar. Anthony received this News as he was at Table he with all his friends that were with him immediately rose and march'd with onely 400 Horse to Iria where Caesar had placed a body of Cavalry of 1500. These men astonished with the presence of Anthony whom by reason of the Victory of Philippi they believed invincible yielded to him and he brought them to his Camp The advanced Parties on both sides came up to the very Works and reproached each other at length Caesar's Souldiers declared to Anthony's that they were come thither to no other end than to oblige their two Generals to a Peace and that if Anthony would not yield to it though they had always a great veneration for his Valour yet they were too much obliged to Caesar not to serve him till death As Anthony very well knew their Valour and Experience these Discourses made him seriously reflect upon the Consequences of these Jarrs It hapned the year before Caesar had sent to him Cocceius and Cecinna the former of these was a very wise well-meaning man and equally obliged to Anthony and Caesar he easily foresaw there might arise some difference between them he therefore sent back Cecinna and staid himself with Anthony When they came to Brundusium he asked permission to return to Caesar offering to carry any Letter from him Anthony refused to write telling him That Caesar was his Enemy That he had nothing to send to him but Reproaches for his foul dealing which he had already told him by Cecinna however added laughing If you please I 'll send twice as many Letters by you to the same purpose Cocceius answered That he ought not to account Caesar his Enemy who had had so much consideration for his brother Lucius and his other friends 'T is then replied Anthony out of pure friendship that he shuts the Gates of Brundusium against me debauches my Souldiers and seizeth upon the Provinces that are fallen to my share for as to his Civilities we understand the motives of them well enough he uses my friends well that by his self-interested Liberalities he may make them my Enemies Cocceius finding him too much moved would insist upon it no longer but went to Caesar who appeared amazed at his return and reproached him with his long stay among his Enemies After some Excuses which Caesar took in good part Cocceius laid before him the Reasons Anthony pretended he had to complain of him upon which Caesar to clear himself said He had not taken the Command of the Army from the Son of Calenus a young man and unexperienced but onely to hinder the design of Lucius who intended to re-establish the Authority of the Common-wealth and that it was contrary to his Orders that the Gates of Brundusium were shut against him but that those who commanded there thought they were obliged to it seeing Anthony allied with Pompey their common Enemy and accompanied with Domitius one of the Assassines of his Father Julius and who had declared himself his Enemy by several acts of hostility Cocceius answered It was true that by their Treaty they engaged themselves not to enter into any Alliance with the Murtherers of Julius Caesar and that Anthony had not neither would he ever forget the respect he owed to his memory that Domitius was none of the Conspiracy not being named in the Decree made against them It was true indeed he had followed Brutus but if he intended to call in question all those that had done the like he would have enough to doe As for Pompey Anthony had not called him to the War but for his assistence in case he were attacked or to bring them to accommodation if he found Caesar disposed to it That besides He thought himself obliged to tell him that he himself was partly the cause of their joining by his making War with the friends of Anthony in Italy without which none durst ever have entertained any correspondence with Pompey Says Caesar then Since you speak of Italy you should not forget the War that Fulvia and Manius kindled against me though all this while Pompey had never the courage to enterprise any thing upon this Countrey onely now he ravages the Coasts backed with the assistence of Anthony There is replies Cocceius something more than this which I will not offer to conceal from you 'T is not the Encouragement of Anthony that gives Pompey this boldness 'T is his positive and particular Command He ' has order to make a descent and land his whole Army which is very considerable and not barely to amuse himself to spoil the Sea coasts but bring the War into the very heart of Italy if you do not quickly make Peace ' Caesar saw well enough whither these Discourses tended and did not in the least take it amiss from Cocceius he onely told him that Pompey had not yet any reason to value himself for his brave Exploits Cocceius then told him of the Death of Fulvia caused by her vexation and the neglect and scorn of her Husband and added that this Obstacle being removed there wanted nothing but to come to a clear understanding of each other to make a perfect Reconciliation Caesar kept Cocceius at Supper and made him lodge with him but he could not be prevailed upon to write to Anthony he onely complained of Iulia because she chose rather to retire into Sicily than give him an opportunity of shewing her the respect he always had for her as being his Kinswoman and that he would honour her no less than his own Mother he prayed Cocceius to assure Iulia of his Sentiments to her and so sent him back to Anthony as he went he saw Caesar's chief Officers and many old Souldiers who all testified the earnest desire they had of an Accommodation because they were not willing to bear Arms against Anthony he therefore informed him of the Intentions of
the first man of the world and the worthiest of the Romans he was overcome by a Roman He expired in finishing this Discourse in the moment that Proculus arrived from Caesar. Dercetes one of Anthony's Guards had given notice of the Death of his Master and had carried the Sword with which he slew himself yet stained with his Bloud This sad Sight forced Caesar to retire into his Tent. And now the strict friendship he had had with Anthony their Affinity the Dangers they had past together came into his thoughts All this joined with his Noble extraction his Fame for so many Triumphs and Dignities followed by such a deplorable end drew Tears from him He called his Friends in and laid before them how he had not contributed any thing to the overthrow of Anthony by any hatred or ambition He shewed them the Copies of the Letters he had written to him which contained nothing but reasonable and just Proposals and Anthony's Answers full of Passion and Disdain After this he sent Proculus to employ all his Art and Address to seize upon Cleopatra Caesar passionately desired in his Triumph to expose to the sight of the Romans this Queen who had so long triumphed over one of their Emperours and was also very desirous to save her Treasures Cleopatra would not let Proculus enter she spoke to him through the Chinks of the Dore. She was heard to ask the Kingdom of Aegypt for her Children and Proculus exhorted her to put an intire confidence in Caesar's Clemency and the affection he had for her And all this while he considered well all the Avenues of this monument when he had taken good notice of them he returned to Caesar who the same instant sent Gallus to make her other Propositions while Proculus with two others entred by the Window they drew Anthony in at the Queen was earnest in discourse with Gallus when one of her Women perceiving Proculus make hastily up to her cryed out Poor Princess you are taken At this Cry Cleopatra turned her Head and drew out a dagger she had at her Girdle to strike it into her Heart but the Roman caught hold of her Arm. Madam said he will you with the same Crime injure both your self and Caesar in depriving him of the most illustrious testimony he can give of his generosity and make the best and gentlest of Princes pass for Cruel He then took the dagger from her and searched all her Clothes with Care lest she should have any Poison concealed about her CHAP. XXXII Caesar enters into Alexandria He visits Cleopatra Her Death The Posterity of Anthony THIS News gave Caesar an extreme satisfaction He saw himself Master of the World by the Death of his Enemy and had in his hands that haughty Queen who had lifted the Crown of Aegypt above the Empire of the Romans He commanded Epaphroditus to guard her with exactest care and yet serve her like a Queen He then made his Entrance into Alexandria And as in all his actions he still had something of the Politician he chose Arius the Philosopher to be near him who was of this City and during that Solemnity to give him more respect Caesar almost always talked to him sometimes very familiarly holding out his hand to him He went thus to the Place of Exercises where all the People were assembled by his order The Majesty of Caesar followed by so many armed Souldiers who breathed nothing but destruction threw the Aegyptians into a mighty fear They all fell on their Knees and implored his Pardon and when Silence was made Caesar told them he pardoned the People in consideration of their illustrious Founder Alexander the Great for the Beauty of the Town which he admired and for the Friendship he bore to his Friend Arius their fellow Citizen he would needs see the Tomb and Body of Alexander which he honoured with a Crown of Gold and covered it with Flowers according to the custome of those times But when they asked him if he would see the Sepulchres of the Ptolemies too He answered He desired to see a great King not dead Corpses that were not Aegypt was reduced into a Province and Caesar caused his Souldiers to cleanse the Chanels of the Nile which very much contributed to the fertility of that Kingdom which abounded in Corn. Several Kings Princes and Roman Senatours begged of him the Body of Anthony to pay their last respects to it but he would not deprive Cleopatra of that satisfaction She performed it with a great deal of magnificence and Caesar took care to furnish her with what was needfull for the Pomp of the Funeral She appeared here with excess of grief though Caesar strove to moderate her affliction by the kind usage of her Children whom he esteemed as his Allies Onely Antyllus the eldest of Anthony's Children by Fulvia was partaker of his Father's misfortune as being of an age capable of Resentment and having been always bred up with his Father had imbibed his Sentiments he was betrayed by Theodorus his Tutor who betrayed him to rob him of a stone of great value Antyllus threw himself at the Feet of an Image of I. Caesar but this Sanctuary stood him in no more stead than his Prayers and Tears for he was by the Souldiers taken from thence and slain The traiterous Schoolmaster did not long enjoy the fruits of his Treason for he not confessing his Theft they searched him and found the stone sowed up in his Girdle and Caesar made him be fastned to a Cross where the People of Alexandria with Joy saw him expire Casarion the son of I. Caesar and Cleopatra was also delivered up by Rhodon to whom this Princess had trusted him This Son whom she tenderly loved and sent him with a great Mass of Treasure to Ethiopia it was for this that this perfidious Governour deceived Caesarion by the shewing him feigned Letters by which Caesar recalled him to put him upon the Throne of Aegypt When he came to Alexandria Caesar was sometime in suspence between policy and humanity till Arius made him resolve by this saying It is not safe to hâ—ve many Caesars this was an allusion to a Verse in Homer which was ill cited by this Philosopher since it was the cause of Caesarion's death This death not being till after that of Cleopatra and Antyllus slain before was none of her Son she had no cause for the encrease of her afflictions but the greatness of her Courage made the loss of her Liberty insupportable to her This Melancholy with the blows with which she had bruised her Breast put her into a slow Fever which gave her hopes she should soon end her sorrows with her Life she had besides resolved to abstain from eating if Olympius her Physician who wrote this story had not discovered this secret she had trusted him with to Caesar. They threatned to put her Children to death if she persisted in this obstinacy this was the onely thing she could be
to Amphipolis p. 189. Chap. L. Pompey goes to meet his Wife at Lesbos he resolves to retire into Aegypt Achillas Photinus and Theodotus advised the King to put him to Death Pompey slain by a Roman called Septinius p. 192. Pompey's Freed man pays him his last Rites of Funeral The Misfortune of Lentulus p. 197. Chap. LII Caesar pursues his Victory Cassius surrenders himself to him with all his Fleet. Caesar lands in Aegypt The Insolence of Photinus and Achillas p. 199. Chap. LIII Caesar fortifies himself in Alexandria He is attacked by Achillas He seizes upon Pharos Falls in love with Cleopatra He is besieged by the Aegyptians p. 204. Chap. LIV. Caesar receives succours A Sea Fight A disorder amongst Caesar's Troops upon the Peer He saves himself by swimming He restores the Aegyptians their King who declares War against him p. 209. Chap. LV. Mithridates defeats the Aegyptians He joins himself with Caesar who attacks Ptolemy's Camp The Aegyptians routed Their King is drowned Caesar establishes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt with her Brother p. 213. Chap. LVI Cato retires into Africa and Cicero into Italy where Caesar Pardons him Pompeyâ—s â—s Sons go into Spain Cato joins himself with Scipio and Juba Some broils at Rome p. 216. Chap. LVII Caesar goes into Asia p. 220. Chap. LVIII Caesar returns into Italy His Troops mutiny he appeases them and returns into Africa More Battels p. 224. Chap. LIX Caesar chastiseth some Mutineers and after several movements defeats Scipio and Juba p. 234. Chap. LX. The Death of Scipio and Juba Caesar marches towards Utica The Death of Cato p. 240. Chap. LXI Caesar returns to Rome The Pomp and Magnificence of his Triumphs p. 247. Chap. LXII Caesar goes into Spain where he defeats the two Sons of Pompey the oldest whereof is slain p. 251. Caesar's return to Rome He makes several Laws The extreme Honours which were done him draw upon him the Envy of the Senate p. 257. Chap. LXIV A Conspiracy against Caesar. Presages of his Death He is murthered in the Senate p. 264. THE CONTENTS TO The Second Volume CHap. I. The Troubles and Fears of the Senate and the People of Rome after the Death of Caesar Pag. 271. Chap. II. Brutus and Cassius indeavour to justifie what they have done before the People who rise upon them They retire to the Capitol p. 275. Chap. III. Antonius and Lepidus rally Caesar's Friends Some Propositions of Accommodation p. 279. Chap. IV. The Senate assembles Diversity of Opinions amongst the Senatours Caesar's Ordinances ratified p. 283. Chap. V. New Divisions occasioned by Caesar's Will Brutus and Cassius speak to the People in their own justification They come to an agreement with Anthony and Lepidus p. 287. Caesar's Will read publickly Antonius makes his Funeral Oration p. 291. Chap. VII The Pomp of Caesar's Funeral The Rising of the People of Rome and their Fury against the Conspirators p. 296. Chap. VIII The Artifices of Antonius He procures himself Guards Brutus and Cassius withdraw from Rome Antonius gets the Government of Macedonia for his Brother Cyrene is given to Cassius and Bithynia to Brutus p. 299. Chap. IX Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar comes to Rome against the Opinion of his Kindred he declares himself Caesar's Heir and takes upon him his Name p. 305. Chap. X. Octavius visits Antonius who receives him very ill His Demands and Antonius his Answer p. 308. Chap. XI Octavius falls out with Antonius He gains the affections of the People Antonius sends for the Macedonian Army into Italy p. 311. Chap. XII Antonius demands the Government of the Cis-alpine Gaul He offends young Caesar. The Souldiers oblige him to an agreement with him Antonius gets the Government p. 315. Chap. XIII New Quarrels between Antonius and Caesar. Cicero declares himself for Caesar. He offends Antonius in his Orations p. 319. Chap. XIV Antonius and Caesar meet at the Capitol They fall out again Caesar raises Troopâ— p. 323. Chap. XV. Antonius joins his Army but is not well received He returns to Rome Two of his Legions desâ—rt him and go to Caesar's Army Antonius's force p. 327. Caesar's force He assures himself of the affections of his Troops p. 331. Chap. XVII Antonius besieges Decimus Brutus in Modena p. 333. Chap. XVIII Hirtius and Pansa chosen Consuls The Decreee of the Senate against Antonius The death of Trebonius Dolabella declared an Enemy to the Republick Honours and Offices allotted to Cassius and Brutus p. 335. Antonius's Letter to Hirtius and young Caesar p. 340. Chap. XX. The Consuls raise Troops for the relief of Decimus which was but one Legion The manner of laying sieges in those times Ventidius raises Troops for Antonius p. 344. Chap. XXI A Battel between Antonius's Troops and Caesar's joined with the Consuls Pansa mortally wounded Caesar's Troops are beaten Hirtius comes to their relief and defeats Antonius p. 348. Chap. XXII Antonius defeated by Hirtius and Caesar. The death of Hirtius The raising of the siege of Modena Brutus writes to Cicero p. 353. Chap. XXIII Decimus speaks to Caesar who treats him ill The death of Pansa His dying words to Caesar p. 355. Chap. XXIV Cassius in Syria He raises great Forces The Conduct of Cleopatra Brutus defeats Antonius's Brother and takes him Prisoner p. 358. Chap. XXV Caesar demands the Honour of Triumph which is refused him He attempts the Consulship by Cicero's interference p. 361. Chap. XXVI Antonius makes his retreat into Gall. He makes himself Master of Lepidus's Army He returns into Italy with seventeen Legions p. 363. Chap. XXVII Caesar pursues the Consulship He speaks to his Souldiers He marches towards Rome The fright the Senate were in p. 365. Chap. XXVIII The Senates want of resolution Caesar enters into the City He treats Cicero ill and is declared Consul with Pedius p. 368. Chap. XXIX Caesar causes Brutus and Cassius to be Condemned with all those who had murthered his Vncle. Antonius persues Decimus who is at last slain p. 373. Chap. XXX Presages which were before the Triumvirate The Alliance of Caesar Antonius and Lepidus called the Triumvirate They meet in a certain Island Their Ordinances p. 377. Chap. XXXI The Decree of the Triumvirate The Proscription Murthers up and down the City p. 382. Chap. XXXII The entry of the Triumvirate into Rome Murthers committed and the sad condition which that City was in p. 385. Chap. XXXIII Some stirs amongst the People The death of Cicero p. 388. Chap. XXXIV The Triumph of Lepidus The Goods of the Proscripts set to Sale Attacks upon the Roman Ladies Their speech to the Triumvirate p. 392. Chap. XXXV Several of the Proscripts escape into Sicily to Sextus the Son of Pompey Some extraordinary Adventures during the Proscription p. 397. Chap. XXXVI The Examples of Several remarkable changes of Fortune p. 402. Chap. XXXVII The end of the Proscription War in Caesar's Lieutenant overthrows Cornificius the Lieutenant of Brutus p. 405. Chap. XXXVIII Dolabella is defeated and slain by
Cassius p. 407. Chap. XXXIX Cassius lays waste the City of Tharsus He joins himself with Brutus They take measures for carrying on the War p. 410. Chap. XL. Cassius attacks Rhodes The siege of that City The taking and desolation of Rhodes by Cassius p. 413. Chap. XLI Brutus enters into Lycia He besieges the City Xanthus p. 417. Chap. XLII The taking of Xanthus The fury and despair of the Xanthians p. 420. Chap. XLIII Caesar and Antonius caused their Troops to pass into Macedonia Cassius joins himself with Brutus Their interview p. 424. Chap. XLIV Brutus sees a Ghost Cassius satisfies him by his Reasons p. 426. Chap. XLV The Forces of Cassius and Brutus Those of Antonius and Caesar. Cassius speaks to his Souldiers p. 429. Chap. XLVI The two Armies draw near each other A description of the City of Philippi and its out-works p. 432. Chap. XLVII The two Armies retrench themselves Their different movements and some skirmishes The uneasiness of Cassius p. 434. Chap. XLVIII Antonius possesses himself of a Post behind the Enemies Camp Brutus resolves to fight contrary to the Opinion of Cassius p. 437. Chap. XLIX The Battel of Philippi Brutus overthrows Caesar's Troops Cassius being defeated by Antonius in despair kills himself p. 439. Brutus's Melancholy His Fleet defeats that of Caesar and Antonius and Brutus knows not of it He speaks to his Troops to confirm them p. 444. Chap. LI. Brutus utterly defeated by Antonius and Caesar p. 447. Brutus's last Words and Death Messala goes over to Caesar with all his Forces p. 452. THE CONTENTS TO THE CONTINUATION CHap. I. After the Battel of Philippi Anthony and Caesar bring their Enemies to punishment They part the Forces of Pompey Caesar goes into Italy p. 457. Chap. II. Anthony goes into Grecia he stays at Athens he goes into Asia where he is honourably received his Speech to the Deputies p. 463. Chap. III. Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt her Character she comes to Anthony their interview Anthony puts Arsinoe the Sister of Cleopatra to death p. 470. Caesar's Sickness He comes to Rome His difficulties in distributing Rewards The dangers he run upon this occasion p. 475. Chap. V. Misunderstandings between Caesar Fulvia and Lucius They come to open War The Negligence of Pompey p. 485. Chap. VI. Fagius Lieutenant of Caesar is overthrown in Africa by Anthony's Lieutenant Caesar and Lucius make preparations of war against each other p. 491. Chap. VII The Forces of the two Parties The Characters of the principal Officers as Agrippa Salvidienus Ventidius and Pollio Lucius is besieged in Perusia p. 496. Chap. VIII The Siege of Perusia Caesar in danger The extreme misery of the besieged p. 501. Chap. IX Lucius resolves to treat with Caesar He Harangues his Souldiers and sends Deputies to Caesar p. 507. Chap. X. Lucius Speech to Caesar his Answer p. 511. Chap. XI Lucius and Caesar part Lucius delivers up the Town Caesar speaks to the besieged Souldiers with indignation he punishes the Senatours of Perusia the Town is pillaged and by accident burnt Tiberius continues the War in the Kingdom of Naples from whence he is driven by Caesar p. 516. Chap. XII The diversions of Anthony and Cleopatra The Prodigality of their Entertainments The ingenuity of Cleopatra p. 521. Chap. XIII Anthony receives the news of his Brother's defeat He resolves for War and makes an alliance with Pompey Caesar marries Scribonia The death of Fulvia Anthony is Master of Domitius his Fleet which yields to him p. 526. Chap. XIV Anthony arrives at Brundusium He is refused entrance The Veterans force Caesar and him to agree They come to a Treaty by the mediation of Cocceius Anthony marries Octavia The punishment and Death of Salvidienus p. 531. Chap. XV. Rome afflicted with Famine the People mutiny against Anthony and Caesar they agree with Pompey his Generosity p. 541. Chap. XVI The People's Ioy upon the first News of the Peace Caesar goes into Gaul and Anthony stays at Athens p. 548. Chap. XVII New Causes of breach between Caesar and Pompey Caesar marries Livia Several Fights between the Lieutenants of Caesar and Pompey p. 552. Chap. XVIII The wreck of Caesar's Fleet. The arrival of Anthony at Brundusium He agreed with Caesar by means of Octavia p. 561. Chap. XIX Caesar puts a powerfull Fleet to Sea commanded by Agrippa He attacks Pompey in Sicilia Lepidus comes to Caesar's assistence Several Actions p. 568. Chap. XX. The Actions of Agrippa against Pompey who beats Caesar's Fleet p. 574. Chap. XXI Caesar gives new Orders for the fighting of Pompey who in a general battel is entirely defeated p. 580. Pompey's flight Lepidus endeavours to make himself Master of Sicily His Souldiers forsake him to serve Caesar who orders the Affairs of Rome with great prudence p. 585. Chap. XXIII Pompey goes into Asia where he makes War The Lieutenants of Anthony fight and take him The death of Pompey p. 593. Chap. XXIV The causes of the division between Anthony and Anthony's unfortunate expedition against the Parthians his return to Alexandria p. 599. Chap. XXV Caesar accuses Anthony in the Senate He declares War against Anthony His Forces p. 605. Chap. XXVI Anthony with Cleopatra goes to Athens Plancus and several others of his Friends forsake him p. 611. Chap. XXVII The Forces of Caesar and Anthony They write sharp Letters to each other Caesar approaches Anthony's Army which lay at Actium p. 617. Chap. XXVIII The battel of Actium The retreat of Cleopatra The flight of Anthony Caesar makes himself Master of Anthony's Navy and his Land-forces p. 623. Anthony's displeasure against Cleopatra He retires into Libya and returns into Aegypt p. 630. Chap. XXX Caesar goes into Italy He pacifies the Souldiers and besieges Alexandria p. 635. Chap. XXXI Anthony defeats Caesar s Cavalry He is forsaken by his men His Despair He wounds himself Is carried to Cleopatra His Death p. 639. Chap. XXXII Caesar enters into Alexandria He visits Cleopatra Her Death The Posterity of Anthony p. 663. THE HISTORY Of the first TRIVMVIRATE Volume I. CHAP. I. The estate of the Roman Commonwealth after Catiline's Conspiracy NEVER was the City of Rome in such danger since its being sack'd and burnt by the Gauls as it appeared to be in the Conspiracy of Catiline It is impossible in the account Salust gives of it without horrour to reade of the Rage the Madness the Debauchery and Ambition of that Man and yet at the same time his Address in managing a design that was to carry fire and sword ev'n into the very Bowels of his Countrey But the wisedom and vigilancy of Cicero hindred its taking effect and Catiline was slain at the Head of those Troops he was leading against the City But neither this man's defeat or death was sufficient to settle so firm a peace in that City but that still she lay exposed to the enterprises which some more Ambitious Senatours than the rest were always forming against her Liberty Nor could their
Robe and Conducted him into the Temple of Castor and Pollux Upon which occasion this Action of Murena appeared the more generous in that he exposed his life for a man who not long before had accused him of Crimes to take it away The people enraged returned a moment after in great numbers and drove away the Souldiers of Nepos Cato came back again upon the place and exhorted the Romans if they would ever now to give Testimony of their Courage In fine the Law did not pass and Nepos after a great many Threatnings thought fit to withdraw himself from Rome and went to find out Pompey CHAP. III. Concerning Clodius and the return of Pompey LOve or rather that Debauchery which reigned in Rome even to excess came at last as it usually does to increase disorders and furnish out new matter for the Spirit of Sedition and Revenge to work upon Clodius a young man of a Noble Family rich and well accomplished was one of those that affected to be thought well with the Ladies and manag'd matters with so little discretion that the scandal of the times did not spare him even in relation to his own Sisters whereof he had three Married to Men of the best Quality Martius sirnamed Rex Metellus Celer Brother to Nepos and Lucullus He was at that time in love with Caesar's Wife but that Lady was too closely guarded under the Conduct of Aurelia a Woman of untainted Vertue and Caesar's Mother Now the Romans observed a certain Festival which they called the Feast of the Good Goddess who was a Nymph espoused of Faunus wherein the Women onely had right of assisting at the Sacrifices which they performed every year in the house of one of the Magistrates from whence the men were obliged to withdraw themselves one onely being enough to profane the Mysteries should he be present Clodius thought this opportunity might be favourable to him for the obtaining some moments conversation with Pompeia who then presided at the Ceremony the Feast being kept at her House by reason her Husband was Pretor He disguised himself in the habit of a Woman and was introduced by a Slave who immediately ran to give her Mistress notice But she not returning so soon as was expected Clodius rash and impatient venturing farther into the House was stopt upon the stairs by a Woman that belonged to Aurelia who knowing him by his voice gave a great shriek and Allarum'd the Company The Feast was disturbed the Mysteries presently shut up and concealed and the Women immediately upon search for Clodius who having made his escape out of her hands who discovered him had concealed himself in the Chamber of the Slave that first brought him thither where at last he was found and driven out of the House with Reproaches and Infamy This adventure became the next days publick discourse and every body was asham'd at the story But Caesar resolv'd to take the wisest and most honourable course he could and being unwilling as his Affairs then stood to make any man his Enemy was contented without declaring against his Wife to put her away privately and being afterwards asked the Reason said he did not believe her guilty But that the Wife of Caesar ought to have preserved her self from the suspicion as well as the Crime Cornificius made a report of this matter in an Assembly of the Senate who referring it to the consideration of the Vestals and chief Priests they declared their Opinion that it was an Offence of the highest nature against the Gods and their Religion It was then put to the Question for the exhibiting of Informations and appointing Judges Upon this occasion the whole City became divided and the Animosities of the Factions were renewed Caesar upon the expiration of his Pretorship was to go and take possession of the Government of Spain but was retarded by the Prosecution of his Creditours Crassus who was his Friend and wrought upon by the importunities of his Wife Tertulla who no less loved Caesaer than Clodius did Pompeia became security for him in the sum of Eight hundred and thirty Talents It was in this Government that Caesar viewing the statue of Alexander wept to think that he had done nothing great and memorable at an Age wherein that Prince had Conquered almost all the World And he gave indeed sufficient marks and evidences of his Bravery and desire of Glory for he reduced all those Nations to be Tributaries to the Romans and collected together so vast a Treasure to himself and in the name of the Commonwealth as enabled him afterwards to imitate that Alexander Pompey was now returned home to Rome covered with Glories for the defeat of Mithridates and the Conquest of the greater part of Asia He had upon his arrival in Italy sent back his Troops to prevent such suspicions as might arise from his coming at the head of an Army so that he obtained the honour of Triumph with a general Applause and with so much more Splendour in regard that he now Triumphed over another third part of the World after having received the same Honour for the Conquest of two parts before The Triumph lasted two days wherein were exposed the names of fifteen Conquer'd Provinces eight hundred Cities and a thousand Castles The Gold the Silver and the Jewels that made up part of this publick Pomp amounted to the value of two Millions of Gold He made it appear by an account plainly stated that he had improved the revenue of the Common-wealth twelve Millions without mentioning what he had distributed amongst his Men of War whereof the meanest Souldiers share was a hundred and fifty Crowns Amongst his Prisoners appeared the Son of Tygranes the King of Armenia with his Wife and Daughter Zozima the Wife of King Tygranes himself Aristobulus King of the Jews The Sister of Mithridates with five of her Children The Ladies of Scythia and the Hyberian and Albanian Hostages with those of the King of Comagena But one disgustfull thing in his Family troubled all the Joy which the lustre of so much glory might else have given him his Wife Mutia had not seen Caesar with altogether somuch Caution as was requisite and some people more officious than was necessary had taken pains to give him notice of it upon his first coming down into Italy so that immediately after his Arrival at Rome he put her away Besides Pompey found an occasion not to be very well pleased with the Senate for in regard that those who demanded the Triumph were not permitted to enter the City he had desired the Election of Consuls might be deferred till after his Triumph was over that he might be present to assist the Pretensions of Piso one of his Lieutenants Cato opposed it and persuaded the Senate to reject the demand But the People resolved to maintain the Authority of Pompey and Piso was chosen Consul with Messalla Pompey afterwards solicited that all things done by him in Asia
confirmed by mutual Oaths When this was done Caesar made it his business to bring Crassus into the League who seeing his interest too weak to dispute it with two such Men was easily persuaded to strengthen it by joining with theirs and Caesar being made Judge of the Dispute between Pompey and him managed the matter so well that a perfect Reconciliation was established between them and all the Subjects of their former differences utterly forgotten Now nothing could appear outwardly an Action of more Honour than the reconciling of two men whose hatred might have produced so terrible effects as theirs But that League which was called afterwards the Triumvirate was the first power that ever broke in upon the Liberty of Rome CHAP. V. Caesar's Consulship and what follow'd THE first effect of it was the promotion of Caesar to the Consulship he had two that stood against him Luceius who was very Covetous and very Rich and Bibulus Luceius was taken off by great Promises and bribed to bring what voices he could for Caesar The Senatours who supported Bibulus made a voluntary Collection among themselves and gave as much on their side So that Bibulus was chosen with Caesar. Cato himself being persuaded to believe that the Law which forbad all manner of Bribery on these occasions ought nevertheless at that time to give place to the interest of the Commonwealth In a word Caesar was chosen one and from that time wholly apply'd himself to win the favour of the People and the Argument he wrought by was the Agrarian Law this Law was a Proposition for the disposal of such Lands as belong'd to the Republick in common in favour of the poor Souldiers and such of the People as had more than three Children The People it is to be imagined were always very well pleased with this Proposition For the most violent Mutinies that had ever hapned in the City of Rome such as those of the Gracchi and others had been made upon this occasion and Examples are to be found of the like nature in all the Roman History Caesar had besides taken very proper methods for the Law was drawn in Terms so very just that no Censure could find fault with it He declared to the Senatours that he would think of doing nothing without their Authority that he would not propose any of his Friends or any body else that might be liable to suspicion as Commissioners for the disposal of it but that they should be all Persons of Condition such as had well discharged themselves of great Employments and were of known Reputation and Ability This fair and cautious way of dealing left hardly any room for contradiction But all this while the Senate had it in their Power if they thought fitting to oppose this Law So that from day to day the affair was adjourned Till at last Cato pulling off the Mask declared how it was not to be suffered that any thing of the present Estate should be changed the Senatours all pronounced their Opinion to be the same and Caesar complaining of the injustice and stubborness of the Senate remitted the affair to the People taking with him Pompey and Crassus whose advice he asked concerning this Law They both of them approved of it and Pompey declared that if those who opposed it should come with their Swords in their hands he would oppose his Sword and his Shield against them so a day was appointed for the publishing of this Law The People gathered together in great numbers and spight of all opposition to the company drove Cato and Bibulus himself with stones and clubs from off the place the Consuls Axes were broken in pieces and the People approving the Ordinance declared they would have all the Senatours swear to the observation of it Almost all of them took the Oath except Cato Metellus and Favonius who nevertheless made shift to swallow it at last to save the Fines that were setting on their heads From this time Bibulus never durst venture to appear in publick and Caesar declared that he would not call the Senate any more that year He nevertheless proceeded to pass several Edicts before the People in spight of those which Bibulus had caused to be fixed up against him and Pompey whom he already had by his discourse brought into an ill Opinion with the People as did appear from the Games which were celebrated in the honour of Apollo where an excellent Comedian called Diphilus speaking these Verses By our misfortunes thou dost great appear That Title once may chance to cost thee dear The People gave a general Applause and made the Player repeat it over and over Now this made Pompey think it convenient to enter into a stricter union with Caesar by the Alliances of Consanguinity So he Wedded Iulia the Daughter of Caesar who was very Beautifull very Vertuous and lived very well with him Caesar took also to Wife Calphurnia the Daugher of Lucius Piso whom they designed Consul for the year ensuing with Gabinius a Creature of Pompey's In short all that Pompey had done in Asia was confirmed and approved of and the Government of all Gaul and Illyria was given to Caesar for five years with the command of four Legions CHAP. VI. The pursuit of Caesar's Consulship The Affair of Vettius Clodius admitted into the popular Order The Banishment of Cicero THIS manner of proceeding extremely Allarum'd the Senate every one laught at them publickly for their idleness and negligence and at the head of those Acts where used to be inscribed the names of the Consuls some body or other instead of Caesar and Bibulus wrote onely Caius Caesar and Iulius Caesar which were onely two names belonging to one man besides the Affair of Vettius appeared greatly to increase suspicion which was thus He declared that Bibulus Lucullus Domitius and Curio had endeavour'd the persuading of him to murther Pompey indeed he did not name Cicero but gave very shrewd signs of him by saying That a certain man of consular Dignity very Eloquent and a Neighbour to Bibulus had told him that they never stood in more need than now of a man bold and enterprising as Hala or the Ancient Brutus Adding moreover that Bibulus had given him a Dagger This last deposition appear'd but as a mere jeast to the Senate as if Daggers had been so very scarce at Rome that no man could furnish himself with one but at the hands of a Consul Besides Bibulus himself had given Pompey notice to beware of some Treason which threatned him it came to pass too afterwards that Vettius named Paulus for the chief of the Conspiracy and it is very much to be believed that there were some more particular reasons than ordinary that moved him to it Cicero says it was Caesar who had a mind to bring a reproach upon Curio a young man of great expectations but utterly opposite to his interest In short the Senate committed Vettius to Prison upon pretence that he
the Service of the Commonwealth yet could not carry it so but that his Questor or Treasurer was condemned Caesar was then beginning the War against the Gauls whom he afterwards Conquered Pompey remaining alone at Rome with an absolute Authority for Crassus appeared wholly taken up with increasing his own private Fortune and improving its Revenues Cicero was Banished and Lucullus who was the onely man capable of disputing the first Post by his merit and the great Actions he had done had setled himself in a private retreat where he enjoyed all those pleasures of Magnificence and perfect living upon which the Proverb was afterwards grounded of Lucullus his Meal Now this opportunity put it into Clodius's head who was as vain and extravagant as was necessary for such a Project to establish his Reputation upon the Ruine of Pompey's The happy success of his Designs hitherto and the favour of the People made nothing appear impossible to his hopes So he immediately took off Cato upon pretence of sending him against Ptolemy King of Cyprus Claudius thought himself injured by that Prince because when he was a Prisoner among the Corsaires he sent him onely two Talents to pay his Ransome This Ptolemy was very rich and having gotten intelligence that the Romans would declare War against him put himself to Sea with the best part of his Treasure Clodius apply'd himself next to the business of Pompey setting the Sons of Tygranes over whom Pompey had Triumphed out of Prison Gabinius would needs oppose this mad proceeding but Clodius guarded by armed Slaves whom he had drawn out of the Mountains of Tuscany attack'd him upon the place broke the Axes which were carry'd before him as Consul and wounded a great many of those that followed him Now Pompey saw by this that it was high time for him to take other measures and upon consideration could think of no man so fit for the purpose as Milo who was then too Tribune a man fond of any undertaking wherein there appeared a prospect of Preferment besides he was Cicero's Friend and stout to the last extremity Pompey resolved too to have Cicero recalled and to that end used his best interest with his Friends To this design Clodius opposed himself and was seconded in it by his Brother Appius and Metellus Nepos who was chosen Consul for a little while and had been an ancient Enemy of Cicero's The other Consul Lentulus whom Clodius hated for that he had been against him in the affair of Pompeia declared himself openly for Cicero as did all the Senate Upon this Quintus follows with all diligence the calling home of Cicero his Brother and Milo was to publish the Proclamation Therefore as each of these two Parties supported themselves under the Authority of one of the Consuls the Sedition grew to be very terrible Now the Romans were wont to be very expensive in the Pomp of their Funerals and amongst many other shews used to exhibite those which were called the Funeral Sports where after a barbarous manner the Gladiatours fought to the utmost earnest and slew one another in honour of the dead person whose Memory they Celebrated Appius had upon this occasion a great number of these to pay those last Offices of Duty to one of his dead Relations Clodius assisted by these Gladiatours threw himself among the People that were gathered together for the recalling of Cicero Upon which arose the most horrid disorders imaginable many of the People were killed the Tribunes were wounded and Quintus was almost overwhelmed with the bodies of the dead so that the People unprepared for such a surprisal separated themselves and fled But after a day or two Milo seised upon Clodius and carried him before the Pretors to answer for those violences Metellus forbad the Pretors to take any cognisance of the matter so that at last Milo gathering together the trustiest of his Friends and being guarded by the Gladiatours of Pompey fiercely Conducted Cicero's Brother into the publick place This Tribune indeed seemed as if made on purpose for the opposing of Clodius for he was every way as mutinous as he but at the bottom was stouter Clodius upon this returns where it wanted but a hairs breadth of coming to a downright Battel but that after a little bloud drawn as well on one side as the other Clodius was beaten off and Mark Anthony who was young and at that time in Cicero's Party follow'd him with his Sword in his hand and had certainly killed him had he not made his escape into the house of a certain Bookseller who concealed him under his Books So that Cicero's Friends remaining Masters of the Field caused a Decree to be passed for his return and there appeared at that time so good an understanding between the Senate and the People that of four hundred Senatours there was none but Clodius who was not for him we may see in his works the Glory and Pomp of his return with what an Air he spoke and after what manner he treated those that had injured him how he transported himself against Piso Gabinius and even poor Clodia too whose Reputation he Massacred after a most merciless manner in the defence of Caelius But this being little to our present purpose let it suffice to say that as he had too much wit not to take warning by Examples past he took care to reform his Conduct and his Manners he therefore applyed himself wholly to Pompey whom he finding leagued so absolutely with Caesar durst not attempt the breach of their Alliance judging very well as he himself has expressed it that it would have been but folly to have hoped it and insolence to have proposed it He therefore sent his Brother into Caesar's service and maintain'd that way an honest and fair Correspondency In short he took all the measures of an exact Courtier as well as he himself afterwards acknowledged in respect of their present Union as of the Division that might in time happen between them CHAP. VIII Cicero unites himself with Pompey who is chosen Consul with Crassus Their union with Caesar after the first Triumvirate UPon this return of Cicero there arose so great a want and scarcity in the City especially of Corn that the People were gathered together twice and almost ready to stone the Consul threatning to fire the Temple of Concord where the Senate was assembled Clodius besides exaggerated their madness by laying all to Cicero's charge so that that night they demanded the distribution of Corn from Cicero with great noise and clamour and the next day again at the very door of the Senate-house which obliged him to propose that Pompey might be Commissionated to manage the Provisions of Rome with an absolute Authority both by Land and Sea for the space of five years Nor could he better acquit himself of the obligations he had to Pompey than by putting into his hands the whole strength of the Common-wealth and in consideration of the present
exigency his advice was approved of But it was believed and Clodius took upon him to declare it publickly that the want of Corn was no better than a design contrived betwixt them both for the bringing about that purpose since immediately upon putting the business into Pompey's hands there appeared all the Plenty imaginable and the Authority remained in him five years In the mean time as Caesar's Conquests established him great reputation at Rome so his Humanity and other excellent qualities absolutely gain'd to him the hearts and affections of the Souldiery under his Command neither did the business of his Wars abroad employ him so much but that he had an eye too towards his affairs at home He took care to send Magnificent Presents to the Ladies and all those that were in any Authority the Voluntiers who went with him into Gaul were entertained by him with a thousand obligations and returned home full of the Praises of his Generosity He returned afterwards to Winter in Italy a great part whereof by the name of the Cisalpine Gaul was under his command which is at present all Lombardy entire comprehending Piedmont Milain the State of Venice in Italy in short all as far as the River Rubicon Pompey Crassus and almost all the Magistracy of Rome went to visit him at Lucca where he then resided They went attended with Lictors to the number of Six and twenty Twelve whereof carried the Axes before the Consuls and the rest waited upon the other Magistrates according to their quality and rank It was in this place that the Triumvirate took new measures for their more strict union and the strengthning their Authority They resolved that Pompey and Crassus should demand the Consulship for the following year and that Caesar should hold his Government five years longer So that this Union which they disguised under the name of Friendship was in effect no other thing than each Man 's private Ambition and therefore we ought the less to wonder if the same reasons that united them now were now the causes of their division afterwards when each of them began to think he was strong enough to set up for himself Now this resolution of theirs alarm'd all those of the Senate who wished well to the Publick and Marcellinus one of the new Consuls talked very highly upon the occasion demanding of Pompey and Crassus in presence of the People if they pretended to the Consulship to which Pompey reply'd fiercely that he would doe as he himself thought best but Crassus answer'd in more modest terms saying That he should proceed according to what he judged most for the advantage of the Republick This Dispute as was usual on the like occasions was improved almost to blows And the Senate gave orders for a common habit of Mourning to be worn as in cases of a Publick calamity and the reason they gave for it was that the Proceedings of the Triumvirate were dangerous to the Government Established and contrary to Law Indeed as for Pompey he found out a way to give sufficient marks of the Nature of his Ambition He had been affronted to the last degree by Clodius in the business of Ptolemy King of Aegypt This Prince having been driven out of his Kingdom by the Rebellion of his Subjects was come to Rome to demand assistence and great Intrigues were set on foot for the Command of such an Expedition for Ptolemy offer'd very large Capitulations Lentulus the then Consul and Pompey were those who pursued it most warmly and seemed to have the strongest Interest But Clodius who loved neither the one nor the other opposed them both So that when the People were assembled upon that occasion he appeared follow'd by those sort of Men who Cicero call'd Clodius's Working-tools it may be because they had helped him to demolish his Palace and there interrupted the discourse of Pompey with shoutings and clamours and on the other side when ever Clodius offer'd to speak Pompey's party were as noisie as their neighbours and sung out lewd Lampoons against Clodius and his Sister This Clodius took occasion to revenge not unpleasantly for turning about to those who were of his side he begun to ask of them Who was the most effeminate Commander in Rome they answered Pompey Who was the Ladies Captain Pompey Who starved the People Pompey And yet Who had a mind to go into Aegypt Pompey And then when he demanded of them Who they would send they answer'd Crassus who indeed for all the friendship between him and Pompey had privately managed his own Interest that way having Clodius for him among the People and Cato in the Senate Clodius indeed took care to be well paid for his pains but Cato proceeded out of down-right honesty and opposed Pompey for no other reason than that a Sybill had Prophesied That there should come a King of Aegypt to ask assistence of the Romans That they ought to receive him as a Friend but not to send him back with any Troops Cato had a high dispute with Pompey upon this subject and Pompey after having hinted at Crassus without naming him declared That there were those who designed against his life but that he should take care to guard himself better than young Scipio had done who was put to death by Carbo In fine Pompey through all this business managed himself but very indifferently and was outragious against Clodius These things happened before the Interview at Lucca But Pompey seeing he had need of the People and Clodius having a design upon the Office of Edilis their particular Interests brought them soon to a better understanding Pompey promised Clodius to assist him in his pretensions and Clodius in favour of Pompey hinder'd the holding of the Comitia for the Election of Magistrates for so the Assemblies of the People were called The design was to reduce the State of Rome to that which we call an Interregnum which is that when the choice of Consuls failed the most Illustrious of the Senatours should take the charge of the Government by turns each whereof had the power of naming Consuls when it was his day and as the manner was extraordinary the usual course of the Law was herein often dispensed withall The business succeeded according to their wishes Domitius onely assisted by Cato his Brother-in-law presented himself to the People in competition with the two Triumviri but they having filled the place with those Souldiers which the young Caesar's Lieutenant had brought on purpose out of Gaul a slave of Domitius that carried a Flambeaux before him was killed upon the spot the Master himself hardly escaping and Cato received a wound in his Arm so Pompey and Crassus were chosen but Pompey onely stood charged with the hatred which so unjust and violent a proceeding did really deserve CHAP. IX Pompey and Crassus get themselves Invested in Governments The Cause of Division between Caesar and Pompey TO pass over the variety of matters which happen'd
upon the disgusts he had received to withdraw himself from any Administration in the Republick so that the Government fell into horrible disorders And the pretensions to publick Offices grew to such excess that it was apparent upon the creation of Ediles there were deposited Eight hundred Talents for the packing of Suffrages and the City of Rome was eight entire months without any Magistrates The fury of those Factions under the names of Clodius and Milo produced nothing but daily Murthers till no body durst walk the streets but Armed which gave occasion to those of Pompey's party to insinuate that his retirement was prejudicial and a loss to the Publick and at the same time proposed that he might be sent for back and made Dictatour Pompey explained himself very modestly upon the matter and when the business was mentioned to him onely said that it was his opinion the Republick stood in need of the Authority of some wise and moderate Man And such an Authority appeared indeed the more necessary upon the death of Clodius which happened too at the same time which as it is a matter has been variously reported and which Cicero has endeavour'd to disguise with all the arts of his Eloquence we shall here give such an account of as seems to come impartially nearest the truth Milo pretended to the Consulship and Clodius to be made Pretor at the same time and as they were two Men whose Interests were Incompatible they always sought by the best means they could invent or lay hold on to ruine one another Milo was to take a Journey to Lavinium where he was Dictatour and he departed from Rome in his Chariot with his Wife and Family but well guarded by a great number of his slaves In his way he was to pass by a Countrey-house that belonged to Clodius near this house they both met Clodius on horseback and well attended The Quarrel was begun on both sides by the slaves who having exchanged several blows with each other Milo alighted out of his Chariot and with his Sword in his hand defended himself vigorously Clodius in the scuffle received a wound upon his head which brought him to the ground He was quickly taken up by his slaves and carried into his house whither Milo followed him Appian says it was to excuse himself to him but that were ridiculous to believe considering the violent hatred that had long been between them it may be more reasonably conjectured that it was to satisfie himself of the condition of his wounds or to give him more if he thought them not enough In conclusion when he found him expiring he went back to Rome to prevent what might be aggravated to his prejudice The People all entertained the news with unexpressible sorrow for Clodius was extremely beloved by them So that when his Brother Appius caused his Body to be brought to Rome and Rufus and Plancus the Tribunes exposed it all bloudy as it was in the publick place there arose an implacable Mutiny They ran to Milo's house to set it on fire but he repulsed and killed several of the Assailants the rest returned back to the place where they pulled to pieces all the Seats of the Magistrates made a Funeral Pile of them and set fire to it with so much fury that all that stately building where the Senate used to assemble was burned with the Body of Clodius after this the Mutineers dispersed themselves all over the City where under pretence of searching for the Friends of Milo they committed the most insupportable Violences Milo behaved himself in all this affair with his usual fierceness He sent for a great number of his slaves out of the Countrey for the Guard of his Person and had the boldness to offer himself to the People to be Judged Caecilius the Tribune by consent was to be his Accuser and he had well assured himself of his Judges But the People more transported than ever fell upon the followers of Milo who had much adoe to save himself with Caecilius and Murthers were renew'd again all over the City CHAP. XI Pompey sole Consul Caesar secures himself of the favour of the Roman People THese things happened under the Consulship of Domitius Calvinus and Valerius Messala For Pompey perceiving the name of Dictatour to be very odious had caused them two to be chosen and fortifi'd himself with that Authority which the Senate had given him to defend the Magistrates and their Judgments with Troops allotted him for that purpose Nevertheless this appeased not the publick disorders Scipio Hypseus and Milo pretended all at the same time to the Consulship and carried on their respective Interests with a strong hand so that there was every day to be seen three Armies upon the place Milo whose violent proceeding had accumulated to him the publick hatred was at last accused by Appius and although Cicero himself undertook to defend him his fear of Pompey's Souldiers who surrounded him as he was pleading put him out of his Oration And the Insolence of Milo who came before the Judges with a face full of Threatnings and Menaces caused him to be condemned so he was Banish'd and when Cicero afterwards sent him that Discourse of his which we now have amongst us and which passes for the choicest of his Works his Answer was That it was happy for him that Cicero was out in his harangue for that he had not else fared so well at Marseiles for that was the place of his Exile Now the Friends of Pompey took upon them afresh to solicite his pretensions And those necessities which the State of the Common-wealth then lay under appeared no small argument for him with the Senate but the name of a Dictatour would not be heard of So that Cato thought fit to propose an expedient which was That the power of a Dictatour might be conferred upon him but under some gentler Title so Pompey was declared sole Consul New Troops were allotted him and a Thousand Talents yearly for the maintenance of them the Government of Spain was continued to him for four years longer and he sent Deputies thither to Rule in his stead He strengthned himself too with the Illustrious Alliance of the House of Scipio by Marrying Cornelia a Lady of no less Accomplishments than Beauty she understood even to excellent performance all manner of Musick nor was a stranger to Learning and Philosophy being Mistress of Geometry and the other parts of the Mathematicks and all this too without the least Impertinence or Womanish affectation So that Pompey thought he had nothing now more to be afraid of and that it would be henceforth an easie work to overthrow the Fortunes of Caesar who on his side was by no means negligent of what so nearly concerned him Some Tribunes of the People had proposed the causing of him to be elected Consul with Pompey but he desired them by Letters to reserve their good Inclinations of that kind
XVI The amazement of the Senatours They leave Rome and retire to Capua THIS sudden and unexpected enterprise gave most terrible apprehensions to the City of Rome They believed already that Caesar was at their Gates with all his Army and it was an odd confusion to see the Countrey People come for safeguard into the City and at the same time the Citizens flying into the Countrey no body knew which side to take and Cicero himself began to believe that Pompey had not made the least preparations that he was not in any condition to make head against Caesar and that he had neither Troops nor place of retreat For Cicero found himself under as difficult circumstances as any body and his uneasiness appeared in all the Epistles which he wrote upon this Occasion If I should stay says he in one of them I know not here whom I ought to be most ashamed to accompany Lepidus Volcatius or Sulpitius neither of these but is as silly as Domitius and as inconstant as Appius but Pompey engages me by the obligations which I owe him and not by his Authority for what Authority can a man deserve who could honour Caesar in the highest degree after we were all afraid of him and who believes now when he begins to fear him that all the world ought to declare against him Thus in few words Cicero gave a description of Pompey and his Party in the mean while making his interest with Caesar by the means of Dolabella and Caelius and other of his Friends to which purpose Caelius in one of his letters to him wherein he shews himself a man of very pleasant observation advises him this for a Maxime That in the Divisions of a Government while the matter is disputed by words onely every man ought to espouse that Party which he thinks is the Iustest but when once it comes to Arms te join evermore with the strongest and to believe that he who has the best Sword has the best Cause Pompey underwent no small regret and discontentment during this Perplexity His whole Party reproached him that he had deceived them demanding of him where his Troops were and Favonius who was grown crack-brained with Philosophical Projects and pretending to imitate Cato told him That it was now high time for him to stamp upon the Earth with his foot and bring forth the Souldiers which he had promised them At the last Pompey was forced to tell them that they should not want Souldiers if they would but follow him and quit Rome or indeed Italy which they were not able to defend that it was neither their Houses nor their Provinces that could inspire them with the love of Vertue and of Liberty But that Men of Honour would find it in all Retreats and that to unite themselves was the way to put them into a condition of returning back again to their Houses with Glory This discourse and the affection which they bore to Pompey made them resolve at last to quit the City for though they blamed his Conduct they knew not how to hate him so the Consuls and almost all the Senate followed him to Capua where were the two Legions which Caesar had sent from Gaul The behaviour of Labienus contributed at this time much to their assurance This Man was one of Caesar's Lieutenants had served in Gaul with a great deal of Reputation and was therefore well esteemed by Caesar but afterwards when his Services and the Riches he had gotten in them began to make him vain Caesar thought fit to let him see he would be his General and not yet his Companion this caused Labienus to change his Party and his deserting made indeed a great shew but produced very little advantage No brave Man thought the better of him for it and from that time he performed nothing that was considerable and though the Example might have been of dangerous Consequence in the beginning of a War of that Nature yet Caesar either through his Wisdom or the greatness of his Mind seemed little to value or take notice of it for he sent Labienus all his Money after him and all his Equipage From this time Pompey apply'd himself to take care of his business and put his affairs in some order and resolved to retire into Pouille He left Lucius Domitius in Corfinium and Cicero to command in Capua who received the Commission with some reluctancy but as he had left him neither Men nor Money he apprehended that that employment would not much injure his good Correspondence with Caesar. CHAP. XVII Some Propositions of Peace between Caesar and Pompey but without any success CAesar was still at Rimini where Lucius Caesar his Kinsman and whose Father served at that time in his Army came with Roscius to find him out After some discourses about other Affairs Lucius told Caesar that Pompey had Commanded him to wait upon him and to beg of him that he would doe him Justice in regard of what had passed between them that he should think himself very unhappy if it were possible for Caesar to think himself injured by him in what he had done onely in consideration of the Commonwealth that it had always been his Maxime to prefer the Publick Good before his own particular Interests and that it would equally redound to Caesar's Glory also to sacrifice his resentments to the repose of his Countrey and not to drive things so far as by endeavouring to revenge himself upon his Enemies to give a wound to the Commonwealth Roscius too entertained him with discourse much to this purpose but these Civilities which were indeed but merely such and from the Teeth outward were of no great weight with Caesar nevertheless he resolved upon the dismissing of these Gentlemen to give them some taste of his sentiments so he told them That since they came in that manner Commissionated from Pompey it was his desire that they would charge themselves back again with some Propositions on his part especially if they desired to appease the present Troubles and quiet the fears of Italy That he had evermore less considered his life than the honour and welfare of the Commonwealth but that he could not without extreme grief of mind see that his Enemies would take from him those favours which the People of Rome thought fit to have allowed him that they would cut off six months from the time of his Government to force him to Rome in spight of the will of the People who had ordained That although he were absent he should be considered as if he were actually present in the Assemblies for the Election of Consuls that he had nevertheless been content to put up that injury for the sake of the publick Peace That he had desired by his Letters that all the Generals might quit their Armies at once but by no means possible could obtain it But that on the contrary Troops were levied throughout all Italy That they had retained the two Legions which were
taken from him under a false pretence of going against the Parthians and the whole City was up in Arms and therefore to what purpose was all this designed except for his ruine that for all this he was disposed to reduce himself to the last extremities and suffer every thing for the sake of the Republick That Pompey should retire to his Government that the Senatours should discharge their Troops and that every one should lay down his Arms throughout all Italy that Rome should be no more held in Awe but the Assemblies be left to their Ancient Liberty In short that the full Authority of the Senate and the People of Rome should be restored To this discourse Caesar added that matters might be determined better by an enterview between him and Pompey whereby they might agree upon a method of putting this in Practice and take mutual Oaths of assurance from each other Roscius and Lucius returned back to Capua with these Propositions and made report of them to the Consuls and to Pompey They deliberated upon the matter and wrote back their answer in these Terms That Caesar should return into Gaul that he should abandon Rimini after which Pompey should depart for Spain that in the mean while they would continue their Levies till Caesar gave them assurances that this should be performed with all sincerity CHAP. XVIII The progress of Caesar. He seizes upon the March of Ancona The siege of Corfinium IT was not a desire of Peace which carried on this Correspondence matters were too far engaged and the Enmity too openly declared to leave any room for a sincere Accommodation Pompey's business was but to gain time and had great relyance upon the assistence of the Forces of the East which were absolutely in his interest Caesar too depending upon the valour and affections of his Souldiers had no design of quitting his Arms but onely to make it appear as fairly as he could that he had taken them up with Justice His Propositions being but as so many Manifesto's or Remonstrances for as a Politician of those times observed they might easily have come to an agreement but that was none of their business for they both aimed at the Government Caesar found he had no reason to obey the Senate who would have obliged him to retire and leave a good Garrison and disband his Troops so long as Pompey continued in Arms and making new Levies without any certain day fixt for his departure into Spain wherefore without loosing more time he resolved upon action and to that purpose sent Anthony to Arezzo with five Cohorts to make new Levies In the mean time he seized upon Pisaura and Fano and Ancona and upon advice received that Thermus the Pretor was at Fermo with five Cohorts belonging to Pompey he sent Curio thither with three of his upon whose arrival the Inhabitants revolted and obliged Thermus to depart whose Troops deserted him In fine all the March of Ancona submitted voluntarily to Caesar This Progress of his redoubled the fears at Rome whither Lentulus was come back to seize upon the publick Treasures but upon the report that Caesar was coming left the Treasury open and with Marcellus and several others betook himself to flight In the mean time the twelfth Legion came to join Caesar who marched to Ascoli which Lentulus had possessed himself of with ten Cohorts he staid not there for Câ—sar's coming but retreated in confusion a great part of his Souldiers deserting him also the rest joined with Vibullius Rufus who was at that time too raising new recruits whereof he composed ten Cohorts and went to Corfinium to find out Domitius Aenobarsus of whom Cicero makes mention and who was designed to have succeeded Caesar. This man was of an illustrious Family though but of the order of the People but the Merits of his Ancestours had raised them to the dignity of Patricians he was of a fantastical inconstant spirit with a fiery and barbarous humour much like that of Nero after him whose great great Grandfather he was He had with him twenty Cohorts of new raised Troops in Corfinium besides the twelve that belonged to Rufus with these Forces he resolved to expect Caesar. Now as that place was the first that durst undertake to make head against Caesar every body expected with impatience what would be the success of the enterprise Caesar made his approaches with two Legions and was engaged by five Cohorts who defended a Bridge about three miles from the City They were driven back even to the Gates of Corfinium which thereupon was immediately invested Domitius prepared himself for a vigorous defence and wrote word to Pompey That there was now a fair opportunity to hem in Caesar if he would but come up that it would not be for his Reputation to abandon thirty Cohorts besides a great many Senatours and Knights of Pompey's answer was That he was not then in a condition to set the Forces of the Commonwealth upon the hazard of a Battel that Domitius had engaged himself in Corfinium absolutely contrary to his Opinion and that he ought to think of making as fair and speedy a retreat as was possible and come to join himself with the Consuls and the rest of the Senate It was upon this refusal that Cicero became so transported against Pompey in one of his Epistles to Atticus I should have believed said he that Pompey would have had more regard to his Reputation He himself has nourished and made Caesar great and now all of a sudden is grown afraid of him He will hearken to no Propositions of Peace and yet is in no preparation for War He has lost the March of Ancona by his own fault has put himself into Povilla and would go into Greece without thinking fitting to make us in the least acquainted with his Designs In short Domitius presses him for relief and represents to him how much his Glory is concerned in it but Pompey renounces his Glory and retires to Brundusium CHAP. XIX The taking of Corfinium Caesar gives Domitius and the other Senatours their liberty He writes to Cicero Domitius thought it his wisest way to conceal this answer which he received from Pompey and said that the General was upon his march to relieve them in the mean time contriving with the trustiest of his Friends how to make a private retreat The secret could not be so nicely managed but that his very face and all his Actions discovered it so that the Souldiers fell to Mutiny and proposed surrendring to Caesar who had now recruited his Army with the ninth Legion and two and twenty Cohorts raised in Gaul besides three hundred German Horse which a certain Petty King towards the side of Bavaria had sent him Caesar pressed the place with those Troops he had put under the command of Curio so that no means of retreat being left the Souldiers secured Domitius and sent Deputies to Caesar to certifie him That they were
Magius caused Caninius one of his Lieutenants to demand an enterview with Scribonius Libo his Friend and an Officer under Pompey His orders were to exhort Libo to Peace and that the surest way to accomplish it would be an interview between Pompey and Caesar that Caesar was assured matters might by that means be ordered with equal satisfaction to both Parties and that the glory would redound to Libo if by his care and mediation they should come to the laying down of Arms Caninius proceeded according to his Commission Libo made a report of it to Pompey and returning back to his Friend told him That the Consuls being absent no Propositions of that kind could be received From this time Caesar lost all hopes of an Accommodation and set his thoughts wholly upon the War half his business being already done to his hands by reason the Vessels which transported the Consuls and their Troops were returned from Durazzo which opportunity Pompey thought fit to make use of for withdrawing himself and to secure his retreat he immediately caused all the Gates of the City to be walled up and several Houses to be demolished in the Piazza's and cross streets The Avenues of the Port were cut off by certain Pits which were filled with stakes and covered over with Hurdles and Earth besides two which were onely defended with Beams and Joysts made very sharp at the ends and planted after the manner of Fraize After these Precautions he caused his Souldiers to embark with all silence imaginable leaving onely some Archers and Slingers upon the Walls who had a signal given them to retreat so soon as his Souldiers should be gotten on Board for he caused some Challops or small Boats to attend them in a convenient place for their Embarkment also The Inhabitants of Brundusium dissatisfi'd with Pompey's Souldiers and provoked by the ruine of their Houses advised Caesar of their retreat who immediately put his Troops into order and gave command for the planting of Ladders at the same moment of time that Pompey should give the signal to his Archers who yet easily secured their retreat by certain private paths that they were well acquainted with So that Pompey got all this Troops on Board and at the beginning of the night weighed Anchor Caesar's Souldiers got over the Walls and had certainly fallen into the Pits which were prepared for them had not the People of the Town given them warning so that they were forced to take a large Circuit to come to the Port which nevertheless was not so great a hindrance to them but that they had time enough with Barks and some other small Vessels to seize upon two of Pompey's Ships who had run themselves a ground in going out of the Haven while the rest made all the Sail they could and saved themselves Caesar seeing himself in sixty days Master of all Italy was now extremely desirous to attack his Enemies e'er yet the supplies they expected from Asia could come to join them But wanting Shipping he resolved to go to Rome to settle there some sort of Government and then pass into Spain to drive thence those Troops of Pompey who had taken possession of it under the Command of Affranius and Petreius He sent orders to all his Officers Commanding upon that side to get together some Shipping and send them to Brundusium He gave Valerius one Legion to go into Sardignia and three to Curio for Sicily with orders to go forward into Africk so soon as they had brought that Island to Submission Cato Commanded there for the Senate and Aurelius Cotta in Sardignia They neither of them staid to attend the coming up of Caesar's Troops And Cato after having publickly complained of Pompey's Conduct totally abandoned Sicily CHAP. XXI Caesar goes to Rome by the way sees Cicero He seizes upon the money of the publick Treasury and goes into Spain The siege of Marseilles NOW Caesar having put his Troops into good Quarters began his Journey towards Rome after having written to all those of the Senate who had not already declared themselves to meet him there and assist him with their Councils But above all he desired to see Cicero and pressed him to come by Oppius and Coelius who were Friends to them both and near his Person Caesar the more to engage him to it took an opportunity to see him in his Journey The Conversation that passed between two so extraordinary men as they were and moved each by different Considerations must needs have something in it very remarkable Caesar complain'd to Cicero of his refusal to go to Rome and told him That by that repugnancy he would make it believed that he blamed his Conduct which might give ill impressions and be of bad Example to the other Senatours To which Cicero replyed That the reasons he proceeded upon were very different from those of the others But Caesar still pressed him saying That he desired his presence at Rome for no other end than the proposing of some Accommodation Might I replyed Cicero here speak my Opinion I have nothing to prescribe you upon that occasion Then says Caesar I will tell you You will tell me answered Cicero that the Spanish expedition does not please the Senate that the Army ought not to go into Greece In short I have much adoe to forbear discovering the Compassion I have for the present state of Pompey's Fortune Oh replies Caesar I cannot understand why things of this nature should be said to me whose duty it is to distrust my self And that is one reason too says Cicero why I would not go to Rome for it is my duty also to speak my mind or else I ought not to appear in the Senate Caesar left him to give him time for reflexion but Cicero could not resolve with himself to go to Rome But Caesar arriving there composed a body of such Senatours as he found there and called them the Senate and when they were Assembled made them a speech in justification of his Conduct The reasons he alledged may he easily imagined the most weighty of them having been already taken notice of He proposed to the Senate the sending of Ambassadours to Pompey without bogling at the point of Honour which Pompey had laid down for a Maxime which was That in paying that respect to any one they attributed to him a Supreme Authority and that it was a mark of fear on their part who did it But there was no body to be found who would undertake this Commission because Pompey by the advice of Domiâ—â—uâ— had declared all such Senatours Enemies as should remain Neutrals Caesar therefore would not insist upon this Proposition of an Embassy but began to think of providing himself with Money his recourse was to the publick Treasury which he would have had opened But Metellus one of the Tribunes of the People opposed him upon it alledging That the Laws forbad it that that money was sacred and that heretofore most horrible imprecations had
discover that his Horse had joined the Enemy that they extremely pressed their Rere-guard and had put them into disorder which was easily to be guessed from the confusion of their motion The Souldiers ran about the Camp crying that the Enemy would escape and yet protract the War longer than there was necessity for it They desired their Officers to assure Caesar that they would refuse no Fatigue to come to a Battel and that they could easily foard over where the Horse had gone before them This eagerness of theirs was the reason that he left the weakest of his Men with one Legion to guard his Camp And after having disposed a great many Horse both above and below the Ford he caused his other Legions to pass over without their Baggage some of the Souldiers were carried away by the swiftness of the Stream but were saved by the horsemen So that all the Army got over without the loss of one Man Assoon as they came on the other side of the Ford they drew up in Battalia and Marched so fast that though they were forced to go six Miles about and had lost a great deal of time in passing the River they joined the Enemy before three a Clock in the Afternoon who had come away at midnight Afranius and Petreius drew up their Troops upon the hill Caesar kept his on the Plain being unwilling weary as they were to expose them to a Battel But in the moment that the two Generals moved towards a retreat he followed them without resting and forced them to Encamp much sooner than they had at first resolved CHAP. XXVII Different motions of the two Armies Caesar besieges the Enemies tow Generals FRom the place where they were Encamped there was a Plain of five Miles reaching to the Mountains and Defiles which they had a mind to possess themselves of to put a stop to Caesar's Cavalry and go without danger as far as the Ebre Caesar understood this design and that they intended silently to quit their Camp so he immediately ordered a cry in his Camp of Load the Baggage which was an usual Cry amongst the Roman Souldiers This noise kept the Enemy in their Trenches fearing lest they should be surprised in disorder upon their march but at break of day Petreius went to take an account of the Defiles with a small party of Horse Decidius Saxa had received the same orders from Caesar they both brought back word to their Camp that he who first got possession of those Defiles might cut off from the Enemy the passage to the Ebre Afranius and Petreius called a Council of War whether they should depart that night or stay till morning those that were of the opinion to stay till morning carried it by reason of the hazard they must run should they be ingaged to a Battel in the dark where the Souldiers especially in a Civil War as this was would not be retained by the example of their Officers nor any sense of their own shame At break of day Caesar left his Trenches and marched with all his Troops towards the Hills taking a great Circuit without keeping any certain Road. The Vallies were very difficult of passage being full of sharp Rocks and rough ways But the Souldiers persuaded that the price of the Victory and the end of all their Toils depended upon their diligence to ease themselves gave their Arms to those who were first got over and so supported one another in the passage Immediately Afranius's men having left their Trenches and observing the motion of Caesar's Army which was not toward the way which led to the Mountains by reason of their going about believed that prest for want of Forrage he was upon his retreat upon which they set up great hootings and their Commanders were very glad that they had stayed for the day without running any hazard in the night But when they perceived by their facing to the right that the first of the Troops were already got on the other side of their Camp they thought it high time for them to depart and prevent the Enemy so they cryed to Arms and marched after having left some Cohorts to guard the Camp and the Baggage It was their business to try who could first get possession of the Mountains The difficulty of the ways was a great hindrance to Caesar's Troops but his Cavalry as much incommoded those of Afranius So they already saw themselves necessitated to lose their Baggage to save themselves for Caesar's Horse had got between them and their Camp The matter of importance was who should make themselves Masters of the Defiles Caesar by the diligence of his Men carried it where after having passed the Rocks which were almost inaccessible found the Plain where he might draw up his Legions in Battalia The two Generals seeing the Infantry before them and the Horse behind them made a hault upon a hill from whence they detached four Cohorts of Spaniards who were disigned to get possession of a Mountain which seemed to be the highest and by that means to open themselves a way to the Ebre But they were hemmed in by Caesar's Horse who cut them all to pieces in sight of both Armies His Souldiers pressed him that he would take that occasions to complete the defeat of his Enemies whose fear appeared by the disorder their Colours were in but he would not doe it for he saw the Victory assured without fighting and was resolved to spare the bloud of his Souldiers so he caused his Cavalry to retreat and gave the Enemy liberty to return to their Camp which they had quitted in the morning Caesar leaving some Troops at the Defiles and having blockt up the passage to the Ebre came the next day and posted himself in sight of their Trenches They had but two things to chuse either to return to Lerida or go to Tarracona As they were consulting upon this news was brought them that Caesar's Cavalry had fallen upon theirs which were gone to get water which obliged them to send more Legionary Cohorts seconded with Cavalry to maintain a work they designed to make by throwing up a Trench as far as the Segre The two Generals divided themselves for this Design and as they were busying themselves about it their Souldiers left their Trenches and came to a Parley with Caesar's they almost all of them knew one another being of the same City and most of them either Friends or Relations They gave them thanks that the day before they had not fallen upon them in that disorder they were then in they bemoaned themselves that they should be forc't to carry Arms against Men who for so many reasons ought to be dear to them In short they demanded surety for their Generals promising in that case to surrender themselves to Caesar to whom also they deputed their Principal Centurions for a Treaty In the mean while inviting Caesar's Souldiers into their Camp and carrying them into their Tents where they
moment that he saw his Cavalry routed left the fight and returned into his Camp telling his Officers who were upon the Guard That they should take care to defend the Lines if any disgrace happened and that he was going to give the same orders to all the rest So he retreated into his Tent to attend what might happen In the mean time Caesar seeing the Victory sure cried out to his Souldiers That they ought to pursue the Victory and take the Enemies Camp And though they were wearied out by the extreme heat and fatigue for it was now high Noon Nevertheless when they saw their General marching on foot at the head of them directly to Pompey's Trenches they followed him The Cohorts that guarded the Camp and the Auxiliary Thracians made a stout resistence But at last being pressed on every side they gave ground and fled towards the Mountains which were hard by Pompey upon this occasion shewed nothing that was either worthy of his Courage or Reputation nor gave the least Order for his Defence and when Caesar's Men were already in his Lines How says he in my very Camp So getting on Horseback he escaped through the Decumane Gate and fled to Larissa where he made not the least stay but with the same diligence got to the Sea side accompanied with thirty Horsemen and Embarked himself on Board a Merchants Vessel Caesar found almost through the whole Camp Table Linen spread and Cuboards covered with Plate Lentulus's Tent amongst the rest was trimmed up with Ivy and other Boughs to keep off the heat by which may be guessed the confidence of those Men who made such preparations for pleasure after a Victory which they believed themselves sure of Caesar begged of his Souldiers not to amuse themselves with the Plunder but to complete the Victory and by his Authority and the respect which they bore him he prevailed So he immediately caused a Trench to be thrown up about the Mountain where the Enemy was Retreated who wanting Water were forced to quit it and March to Larissa After this he divided his Troops sending one part of them to Guard Pompey's Camp and the other into his own Marching in Person with the Fourth Legion to cut off a passage from the Enemy He drew up in Battalia Six thousand Paces from that place which caused Pompey's Men to make a hault They were upon a Hill which had a River at the foot of it and Caesar notwithstanding the weariness of his men and that it was almost night obliged them yet to cut off that Conveniency from the Enemy by a Trench This last necessity forced them to a Capitulation and some Senatours made their escape in the dark Caesar ordered all the Souldiers to come down into the Plain and lay down their Arms which they obeyed and falling upon their knees before him begged for Pardon which he granted them with all kindness imaginable and commanded his Souldiers not to offer them any affront nor Plunder their Baggage After this he sent back the Troops that were with him with orders for fresh ones to come up to him with whom he Marched towards Larissa where he arrived the same day Thus it was that he knew how to make use of a Victory and manage his advantages And though we have all these particulars from himself considering they have not been hitherto contradicted we ought not to call them in question but rather consider whether we ought most to admire his Conduct his Courage or his dispatch or indeed the Obedience and the respect which his Troops shewed him He lost in this Battel onely Two hundred Men amongst whom indeed were Thirty of his best Officers This little number could not but be very surprising for on Pompey's side there were 15000 Men slain and Four and twenty thousand who surrendred themselves to Caesar who when he perceived the Field covered with the Bodies of the dead says he to Pollio They would have it so Caesar after all his great actions must have been condemned had not he been supported by the Valour of his Troops there were Four and twenty Colours brought to him and Nine Eagles In short a great many Officers of the Enemy's Army fell in this Battel and amongst the rest Domitius who was slain by some Horsemen as he fled towards the Mountain CHAP. XLVIII Some other Presages reported to Caesar. BESIDES those Presages which happened before this Battel and seemed no promise a great Victory to Caesar he has made a Report of some others equally as propitious In a Temple of Minerva a Statue of Victory which stood looking towards the Altar turned it self towards the Door of the Temple the very day that Pompey was defeated And at Antioch in Syria upon the same day there were heard such terrible Cries and so great a noise of Battel that all the People ran in Arms up to the Ramparts the same thing happened at Ptolemaïs and at Pergama was heard a Noise of Trumpets in the most secret place of the Temple where none but the Priests had liberty to enter and besides all this at Tralles in a Temple of Victory Consecrated to the Honour of Caesar in few days there was seen a Palmtree growing up between the Joinings of the Stairs of the Pavement which reached up to the Roof Caesar stands ingaged for the truth of these Miracles since he himself reports them What follows is taken out of Titus Livius and confirmed by Plutarch Casus Cornelius a very Learned Augur was at Padua when this Battel happened who observing there the Flight of Birds by the great knowledge which he had acquired in that Art understood so exactly the moment when it began that he took notice of it to those that were with him and told them precisely how long it would last and after sitting down and making some new observations all of a sudden rose up Crying out Caesar thou art Conquerour But this surprising news of his not being received with that credit he desired taking the Crown from his head which the Augures always wear in the Ministery of their Function Swore that he would never put it on again till the truth of what he had said should be confirmed which soon after happened CHAP. XLIX Pompey puts to Sea and takes in King Dejotarus and goes to Amphipolis IN the meanwhile Pompey having left the Town of Larissa dismist all the Slaves of his Train and went by the Sea-side through the pleasant Valley of Tempe accompanied onely with a small number of his Friends the two Lentuluses's were with him and Favonius who either out of Respect or Pity rendred him all the Offices of an affectionate Servant and did it so handsomly that Pompey was forced to permit it signifying his acknowledgments in a Greek Verse the Sense whereof was That every thing became a generous Man In this condition very far different from what he enjoyed the precedent day when he was cover'd with Glory a Commander of Kings and all
go on board his Ship but as he perceived the number of those that followed him and the danger that might thence arise he put himself to swimming but with so great presence of mind that he lost not one of those Papers which he all the while held out of the Water with one hand to preserve them from wetting nor his Coat Armour which he carried in his Teeth So swimming about two hundred paces to his Ships he sent out Shallops and Barks to the relief of his People some of them were saved but his own Vessel as he had foreseen was sunk by the number of those who were in her and who all perished This Disgrace instead of abating their Courage served onely to provoke Caesar's Souldiers which appeared whenever they came upon Duty for the raising of the Works and forced the Aegyptians to have recourse to Artifices They sent Deputies to Caesar to demand of him their King saying That they were weary of being Commanded by a Girl and the Tyranny of Ganymede and that they were willing to make Peace with the Romans under the Authority of their lawfull Prince Ptolâ—my on the other side perfectly instructed in the arts of Dissimulation no less by his own Genius than the Lessons which were given him by his Governours with tears in his Eyes begged of him to keep him with him saying That the presâ—â—ce of Caesar did more Charm him than his Kingdom Caesar was not ignorant of the perfidiousness of these People but he believed he ought in generosity to give them their Prince to the end he might either gain upon them by that favour or at least fight with more Honour against a King so he restored him to his Army where he was no sooner arrived but he renewed the War with so much earnestness that it seems says Hirtius the tears which he shed when he left Caesar were tears of joy In the mean time Caesar's Friends were upon their march through Syria to his relief and the Aegyptians who were advised of it before him sought all occasions to hinder the Convoys from coming to him by Sea which was the occasion of another Sea Battel where the brave Euphranor perished with his Vessel they being too far advanced nor well followed But the Aegyptians enjoyed not this advantage long for Mithridates of Pergama who was very considerable for the greatness of his Birth and his Authority and of great Reputation in War in Cilicia and Syria had raised an Army for Caesar's Service who came with these Troops to attack Pelusium which he took by storm That City was the Key of Aegypt by Land as the Pharos was towards the Sea From thence Mithridates advanced towards Alexandria for the relief of Caesar which forced Ptolemy to divide his Troops to defend the passage of the Nile That River as it comes near the Sea separates it self into many Branches whereof the two most considerable leave a large space of Land between them forming as it were an Island which the Aegyptians call Delta for the resemblance of its Figure to that Greek Letter Δ. CHAP. LV. Mithridates defeats the Aegyptians He joins himself with Caesar who attacks Ptolemy's Camp The Aegyptians routed Their King is drowned Caesar establishes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt with her Brother MIthridates who very well understood the Roman Discipline received the first on-set of the Aegyptians in his Trenches and when he saw them in disorder sallied and killed a great number of them before they could get to their Vessels which were upon the Nile Caesar and Ptolemy were both advised of what had happened much about the same time and immediately began their march one to join himself with Mithridates and the other to hinder him The King went in his Ships along the Nile and Caesar to avoid a Sea fight in the Chanel of the River went and made his descent above the mouth of the River towards the Coast of Asia and with his usual diligence came to join Mithridates without being the least incommoded by the King By this means matters were reduced to the hazard of a Battel Ptolemy was advantageously incamped in a Post which had the River Nile on one side behind him a Precipice and on the other side a Moor or Marshy ground There was a River or Canal between the Aegyptian Camp and Caesar's Army The King commanded all his Cavalry and a detachment of chosen foot to defend that passage the Banks whereof were very high The Romans were several times repulsed at last the shame to see the Aegyptians so long maintain the fight against them obliged Caesar's Gallick Horse to enter the Channel in several places they opening themselves a passage while the Legionaries got over upon great Trees which they had cut for that purpose which bold undertaking confounded the Aegyptians who with some loss made their retreat to the Kings Camp The next day Caesar causing all his Troops to pass over made an attack upon their Camp along the Banks of Nilus which being the easiest place for that purpose was the reason that the Aegyptians had drawn thither their best Troops and neglected the other part which they thought inaccessible This Caesar quickly understood by the stout resistence which he here met withal he therefore drew out some Cohorts under the Command of Carsulenus one of his ancientest and best Officers to attack their Camp where the Fortification was steepest They there found little resistence by reason that on-set was so contrary to expectation By this means they entred and put the whole Aegyptian Camp into disorder Immediately every one thought of nothing but his own safety and in this confusion the King himself getting on Board a Vessel was drowned with all those that followed him and who by their numbers sunk the Ship After this Victory there was nothing found in Aegypt able to resist Caesar. The City of Alexandria was the first that submitted so he made his entry as Conquerour and pardoned the Citizens in favour of Cleopatra whom he established Queen with her younger Brother Ptolemy according to the intent of their Father's Will driving out Arsinoâ— and Ganymede The following days he dedicated to the love which he had for that Princess and the rejoycings for his Victory Some Authours report that he went up the Nile with her a Magnificent Galley and that he had gone as far as Aethiopia if his Army had not refused to follow him At last he left her with Child of a Son who was afterwards called Caesario and departed from Aegypt to go into Syria with his sixth Legion against Pharnaces the Son of Mithridates the others being left in Aegypt by his order to hinder the revolt of that new Conquest CHAP. LVI Cato retires into Africa and Cicero into Italy where Caesar Pardons him Pompey's Sons go into Spain Cato joins himself with Scipio and Juba Some broils at Rome THE Death of Pompey was so far from bringing this War to an end that it served onely to diffuse
Science whereof he had written regulated the Year according to the course of the Sun to three hundred sixty five days and one day more to be added every fourth year which was called the Bissextile and this is the foundation of that method which we to this day follow He added to the ten old Months two others which are Ianuary and February that so the Reformation he made might be just and proportionable In the mean time as he was no-ways beloved by those who were greatest in the Senate though his Ordinances had no other than the publick good they forbore not to vilify him by their Raileries and Cicero amongst the rest being in a place where it was said that the next day the sign of the Harp would be visible Ah said he according to the Ordinance Now though Caesar had Information of their discourses he bore it all with so great moderation that when some other People had yet the insolence to violate his Reputation by Libels he never so much as inquired after them All his designs shewed the greatness of his Soul he made a proposition for adorning of the City of Rome with a magnificent Temple consecrated to Mars and with a Theatre He undertook to drain the Marshes near Rome and to empty the Lakes After these Works he was for falling upon the Parthians to revenge the death of Crassus and they being Conquered to enter through Hircania along the Banks of the Caspian Sea into Scythia to open himself a way through Germany into Gaul and so return to Rome But all these Projects ended in his death Caesar's good fortune which had appeared by so many Victories his Merit and great Abilities supported by the affection of the People and the love of his Souldiers had raised him to a degree above all other Romans But as it usually happens in Common-wealths where every one valuing himself upon his own Merit looks upon absolute Command as a right which he one day in his turn may pretend to that advancement had brought upon him the jealousie of all the Senatours who could respect him no otherwise than the Usurper of a Rank which they thought themselves deserved as well as he It being certain that in matters of Ambition as well as Interest no Man ever thinks any thing too much for himself In the mean while in a shamefull manner they dayly flattered his Vanity with new Honours preferring him even in his life time in some sort amongst the Gods They thought it not enough to cause him to be chosen Consul for ten years and perpetual Dictatour to give him the name of Emperour and Father of his Countrey and to declare his Person Sacred and Inviolable But they ordained him also a Statue amongst those of the Kings a Tribunal in the Orchestria a Chair of Gold in the Senate and in fine in the Shews of the Cirque a Canopy a Cushion and Offerings as to the Images of the Gods with a Temple Altars as also a high Priest and Sacrificers Some Authours have reported that he procured these Honours by his Authority others that they were freely bestowed upon him That which appears most certain is that they were so agreed upon in the Senate and that all those who were then present came to him in a body to acquaint him with the Decree they had made he was then in the Temple of Venus and whether it were out of State or for some other Reason he received them sitting without rising up to goe and meet them Some say that Balbus held him when he would have raised himself others that it was in offence to Tributius who pretended to tell him what he was to doe However it was this neglect offended the Senatours and caused them to discover their hatred for from this time they contrived among themselves to publish abroad how that he affected the name of King He had indeed the power in effect and did onely want the Name which was odious to the Romans Caesar who very well knew how much that aversion imported very well defended himself from it and one day when some People called him Lord and King he answered That he was Caesar. Nevertheless he often let discourses fall which very much promoted those Reports that were spread of his Ambition He said That a Republick was no other than a name and mere Idea and that Sylla had discovered himself to be very ignorant when he renounced that of Dictatour All these Discourses were malitiously improved and served for great use to those who envied him Two Adventures which afterwards happened contributed also very much to their Confirmation As he returned from a publick Sacrifice upon the day of the Latine Festivals some body had Crowned his Statue with a Laurel bound about with a little band of white Linen which was a sort of Diadem Marulla and Cesestius the Tribunes of the People took off the Crown and Imprisoned him who had placed it there which made Caesar angry he went to the Tribunes quarrelled with them publickly and took away their Employments and that Affront offered to those Magistrates who maintained the interests of the People provoked them against him The other accident was yet more notorious There was celebrated at Rome a Festival in Honour of the God Pan which they called Lupercalls in that Ceremony the young Romans of the best Quality and who were for that year in Employments ran naked through the City with lether Thongs wherewith they wantonly struck all those they met and by ridiculous Superstition the most Vertuous Women were wont to go meet them and offer their hands to be touched with these Thongs believing that that had the Virtue to procure them a happy Lying-in and also make them fruitfull Antonius who was Consul appeared upon this occasion and Caesar assisted at the shew seated upon a Tribunal in a Chair of Gold and in a habit of Triumph Antonius passing through the People who opened to the right and left to make him way went up to the Tribunal and presented a Crown to Caesar some there were who clapped their Hands as if they approved of it but when Caesar put back the Crown there was a general Applause Antonius offered it to him a second time but still with as little marks of satisfaction from the People Caesar again refused it which was followed with loud Acclamations Caesar by this understood their sentiments which he made use of this Tryal more clearly to inform himself of he rose up to carry the Crown to the Capitol but was not Master of his disorder and said that night to his Friends That if he knew any man who would out his Throat he could know offer it to him freely CHAP. LXIV A Conspiracy against Caesar. Presages of his death He is murthered in the Senate THough he had yet a thousand other Testimonies of the hatred he lay under he abandoned himself so utterly to his Destiny that from this moment he neglected any manner of security
himself ventring to come down was received by them with Applause this again assured the Conspiratours so they returned to the publick place where Brutus was accompanied with the most considerable Men of the Senate even to the Tribunal wherein he designed to speak to the People Several Authours have reported that he came onely with Cassius and that their Hands were yet besmeared with Caesar's bloud However it were all they said shewed a great deal of Resolution They maintained that what they had done was not onely just but that it deserved to be rewarded attributing the glory to one another with large and reciprocal Praises After this they proceeded to the Commendation of Decimus who had so seasonably assisted them with his Gladiatours and exhorted the People To maintain that Liberty and good Fortune which they had procured them that they should remember how their Ancestours had heretofore expelled Kings whose Government was no less unjust and violent than Caesar 's had been In fine they proposed the return of Sextus the Son of Pompey and to make Celerius and Marullus Tribunes of the People who had first dared as they said To attack the Tyranny in taking the Diadem from Caesar 's Statue The People gave great attention to their Discourse But when Cinna advanced to speak it soon appeared that their silence proceeded onely from that respect which they bore to the Vertue of Brutus This Cinna had received many benefits from Caesar and even the Charge of Pretor which was the second Dignity in the Republick the Pretors were to distribute particular Justice and Commanded also Armies in several Provinces that were assigned them Cinna stripped himself of the Robe which was the mark of his Dignity and threw it from him with Contempt saying That he would not be honoured with the favours of a Tyrant He extolled the action of the Conspiratours and proposed that they might be rewarded with extraordinary Honours but his discourse and behaviour appeared so odious to the People that they were provoked against him and interrupted him with Affronts and Curses Nevertheless Dollabella forbore not to present himself to speak after him he was a young Man in great Esteem and Cicero's Son-in-Law Caesar had designed to have left him Consul in Rome when he went to the Parthian War nevertheless he condemned the Memory of that great Man and those who during his life time had so much honoured him He applauded the Murther and transported himself so far as to express his sorrow for not having had a part in so glorious an Action The commotion of the People against Câ—â—â—s taught Brutus and Cassius what they were to expect The returned to the Capitol where Brutus fearing to be besieged caused several Senatours who merely in point of Honour had followed him to return to their Houses not thinking it just that those who had no share in the Action should be ingaged in the danger CHAP. III. Antonius and Lepidus rally Caesar's Friends Some propositions of Accommodation THIS News extremely rejoyced Caesar's Friends the chief whereof were Marcus Antonius and Lepidus Antonius was very Illustrious both by his Birth and his Valour being descended from one of the noblest Families in Rome which derived it's Original from Anton the Son of Hercules He was of a very comely Personage upon all occasions Magnificent and passionately beloved by the Souldiery His bounty and that familiarity wherewith he was wont sometimes to debauch with them had engaged them to him The Criticks of his Age have reproached him for being too much addicted to his Pleasures but that inclination never hindred him from behaving himself with great resolution upon all weighty occasions and necessity evermore awakened his Vertue But Pleasure at last got the better of him and cost him his life besides when ill Fortune had imbittered his Spirit he could not forbear discovering some inclinations towards Avarice and Cruelty He was ingaged in the Fortunes of Caesar and Caesar had made him General of the Cavalry which was the second Dignity of Rome when it was under a Dictatour and at the time of Caesar's death he was Consul Now the Consulship was the highest Dignity amongst the Romans in the time of the Commonwealth and lasted but for one year it was executed by two Persons who had equal Authority who were chosen by the Voices of the People and who Commanded within and without the City It is true that the Dictatour was yet above the Consul but he was never made but upon extraordinary occasions of the greatest importance and he it was who named the General of the Cavalry Sylla first and Caesar after him added to the time and duration of that Dignity even at last to make it perpetual but that was without Example and they have been both reproached with it as a Tyrannical Actionâ— Lepidus also was of Illustrious Extraction very rich and no less considerable in Româ— for his Civility and the great Charges that he had executed he at this time Commanded the Cavalry by Commission in the room of Caesar's Nephew whose charge it was He was much esteemed for his honesty but he wanted that resolution which is necessary upon all difficulties especially amongst such People as he had to deal withall Both these Men were at the Senate when Caesar was slain It is true that the Conspiratours who stood in fear of the vigour and courage of Antonius had given charge to Trebonius to make use of some pretence to stop him at the Hall door but they both got off in the throng Antonius into the House of one of his Friends and Lepidus into the Island made by the Tyber in the middle of Rome where he had a Legion of Souldiers that loved Caesar. He marched them into a place called the field of Mars there to expect Antonius's Orders who ought to Command by reason of his Dignity When they understood the astonishment of the Senate and how the minds of the People were disposed they resolved to revenge the death of their Friend while Brutus and those of his Party were consulting what course to take at last the conclusion was to send Deputies to Antonius and Lepidus To desire them to consider the misfortune that their division might bring upon their common Countrey The Deputies had orders to handle the Articles of Caesar's Murther with all niceness That no hatred to his Person had put them upon that design but onely the love they bore their Countrey who had already been so drained by Civil Wars that any new disunion must certainly carry away the miserable remainder that they â—elieved them also too generous to let any particular hatred transport them to the prejudice of the Publick Yet these reasons alone were not of force enough to convince Antonius and Lepidus but as they feared that Sextus might declare against them and lest Decimus who had obtained from Caesar the Government of the Cisalpine Gall should fall upon them with a powerfull Army which he
Ratify the Ordinances of Caesar but than to observe how Ridiculous 't would appear at the same time to give Praises and Rewards to his Murtherers For all this he would not oppose the Compassion which pleaded for their Pardon in consideration of their Relations provided that it might appear done at the Petition of their Families that he himself had there consented to it not that he by any means thought it agreeable to Iustice but for the publick Quiet So his advice was followed and the Decree passed in those terms there were onely added the names of such who had had employments and other honours as they particularly had desired CHAP. V. New Divisions occasioned by Caesar's Will Brutus and Cassius speak to the People in their own justification They come to an agreement with Anthony and Lepidus THIS Proceeding redounded much to Antonius's Reputation for he had discharged himself of this business with a great deal of Address and Industry though very many and amongst the rest even Cicero himself were of opinion That he thought more of his pleasure than the business of the Commonwealth The Senatours went home to their Houses very well satisfied when streight a new difficulty arose Piso declared That having the Will of Caesar in his possession he had given it into the protection of the Vestals with orders to return it into his hands It was told him That the Will must not be produced and that it would be very improper to doe him Funeral Honours since it might produce fresh Tumults Piso was Caesar's Father-in-Law and for that reason ingaged both in Honour and Friendship to see his last will put in execution he answered That he would discharge himself of what he owed to his Son-in-Law and his Friend and when it was answered him That what Caesar disposed of was the Goods which belonged to the Republick which by this means was robbed of its right and that he should be called to an account for his proceedings These threatnings caused him to demand of the Consuls That they would assemble the Senatours which were yet present So they returned to the Temple where Piso delivered himself in these terms I am sorry to see that the number of Caesar 's Murtherers increases each moment and that far from being satisfied with the cruel death which they have made him suffer they yet desire that the body of a Sovereign Pontifex should be deprived of the Honours of Funeral which were never refused to the meanest Man they forbid me with Threatnings to publish his Will they would divide his Fortune amongst them as the estate of a Tyrant and which is most surprizing of all those very men who come to Ratify what he hath Ordained in the Commonwealth endeavour to suppress what he hath disposed in particular and though it be neither Cassius nor Brutus themselves that declare these Opinions it is easie to believe that those who maintain it are influenced by them However it be order you what you please as to Caesar 's Funeral but for his Will I shall remain Master of that and so long as I have breath will never betray that Confidence and Trust which he reposed in me This discourse occasioned a fresh Contest those who believed they might be concerned in it were for the Will so it was ordered that it should be Published and that Funeral Honours should be given to Caesar at the expence of the Publick Brutus and his Friends were soon advised of these Proceedings so they judged it convenient to prevent the minds of the People and for this design sent to desire them that they would come to the Capitol When they were assembled there in a great number Brutus presenting himself said That they were not retired to that place as Offenders who sought a Sanctuary but to prevent the misfortunes that might arise from the Affront which had been done to Cinna that they had understood how their Enemies spoke of the death of Caesar as of a great Crime which broke all those measures that could be taken with them for their safety that this discourse obliged them to declare their Innocence and good Intentions that since the death of Pompey Caesar had always acted as an open Tyrant that he had disposed of great Charges and principal employments of his own head and without the advice of the Senate that he had turned two Tribunes out of their Offices for no other reason than that they had taken the Crown from one of his Images that by that means he was the first that had attempted to violate that respect which was due to Sacred Persons Besides that they did not believe any Oath was of force enough to oblige the maintenance of Tyranny that in all other occasions their words should be Sacred and Inviolable that for the rewards which Caesar had promised they were resolved to allow of them in the name of the Commonwealth that those who had already received Inheritances should continue in the possession of them and that such as had had their Lands taken from them should have their Losses repaired out of the first money that came into the publick Treasury This discourse was received with Acclamations and the People admired the resolution of the Conspiratours so by this means their minds being turned wholly in their favour the next day in the Assembly of the Senate Cicero's Eloquence found it no hard matter to persuade That all which had passed might be forgotten His advice was seconded by Plancus so an Amnesty or Act of Oblivion was published Antonius and Lepidus sent their Children to the Capitol as Hostages for the Conspiratours security so Brutus descended with all his Accomplices At last for a Testimony of a sincere Reconciliation Antonius entertained Cassius at Supper and Brutus was at home with Lepidus These last who were Wise Men parted very well in appearance but as Anthony was a Laughter and Cassius given to be Cholerick their Conversation was not without some sharpness Antonius asked Cassius If he had not yet a concealed Dagger Yes answered Cassius and a sharp one too for those who dare aspire to the Tyranny which answer it is believed put a stop to any farther Jesting CHAP. VI. Caesar's Will read publickly Antonius makes his Funeral Oration THE fire of Division began to be apparent to all such as could discern any thing the minds of the People were so well disposed that they doubted not but the Commonwealth would soon recover its ancient Majesty But those who judged better were not so deceived and amongst others Atticus the particular Friend of Cicero this was a Roman Knight of the first of that Order which was distinguished from that of the Senatours the softness of his Inclination and the weakness of his Constitution had hindred him from signalizing himself in Wars but the qualifications of his Mind his Honesty and his Sincerity made him be considered as a Man of great Merit and gained him many noble Friends and though he had some
their Retreat look like a â—light Of this Antonius failed not to make good advantage his two Brothers sirnamed Cajus and Lucius were the one Pretor and the other Tribune so that he being Consul the Authority of these three great Offices made him almost absolute in the Government of the Commonwealth He had an inclination to the Government of Syria but he saw very well that the asking of it would onely increase the distrust of the Senate where already many designs were on Foot against his Interest and which also he was very well informed of Dolabella his Collegue in the Consulship had been drawn into that business but Antonius who knew his Unconstancy and his Ambition cunningly persuaded him to demand the Government of Syria and the Army which Caesar had prepared against the Parthians The young Man ran presently into the snare and when it was Remonstrated to him That that Proposition was contrary to the Ordinances of Caesar He answered That Caesar 's design was to make War upon the Parthians that as to his Decrees Cassius had first mistaken them in permitting the old Souldiers to sell the Inheritances which had been given them and which Caesar had expresly forbidden that for what remained it would be an affront to him to believe that Cassius had any advantage over him either in Courage or in Conduct The Senate thus intangled went another way to work they resolved to persuade one of the Tribunes called Asprinas to find out some Religious reason for the opposing of this Proposition when it should come before the People under the pretence of Thunder or some other unlucky Omen All the Roman Histories are full of this kind of Superstition and after this manner the People fansied to themselves either fortunate or unlucky Presages upon unlucky Omens their Assemblies always separated and the squeeking of a Mouse would frequently fright them from their debates of the highest importance The Cunning Men made the right use of this weakness when any thing was proposed which did not please them and this was the design of the Senate which they thought ought to have been promoted by Antonius he being one of the College of Augures who were a certain sort of Dignitaries that judged of these kind of Omens and who they imagined wished the Government of Syria for himself But these were false measures for Antonius seized upon the Tribune as an Impostour and was the occasion that Dolabella got the Province and the Army afterwards He demanded Macedonia for his Brother Cajus which none durst refuse him All that the Senate could doe was to put the Friends of Brutus and Cassius also upon demanding other Provinces instead of those that had been taken from them which they obtained to Cassius was given Cyrene upon the Coast of Africa with that of Crete at present called Candia and Bithynia to Brutus CHAP. IX Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar comes to Rome against the Opinion of his Kindred he declares himself Caesar's Heir and takes upon him his Name IN the mean time news arrived at Rome that Octavius the grand Nephew of Caesar whom he had Adopted and declared his chief Heir was coming to enter upon his Succession Octavius so famous since by the Name of Augustus Caesar was of a very Ancient and Illustrious Family in Italy but he came out of a branch of that Family which had not been much advanced He was handsome and so very beautifull that it acquired him Veneration he had a great deal of Wit which was subtile and cunning a lofty Mind of extreme Wisedom and very insinuating Conversation Caesar who had not any nearer Kinsman took a great deal of care of his Education and he improved so well under so good a Master that his Merit advanced him to the Empire of the World He governed with so great Wisedom and Moderation that the Prudence and Mildness of Augustus have been ever since wished to his Successours though he was now but very young his Unkle caused him to exercise the charge of General of the Cavalry for one complete year and afterwards sent him to Appollonia a City upon the Coast of Epirus to complete his Studies and his Exercises thither came to him dayly the principal Commanders of the Troops of that Province and even the Souldiers also to make their Court to him and entertain him with Combates and Games after having staid about six months in that City he understood the death of Caesar and all his Friends advised to seek Protection from the Troops of that Province who had served under Caesar and still honoured his Memory His Mother was Married again to a Man of Quality called Martius Philippus so they both wrote to him by way of advice To undertake nothing that might bring trouble upon him but that he would take warning by his Vnkle and come to Rome to them where he might lead a quiet and peaceable life and that they would take care of his preservation These different Counsels were enough to intangle a Man who was now but eighteen years of Age. But of all the Counsels that were proposed to him he resolved upon the most honest and the most generous which was To revenge the death of his Vnkle so he put himself on Ship-board and came and landed at a certain little Town near Brundusiâ—m where he was informed of what had been done at Rome since the death of Caesar and though he had received fresh Letters from his Mother nevertheless fully resolved to declare himself Heir to the Fortune and Name of Caesar. With this design he went to Brâ—ndusiâ—m after being first well assured that none of the Murtherers of his Unkle were in the place such of Caesar's old Souldiers as were Quartered in that City came out to meet him and did him Honours as the Son of their General He made a Sacrifice to the Gods and after having according to the Roman Custome taken upon him the Name of his Adoptive Father all his Friends his Slaves his Freed-men and many other Souldiers came to him upon the News The very Arms Money and Provision which were sent to the Troops of Macedonia were brought to him and this happy beginning put him upon his march towards Rome in his Journey thither he saw Cicero who avoided the calling of him Caesar though every body else at that time did it because says he in a Letter Philip himself did not doe it and that no good Citizen ought so long as he is attended with such as threaten our Friends Nevertheless he remained not long in this Opinion and Octavius arriving at last at Rome declared to his Friends That notwithstanding their fears he could not but think himself unworthy of life should he not use his utmost indeavours to revenge the death of Caesar. It is said that his Mother imbraced him at these words and approved of his Design Now Antonius had sent no body out to meet him which coldness of proceeding much augmented the fears
of young Caesar's Friends But he declared how he thought it very just that a young Man of but a private condition as he was should make the first steps towards Antonius who was his Seniour and a Consul so he besought his Friends to bear him company to that visit the next morning who all attended him accordingly as he was going thither he met Cajus Antonius his Brother who was Pretor and took that occasion to declare to him his Adoption and caused it to be registred according to Custome CHAP. X. Octavius visits Antonius who receives him very ill His demands and Antonius his Answer OCtavius was forc't to wait a great while at Antonius 's Gate who nevertheless at last received him with a great deal of Complement and Ceremony after which they were come to the Point Young Caesar began and highly praised Antonius to whom he confessed he had many obligations after which he modestly complained to him For that he had suffered a Pardon to pass for Caesar's Murtherers whom he might have punished with as much severity and as Arbitrarily as he had done Amatius That he had also gone farther and given his advice for the allotting of them Provinces and Governments when he himself presided in the Senate as Consul He handsomely represented to him Caesar 's Friendship and the good Offices he had done him adding That Caesar would have adopted him had he not been persuaded that a Man as he was descended from Hercules would have made a scruple of entring into the Family of Aeneas He conjured him by the Memory of his Father to assist him in revenging his death at least not to oppose the design he had of proceeding in it He gave him to understand that he was resolved to satisfy what was stipulated in the Will and to distribute amongst the People and the Souldiers what Caesar had left them Nevertheless having little Fortune of his own he desired him to deliver him fourteen hundred and fifteen thousand Crowns out of the Money which Caesar had left and to lend him as much more out of the publick stock as he should have occasion for That for the Moveables and Goods them he might keep he being contented to allow them as marks and remembrances of Caesar's affection Antonius amazed at the young Man's Confidence and being piqued at the last Article of his discourse told him That there might have been some reason for what he urged had Caesar left him heir of the Roman Empire as well as of his Name and Fortune but that the Sovereign Authority had no Title of Succession in Rome and that therefore he ought not to demand reasons of him for what he had done in the Government of the Commonwealth That for the obligations which he thought he owed him he was willing to dispense with them since what he had done was without any prospect of his Service and onely designed for the good of his Countrey That nevertheless he had not forgotten Caesar's Friendship but had secured to him those Honours due to his Memory even to the hazard of his own life That for the rest he had permitted it because 't was not in his power to have opposed it without declaring himself a Friend to Tyranny That nevertheless his want of experience was excusable which had hindred him from taking these things into his consideration though it would require some to be sensible that the advantages arising to him from his Succession to Caesar did onely in part belong to him that he was not at all jealous of his good Fortune though by his own Confession it might as well have happened to himself since Caesar would have adopted him had he not been of the Race of Hercules That as to Caesar's Money it did not amount to so great a sum as he imagined a great part of it belonging to the publick which he had given his orders for inquiring into since Caesar himself had he lived would not have taken it ill to have been made accountable that another part had been divided amongst the Officers besides Dollabella his Brother and himself who had refused the receiving any of it That in truth he had distributed it amongst those to whom Caesar had ordained it and was ready to put the remainder into his hands but that if he were Wise he would employ it for the satisfaction of such as had reason of complaint either against his Father or himself and for the sending back that shoal of followers who accompanied him into their Colonies rather than give it to the People it being a surprizing thing that a man so knowing as he was in the Grecian History should seem to rely upon popular affection which was more unconstant than the Waves of the Ocean CHAP. XI Octavius falls out with Antonius He gains the affections of the People Antonius sends for the Macedonian Army into Italy THese words and this proceeding of Antonius offending young Caesar he took his leave of him repeating several times as he went out of the door the name of his Father so he resolved to convert all his own Fortune and what more amounted to him from his Succession to Caesar into ready Money by that means to put himself into a condition of satisfying the People and gaining their favour whereof he knew that Antonius had but a small share by reason of his Inquisition into the publick Money This design of his made the Senate afraid of him though they were not at all disturbed to see him fall out with Antonius because they hoped that that Division might weaken them both and so make their Ruine more easie and that the publick Treasury would be improved by what should arrive to it out of Caesar's Estate Now the time was come that Brutus was to give the Games these Games were certain magnificent Shews which the Magistrates at the going out of their Offices gave for the Divertisement of the People There were to be seen the Combats of Gladiatours bred up and taught to cut one anothers Throats on purpose upon these occasions the huntings of wild Beasts every thing that could be found rare throughout the Provinces Comedies and Musick Prizes In short the expences of it would appear incredible to any who have not been acquainted with the greatness and riches of Rome Brutus to be sure had spared no cost for the setting out of his Games his Friends hoping that by that Magnificence he might regain the Friendship of the People Nevertheless they durst not counsel him to appear there because they were advised that a great number of Caesar's old Souldiers flocked dayly to Rome In effect young Caesar having sold all he had and distributed it amongst the most Factious of the People proceeded now to selling the Goods of his Mother and Father-in-Law forcing Pedius and Pinarius his Co-heirs in the Succession of Caesar to quit their parts to him which he also sold and immediately distributed accordingly These things made a great noise amongst the People
make use of for his assistence in getting the Province of Gall so the Souldiers obliged them to see one another and they parted good Friends Immediately Antonius caused the Law to be published for his Government and notwithstanding all the Senate could doe with the Tribunes Caesar's underhand management with the People the many Armed Souldiers which he brought to the Assembly in favour of Antonius against Decimus who had been one of his Father's Murtherers and Antonius's Money wherewith he had corrupted the Tribunes made the Law pass and he got the Government CHAP. XIII New Quarrels between Antonius and Caesar. Cicero declares himself for Caesar. He offends Antonius in his Orations ANTONIVS having now gotten what he wished for began to contrive according to his Maximes how to restore himself with the Senate and whether it were that he little valued young Caesar or whether it were by a secret motion of that Antipathy which afterwards so much declared it self and was at last the cause of his destruction he seemed not to take much care how he disgusted him so he might re-unite himself with the Senate It is true that there was a strong opposition between these two Spirits but Caesar's had the advantage and there runs a story upon this occasion that a certain famous Aegyptian Astrologer told him one day in the presence of Cleopatra That his Fortune which was so Illustrious at present should lose all its splendour when it came near to that of Caesar and therefore advised him always to shun that young man as much as possible because said he to Antonius thy Genius is afraid of his In effect notwithstanding all the Alliances which their common interest could form between them they were always embroiled till the death of Antonius The pretence they now took was this one of the Tribunes of the People being dead Caesar recommended Flaminius to the place this made the People believe that he had a mind to it himself and gave him to understand That he might easily carry it by their Votes This Testimony of their Esteem for him alarum'd the Senate who fearing lest he should make use of the Authority of that Office for the revenging the death of his Father resolved to oppose it and Antonius published a Decree by which he forbad any man to assist Caesar who not being yet a Senatour could not according to Law pretend to that Dignity These prohibitions provoked the People who looked upon their Authority by this means struck at so upon the day of the Assembly Antonius had the misfortune to see his Reputation shaken as well as his life in great hazard insomuch that he was forced to permit the Tribunes to cancell his Decree so Flaminius had the Office and Caesar well perceived that it was now time for him to take measures against the unconstancy of Antonius whose credit and assistence was like to cost more than it was worth so he sent Deputies to such Souldiers as had served under his Father and were now divided up and down Italy sending also into the very Army of Antonius a sort of Manifesto Copies whereof he caused to be scattered about the Camp Besides this he took a resolution of applying himself to the Senate and Cicero whom Philippus had gained to his Party with all his Credit was assisting to the design Now there was at this time a cruel feud betwixt Cicero and Antonius and their hatred had been declared by the furious declamations which they made against one another in the Senate those of Cicero remain still amongst us and are called his Philippicks because he has there imitated Demosthenes who wrote after the same manner against King Philip the Father of Alexander The twelfth is very admirable in its kind and from the first we may learn the causes of their Division Cicero being wearied with the troubles of Rome and grieved at the retreat of Brutus had resolved to go into Greece there to lead a more peaceable life He had been twice on Ship-board with this design but the winds were both times against him and he was forc'd to come ashore again at Rhegium In this place he understood the speech that Antonius had made for the abolishing the Dictatourship and the great hopes which appeared from that action of Re-establishing Liberty so his thoughts of retirement soon forsook him and nothing as he said himself could satisfy his impatience to be once more at Rome He was received there with extreme Joy and almost every body went out to meet him Now the Senate was to assemble the next day but Cicero would not be there and feigned himself sick It was said That he had received advice of some design against his life but when according to Custome the Senatours were called and one of his Friends reported the cause of his absence Antonius who presided as he was Consul said That he would go seek him and carry so many People with him as should bring him away House and all Cicero in a speech made at another meeting complained of this outrage of the Consul Antonius answered him sharply and reproached him for that upon the day of Caesar's Murther Brutus holding his bloudy Dagger in his hand had called upon Cicero and declared to him the return of Liberty This it was that occasioned the Rupture between these two Men which appeared more plain in the second Oration and this disposition of mind made Cicero so warm for the interest of young Caesar and laid the foundations of that Power to which afterwards he raised himself CHAP. XIV Antonius and Caesar meet at the Capitol They fall out again Caesar raises Troops WHILE those Libels which were scattered up and down the Camp of Antonius were taking effect there the Souldiers who were at Rome gave him to understand That they were not well satisfied of the misunderstanding between him and Caesar which was like to ruine all hopes of revenging the death of their General since they expected that revenge from him and young Caesar as two of the nearest Relation and Interest but that if they proceeded in the course they had taken they would but betray themselves to their own Enemies and expose their Friends to punishment Antonius thought he was obliged to justify himself and therefore in a long Harangue gave them an account of his Conduct letting them understand That all his proceedings hitherto had tended to nothing else but the revenge they wished for he shewed them all the turnings and windings that he had made use of to bring this design about so that they no longer found reasons to doubt him nor indeed did the Senate who being informed of this discourse became perfectly acquainted with the depth of his intentions and saw the design of his wicked Policy At last those whose business it was to re-unite Antonius and Caesar persuaded them to an interview at the Capitol where they promised each other Friendship though it lasted not long for some few days afterwards Antonius caused
several of his Guards to be seized upon saying That Caesar had wrought with them to kill him But this matter has never been well laid open some say That it was onely a supposition of Antonius Others That it was really truth and that the Senate with whom Caesar was at that time upon very good terms would gladly have been rid of Antonius by such a means There was indeed great appearance of the truth of this for the wisest of the Senatours who imagined that when they were once rid of this Enemy the other would be ruined more easily declared That Caesar had just reasons to revenge himself upon Antonius and that the wicked proceedings which he had made use of would have provoked any other man as well as he to resent them Now Caesar boldly threw this suspicion back in the teeth of Antonius he went himself to his Gates to demand Justice crying out That he desired for his Iudges no other than his own Friends The People without farther inquiry into the matter condemned Antonius and some there are who believe that all this business was agreed upon before hand between those two Parties for the accomplishment of their designs so very uncertain are the judgments of Men in matters of importance At last Caesar understanding that Antonius was gone to Brundusium to appease some Commotion which was beginning there and to recommend himself to the Troops of Macedonia whom Cajus had brought into Italy and that he would soon return again with a great Guard upon advice thereof resolved to visit such Cities as had been established by his Father and bring them intirely into his interest so he went to Cerere and Silio which are two places not far from Capua where he raised Money and by promising 500 Drachma's by head to every one that would follow him he raised about 10000. Men who were not indeed regulated Troops but nevertheless were such as had served in the Wars under Iulius Caesar so he put them all under one Colours as a Guard for his Person and thus accompanied returned to Rome now the fear was so much the greater in the City for that Antonius was expected there who brought Troops with him also so the Opinions of Men began to be very much divided some went and took party with Caesar others declared themselves for Antonius and as it dayly happens to those Men who are so very wise that they can resolve of nothing a great many upon this occasion were so afraid of taking wrong measures that they took none at all Now a certain Tribune called Carnutius who was a great Enemy to Antonius would have obliged the Roman People to join with Caesar so he went to find him out at the Temple of Mars which is fifteen Stades from Rome from whence he brought and caused him to lodge in the Temple of Castor and Pollux Caesar's Souldiers drew up about the Temple when Carnutius fell upon declaiming against Antonius and praising the Conduct of Caesar. Now there were at this time in Rome several Souldiers of the Macedonian Army who could not bear that their General should be spoken ill of and declared their Resentments Caesar's Men replyed upon them But as they were for the most part without Arms matters staid there and went no farther This unseasonable accident made him very uneasie and a great part of his People asking leave of him to go and get Arms he granted it keeping onely three thousand Men about his Person nevertheless those who had quitted him being accustomed to a Warlike life could not find in their hearts to stay at home so they returned again to him very well appointed and he having in the mean time furnished himself with Money about Ravenna and the other Cities he joining them with the other Troops made a considerable body and put them into Quarters about Aretium CHAP. XV. Antonius joins his Army but is not well received He returns to Rome Two of his Legions desert him and go to Caesar's Army Antonius's force WHILE these matters were transacted Antonius went and joyned himself with his Army which was composed of four Legions of those six which had been in Macedonia They received him with a great deal of coldness and silence which extremely troubled him for it was the Custome for a General to be always received with great Acclamations and to have a speech made to him in the name of the Army But these contented themselves to follow him without speaking a word as far as his Tribunal Their discontent proceeded from the little care which he had taken to revenge the death of Caesar whom those Souldiers loved most passionately Antonius was not able to hide the disorder he was under but discovered it in the discourse he made to them and wherewith they were offended especially in Relation to what he spoke against young Caesar he complained to them That they had entertained his Messengers and suffered them to carry on Intrigues in his Camp without giving him advice of the disorder But in the end to flatter them he promised to carry them into Gall which was a rich and fruitfull Province and offered to each Man 50 Drachma's These offers were so mean in the Opinion of the Souldiers that laughing aloud they derided him and at last went away without hearing of him any farther This insolence of theirs re-doubled the anger of Antonius so he descended from his Tribunal saying That he would teach them Obedience and immediately Commanded the Colonels of the Legions to bring him their Rolls they always had them about them and knew the humour and inclinations of their Souldiers Antonius picked out the most Mutinous amongst them and made them an Example though their punishment served onely to provoke the rest This Caesar's Emissaries knew very well how to make their advantage of so they scattered about new Libels against the Avarice and Cruelty of Antonius which he was advised of and Commanded that those Men should be delivered into his hands with terrible threatnings if he were not obeyed But all his diligence was to no purpose no body would discover them and he was strangely amazed at that fidelity which seemed to be a general Conspiracy against him This joyned to the news of what progress Caesar had made put him upon making a new tryal of the Spirits of his Souldiers he excused himself to them That for the maintaining of Military Discipline he had been forc't to bring Mutineers to punishment that the offer he had made them of 50 Drachma's ought not to be lookt upon by them as intended for a reward since iâ— was neither proportionable to his liberality nor their merit for that he intended it onely as a small mark of his acknowledgment He put them into the bargain upon great hopes but said not a word of augmenting the sum lest it might be believed that he had given way to the insolence of his Souldiers Iulius Caesar had always proceeded in this manner nor ever gave way
whom he had heretofore Commanded under Iulius Caesar and one of new raised Men Antonius immediately besieged him in the place blocking him closely up with lines and other Works CHAP. XVIII Hirtius and Pansa chosen Consuls The Decree of the Senate against Antonius The death of Trebonius Dollabella declared an Enemy to the Republick Honours and Offices allotted to Cassius and Brutus THE siege of Modena was lookt upon by Caesar and the Senate as a Declaration of War where at last new Consuls were Created upon the first of Ianuary in the year 711 since the foundation of Rome which shall serve as a Date for the rest of the History These Consuls were Hirtius and Pansa both intimate Friends and Disciples of Cicero who boasts that he taught them the Rules of Eloquence they were both also the Creatures of Iulius Caesar. Hirtius had always served under him and it is he who has given the Relation of the Wars of Aegypt and Africa which is annexed to his Commentaries and Pansa made profession of a particular Friendship with him They assembled the Senate where Cicero who had then all the Authority persuaded War against Antonius by a discourse which is still extant We may there reade his Reasons which are drawn from the Insolence and Conduct of Antonius as well as Ambition the matter as it usually happens did not pass without a reply for Piso maintained the interest of Antonius and indeavoured to justify him but Cicero's underhand management proved too strong and an Arrest had gone out against Antonius if Salvius one of the Tribunes had not opposed it in the name of the People This was the greatest Privilege of those kind of Offices for though there were many of them one alone had right to oppose the general consent and that opposition hindred the effect of all debates It was the Peoples business to decide this difference and though nothing was then ordered as to the business of Antonius because of the Tribunes opposition It was resolved that Decimus should be thanked for maintaining the Authority of the Senate that Caesar should be joined with the Consuls and Command equally with them that his Statue should be set up in Gold that he should be entred in the Senate and have power to demand the Consulship ten years before he came to such Age as the Law in that case required to the end that the Legions might be rewarded after Victory according as he had promised them The courage of Salvius made way for the Mother and Wife of Antonius to solicite his Cause with her Son who was yet young and all their other Friends and Relations Antonius his Mother was called Iulia of Caesar's Family and in great Esteem both for her Birth and for her Vertue his Wife Fulvia when she Married him was the Widow of Claudius This Widow was very beautifull and of a popular but Ancient Family Ambitious above the capacity of her Sex and who absolutely governed her Husband she had also some light inclinations to Gallantry which was perhaps the effect of her Ambition for she always loved to deal amongst the best Quality at least we may reade at this time an Epigramm of Augustus where he complains that Fulvia declares War against him because he could not have a passion for her and assist her in revenging the infidelities of her Husband These Ladies and all their Family appeared in mourning Robes before the People and moved their Compassion Piso took this occasion to try once more what could be done in favour of Antonius but the Eloquence of Cicero dazled their minds and the Decree of the Senate was confirmed the charge of drawing it up was given to Cicero which he performed in much severer terms than had been resolved upon the terms of the Arrest were That Antonius should immediately raise his siege from before Modena and that he should quit the whole Province of Gall which reaches from the Alps as far as the Rubicon with a citation before the Senate in case of Disobedience to give an account of his Actions About this time news was come to Rome of the death of Trebonius whose Body was brought thither by his Friends and who was the first of Caesar's Murtherers that was punished for his Crime To understand the manner of it we must recollect that Dolabella departing with great diligence for his Government of Syria found that Countrey in commotion by the intrigues of Trebonius whom Brutus had sent thither as his Lieutenant and when he would have entred into Pergama and Smyrna the Gates were shut against him Nevertheless Trebonius neglected not to send Provisions to him as to a Consul and sent word to those of Ephesus that they should receive him Dolabella who had raised Troops by virtue of his Office and was still highly respected took his way towards Ephesus Trebonius sending out some Companies after him to observe his march the Consul went so directly towards Ephesus that it took off all manner of suspicion so that a great many of the Men returned again to Smyrna leaving onely a small number merely for form sake Then Dolabella turning upon those who remained cut them all in pieces and coming back briskly to Smyrna took it by assault The Souldiers found Trebonius aâ—ed who desired them To carry him to Dolabella We will carry you said the Commander but your Head must stay here so he cut it off immediately and the body was dragged up and down by the Souldiers with all manner of Indignity for though he had not himself assaulted Iulius Caesar he was one of the Conspiratours and was the Man that while the Deed was doing amused Antonius at the door of the Senate House so they shewed their hatred to him by a thousand Affronts which they did him Dolabella caused the Head to be fixt upon the Tribunal where he gave Audience and whence the Souldiers took it away again trundling of it up and down a long time upon the pavement The Body was taken up by his Friends and carried as I said before to Rome where the Senate according to that folly which they now shewed in every thing they undertook declared Dolabella a Rebel and an Enemy of his Countrey With the same madness they made an Order That Brutus should have the Government of Macedonia and Illyria and Command the Armies of those Provinces till such time as the Commonwealth recovered its ancient Majesty That he might make use of the Fleet which Apuleius had got together and the sum of seven thousand Talents which Julius Caesar had sent into the City of Demetriades with abundance of Ammunitions of War for the attacking of the Parthians To Cassius was given Syria and the charge of making War against Dolabella and an Ordinance passed That all such as had Command of any Provinces or Armies belonging to the Roman People should receive Orders from those two Generals CHAP. XIX Antonius's Letter to Hirtius and young Caesar. ANTONIVS resolved to take this occasion
to shake the minds of Hirtius and young Caesar who could not be very well pleased with these demonstrations of good will towards the Murtherers of his Father therefore though the Letter be something long in regard it will be for our Instruction in the affairs of that Age and that in the consequence it had its design'd effect it will not be improper here to recite the Original which was in these terms Antonius to Hirtius and Caesar. I Have not been more pleased at the news of Trebonius's death than grieved to understand how it has been received at Rome We ought to rejoyce to see a Villain justly sacrificed to the ashes of the most Illustrious of Men and that e'er a year came to an end the justice of the Gods having declared it self by the punishment of one of the Paricides seems to threaten the rest But on the other side it is matter of affliction to see Dolabella declared a Rebel for having punished and Assassinate and that the Son of one of her meanest Men should be more dear to Rome than the Father of his Countrey and which is yet more terrible is that you Hirtius who have been honoured with benefits from Caesar he having left you in a state of Fortune which you your self wonder at and that you young Man who owe all you enjoy to his name could ever agree with those who thought it Iustice to Condemn Dolabella and that one who is a Prisoner ought to escape from those who now besiege him and that an absolute power should be given to Cassius and Brutus Doubtless you look upon these things with the same Spirit that you saw what passed before you have given the name of Senate to the rest of Pompey's Camp and have put Cicero at the head of you though he be reduced to nothing You have fortified Macedonia with a powerfull Army and given Africa to Varus who has been twice a Prisoner Cassius hath been sent into Syria and you have suffered that Casca should take upon him the Dignity of Tribune That the Revenues which Caesar gave the Luperci should be taken from them and that the Veterans should be drawn out of their Colonies where the Law and the Order of the Senate has established them A promise has passed and by your consent too that the People of Marseilles should be restored to those Privileges which the Laws of War had taken from them The intent of the Hirtian Law is utterly forgotten which prohibits Pompey's Party from pretending to any Honours Brutus is suborned by the Money of Apuleius and the punishment inflicted on Poetus and Menedemus who had been honoured with City Freedoms and were Caesar's Hosts has been approved of yet Theopompus is neglected who was driven out naked by Trebonius and forced to fly to Alexandria while you have entertained Sergius Galba in your Camp armed with the same Dagger wherewith be committed a most execrable Paracide In short you force my Souldiers and the Veterans to the destruction of their Generals and their Comerades after having drawn them together under a pretence of pursuing the murtherers of Caesar. By this means you have approved of nothing you have done nothing but what Pompey himself were he alive again would doe or his Son if he had any power in Rome It is reported that no Peace can be concluded if I let not Brutus go or if I furnish him not with Provisions but is this the Opinion of those old Souldiers whose minds and judgments have not been debauched corrupted with Flatteries and poisoned with Bribes like yours You will say that you marched to the relief of their Companions whom I hold besieged I shall give them pardon and liberty with all my heart provided that they leave him to Iustice who so well deserves it As to the rest you sent me word that a Peace has been mentioned in the Senate and that five Consulary Deputies have been sent to me upon that design But it is hard to expect any Iustice and Moderation from those Men who so fiercely rejected the fair Conditions which I offered and even some whereof I was willing to have abated Nor is it reasonable to believe that those Men who have Condemned Dolabella for doing well will ever pardon me for being of the same Opinion with him I therefore leave it to your Wisedom to examine whether it will be more Honour and advantage to our Party to revenge the death of Trebonius or the death of Caesar And whether it will be more just that we go together by the Ears to set Pompey's interest on foot again which has been so often defeated or to rally our selves to prevent our ill treatment from those Enemies who onely wait their advantage when some misfortune shall arrive to any one of us Our good Chance hitherto has provided otherwise that two Parties of the same interest should not cruelly tear each other to pieces by Cicero's Orders who thinks himself very happy in deceiving you by those false demonstrations of Honour wherewith he boasts that he has imposed upon Caesar. For my part I will never suffer any outrage either against my self or my Friends this is my resolution I will never abandon the Party that Pompey hates nor shall the Veterans ever by my consent be rooted out of their possessions and then betrayed one after another to their execution Nor will i ever break the word which I have given to Dolabella nor the Alliance which I have made with so honourable a man as Lepidus as well as what I owe to Plancus to whom communicate all my designs if as I hope they will the immortal Gods prove favourable to my just intentions I shall live with joy But if they have appointed me another Destiny I shall but taste before hand the pleasure of your punishments for if Pompey's Party be thus insolent under their defeat I shall leave you to make the sad experiment of what they will come too when they are Victorious As for you I could willingly bear with the injuries of my Friends if they themselves would but forget them and agree with me to revenge the murther of Caesar. It will never prevail upon my belief that Deputies should come with Peace from the same place whence War is thundring if they do come I am ready to hear what they have to propose CHAP. XX. The Consuls raise Troops for the relief of Decimus which was but one Legion The manner of laying sieges in those times Ventidius raises Troops for Antonius IF this Letter had not much effect upon Hirtius it caused great reflexions in the mind of young Caesar. For what the Senate had hitherto done might reasonably be excused the Ambition of Antonius and the safety of the Conspiratours were some sort of pretence for them but when he found that they promoted their Commanders to the highest Power and that they prosecuted all such as were for revenging the death of his Father he saw clearly what their designs were
ill The death of Pansa His dying words to Caesar. DECIMVS was at Macedonia and in great disputes with himself in what manner he ought to proceed with Caesar but as he knew how irreconcilable a hatred he had reason to expect from him he thought it his best way to break down all the Bridges that were upon the River and after that precaution he sent a Herald to Caesar who in the name of Decimus Gave him thanks for the liberty which he owed to his relief and taking all the Romans to Witness protested that it was onely by mere hazard that Decimus had been ingaged in the unhappy Conspiracy At last he begged of him That he would allow of a free interview the River being between them Caesar received this discourse very surlily and made answer That Decimus owed him no obligation that he came not thither by any means for his relief but to fight with Antonius who nevertheless might one day come to be his Friend but that Decimus should ever be his mortal Enemy and that he would neither speak with him nor see him Therefore says he let him go wherever he has a mind to go since those who are at Rome will have it for Decimus who was near the River understood this answer And beâ—ought Caesar that he would onely for the Letters of the Senate which confirmed him in the Government of Gall and forbad him admittance into the Province Caesar though offended with his insolence did not think it seasonable at this time to resent it though he might easily have done it so he returned to Bulloigne to see Pansa who lay there wounded they wrote both to the Senate and at the instance of Cicero there were ordered 50 days of publick Devotions and Thanksgivings which had never been done for any other Victory before The promise also of 500 Drachma's to the Legions was confirmed with a farther Provision that it should be paid to the Widows or Heirs of those who died in Battel Pansa died of his wounds some few days afterwards whose death occasioned some suspicion of Caesar at least the Physician he made use of one whose name was Glyco was put into Prison and accused for having poysoned the wound but Brutus answered for the Honesty of the Physician and wrote in his behalf to Cicero yet still Caesar's Enemies spread the suspicions abroad as also that he had slain Hirtius in the heat of the Battel But Pansa himself was so well persuaded to the contrary that he desired to see him before his death and thus spoke to him I loved your Father more than my self and when he was slain in the Senate I would have hazarded my own life to have saved his had I been furnished with Arms. I would doe his Memory Iustice in doing you some Service which my misfortune hinders me from on this occasion which should be by advertising you of what designs the Senate have against you for it is nothing but the fear of your Troops which forces those People to caress you and they had never allowed you those Honours you are at present possessed of but to fire you more to the destruction of Antonius Their business is to dash you to pieces one against the other by that means to re-establish Pompey's Paâ—tâ— is being the thing which they most pressingly recommended to Hirtius and me but the Friendship wherewith Caesar once honoured me obliges me to give you such Counsel as I my self would take upon the same occasion unite your self with Antonius for it is the onely way to preserve your life and advance your Fortune I could not with Honour have given you this advice sooner because it would have betrayed the Trust which they reposed in me but at present since Antonius is ouerthrown Hirtius dead and I just following him I think my self discharged of my Oath and therefore may acquit my self of what I owe to the memory of Caesar. I surrender you your Troops and would also restore you those which the Senate gave me did I not fear it might cause their aversion towards you for the Commanders are but so many private Spies upon our Conduct so I would have you consent that they may be put into the hands of Torquatus He died about a quarter of an hour afterwards having given his Troops to Torquatus who by orders from the Senate carried them to Decimus and Caesar sent the Bodies of the two Consuls to Rome with great Magnificence CHAP. XXIV Cassius in Syria He raises great Forces The Conduct of Cleopatra Brutus defeats Antonius's Brother and takes him Prisoner IN this manner the Senate endeavoured by all sort of ways to re-establish their Authority and the news which came from the East gave them very great hopes of it Cassius arriving in Syria found the Legions in that Province revolted by reason of the death of Sextus who was a young Man and a Kinsman of Iulius Caesar who had left him there upon Honour to Command a Legion whereof Cacilius Bassus was Tribune or Colonel This young Man lived very disorderly and when Bassus advised him to reform his Conduct he used him ill so that the Souldiers provoked to see their Colonel affronted fell to Mutiny and in the Tumult Sextus was slain They well knew that Caesar who was then alive would not forgive them that fault so they desperately resolved to stand by what they had done and debauched also another Legion into their Crime Caesar sent orders to Marcus to reduce them to their Obedience with three Legions which he Commanded but the Mutineers got the better of him so far that he was forced to demand the assistence of Crispus who had three other Legions in Bithynia they had besieged Bassus who defended himself very well when after the death of Caesar Cassius with the Senates orders arrived in the Province The Mutineers were transported with this occasion so they declared immediately for the Senate and Cassius managed it so well that he brought over Marcus and Crispus also into his Interest by that means re-uniting all those Troops under his own Command He had also notice that Alienus was in Palestine with four Legions that Cleopatra had raised and which she had put into Alienus's hands by the Command of Dolabella Cleopatra reigned then in Aegypt by the Authority of Caesar who loved her and had placed her upon the Throne after the death of her Brother and it was in acknowledgment of those favours that she had raised these Troops to offer him their service when he should march against the Parthians The death of this great Man had altered those thoughts to others of Revenge so understanding that Dolabella was in Syria and that he had declared himself against Caesar's Murtherers by the death of Trâ—bonius she sent him those Legions under the Command of Alienus Cassius with his Army marched against him which forced Alienus finding he was not strong enough to give him Battel with the four Legions to go over to his
he had a design of joining himself with Decimus but it was indeed to make choice of his Party according as Fortune should declare her self By this means Antonius was at the head of 23 Legions and above ten thousand Horse he left six Legions on the other side of the Alps under the Command of one of his drinking Companions called Varius but in railery sirnamed Cotyllo that word signifying a Flagon and returned over the Mountains with 17 Legions and all his Cavalry CHAP. XXVII Caesar pursues the Consulship He speaks to his Souldiers He marches towards Rome The fright the Senate were in NOW to make the best use of that amazement which this success of Antonius had brought into Rome Caesar resolved once more to set his design on foot of pursuing the Consulship The Senate had changed their method they had declared Caesar General with Decimus to make War against Antonius but at the same time had offended him by a foolish way of proceeding in sending ten Commissaries to carry the Money which had been promised to the two Legions without naming himself for that employment These Commissaries had private orders to endeavour to corrupt the Souldiers of the two Legions and to persuade them to go and join Decimus where it was told them their Money should be ready but Caesar took care they should be so well lookt after that they could get no opportunity of speaking to the Souldiers and when he let them understand how well he was informed of their design they were so afraid that they returned to Rome without ever so much as distributing the money Caesar took this occasion to convince his Souldiers That what the Senate aimed at was onely the destruction of his Father's Party by the divisions they indeavoured to sow amongst them so he unravelled all the secret of that Policy which had caused so many waverings between him and Antonius He made them take notice how they indeavoured to raise jealousie amongst his Troops by that distinction of Recompences and after all the last attempt which they had made towards the weakning of Caesar's Ordinances What security said he can ye pretend to have now for those Houses those Inheritances and those Goods which my Father allotted you Do ye not believe also that my life must be in danger amongst the Relations and Friends of those who cruelâ—y murthered him But it is not the care of that which most nearly touches me I would give it up with chearfulness if that Sacrifice would secure the safety of so many Men of consideration as have followed my interests ye know that I am not Ambitious and ye have seen me too refuse those marâ—s of Honour which ye have offered me but I desire some of you at present in consideration of your selves the onely way to preserve your Lives and Fortunes must be the making of me Consul by your Votes after that we will make it our business to secure you in the possession of those Goods which my Father left you We will revenge his death and shall be in a better condition for the distribution of Rewards The Souldiers received this Proposition with a great deal of Joy and immediately named Deputies to go and make their demand to the Senate who returned no favourable answer excusing themselves in regard of Caesar's Youth But the Deputies being well instructed alledged Corvinus the two Scipio's Pompey and Dolabella who had all obtained that Magistracy before they came to Age and that Caesar himself had a dispensation from the Senate They spoke these things with a certain Souldier-like Liberty which was not very agreeable to the Senatours who interrupted them with crying out against it when a certain Captain called Cornelius who was the first of the Deputies laying his Hand upon his Sword said If ye will not give it him here 's that shall After these words he left the Senate and returned to give Caesar an account of the ill success of his Deputation The Souldiers provoked by their refusal cryed out That they desired to be lead to Rome and that Caesar as Heir to his Father had sufficient Authority to make whom he pleased Consuls He took care this heat of theirs should not grow cold again so he marched towards Rome with eight Legions and passed the Rubicon as his Father had done before he divided his Army into two Bodies the briskest whereof he took with him that he might surprize his Enemies by his diligence leaving orders with the rest to come and join him by small marches and understanding that the Senate had deputed new Commissaries with the Money he sent out a party of Souldiers before to meet them which so terrified them that they immediately returned to Rome CHAP. XXVIII The Senates want of resolution Caesar enters into the City He treats Cicero ill and is declared Consul with Pedius NOW there was nothing but disorder to be found in the City and as it usually happened upon the like occasions every Senatour was for laying the blame of their ill Conduct upon his Neighbour but that was now to little purpose for some resolution must be taken so it was concluded That one half of the Money which the Senate had promised to the two Legions should be sent them together with a farther promise of as much more to the others That Caesar onely should have the care of the distribution of this Money and be permitted to demand the Consulship though he were not himself there present So Deputies were sent to acquaint him with these Resolutions but the very moment after they appeared again too mean as well as too rash Some foolish remainders of that fierceness which was natural to those ancient Romans made them ashamed to yield thus to the proceedings of a young Man and the insolence of the Souldiery By chance too at the same time two Legions who came from Libya arrived at the Gates of the City they were received as a Succour sent thither from the Gods and it was resolved with these Troops and the Legion that Pansa had sent back to the Senate joined with such as were fit to bear Arms within the Walls to defend the City So Pretors were appointed to Command them and great hopes there seemed to be that these marks of their Courage and Resolution might astonish Caesar. His Mother and his Sisters were in the City but when the Senate caused them to be sought for to secure them as Hostages they were not to be found which was an instance that Caesar had still some faithfull Friends there the danger that those Persons who were so dear to him were in had made him to redouble his diligence so he sent his Cavalry with all the haste they could make to seize upon the Gates and assure the People of his good Intentions himself following close at their Heels with his Legions the sight whereof soon moderated the Zeal of those Men who appeared so hot for the defence of their Countrey so without any
resistence they seized upon the Quirinal Mountain where Caesar's Friends and the most Illustrious of the Senatours came to salute him The People mingled themselves amongst the Souldiers bringing them refreshments and the next day Caesar attended by some of the best of his Men for the guard of his Person made his entrance into the City where he was every where received with the joyfull Acclamations of the People and met by his Mother and Sisters who had been retreated amongst the Vestals His Mother was called Actia the Daughter of Actius Balbus and Iulia the Sister of Iulius Caesar and his Sisters all bore the name of Octavia the youngest whereof afterwards Married Antonius though she proved unfortunate in the Match by reason of the madness wherewith Cleopatra had bewitched that Man though Octavia had much the advantage of her both in Beauty and Wisedom which made her esteemed for one of the most Vertuous Ladies of her time The three Legions that were in the City sent also to offer their service to Caesar who received them with the Pretors that Commanded them all except Cornutus who slew himself with his own hands Cicero was one of the last in paying him his Devoirs and Caesar after some sharp railery told him That he was the last of his Enemies who had visited him It had been reported to Caesar how Cicero should say in the Senate That the young man ought to be praised honoured and advanced The last word bearing in the Latine a double Interpretation for Tollere signifies as well to take away ones life so that the equivocation seemed something remarkable The next night several Persons spread about a report that the Martial and third Legions would take Party with the Senate who had no more Wit but to believe it and sent a Pretor whose Name was Acilius Crassus into the March of Ancona to raise Forces The Senatours Assembled themselves and Cicero offended at Caesar's railery was one of the first who came to the place receiving the others as they entred with a great deal of Joy But day appearing soon convinced them of their Errour and Cicero fled out of the City It would be hard to believe that such prudent and discerning Men as were then in the Senate should be so fickle were we not convinced by a thousand experiences that great Interests as well as violent Passions will disorder the most solid Judgments Caesar made himself very merry with this accident but caused his Troops to approach as far as the Field of Mars and to persuade a good Opinion of his moderation he forgave Crassus who came to seek him and ask his Pardon After which he caused the publick Money which was kept at Ianiculum to be brought whereof he paid 2500 Drachma's to every Souldier and promised satisfaction for what was behind so they proceeded to the Election of Consuls and Caesar to leave the People in appearance the liberty of their Votes went out of the City and was declared Consul with Pedius who had granted him his part of what his Uncle had left them he immediately came back again so soon as he understood he was chosen and it is said That as he was sacrificing according to Custome there were seen twelve Vultures being the same number which appeared to Romulus the Founder of Rome His first publick act was the Declaration which he made to the People of Caesar's having adopted him according to the intention of the Law in that Case so the Adoption was confirmed and his Fathers â—â—eed-men many whereof were in possession of great Estates according to Custome acknowledged him for their Patron and afterwards did him very considerable service both in their Persons and their Fortunes CHAP. XXIX Caesar causes Brutus and Cassius to be Condemned with all those who had murthered his Vncle. Antonius pursues Decimus who is at last slain AS all the thoughts of young Caesar were intent upon revenging the death of his Father he no sooner saw the Sovereign Authority in his hands but he set himself seriously to work about the business so causing the Arrest which the Senate had sent out against Dolabella to be cancelled Brutus and Cassius were accused of Treason and Murther by Cornificius and Agrippa and the other Accomplices by others of Caesar's Friends the Accused were all Condemned for Contumacy and it is said that when as the Custome was Brutus was cited to appear many could not forbear from weeping and a Senatour named Sicilius had the boldness to declare That Brutus was innocent and valued himself upon the matter Caesar took that opportunity to make yet his moderation more remarkable in pardoning of him for the present but found a way afterwards to be revenged of him in the Proscription of the Triumvirate Quintus Gallius the Brother of a Pretor was afterwards accused for that at the solicitations of Antonius he had Conspired against Caesar the People plundered the House of the Pretor who was not then at Rome and the Senate Condemned Quintus to death Caesar onely ordered him to go and find out his Brother but he disappeared in his Journey and was no more heard of In the mean time news was brought that Brutus who was in Macedonia had published That he would come and appear to Iustice at the head of twenty Legions Caesar who did not desire he should be so well accompanied was resolved to spare him one half of the Journey The Senate had given him the charge of making War against Antonius and Lepidus he went from Rome upon this expedition with great preparation and very good Troops leaving Pedius his Collegue in the City who as of his own proper motion proposed to the Senate That all seeds of Division might be rooted out by Cancelling whatsoever had been ordered against Antonius and Lepidus This Proposition was by no means very agreeable but the Authority of those who made it rendred it necessary so the Senate wrote to Caesar for his Opinion of the matter who as if with some violence upon himself and being forced by his Souldiers at last consented to it In acknowledgment of this good turn Antonius sent him word that he would go and find out Decimus whose Person was very odious to all Caesar's Friends and Plancus and Pollio in consideration of Caesar joined Antonius's Army with six Legions Decimus had ten under his Command but the four best of them who consisted of old Souldiers were in a very ill condition by reason of the sickness and other Fatigues which they had suffered in Modena the six others were new Men without any experience so that he durst not stay for Antonius with those Forces but laid a design of retreating into Macedonia by the way of Ravenna and the Adriatick Gulph but Caesar opposed him there with his Troops so that Decimus was reduced to a necessity of thinking how he might pass the Rhine and make his retreat good through Germany The fatigues and dangers of this Voyage so ill
disgraces as Providence sends upon us was a horrible attempt against the power of Heaven and wicked in the eyes of men but that he had now altered his opinion since being no longer Master of one life which he had sacrificed to his Countrey upon the Ides of March he was resolved to change it for a happier if Fortune proved his Enemy Cassius imbraced him and smiling told him Now we may go on upon the Enemy for either we will be Conquerours our selves or we will have no cause to fear those that are so This was doubtless a sure method for the preventing any farther fear but it is very apparent by this discourse that for this resolution they were more beholding to their frailty than to that greatness of Soul whereon they so much valued themselves for it was neither this Opinion nor Caesar's death that deserves those Heroick Titles which Cicero in his Epistles hath given them They afterwards appointed their order of Battel Brutus had the right Wing with Messala and Cassius the left The Triumviri's Army was already drawn up Antonius onely Commanded because Caesar was sick whose Troops had the left Wing and Antonius's the right At last about Noon he marched against Cassius with the party that he headed The inequality of the ground forced his Legions upon such a motion that Brutus's Troops believed they were coming against them so that without expecting the Word or the Commands of their General they advanced to receive them Antonius avoided the ingaging by a motion which he made to the right to go â—â—ainst Cassius He lost some Souldiers there and must have been fallen upon in the flank if Caesar's Army had not advanced Brutus's Souldiers marched without order but with so much heat that at the first onset they overthrew all that opposed them Messala followed by three Legions pushed even into Caesar's Camp who had just left it and was retreated very sick to Antonius's They found his Litter which they pierced several times through and through so that a report began to be spread about that he was slain He has since written That one of his Friends called Artorius persuaded him to this retreat upon the occasion of a dream The slaughter was great in Caesar's Camp and there fell in it 2000 Lacedemonians who fought on his side Three of his Legions were also cut to pieces upon the spot and Brutus must have obtained an intire Victory could he possibly have governed the fury of his Souldiers who would needs engage themselves too far Antonius knew well how to make his advantage of this Errour and without changing went directly upon Cassius who expected him in Battalia upon the advanced ground the Combat was very rough and after several takings and re-takings of each other they fell together Pell-mell with their Swords in their hands In the mean time a Party of Antonius's Souldiers opened a passage through the Lines at the bottom of the Marsh and when they came up charging Cassius's Troops upon the flank overthrew them with great slaughter Antonius Commanded four Legions to pursue the Victory over the Marsh hastening the others to Cassius's Camp which was very ill guarded by reason that all the Souldiers were come forth to the Battel he soon made himself Master of it which raised so great a consternation in the rest of the Army that they immediately dispersed themselves Cassius did upon this occasion all that could be expected from a man of Courage he returned several times to the charge and took himself the Eagle out of an Ensigns hand who was running away and held it a long time before him but he forgot the duty of a General when he so long tamely expected Antonius whom he ought to have charged at the same time that Brutus went on At last his Guards forsaking him he was forced to retreat up to an advanced ground near the City of Philippi He had lost eight thousand Men reckoning the Sutlers that were killed in his Camp But there were once as many slain on Caesar's side from whom there were taken three Eagles and several other Colours by which Brutus believing he had gotten an intire Victory led back his Troops loaden with pillage to his Camp when observing that in Cassius's Camp the Tents were thrown down and perceiving by the number and the Arms of those Souldiers who were within that they were Enemies he immediately detached a body of Cavalry to hasten to the relief of his Friend though by misfortune that relief did but add speed to his ruine Cassius was short sighted and besides the dust which the fight had raised all over the Field hindred him from distinguishing Brutus's Troops Nevertheless he saw confusedly some Cavalry marching and sent Titinius one of his Friends to discover what they were He was received with great cries of joy by Brutus's Cavalry who embracing him asked him What news of his General Cassius perceiving this from the place where he was and believing that those men who ran to embrace Titinius had taken him Prisoner Alas said he to preserve the remainder of a miserable life I have exposed my best friend to be taken At these words he went into a Tent with the Gentleman of his Horse whose name was Pindarus we have no very good account of what passed there but Cassius was found dead of a wound in his Neck and Pindarus never appeared afterwards Titinius arrived within a moment with the Cavalry and all rejoycing but their joy was soon turned into a sad affliction and Titinius after having accused himself of folly and laziness slew himself upon the body of his Friend CHAP. L. Brutus's Melancholy His Fleet defeats that of Caesar and Antonius and Brutus knows not of it He speaks to his Troops to confirm them BRVTVS was extremely sorrowfull for the death of his Companion whom he called the last of the Romans and causing his body privately to be removed sent it to Thasos to pay him the last Offices of Funeral In the mean time he told his Friends That he thought him very happy in that he was now beyond the reach of those misfortunes which remained yet for them to suffer In effect his death utterly discomposed the whole affairs of the Conspiratours and it will not be improper to say that Cassius killed himself in despight of his good Fortune Several have reported that he knew of Brutus's Victory and that the same day whereon they fought at Philippi they overthrew Caesar's Fleet which was carrying Provisions to the Triumviri together with a strong relief consisting of two Legions and Caesar's Company of Guards Marcus and Domitius had performed this good service against another Domitius sirnamed Calvinus who in this fight either by the Sword or by fire lost the best of his Souldiers and almost all his Ships This defeat must have ruined the Triumviri beyond all hopes of recovery had Brutus but been informed of it but the negligence or malice of some of his Officers hindred
laying waste whole Towns Caesar in the mean time was the object of their complaints and loaded with their curses and on the other hand he found himself hemmed in by powerfull Enemies for on one side Pompey hindered the importation of Provisions into the Ports of Italy on the other side Domitius and Murcus were Masters of the Sea with their Fleets 'T was in these circumstances doubtless that he found he had need to use all the prudence and address he was master of He therefore exempted from the distribution the Lands of the Senatours and the Dowries of Widows as likewise those Lands that could not maintain such a certain number of Souldiers but then to content the Souldiery to whom these exemptions were not at all pleasing he granted that the next kindred of those that were slain in the last Battels should have their share in the distribution Thus he was forced to manage them by all the ways of gentleness he could for the vigorous and bold actions of his Father Iulius were now impracticable The Troops were now sensible of the absolute necessity there was of them and for that reason were obedient neither to their Superiours nor their Discipline but as they themselves pleased so that Caesar was cautious how he dealt with them in so dangerous a conjuncture especially after what had hapned to him upon this occasion He had appointed a day of Rendezvouz to his Souldiers in the field of Mars that there he might proceed to the distribution of the Lands They there met before day and finding he came not soon enough among them they began to grow mutinous and talk very scurrilously against him upon this Nonius one of the Tribunes ventured to remonstrate to them their impatience and the indecency of their carriage but his speeches were streight laught at and from jeers they soon came to injuries and blows The Tribune was forced to fly for it and seeing no other means to escape he threw himself into the Tiber and was there drowned The Mutineers drew out his Body and exposed it in the way by which Caesar was to pass to the Field of Mars to instruct him what he was to trust to by this fatal example His Friends gave him notice of this disorder and counselled him to avoid it he would not however follow their advice telling them his absence would encourage and carry them on to greater insolencies He therefore went to them and seeing the Body of Nonius laid out he onely turned a little on one side Being come into the midst of the assembly he seemed to believe that this piece of Cruelty proceeded onely from some of Nonius's particular Enemies exhorting the Souldiers not to carry on their hatred and revenge so far another time then without mentioning it any more he passed to the distributing the Lands and the marks of honour that were due to those that had signalized themselves in any action Some that had not deserved any presented themselves he though he knew them well enough did not refuse them but accepted them without the least sign of displeasure The Souldiers by these testimonies of prudence and bounty in their General were touched with so much shame and repentance that they required the authours of Nonius's murther might be punished he answered that they would be punished enough by the reproaches of their Conscience and by the remorse that would follow so ill an action This Answer of his quite gained their hearts so that all their fury was turned into praises and acclamations of joy In this place we must not forget two important reflexions of Appian upon the causes of the insolence of the Souldiery because they sufficiently mark the wisedom and penetration of that Historian He says that as in those times the Praetors and other Officers that commanded the Troops were not created by the suffrages of the People according as the Laws required so their authority had no longer that awfull respect which the Laws usually stamped upon it and that besides the Souldiers were not present at assemblies to offer their service to their Countrey but to him that promised them most for their assistence not against Enemies and Strangers but their own Fellow-Citizens so that they did not look upon themselves as Souldiers bound to the Republick by Oaths and Laws but as Friends who out of a mutual affection assisted their Friends upon occasion seeing even their Generals who employed them for their own particular interest considered them onely as such The other reflexion is that Deserters being heretofore by the Roman Laws punished with death without any hope of pardon they now instead of that were well paid and rewarded with honours for their deserting and seeing on all sides the same Ensigns the same Language and the same Discipline and every one of the Generals pretending to be authorised by the Laws and to fight in behalf of the Commonwealth they did not imagine they betrayed their Party what side soever they took and under this pretext passed from one Camp to another without any scruple at all that this ill princip and disorder was the cause why whole Armies sometimes forsook their Commander in chief this baseness being countenanced by the example of most remarkable Men of either party so that it was no longer the Laws that kept Men in the service but the hopes of interest and profit which falling short of their expectation was the cause that carried them on to such insolencies and was the original of so many Mutinies and Seditions CHAP. V. Misunderstandings between Caesar Fulvia and Lucius They come to open War The Negligence of Pompey ROME was not at all exempted from those ills that afflicted the rest of Italy Provisions were extreme dear by reason Pompey stopped all the passages by Sea from abroad and at home the Troops consumed all the increase of the Land Besides this they dayly committed a thousand insolences in the City so that all Trading ceased and the Artizans durst no longer open their Shops Lucius seemed to be very much grieved at these disorders and detested the Triumvirate as the source of all these miseries Caesar on his part used all the means he could to assist or at least to pacifie the poor Countrey People that were driven from their Possessions He heard their complaints and promised to doe them justice which incensed the Souldiers that were Anthony's being yet more stirred up to it by the artifices of Fulvia Caesar openly complained of this Woman declaring that she wholly acted against the interest and true sentiments of her Husband but she hearkned to no Body but Manius who persuaded her that nothing but a War could force Anthony from Cleopatra 's Armes and bring him into Italy As for Lucius he had no other sentiments but what were influenced by these two Caesar having left Rome Lucius would have gone with him and carried Anthony's Children but understanding Caesar had sent some Horse into Abruzzo to hinder the landing of Pompey's Troops
he made as if they were sent against him and so retired himself unto the Lands of Anthony where he assembled the Souldiers publishing that Caesar hated his Brother and designed to ruine him He on the contrary declared that he was bound to Anthony both by the obligations of interest and friendship and that Lucius onely practised this means to dissolve the authority of the Triumvirate which was the onely engagement for the Souldiers recompences Their Officers then assembled and agreed upon certain Articles which were never executed onely Salvidienus Lieutenant of Caesar passed the Alps for Spain without any hindrance from Asinius Pollio who commanded for Anthony in Gallia Narbonensis In the mean time Fulvia and Lucius were retired to Preneste for fear said they of Caesar and his ambition which they made out by the example of Lepidus who had not the least authority in Rome The Officers of the Veterans went to Rome where they inspected the Treaty and Articles that were made between Anthony and Caesar and after they had perused them they engaged themselves by oath to judge impartially the differences of their Generals according to reason and equity and to that end sent Deputies to Lucius He then was moved by their remonstrances but Manius represented the face of things otherwise that whilst Anthony was labouring to get Money for the Souldiers Caesar dealt under-hand with them for his own private interest That he had set Gaul at liberty which was part of Anthony's Government that he had overrun all Italy with his Souldiers although there were but eighteen Towns destined for them that instead of twenty eight Legions who were to be rewarded there were thirty four that appeared with their pretensions that he had sacked and ravaged even the very Temples of the Gods to give them the riches of them and all under pretence of marching against Pompey which as affairs stood now was impossible for what of Provision and Ammunition but that his real purpose was by this profusion to engage them to his side against Anthony It was to this intent too that he sold every thing that belonged to the Triumvirs in common so cheap that indeed he rather gave than sold and therefore if he was desirous of Peace he ought to give an account of what had passed through his hands and for the future to act jointly with them since they had regard onely to the publick good These accusations and complaints of theirs were absolutely against one article of the Edict of the Triumviraâ—e which in express terms mentioned that what one of the Triumvirs ordained should be consumed by the other two Caesar was too wise to let this pass without insisting upon it taking his measures accordingly for the War which he plainly foresaw As all the actions of great Men are exposed to the reasonings and censures of the Politicians several of them have imagined that this War was onely an effect of his cunning that he might force his secret Enemies to declare themselves and so by the confiscation of their Estates make a fond for the payment of his Souldiers Part of Anthony's two Legions who were at Ancona troubled at these Divisions deputed to him some of their Officers to propose an agreement between them and put an end to these Factions Caesar gave them a gratious hearing and assured them that he both honoured and loved Anthony and that he would never part interests nor alliance but that Lucius had not the same sentiments for him These Deputies then manifested to Lucius this Declaration of Caesar's and plainly told him that if he were not contented to acquiesce in the judgment of those equitable and uninterested Persons who should be chosen by the two Armies they then knew well which side they ought to take Lucius was very sensible of these last expressions and agreed to a Conference with Caesar and to this end made choice of the Town of Gabii between Rome and Preneste There then were placed two Tribunals for the Generals who were in Person to lay down their Reasons and seats for the Judges Caesar came thither first and sent out a Party of Horse on that side that Lucius was to come who also had done the same these two Detachments met and charged each other so that on Lucius's side some Cavaliers were killed who upon this was so frighted that he could never after be persuaded to go any farther Perhaps Caesar knowing his weakness had given such an express command to engage that so he might break off the Conference Whatever the matter was Lucius came not whereupon the Judges gave it against him and engaged themselves to serve Caesar against him This first act of hostility was taken as a Declaration of War which began by very sharp Letters Caesar and Lucius sent each other Lucius had under his command six Legions during his Consulship and eleven others of Anthony's commanded by Calenus Caesar had four at Capua with some others about his Persâ—n and six that Salvidienus brought him so that their Forces were near upon equal Lucius drew Money from those Nations to whom Anthony had granted freedom and Caesar from the Provinces that fell to his share excepting Sardignia besides what he took by way of Loan out of the Temples where the publick Treasuries were kept as at Rome in the Capitol and in the Towns of Aneona Livininm Nismes and Tibur The other Provinces were not able to give him any assistence for Pompey assisted by all the banished Persons who hated the Triumvirate had laid them waste and if he had rightly understood his interest and known how to manage to his own advantage the affection the People had for his Father's memory he by these Divisions might very easily have made himself Master of all Italy for Murcus was come up to him with two Legions twenty four Ships and abundance of Treasure he had besides receiv'd a considerable re-inforcement from Cephalonia and his Forces did dayly encrease by addition of Fugitives that fled to him for refuge but withall he had this misfortune that he had never a faithfull Friend to animate and push on his irresolute and changeable Temper by vigorous daring Counsels He was contented to be upon the defensive onely and calmly see his Enemies dispute an Empire to which he had onely pretensions sufficient to make both Parties when united fall upon him with their joint Forces CHAP. VI. Fagius Lieutenant of Caesar is overthrown in Africa by Anthony's Lieutenant Caesar and Lucius make preparations of War against each other SExtius General of the Horse to Anthony governed in Africa and in persuance of the Triumvirate agreement had very frankly given up his Forces and Province to Fagius Lieutenant General to Caesar Assoon as he understood by Letters from Lucius that Fulvia and all Anthony's Friends were fallen out with Caesar and that this difference was likely to end in an open War he believed that Fagius would deliver him his Troops again with the same justice
replies and sometimes blows 'T was on these occasions that Cleopatra shewed all her Gayety and Wit whether it were in maintaining or retorting Raillery or in telling the story of such Adventures with an unparallel'd grace these ways however were very odious and disgustfull to the graver and soberer sort of People But the Egyptians who in general have a great deal of Wit were not at all displeased with this familiar Carriage of theirs and said pleasantly that Anthony shewed them his Comical Countenance and kept a Tragical one for the Romans The Queen had besides invented a Society they called the Inimitable life and those who made the most sumptuous Entertainments carried away the Prize The expence of these Treats were excessive as appears by these two examples A Greek Physician Friend to Anthony's Clerk of the Kitchin came one day where the Meat was dressing and among abundance of other provisions he saw eight whole wild Boars a-roasting he imagined that these were making ready for a great number of Guests and asking his Friend he told him smiling that there were to be but twelve at this Feast but that the exact hour being uncertain and the Meat to be served at a punctual nick of time when it was exquisitely drest and that being past others of the same kind were prepared to be ready when called for This Physician being afterwards in the service of Anthony's eldest Son was one day at his Dinner whither there came a canting kind of Mountebank who as it's usual with such sort of Fellows tired every body with the impertinence of his talk the Physician put him this Argument there is some kind of Ague wherein cold Water is good All those that have Agues have some kind of Ague therefore cold water is good for all those that have Agues The Quack remained silent and non-plust and Anthony's Son was so pleased with it that he said to the Physician I give thee Philotas for this Iest all that thou seest there pointing to a Cupboard of golden Plates of a great value Philotas thanked him for this favour believing he was onely obliged to him for his Good will But he was very much surprized the next day when he saw the rich Vessels brought home to his house by Slaves followed by an Officer of the young Prince who bid him put his mark upon them and as he excused himself out of a belief some inconvenience might happen to him what says the Officer to him do not you know that he who makes you this Present is the Son of Anthony But however If you will take my Counsel accept rather of the value in Money for it may happen that his Father may be concerned for the loss of some of them because they are antick and of the hands of excellent Masters The other example did not happen at this time but yet it sitteth our subject too well to be omitted Anthony by that time he returned from the Parthian War was grown a great proficient in the Aegyptian sumptuousness and Luxury and daily carried it on with greater delicacy and expence yet Cleopatra affected being nauseated and looked upon his Entertainments with a despising Air onely to oblige him to ask her as he did What she could add to the Magnificence of his Treats I will said she give you one that shall cost 10000 Sesterces he judged the thing impossible and out of pure curiosity would lay a Wager with her of a considerable Sum. Next day she made a noble Feast but it had nothing in it extraordinary Anthony then believed it was his turn to Rally her and already demanded his Wager when the Queen desired him not to be so hasty that this was but the first Course and that she would sup alone on that Sum bring in said she the second Course they brought in onely a golden Cup filled with a very strong dissolving Vinegar Anthony was waiting all this while for the end of this Mystery Cleopatra had two Pearls for her Pendants of an inestimable price never was there any thing seen more beautifull either for the water the largeness or the shape of them She then took off one and put it into the Cup which when it was immediately dissolved she drank it up Plancus that was judge of the Wager presently laid hold on the other which she was taking off and condemned Anthony to loose the Wager who was extremely troubled for the loss of such a Jewel The remaining Pearl after the death of Cleopatra came into the hands of Caesar who caused it to be cut asunder and made of it two Pendants for the image of Venus which he thought gloriously adorned with half of this prodigal Queen's supper In this manner did this witty Aegyptian Charm this great man delightfully carrying him from one Pleasure to another and as she had an admirable turn of Wit she sometimes changed her pleasantness into an agreeable serious Moral Anthony loved Fishing but had never any good luck and he seemed to be troubled at it which indeed was a very pleasant subject for a man of his Character but in this he was of the Humour of all Lovers who are out of all patience when they doe any thing ill before those they love and Cleopatra as has been said was at all his Diversions he made some Divers go under water and fasten Fish they had ready to his hooks in this manner he pulled up his line two or three times well loaden with an extreme satisfaction The Queen though she soon understood that trick seemed to admire his good fortune She laught heartily at it at night among her Favorites and invited them to the same sport the next day every one came and they took Boat to begin to Fish Anthony threw out his line and presently felt it loaded over-joyed he plucked it up but was ready to fall down for shame when he saw a piece of old Salt-fish at his hook which the Divers had fastned to it by Cleopatra's order every body laughed at this pleasant adventure and the Queen ingeniously told him Leave my Lord the Line and Nets to us Aegyptians fishing is our business who are Sovereigns of Pharos and Canopus yours is to take Cities Provinces and Kings CHAP. XIII Anthony receives the news of his Brother's defeat He resolves for War and makes an alliance with Pompey Caesar marries Scribonia The death of Fulvia Anthony is Master of Domitius his Fleet which yields to him THere was more than need of such important News as he then received to draw Anthony from the Charms that held him so sure he understood that his Brother had been overthrown by Caesar that his Wife and all his Friends had quitted Italy that Caesar had made himself Master of Gaul which belonged to him and that he had constrained the Son of Calenus after the death of his Father to deliver him up eleven Legions which he commanded in that Province From another part they sent him word that the Parthians
this People who treated all other Nations as Slaves at this time were dying of hunger without their assistence such a dependence they were reduced to which was without doubt by reason of the incredible number of the Inhabitants and the Desolation the Wars had made in Italy and this is no ordinary Example of the revolution of humane things that at this time Africa was the refuge and as one may say the Nurse of Rome Anthony pressed Caesar either to an Accommodation with Pompey or to a vigorous open War with him to open the Trade but they wanted Money which obliged them to lay on two Impositions the one of four drachma's and a half for every Slave the other upon Successions and Legacies left by Testaments The People irritated by want rose up in opposition to these Edicts and assaulted Caesar in the Forum and Anthony going to his aid was at first spared by the Rabble who cryed out and bid him retire while he advised them to be peaceable but when he endeavoured to scatter the Mutineers they threw Stones at him too and he had like to have been slain if he had not drawn some Troops which were encamped just without into the Town who charged the Mobile and killed several of them and the Souldiers threw their bodies into the Tyber This chastising of them quelled the Mutiny but not the Famine and therefore Anthony was forced to write to Libo to desire him to come to Rome Pompey as was said before was Libo's Son-in-law and Caesar had married his Sister Libo came as far as the Island of Aenaria where he expected his Pass-ports no sooner was his Voyage known at Rome but the People tumultuously assembled to demand Peace of the Triumviri and threatned Pompey's Mother to burn her in her own house if she did not incline her Son to it It was no less desired on his side Murcus whose credit with him was very great advised it with all earnestness Menas alone opposed it for his own particular interest because he was onely valued by Pompey for his experience in War he wrote to him that Murcus aspired to the Sovereign Authority which Pompey too easily believed upon the instigation of this enfranchized Slave Murcus by his usage soon perceived it which made him retire to Syracusa where he was murthered by some Slaves whom afterwards Pompey executed to clear himself from the Murther It was believed however that he was the Authour of it or that Menas had done it by his order This Action very much displeased the Senatours that were retired to Pompey who by this saw themselves exposed to the capricious humour of a Man governed by Creatures whose base originals and condition made them capable of all sorts of Villany In the mean time Libo came to Rome and persuaded Caesar and Anthony to an enterview with Pompey that they in person face to face might put an end to their differences Pompey at the earnest solicitation of all his Officers not being able to refuse this with his Fleet advanced to Puteoli there was a kind of a Mole made where the Mount Misenus runs into the Sea for the convenience of the Conference Pompey and Libo in a Gally and the two others upon the Peere Pompey immediately demanded to be an Associate in the Empire instead of Lepidus which was absolutely refused as a piece of injustice they scorned to use to their Companion that was absent there was much contest about this Article and they parted without doing any thing The following days they treated by Deputies Pompey then let fall this Pretension so that all the difficulty of the Negotiation was reduced to these three Articles 1. That those who were Accomplices in the Assassination of Iulius Caesar should be onely banished into some Place they would make choice of themselves 2. That those who for other causes were proscribed should have liberty of returning to Rome And 3. That these last should be restored to their Estates Anthony and Caesar rejected the two first Articles and onely granted the Proscripts who were none of the Conspiratours leave to buy their Estates Those who were about Pompey terrified by the Example of Murcus consented to return to Rome upon this condition But he was very much displeased with them for it and tearing his Clothes for very rage and spight called them Deserters and Fugitives and said that of all his friends Menas alone had given him faithfull and â—ninterested counsell In the end the People of Rome pressing on one side and Mutia and Iulia on the other they had a second enterview and the Treaty was concluded upon these Conditions That from this moment the War should cease both by Sea and Land That Commerce and Navigation should be free That Pompey should withdraw his Troops from Italy That he should not retain the Slaves that fled to him That he should suffer to Inroads or Descents to be made upon the Coasts or in the Ports of Italy That he should build no more Vessels than those he had already and that he should immediately send all the Corn he had stored up to Rome upon this Condition they granted him for five years Sicilia Sardinia Corsica and all the Isles which he was in possession of and Peloponnesus All the rest of the Roman Empire to remain to the Triumviri They agreed besides That Pompey might in his absence by any of his friends demand the Consulship and that he should have the dignity of Pontifex or High-priest As for those who were proscribed all those who had not had a hand in the Conspiracy might return to Rome those who had not committed any Crime but were fled to Pompey onely for fear should enjoy all their Estates and the culpable the fourth part onely The Slaves which had served under Pompey should be declared free and the free Souldiers after their time of Service was expired should have their share of the division of Lands as those of Caesar and Anthony This Treaty was signed by the three Chiefs and after it was sealed they sent it to Rome to be deposited in the hands of the Vestals They then agreed to treat each other as a mark and token of their sincere reconciliation Pompey chose to begin and when Caesar and Anthony asked him where he would receive them shewing them his Galley answered pleasantly In my Vessels The word Carinas in Latine signifies Vessels or Ships and was likewise the name of a Place in Rome where Pompey the Great had a noble Palace which Anthony had seized on by right of Confiscation He understood the Raillery well enough but here we must allow that Caesar and he extremely forgot their prudence upon this occasion and this entertainment had like to have cost them dear if Pompey had not had a generous great Soul as he was at Table with Caesar and Anthony and they began to railly Anthony upon his fondness for Cleopatra Menas approached Pompey and whispering him in the Ear told
him My Lord You may now revenge the death of your father and brother and make your self master of the world 't is but cutting the Cables let me alone for the rest The blow was sure and the temptation violent Pompey had there all his Fleet in Battalia and the Troops of the other two were ashoar He after a little pause answered him Menas may violate his faith that may be fit for him but not for Pompey We have already mentioned that it was a very unfortunate thing to have the Character of great men onely from Historians who either through fear or flattery decryed the Enemies of the Prince they followed Velleius who wrote in the time of Augustus gives us a very ill Portraicture of Pompey 'T is easily perceived he had not all the prudence and dexterity of wit that Caesar had that was rather a defect in his education but that nobleness of mind which he drew from his birth and disposition and which he shewed here against his own Interest is enough to cover all his defects and ought to oblige them to treat his memory more favourably which even this action alone is sufficient to render illustrious Plutarch relates this adventure somewhat differently he makes Pompey give this answer to the Proposal of Menas You should have done it without telling me but now I 'm of opinion we ought to keep our word and keep inviolable that faith we have engaged We may perceive by this Answer that so considerable an advantage joined to the pleasure of Revenge at first surprized his Generosity but it was onely to make it break out with greater force and triumph the more in rejecting a perfidious action what profit soever might accrue and for this reason this act of his deserves no less praise CHAP. XVI The People's Ioy upon the first News of the Peace Caesar goes into Gaul and Anthony stays at Athens THese Diversions did not hinder them from thinking of more firmly establishing their Authority by Alliances Pompey promised his daughter to Marcus Marcellus the Son of Octavia and they named the Consuls for the four following years Anthony and Libo were declared the first on condition that Anthony might exercise his Office by the deputation of one of his friends Caesar and Pompey were designed the second Domitius and Sosius the third and Anthony and Caesar were appointed to succeed them for the fourth Upon this they parted Pompey returned to Sicilia and the two Triumviri to Rome This Peace which put an end to all the Civil-wars was received and welcomed through all Italy with an incredible Joy the People whereever they past offered publick Sacrifices they ran in Crowds before them giving them a thousand Thanks and Praises The Romans above all witnessed their satisfaction by Bonefires Games and publick Feasts they had prepared them a magnificent entry but Anthony and Caesar refused that honour and went into Rome by night those onely were troubled at the Peace who had made their profit and advantage by the Confiscations of the banished persons which they had usurped and which got them powerfull Enemies for all the proscribed persons returned to Rome after they had assured Pompey of their eternal acknowledgments and obligations to him Thus had he the glory of preserving many illustrious members of the Republick as Tiberius Silanus Sentius Arontius the Son of Cicero and other Senatours their return redoubled the Romans Joy who for this gave publick thanks to the Gods Caesar to keep his Souldiers exercised and in military discipline of which Idleness is the greatest plague and destruction sent one part of his Forces into Dalmatia and led the rest himself into Gaul where some Rebels had begun to make some stirs Anthony who remained at Rome left it some time after to go to the Parthian War Before he went he caused to be ratified by the Senate all he had done in Asia and besides approve all he had designed to doe for the future The Kings he had established were confirmed by Ordinance of the Senate in their several Kingdoms as Darius in Pontus Pharnaces in Idumaea Herod in Iudaea Amintas in Pisidia and Polemon in Cilicia One part of his Troops was sent into Illyâ—ria another against the Dardanians and the rest into Epirus The City of Athens he chose to pass the Winter away in with Octavia in this place he pleased himself so much that he intirely gave himself over to his pleasures and diversions quitting all the tokens and marks of his Authority to live like a private person At the publick Games and Exercises he assisted clad in Grecian habit and took the pains himself to part the Combatants In his Court there was no business talked of but onely Learning and Philosophy He often visited the Academia the Lyceum and those places destined to the study of Philosophy which have given so much reputation to that famous City He spent whole days to hear their Disputations and their Conferences their Feasts and Entertainments always ended these pleasing Diversions and these Treats were not made with the Profusion of the Aegyptians but according to the Sobriety and Modesty of the Greeks Octavia went with him every where In this charming Wife he enjoyed all the delights of Cleopatra and those excellent Vertues besides which the Aegyptian had not Octavia had certainly been Mistress of his Heart if she had not had the misfortune of being his Wife but Anthony was one of those who think all innocent pleasures insipid But Octavia had not onely this Rival the extravagance of the Athenians went as far as heaven to find her out another however â—ordid Flatterers were never better served Anthony they always called Bacchus and in this quality all mortals were much below him they proposed he should marry Minerva the Patroness of their City Anthony accepted of the match but for the more honour of such an Alliance he asked a thousand talents for her portion but says one of the Match-makers pleasantly to him My Lord Jupiter asked nothing with your Mother Semele Anthony however he laugh'd at this Jest would bate nothing of the Sum. It was levyed upon all the Inhabitants who revenged themselves according to their custome that is by raillery of which the Love of Cleopatra was the principal subject Under the Statue of Anthony they wrote these words Octavia and Minerva to Anthony take the baggage again and let 's part He laugh'd at their Jests but took their money though Dellius to mortifie them the more made as if he seriously told him he acted against the Roman Laws which allowed three years for the payment of a Portion As soon as the Winter was passed Anthony re-assumed with the marks of his dignity all the Majesty of an Emperour he was no more seen but in the company of his Commanders Athens was filled with Souldiers who soon scared away the Muses He received the Ambassadours of all the Princes and thought of nothing but putting his Fleet to Sea building of Gallies and
his misfortunes upon the weak building of his Ships nay he gave rewards to those that had behaved themselves well as if they had gained a Victory and this management of his in this conjuncture was a great reason of assuring him of the affection of his Troops These differences thus balancing the Successes of both Parties were very convenient for the designs of Lepidus he was then in Sicilia with a great Army as if he were onely come to be a peaceable Spectatour of the Battels and to see both Parties Ruine by the fury and length of this War This Trimming of his gave Caesar great occasion of suspicion but it was not now time to shew it He was at Squlazzo with Taurus and Messala's Legions when he heard the News of Agrippa's Victory and thereupon attempted to take Taormina thinking Pompey was blocked up by Agrippa and could not come to relieve it It was a Post of great importance and Pompey who had foreseen this design left his Fleet with Demochares and came to Messina where he drew into a Body all his Forces his absence gave Agrippa an opportunity to assault Tindaride from whence being repulsed he took some small places on the Sea-side Caesar going on Ship-board with the greatest part of his Army leaving the rest with Mâ—ssala came before Taurâ—minum and summoned the Garrison Pompey's Souldiers answered him as became men of honour and upon their refusal Caesar with his Fleet stood over to the other side of the mouth of the River Oâ—â—â—balm and disembarked them near a Temple of Venus and from thence went and encamped at Artemisa a Temple of Diana which he fortified the better from thence to attack Taurominum Whilst his Army was drawn up in Battalia staying till their several Quarters were allotted them they saw the Army of Pompey appear both by Sea and Land Caesar was extremely surprised at this and his Troops were seized with so great a fear that seeing Pompey's Horse charge their advanced Guards they put themselves into disorder Upon this occasion Pompey wanted both conduct and counsel for Caesar had been utterly defeated if he had been but warmly attack'd The night that came on was the pretext of Pompey's Retreat which he made towards the Mountain Coccineum from whence he sent all his Foot to Phenice not daring to encamp with it so near Caesar in an open Countrey Caesar fortified his Camp with extraordinary diligence so that he quickly put himself out of danger of being forced He had with him three Legions five hundred dismounted Horse a thousand light â—rmed Foot and two thousand auxiliary Forces of the Allies The Fault Pompey had committed confirmed him in the opinion he had of his want of experience and to make some advantage of it he put aboard his best Souldiers and went and engaged the Enemies Fleet. The Fight was very hot but unfortunate for Caesar. Pompey soon made him sensible that if he wanted Conduct he did not want Valour so that he took several Vessels and burn'd others and had quite put an end to this War by a glorious Victory had it not been for the assistence of Cornificius who commanded Caesar's Army on Land The Battel was fought not far from Land so that most of the Souldiers saved themselves on Shoar but Caesar lost many Gallies in this Defeat he was left alone with onely one Attendant in a Shallop which landed him at the Port of Abalâ— These great misfortunes joined to his extreme fatigues brought him so low both in body and mind that he laid aside all care of his preservation and endeavoured to forget his troubles by the assistence of Sleep which the solitude he was in with onely one Slave and the risque he ran of the Enemies could not hinder him from In this state he was found by his Officers who were along the Coast to meet with him and a-sleep as he was without waking him they carried him from one Boat to another till they had brought him safe to Messala's Camp here a Prodigy happened to him which gave him great hopes a great Fish threw himself out of the Sea upon the shoar and expired at his feet and as the Romans were superstitious and gave great credit to these Presages Caesar believed this betokened Victory to him as if the Sea by this tribute and submission had acknowledged his Power CHAP. XXI Caesar gives new Orders for the fighting of Pompey who in a general battel is entirely defeated THE first care of Caesar was to preserve the Forces he had left under the command of Cornificius he therefore dispatched away Courriers to his men that kept the Passes of the mountains with positive order to come up to that General to whom he sent a Brigantine to bid him be ready to receive them After this forecast he took a little rest and then came to Stilide with great diligence Messala's Lieutenant had orders to go to Lipara Agrippa was to send aid to Cornificius and Messala to return to Puâ—eoli to make Recruits and bring the first Legion to Vibonium For had he not used all the Precaution Cornificius had been utterly lost for Pompey having declined to fight him when he offered him Battel he had retrenched himself in sight of his Camp and cut off all Provisions from him he was at length constrained to decamp and by Pompey's Numidian Cavalry was forced into a place called by the Inhabitants of the Countrey the fiery Brook This in all appearance was some place near mount Etna and the Land all here about being burnt and breathing out sulphureous exhalations dryes up the Torrents that fall so that all is covered with onely ashes and dust Here the Troops of Cornificius had perished with thirst if the Succours that Agrippa sent to him by Aronius had not come in very good time to disengage him in this Extremity However Cornificius was so much puffed up with vanity for this Retreat that when he returned to Rome as a mark of honour to himself he never came home from Supper from his friends houses but mounted in triumph upon an Elephant At the appearance of Agrippa's Legions the Numidians retreated and Cornificius joined Agrippa who had taken Tindaride whither he afterwards came with all his land Forces which consisted of one and twenty Legions two thousand Horse and five thousand light-armed Foot Pompey was not so strong by Land but had a better Fleet than Caesar. They made several motions and had some slight skirmishes but at length Caesar sâ—izing upon all the passages of Provision by land made Pompey's Forces retire and reduced him to the necessity of finishing their differences by a Sea-sight though Caesar was not very willing to it because the Sea had never been favourable to him However he found himself obliged to it in honour and by the confidence he placed in the Conduct and Valour of Agrippa They fixed an appointed day of Battel and both sides prepared for it The two Generals were to meet each
with the same eagerness as if he had still been at the head of them and perhaps they might have got the Victory which they disputed till five in the Evening if the Wind that rose had not separated them and given the Enemies the advantage to beat them by piece-meal for want of a Commander to rally them Three hundred Vessels yielded to the Conquerour but there were but five thousand Men killed on the beaten side Caesar having done all he could to spare the Lives of those brave Souldiers whom he looked upon as his Subjects He made Anthony's flight be every where published and those that obstinately defended themselves he asked who they fought for now He drew off his Souldiers whom he saw too eager after the slaughter and gave here such marks of his Clemency as served to efface the memory of the battel of Philippi and the horrible Proscriptions of the Triumvirate He granted a general pardon before it was desired and satisfied himself with the Punishment of a very few and those his particular declared Enemies Caesar lay in his Gally upon the place and the next day went ashore The Legions of Anthony testified no less faith and affection to their General than the Souldiers of his Fleet. Though several of them had seen his retreat yet they could not tell how to believe that he who so often had experience of the inconstancy of fortune and had still surmounted all his misfortunes with greater Courage should be capable of leaving all having sufficient Forces to dispute the Empire there remaining nineteen Legions entire and twelve thousand Horse they still hoped he would come and put himself at the head of them and try a second battel and though at last they lost that hope and were quite surrounded both by Sea and Land they kept themselves yet seven days in their Camp but the flight of Canidius and all their chief Officers so broke their measures that they resolved to accept of the conditions that Caesar offered them Thus the Roman Empire so long torn by the Ambition of three men at last with much Joy submitted to the Command of one alone hoping to see an end of all the mischiefs that were caused by the Divisions of the Triumviri all whose Authority by this Victory was united in the Person of Caesar. CHAP. XXIX Anthony 's displeasure against Cleopatra He retires into Libya and returns into Aegypt Anthony was still taken up with those Melancholy reflexions the present condition of his fortune inspired him with when he perceived some light Gallies of Caesar's that rowed up to him in spight of all his despair he could not bear that his Enemies should come and brave him without being able to defend himself He therefore commanded the Pilot to tack about and face them this dispensed them all except one whereupon there appeared a man with a Javelin in his hand that came up to him very fiercely threatning him Who art thou cryes Anthony that hast the Insolence to dare persue them I am answered he Eurycles the Lacedemonian brought hither by the good fortune of Caesar to revenge my Father whom you put to death This was Lachares whom Anthony had punished for his extortions and oppressions however Eurycles durst not engage Anthony's Gally but attacked Cleopatra's Admiral and gave him so rude a shock that he ran him all on one side and easily took him and another Vessel laden with all that Princess's Equipage After he retired with his Prize which was very rich Anthony fell again into his Melancholy and continued so three days without seeing the Queen hindred either through shame or anger They arrived so at Tenarus where Cleopatra's women so bestirred themselves that they brought them to see one another and to eat together in this place several of Anthony's Vessels came to him and some of his Friends who informed him of the total defeat of his Fleet but believing his Legions held out yet he sent to Canidius to retreat through Macedonia and return into Asia Then he purposed to retire into Africa and assembled his Friends to exhort them to retire and take their measures for their safety After which he made a Vessel draw near wherein was all his Money and what else he had of value which he gave them to divide among them They all refused his Presents and weeping told him They would always follow his Fortune This testimony of their Fidelity moved him so much to Compassion that he could not refrain Tears Complaining of his fortune that put him out of Capacity of giving them tokens of his acknowledgement and gratitude who had given him such signal marks of their affection he added that he should very much injure them if he should suffer them any longer to be entangled in his Misfortunes So he absolutely Commanded them to retire themselves and wrote to Theopilus Governour of Corinth to grant them refuge till they had made their Peace with Caesar. After he had given these orders he went into Africa from whence he sent Cleopatra into Aegypt and remained almost alone wandring through the Desarts of Libya without any other company than Aristocrates and Lucilius one a Greek and the other a Roman both excellent Rhetoricians Lucilius was he that saved Brutus from being taken at the battel of Philippi and ever since following Anthony even to his death continued his affection But Anthony then heard that the Governour had revolted to Caesar which put him into such a violent despair that he attempted to kill himself His Friends hindred him from that fatal resolution by their Prayers and Remonstrances and persuaded him to return to Alexandria where he found Cleopatra about an enterprize that shewed the greatness of her spirit As that neck of Land which joyns Asia and Africa is but three hundred furlongs over this Queen drew her Gallies upon Carriages into the Red Sea where she designed to embark her self withall her Treasures and the most affectionate of her Subjects and go and plant her self in some remote part of the World far from the dangers of War and the fear of slavery But the Arabians near the City of Petra that were Enemies to the Aegyptians burned those Vessels that were first transported thus which made Cleopatra abandon that design and apply her self to fortifie the avenues of her Kingdom which were of very difficult access Anthony's behaviour was very different he shewed nothing but a shamefull weakness He shunned all Company and built a house near the Pharos far out into the Sea where he shut himself up without either Friends or Domesticks to imitate Timon as he said since he had no less reason than that Athenian to hate mankind that seeing himself betrayed by those whom he had most obliged this perfidiousness gave him occasion to suspect and hate all others In this retirement Canidius brought him the News of the loss of his Legions and here he heard how Herod King of the Iews and all the other Kings of Asia had
quitted his party to take Caesar's side He could no longer force his natural Temper and as debauching is a great relief to people of his humour against all their troubles he quitted his Cell to fall a-feasting upon the Solemnity of Caesarion's being received into the degree of young men and Antyllus his Son by Fulvia his putting off a Gown all of one colour and without any ornament for the Romans distinguished the ages of their Children by peculiar habits the first was the Praetexta or painted Gown like our flowered Stuffs which they wore till fourteeen the Pura or white Robe which was worn till eighteen or twenty and then they took the degree of young men and every one wore Clothes according to his quality All this was usually performed with great Ceremonies which served Anthony as a pretence to set on foot again the Society or Club they had formerly but instead of the name it had of the Inimitable Life they called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Synapothanoumenâ—i that is of those that dye together In the mean time Cleopatra made tryal of all sorts of Poisons upon Criminals even to the biting of Sâ—â—pâ—â—â—s they say that after many Experiments they found that the sting of the Asp gave the quickest and easiest Death and there is reason to believe she from that very time made choice of that kind of death if her ill fortune should drive her to an extremity CHAP. XXX Caesar goes into Italy He pacifies the Souldiers and besieges Alexandria CAesar was yet in Italy whither he was recalled by Agrippa's Letters after he had passed one part of the Winter at Athens and the other at Samos The occasion of his return into Italy was the Mutiny of his Souldiers whom he had sent to Brundustum after the Victory After their usual Custome they asked their Rewards and their Discharge In his passage he had like to have been a Cast-away twice the first time upon the Coast of Italy and the other near the Ceraunian Mountains where he lost several of his Vessels He stayed at Brundustum but twenty seven days to appease the Souldiers and give orders after which with his Navy he sailed into Syria while his Army marched aâ—long the Coasts of Africa to attack Aegypt on the other side All the Kings of Asia Allies to the Romans came to assure him of their obedience but none appeared more forward than Herod who went as far as Rhodes to lay his Crown at Caesar's Feet and offered him his Person and his Troops This Prince had very great obligations unto Anthony from whom he held both his Kingdom and his Life and for that reason he had maintained his Interests in the East with so much Zeal that it was not doubted but Caesar would treat him as one of his greatest Enemies Herod himself had so little hopes of the success of his voyage that in persuance of his natural bent to Cruelty he left order with two of his Confidents to put his Wife Mariamne whom he passionately loved to death in case he miscarried and Caesar were not disposed to pardon him This Secret was revealed to Mariamne by one of his Instruments which she noâ— being able to keep but reproaching her Husband with it at his return to Iudaea was the cause of the death of this unfortunate Princess who for her admirable beauty and her noble race which was that of the Maccabees deserved a gentler destiny Caesar to give a famous instance of his Clemency pardoned Herod gave him his Crown and received him into the number of his Friends Yet he refused him the Pardon of Alexander the Syrian who was one of Cleopatra's most dangerous Flatterers and for that reason very much esteemed by Anthony whom he betrayed after a very base manner Anthony had sent him to the Kings of Asia to keep them in his Interests and this perfidious Villain was the first that persuaded Herod to follow the Fortune of Caesar to whom this Treason seemed so odious that he put him to death notwithstanding all Herod's Entreaties Anthony and Cleopatra seeing themselves abandoned by all their Allies resolved though too late to send Euphronius their Childrens Tutor to make some Proposals to Caesar. Cleopatra asked the Kingdom of Aegypt for her Children and Anthony desired he might live as a private man at Athens if Caesar was not willing he should tarry in Aegypt He absolutely rejected Anthony's Propositions and sent to Cleopatra That he would refuse her nothing that was just and reasonable if she would rid her self of Anthony or drive him out of her Kingdom With this Answer Euphronius returned and with him Thyreus a freed-man of Caesar's he was a man very cunning and very fit to mannage an Intrigue who coming with a message from a young Emperour to an ambitious Princess possest with a great opinion of her own beauty had no difficulty of access to her But these secret Conferences between him and Cleopatra and the honours she did him threw Anthony into such a furious Passion of Jealousie that he made poor Thyreus be taken and cruelly scourged and in this pickle sent him to Caesar with Letters That he had chastised Thyreus for his Insolence and because he insulted over him at a time when his ill fortune had put him into an ill humour But added he If this proceeding of mine offend you you have Hipparchus one of my freed-men in your hands whip him or hang him if you please and so we shall be even But this was a pleasant way of being revenged upon Hipparchus the Son of Theophilus Governour of Corinth who was the very first of Anthony's freed-men that went over to Caesar. Cleopatra omitted nothing to clear Anthony's mind of Jealousie and Suspicion she redoubled her Fondness and Caresses and whereas she used to celebrate her Birth-day with great Feastings and Solemnities she neglected that but on Anthony's Birth-day she made such a noble entertainment that all the Guests were even enriched with the Presents she made them for Anthony's sake In the mean time Caesar having got all his Forces together surprized the City of Pelusium which was delivered to him by Seleucus and the report went that this Governour had received such order from the Queen who to justifie her self delivered his Wife and Children up into Anthony's hands Cleopatra near the Temple of Isis had built a stately building which she designed for her Sepulchre into this place was carried by her order all her Treasure as Gold Jewels Pearls Ivory Ebony Cinnamon and other pretious Woods of those times It was filled besides with Torches Fagots Tow and other combustible matter so that Caesar who had notice of it was afraid lest out of despair she should burn her self in it with all those vast Riches as he always kept some kind of correspondence he sent People to her to give her hopes that she might expect all good usage from the esteem he had for her But in this time he advanced with his Army
or marks of Poison but onely two small pricks on her Arme scarce to be perceived and no Asp was to be found in the Sepulchre but they imagined they found some kind of track in the Sand on that side next the Sea Caesar was extremely troubled at her death as being by it deprived of the noblest ornament of his Triumph however he could not but admire the greatness of her Courage who notwithstanding the weakness of her sex preferred death before the loss of Liberty He ordered her a very magnificent funeral and her body as she had desired was laid by that of Anthony and her two women were interred with Pomp in memory of their Fidelity Thus this Princess whose Wit and Beauty had made so great a noise in the World died in the flower of her Age at thirty eight years old She reigned in Aegypt twenty two years fourteen whereof she past with Anthony and all that while had a total ascendent over the Soul of that Emperour Caesar preserved her Statues entire but beat down all those of Anthony but the consideration for Cleopatra's memory did not contribute so much to the preservation of her Images as the thousand Talents which Archibius one of her Friends gave Caesar for that end Those therefore erected to Anthony's memory were entirely demolished both in Aegypt and Rome where the Senate pronounced his memory infamous and decreed that none of his Family should bear the name of Marcus He died at the Age of fifty three or as some say fifty six years and by his three Wives left seven Children The fortune of Alexander and Ptolemy his Sons by Cleopatra is unknown but for his Daughter young Cleopatra Octavia took care and bred her up with her Children and married her to Iuba King of Mauritania one of the most learned and most vertuous Princes of his Age. Antyllus his eldest Son by Fulvia was slain as before mentioned and Iulius Antonius the youngest was very much esteemed by Caesar to that degree that Octavia whose Generosity for that unfortunate Family was without bounds married him to Marcella one of her Daughters by her first Husband He afterwards indiscreetly engaged himself in the intrigues and debauches of Caesar's Daughter which Crime was the cause of his death Octavia had by Anthony onely two Daughters who were both called Antonia The eldest married Nero's Grandfather and the youngest who inherited both her Mothers beauty and vertue was married to Drusus the Son of Tiberius and Livia and Son-in-Law to Caesar. From this Marriage came Germanicus who was esteemed the greatest General of his time and the most accomplished Person among the Romans and Claudius who was Emperour before Nero Caius Sirnamed Caligula the Son of Germanicus did also govern the Roman Empire three years after Tiberius So that Anthony's Family in spight of their unfortunate destiny possest the Throne and gave three Emperours to the Romans FINIS * Caius Julius Caesar Aeneus Pompeius Magnus the second Name was that of their Families * 1500000 Crowns * Plutarch * Luctatius †Calphurnius ‖ Claudius * Tullius * Cornelius * Caeciâ—ius †Calphurnius * Marcus Porcius Cato * Minutius * Lucius Murena * Caecilius Marcus Lucullus * The People of that Countrey called now Georgia †The People inhabiting near the Caspian Sea ‖ A Neighbouring Province to Syria * The year after the foundation of Rome 693. * The year of Rome 699. * Tiberius and Caius who strongly asserting that Law were slain by the Senatours The name of their Family was Sempronius * Servilius who kill'd Metius when he aspired to the Tyranny †He who drove the Tarquins out of Rome * These were a sort of Officers like our City Serjeants * Cornelius Lentulus Marcellinus The year of Rome 699. * A Little Town not far from Rome * Vibullius †Munatius * The Romans since the time of Sylla burned the Bodies of their Dead instead of Burying them * In the year of Rome 701 there were two Families which bore the Name of Domitius one sirnamed Enotarbus and the other Calvinus †Cornellus * Cajus †Cornelius * Nero. †Lucan * Pollentia * Aretium * Picenum †Ascasum * Pollentia * Dyrachium * Ilerdâ— * Junius * Aemilius * Cornelius The year of the world 4006 since the foundation of Rome 76 before the birth of our Saviour 47. Aunoe the wife of Bagud one of the Kings of Mauritania * A Province of the lesser Asia †This was a Title which was given to those Princes who were not really Kings though they exercised Sovereign Authority * This is that Countrey which lies on the other side of the Channel over against Constantinople * Tripoli * This distinction is made because the Numidians carried their Horses to the Wars without any Bridles causing them to turn to the right or left with a certain switch or rod. * Veni vidi vici * That is because these Games were instituted by the Trojans * Sevill †Tariffa * Junius Brutus In the 〈…〉 of Rome 710 before the birth of our Saviour 43. * They had both one Mother but two Fathers * Cornelius * Lucius Pinarius and Quintus Pedius were also Caesar's Grand Nephews * By reason of Charon's Bark that Caesar had passed in * Julius * This man was of no great Family but was afterwards the chief Favourite of Augustus by reason of his Valour and Merit he married Julia the Daughter of Augustus the Name of his Family was Vipsallius * He was called Decimus Junius Brutus * He was called Cornelius and governed Tyrannically in Rome during the Wars between Marius and Sylla * Valerius * This was not he that Triumphed over the Parthians * Cajus Cilnius Mecoenas he was the Favourite of Augustus and the man whose name is so Celebrated amongst the learned * One of the Sons of Agrippa and Julia called Cajus * This was another and not Caesar 's Friend who had accused Brutus * A King of Pontus who made War upon the Romans 40 years †A King of Macedonia and the Son of Antigonus one of Alexander 's Commanders * A City of Thrace * A Sow a Sheep and a Bull. * Lustrare exercitum * An Island near Thrace †A City of Thrace * This was a Physician The year of the World 4012. since the building of Rome 712. before the birth of our Saviour 41. * Mart. l. 1. * Nemausus * Treasurer 52000 l. * Corcyra * Tuscany * Ischia * Puzzolo Three Millions * Anno ab U. c. 721. Thirty one years before Iesus Christ.
ready to open the Gates to him and surrender This happened at the beginning of the night so that Caesar would not make his entry at that time fearing lest in the dark his Souldiers might be tempted to commit disorders and pillage the City Wherefore he onely caused his Guards to be doubled and kept his Army at their Arms all night At break of day Lentulus called from the Rampart to one of Caesar's advanced Sentinels and demanded of him if he might have security to come and see Caesar. Caesar had notice of it and sent him his Parole Lentulus presently came forth conducted by Domitius his Souldiers to the presence of Caesar. He began his discourse with praying Caesar to forgive him in respect of their ancient Friendship and afterwards enlarged himself upon the favours Caesar had done him That he was indebted to him for all the Honours he enjoyed in the dignity of Pontifex in the Government of Spain in the Consulship Here Caesar interrupted him saying That he was not come from Gaul to offend any body but onely to defend himself against the outrages of his Enemies to restore the Honour of the Tribunes who had been ignominiously banished and to recover his own Liberty with that of the People of Rome whom a Cabal of ill designing men had now enslaved Lentulus taking heart at this discourse desired of him the liberty to return into the Town saying That the favour which Caesar had shewn him would be a great motive towards the assuring of the others many whereof had taken desperate resolutions against their own lives meaning by this Domitius who by a certain return of tenderness which Nature has for life was now seeking for remedy against some Poison which he imagined he had taken though he had no great need of it for his Physician had onely given him a Vomit which had its usual operation Caesar ordered all the Senatours and the other Noble Romans that were there to come forth of the Town as Domitius Lentulus Spinther Vibullius Rufus Quintillius Varus and Lucius Rubrius together with the Sons of Domitius besides a great many young Gentlemen and Roman Knights He forbad his Souldiers offering of them the least affront even in speech and after having told them in a few words that he never had till now great reason to value himself upon their acknowledgment of any obligations that they owed him he gave them all their liberty to go where they pleased and to shew that he as little valued the Money as the lives of his Enemies he restored to Domitius six thousand Sesterces which he had deposited in the Bank of Corfinium though he could not be ignorant that it was the publick stock As this action was diversly interpreted Caesar thought himself obliged to give some account of his reasons for it in a letter which he wrote to Cicero upon some praises he had given him for the business of Corfinium The letter was in these Terms Caesar the Emperour to Cicero the Emperour I Am now assured that you know me since you appear to be satisfied that nothing is so far from my nature as Cruelty I have sought nothing in this proceeding but my own particular satisfaction but at present I am proud to find that it deserves your Approbation and I am no longer troubled to see that those whom I have spared should be returned with my Enemies to fight again against me since I wish no greater advantage than to let them know that they will be always like themselves and I too will as little alter The name of Emperour was at this time no other than a Title of Honour which the Souldiers gave their Generals after some great Victory Caesar the world knew had well deserved it Cicero had gotten it by some little exploits of his done in his Government of Cilicia and it was onely to flatter him that Caesar gave it him in this Letter wherein he mentions Domitius Rufus and Varus for that they made so ungratefull use of the liberty he had given them for Domitius went to Marseilles to seduce that City from Caesar's Interest Rufus into Spain and Varus into Africk upon the same design CHAP. XX. New Propositions for Peace Caesar besieges Pompey in Brundusium Pompey retires by Sea DOmitius his Souldiers went all over to Caesar's side but as he could put no great confidence in them he sent them into Sicily and began to march with his whole Army which consisted of four Veteran and two new raised Legions All the Towns opened him their Gates and their Governours fled being several of them deserted by their Souldiers who came over to Caesar. Pompey himself did not think fit to stay for him but retreated to Brundusium where the Consuls immediately embarked to go to Durazzo with thirty Cohorts Pompey remaining in the Town with twenty others Caesar soon after arrived but e'er he began to make any Attack resolved once more to endeavour an Accommodation He had taken one Magius an Engineer belonging to Pompey and set him at liberty with orders to tell his General That it might be for the common interest of them both as well as the good of the Republick that they two might have a Meeting and that they might more fairly and easily hand to hand come to an agreement than by the means of any third Person Magius brought him no answer back again which obliged Caesar uncertain of the designs of Pompey to endeavour the blocking up the entry of the Port of Brundusium To this purpose he caused a Bank or dam to be raised on each side of the Port where it was narrowest and they could find ground and where no bottom could be reached he caused two Vessels to be fastened together thirty foot square every way and made them to advance over against the entry of the Haven they were moored with four Anchors one at every Corner and to these were joined two other Vessels of the same bulk with design to form a sort of stacade or chain the first bridge of these Vessels was covered with Earth and green Turf to the end that those who were to defend them might have firm footing to fight upon and the two sides were furnished with Hurdles in the nature of Parapets and one of these Vessels carried from square to square a Tower containing two stories for defending of the work from Attacks and from fire It was easie to judge for what design all this pains was undertaken Pompey endeavoured to break it and to that purpose made use of several Merchant Ships of burthen that were in the Haven He caused there to be raised Towers of three stories high which he furnished with Engines and all sorts of Darts with these he run against Caesar's Vessels hoping thereby to separate them and hinder the continuation of the work which occasioned dayly some little skirmishes with Darts and Arrows All this time Caesar's design was to seek for a Peace and having received no news of