and scraping man in the World yet he ever hated and railed at such People It troubled him to see Pompey so successfull in all his Undertakings that he had rode in Triumph before he was capable to sit in the Senate and that the People had sirnamed him the Great and when some body was saying Pompey the Great was coming he smiled and asked him Why how big is he despairing therefore to equal him by Feats of Arms he betook himself to the long Robe when by doing kindnesses pleading lending money by standing by and voting for those that stood for Offices he arrived at as great Honour and Power as Pompey had from his many famous Expeditions and this was peculiar to them Pompey's name and interest in the City was greatest when he was absent for his Renown in War but when present he was often less esteemed than Crassus by reason of his superciliousness and haughty way of living shunning mean Company and appearing rarely at the Forum assisting only some few and that not readily that his Interest might be the stronger when he came to use it for himself whereas Crassus being a Friend always at hand ready and easie of access and very well experienced in these Affairs with his Freedom and Courtesie got the better of Pompey's Formality As for the Gracefulness of Body Eloquence of their Discourse and Dignity of their Persons they were equally excellent But however this Emulation never transported him so far as to quarrel him or bear him any ill will for though he was grieved to see Pompey and Caesar preferred to him yet he never added Baseness to his Jealousie though Caesar when he was taken Captive by the Corsairs in Asia cried out O Crassus how wilt thou rejoice at the News of my Captivity Though afterwards they lived friendly together For when Caesar was going Praetor into Spain and wanting Money his Creditors fell upon him and seized upon his Equipage Crassus then stood by him and relieved him and was his Bail for 830 Talents now the City of Rome being divided into three Factions of Pompey Caesar and Crassus for as for Cato his Fame was greater than his Power being rather admired than followed the sober and substantial part were for Pompey the brisk and hot headed followed Caesar's Ambition but Crassus trimmed between them making advantages of both and caused a great alteration in the Government of the City being neither a trusty Friend nor implacable Enemy and was easily angred or appeased according as he found it for his advantage so that in a small time he would assert and decry the same Laws and the same men but though he was so much favoured he was more feared so that Sicinius who was the greatest Teizer of the Magistrates and Ministers of his time being ask'd how chanc'd he let Crassus alone Oh says he he carries Hay on his horns alluded to the custom of tying Hay to the Horns of a Bull that used to Butt that People might avoid him Now the Insurrection of the Gladiators and the Desolation of Italy which many call the Sparteceian War began upon this occasion One Lentulus Batiatus trained up a great many Gladiators in Capua many of which were Gauls and Thracians who not for any fault by them committed but by the injustice of their Master were compell'd often to fight one with another Two hundred of these consulted how to escape but their Plot being discovered they who first perceived it for preventions sake being seventy eight got out of a Cooks shop chopping-knives Spits c. and made their way through the City and lighting by the way on several Waggons that were carrying Gladiators Arms to another City they seized upon them and Armed themselves and seizing upon a defensible place they chose three Captains of which Spartacus was chief a Thracian Shepherd a Man not only of an high Spirit and valiant but more understanding and courteous than could be expected from one of his condition and more Civiliz'd than the People of that Country usually are When he first came to be sold at Rome they say a Snake twined about his Face as he lay asleep and his Wife who also accompanied him his Country-Women a kind of Prophetess and inspired by Bacchus declared that it was a great and terrible sign portending great Power to him with an happy event First then routing those that came out of Capua against them and seizing upon their Arms they gladly threw away their own as barbarous and dishonourable afterwards Clodius the Praetor was Commanded against them with a Party of three thousand who besieged them within a Mountain which had but one narrow and Difficult passage which Clodius kept guarded encompassed with broken and slippery precipices but upon the top grew a great many wild Vines they cut down as many of their boughs as they had need of and twisted them into Ladders that would reach from thence to the Bottom by which without any danger they got down all but one who stayed there only to throw them down their Arms and after all he saved himself Now the Romans were ignorant of all this wherefore coming upon their backs they assaulted them at unwares took their Camp and several of the Shepherds and Herdsmen that were there stout nimble fellows revolted over to them these they Armed and made use of them for Scouts and light Armed Soldiers Again Publius Varinus is sent General against them whose Lieutenant General Phrurius with two thousand Men they fought and routed Then Cossinius Collegue to Varinus was sent with considerable Forces him Spartacus missed but very little of taking as he was Bathing at Salenae for he with great difficulty made his escape but Spartacus possessed himself of his Baggage and following the chase with a great slaughter stormed his Camp and took it where Cossinius himself was slain nay after many Skirmishes with the Praetor himself and in one taking Prisoners his Lictors and his own Horse he began to be great and terrible wisely therefore considering that he was not to expect to match the Force of the Empire he marched his Army towards the Alps intending when he had passed them that every Man should go to his own home some to Thrace some to Gaul c. but they being grown confident in their numbers and puffed up with their Success would give no Obedience to him but with Excursions ravaged Italy so that now the Senate was not only moved at the Indignity and Baseness both of the Enemy and of the Insurrection but looking upon it as of dangerous Consequence both the Consuls are sent to it as to a great and difficult Enterprize and Consul Gellius falling suddenly upon a Party of Germans who through Contempt and Confidence were stragled from Spartacus fell upon them on a sudden and cut them all to pieces But Lentulus with a mighty Army besieging Spartacus he sallied upon him and joyning Battel took his chief Officers Prisoners and made himself Master of
briskly furthered his Interest and at last he declared in his Speech that he was not less beholden to them for his Collegue than for the Honour of the Office But being entred upon the Employment this Amity continued not long but differing almost in every thing clashing and maligning one another the time of their Consulship passed without any matter of Consequence except that Crassus made a great Sacrifice to Hercules and feasted the People at ten thousand Tables and measured them out Corn for three Months Now as their Command was ready to expire and they were making their farewel Speeches a Roman Knight one Ovatius Aurelius a private Country-Gentlemen mounted the Rostrum and declared a Vision he had in his Sleep Jupiter says he appeared to me and commanded me to tell you That you should not suffer your Consuls to lay down their Charge before they were made Friends When he had spoke the People cryed out that they should be reconciled Pompey stood still and said nothing but Crassus first offering him his hand I cannot think says he my Country-men that I do a mean thing and unworthy my self if I make the first Offers of Accommodation and Friendship with Pompey whom you your selves stiled the Great before he was of Mans Estate and decreed him a Triumph before he was capable of sitting in the Senate This is what was memorable in Crassus's Consulship but as for his Censorship that was altogether idle and unactive for he neither made a Scrutiny of the Senate nor took a Review of the Gentry nor an Account of the People though he had as mild a Man as could be desired for his Colleague Lutatius Catulus though 't was reported that when Crassus intended a violent and unjust action which was the reducing Egypt to be tributary to Rome Catulus strongly opposed it and falling out about it they laid down their Office by consent As for that great Conspiracy of Catiline which was very near subverting the Government Crassus was not without some suspicion of being concerned and one man swore him in the Plot but no body credited him yet Cicero in one of his Orations openly charges both Crassus and Caesar with it though that Speech was not published till they were both dead and in that Speech which he made upon his being elected Consul he declares that Crassus came to him by Night and brought a Letter concerning Catiline and confirming the Conspiracy for which Crassus hated him ever after but was hindered by his Son from doing him any Injury for Publius was mightily addicted to Learning and Eloquence and a constant follower of Cicero insomuch that he put himself into Mourning for his Banishment and oblig'd all the young Gentlemen to do the same at last he reconciled him to his Father Now Caesar returning from his Command and designing to get the Consulship and seeing that Crassus and Pompey were again at Variance was unwilling to disoblige one by making application to the other and despaired of success without the help of one of them he therefore made it his business to reconcile them making it appear that by destroying one the other they advanced the Cicero's the Catuli and the Cato's who would really be of no Account if they would joyn their Forces and Factions together and so they might manage the Affairs of the Empire as they pleased so they being reconciled by his Perswasion they three set up an irresistible Power which utterly subverted the Government both as to Senate and People not that he made them greater than they were before but by their means made himself greatest of all for by the Adherents of both he was gloriously declared Consul which Office when he administred with Credit they decreed him the Command of the Army and allotted him Gaul for his Province and so placed him as in the Cittadel not doubting but they should divide the rest at pleasure when they had confirmed him in the Command he desired Pompey was moved hereto by an immoderate desire of Ruling but Crassus adding to his old Disease of Covetousness an affectation of Trophies and Triumphs emulating Caesar's Exploits not content to be beneath those two tho above all others could never rest contented till it ended in an ingnominious Overthrow and a Publick Calamity When Caesar came out of Gaul to Luca a great many People went thither to meet him Pompey and Crassus had various Conferences with him how to get the whole management of Affairs into their hands and subject every thing to their Power Caesar to keep up his Army and Pompey and Crassus to get new ones and new Provinces in which there was but one way the getting the Consulate a second time which they were to stand for and Caesar to assist them by writing to his Friends and sending many of his Souldiers to vote but when they returned to Rome their Design was presently suspected and a report was spread that this interview was for no good When Marcellinus and Domitius asked Pompey in the Senate If he intended to stand for the Consulship he answered Perhaps he would perhaps not and being urged again replied He would ask it of the Honest Citizens but not of the Dishonest Which Answer appearing too haughty and arrogant Crassus answered more civilly He would desire it if it might be for the advantage of the Publick otherwise he would desist wherefore some others were daring enough to desire it amongst which was Domitius but when such eminent Men appeared for it the rest were frighted to give it over but Cato encouraged Domitius to proceed who was his Friend and Relation exciting him to persist as though he was now defending the Publick Liberty for they did not so much aim at the Consulate as at Arbitrary Government and this last was not a Petition for an Office but a seizure of the Provinces and the Army Thus spoke Cato and he spoke his thoughts only and almost compelled Domitius to appear at the Forum where many sided with them for People admired what should make 'um desire the Consulship again and why they two together and not with some third Person we have a great many Men not unworthy to be Fellow-Consuls with Pompey or Crassus Pompey's Party being apprehensive of this committed all Undecencies and Violencies and amongst other things lay in wait for Domitius as he was coming thither before day-break with other Company his Torch-bearers they killed and wounded several others of which Cato was one these being beat back and shut into a House mean while the Consuls are declared not long after they besieged Domitius his House thrust Cato out of Doors killed some that made resistance and Decreed Caesar his Command for Five years longer and Provinces for themselves Syria and both the Spains which being decided by Lots Syria fell to Crassus and the Spains to Pompey they were both well-pleased with their Chance for the People were desirous that Pompey should not go far from the City and he being
raise himself above the Laws whereas In Civil Broils the Slave himself gets Honour as then at Rome when the People were distempered and the Government out of order one or other was still a getting uppermost no wonder then if Sylla reign'd when the Glauciae and Saturnini drove out the Metelli when Sons of Consuls were slain in the Assemblies when others for Silver and Gold bought Men and Arms and with Fire and Sword set up new Laws in spite of all Lawful opposition nor do I blame any one in such Circumstances for working himself into Supream Power only I would not have it thought a sign of Sovereign Goodness to be Head of a State so wretchedly discomposed But Lysander being employed in the greatest Commands and Affairs of State by a sober and well-disciplin'd City was ever esteemed the best and most Vertuous Man in the best and most vertuous Commonwealth Wherefore Lysander often returning the Government into the hands of the Citizens received it again as often for the Excellencies of his Vertues ever held the first place Sylla on the other hand when he had once made himself of the Army kept up his Command for ten years together creating himself sometimes Consul sometimes Proconsul and sometimes Dictator but was always a Tyrant It 's true Lysander as was said designed to introduce a new Form of Government after a milder fashion however and more agreeable to Justice than Sylla not by force of Arms but Perswasion nor by subverting the whole State at once but by more orderly directing the Succession of Kings And by Nature it seems just that the most deserving should rule especially in a City which it self got the leading hand of Greece upon the account of Vertue not Nobility For as the Hunter considers the Whelp it self not the Bitch and the Horse-courser the Foal not the Mare for what if the Foal should prove a Mule so likewise were that Politician extreamly out who in the Choice of a Chief Magistrate should enquire not what the Man is but how descended The very Spartans themselves have deposed several of their Kings for want of Kingly Vertues as degenerated and good for nothing A depraved Nature though of an ancient Stock is dishonourable whereas Vertue without Birth is honourable Moreover the one was injurious to many upon the score of his Friends the other to his very Friends It 's confessed on all hands that Lysander offended most commonly for the sake of his Companions committing several Slaughters to uphold their Power and Dominion but as for Sylla he out of Envy would have discarded Pompey from Commanding by Land and Dolabella by Sea although himself had given them those Places he ordered Lucretius Offella who sued for the Consulship upon divers meritorious accounts to be slain before his Eyes raising thereby strange Apprehensions and Jealousies in the Minds of all Men for his Cruelty to his Dearest Friends The Business of Riches and Pleasure do's further yet demonstrate in one a Princely in the other a Tyrannical Disposition Lysander did nothing that was intemperate or extravagant in that full range of Power and Licence but kept aloof as much as ever Man did from that trite Saying Lion within but Fox without he ever maintained such a sober Laconick well tempered Conversation whereas Sylla could never break his unruly Affections either by Poverty when young or by a long run of Years when grown old but would be still prescribing of Laws to the Citizens concerning Chastity and Sobriety himself living all that time as Salust affirms in open Lewdness and Debauchery By these ways he had so impoverished and drained the City of her Treasures as to be forced to sell her Liberties and Immunities to the associated and well-affected Cities for Silver although he had daily exposed the wealthiest and greatest Families to publick Sale and Out-cry There was no end of his Favours vainly spent and thrown away on Flatterers for what mean what likelihood of Parsimony in his more intimate Conversation and Endearments over Wine when in the open face of the People upon Auction of a large Estate which he would have passed over to one of his Friends at a small Price because another bidding higher the Officer had made Proclamation of the Advance he broke out into a Passion saying What a strange unjust thing is this O Citizens that I cannot dispose of my own Booty as I please But Lysander on the contrary with the rest of the Spoil sent even the Presents which were made him to the Citizens Nor do I commend him for it for he perhaps by excessive Liberality did Sparta more harm than ever the other did Rome by Rapine only I make it an Argument of his Contempt of Riches They had a strange peculiar influence each Man on his own City Sylla a profuse Debauchee brought in Sobriety however amongst the Citizens Lysander agen temperate as he was filled the Town with Luxury So as they both were blame-worthy the one for raising himself above his own Laws the other for causing his Citizens to fall beneath his own Example in that he taught Sparta to want those things which himself had learnt not to want And thus much of their Civil Administration As for Feats of Arms wise Conduct innumerable Victories perillous Adventures Sylla was beyond compare Lysander indeed came off twice victorious at two Sea-fights I shall add to that the Siege of Athens a Work of greater Fame than Difficulty For all this the Business of Aliartus in Baeotia altho perhaps it came about by ill Fortune bears yet the semblance of ill Advice when out of Ambition and Eagerness to fight without further attending the Kings Forces which were then almost at hand from Plataeae he unseasonbly approached the Walls and was miserably defeated by a Sally of inconsiderable Men he received his Death-wound not as Cleombrotas at Leuctra resisting manfully the impression of a just Enemy not as Cyrus or Epaminondas pressing hard on the declining Battel and making sure the Victory who all of them died the Death of Kings and Generals But he like some Common Soldier or one of the Forlorn Hope cast away his Life ingloriously giving testimony to the ancient Spartans that they did well to avoid storming of Walls in which the stoutest Man may chance to fall by the Hand not only of an abject Fellow but by that of a Boy or Woman as they say Achilles was slain by Paris in the Gates As for Sylla it was somewhat hard to reckon up how many set Battels he won or how many thousands he slew He took Rome it self twice and forc'd the Pyraean Haven not by Famine as Lysander did but by several sharp Encounters driving out Archelaus from Land to Sea And what most importeth there was a vast difference between the Commanders they they had to deal with for I look upon it as an easie Task or rather Sport that same Overthrow of Antiochus Alcibiades his Pilot as likewise the
all imaginable might to bear up to him but Demagoras fearing the Bulk and Massy stem of the Admiral thought it dangerous to meet him ahead but Tacking about received him a-stern in which place though violently bore upon he received no manner of harm the blow being defeated by falling on those parts of the Ship which lay under Water At which time the rest of the Fleet coming up to him he Tack'd about and vigorously falling upon the Enemy put them to flight and pursued Neoptolemus After this he came to Sylla in Chersonesus as he was passing the Strait and brought timely assistance for the safe Transportation of the Army Peace being now made Mithridates sailed off to the Euxine Sea but Sylla Taxed the Inhabitants of Asia two thousand Talents and ordered Lucullus to gather and Coyn the Money And it was no small Comfort to the Cities under Sylla's severity that not only a Man of spotless Life and Justice but also of Moderation should be employed in so heavy and disgustful an Office The Mytilenians who deserted him he was willing should return to their Duty and to be moderately fin'd for the offence they had given in the Case of Marius But upon their obstinacy he came up to them overcame them at Sea block'd them up in their City and besieged them then Sailing off from them openly in the Day to Elea he returned privately and an Ambush being laid round the City lay quiet himself Whereupon the Mytilenians disorderly and eagerly plundering the deserted Camp in the very fact he fell upon them took many of them and slew five hundred who stood upon their defence he gained six thousand Slaves and a very rich Booty He was no way engaged in the Great and General Troubles of Italy which Sylla and Marius had caused Providence at that time detaining him in Asia about business He was as much in Sylla's favour as any of his other Friends to whom as is said before he dedicated his Memoirs as a Token of his kindness and at his Death passing by Pompey made him Guardian to his Son which seems to be the rise of the Quarrel between them two both young Men equally contending for Honour A little after Sylla's Death he was made Consul with M. Cotta about the one hundred seventy sixth Olympiad The Mithridatick War being then under debate Marcus reported that it was not finished but only respited for a time Wherefore upon choice of Provinces the Lot falling to Lucullus to have that part of Gaul that was within the Alpes a Province where no great Action was to be done nor Glory to be obtained he was exceedingly troubled But chiefly the Success of Pompey in Spain fretted him most being a man highly Renowned and after the Completion of the Spanish War the onely one likely to be chosen General against Mithridates So that when Pompey sent for Money and signified by Letter that unless it were sent him he would leave the Country and Sertorius and bring his Forces home to Italy Lucullus most readily espoused his Cause that Money might be sent him to prevent any pretence of his returning home during his Consulship for all things would have been at his Disposal at the Head of so great An Army Cethegus a very popular Man both for Words and Actions the Chief manager of Affairs in Rome had conceived a mortal hatred against him for declaiming against his Debaucht Insolent and lewd Life Lucullus therefore openly set himself against him But Lucius Quintus another Demagogue inveighing against Sylla's Administration and endeavouring to put things out of Order by private Exhortations and Publick Admonitions he hindred his Design and suppressed his Ambition wisely and safely encountring so great an Evil in the very Bud. At this time News came that Octavius the Provincial of Cilicia was Dead and many appeared for the place courting Cethegus as the man best able to serve them Lucullus set little value upon Cilicia it self no otherwise than as he thought by his acceptance of it no other man besides himself might be employed in the War against Mithridates by reason of its nearness to Cappadocia This made him use all his Interest that that Province might be allotted to himself and to none other which put him upon a Project not so Honest and Commendable as expedient for compassing his Design submitting to necessity against his own Inclination There was one Proecia a most celebrated Wit and Beauty but in other things nothing better than an impudent Harlot Who to the Charms of her Person adding the Reputation of one that loved and served her Friend by making those who came to her as they discoursed of the Designs and Promotions of their Friends had got a great Interest She had seduced Cethegus the Chiefest Man in esteem and Authority of all the City and enticed him to her Love and so made all Authority follow her For nothing of moment was done wherein Cethegus was not concern'd nothing by Cethegus without Praecia This Woman Lucullus gain'd to his side by Gifts and Flattery and great cost it was to procure so stately and famous a Dame to be earnestly concern'd for Lucullus and presently found Cethegus his Friend using his utmost Interest to procure Silicia for him Which when once obtained there was no more need of applying himself either to Praecia or Cethegus for all unanimously voted him to the Mithridatick War by no hands likely to be so successfully managed as his Pompey was still contending with Sertorius and Metellus by Age unfit for Service which two alone were the only Competitors who could stand equal with Lucullus for that Command Cotta his Collegue after much ado in the Senate was sent away with the Fleet to guard the Propontis and defend the Bithynians Lucullus listed his Forces and carried them over into Asia where he collected some fresh ones the old ones being utterly disabled by dissoluteness and rapine The Fimbrians as they were called being utterly unmanageable by their long mis-use and unfit for service For these were they that had slain Flaccus the Consul and General under Fimbria and these were they who afterward betrayed Fimbria to Sylla a bold and barbarous People warlike expert and hardy in the field Lucullus in a short time took down the Courage of these and disciplin'd others who then first in all probability knew what a true Commander and Governour was who in former times had been courted to service and took up Arms at no bodies Command but their own Wills The Enemies provisions for War stood thus Mithridates like many of the Sophisters very proud and haughty at first set upon the Romans with a very unprovided Army such indeed as made a good shew but was nothing for service but being shamefully routed and better instructed against a second Engagement he formed his Forces into a just and well martiall'd Army And removing the Dangers and Inconvenience which might happen among Men of different Nations and Tongues and no less
Greek Confederate Town with his Army To this ill affection abroad the Tribunes contributed at home invidiously accusing Lucullus as one who for Empire and Riches delayed the War and under his sole Power had then got Cilicia Asia Bythinia Paphlagonia Pontus Armenia as far as the River Phasis And of late had laid waste the Kingdom of Tigranes as if he had been Commissioned not so much to subdue as destroy Kings For this is reported to have been spoken by L. Quintus one of the Praetors at whose instance the People determined to send one who should succeed Lucullus in his Province and disband most of his Army Besides these Misdemeanours that which most of all prejudiced Lucullus was P. Clodius an insolent Man very vicious and bold Brother to Lucullus his Wife and by reason of her Incontinency shrewdly suspected of Adultery with her Being then in the Army under Lucullus but not in so great Authority as he expected for he would fain have been of the Chief Officers though of an inferior Rank to several of them He got in with the Fimbrian Army and stirred them up against Lucullus using fair Speeches to them who of old had been used to be flattered in such a manner These were those whom Fimbrius before had perswaded to destroy the Consul Flaccus and chose him their Leader which made them willingly deal with Clodius and call him the Soldiers Delight for his Care and Concern for them If there must be no end of Wars and Toils but by fighting with all Nations and wandring throughout all the World they must spend their lives receiving no other Reward for their Service than to guard the Carriages and Camels of Lucullus laden with Gold and precious Goblets As for Pompey's Souldiers they were Citizens again safe at home with their Wives and Children not hunting after Mithridates or Tigranes in wild Deserts nor overturning the Kingdoms of Asia but reducing Exuls in Spain or Fugitives at home What must we never have an end of Fighting Should we not rather reserve the Remainder of our Bodies and Souls for such a General who will reckon his chiefest Glory to be the Wealth of his Army By such Practices the Army of Lucullus being corrupted neither followed him against Tigranes nor against Mithridates when he returned into Pontus out of Armenia and resumed his Kingdom but under pretence of Winter coming on sate idle in Gordyene every minute expecting some other General to succeed Lucullus But when News came that Mithridates had defeated Fabius and was Marching against Sernatius and Triarius out of shame they followed Lucullus Triarius ambitiously aiming at Victory before ever Lucullus came to him though he was then very near was overthrown after a bloody Fight wherein it is reported that above Seven thousand Romans fell among whom were a Hundred and fifty Centurions and Four and twenty Tribunes and even the Camp it self taken Lucullus coming up a few days after concealed Triarius from the angry Soldiers But when Mithridates declined Battel and waited for the coming of Tigranes who was then on his March with great Forces he resolved before both joyned once more to meet and engage with Tigranes But in the way the mutinous Fimbrians deserted their Colours as Men disbanded by Decree of Senate and would no longer obey Lucullus the Provinces being then allotted to others There was nothing beneath the Dignity of Lucullus which he was not forc'd to bear entreating them one by one from Tent to Tent going up and down dejected and sorrowful and submitting to shake some by the Hands But they turned away from his Salutes and threw down their empty Knapsacks bidding him alone engage with the Enemy who alone made advantage thereby At length by the intreaty of the other Soldiers the Fimbrians being prevailed upon consented to tarry that Summer under him but even during that time if no Enemy came to fight them to be free Lucullus of necessity was forc'd to comply with this or else to leave the deserted Province to the Barbarians He kept them indeed with him but without any Power over them Nor did he lead them out to Battel being contented that they would stay with him though he then saw Cappadocia wasted by Tigranes and Mithridates again doing mischief whom not long before he reported to the Senate to be wholly subdued whereupon Legats were arrived to settle the Affairs of Pontus as if all had been quiet there But when they came they found him not so much as Master of himself but contemned and derided by the Common Soldiers who arrived at that height of Insolence against their General that at the end of Summer they put on their Armour and drew their Swords and defied their Enemies then absent and gone off a long while before with great Outcries and Aiery Skirmishes going round the Camp and proclaiming that the time was expired which they promised to stay with Lucullus Pompey had drawn many to his side by Letters by the Favour of the People and his Interest with the Tribunes being then chosen General of the Army against Mithridates and Tigranes But it then appeared to the Senate and all unbiassed Men that Lucullus was injured having those put over his Head who succeeded rather to his Triumph than the War being not only deprived of Command but the Glory which he justly deserved and forc'd to yield it to another It was just matter of Pity to those who were present for Lucullus remained no longer Master of Rewards or Punishments for Actions of War nether would Pompey suffer any man to go to him or give heed to what he did himself or with advice of his ten Legats but expresly gave Command to the contrary and could not but be obey'd by reason of his greater Power But Friends on both sides thought it necessary to bring them together who met in a certain Village of Galatia and friendly saluted each other Lucullus was the Elder but Pompey the more Honourable for his oftner Command and two Triumphs Both had Rods of Laurel carried before them for their Victories and when Pompey's Laurels were withered by passing through hot and droughty places Lucullus his Viergers friendly gave them some of the fresh and green ones which they had which Pompey's Friends counted a good Omen for the others Actions were they which truly adorned his Empire At the interview they came to no amicable Agreement but went off more disatisfied Pompey repealed all the Acts of Lucullus drew off his Soldiers and left him no more then sixteen hundred for Triumph and even those unwilling to go with him So unqualified was Lucullus either by Nature or Mis-fortune for the chiefest thing in a General which had he added to his other singular Virtues his Fortiude Vigilance Wisdom Justice the Roman Empire had not had Euphrates for its Boundary in Asia but the uttermost parts of the Earth and the Hyrcanian Sea Other Nations being then disabled by the late Conquests of
Rome day after day who out of a true Grecian Principal being ashamed and refusing the invitation where so great an expence was every day caused for them he with a pleasing Countenance told them Some of this indeed my Grecian Friends is for your sakes but more for Lucullus his own Once when he supped alone there being only one table and that but moderately furnisht he called his Steward and reproved him who imagining that there would be no need of any great Entertainment when no Body was invited was answered What do you not know that to day Lucullus is to eat with Lucullus Which being noised about the City Cicero and Pompey one day met him loitering in the Market-place one a principal Friend and Acquaintance but there had been some falling out between Pompey and him about the Command of the Army but however they used civilly to discourse and talk together Cicero saluted him and asked him How he stood affected to disputing Who answering Very well and inviting them to it We said he will eat with you to day if there shall be no more than what is already provided Lucullus being surprised and requested a days time they refused to grant it neither suffered him to talk with his Servants for fear he should give order for more than what was appointed before But thus much they consented to that before their Faces he might tell his Servant That to day he would sup in the Apollo for so one of his best dining Rooms was called and by this evasion impos'd upon his Guests To every Room as it seems was allotted a proportion of Diet having its proper Costs and Furniture belonging to it so that the Servants knowing where he would dine knew also how much was to be expended and how the Supper was to be prepared The expence for the Apollo was fifty thousand pence which being that day consumed the greatness thereof did not so much amaze Pompey as the haste in dressing He insulted over Money as Captive and Barbarian as indeed it was But however his furnishing a Library deserved praise and thanks for he collected very many and choice Manuscripts but the use they were put to was more commendable than the purchase The Library being always open and the Walks and Schools about it free to all Greeks who from business came thither as to the habitation of the Muses walking about and diverting one another He himself often studied there disputing with the learned in the Walks and giving his advice to States-Men who required it insomuch that his House was altogether a Receptacle and a Greek Prytaneum to all that came to Rome He understood all sorts of Philosophy and was well read and expert in them all But he always favoured and valued the Academy from the beginning Not the new one which at that time under Philo flourish'd with the Precept of Carneades but the old one then under the Government of Ascalonites Antiochus a learned and eloquent Man Lucullus with great labour made him his Friend and Companion and set him up on purpose against Philo's Auditors among whom Cicero was one who Wrote an excellent Book in defence of his Sect wherein he hath made a discourse for Lucullus about apprehension contrary to his own opinion The Book is called Lucullus For as 't is said they were good Friends and acted jointly in the publick Concern For Lucullus did not wholly retire from the Republick but from Ambition and desire of Superiority and Greatness equally dangerous and troublesome which he left to Crassus and Cato To whom the Senate who suspected Pompey's greatness joined themselves when Lucullus refused to head them For his Friends he came into the Forum and into the Senate to curb the Ambition and Pride of Pompey whose orders after his Conquests over the King 's he annull'd and by the assistance of Cato hindred a division of Lands to the Soldiers which he proposed Which made Pompey go over to Crassus and Caesars Friendship or rather Conspiracy and then by filling the City with Armed Men to establish his Decrees by force and drive Cato and Lucullus away Which being resented by the Nobility Pompey's party produc'd one Vectius pretending they apprehended him in a design against Pompey's Life Who in the Senate-house accused others but among the People named Lucullus as if he had been suborned by him to kill Pompey No Body gave heed to what he said and it soon appeared that they had produced a Man with a false charge and accusation After a few days the whole Intrigue was discover'd the Carcase of the accuser being thrown out of Prison reported indeed to have died a natural Death but carrying marks of a Halter and blows about him and seeming rather to have been taken off by those who suborned him These things kept Lucullus at a greater distance from the Republick But when Cicero left the City and Cato was banished to Cyprus he became altogether sottish it is reported that before his Death his parts fail'd him by degrees But Cornelius Nepos denies that either Age or Sickness impair'd his Mind which was rather doz'd by a Potion given him by Callisthenes his Freeman The Potion given him by Callisthenes was to endear him to him being so prepared but it acted quite otherwise and so disabled and intoxicated his Mind that even while he was alive his Brother ordered his Affairs At his Death which was the Death of one taken off in the very flower of Martial and Civil Discipline the People were much concerned and flockt together and even by force would have taken his Corps as it was carried into the Market-place by young Men of the best Quality and have Buried it in the Martian field where they buried Sylla Which being altogether unexpected and Necessaries not easily to be procured on a sudden his Brother after much intreaty and sollicitation prevailed upon them to suffer him to be buried in the Tusculan field as was appointed He himself surviv'd him but a small time coming not far behind in Death as he did in Age and Renown being a most loving Brother The Comparison of Lucullus with Cimon ONe might bless the End of Lucullus who died before the great Alteration of Affairs which Fate by intestine Wars was bringing on and left this Life in a free though troubled State wherein above all other things Cimon and he agreed For he died also when the state of Greece was free and flourished though in the Field at the Head of his Army not recalled nor disgraced nor sullying the Glory of his Wars Engagements and Conquests with Feastings and Debauches As Plato reprehended Orpheus for saying That an eternal Debauch hereafter was the Reward of those who lived well here Indeed ease and Quiet and the Study of pleasant and speculative Learning to an old Man unfit for War or State is a most ornamental and comfortable thing but to misguide vertuous Actions to Pleasure as their utmost End and to leave the Wars for
turn Besides the People were pleased with his courteous and frank Salutations and Greetings for he never met any Citizen how mean and low soever but he returned him his Salute by Name He was looked upon as a man well read in History and pretty well seen in Aristotle's Philosophy which one Alexander read to him whose Commerce with Crassus was a sufficient Argument of his good nature and meek disposition For 't is hard to say whether he was poorer when he entered into his Service or while he continued in it for being his only Friend that used to accompany him in his Progresses he would lend him a Cloak for a Journey and when he came home demand it again O the patience of the Wretch when even the Philosophy he professed did not look upon Poverty as a thing indifferent but of this hereafter when Cinna and Marius got the Power in their hands 't was soon perceived that they came not for any good they intended to their Country but designing the ruine and utter destruction of the Nobility and as many as they could lay their hands on they slew amongst which was Crassus his Father and Brother but himself being very young for the present escaped the danger but understanding that he was every way beset and hunted after by the Tyrants taking with him three Friends and ten Servants with all possible speed he fled into Spain having formerly been there and contracted a great acquaintance while his Father was Prator of that Country but finding all People in a Consternation and dreading the Cruelty of Marius as if he was already at their Doors he durst not discover himself to any Body but hid himself in a large Cave which was by the Sea-shore and belonged to Vibius Pacianus to whom he sent one of his Servants to sound him his Provisions also beginning to fail Vibius was well pleased at his Escape and enquiring the place of his abode and the number of his Companions he went not to him himself but Commanded his Bayliff to provide every day a good Meals-meat and carry it and leave it upon such a Stone and so return without taking any further notice or being inquisitive promising him his Liberty if he did as he commanded and that he would kill him if he did otherwise The Cave is not far from the Sea made by the closing together of some Cliffs through the Chinks of which enters a refreshing and delicate Gale When you are entred you find a wonderful high Roof and a great many very large Rooms one within another neither is it void of Water or Light for a very pleasant and wholsome Spring runs through the Cliffs and the natural Chinks let in the Light all day long and by reason of the thickness of the Rock the Air within is pure and clear that which is foggy and unhealthful being carried away with the Stream While Crassus remained here the Steward brought them what was necessary but never saw them nor knew any thing of the matter though they within saw and expected him at the customary times neither was their entertainment such as just to keep them alive but very plentiful and delicious for Pacianus resolved to treat him with all imaginable Civility and considering he was a young Gentleman he resolv'd to gratifie a little his youthful Inclinations for to give just what is needful seems rather to come from necessity than from a hearty Friend Taking with him therefore two handsom Damsels he shew'd them the place and bid them go in boldly whom when Crassus and his Friends saw they were afraid of being betray'd demanding therefore what they were and what they would have they according as they were instructed answered They came to wait upon their Master who was hid in that Cave Then Crassus perceiving 't was a kind Trick of Vibius took the Damsels to him and kept them there with him as long as he staid who gave an account to Vibius of what they wanted and how their Case stood One of which Ladies though she was very old Femestellus says he had seen and often heard her tell the Story When Crassus had lain concealed there eight Months as soon as he understood Cinna was dead he appeared abroad a great number of People flocking to him out of which he selected 2500. He visited many Cities and as some write sack'd Halaca though he ever obstinately denied it hence getting together some Ships he passes into Africa and joyns with Metellus Pius an eminent Person that had raised a very considerable Army but upon some difference between him and Metellus he stay'd not long there but went over to Sylla by whom he was very much esteemed when Sylla passed over into Italy he kept all the young Noble-men that were with him in Employment some he dispatched one way and some another it fell to Crassus his share to raise men among the Marsians he demanded a Guard being to pass through the Enemie's Countrey to whom Sylla replied sharply I give you for Guard your Father your Brother your Friends and Kindred whose unjust and cruel murther I am now going to revenge whereat Crassus being netled he went his way broke boldly through the Enemy and behaved himself briskly in all Sylla's Encounters from whence they say began the Emulation for Glory between him and Pompey for though Pompey was the younger man and had the disadvantage to be descended of a Father that was disesteemed by the Citizens and hated as much as ever Man was yet in these Affairs he appeared so glorious and great that Sylla always used when he came in to stand up and pull off his Hat an Honour which he seldom shewed to Older men and of as good Quality evermore he saluted him Imperator this fir'd and stung Crassus though indeed 't was but Pompey's due to be preferred for he both wanted experience and his two innate Vices Sordidness and Avarice Tarnish'd all the Lustre of his Actions for when he had taken Turdesia a Town of the Vmbrians he converted all the Spoil to his own use for which he was complained of to Sylla Nay in the last and greatest Battle before Rome it self where Sylla was worsted some of his Batalions giving ground and others quite broken though Crassus got the Victory in the right Wing which he Commanded and pursued the Enemy till night he then sent to Sylla to acquaint him with his Success and demand Provision for his Soldiers By Prescriptions and Sequestrations he lost his repute by making great purchases for little or nothing and expecting Presents too besides Nay they say he sequestred some one of the Brescians without Sylla's Order only for his own profit wherefore Sylla never after trusted him in any Publick Affairs As no man was more cunning than Crassus to ensnare others by flattery so no man lay more open to it or swallowed the Bait more greedily than himself and this particularly was observed of him that though he was the most covetous