thought that this very thing was not one of the least Causes and Occasions of the Civil War for Pompey judging of the Peoples Affections by their Actions together with the greatness of their Joy was grown to that height of Pride and Conceit that having laid aside that prudent Conduct and Caution which had hitherto secured and crowned all his Actions with good Success he entertained a most extravagant Confidence of his own and Contempt of Caesar's Power insomuch that he thought neither Force nor Care necessary against him but that he could pull him down much easier than he had set him up Besides this there was Appius under whose Command those Legions which Pompey lent to Caesar were returned coming lately out of Gaul very much vilified Caesar's Actions there and gave out scandalous Reports in derogation of his Honour telling Pompey That he was unacquainted with his own Strength and Reputation if he made use of any other Forces against Caesar than his own for such was the Soldiers Hatred to Caesar and their Love to Pompey so great that they would all come over to him upon his first Appearance By these Flatteries was Pompey strangely pufft up and his Confidence had wrought him into such a careless Security that he could not choose but laugh at those who seem'd to fear a War And when some were saying That if Caesar should bend his Forces against the City they could not see what Power was able to resist him he reply'd with a scornful Smile bidding them take no care of that for said he Whene'er I stamp with my Foot in any part of Italy there will rise up Forces enough in an instant both Horse and Foot Now Caesar on the other side was more vigorous in his Proceedings himself always at hand hovering about the Frontiers of Italy and sending some of his Soldiers continually into the City to attend all Elections with their Votes Besides this he corrupted divers of the Magistrates and brought them over to his Party by Pensions whereof Paulus the Consul was one who was wrought over by a Bribe of 1500 Talents And Curio a Tribune of the People by a discharge of all his Debts which he had contracted without number together with Mark Anthony who out of Friendship to Curio became bound with him in the same Obligations for them all And 't is undoubtedly true That a Centurion of Caesar's waiting at the Senate-House and hearing that the Senate refused to give him a larger term in the continuance of his Government clapt his Hand upon his Sword and said But this shall give it and indeed all his Practices and Preparations were in order to this end Now Curio's Demands and Request in favour of Caesar were much more popular in appearance for he desir'd one of these two things either That Pompey should put away his Army or that Caesar's should not be taken away from him For if both of them were private Persons common Humanity would keep them within the bounds of their Duty or if they were of equal Authority they would be a ballance to each other and sit down contented with their Lot but he that weakens one does at the same time strengthen the other and so doubles that very Strength and Power which he stood in fear of before Marcellus the Consul reply'd nothing to all this but that Caesar was a Thief and should be proclaimed an Enemy to the State if he did not disband his Army However Curio with the Assistance of Anthony and Piso prevail'd that the Matter in Debate should be put to the Question and decided by Vote in the Senate So that it being order'd upon the Question for those to withdraw who were of opinion That Caesar only should lay down his Army and Pompey command the Majority withdrew But when 't was order'd again for those to withdraw whose Vote was That both should lay down their Arms and neither command there were but 22 for Pompey all the rest remained of Curio's side Whereupon he as one proud of his Conquest leapt out for Joy among the People who received him with as great tokens of Joy clapping their Hands and crowning him with Garlands and Flowers Pompey was not then present in the Senate because it is not lawful for the General of an Army to come into the City But Marcellus rising up said That he would not sit there hearing Speeches when he saw that ten Legions had already pass'd the Alpes in their March toward the City but that he would send a Man of equal Authority against them in defence of their Country Upon this the City went into Mourning as in a publick Calamity and Marcellus accompanied by the Senate went solemnly through the City towards Pompey and spoke thus to him Pompey I command thee to appear in defence of thy Country with those Forces thou hast at present in readiness and to raise more with all speed Lentulus the Consul elect for the Year following spoke much to the same purpose But Anthony contrary to an Order of Senate in a publick Assembly read a Letter of Caesar's containing many fair Overtures at leastwise very obliging to the common People wherein he desir'd That both Pompey and he quitting their Governments and dismissing their Armies should submit to the Judgment of the People and give an account of their Actions before them insomuch that when Pompey began to make his Levies and muster up his new-rais'd Soldiers he found himself disappointed in his Expectations Some few indeed came in but those very unwillingly others would not answer to their Names and the generality cry'd out for Peace Lentulus notwithstanding he was now enter'd upon his Consulship would not assemble the Senate but Cicero who was lately return'd from Cilicia labour'd for a Reconciliation proposing That Caesar should leave his Province of Gaul and Army reserving two Legions only together with the Government of Illyricum and to be had in nomination for a second Consulship Pompey disliking this motion Caesar's Friends were contented that he should quit one of his Legions too but Lentulus still opposing and Cato crying out That Pompey did ill to be deceived again the Reconciliation did not take effect In the mean time News was brought That Caesar had taken Ariminum a great City in Italy and was marching directly towards Rome with all his Forces but this latter was altogether false for he had no more with him at that time than 300 Horse and 5000 Foot and would not tarry for the Body of his Army which lay beyond the Alpes choosing rather by surprize to fall in of a sudden upon his Enemies while they were in Confusion and did not expect him than to give them time to make Preparations for War For when he came to the Bank of Rubicon a River that made the bounds of his own Province towards Italy there he made a Halt pausing a little and considering with himself the greatness of that Enterprize which he had undertaken
then at last like Men that are throwing themselves headlong from some Precipice into a vast Abyss having blinded and withdrawn his mind from the thoughts of Danger he transported his Army saying this only to those that were present with a loud voice in the Greek Language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Let the Die be Cast No sooner was the News arriv'd but there was an Uproar throughout all the City and a Consternation in the People even to astonishment such as never was known in Rome before all the Senate ran immediately to Pompey and the Magistrates follow'd Now when Tullus made enquiry touching his Legions and Forces Pompey seem'd to pause a little and answer'd with some hesitation That he had those two Legions ready that Caesar sent back and for his new rais'd Forces he believ'd they would shortly make up a Battalion of 30000 Men but Tullus reply'd with a loud voice O Pompey thou hast deceiv'd us and presently gave his Advice to dispatch Ambassadors to Caesar Favonius who was no ill Man otherwise than in his petulant and abusive way of Talking which he seem'd to affect in imitation of Cato's freedom of Speech he bid Pompey stamp upon the ground and call forth the Forces he had promis'd But Pompey very patiently bore with all this unseasonable Railery so that Cato putting him in mind of what he had foretold from the very beginning touching Caesar he made this Answer only That Cato indeed had spoke more like a Prophet but he had acted more like a Friend Cato then advised them to choose Pompey General with absolute Power and Authority saying That the same Men who do great Evils know best how to Cure them He therefore went his way forthwith into Sicily the Province that was allotted him and all the rest of the Senators likewise departed every one to his respective Government Thus all Italy in a manner being up in Arms it seem'd very doubtful what was best to be done For they that were without came from all Parts flocking into the City and they that were within seeing the Confusion and Disorder so great there went out and forsook it as fast They that were willing to obey were found too weak for Service and the Disobedient were found too strong to be govern'd by the Magistrates Nay it was so far from being possible to allay their Fears that they would not suffer Pompey to follow his own Judgment but every Man would have him act according to his particular Fancy whether it proceeded from Doubt Fear Grief or any meaner Passion whereby they became so disordered in their apprehension of things that even in the same day they were often forced to make use of quite contrary Counsels Then again 't was altogether as impossible to have any good intelligence of his Enemies for what each Man heard by chance upon a flying Rumour he would report for truth and take it hainously of Pompey if he did not believe it Pompey at length seeing such a Confusion in Rome determin'd with himself to put an end to their Clamours by his Departure and therefore commanding all the Senate to follow him and declaring That whosoever tarried behind should be judg'd a Confederate of Caesar's about the dusk of the Evening he went out and left the City the Consuls also follow'd after in a Hurry without offering any Sacrifice to the Gods as is usual before a War But above all Pompey himself was extremely fortunate that even in the midst of all these Calamities he had the Love and Good-will of the People for though many condemned the War and Office of a General yet no Man hated the General himself insomuch as there were more to be found of those that went out of Rome for that they would not forsake Pompey than of those that fled for love of their Liberty Some few days after Pompey was gone out Caesar came into the City and made himself Master of it treating all the rest with a great deal of Courtesie and appeasing their Fears all except Metellus one of the Tribunes but when he refused to let him take any Money out of the common Treasury Caesar threatned him with death adding a sharper Sentence to his Threats That it was far easier for him to do it than say it Thereupon after he had turned Metellus out of his Office and taken what Monies were of use for his occasions he set forwards in pursuit of Pompey endeavouring with all speed to drive him out of Italy before his Army that was in Spain could joyn with him But Pompey arriving at Brundusium and having provided a Fleet of Ships there the two Consuls imbarked immediately and with them there were shipt off 30 Cohorts or Regiments of Foot bound before him for Dyrrachium He sent likewise his Father-in-law Scipio and Câ—eus his Son into Syria to provide and fit out a Fleet there himself in the mean time having barred up the Gates and fortified the Works of the City placed his lightest Soldiers as Guards upon the Walls and giving express Orders that the Citizens should keep within door he cast up divers Trenches and Rampiers which he fortify'd with Palisadoes or sharp-pointed Piles throughout all the Streets of the City except only those two that lead down to the Sea-side or Haven Thus in three days space having with ease put all the rest of his Army on Ship-board he suddenly gave the Signal to those that guarded the Walls who as nimbly repairing to the Ships were receiv'd and transported Caesar when he perceived the Walls unguarded imagining with himself that they were fled made haste after but in the heat of the pursuit was very nigh falling upon the Stakes and Trenches had not the Brundusians prevented him wherefore he wheeled about and fetching a compass round the City made towards the Haven where he found all the Fleet under Sail excepting only two Vessels that had but a few Soldiers aboard Some are of opinion That this Departure of Pompey's is to be ranged among the best of his Stratagems but Caesar himself could not but admire that he who was ingarrison'd in a City well Fortify'd who was in expectation of his Forces from Spain and was Master of the Sea besides should ever leave and depart out of Italy Cicero likewise blam'd him in that he follow'd the Counsels of Themistocles rather than of Pericles whereas the state of his Affairs was more agreeable to the Circumstances of the latter than those of the former However it appear'd plainly and Caesar shew'd it by his Actions that he was in great fear of the Times for when he had taken Numerius a Friend of Pompey's Prisoner he sent him as an Ambassador to Brundusium with offers of Peace and Reconciliation upon equal terms but Numerius sail'd away with Pompey And now Caesar being Master of all Italy in 60 days without a drop of Bloodshed had a great desire forthwith to follow Pompey but being destitute of
Shipping he was forc'd to divert his course and march into Spain designing to joyn those Forces of Pompey there to his own In the mean time Pompey had rais'd a mighty Army both by Sea and Land As for his Navy 't was altogether invincible for there were 500 Men of War besides an infinite company of Galliots Foists and Pinaces Then for his Land-Forces the Cavalry made up a Body of 7000 Horse the very flower of Rome and Italy Men of Honour Wealth and Courage but the Infantry was a mixture of raw and unexperienc'd Soldiers and therefore he exercised and train'd them up daily near the City Beraea where he had quarter'd and lodg'd his Army himself no ways slothful but performing all his Exercises as if he had been in the flower of his Youth This exemplary Conduct raised the Spirits of his Soldiers extremely for it was no small Encouragement for them to see Pompey the Great 60 Years of Age wanting two one while trailing a Pike and handling his Arms among the Foot in all his Postures then again mounted among the Horse drawing out his Sword with ease in full career and sheathing it up as easily And in darting the Javelin there he shew'd not only his skill and dexterity in hitting the Mark but his strength and activity in throwing it so far that few of the youngest went beyond him Several Kings and Princes of other Nations came thither to him but there was a glorious appearance of Roman Magistrates and so numerous that they made up a compleat Senate Labienus forsook his old Friend Caesar whom he had serv'd throughout all his Wars in Gaul and came over to Pompey And Brutus Son to that Brutus that was put to Death in Gaul a Man of great Spirit and one that to that day had never so much as saluted or spoke to Pompey looking upon him as the Murderer of his Father came then and submitted himself to him as the defender of their Liberty Cicero likewise though he wrote and advis'd otherwise yet was asham'd not to be accounted in the number of those that would hazard their Lives and Fortunes for the safeguard of their Country And last of all there came to him even into Macedonia Tidius Sextus a Man extremely Old and Lame of one Leg others indeed mock'd and laugh'd at the Spectacle but Pompey as soon as he saw him rose and ran to meet him esteeming it no small assurance of their Good-will when Men of such Age and Infirmities should rather choose to be with him in danger than in safety at home Afterwards in a Council of War there passed a Decree which was pronounced by Cato as President That no Roman Citizen should be put to Death but in Battel and that they should not Sack or Plunder any City that was subject to the Roman Empire By these means Pompey's Party grew into greater Reputation insomuch that they who were no ways at all concern'd in the War either because they dwelt afar off or were thought incapable by reason of their Infirmities were yet in their opinions of his side and did in all their Discourses even fight for his Cause calling it the good or just Cause esteeming those as Enemies to the Gods and Men that wished not Victory to Pompey Neither was Pompey's Clemency such but that Caesar likewise shew'd himself as merciful a Conqueror for when he had taken and overthrown all Pompey's Forces in Spain he gave them Quarter leaving the Commanders at their Liberty and taking the common Soldiers into his own Pay Then repassing the Alpes and making a running March through Italy he came to Brundusium about the Winter Solstice and crossing the Sea there landed at the Port of Oricum Now Caesar having Jubius an intimate Friend of Pompey's with him as his Prisoner dispatch'd him to Pompey in an Embassage entreating That they meeting together in a Conference as one should disband both their Armies within three days and renewing their former Friendship with solemn Oaths should return together into Italy Pompey look'd upon this again as some new Stratagem or Device and therefore marching down in all haste towards the Sea-Coast possessed himself of all Forts and Places of Strength fit to encamp in and secure his Land-Forces as likewise of all Ports and Harbours commodious to receive any that came by Sea so that what Wind soever blew it must needs in some way or other be favourable to him bringing in either Provision Men or Money But Caesar on the contrary was so distressed both by Sea and Land that he was forc'd to desire Battel daily provoking the Enemy and assailing them in their very Forts and in these light Skirmishes for the most part had the better only once he was dangerously overthrown and likely to have lost his whole Army For Pompey having valiantly re-inforced the Battel made a desperate Charge upon him even to a total Rout of all his Army and the Slaughter of 2000 upon the Place but either he was not able to force their Camp or he was afraid to fall in pell-mell together with them Insomuch as Caesar told some of his Friends How that day had given an absolute Conquest to the Enemy if they had had but a Man that knew how to Conquer Pompey's Soldiers were so mightily encourag'd by this Victory that they would needs have it put to the decision of a Battel but Pompey himself though he wrote to Foreign Kings Princes and States in Confederacy with him as a Conqueror yet was afraid to hazard the Success of a Battel choosing rather by delays and distress of Provisions to tire out those who had never yet been Conquer'd by force of Arms but had always when they fought in a body been accustom'd to Victory Besides the Infirmities of their Age which now made them quickly weary of those other Hardships of War such as were long Marches and frequent Decampings making of Trenches and building of Fortifications made them willing to fight and venture the Battel with all speed Pompey had all along hitherto by his Perswasions pretty well quieted his Soldiers but after this last Engagement when Caesar for want of Provisions was forc'd to raise his Camp and had passed through Athamania into Thessaly it was impossible to curb or allay the heat of their Spirits any longer For all crying out with a general Voice That Caesar is fled some were for pursuing and pressing upon him others for returning into Italy some there were that sent their Friends and Servants before hand to Rome to hire Houses near the Forum or Market-place whereby they might be in a readiness to sue for Offices and Places in the Government But several were so vain as to sail for Lesbos in a Compliment to Cornelia with this joyful News That the War was brought to an end for Pompey had privately convey'd her thither from the Tumults in Rome Hereupon a Council of War was call'd and the Matter being under debate Afranius was
Varro Pompey's Lieutenants and to make himself Master of the Army and Provinces under them that he might more securely advance against Pompey when he had no Enemy left behind him In this Expedition his Person was often in danger from Ambuscades and his Army by want of Provisions yet he did not desist from pursuing the Enemy provoking them to fight and besieging them till by main force he made himself Master of their Camps and their Forces Only the Officers got off and fled to Pompey When Caesar came back to Rome Piso his Father in Law advis'd him to send Men to Pompey to treat of a Peace but Isauricus to ingratiate himself with Caesar spoke against it Caesar after this being chose Dictator by the Senate called home the Exiles advanced to Titles of Honour the Children of such as had suffer'd under Sylla and such as were in debt by retrenching some part of the Interest and touch'd upon some other Regulations like these but not many For within 11 days he resign'd his Dictatorship and having declar'd himself Consul with Servilius Isauricus made haste to the Camp again He march'd so fast that he left all his Army behind him except 600 chosen Horse and 5 Legions with which he put to Sea in the very middle of Winter about the beginning of the Month January which the Athenians call Posideon and having past the Ionian Sea took Oricum and Apollonia and then sent back the Ships to Brundusium to bring over the Soldiers that were left behind in the march These Soldiers as they were upon the Road being very much wasted in their Bodies and tir'd with the fatigue of so many Engagements talkt against Caesar after this manner When at last and where will this Caesar let us be quiet He carries us from place to place and uses us as if we were not to be worn out and had no sense of labour Even our Iron it self is spent by blows and we ought to have some pity on our Bucklers and Breast-plates which have been us'd so long Doth not Caesar gather from our wounds that we are mortal Men whom he commands and that we are subject to the same Calamities and Diseases as other Mortals are 'T is impossible for a God himself to force the Winter-Season or to hinder the Storms when they rage Yet he pushes forward as if he were not pursuing but flying from an Enemy This was their Discourse as they march'd leisurely towards Brundusium But when they came thither and found that Caesar was gone off before them they chang'd their Sentiments and blam'd themselves as Traitors to their General They now rail'd at their Officers for marching so slowly and placing themselves on the Promontories by the Sea-side over-against Epirus lookt out to see if they could espy the Vessels which were to transport them to Caesar He in the mean time was posted in Apollonia but had not an Army with him able to fight the Enemy the Forces from Brundusium being so long a coming which put him into a great suspence and loss what to do At last he entred upon a dangerous project which was to go in a Vessel of 12 Oars without any ones knowledge over to Brundusium though the Sea was at that time cover'd with a vast Fleet of the Enemies He embark'd in the night-time in the habit of a Slave and throwing himself down like some inconsiderable Fellow lay along at the bottom of the Vessel The River Anius was to carry them down to Sea and there us'd to blow a gentle gale every morning from the Land which made it very calm towards the mouth of the River by driving the Waves forward but that night there blew a strong Wind from the Sea which overpower'd that from the Land so that betwixt the violence of the Tide and the resistance of the Waves against it the River was very rough and so uneven and dangerous that the Pilot could not make good his Passage but order'd his Sailors to tack about Caesar upon this discovers himself and taking the Pilot by the Hand who was surprised to see him there said Go on boldly my Friend and fear nothing thou carriest Caesar and his Fortune along with thee The Mariners when they heard that forgot the Storm and laying all their Strength to their Oars did what they could to force their way down the River But when it was to no purpose and the Vessel now took in much Water Caesar finding himself in so great danger in the very mouth of the River permitted the Master though much against his will to turn back When he was come to Land his Soldiers ran to him in whole Troops and exprest how much they were troubled that he should think himself not strong enough to get a Victory by their sole Assistance but must needs disturb himself and expose his Person for those who were absent as if he could not trust those who were with him After this Antony came over with the Forces from Brundusium which encourag'd Caesar to give Pompey Battel though he was encamp'd very advantageously and furnish'd with plenty of Provisions both by Sea and Land whilst he himself who at first had been but ill stock'd was now at last extreamly pinch'd for want of Necessaries so that his Soldiers were forc'd to dig up a kind of Root which grew there and tempering it with Milk to feed on it Sometimes they made Loaves and in their Incursions on the Enemies Out-guards would throw in those Loaves telling them that as long as the Earth produc'd such Roots they would not leave off to besiege Pompey But Pompey took what care he could that neither the Loaves nor the Words should reach his Men for they would have been disheartned at the fierceness and hardiness of their Enemies and look'd upon them as a Kin to the savage Nature of Wild Beasts There were continual Skirmishes about Pompey's Out-works in all which Caesar had the better except one when his Men were forc'd to fly in such a manner that he had like to have lost his Camp For Pompey made such a vigorous Sally on them that not a Man stood his ground the Trenches were fill'd with dead Bodies many fell upon their own Ramparts and Bulwarks being closely pursu'd by the Enemy Caesar met them and would have turn'd them back but could not When he went to lay hold of the Colours those who carried them threw them down so that the Enemies took 32 of them He himself narrowly escap'd for taking hold of a big lusty Fellow that was flying by him he bad him stand and face about but the Fellow full of apprehensions from the danger he was in began to handle his Sword as if he would strike Caesar and had done it had not Caesar's Arm-bearer prevented the blow by chopping off the Man's Arm. Caesar's Affairs were so desperate at that time that when Pompey either through fear or his ill Fortune did not give the finishing stroke to that great Action
Decree Metellus before-hand possessed the Forum with armed Men Strangers Gladiators and Slaves and all those that in hopes of Change followed Pompey which was no small part of the People besides they had great Assistance from Coesar who was then Proetor The best and chiefest Men of the City were no less offended at these Proceedings than Cato but they seemed rather likely to suffer with him than able to assist him In the mean time Cato's whole Family were in dreadful Fear and Apprehension for him some of his Friends did neither eat nor sleep all the night continuing in very great Perplexity his Wife and Sisters also bewailed and lamented him but he himself void of all Fear and full of Assurance did comfort and encourage them by his own Discourse After Supper he went to rest at his usual hour and was the next day waked out of a profound Sleep by Minutius Thermus one of his Collegues So soon as he was up they two went together into the Forum accompanied by very few but met by a great many who bid them have a care of themselves Cato when he saw the Temple of Castor and Pollux incompassed with armed Men and the ascent to it guarded by Gladiators at the top whereof sate Metellus and Caesar together turning to his Friends Behold said he that couragious Fellow who has raised so great Forces against one unarmed naked man and so he went on with Thermus They who kept the Passages gave way to those two but would not let any body else pass yet Cato taking Munatius by the Hand with much difficulty pull'd him thorow along with him Then going directly to Metellus and Caesar he sate himself down between them to prevent their talking to one another at which they were both amazed And those of the honest Party observing the Countenance and admiring the Spirit and Boldness of Cato went nearer and cry'd out to him to have Courage exhorting one another to stand together and not betray their Liberty nor the Defender of it Then the Clerk took out the Bill but Cato forbade him to read it whereupon Metellus took it and would have read it himself but Cato snatch'd away the Book Yet Metellus having the Decree by heart began to recite it without book but Thermus clapp'd his Hand to his Mouth and stopp'd his Speech Metellus seeing them fully bent to withstand him and the People inclining to their side sent to his House for armed Men who rushing in with great noise and terrour they all dispers'd and run away except Cato who alone stood still while the other Party threw Sticks and Stones at him from below Murena whom he had formerly accused could not brook this but came to him and holding his Gown before him cryed out to them to leave off throwing in â—ine perswading and pulling him along he forc'd him into the Temple of Caster and Pollux Metellus now seeing the Place clear and all the adverse Party fled out of the Forum thought he might easily carry his Point so he commanded the Souldiers to retire and going orderly to work he began to proceed in passing the Decree But the other side having recollected themselves returned very boldly and with great shouting insomuch that Metellus his Adherents were utterly dismayed and fled every one out of the Place They being thus dispersed Cato came in again and confirmed the Courage and commended the Resolution of the People so that now the Multitude were by all means for deposing Metellus from his Office The Senate also being presently assembled gave Orders to stand by Cato and to oppose this Decree which would certainly raise great Disturbance and perhaps Civil War in the Common wealth But Metellus continued still very bold and resolute and seeing his Party stood greatly in fear of Cato whom they look'd upon as invincible he flung out of the Senate and going into the Forum he assembled the People to whom he made a bitter and invidious Speech against Cate crying out He was forc'd to fly from his Tyranny and this Conspiracy against Pompey that the City would soon repent their having dishonoured so great a Man Cato was highly magnified for having thus delivered the State from the dangerous Tribuneship of Metellus and thereby in some measure diminished the Power of Pompey But he was more commended for that the Senate intending to disgrace Metellus and depose him from his Office Cato did altogether oppose and at length divert that Design For which the Common People admired his Moderation and Humanity in not insulting on an Enemy whom he had overthrown but wise Men acknowledged his Prudence and Policy in not exasperating Pompey After this Lucullus returned from the War in Asia the finishing of which and thereby the Glory of the whole would in all appearance fall to Pompey Lucullus also was like to lose his Triumph for Câ—ius Memmius traduced him to the People and threatned to accuse him which he did rather out of Love to Pompey than for any particular Enmity to Lucullus But Cate being related to Lucullus who had married his Sister Servilia and also thinking this design very unjust opposed Memmius and thereby underwent many Slanders and false Accusations insomuch that they would have turned him out of his Office pretending that he used his Power tyrannically Yet at length Cato so far prevailed against Memmius that he was forc'd to let fall the Accusations and to desist from his Design Lucullus having thus obtained his Triumph did yet more carefully cultivate Cato's Friendship which he look'd upon as a great guard and defence against Pompey's Power Pompey the Great also returning from the Army and considing in the Glory of his Actions and the Good-will of the People thought he should be denied nothing Therefore he sent to the Senate to put off the Assembly for the choice of Consuls till he could be present to assist Piso who stood for that Office To this most of the Senate presently yielded only Cato not thinking that this delay would be of any great importance but desiring to lessen and cut off the Hopes and Designs of Pompey withstood his Request and so over-ruled the Senate that 't was carried against him This did not a little trouble Pompey who found he should very often fail in his Designs unless he could bring over Cato to his Interest Therefore he sent for his Friend Munatius and Cato having two Neeces that were marriageable he offered to marry the eldest himself and take the youngest for his Son Some say they were not his Neeces but his Daughters whom Pompey would have thus married Munatius proposed the Matter to Cato in presence of his Wife and Sisters the Women very much desired the Alliance of so great and worthy a Person but Cato without delay or balancing presently answered Go Munatius go tell Pompey that Cato is not to be wrought upon by Women tho' otherwise I very much value his Kindness And while he deals uprightly in the State he shall find
always speak his Opinion And he did accordingly for first when Pompey made severe Laws for punishing and laying great Fines on those who had corrupted the People with Gifts Cato advised him To let alone what was already pass'd and to provide for the future for if he should seek into past Crimes it would he difficult to know where to stop and if he would ordain new Penalties it would be unreasonable to punish Men by a Law which they had never broken Afterward when many considerable Men and some of Pompey's own Relations were accused he grew remiss and let fall the Prosecution but Cato sharply reprov'd him and urg'd him to proceed Pompey had made a Law also to forbid the custom of making commendatory Orations on behalf of those that were accused yet he himself writ one for Munatius Flaccus and sent it while the Cause was pleading which Cato seeing he stopt his Ears with his Hands and would not hear it read for he was one of the Judges Whereupon Flaccus before Sentence was given excepted against him but was condemned notwithstanding And indeed Cato was the occasion of great Trouble and Perplexity to almost all that were accused of any thing for they fear'd to have him one of their Judges yet did not dare to reject him and many had been condemned because refusing him they seemed not to trust their own Innocence To others it was objected as a great Reproach the not accepting Cato for their Judge In the mean while Caesar lay with his Forces in Gaul where he continued in Arms and at the same time by his Gifts his Riches and his Friends increas'd his Power in the City Hereupon Cato forewarn'd Pompey and rouz'd him out of the negligent Security in which he lay not imagining any Danger near but seeing Pompey very slow and unwilling or afraid to undertake any thing against Caesar Cato resolved himself to stand for the Consulship and presently force Caesar either to lay down his Arms or discover his Intentions Both Cato's Competitors were persons very much beloved by the People Sulpitius who was one had by Cato's means acquired great Credit and Authority in the City therefore it was thought unhandsom and ungratefully done to stand against him but Cato did not take it ill For 't is no wonder said he if a man will not yield to another in that which he esteems the greatest Good Now he perswaded the Senate to make an Order That those who stood for Offices should themselves ask the People for their Votes and not sollicite by others This very much offended the common People for it took from them not only the means of receiving Money but also the opportunity of obliging several Persons and so rendred them both poor and less regarded Besides Cato himself was by nature altogether unfit for the business of Canvassing for he took more care to preserve the dignity of his Character than to obtain the Office Thus by following his own way of Solliciting and not suffering his Friends to do those things which take with the Multitude he lost the Consulship Whereas upon such like Occasions not only those who miss'd the Office but even their Friends and Relations used to be much griev'd and out of Countenance for several days after yet Cato took it so unconcernedly that he anointed himself and play'd at Ball in the Field and after Dinner went into the Forum as he used to do without his Shooes or his Coat and there walked about with his Acquaintance But Cicero Blamed him for that when Affairs required such a Consul he would not take any Care nor shew the People any Civility as also that he afterward neglected to try again whereas he had stood a second time to be chosen Praetor Cato answer'd That he lost the Praetorship the first time not by any dislike of the People but by the power and corruption of his Adversaries whereas in the Election of Consuls there had been no foul dealing So that he plainly saw the People were offended at his Manners which an honest man ought not to alter for their sake nor yet would a wise man attempt the same thing again while he lies under the same Prejudices Caesar was then fighting with many warlike Nations whom he very bravely subdued Among the rest it seems he had set upon the Germans who yet were in Peace with the Romans and slew three hundred thousand of them Upon which some of his Friends moved the Senate for a publick Thanksgiving but Cato declared They ought to deliver Caesar into the hands of those who had been thus unjustly assaulted that they might expiate the Offence and not bring a Curse upon the City yet we have reason said he to thank the Gods for that they spared the Commonwealth and did not take Vengeance upon the Army for the Madness and Folly of the General Hereupon Caesar writ a Letter to the Senate which was read openly 't was full of reproachful Language and Accusations against Cato who standing up seemed not at all concern'd and without any Heat or Passion but with a calm and as it were premeditated Discourse expos'd the Scurrility and Folly of Caesar making it evident that the Accusations he had heap'd together against him were nothing but abusive and ridiculous Railing Then he began to rip up all Caesar's Practices and laid open his Designs from the beginning as clearly as if he never had been an Enemy to him but a constant Confederate with him and told the Senate That if they were wise they would not fear the Britains and Gauls but Caesar himself This Discourse so mov'd and awaken'd the Senate that Caesars Friends repented they had made the Letter be read which had given Cato opportunity of many reasonable things and such severe Truths against him However nothing was then concluded only 't was hinted that they would do well to send him a Successor Hereupon Caesar's Friends required That Pompey also should lay down his Arms and resign his Provinces or else that Caesar might not be obliged to either Then Cato cry'd out What he had foretold was come to pass now'twas manifest he would come upon them with his Forces and turn against the State those Armies he had got by deceitfully imposing on them Yet Cato could not prevail much out of the Senate-house for the People always magnified Caesar And the Senate were convinced by Cato but were afraid of the People When News was brought That Caesar had taken Ariminum and was coming on with his Army toward Rome then all men even Pompey and the common People too cast their eyes on Cato who had alone foreseen and first clearly discover'd Caesar's Intentions He therefore told them If you had believ'd me or regarded my Advice you would not now have been reduc'd to stand in fear of one Man and also to put all your Hopes in one alone Then Pompey acknowledg'd That Cato indeed had spoken most like a Prophet and that himself had acted
too much like a Friend Now Cato advised the Senate to put all into the hands of Pompey for those who can raise up great Evils said he can best allay them Pompey finding he had not sufficient Forces and that those he could raise were not very resolute he forsook the City Cato resolving to follow Pompey sent his younger Son to Munatius who was then in the Countrey of Brutium and took his eldest with him But wanting some body to keep his House and take care of his Daughters he took Martia again who was now a rich Widow for Hortensius was dead and had left her all his Estate Caesar afterward made use of this Action also to reproach him with Covetousness and a mercenary Design in his Marriage For says he if he had need of a Wife why did he part with her and if he had not why did he take her again unless he gave her only as a Bait to Hortensius and lent her when she was young to have her again when she was rich But in Answer to this we may apply the Saying of Euripides First for Absurdities and surely none Will Hercules for want of Courage blame Now 't is alike absurd to reproach Hercules for Cowardice and to accuse Cato of Covetousness Though otherwise whether he did altogether right in this Marriage might be disputed for as soon as he had again taken Martia he committed his House and his Daughters to her and himself followed Pompey 'T is said that from that day he never cut his Hair nor shav'd his Beard nor wore a Garland but always full of sadness grief and dejectedness for the Calamities of his Countrey he continually bore the same Habit to the last whatever Party had Misfortune or Success The Government of Sicily being allotted to him he pass'd over to Syracuse where understanding that Asinius Pollio was arrived at Messana with Forces from the Enemy Cato sent to him to know the reason of his coming thither Pollio on the other side demanded of him the cause of these Commotions Cato also hearing that Pompey had quite abandon'd Italy and lay incamp'd at Dyrrachium he cry'd out How dark and uncertain is the Will of Heav'n Pompey when he did nothing wisely nor honestly was always successful and now that he would preserve his Countrey and defend her Liberty he is altogether unfortunate As for Asinius he said he could easily drive him out of Sicily but there coming greater Forces to his Assistance he would not engage the Island in a War wherefore he advised the Syracusians to submit to the Conqueror and provide for their own safety Then he set Sayl from thence When he came to Pompey he constantly gave Advice to prolong the War for he always hoped to compose Matters and would by no means that they should come to Action For the Commonwealth would suffer extreamly and be the certain cause of its own Ruine whoever were the Conqueror Moreover he persuaded Pompey and the Council of War to ordain That no City should be sack'd that was subject to the People of Rome and that no Roman should be kill'd but in the heat of Battel Thereby he got himself great Honour and brought over many to the Party of Pompey who were much taken with the Moderation and Humanity of Cato Afterward being sent into Asia to assist those who were raising Men and preparing Ships in those Parts he took with him his Sister Servilia and a little Boy which she had by Lucullus For since her Widowhood she had lived with her Brother and very much recover'd her Reputation having put her self under his Care follow'd him in his Voyages and comply'd with his severe way of Living yet Caesar did not fail to asperse him upon her account also Pompey's Officers in Asia it seems had no great need of Cato But he brought over the People of Rhodes by his Perswasions and leaving his Sister Servilia and her Child there he returned to Pompey who had now gotten together very great Forces both by Sea and Land And here Pompey clearly betray'd his own Intentions For at first he design'd to give Cato the Command of the Navy which consisted of no less than five hundred Ships of War besides a vast number of Pinaces Scouts and Tenders But presently bethinking himself or put in mind by his Friends that Cato's principal and only aim being to free his Countrey from all Usurpation if he were Master of so great Forces as soon as ever Caesar should be conquered he would certainly oblige Pompey to lay down his Arms and be subject to the Laws Therefore Pompey chang'd his Mind and tho' he had before mentioned it to Cato yet he made Bibulus Admiral Notwithstanding this it appear'd Cato's Affection to the publick Good was no way diminish'd For when they were ready to engage in a Battle at Dyrrachium Pompey himself encouraged the Army and commanded all the Officers to do the like yet the Souldiers hearkened to them but coldly and with silence Cato spoke last of all and discours'd to them out of the Principles of Philosophy such things as the Occasion required concerning Liberty Valour Death and Glory all which he delivered with great vehemence of Affection and concluded with an Invocation of the Gods to whom he directed his Speech as if they were present to behold them fight for their Countrey At this the Army gave such a Shout as fill'd all their Leaders with Hope and made them fall on without fear of Danger Caesar's Party were routed and put to flight yet his good Fortune took such advantage of Pompey's Cautiousness and Diffidence as rendred the Victory incompleat But of this we have spoken in the Life of Pompey Now while all the rest rejoyc'd and magnified their Success Cato alone bewail'd his Countrey and curs'd that fatal Ambition which made so many brave Romans murther one another After this Pompey following Caesar into Thessaly left at Dyrrachium a great quantity of Munition store of Riches and many of his Domesticks and Relations the charge of all which he gave to Cato with the Command only of fifteen Cohorts for tho' he trusted him much yet he was afraid of him too knowing full well that if he succeeded not Cato would never forsake him but if he conquer'd would never let him use his Victory at his pleasure There were likewise many Persons of eminent Quality that stay'd with Cato at Dyrrachium When they heard of the Overthrow at Pharsalia Cato resolv'd with himself that if Pompey were slain he would conduct those that were with him into Italy and then retire as fâ—r from the Tyranny of Caesar as he could and live in Exile but if Pompey were safe he would keep the Army together for him With this Resolution he pass'd over to Corcyra where the Navy lay There he would have resign'd his Command to Cicero because he had been Consul and himself only a Proetor but Cicero refus'd it and was going for Italy At which
whereby 't was suggested to Sylla That Pompey was up in Rebellion whereupon Sylla said to some of his Friends Well then I see 't is my destiny to contend with Children in my old Age reflecting likewise upon Marius for that he being but a meer Youth had found him Work enough and brought his Affairs into extreme Danger But Sylla being undeceived afterwards by a better Intelligence and hearing that the whole City in a manner had designed to meet Pompey and receive him with all Kindness and Honour he himself endeavoured to exceed them all in Civility and therefore going out foremost to meet him and embracing him with great joy he gave him his welcome aloud in the Title of Pompey the Great and commanded all those that were present to call him by that Name Others say That he had this Title first given him by a general Acclamation of all the Army in Africa but that it took its force and power from the ratification of Sylla but this is true That he himself was the last that owned the Title for 't was a long time after when he was sent Proconsul into Spain against Sertorius that he began to subscribe himself in his Letters and Commissions by the Name of Pompey the Great even then when the envy of the Title was worn off by being common and familiar Hence may the Wisdom of the ancient Romans be justly reverenced and had in Admiration That did not only reward the Successes of Action and Conduct in War with such honourable Titles but adorned likewise the Vertues and Services of eminent Men in the Civil Government with the same Distinctions and Characters of Honour and therefore the People stiled two by the Names of Maximi i. e. the Greatest Valerius for that he reconciled the Senate to the People when they were at Variance and Fabius Rullus for that he put out of the Senate certain Libertines that had been elected thither for their Riches Upon this Pompey desired the Honour of Triumph which Sylla opposed stifly alledging That the Law allowed that Honour to none but Consuls and Praetors and therefore Scipio the Elder who subdued the Carthaginians in Spain in far greater and nobler Conflicts never so much as Petitioned for Triumph because he had never attained to the Office of Consul or Praetor And if Pompey who had scarce a Hair in his Face nor yet of Age to be a Senator should enter the City in Triumph what a load of Envy would it cast at once upon Sylla's Government and Pompey's Honour These were the Arguments Sylla us'd against Pompey shewing that he should not by any means yield to his Request but if he would persist in his Ambition that he was resolved to interpose his Power and lay a Prohibition upon him as a Lover of Contention and Disobedience Pompey was no ways daunted at this but wished Sylla to recollect with himself That more worshipped the Rising than the Setting Sun intimating thereby That his Power was increasing and Sylla's in the wain Sylla did not perfectly hear the words but observing a sort of Amazement and Wonder in the Looks and Gestures of those that did hear them he asked What it was that he said When it was told him he seemed to be very much surprized with the Boldness of Pompey and cried out twice together E'ne let him Triumph But when others began to shew their Stomach and Disdain Pompey as t is said to gall and vex them the more designed to have his triumphant Chariot drawn with four Elephants having brought over several from the Spoils of those African Kings but the Gates of the City being too narrow he was forced to desist from that Project and make use of Horses in the next place some of his Soldiers who failed of some Rewards or been some way or other disappointed began to clamour and interrupt the Triumph but Pompey regarded these as little as the rest and plainly told them That he had rather lose the Honour of his Triumph than flatter them Whereupon Servilius a Person of great Quality and at first one of the chiefest Opposers of Pompey's Triumph said openly Now I perceive that Pompey is truly Great and worthy of Triumph 't is clearly manifest that he might easily have been a Senator if he would yet he did not sue for that esteeming Honour as a Paradox and hunting after it as 't is said not in the common Road but even there where no Man else ever did For what wonder had it been for Pompey in his nonage to sit in the Senate before his time but to triumph before he was of the Senate that was the excess of Glory to a Miracle This Contest of his with Sylla for Triumph did not a little ingratiate him in the good Will of the People for it could not but be extremely grateful for them to see one of their own Order in Triumph and then to return to them again and take his Place among the Roman Knights on the other side 't was no less ungrateful to Sylla to see how fast he came on and to what a height of Glory and Power he was advanced yet being ashamed to hinder him he smothered his Grief and lay quiet but when by plain force and in spite of him Pompey procured the Consulship for Lepidus having by his own Interest reconciled him to the Favour of the People Sylla could not contain himself any longer but spying him after the Election as he was crossing the Market-place with a great Train after him cried out to him Well Young-Man I see thou rejoycest in thy Conquest and for what cause I pritthee Is it not a generous and worthy Act think you that the priority of Consulship should be given to Lepidus the vilest of Men against Catulus the best and most deserving Man in all the City and all this forsooth by your Influence upon the People Well this I 'll advise thee and look to 't that thou dost not sleep but keep a vigilant Eye upon thy Affairs for thou hast raised up a dangerous Enemy to greater Power than thy self But that which gave the clearer demonstration of Sylla's Ill-will to Pompey and whereby his former Kindness appeared to have been specious only was his last Will and Testament for whereas he had bequeathed several Legaâ—ies to all the rest of his Friends and appointed some of them Guardians to his Son he passed by Pompey without the least remembrance however Pompey bore this with great Moderation and Civility insomuch that when Lepidus and others obstructed his Interment in the Campus Martius denying indeed any publick Solemnity of a Funeral he himself attended the Herse thereby giving both Honour and Security to it and having his Obsequies performed with all the Pomp and Solemnity of a Roman-General Shortly after the Death of Sylla that prophetick Speech of his to Pompey touching Lepidus came to pass for Lepidus usurping the Government and Authority that Sylla had did not go about
with which he design'd to go round by Arabia and Lybia and so by Hercules his Pillars into the Mediteranean in order to which he directed all sorts of Vessels to be built at Thapsacus and made great provision every where of Sea-men and Pilots But it fell out unluckily for this Enterprize that the Report of the Difficulties he went through in his Indian Expedition the danger of his Person among the Mallians the loss of a considerable part of his Forces and the general opinion that he would hardly return in safety occasion'd the Revolt of many conquer'd Nations and made the Commanders and Lieurenants in several Provinces presume to oppress the People with extream Injustice Avarice and Insolence So that there seem'd to be an universal fluctuation and disposition to Change Olympias and Cleopatra rais'd a Faction against Antipater and shar'd his Government between them Olympias seizing upon Epirus and Cleopatra upon Macedonia When Alexander was told of it he said His Mother had made the best choice for the Macedonians would never endure to be rul'd by a Woman Upon this he dispatch'd Nearchus again to the Fleet intending to carry the War into the maritime Provinces and as he march'd that way himself he punish'd those Commanders who had not behav'd themselves well particularly Oxyartes one of Abulites his Sons whom he kill'd with his own hand thrusting him through the Body with his Spear And when Abulites instead of the necessary Provisions which he ought to have furnish'd brought him 3000 Talents in Money ready coin'd he order'd it to be thrown to his Horses who not meddling with it What good does this Provision do me said he to him and sent him away to Prison When he came into Persia he distributed Money among the Women as their own Kings were wont to do who as often as they came thither gave every one of them a Crown for which Reason some of them came but seldom and Ochus was so sordidly Covetous that to avoid this Expence he never visited Persia all his Life though it was his Native Country Then finding Cyrus his Sepulcher open'd and rifled he put Polymachus who did it to death though he was a Man of Quality and born at Pella in Macedonia and after he had read the Inscription he caus'd it to be cut again below the old one in Greek Characters the words were these O Man whosoever thou art and from whencesoever thou comest for I know thou wilt come I am Cyrus the Founder of the Persian Empire do not envy me this little quantity of Earth which covers my Body The reading of this sensibly touch'd Alexander causing him to reflect seriously upon the incertainty and mutability of humane Affairs At the same time Calanus having been a little while troubled with a Loosness requested he might have a Funeral Pile erected to which he came on Horseback and after he had said some Prayers and sprinkled himself and cut off some of his Hair to throw into the Fire as was usual on such occasions before he ascended it he embrac'd and took leave of the Macedonians who stood by desiring them to pass that day in Mirth and good Fellowship with their King whom in a little time he said he doubted not but to see again at Babylon Having thus said he lay down and covering himself he stirr'd not when the Fire came near him but continued still in the same posture as at first and so sacrific'd himself as it was the ancient Custom of the Philosophers in those Countreys to do The same thing was done long after by another Indian who came with Caesar to Athens where they still shew you the Indians Monument At his return from the Funeral Pile Alexander invited a great many of his Friends and principal Officers to Supper and propos'd a Drinking-match in which the Victor should be crown'd Promachus drank 18 Quarts of Wine and won the Prize which weigh'd a talent from them all but he surviv'd his Victory but three days and was followed as Chares says by 41 more who died of the same Debauch by reason of the severe Frost which happen'd at that time At Susa he married Darius his Daughter Statira and celebrated the Nuptials of his Friends bestowing the noblest of the Persian Ladies upon the worthiest of them withal making a very splendid Entertainment for all the Macedonians who were married before at which it is reported there were no less than 9000 Guests to each of whom he gave a golden Cup for them to use in their Libations of Wine to the Honour of the Gods Not to mention other Instances of his wonderful Magnificence he paid the Debts of his whole Army which amounted to 9870 Talents But there was one Antigenes who had lost one of his Eyes though he ow'd nothing got his Name set down in the List of those who were in Debt and bringing one who pretended to be his Creditor to the Banquiers Table receiv'd the Money But when the Cheat was found out the King was so incens'd at it that he banish'd him from Court and took away his Command though he was an excellent Souldier and a Man of great Courage For when he was but a Youth and serv'd under Philip at the Siege of Perinthus where he was wounded in the Eye by an Arrow shot out of an Engine he would neither let the Arrow be taken out or be perswaded to quit the Field till he had bravely repuls'd the Enemy and forc'd them to retire into the Town A Man of his Spirit was not able to support such a Disgrace with any Patience and certainly Grief and Despair would have made him kill himself but that the King fearing it not only pardon'd him but let him also enjoy the Benefit of his Deceit The 30000 Boys which he left behind him to be taught the use of their Arms and military Discipline were so improv'd at his return both in Strength and Beauty and perform'd their Exercises with such Dexterity and wonderful Agility that he was extreamly pleas'd with them which griev'd the Macedonians and made them fear he would have the less Esteem for them And when he was sending away the infirm and maim'd Soldiers to Sea they said they were unjustly and infamously dealt with after they were worn out in his service upon all occasions now to be turn'd away with Disgrace and sent home into their Country among their Friends and Relations in a worse condition than when they came out therefore they desir'd him one and all to dismiss them and to account his Macedonians useless now he was so well furnished with dancing Boys with whom if he pleased he might go on and conquer the World These Speeches so enraged Alexander that after he had given them a great deal of reproachful Language in his Passion he drave them away and committed the Watch to Persians out of whom he chose his Life-guard and Serjeants
as compel the Senate who at the same time regretted what they were forc'd to pass Cato was not present for they had sent him aside very seasonably into Cyprus but Favonius who was a zealous imitator of Cato when he found he could do no good by opposing it broke out of the House and loudly declaim'd against these Proceedings to the People But none gave him hearing some slighting him out of respect to Crassus and Pompey others to gratifie Caesar on whom depended all their hopes After this Caesar return'd again to his Forces in Gaul where he found that Country involv'd in a dangerous War two strong People of the Germans having lately past the Rhine and made Inroads into it One of them call'd Ipes the other Tenterides Of the War with this People Caesar himself has given this Account in his Commentaries That the Barbarians having sent Ambassadors to treat with him did during the Treaty set upon him in his march by which means with 800 Men they routed 5000 of his Horse who did not suspect their coming that afterwards they sent other Ambassadors to pursue the same fraudulent practices whom he kept in Custody and led on his Army against the Barbarians as judging it would betray too much Easiness if he should keep Faith with those who broke their Promises and could not be oblig'd by any League Canusius saith that when the Senate decreed Festivals and Sacrifices for this Victory Cato declar'd it to be his Opinion that Caesar ought to be given into the hands of the Barbarians that so the guilt which this breach of Faith might otherwise bring upon the Publick might be expiated by transferring the Curse on him who was the Occasion of it Of those which past the Rhine there were 400000 cut off those few which escaped were shelter'd by the Sicambri a People of Germany Caesar took hold of this pretence to invade the Germans being otherwise ambitious of glory and especially of the Honour of being the first Man that should pass the Rhine with an Army He presently laid a Bridge over it though it was very wide and in that place deeper than ordinary and at the same time very rough and fierce carrying down with its Stream Trunks of Trees and other Lumber which much shock'd and weaken'd the foundations of his Bridge But he drove great Planks of Wood into the bottom of the River above the Bridge both to resist the impression of such Bodies and to break the force of the Torrent and by this means he finish'd his Bridge which no one who saw could believe it to be the Work of but 10 days In the passage of his Army over it he met with no opposition the Suevi themselves who are the most Warlike People of all Germany flying with their Effects into the closest and most woody part of the Vales. When he had burnt all the Enemies Countrey and encourag'd those who had remain'd firm to the Roman Interest he went back into Gaul after 18 days stay in Germany But his Expedition into Britain gave the most signal Testimony of his Courage for he was the first who brought a Navy into the Western Ocean or who sail'd through the Atlantick with an Army to make War and though the Island is of so incredible an extent that it has given room to Historians to dispute whether such an Island really be in Nature or whether 't is a bare Name and Fiction yet he attempted to conquer it and to carry the Roman Empire beyond the Limits of the known World He past thither twice from that part of Gaul which lies over-against it and in several Battles which he fought did more disservice to the Enemy than service to himself for the Islanders were so miserably poor that they had nothing worth being plundred of When he found himself unable to put such an end to the War as he wish'd he was content to take Hostages from the King and to impose some Taxes and then quitted the Island At his arrival in Gaul he found Letters which lay ready to be convey'd over the Water to him from his Friends at Rome to give him Notice of his Daughters death who died in Labour of a Child by Pompey Caesar and Pompey were much afflicted with her Death nor were their Friends less disturb'd because that Alliance was now quite broke which had hitherto kept the Commonwealth in Peace and Amity for the Child also died within a few days after the Mother The People took the Body of Julia by force from the Tribunes and buried it in the Campus Martius with all Solemnities proper on that Occasion Caesar's Army was now grown very numerous so that he was forc'd to disperse them into several Winter-Quarters and being gone himself towards Rome as he us'd to do there was a sudden Rupture in Gaul and great Armies were on their march about the Country who beat up the Romans Quarters and attempted to make themselves Masters of the Forts where they lay The greatest and strongest Party of the Rebels under the Command of Ambiorix cut off Cotta and Titurius with their Army After that the Enemies invested a Town where Cicero lay with his Legion with an Army of 60000 Men and had almost taken it by Storm the Roman Souldiers in it being all wounded and having quite spent themselves by a brisk and vigorous defence beyond their Natural strength But Caesar who was at a great distance having receiv'd notice of this quickly got together 7000 Men and hasten'd to relieve Cicero The Besiegers were aware of it and went to meet him with great confidence that they should with ease devour such an handful of Men. Caesar to nourish their presumption seem'd to avoid fighting and still march'd off till he found a place conveniently situate for a few to engage against many where he encamp'd He kept his Souldiers from making any Incursion on the Enemy and commanded them to raise a Bulwark and to build strong Barricadoes that by shew of fear they might heighten the Enemies contempt of them till at last they came without any order in great security to make an Attack when he made a Sally and put them to flight with the loss of many Men. This quieted many Commotions in these parts of Gaul and Caesar made his progress through several parts of the Country and with great vigilance provided against all Innovations At that time there were 3 Legions come to him by way of Recruits for the Men he had lost of which Pompey furnish'd him with two out of those under his Command the other was newly rais'd in that part of Gaul which is by the Po. After this the Seeds of War which had long since been secretly sown and scatter'd by the most powerful Men in those Warlike Nations broke forth and ripen'd into the greatest and most dangerous War that ever was in those parts both for the number of Men in the vigor of their Youth and quantity of Arms which were gather'd
legal sort of Monarchy They over and above voted him the continuance of his Provinces for he had two Spain and all Afric which he govern'd by his Deputies and maintain'd Armies under him at the yearly charge of 10000 Talents out of the publick Treasury Upon this Caesar also by his Proxies demanded the Consulate and the continuance of his Provinces Pompey at first did not stir in it but Marcellus and Lentulus oppos'd it who had always hated Caesar and now did every thing whether fit or unfit which â—â—â—ht disgrace and expose him For they took away the freedom of Rome from the Neocomians who were a Colony that Caesar had lately planted in Gaul and Marcellus who was then Consul order'd one of the Senators of that City then at Rome to be whipt and told him he laid that mark upon him to signifie he was no Citizen of Rome bidding him when he went back again to shew it Caesar After Marcellus's Consulate Caesar presented largely all the great Statesmen out of the Riches he had taken from the Gauls discharg'd Curio the Tribune from his great Debts gave Paulus then Consul 1500 Talents with which he built a noble Palace joining to the Forum in the place where that of Fulvius had stood Pompey jealous of these Preparations did now openly practise both by himself and his Friends to have a Successor declar'd to Caesar and sent to redemand those Souldiers whom he had lent him to carry on the Wars in Gaul Caesar return'd them and gave each Souldier 250 Drachms Those who conducted them to Pompey spread amongst the People no very favourable report of Caesar and flatter'd Pompey himself with false suggestions that he was wish'd for by Caesar's Army and though his Affairs here were in an ill posture thrô the envy of some and the ill state of the Government yet there the Army was at his Command and if they might pass into Italy would presently declare for him so uneasie were they under Caesar who had engag'd them in so many Expeditions and so suspicious of him as aspiring to the Monarchy Upon this Pompey grew careless and neglected all Warlike Preparations as fearing no danger but attack'd him with Words only and Speeches thinking to conquer by a Majority of Votes which Caesar slighted For 't is said that one of his Captains who was sent by him to Rome standing before the Senate-house one day and being told that the Senate would not give Caesar a longer time in his Government clapt his Hand on the Hilt of his Sword and said But this shall Yet the demands which Caesar made had the fairest colours of Equity imaginable for he proposed to lay down his Arms and that Pompey should do the same and both together should become private Men and each expect a Reward of his Services from the Publick for that those who went to disarm him and at the same time confirm'd Pompey's Power only supprest the one to establish the other in his Tyranny When Curio made these Proposals to the People in Caesar's Name he was mightily applauded and some threw Garlands towards him and dismist him as they do Wrestlers crown'd with Flowers Antony being Tribune produced a Letter sent from Caesar on this Occasion and read it though the Consuls did what they could to oppose it But Scipio Pompey's Father-in-Law propos'd in the Senate that if Caesar did not lay down his Arms within such a time he should be voted an Enemy and the Consuls putting it to the Question whether Pompey should dismiss his Soldiers and again whether Caesar should disband his very few assented to the first but almost all to the latter But Antony proposing again that both should lay down their Commissions all unanimously agreed to it Scipio was upon this very violent and Lentulus the Consul cried aloud that they had need of Arms and not of Suffrages against a Robber so that they were adjourn'd and chang'd their Robes in token of grief for the Dissention Afterwards there came other Letters from Caesar which seem'd yet more moderate for he proposed to quit every thing else and only to have Gallia Cisalpina Illyricum and two Legions till he should stand a second time for Consul Cicero the Orator who was lately return'd from Cilicia endeavour'd to reconcile differences and soften'd Pompey who was willing to comply in other things but not to allow him the Soldiers At last Cicero prevail'd with Caesar's Friends who were now more flexible to accept of the Provinces and 6000 Soldiers only and so to make up the Quarrel Pompey gave way to this but Lentulus the Consul would not hearken to it but drove Antony and Curio out of the House with disgrace by which they afforded Caesar the handsomest pretence that could be to enflame the Soldiers by shewing them two Persons of such Worth and Authority who were forc'd to escape in a common Hackney-Coach in the Habits of Slaves for so they were glad to disguise themselves when they fled out of Rome Now there were not about him at that time above 300 Horse and 5000 Foot for the rest of his Army which was left behind the Alps was to be brought after him by Persons Commission'd for that purpose But he thought the first Motion towards the design which he had then on foot did not require many Forces at present and that he ought to make his first step so suddenly as to surprize the adverse Party into an admiration of his Courage for he esteem'd it easier to astonish them if he came unawares then fairly to conquer them if he had alarm'd them by his Preparations and therefore he commanded his Captains and other Officers to go only with their Swords in their Hands without any other Arms and make themselves Masters of Ariminum a great City of Gaul with as little Noise and Bloodshed as possible He committed the Care of the Army to Hortensius and spent the day in publick as a Stander by and Spectator of the Gladiators who exercis'd before him A little before night he bath'd and then went into the Hall and converst for some time with those he had invited to Supper till it began to grow dusky when he rose from Table and having complimented the Company and desir'd 'em to stay till he came back gave private Orders to some of his Confidents that they should follow him not all the same way but some one way some another He himself got into an Hackney Coach and drove at first another way but presently turn'd towards Ariminum When he came to the River Rubicon which parts Gaul that is within the Alps from the rest of Italy his thoughts began to work now he was just entring upon danger and he waver'd much in his mind when he consider'd coolly the difficulty of the attempt This stopt his career for a while and made him halt while he revolv'd with himself and often chang'd his Opinion one way and the other without speaking a word When he could not
fix his Resolution he discust the matter very particularly with his Friends which were about him of which number Asinius Pollio was one computing how many Calamities his passing that River would bring upon Mankind and what a Relation of it would be transmitted to Posterity At last carried on by an extraordinary Impulse he lost of reasoning and trusted to the event using the Proverb frequent in their Mouths who enter upon dangerous and bold attempts The die is cast with which words he took the River When he was over he us'd all expedition possible and before it was day reach'd Ariminum and took it 'T is said that the night before he past the River he had an impious dream that he was unnaturally familiar with his own Mother As soon as Ariminum was taken there was as it were a wide Gate open'd to a War by Sea as well as Land and with the limits of the Provinces the boundaries of the Laws were transgrest Nor would one have thought that the Inhabitants only as at other times fled from one place to another in great consternation but that the very Towns themselves left their stations and fled for succor into each other so that the City of Rome was over run as it were with a Doluge by the conflux of neighbouring People from all parts round about and was neither easie under the Government of its Magistrates nor to be quiered by the Eloquence of any Orator in this great hurry and confusion but was in danger of sinking by its own weight For contrary passions and violent motions possest all places nor were those who were interested in these Changes wholly at peace but frequently meeting as in so great a City they needs must with such as shew'd themselves fearful and dejected brought quarrels on themselves by their great confidence and presumption Pompey sufficiently of himself disturb'd was yet more perplex'd by the clamors of others some telling him that he justly suffer'd for having arm'd Caesar against himself and the Government others blaming him for permitting Caesar to be insolently us'd by Lentulus when he made so large Concessions and offer'd such reasonable Proposals towards an Accommodation Favonius bad him now stamp upon the Ground for once talking big in the Senate he desir'd them not to trouble themselves about making any preparations for the War for that he himself with one stamp of his Foot would fill all Italy with Soldiers Yet still Pompey had more Forces then Caesar but he was not permitted to pursue his own thoughts but being continually alarm'd with frightful and false reports as if the Enemy was just upon him and Master of all was forc'd to give way and was born down by the common cry In this distraction it is resolved to leave the City and the Senators are commanded to follow him with an Order that no one should stay behind who did not prefer Tyranny to their Countrey and Liberty The Consuls presently fled without making the usual Sacrifices the same did most of the Senators carrying off their own Goods in as much hast as if they had been robbing their Neighbours Some who had formerly much favour'd Caesar's Cause out of fear quitted their own Sentiments and without any prospect of good to themselves were carried along by the common stream It was a very melancholy view to see the City tost in these Tumults like a Ship whose Pilot has given her over and despairs of hindring her from being struck on the next Rock Those who left the City though their departure was on so sad an occasion yet esteem'd the place of their Exile to be their Countrey for Pompey's sake and fled from Rome as if it had been Caesar's Camp At the same time Labienus a Person who had been one of Caesar's best Friends and his Lieutenant and one who had fought by him very vigorously in the Gallic Wars deserted him and went over to Pompey Caesar sent all his Money and Equipage after him and then sat down before Corfinium which was Garison'd with 30 Soldiers under the command of Domitius He in despair order'd a Physician who attended him to give him Poison and taking the Dose drunk it in hopes of being dispatch'd by it but soon after when he was told that Caesar us'd a wonderful Clemency towards those he took Prisoners lamented his misfortune and blam'd the hastiness of his own Resolution His Physician comforted him when he acquainted him that he had took a sleeping not a mortal Poison with this he was very much pleased and rising from his Bed went presently over to Caesar and kist his Hand but afterwards revolted to Pompey The report of these things at Rome sweetned those who were there and some who had fled thence return'd Caesar took into his Army Domitius's Soldiers as he did all those whom he found in any Town listed for Pompey's Service Being now strong and formidable enough he advanc'd against Pompey himself who did not stay to receive him but fled to Brundusium having sent the Consuls before with the Army to Dyrrachium Soon after upon Caesar's approach he set to Sea as shall be more particularly related in his Life Caesar would have immediately pursu'd him but wanted Shipping and therefore went back to Rome having made himself Master of all Italy in the space of 60 days When he came thither he found the City more quiet then he expected and many Senators upon the place to whom he addrest himself with great courtesie and deference desiring them to send to Pompey about any reasonable Accommodations towards a Peace But no body complied with this Proposal whether out of fear of Pompey whom they had deserted or that they thought Caesar did not mean what he said but thought it his interest to talk plausibly Afterwards when Metellus the Tribune would have hinder'd him from taking Money out of the publick Treasury and produc'd some Laws against it Caesar replied That Arms and Laws did not well agree and if you are displeas'd with what I do at present Sir retreat quietly for War doth not admit long Speeches When I have laid down my Arms and entred into Terms of Peace then come and Harangue as you please and this I tell you in diminution of my own just Right for indeed you are my Subject as are all those who have appear'd against me and are now in my power Having said this to Metellus he went to the Doors of the Treasury and the Keys being not to be found sent for Smiths to force them open Metellus again making resistance and some encouraging him in it Caesar threatned to kill him if he gave him any farther disturbance And this saith he you know young Man is harder for me to say then to do These words made Metellus withdraw for fear and at the same time gave way to Caesar's being easily and readily supplied with all things necessary for the War He was now going to make War in Spain with a Resolution first to remove Afranius and
in me a Friendship more firm than any Alliance but I will not give Hostages to Pompey's Glory against my Countrey 's safety This Answer was very grating to the Women and to all his Friends it seemed somewhat harsh and haughty Afterwards when Pompey endeavouring to get the Consulship for one of his Friends did give Money to the People for their Voices and the Bribery was notorious for the Money was told out in Pompey's own Gardens Cato then said to the Women They must necessarily have been concerned in these Faults of Pompey if they had been allied to his Family and they acknowledged that he did best in refusing it But if we may judge by the Event Cato seems much to blame for rejecting that Alliance which thereby fell to Caesar And then that Match was made which uniting his and Pompey's Power had well-nigh ruined the Roman Empire and did at last utterly destroy the Commonwealth Nothing of which perhaps had come to pass but that Cato was too apprehensive of Pompey's least Faults and did not consider how he forced him into a condition of committing much greater however these things were yet to come Now Lucullus and Pompey had a great Dispute concerning what had been established in Pontus each endeavouring that his own Ordinances might stand Cato took part with Lucullus who was apparently injured and Pompey finding himself the weaker in the Senate took to the People To gain them he proposed a Law for dividing the Lands among the Souldiers Cato opposing him in this also made the Law be rejected Hereupon Pompey joyned himself with Clodius at that time the most violent of all the popular Men and was likewise united to Caesar upon this occasion of which Cato himself was the Cause For Caesar returning from his Government in Spain at the same time sued to be chosen Consul and yet desired not to lose his Triumph Now the Law requiring That those who stood for any Office should be present and yet that whoever expected a Triumph should continue without the Walls Caesar requested the Senate that his Friends might be permitted to canvass for him in his absence Many of the Senators where willing to consent to it but Cato opposed it and perceiving them inclined to favour Caesar spent the whole day in speaking and so prevented the Senate that they could come to no conclusion Caesar therefore resolving to let fall his Pretensions to the Triumph came into the Town and immediately made a Friendship with Pompey and stood for the Consulship so soon as he was declared Consul elect he married his Daughter Julia to Pompey Having thus combined themselves together against the Commonwealth the one proposed the Agrarian Laws for dividing the Lands among the poor People and the other was present to second the Proposal Against them Lucullus Cicero and their Friends joyned with Bibulus the other Consul and did all they could to hinder the passing those Laws Among these none was more remarkable than Cato who look'd upon the Friendship and Alliance of Pompey and Caesar as very dangerous and declared he did not so much dislike the Advantage the People should get by this division of the Lands as he fear'd the Reward these men would gain by thus cheating the People And in this the Senate was of his opinion as likewise many honest men without who were very much offended at Caesar's ill Conduct That he now bearing the Authority of Consul should thus basely and dishonourably flatter the People practising to win them by the same means that were wont to be used only by the most rash and heady Tribunes Caesar therefore and his Party fearing they should not carry it by fair dealing fell to open force First a Basket of Dung was thrown upon Bibulus as he was going to the Forum then they set upon his Lictors and broke their Rods at length several Darts were thrown and many men wounded so that all that were against those Laws fled out of the Forum the rest making what hast they could but Cato last of all walking out very slowly often turned back and cursed those Citizens Now the other Party did not only carry this Point of dividing the Lands but also ordained that all the Senate should swear to confirm this Law and to defend it against whoever should attempt to alter it inflicting great Penalties on those that should refuse the Oath All the Senators seeing the necessity they were in took the Oath remembring the Example of old Metellus who refusing to swear upon the like occasion was forc'd to fly out of Italy As for Cato his Wife and Children with Tears besought him his Friends and Familiars perswaded and entreated him to yield and take the Oath but he that principally prevailed with him was Cicero the Orator who urged and remonstrated How unreasonable it was that a private man alone should oppose what the Publick had decreed That the thing being already past remedy it would look like folly and madness to run himself into danger where 't is impossible to do his Countrey any good Besides it would be the greatest of all Evils to abandon the Commonwealth for whose sake he did every thing and to let it fall into the hands of those who designed nothing but its ruine This would look as if he were glad of an opportunity to retire from the trouble of defending his Countrey For said he tho' Cato have no need of Rome yet Rome has need of Cato and so likewise have all his Friends Of whom Cicero profess'd himself the chief being at that time aimed at by Clodius who openly threatned to fall upon him as soon as ever he should get to be Tribune Thus Cato they say moved by the Entreaties of his Family and the Persuasions of his Friends went unwillingly to take the Oath which he did the last of all except only Favonius one of his intimate Acquaintance Coesar exalted with this Success proposed another Law for dividing almost all the Countrey of Campania among the poor and needy Citizens No body durst speak against it but Cato whom therefore Coesar pull'd from the Rostra and dragg'd to Prison yet Cato did not at all remit his freedom of Speech but as he went along continued to speak against the Law and advised the People to put a stop to these Proceedings The Senate and the best of the Citizens followed him with sad and dejected Looks showing their Grief and Indignation by their Silence so that Coesar could not be ignorant how much they were offended but being one of a fierce contentious Spirit he still persisted expecting Cato should either supplicate him or appeal to the People Afterwards when he saw that Cato would do neither Coesar himself asham'd of what he had done privately sent one of the Tribunes to take him out of Prison Thus having won the Multitude by these Laws and Gratifications they decreed That Coesar should have the Government of Illyricum and all Gaule with an Army of four
Henry the III. and Henry the IV. of France Englished by Mr. Dryden upon the Command of King Charles the Second Poetry The Works of Jeffrey Chaucer with his Life and a Dictionary explaining the obsolete words Mr. Edmond Spencer's Works containing the Fairy Queen and his other Pieces formerly Printed with some new Poems not extant till this Edition Mr. Milton's Juvenile Poems with his Treatise of Education Mr. Milton's Paradise lost adorn'd with Cuts Mr. Milton's Paradise regain'd with the Poem of Samson Agonistes The Works of Mr. Cowly published by Dr. Sprat Mrs. Phillip's Poems with two Tragedies Mr. Waller's Poems The Maid's Tragedy alter'd by Mr. Waller with other Poems published since his Death Dr. Donn's Poems Sir John Sucklin's Poems Mr. Carew's Poems Mr. Crashaw's Divine Poems The Earl of Rochester's Poems Sir Tho. Fanshaw's Pastor Fido with other Poems The Epistles of Ovid Englished by the most Eminent hands The Works of Horace English'd by Mr. Creech Mr. Dryden's Poetical Missellanies in two parts Mrs. Behn's Poems Letters and Poems Amorous and Gallant Plays Written by Shakespear Johnson Fletcher Dryden The Earl of Orrery Sir Robert Howard Sir G. Etheredge Mr. Witcherly Mr. Otway Mr. Lee. And most single Plays Missellanea Seneca's Morals Abstractedly Translated by Sir Roger L'Estrange Sir Roger L'Estrange's Tully's Offices Sir Roger L'Estrange's Guide to Eternity Englished from Cardinal Bona. A Dialogue concerning Women Sir W. Temple's Works Love Letters from a Noble Man to his Sister Critical History of the Old Testament Agesilaus his Parentage His Education His Friendship with Lysander And his Character Alcibiades debaâ—cheth the Wife of Agis and begets Leotychides Leotychides put by the Throne as a Bastarâ—â— Agesilaus declared King Is kind to thâ— Relations of Agis His Policy He is chosen General for Asia His Dream The Baeotians quarrel about the Sacrifice The Ambition of Lysander It resented by Agesilaus And suppressed Plutarch's Reflection upon both Tisaphernes his Falshood Revenged Agesilaus his Expedient for raising Horse at Ephesus His Reflection on the Sardian Slaves He enters Sardis And overcometh Tisaphernes Tithraustes sent to behead Tisaphernes and to treat of Peace Agesilaus made Admiral of Sparta Makes League with Cotys King of Paphlagonia He conquers Pharnabazus Spithridates with the Paphlagonians revolts upon discontent from Agesilaus Agesilaus's Love to Megabates A Conference between Pharnabazus and Agesilaus Parnabazus his Son presents Agesilaus and maketh him his Friend Agesilaus ' s Behaviour in point of Friendship His Repute in Persia and Aâ—ia Remanded Home His ready Obedience Passeth home thrâ— ' Thrace The Trallians Macedonia 〈…〉 Thessaly He laments the Civil Warâ— of Greece He routs the Pharsalians Invaâ—es Baeotia by Command of the Câ—â—â—cil of Sparta The Battel of Coronea He goeth to the Pythian Games Returneth to Sparta unchanged as to his Manners * Goatdeer He despiseth the Olympick Games He designs to expose Lysander and his Party But is disswaded He maketh his Interest in Agesipolis His Expedition against Corinth His Opinion of publick Sports and Games He slighteth the Theban Ambassadors of which he soon repenteth His Policâ— concerning the Acarnanians The Spartans make a dishonourable Peace with Persia Phaebidas breaks the Peace with Thebes He refuseth the King of Persia â—is Friendship He defâ—nds Phaebidas And warreth with the Thebans But not in Person Sphodrias his Exploit War with Athens and Thebes The Allies murmur at the War Falleth lame of his better Leg. A general Treaty of Peace Epaminondas his â—olâ— Demand A War with Thebes Battel of Leuctrae The Spartan's Behaviour under their Misfortune Agesilaus invested with absolute Power to remedy the present Difficulties of State The Spartan Law against Cowarâ—ice He maketh â—â— Inroad into â—rcadia Epaminondas â—nvaded Sparta Sparta 600 Years without an Invasion Agesilaus defends the Town A dangerous Conspiracy in Sparta Another The Helots run from their Colours The time of the Thebans continuance before Sparta Sparta preserved by the Wisdom of Agesilaus The Arcadians beaten by Archidamus Son to Agesilaus Messene rebuilt by Epaminondas Epaminondas his Stratagem against Sparta He is beaten back by Agesilaus The great â—â—â—â—oâ—ts of Archidamus Greater of Isadas He is both rewarded and amerced Epaminondas slain * Macheriones Agesilaus too much given to War He taketh Pay of Tachos in Aegypt The Aegyptians disappointed in Agesilauâ— as to the appearance of his outward Person * An Aegyptian 〈…〉 t of which Papâ—â— was made Agesilaus discontented in Aegypt He revolts to Nectanabis from Tachos Tachos flyeth Nectanabis â—s opposâ—d by Mendesius Agesilauâ—'â— Aâ—vicâ— maketh him suspectca by Nectanabis Nectanabis being Bâ—sieged resolveth to Fight but is opposed by Agesilaus Agesilaus's Stratagem against Mendesius The Mendesian Conquered Agesilaus departs homeward And dieth by the way The manner of his Embalming § 1. The Peoples Hat â— to his Father Their Love to him His Vertues His Favour His Amours with Flora. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Temperance Actio peculatus He Marrieâ— with Antistia Cinna's Deâ—th Sect. 2. Carbo and Sylla contâ—nd for the Government * Now the Marchâ—s â—f â—â—â—â—â—a He sides with Sylla H 〈…〉 over â—â— Mâ—â—ian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Imperator Sent in Aid to Metellus Antistia divorc'd He marries Aemilia § 3. Sent by Sylla into Africâ— against Domitius His Victory over Domitius His Conquest of Africa § 4. His Title of Magnus Sylla opposes his Triumph § 5. Lepidus moves a Civil Waâ— He is sent against Lepidus * Now Moâ—ena Sent in Aid of Metellus against Sertorius in Spain 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Victory â—ver Herennius and Perpenna Sertorius slain His Conquest of Perpenna § 6. His Aid to Crassus in the Servile War He restores the Office of Tribune His second Triumph and first Consulship with Crassus Submits to the Censors § 7. The Pirates War Liad. 22. § 8. The War against Mithridates and Tigranes His Quarrel with Lucullus Sect. 9. Mithridates hgis Flight Hypsicratia He goes against Tigranes Araxes Fl. §. 10. Phraates King of Parthia Pompey's Wars with the Albanians and Iberians Cyrnus Fl. Amazons He conquers the King of Parthia Stratonice § II. Design'd for Syria to compleat his Conquests Hâ— subdâ—â—d the Arabians and reduced Syria and Judâ—a His mild Temper His Favourite Demetrius He marches for Arabia Petra Mithridates his Death § 12. He 's a Lover of Arts and Sciences 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mutia divorced Disbands his Army His 3d Triumph § 13. His Change of Fortune Impeach'd by Lucullus Joyns with the Commons Forsakes Cicero Caesar's Artifice and Consulship Caesar câ—â—ts the People Lâ—xagraâ—ia A Friend to Caesar Marries Julia Piso aud Gabinius Consuls Clodius his Insolence to him He calls home Cicero Annonae praeâ—ectus § 14. Caesar's Practices Pompey's Theater Julia's Love to him The Death of Julia. Causes of the Civil War 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He is chose Consul alone §. 15. Marries Cornelia His Recovery aâ— Naples Anoâ—her Cause of â—â—â— War §. 16. Caesar marches towards Rome §. 17. Pompey lâ—â—â—â—s Rome Caesar
Flora resented not with the Levity of a Strumpet for that she languish'd afterwards under a tedious Sickness through Grief and Desire Now 't was said That this Flora became such a celebrated Beauty that Cecilius Metellus when he adorn'd the Temples of Castor and Pollux with divers rare Pictures and Images among the rest he dedicated hers for her singular Beauty But Pompey was quite besides his natural Temper in his Deportment towards the Wife of Demetrius his Franchis'd Servant who had a great Influence upon him in his Life-time and left an Estate of 4000 Talents where he demean'd himself neither gentilely nor ingeniously fearing lest he should fall under the common Censure of being enamour'd and charm'd with her Beauty which was incomparable and became famous every where Thus though herein he seem'd to be providently circumspect and Cautious yet even in Scandals of this Nature he could not avoid the Calumnies of his Enemies but that upon the score of Women his Wives at least they play'd the Sycophants with him and accus'd him as if he had Conniv'd at many Things and Imbezil'd the publick Revenue to gratifie their Luxury Then for his Sobriety and Temperance in Diet there was one remarkable passage in his Sickness when his Stomach nauseated common Meats his Physician prescrib'd him a Thrush to Eat but upon search there was none to be bought for they were not then in Season and one telling him They were to be had at Lucullus's who kept them all the year round Why then said he if it were not for Lucullus's Luxury should not Pompey live Thereupon wishing Health to his Physician he discharg'd him and accepted of what was in Season But of that hereafter Now Pompey being as yet a very young Man and upon an Expedition in which his Father was appointed General against Cinna had in his Tent with him one Lucius Terentius his Companion and Comrade who being corrupted by Cinna enter'd into an Engagement to kill Pompey as others had done to set the Generals Tent on Fire This Conspiracy being discovered to Pompey at Supper he seem'd no ways discompos'd at it but drank more liberally than usual and express'd an extraordinary Kindness to Terentius then about Bed-Time pretending to go to his Repose he stole away secretly out of his own Tent and setting a Guard about his Father went to his Rest Terentius now thinking his Enterprize ripe for Execution rose with his naked Sword and coming to Pompey's Bed-side stabb'd several Strokes through the Bed-Cloaths as if he were lying there Immediately upon this there was a great Uproar throughout all the Camp arising from the Hatred they bore to the General and an Universal Inclination of the Soldiers to Mutiny all tearing down their Tents and betaking themselves to their Arms the General himself all this while durst not venture out because of the Tumult but Pompey running into the midst of them beseech'd them with Tears and at last threw himself prostrate upon his Face before the door of the Trench and lay there in the passage as a Bar at their Feet bewailing his Fate and bidding those that were marching off if they would go to trample upon him whereupon every Man began to retreat and all except 800 either through Shame or Compassion repented of their Folly and were Reconcil'd to the General Immediately upon the Death of Strabo there was an Action commenc'd against Pompey as his Heir for that his Father had imbezil'd the publick Treasure But Pompey having well trac'd the Thief charg'd it upon one Alexander a franchis'd BondSlave of his Fathers and made an undoubted Evidence before the Judges that he had purloin'd and converted it to his own Use Afterwards he himself was Arraign'd for that he had seiz'd upon the Toils or Hunting Tackle and Books that were taken at Asculum To this he Confess'd thus far That he receiv'd them from his Father when he took Asculum but Pleaded farther That he had lost them since which happen'd upon Cinna's Return to Rome when his House was broke open and plunder'd by those of his Guards This Cause was notably managed with his Adversary in the Preparatories of Judgment in which he appearing strangely subtile and industrious beyond his years gain'd great Reputation and Favour insomuch that Antistius the Praetor and Judge of that Cause took a great Liking to Pompey and offer'd him his Daughter in Marriage having had some Treaties and Communications with his Friends about it Pompey accepted of the Conditions and they were privately Contracted together in Marriage However this Matter was not so closely convey'd as to escape the Multitude but it was discernible enough from the Favours that were shewn to him by Antistius in his Cause Whereupon at last when Antistius pronounc'd the absolutory Sentence of the Judges the People as if it had been upon a Signal given made the same Acclamation as was anciently us'd at Marriages Talassio the Original of which Custom is Reported to be this Upon a time when the Daughters of the Sabines came to Rome to see the Shews and Sports there and were violently seiz'd upon by the Nobles for Wives it happen'd that some Goatswains and Herdsmen of the meaner Rank were carrying off a beautiful and proper Damosel and lest any of the Nobles should meet them and take her away therefore as they ran they cry'd out with one Voice Talassio Now Talassius was an eminent and acceptable Person among them insomuch as all that heard the Name clapp'd their Hands for Joy and joyn'd with them in the Shout as applauding and congratulating the Choice Now say they because that prov'd a fortunate Match to Talassius hence 't is that this Acclamation is jocularly us'd as a Nuptial Song at all Weddings And this is the most credible Story that I can meet with touching what is related of Talassio Some few days after this Judgment Pompey Married Antistia and after that went to Cinna's Camp where finding some false Suggestions and Calumnies forg'd against him he began to be afraid and presently withdrew himself in disguise from the Camp this sudden disappearance occasion'd great Jealousies and there went a Rumour and Speech throughout all the Camp as if Cinna had Murder'd the young Man whereupon all that had been any ways disoblig'd and bore any Malice to him resolv'd to make an Assault upon him But he endeavouring to make his Escape was apprehended by a Centurian that pursu'd him with his naked Sword wherefore Cinna in this Distress fell upon his Knees and offer'd him a Seal of great value for his Ransom but the Centurian checked him very insolently saying I come not here to Seal a Covenant but to Chastise and be Reveng'd upon the Iniquity of a Lawless and Ungodly Tyrant and so dispatch'd him immediately Thus Cinna being slain Carbo a Tyrant more sensless than he took the Administration of the Government and all Things upon him But shortly after came Sylla a Man by
that great Army he commanded there Pompey reply'd as modestly That it could never be thought fair or honourable for him to extort a Province out of the hands of an ancient Captain and one of far greater Fame and Experience than himself however if Metellus were willing and would command his Service he should be very ready to accompany and assist him in the War Which when Metellus came to understand he approv'd of the Motion and accordingly invited him over by Letter Whereupon Pompey fell immediately like Lightning into Gaul where he did not only do wonderful Exploits of himself but also blew up and kindled anew that bold and warlike Spirit which old Age had in a manner extinguish'd in Metellus having the same operation with molten oâ— boyling Copper which being pour'd upon that that is cold and solid seems to dissolve and melt it faster than Fire it self But I must observe the same course here as is done with a famous Wrestler who though he has excelled all Men in those Games even from his Youth and always born away the Prize with Glory yet 't is not usual to account of his childish Victories or enter them upon record among the rest So for the Exploits of Pompey in his Minority though they were brave in themselves yet because they were obscur'd and buri'd in the multitude and greatness of his latter Wars and Conquests I dare not be particular in them lest by trifling away time in the lesser moments of his Youth I should casually omit those grander Actions and Enterprises which best discover the natural Disposition and singular Genius of the Man Now when Sylla had brought all Italy under his Dominion and was proclaim'd Dictator he began to reward the rest of his Followers enriching all his Captains and other Officers whereof some he advanc'd to Honour others to Places of Dignity and Profit in the Common-wealth largely and liberally gratifying every Man according to his Talent and Desire But for Pompey he was a great Admirer of his Valour and Conduct and thinking that he might prove a great Stay and Support to him hereafter in all his Affairs sought by all means to espouse and joyn him in Alliance to him and having likewise the Approbation of his Wife Metella they perswaded him to put away Antistia and Marry Aemylia the Daughter-in-law of Sylla by Metella and Scaurus her former Husband she being at that very time the Wife of another Man cohabiting with him and with Child by him These were the very Tyrannies of Marriage and much more agreeable to the Times under Sylla than to the Nature and Genius of Pompey That Aemylia great with Child should be as it were ravish'd from the Embraces of another for him and that Antistia should be divorc'd with dishonour and misery by him for whose sake she had but just before been bereft of her Father to be at once both a Widow and Fatherless by his means for her Father Antistius was Murder'd in the Senate because he was suspected to be a Favourer of Sylla for Pompey's sake and her Mother likewise after she had seen all these Indignities made away with her self These were the Tragedies that attended that unhappy Marriage and that there might be nothing wanting to compleat the last Act by Heavens even Aemylia her self not long after dy'd at Pompey's in Child-bed About this time an Express came to Sylla That Perpenna had possessed himself of Sicily whereby that Isle was now become a Refuge and Receptacle for the Reliques of the adverse Party That Carbo was hovering about those Seas with a Navy That Domitius was fallen in upon Africa and that many other likewise of the Nobles and great Men in Exile thinking to avoid his Proscriptions or Outlawries by Flight were daily flocking into those Parts Against these therefore was Pompey sent with a great Army and no sooner was he arrived in Sicily but Perpenna departed thence leaving the whole Island to him Wherefore Pompey received the distressed Cities into Favour and treated all with great Humanity except that of the Mamertines in Messene for when they protested against his Court and Jurisdiction alledging their Privilege and Exemption founded upon an ancient Charter or Grant of the Romans he replied as sharply What! will you ne'r leave prating of Laws to us that have Swords by our sides 'T is thought likewise That he shewed but little Humanity to Carbo seeming rather to insult over his Misfortunes than to chastize his Crime for if there had been a necessity as perhaps there was that he should be taken off that might have been done at first as soon as he was taken Prisoner for then it would have been the Act of him that commanded it and imputed to his Malice but here Pompey commands a Man that had been thrice Consul of Rome to be be brought in Fetters to the Bar he himself sitting upon the Bench in Judgment examining the Cause throughout all the Formalities of Law and pronouncing Sentence of Death as upon a common Malefactor to the Grief and Indignation of all that were present and afterwards he ordered him to be taken away and put to Death Now 't is reported of Carbo That as soon as he was brought to the Scaffold and saw the Sword drawn for Execution it wrought so with him that immediately he had a looseness or pain in his Belly insomuch that he desired a little respite of the Executioner and a convenient place to ease himself But yet farther C. Oppius a great Friend of Caesar's tells us That Pompey dealt as barbarously with Q. Valerius a Man of singular Learning especially in Philology and Mathematicks few like him for when he was brought to him he walk'd aside and discours'd with him and after a long Conference and full Resolution of all his Questions having learned what he could he ordered his Officers to take him away and put him to Death But we must not be too credulous in all the Narratives of Oppius especially when he undertakes to relate any thing touching the Friends or Foes of Caesar This is certain That there lay a necessity upon Pompey to be severe upon many of Sylla's Enemies those at leastwise that were eminent Persons in themselves and notoriously known to be taken but for the rest he dealt with them after his own natural Temper conniving at the Concealment of some and himself being the Instrument in the Escape of others And the like Argument of his Clemency was shewn in the Himeraeans for when Pompey had determined a sharp Revenge upon their City for that they had been stubborn Abettors of the Enemy there stept out one Sthenes a great Leader of the People there and craving audience of Pompey told him That what he was about to do was not at all consistent with Justice for that he would pass by the Guilty and destroy the Innocent Pompey demanding Who that guilty Person was that would father the Offences of them all Sthenes replied
'T was himself who had wrought upon and engaged his Friends by Perswasions and his Enemies by Force whereupon Pompey being much taken with the frank Speech and Boldness of the Man first forgave him his Crime and then pardoned all the rest of the Himeraeans Pompey likewise hearing That his Soldiers were very disorderly in their March doing Violence upon the Roads he ordered their Swords to be sealed up in their Scabbards and whosoever kept them not so were severely punished Whilst Pompey was thus busie in the Affairs and Government of Sicilly he received a Decree of the Senate and a Commission from Sylla commanding him forthwith to sail into Africa and make War upon Domitius with all his Forces For Domitius had rallied up a far greater Army than Marius had not long since when he sailed out of Africa into Sicily and extremely distressed the Affairs of the Romans being himself of a fugitive Outlaw become a Tyrant Pompey therefore having prepared all things of a sudden and left Memmius his Sisters Husband Governor of Sicily imbarked and set Sail with 120 Galleys and 800 other Vessels laden with Provisions Money Ammunition Engines of Battery and all other Necessaries In this Equipage he arrived with his Fleet part at the Port of Utica part at Carthage and no sooner was he landed there but that 7000 of the Enemy revolted and came over to him which besides his own Forces that he brought with him consisting of 6 entire Legions made up an Army of 43000 Fighting-men Here they tell us of a pleasant Passage that happened to him at his first Arrival for that some of his Soldiers having by accident stumbled upon a Treasure whereby they got a good Mass of Money The rest of the Army hearing this began to fancy that the Field was full of Gold and Silver which had been hid there of old by the Carthaginians in the time of their Calamities and thereupon fell to work so that the Army was useless to Pompey for many days being totally engaged in the Silver-Mines he himself all the while walking up and down only and laughing to see so many Thousands together digging and turning up the Earth in a fruitless Harvest But at last growing weary and hopeless they came to themselves and returned to their General begging him to lead them where he pleased for that they had already reaped the just Reward of their Folly By this time Domitius had prepared himself and drawn out his Army in Battel-array against Pompey but there happened to be a rapid Torrent in the Valley betwixt them craggy and difficult to pass over which together with the great Storm of Wind and Rain pouring down even from break of Day seemed to shew but little possibility of their coming together Insomuch that Domitius not expecting any Engagement that day commanded his Forces to draw off and retire to the Camp Now Pompey who was watchful upon every Occasion taking this time to be appointed by Fortune as his own ordered a March forthwith and having passed over the Torrent they fell in immediately upon their Quarters The Enemy was in a great Disorder and Tumult and in that Confusion attempted a Resistance but they neither were all there nor yet together besides the Wind having veered about lay beating the Rain full in their Faces Neither indeed was the Storm less troublesom to the Romans for that they could not clearly discern one another insomuch that even Pompey himself being unknown escaped but narrowly for when one of his Soldiers demanded of him the Word of Battel it happened that he was somewhat slow in his Answer which might have cost him his Life The Enemy being thus routed with a great Slaughter for 't is said that of 20000 there escaped but 3000 the Army saluted Pompey by the Name of Emperor but he declined it telling them That he could not by any means accept of that Title as long as he saw any of the Forts or Garisons of the Enemy standing but if they designed to make him worthy of the Honour they must first demolish the Camp wherein they lay intrenched The Soldiers hearing this went presently and made an Assault upon the Works and Trenches and there Pompey Fought without his Helmet in memory of his former Danger and to avoid it the Camp being thus taken by Storm they were put to the Sword and among the rest Domitius was slain upon the Place After that Overthrow the Cities of the Country thereabout were all taken in some by Surrender and others by Storm King Jarbas likewise a Confederate and Auxiliary of Domitius was taken Prisoner and his Kingdom was given to Hiempsal Pompey could not rest here but being ambitious to follow the good Fortune and Valour of his Army he fell into Numidia and marching forward many days Journies up into the Country he Conquered all where e'er he came resolving That by his Hand the Name and Power of the Roman Empire which was now almost obliterated among the barbarous Nations should be revived again and appear as formidable as ever he said likewise That the wild Beasts of Africa ought not to be left without some experience of the Courage and Success of the Romans and therefore he bestowed some few days in hunting of Lyons and Elephants Now 't is said That 't was not above the space of 40 days at the utmost in which he gave a total Overthrow to the Enemy reduced Africa and established the Affairs of the Kings and Kingdoms of all that Country being then but 24 years of Age. When Pompey returned back to the City of Utica there were presented to him Letters and Orders from Sylla commanding him to disband the rest of his Army and himself with one Legion only to wait there the coming of another General that should succeed him in the Government of that Province this grated inwardly and was extremely grievous to Pompey though he made no shew of it but the Army resented it openly and therefore when Pompey besought them to depart home before him they began to revile Sylla and gave out broad Speeches That they were resolved not to forsake him neither did they think it safe for him to trust the Tyrant Notwithstanding this Pompey endeavoured to appease and pacifie them by fair Speeches but when he saw that all his Perswasions were vain he left the Bench and retired to his Tent with Tears in his Eyes but the Soldiers followed him and seizing upon him by force brought him again and placed him in his Chair of State where great part of that day was spent in Dispute they on their part perswading him to stay and Command them he on the other side pressing upon them Obedience and the danger of Mutinies but at last when they grew more importunate and clamorous He swore that he would kill himself if they attempted to force him and yet even this would scarce appease them However this gave occasion and rise to some malicious Reports
for there was not any one thing that the People of Rome did so wildly doat on or more passionately desire than the Restauration of that Government insomuch that Pompey thought himself extreamly fortunate in this opportunity despairing ever if he were prevented in this of meeting with any other wherein he might express his Gratitude in Compensation of all those Favours which he had received from the People The Decree therefore passed for a second Triumph and the Consulship and yet for all this Power and Honour he did not seem to be admired or magnified for those things but this was the Signal and Test of his Grandeur that even Crassus himself the Wealthiest among all the Statesmen of his time the most Eloquent and Greatest too a Man of that Pride that he despised even Pompey himself and all others as beneath him durst not appear a Candidate for the Consulship before he had made his Address to Pompey which was done accordingly and as readily embraced by Pompey who had often sought an occasion to oblige him in some friendly Office so that he solicited for Crassus and entreated the People heartily declaring That their Favour would be no less to him in his Colleague than in his Consulship yet for all this when they were created Consuls they were always at variance and opposing one another now Crassus prevailed most in the Senate and Pompey's Power was no less with the People for that he restored to them the Office of Tribune and had suffered the Judicature again to be transferred upon the Knights by a Law But he himself afforded them the most grateful Spectacle when he appeared and craved his Discharge from the Wars for it was an ancient Custom among the Romans that the Knights when they had served out their legal time in the Wars should lead their Horse into the Market-place before two Censors and having given an account of the Commanders and Generals under whom they served as also of the Places and Actions in their Service they were discharged every Man with Honour or Disgrace according to his Deserts there were then sitting upon the Bench two reverend Censors Gellius and Catulus with great Gravity taking a View of the Roman Knights who were then in Muster and under Examination before them when Pompey was seen afar off to come into the Market-place adorned in all things else with all the Marks and Ensigns of a Consul but himself leading his Horse in his hand as he drew near he commanded the Vergers to make way and so he led his Horse to the Bench the People were all this while in a sort of Amaze and all in Silence and the Censors themselves shewed him great Reverence expressing a Modesty together with Joy in their Countenance Then the Senior Censor examined him Pompey the Great I demand of thee whether thou hast served out all that time in the Wars that is prescribed by the Law of Arms Yes replied Pompey with a loud Voice I have served all and all under myself as General The People hearing this gave a great Shout and made such an Out-cry for Joy that there was no appeasing it but the Censors rising from their Judgment-seat accompanied him home to gratifie the Multitude who followed after clapping their Hands and shouting with great signs of Joy Pompey's Consulship was now expiring and yet the Difference with Crassus increasing whereupon on Gaius Aurelius a Knight but one that declined Business all his Life-time stood up and addressed himself in an Oration to the Assembly declaring That Jupiter had appeared to him in a Dream commanding him to tell the Consuls That they should not leave their Charge of that Government until they were Friends After this was said Pompey stood silent but Crassus took him by the hand and spoke in this manner I do not think oh ye Romans that I shall do any thing mean or dishonourable in yielding first to Pompey even that Pompey whom you were pleased to Ennoble with the Title of Great when as yet he scarce had a Hair in his Face and granted the Honour of two Triumphs when as yet he had no Place in the Senate Hereupon they were Reconciled and laid down their Government Now Crassus kept on in his former manner of Life as he began pleading Causes but Pompey declined his Practice in a great measure taking the Patronage of some few Causes only so that by degrees he withdrew himself totally from the Courts and all Matters of Judgment coming but seldom in publick and whenever he did 't was with a great Train after him neither was it easie to meet or visit him without great Attendance but his delight was to appear guarded with such a Retinue designing thereby to advance the Reverence and Majesty of his Presence and preserve his Dignity as he ought to do entire from the Approaches and Conversation of the Multitude For Men that have risen and grown great by Arms are easily trayed into Contempt by a change of Life when they shall betake themselves to the Long-Robe and plead Causes in that they cannot fashion themselves to that popular Equality or Familiarity that 's common among Citizens expecting to be esteemed their Betters in the City as they were in Field whereas on the contrary the Pride and Folly of these Citizens is such That though they were Inferiours in the Camp yet they 'll contend for Precedence in the City which is intolerable and therefore 't is that when a noble Warrier crowned with Victories and Triumphs shall turn Advocate and ply the Courts among them they endeavour presently by a malicious Pedantry to obscure his Glory and depress him whereas if he quits a publick Patronage and retires they shall preserve his Honour and Authority beyond the reach of Envy as appeared not long after by the things themselves The Power of the Pirats first broke out of Cilicia having in truth but a rash and blind beginning but was animated and encouraged afterwards in the Wars of Mithridates where they hired themselves out and became Stipendiaires in the King's Service Afterwards whilst the Romans were embroiled in their Civil Wars being engaged against one another even before the very Gates of Rome the Seas lay waste and unguarded which by degrees enticed and drew them on not only to seize upon and spoil the Merchants and Ships upon the Seas but also to lay waste the Islands and Sea-Port Towns So that now there embarked with these Pirats Men of great Wealth and Nobility and of great Wisdom too being incorporated into their Society or Fellowship as into a commendable Faculty They had divers Arsenals or Piratick Harbours as likewise Watch-Towers and Beacons all along the Sea-Coast They had a mighty Fleet well Rigged and Furnished with Galliots of Oars and as well Mann'd too with all the Flower of Youth with expert Pilots and Mariners there were their Ships of swift Sail also and Pinnaces for Cruising and Discovery neither was it thus dreadful
appointed in the former Decree For there were compleately 500 Sail of Ships fitted out and he had an Army of 120000 Foot and 5000 Horse assigned for his Muster There were chosen likewise for his Lieutenants or Vice-Admirals 24 Senators that had been Consuls Praetors or Generals of Armies and to these were added two of the general Treasurers Now it happened within this time that the Prizes of Provisions were much abated which gave an occasion to the joyful People of saying That the very Name of Pompey had e'en ended the War However Pompey in pursuance of his Charge divided all the Sea with each distance between the Lands into thirteen Parts allotting a Squadron to each under the Command of his Vice-Admirals And having thus dispers'd his Power into all Quarters and encompassed the Pirats every where they began to fall into his Draggs by whole Shoals which he seiz'd and brought into his Harbours As for those that withdrew themselves betimes or otherwise escap'd his general Chace they all made to Cilicia where they hid themselves as in their Hives against whom Pompey design'd to go in Person with Sixty of his best Frigats But first he resolv'd to scour and clear all the Seas thereabout as that of Tuscany together with the Coasts of Africa Sardinia Corsica and Sicily All which he perform'd in the space of Forty days by his own indefatigable Industry and the Diligence of his Vice-Admirals Now Pompey met with some Diversion in Rome through the Malice and Envy of Piso the Consul who had put some stop to his Affairs by wasting his Stores and discharging his Seamen whereupon he sent his Fleet round to Brundusium himself going the next way by Land through Tuscany to Rome which as soon as it came to be known by the People they all flock'd out to meet him upon the way as if they had not sent him out but a little before But that which chiefly rais'd their Joy was the sudden and unexpected change in the Markets abounding now with exceeding Plenty So that Piso was in great danger to have been depriv'd of his Consulship Gabinius having a Law ready Penn'd for that purpose but Pompey forbid it behaving himself as in that so in all Things else with great Moderation whereby having brought to pass and obtain'd all that he wanted or desir'd he departed for Brundusium whence he set Sail in pursuit of the Pirats Now though he was straitned in time and his hasty Voyage forc'd him to Sail by several famous Cities without touching yet he would not pass by the City of Athens unsaluted but landing there after he had sacrificed to the Gods and made an Oration to the People as he was returning out of the City he Read at the Gates two Monosticks or single Epigrams writ in his own Praise One within the Gate Thy humbler Thoughts make thee a God the more The other without We wish'd and saw we Honour and Adore Now because that Pompey had shew'd himself merciful to some of that Swarm of Thieves that were yet roving in Bodies about the Seas having upon their Supplication ordered a Seizure of their Ships and Persons only without any farther Process or Severity therefore the rest of their Camrades in Hopes of Mercy too made their Escape from his other Commanders and surrender'd themselves with their Wives and Children into his Protection So thaâ— Pompey pardon'd all that came in and the rather because by them he might make a discovery of those who fled from his Justice as conscious that their Crimes were beyond an Act of Indemnity Whereof the greatest and chiefest part conveyed their Families and Treasures with all besides that were unfit for War into Castles and strong Forts about Mount Taurus but they themselves having well Mann'd their Gallies imbark'd for Coracesium in Cilicia where they receiv'd Pompey and gave him Battel Here they had a fatal Overthrow and thereupon they retir'd to their Cities where they were Besieg'd At last having dispatch'd their Heralds to him with a Submission they deliver'd up to his mercy themselves their Towns Islands and strong Holds all which they had fortified with Bulwarks and Rampiers whereby they became impregnable and almost inaccessible Thus was this War ended and the whole Power of the Pirats at Sea dissolved every where in the space of three Months Wherein besides a great number of other Vessels he took Ninety Men of War with brazen Beaks and likewise Prisoners of War to the number of no less than 20000 Souls Touching the disposal of these Prisoners he consider'd on one Hand that it would be barbarous to destroy them all and yet it might be no less dangerous on the other to disperse them for that they might reunite and make Head again being numerous poor and warlike Therefore well and wisely weighing with himself That Man by Nature is not a wild or savage Creature neither was he Born so but becomes a bruit Beast by Practice having chang'd his Nature by a rude and vicious Habit And again on the other side That he is civiliz'd and grows gentle by a change of Place Converse and manner of Life as Beasts themselves that are wild by Nature become tame and tractable to their Feeders by Housing and a gentler Usage Upon this Consideration he determin'd to translate these Pirates from Sea to Land and give them a taste of the true and innocent course of Life by living in Cities and manuring the Ground Some therefore were entertain'd in the small and unpeopl'd Towns of the Cilicians mixing and incorporating with those few Inhabitants there whereby they obtained an Enlargement of their Territories Others he planted in the City of the Solians that had been lately laid waste and drained by Tigranes King of Armenia he seated likewise divers in Dyme a City of Achaia a Place extreamly depopulated but of a large compass of Ground and as rich a Soyl. However these Proceedings could not escape the Envy and Censure of his Enemies but for his Practices against Metellus in Crete those were disapprov'd of even by the chiefest of his Friends For Metellus a Relation to him that was Colleague with Pompey in Spain was sent Praetor into Crete before this Province of the Seas was design'd for Pompey Now Crete was the second Den and Receptacle of Pirats next to Cilicia the Fountain there Metellus apprehended divers and put them to Death Wherefore those that were yet remaining and Besieg'd sent their Supplications to Pompey and invited him into the Island as a part of his Province alledging it to fall within that distance of the Sea limited in his Commission and so within the Precincts of his Charge Pompey receiving the Submission dispatch'd an Express to Metellus commanding him to leave off the War and another likewise to the Cities wherein he charged them not to yield any Obedience to the Commands of Metellus And after these he sent Lucius Octavius one of his Lieutenants who entring the Town together with the
but fell down-right a railing at each other Pompey upbraiding Lucullus of Avarice and Lucullus again retorting Ambition upon Pompey so that their Friends could hardly part them Now Lucullus had made a Distribution of all the Lands in Galatia within his Conquest and gave other Largesses to whom he pleas'd But Pompey encamping not far distant from him sent out his Prohibitions whereby he forbid that any Man should yield Obedience to Lucullus He likewise commanded away all his Soldiers except only 1600 which he found were likely to be as unserviceable to him as they were ill-affected to Lucullus being Proud and Mutinous And to these Acts Pompey added some Satyrical Speeches and Invectives against him detracting openly from the Glory of his Actions and giving out That the Battels of Lucullus were but imaginary such as are represented in Landskips or at best upon the Stage with Kings personated in Tragedies and Farces where there was no more danger than in painted Fire whereas the real part or brunt of the War against a true and well-instructed Army was reserv'd to him for that Mithridates began now to be in earnest and had betaken himself to his Shields Swords and Horses Lucullus on the other side to be even with him in spite replied That Pompey came to fight with the Image and Shadow of War it being his usual practice like a lazy Bird of Prey to quarry upon Carcasses already slain and tear in pieces the reliques of a War For thus did he entitle and attribute to himself the Conquest of Sertorius Lepidus and the Accomplices of Spartacus whereas this was the Glory of Crassus that of Catulus and the first was to be ascrib'd to the Prowess of Metellus And therefore 't is no great wonder if the Glory of the Pontick and Armenian War prove supposititious too and be usurp'd by a Man who by such subtil Artifices could insinuate and work himself into the Honour of Triumph for a few runagate Slaves After this Lucullus went away and Pompey having plac'd his whole Navy as a Guard upon all those Seas betwixt the Province of Phaenicia and the Bosphorus himself march'd against Mithridates who had a Batalion of 30000 Foot and 2000 Horse yet he durst not bid him Battel but lay securely encamped upon a strong Mountain fortifi'd with Trenches and Rampiers almost impregnable which he forsook not long after as a Place destitute of Water Now no sooner was he decamp'd but that Pompey in the first place made himself Master of that Mountain and observing well the nature and thriving of the Plants there together with the hollow Beds which he found in several places conjectur'd that such a Plot could not be without Springs and therefore he order'd them to sink Wells in every Corner whereby there was great plenty of Water throughout all the Camp in a little time Insomuch that he admir'd how it was possible for Mithridates to be ignorant of this during all that time of his Encampment there After this Pompey pursued him to his next Camp and there drawing a Line round about him encamp'd himself and work'd up his Trenches with Bastions and Rampiers whereby he wall'd up Mithridates within his own Camp But he having endur'd a Siege of 45 days made his Escape privily and fled away with all the Choice of his Army having first dispatch'd all the sick and unserviceable Persons in his Camp Not long after Pompey overtook him again near the Banks of the River Euphrates where he sate down and Encamped close by him but fearing lest he should pass over the River and give him the Slip there too he drew up his Army in Battalia against him at Midnight Now 't is said that at that very time Mithridates saw a Vision in his Dream that did prognosticate and foreshew what should come to pass for he seem'd to be under Sail in the Pontick Sea with a prosperous Gale and just in view of the Bosphorus discoursing pleasantly with the Ships Company as one overjoy'd for his past Danger and present Security when lo of a sudden he found himself deserted of all and floating upon a little broken Plank of the Ship in the mercy of Sea and Wind. Whilst he was thus labouring under these Passions and Phantasms some of his Friends came into his Tent and awak'd him with the dreadful News of Pompey's approach telling him that he was so near at hand that now the Fight must be for the Camp it self Whereupon the Commanders drew up all his Forces in Battel-array Pompey perceiving how ready they were and prepar'd for Defence began to doubt with himself whether he should put it to the hazard of a Fight in the dark judging it more consistent with Policy to encompass them only at present lest they should fly and give them Battel the next day because his Men were far the better Soldiers But his ancient Commanders were of another opinion and by great Entreaties and Encouragements wrought upon him and obtain'd that they might charge them immediately Neither was the Night so very dark but that though the Moon was declining yet it gave light enough to discern a Body But this rather deluded and put a Blind upon the Eye-sight of the King's Army for the Romans coming upon them with the Moon on their Backs the Moon being very low and just upon setting cast the Shadows a long way before the Bodies and reach'd e'ne almost to the Enemy This dazl'd their Eyes so that they not exactly discerning the Distance but imagining them to be near at hand threw their Darts at the Shadows without the least Execution upon any one body The Romans therefore perceiving this ran in upon them with a great Shout but the barbarous People all in Amaze being unable to endure the Charge were fearfully routed and put to Flight with a great Slaughter insomuch that above 10000 were slain there and the Camp taken As for Mithridates himself he at the beginning of the Onset with a Body of 800 Horse Charg'd through all the Roman Army and made his Escape but immediately all the rest of that Regiment were dispers'd and gone some one way some another and he left only with three Persons in his Retinue Among whom was his Concubine or Mistress Hypsicratia a Girl always of Manly and daring Spirit and therefore the King call'd her Hypsicrates She being attired and mounted like a Persian Chevalier accompani'd the King in all his Flight never weary even in the longest Journey nor ever fail'd to attend the King in Person and look after his Horse too until they came to Inora a Palace or Castle of the King 's well stor'd with Gold and Jewels and the King 's chiefest Treasure From thence Mithridates took off his richest Apparel and gave it among those that resorted to him in their Flight and to every one of his chiefest Friends he gave a deadly Poyson that they might not fall into the Hands of the Enemy against their Wills
From thence he design'd to have went to Tigranes in Armenia but being prohibited there by Tigranes who had put out a Proclamation with a Reward of 100 Talents to any one that should apprehend him he passed by the Head of the River Euphrates and fled through the Country of Colchis Now had Pompey made an Invasion into the Country of Armenia upon the Invitation of young Tigranes for that he was now in Rebellion against his Father and had given Pompey a Metting about the River Araxes which River rises near the Head of Euphrates but turning its course and bending towards the East falls into the Caspian Sea They two therefore march'd together through the Country taking in all the Cities by the way and obliging them to Homage and Fealty But King Tigranes having been harassed lately in a tedious War by Lucullus and withal understanding that Pompey was generous in his Nature and of a gentle Disposition put Guards into his Royal Palaces and taking along with him divers of his Friends and Relations went in Person to surrender himself into the Hands of Pompey He came as far as the Trenches on Horseback but there he was met by two of Pompey's Vergers who commanded him to alight and walk on Foot for that no Man was ever seen on Horseback within a Roman Camp Tigranes submitted to this immediately and not only so but plucking off his Sword deliver'd up that too And last of all as soon as he appear'd before Pompey he pull'd off his Turbant or Royal Diadem and attempted to have laid it at his Feet Nay what 's worst of all even he himself had fallen prostrate as an humble Supplicant at his Knees to the Reproach of Majesty had not Pompey himself prevented it by taking and placing him next upon his right hand and the Son upon his left There Pompey took occasion to tell him That as to the rest of his Losses they were chargeable upon Lucullus for that by Lucullus he had been dispossess'd of Syria Phaenicia Cilicia Galatia and Sophene but all that he had preserv'd to himself entire till that time he should peaceably enjoy paying the Sum of 6000 Talents as a Fine or Penalty for Injuries done to the Romans and that his Son should have the Kingdom of Sophene Tigranes himself was well pleas'd with these Conditions of Peace and therefore when the Romans in a general Shout saluted him King he seem'd to be overjoy'd and promis'd to every common Soldier half a Mina of Silver every Centurion or Captain ten Mina's and to every Collonel or Commander of a thousand a Talent But the Son was highly displeas'd insomuch that when he was invited to Supper he reply'd That he did not stand in need of Pompey for that sort of Honour for he would find out some other Roman to Sup with Whereupon he was clapp'd up close Prisoner and reserv'd for the Triumph Not long after this Phraates King of Parthia sent to Pompey and demanded by his Ambassadors That he should deliver up young Tigranes as his Son-in-Law and that the River Euphrates should be the Term and Bound of their Empires To these Pompey reply'd That for Tigranes he belong'd more to his own natural Father than his Father-in-Law And for the Bounds he would take care that they should be set out according to the Rules of Right and Justice So Pompey leaving Armenia in the Custody of Afranius went himself in Chace of Mithridates whereby he was forc'd of necessity to march through several Nations inhabiting about Mount Caucasus Of these Nations the Albanians and Iberians were two of the chiefest The Iberians stretch out as far as the Moschian Mountains and to the Realm of Pontus The Albanians lye more Eastwardly and towards the CaspianSea These barbarous People the Albanians at first permitted Pompey upon his Entreaty to pass through their Country but when they found that the Winter had stoll'n upon the Roman Army whilst they were quarter'd in their Country and withal that they were busily exercis'd in celebrating the Festivals of Saturn they muster'd up an Army of no less than 40000 Fighting-men and set upon them having passed over the River Cyrnus which River rising from the Mountains of Iberia and receiving the River Araxes in its course from Armenia dischargeth its self by 12 distinct Mouths or Channels into the Caspian Sea although some others are of opinion that Araxes does not fall into it but that they flow very near one another and so discharge themselves as Neighbours into the same Sea 'T is true 't was in the power of Pompey to have obstructed the Enemies Passage over the River but he suffer'd them to pass over quietly and then drawing up his Forces and giving Battel he routed them and slew a great number of them in the Field But the King sent Ambassadors with his Submission wherefore Pompey upon his Supplication pardon'd the Offence and having enter'd into a League with him he marched directly against the Iberians an Army no less in number than the other but much more Warlike and withal under a solemn Resolution both of gratifying Mithridates and driving out Pompey These Iberians were in no wise subject to the Medes or Persians and they hapned likewise to escape the Dominion of the Macedonians in that Alexander was so quick in his March through Hyrcanid but these also Pompey subdued in a great and bloody Battel wherein there were slain 9000 upon the Spot and more than 10000 taken Prisoners From thence he went into the Country of Colchis where Servilius met him by the River Phasis having his Fleet with which he guarded the Pontick Sea riding at Anchor there Now this pursuit of Mithridates seem'd to carry great Difficulties in it for that he had conceal'd himself among the Nations that inhabit about the Bosphorus and the Lake of Maeotis and besides News was brought to Pompey that the Albanians had revolted again This made him divert his Course and bend his Forces against them with Resolutions full of Wrath and Revenge insomuch that he passed back again over the Cyrnus with great Difficulty and Danger for that the barbarous People had fortifi'd it a great way down the Banks with Rampiers and Palisado's After this having a tedious long March to make through a thirsty and rough Country he order'd 10000 Bottles to be fill'd with Water and so advanced towards the Enemy whom he found drawn up in order of Battel near the River Abas to the number of 60000 Horse and 12000 Foot ill arm'd generally and many of them cover'd only with the Skins of wild Beasts Their General was Cosis the King's Brother who as soon as the Battel was begun singled out Pompey and rushing in upon him darted his Javelin into the Joynts of his Breast-plate which Pompey receiv'd and in return struck him thro' the Body with his Launce and slew him 'T is reported That in this Fight there were several Amazons that came as Auxiliaries
Colchis Iberia Albania Syria Cilicia and Mesopotamia together with the Countries about Phaenicia and Palaestine Judaea Arabia and all the Power of the Pirates subdued by Sea and Land And in these Countries there appeared the taking of no less than 1000 Castles nor much less than 900 Cities together with 800 Ships of the Pirates and the Peopling of 39 Towns that lay desolate and depopulated Besides there was set forth in these Tables an account of all the Tributes throughout the Roman Empire and how that before these Conquests the Revenue amounted but to 5000 Myriads whereas by his Acquisitions 't was advanced to 8500 and withal that for Advance at present he brought into the common Treasury of ready Money Gold and Silver Plate and Jewels to the value of 20000 Talents over and above that which had been distributed among the Soldiers whereof he that had least had 1500 Drachma's for his share The Prisoners of War that were led in Triumph besides the Arch-Pirates were the Son of Tigranes King of Armenia with his Wife and Daughter as also Zosime the Wife of King Tigranes himself and Aristobulus King of Judaea The Sister of King Mithridates and her five Sons and some Ladies of Scythia There were likewise the Hostages of the Albanians and Iberians and the King of Comagena besides a vast number of Trophies answering directly and deciphering out each particular Battel in which he was Conqueror either himself in Person or by his Lieutenants But that that seem'd to be his greatest Glory and that no other Roman ever attain'd to was this That he made his third Triumph over the third part of the World For many among the Romans had the Honour of Triumphing thrice but his first Triumph was over Africa his second over Europe and this last over Asia so that he seem'd in these three Triumphs to have led the whole World in Chains As for Pompey's Age those who affect to make the Paralel exact in all things betwixt Him and Alexander the Great would not allow him to be quite 34 whereas in truth at that time he was near 40 Oh that he had crowned his days and breath'd out his last even then when with Alexander's Age he had his Fortune too But all the remainder of his Life-time was extremely unfortunate wherein his Prosperity became odious and his Adversity incurable For that great Power and Authority which he had gain'd in the City by his greater Merits even that was made use of only in Patronizing the Iniquities of others so that by advancing their Fortunes he detracted from his own Glory till at last he was dashed in pieces by the force and greatness of his own Power And as the strongest Citadel or Fort in a Town when it is attack'd and taken by an Enemy does then afford the same Strength to the Foe as it had done to Friends before so Caesar being exalted in the State by the Power of Pompey overthrew and ruin'd him by the same Force and Arts by which he had trampled down others And thus it came to pass Lucullus when he return'd out of Asia where he had been despitefully treated by Pompey met with an honourable Reception from the Senate and much more when Pompey was present for then they encourag'd him to reassume his Authority in the administration of the Government whereas he was now grown old and unactive in Business having given himself over to his softer Pleasures and then enjoyment of a splendid Fortune Hereupon he began presently to bear up against Pompey and took him up sharply whereby he obtain'd those Acts and Decrees of his which were repealed by Pompey to be re-established insomuch that by the Assistance of Cato he had a greater Interest in the Senate than Pompey Now Pompey having fallen from his Hopes in such an unworthy Repulse was forced to fly to the Tribunes of the People for Refuge and make his Interest with the light young Men of the Town Among whom there was one Clodius the vilest and most impudent Wretch alive undertook him and expos'd him as a Tool to the Rabble for he had him always at his Elbow even beneath his Dignity carrying him up and down among the Throngs in the Market-place to countenance those Laws and Speeches which he made to cajole the People and ingratiate himself And at last for his Reward he demanded of Pompey as a thing no way dishonourable but beneficial That he should forsake Cicero his great Friend and one that had highly deserv'd of him as an Advocate in defending his Causes and Affairs in the Common-wealth Which he obtain'd afterwards for when Cicero happen'd to be in some Danger and implored his Aid he would not so much as admit him into his presence but shutting up his Gates against those that came to mediate for him slipt himself out at a Back-door whereupon Cicero fearing the extremity of Judgment departed privately from Rome About that time Caesar returning from his Province hapned upon a politick Device that brought him into great Favour at present and much increased his Power for the future but in the event prov'd extremely destructive both to Pompey and the Common-wealth For now he stood Candidate for his first Consulship and therefore well observing the Enmity betwixt Pompey and Crassus and finding how that in applying himself and joyning with one he should make the other his Enemy he endeavour'd by all means to reconcile them a Design in appearance very specious savouring of great Honesty and Civility but in truth a very subtil and treacherous Practice in him for he well knew that opposite Parties or Factions in a Common-wealth like Passengers in a Boat serve to trim and ballance the unsteady motions of Power there whereas if they combine and run all over to one side they make a dead unweildy Weight whereby it oversets and all falls to wreck and therefore Cato wisely told them who charg'd all the Calamities of Rome upon the Civil Wars betwixt Pompey and Caesar That they were in a great Error in charging all the Crime upon the last Cause For 't was not their Discord and Enmity but their Unanimity and Friendship that gave the first and greatest Wound to the Commonwealth Caesar being thus elected Consul began straightways to grow popular and make an Interest with the poor and meaner sort by preferring and establishing Laws for the planting of Colonies and for dividing of Lands whereby he debased the Grandeur of his Magistracy and turn'd his Consulship in a manner to a meer Democracy himself appearing rather a Tribune of the People than Consul Now when Bibulus his Colleague oppos'd him and that Cato was prepared to second Bibulus and assist him vigorously Caesar to be even with them brought Pompey into the open Court and there directing his Speech to him befor the Tribunal demanded his Opinion touching those Laws who gave his Approbation Why then said Caesar in case any Man
should offer violence to these Laws wilt not thou be ready in assistance to the People Yes reply'd Pompey I shall always be ready and against those that threaten the Sword I 'll appear with Sword and Buckler But nothing ever was either said or done by Pompey to that very day that seem'd more insolent or odious to all Men than that one Saying Insomuch that his Friends endeavour'd to palliate the Offence and make an Apology for it as a word slipt out of joynt through Inadvertency but by his Actions and Practices afterwards it appear'd plainly that he was totally devoted to Caesar's Service For of a sudden Pompey beyond all Men's expectation Married with Julia the Daughter of Caesar who had been affianced before and was to be Married within a few days to Caepio And to appease Caepio's Wrath he gave him his own Daughter in Marriage who had been espous'd before to Faustus the Son of Sylla But Caesar himself Married Calpurnia the Daughter of Piso Upon this Pompey made a Garison of the City and filling it with Soldiers carried all things by Force as he pleas'd for as Bibulus the Consul was going to Court accompanied with Lucullus and Cato they fell upon him of a sudden and brake his Rods the Ensigns of Government and some body threw a Close-stool of Ordure upon the Head of Bibulus himself but the two Tribunes of the People that went among his Guards before him were desperately wounded in the Fray And thus by these means having clear'd the Court of all their Adversaries the Lex Agraria or Bill for the Division of Lands was established and passed into an Act And not only so but even the whole Populacy being thus decoyed and taken with this Bait became totally at their Devotion never regarding the Canvasses of the adverse Faction but passing quietly by Suffrage whatever they propounded Thus they confirmed all those Acts and Decrees of Pompey which were questioned and contested by Lucullus and to Caesar they granted the Provinces of Gallia Cisalpina and Transalpina together with Illyricum for five years and likewise a Battalion of four entire Legions Then they Elected Consuls for the year ensuing Piso the Father-in-Law of Caesar and Gabinius one of the chiefest Parasites about Pompey During all these Transactions Catulus kept close within Doors nor did he appear publickly in Person for the space of eight Months together notwithstanding he were Consul but sent out Proclamations full of bitter Invectives and Accusations against them both Cato turn'd Enthusiast and as if he had been possessed with a Spirit of Divination did nothing else in the Senate but foretel what Judgements should befal the Commonwealth and Pompey But Lucullus pleaded Dotage and retir'd upon a Writ of Ease as one already grown Feeble and Superannuate in the Affairs of State which gave occasion to that Satyrical Saying of Pompey That the Fatigues of Luxury were much more unseasonable for an old Man than those of Government Which in truth prov'd to be a Reflection upon himself for not long after he himself grew Effeminate in the Embraces of a young Wife Courting and Caressing her daily up and down through all the Gardens and Places of Pleasure in the Country whereby he neglected all the weighty Affairs of Courts and Councils Insomuch that Clodius who was then Tribune of the People began to dispise him and engage in many bold Attempts against him For when he had banished Cicero and sent away Cato into Cyprus under a colourable pretence of War when Caesar was gone upon his Expedition to Gaul and that he found how the Populacy was Devoted to him as a Man forming all Things and Governing according to their Pleasure he attempted forthwith to unravel and repeal divers of Pompey's Decrees thereupon he drew Tigranes the Captive out of Prison and had him about with him as his Companion he Commenced likewise Actions and Accusations against several of Pompey's Friends designing by these Measures to take the extent of his Power At last upon a time when Pompey came to Court in a certain Cause this same Clodius accompanied with a crowd of dissolute and desperate Ruffians and standing up in an eminent Place above the rest uttered himself in these or the like Questions Who 's the Licentious General What Man is that that is to seek for a Man And who is it that scratcheth his Head so nicely with one Finger The Rabble upon the Signal of shaking his Gown with a great Shout to every Question as 't is usual among Songsters in the Chorus or Burden of a Song Answer'd Pompey This indeed was no small Affliction to Pompey a Man unaccustom'd to hear any thing ill of himself and unexperienced altogether in such kind of Rencounters but he was most extreamly grieved when he came to understand that the Senate rejoyced at this dirty Usage and imputed it as a just Revenge or Punishment upon him for his Treachery to Cicero But when it hapned through this Tumult in the Market-Place that it was come even to Blows and Wounds and that one of Clodius his Bondslaves was apprehended creeping through the Crowd towards Pompey with a Sword in his Hand Pompey laying hold of this Pretence though perhaps otherwise apprehensive of Clodius his Insolence and Reproaches never would go to any publick Assemblies during all the time he was Tribune but kept close at home and passed away his time in Consult with his Friends by what means he might best allay the Displeasure of the Senate and Nobles against him Among other Expedients Culleo advised the Divorce of Julia whereby he should meet with an easie passage from Caesar's Friendship to that of the Senate this he would not hearken to by any means Others again advised him to call home Cicero from Banishment a Man that was always the great Adversary of Clodius and as great a Favourite of the Senate to this he was easily persuaded and therefore he brought Cicero's Brother into the Market-Place attendèd with a strong Party to Petition for his Return where after a warm Dispute wherein several were wounded and some slain he got the Victory of Clodius No sooner was Cicero return'd home upon this Decree but that immediately he reconciled the Senate to Pompey and withal by his Rhetorick in defence of the Law for Importation of Corn did again in effect make Pompey Soveraign Lord of all the Roman Empire by Sea and Land For by that Law he had got within the verge of his Jurisdiction all Ports Staples and Store-Houses and in short all the Mysteries and Concerns both of the Merchant and Husbandman Which gave occasion to that malicious Charge of Clodius That the Law was not made because of the Dearth or scarcity of Corn but the Dearth or scarcity of Corn was made that they might make a Law whereby that Power of his which was now grown Feeble and Consumptive might be reviv'd again and Pompey reinstated in a new Empire
Others look'd upon it as a Politick Device of Spinther the Cousul whose Design it was to oblige Pompey with a greater Authority that he himself might be sent in Assistance to King Ptolomy However this is undoubtedly true That Canidius the Tribune preferr'd a Law to dispatch Pompey in the Nature of an Ambassador without an Army attended only with two Lictors or Vergers as a Mediator betwixt the King and his Subjects of Alexandria Neither did this Law seem ungrateful to Pompey though indeed the Senate cast it out upon a specious Pretence That they were unwilling to hazard the Person of so brave a Man However there were found several Pamphlets scattered about the Market Place and Senate-House intimating how grateful it would be to Ptolemy to have Pompey appointed for his General instead of Spinther But Timagenes relates it otherwise as if Ptolomy went away and left Egypt not out of necessity but purely upon the perswasion of Theophanes who designed an Advantage to Pompey laying a Foundation for him of Wealth and a new Command Yet for all this the crafty Practices of Theophanes could not make this Report so credible but that it was render'd much more incredible by that nobler Genius of Pompey which would never allow of such base and disingenious Arts even in favour of his Ambition Thus Pompey being appointed chief Provedore and having within his Administration and Management all the Corn Trade sent abroad his Factors and Agents into all Quarters and he himself sailing into Sicily Sardinia and Africa made up vast Stores of Corn. And now being just ready to set Sail upon his Voyage homeward bound there arose a mighty Storm of Wind upon the Sea which raised a Doubt even among the Commanders themselves whether it were safe to break Ground or no wherefore Pompey himself went first aboard and commanded the Mariners to weigh Anchor declaring with a loud Voice That there was a necessity for them to Sail but no necessity to Live So that he by his Spirit and Courage having met with that Fortune which favours the Bold made a prosperous Return whereby his Granaries were stor'd the Markets all filled with Corn and the Sea with Ships Insomuch that this great plenty and abundance of Provisions yielded a sufficient Supply not only to the City of Rome but even Foreigners too dispersing it self like a lively Fountain through many Rivulets into all Quarters of Italy All this time Caesar grew great and was highly extoll'd for his Wars and Conquests in Gaul and when in appearance he seem'd farthest distant from Rome as if he had been intangled in the Affairs of Belgia Suevia and Britany than in truth was he working craftily by secret Practices in the midst of the People and countermining Pompey in his chiefest Designs For having his Army always about him as his Body 't was not his Design to weaken or impair it in a formal War against the barbarous Enemy but by light Skirmishes only no otherwise than in Sports of Hunting or Hawking to exercise and harden it whereby he made it invincible and dreadful to the World Then for his Gold and Silver which was infinite together with those incredible Spoils and other Treasures which he had taken from the Enemy in his Conquests all those he sent to Rome in Presents and Bribes tempting and corrupting the Aediles Praetors and Consuls together with their Wives whereby he purchased to himself a multitude of Friends Insomuch that when he passed back again over the Alpes and took up his Winter-Quarters in the City of Luca there flocked to him an infinite number of the common People Men and Women even in Strife and likewise 200 Senators at least among whom were Pompey and Crassus so that there were to be seen at once before Caesar's Gates no less than sixscore Rods or Maces of Proconsuls and Praetors As for the rest of his Addressors he sent them all away full fraught with Hopes and Money but for Crassus and Pompey he enter'd into private Covenants and Articles of Agreement with them That they should stand Candidates for the Consulship next Year That Caesar on his part should send a good Company of Soldiers to give their Votes at the Election That as soon as they were Elected they should use their Interest to have the Government of some Provinces and Legions assigned to themselves and that Caesar should have his Charge now in being confirmed to him for five Years more But afterwards when these Designs came to be discovered and noised abroad the Matter was hainously resented by many Persons of the greatest Quality in Rome and therefore Marcellinus once in an open Assembly of the People demanded of them both Whether they designed to Sue for the Consulship or no And being urged by the People for their Answer Pompey spake first and told them Perhaps he would Sue for it perhaps he would not But Crassus was somewhat more politick and said That for his part he would be ready to do what should be judg'd most agreeable with the Interest of the Commonwealth However Marcellinus still inveighing against Pompey and seeming to reflect upon him more bitterly Pompey replied as sharply That this Marcellinus was a most ungodly Wretch without either Gratitude or Honour for that by him he was made an Orator of a Mute and of a poor Starvling one glutted even to a Vomit Now notwithstanding divers fell off from their Pretences and forsook their Canvas for the Consulship yet Cato perswaded and encouraged Lucius Domitius not to desist For that said he the Contest now is not for Government but for liberty against Tyrants and Usurpers Wherefore those of Pompey's Party fearing that inflexible Constancy in Cato whereby he ruled and governed the whole Senate lest by that likewise he should pervert and draw after him all the well-affected part of the Commonalty resolved to withstand Domitius at first and prevent his entrance into the Market-place To this end therefore they sent in a Band of armed Men who at the first Onset slew the Torch-bearer of Domitius as he was leading the way before him and immediately put all the rest to Flight last of all Cato himself retired having received a Wound upon his right Arm in defence of Domitius Thus by these means and practices they obtained the Government neither indeed did they behave themselves with more decency throughout all the rest of their Actions But in the first place when the People were choosing Cato Praetor and just ready with their Votes for the Poll Pompey broke up the Assembly charging his Reasons upon the Augury as if there had appeared something inauspicious in the Heavens and thereupon having corrupted the Tribes they publickly proclaimed Antias and Vatinius Praetors Then in pursuance of their Covenants with Caesar they published several Edicts by Trebonian the Tribune whereby they made an Enlargement of Caesar's Commission according to Agreement measuring out another five years Charge to his former Province To Crassus there
was appointed Syria and the Parthian War And to Pompey himself all Africa together with both Spains and four Legions of Soldiers whereof two he lent to Caesar upon his request for the Wars in Gaul Crassus upon the expiration of his Consulship departed forthwith into his Province But Pompey spent some time in Rome upon the opening or dedication of his Theater where he treated the People with all manner of Games Shews and Exercises as well Warlike as those of the Muses there was likewise the Hunting or Baiting of wild Beasts and Combats with them wherein 500 Lyons were slain But above all the Battel of Elephants was a Spectacle full of Horrour and Amazement These noble Entertainments brought him in great Esteem with the People whereby he was highly admired and beloved but on the other side he created no less Envy to himself in that he committed the Government of his Provinces and Legions into the Hands of Friends as his Lieutenants whilst he himself was wantonly rambling up and down and caressing his Wife throughout all the Delicacies of Italy whether he doated upon her as a real Lover or whether he could not find in his Heart to leave her who was such a Lover of him is somewhat doubtful But this is certain that there was nothing more famous and common in Discourse than the passion of this young Lady for her Husband not that she was in Love with Pompey for the flower of his Age but because of his assured Chastity as knowing no other Woman but that one he had Wedded Besides though in his Carriage he had a majestick Gravity yet his Conversation was not Morose but extremely agreeable and taking among the Women unless we will arraign the evidence of Flora the Curtezan Now it hapned in a publick Assembly as they were at an Election of the Aediles that the People came to Blows and divers about Pompey were slain so that he finding himself all bloody ordered a change of Apparel but the Servants who brought home his Cloaths making a great Buâ—tle and Hurry about the House it chanced that the young Lady who was then with Child saw his Gown all stained with Blood whereupon she dropt immediately into a Swoon and was hardly brought to Life again however what with her Fright and Passion together she fell in Labour and Miscarried Wherefore even those who chiefly censured Pompey for his Friendship to Caesar could not reprove him for his Affection to his Lady who had such a Passion for him Afterwards she was great again and brought to Bed of a Daughter but died in Child-bed neither did the Infant out-live her Mother many days Pompey had prepared all things for the Interment of her Corps at Alba but the People seized upon it by force and performed the Solemnities of her Funeral in the Field of Mars rather in Compassion to the young Lady than in Favour either of Pompey or Caesar and yet of these two the People seemed at that time to pay Caesar a greater share of Honour in his absence than to Pompey though he was present From hence the City began to waver and feel new Commotions for all things grew Tumultuous and every Body's Discourse tended to Sedition as soon as Death had put an end to that Relation which hitherto had been a Disguise rather than Restraint to the Ambition of these Men Besides not long after came an Express from Parthia with Intelligence of the Death of Crassus there whereby another manifest Obstacle of a Civil War was taken away for they had both an Eye thither and that awe of him kept them together in a fair Correspondence all his Life-time but when Fortune had taken away this Second whose Province it was to revenge the Quarrel of the Conquered you might then say with the Comedian See how the Combatants begin How they anoint each others Skin And chafe their hands in dust agen So inconsiderable a thing is Fortune in respect of humane Nature and so little Content can it give to a Covetous Mind That an Empire of that mighty Extent and Sway could not satisfie the Ambition of two Men and though they knew and had read The Gods when they divided out 'twixt Three This massie Universe Heav'n Hell and Sea Each God sate down contented on his Throne And undisturb'd each God enjoys his own Yet they thought the whole Roman Empire not sufficient to contain them though they were but Two But Pompey in an Oration to the People told them plainly that he ever came into Office before he expected he should and that he always left it sooner than they expected he would and indeed the disbanding of all his Armies always witnessed as much Yet when he perceived that Caesar would not so willingly discharge his Forces he then endeavour'd to strengthen himself against him by Offices and Commands in the City neither indeed did he attempt any other Innovation and yet all this while he would not seem to distrust but rather to despise and contemn him But when he saw how they bestowed the Places of Government quite contrary to his opinion because the Citizens were brib'd in their Elections he left the City without any Government at all Hereupon there was mention straightway made and the News ran current of a Dictator Now Lucilius a Tribune of the People was the bold Man that first adventur'd â—o propose it encouraging the People to make choice of Pompey for their Dictator but the Tribune was in danger of being turn'd out of his Office by the opposition that Cato made against it And for Pompey many of his Friends appear'd and pleaded his excuse alledging That he never was desirous of that Government neither would he accept of it Cato therefore making a large Harangue in commendation of Pompey and exhorting him to be careful of good Order in the Common-wealth he could not for shame but yield to it and so Domitius and Messala were elected Consuls Afterwards when there was another Anarchy or Vacancy in the Government and the Discourses of a Dictator were much hotter than before those of Cato's Party fearing lest they should make Pompey thought it Policy to keep him from that Arbitrary and Tyrannical Power by giving him an Office of more legal Authority Nay even Bibulus himself who was Pompey's Enemy first gave his Vote that Pompey should be created Consul alone alledging That by these means either the Commonwealth would be freed from its present Confusion or that its Bondage should be lessened by serving the worthiest This was looked upon as a very strange Opinion considering the Man that spoke it and therefore Cato standing up every body expected that he would have opposed it but after Silence made he told them plainly That for his own part he would never have been the Author of that Advice himself but since it was propounded by another his Advice was to follow it adding That any form of Government was better than none at
all and that in a time so full of Distraction he thought no Man fitter to Govern than Pompey This Counsel was unanimously approved of and an Act passed That Pompey should be made sole Consul with this Clause That if he thought it necessary to have a Colleague he might choose whom he pleased provided it were not till after Two Months expired Thus was Pompey created and declared sole Consul by Sulpitius Regent in this Vacancy Upon which he made a very civil Complement to Cato with many thanks for the Honour he had done him and desiring his Assistance in the Privy Counsel of his Government To this Cato replied That Pompey had no reason to thank him for all that he had said was in favour of the Commonwealth not of Pompey but that he would be always ready to serve him in the quality of a privy Counsellor if he please to require it if not yet he would be sure to speak in publick what he thought was for the Interest of the Commonwealth So just was Cato in all his Actions No sooner did Pompey return into the City but he Married Cornelia the Daughter of Metellus Scipio not a Virgin but Widow the late Relict of Publius the Son of Crassus who died in Parthia and with whom she cohabited from her Virginity This Lady besides the Charms of her Beauty had many attractive Qualities from her Education for she was learned enough in most Sciences played well upon the Lute was skilled in Geometry and took great pleasure in hearing Discourses of Philosophy To these may be added her Graces in Morality and in this she was extremely commendable that her Humour was free from Peevishness and Curiosity Vices very common to Ladies of such liberal Endowments Her Father also was very considerable as well in the Honour of his Family as that of his own Vertues however these unequal Marriages were not very pleasing to some sort of People for Cornelia's Age was more agreeable with that of Pompey's Son than his own But the wiser sort thought the Concerns of the City quite neglected when he to whom alone they had committed their broken Fortunes and from whom alone as from their Physician they expected a cure to these Distractions went crown'd with Garlands and was revelling in his Nuptial Feasts never considering that this Consulship was a publick Calamity which would never have been given him contrary to the Rules of Law had his Country been in a flourishing State Yet afterwards he took cognizance of those that got into Offices by Gifts and Bribery and enacted Laws and Ordinances setting forth the Rules and Judgment by which they should be arraign'd and impleaded thus he regulating all things with Gravity and Justice gave Security Order and Silence to their Courts of Judicature himself giving his presence there with a Band of Soldiers But the Case was alter'd when his Father-in-law Scipio was accused there he sent for the 360 Judges to his House and entreated them to be favourable to him whereupon his Accuser seeing Scipio come into the Court accompanied by the Judges themselves let fall his Suit Upon this Pompey was very ill spoken of and much worse in the Case of Plancus for whereas he himself had made a Law wherein 't was enacted That no Man should speak in praise of an Offender yet notwithstanding this Prohibition he came into Court and spoke openly in commendation of Plancus insomuch that Cato who hapned to be one of the Judges at that time stopping his Ears with his Hands told him He could not in Honour hear an Offender commended contrary to Law thereupon Cato was refused and set aside from being a Judge before Sentence was given but Plancus was condemned by the rest of the Judges to Pompey's Dishonour Shortly after Hypseus a Man of Consular Dignity endeavouring to avoid an Impeachment waited for Pompey's Return from Bath to Supper and falling down at his Feet implor'd his Favour but he disdainfully passed him by saying That he did nothing else but Spoil his Supper This Partiality was look'd upon as a great Fault in Pompey and highly condemned however he managed all things else discreetly and having put the Government in very good Order he chose his Father-in-law to be his Colleague in the Consulship for the last five Months His Provinces also were continu'd to him for the term of Four Years longer with a Commission to take 1000 Talents yearly out of the Treasury for the payment of his Army This gave occasion to some of Caesar's Friends to think it reasonable That some Consideration should be had of him too who had done such signal Services in War and fought so many bloody Battels for the Honour and Interest of the Roman Empire alledging That he deserv'd at least a second Consulship or to have the Government of his Province continu'd whereby he might command and enjoy in Peace what he had obtain'd in War and that no Successor might reap the fruits of his Labour and raise a fame upon the glory of his Actions There arising some Debate about this Matter Pompey took upon him as it were out of kindness to Caesar to plead his Cause and allay that Hatred of the People that was conceived against him telling them That he had then receiv'd a Letter from Caesar wherein he desired a Successor and to be discharged from the War but hop'd withal that they would give him leave to stand for the Consulship though in his absence But those of Cato's Party stoutly withstood it saying That if he expected any Favour from the Citizens he ought to leave his Army and come in a private Capacity to canvas for it Wherefore Pompey seeming so easily satisfied in that he made no Reply gave a greater suspicion of his specious Inclinations towards Caesar especially when under pretence of his War with Parthia he sent for his two Legions which he had lent him however Caesar though he well knew for what Design sign he wanted them sent them home very liberally rewarded About that time Pompey recover'd of a dangerous Fit of Sickness that seiz'd him at Naples and there the whole City upon the Perswasion of Praxagoras made Sacrifices to the Gods for his Recovery Those of the neighbouring Towns likewise happening to follow their Example the Humour was carried on throughout all Italy so that there was not a City either great or small that did not feast and rejoyce for many days together And the Company of those that came from all Parts to meet him was so numerous that no place was able to contain them but the Villages Sea-Port Towns and the very High-ways were all full of People feasting and sacrificing to the Gods Nay many went to meet him with Garlands on their Heads and Flambeaux in their Hands casting Flowers and Nosegays upon him as he went along so that this Progress of his and Reception was one of the noblest and most glorious Sights imaginable And yet 't is
of Opinion That Italy should first be regain'd for that it was the grand Prize and Crown of all the War and withal they who were Masters of that would quickly have at their Devotion all the Provinces of Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Spain and Gaul but what was of greatest weight and moment 't was his own native Country that lay near reaching out her Hand for his Help and certainly it could not be consistent with Pompey's Honour to leave her thus expos'd to all Indignities and in Bondage under Slaves and the Flatterers of a Tyrant But Pompey himself on the contrary thought it neither honourable to fly a second time before Caesar and be pursued when Fortune had given him the Advantage of a Pursuit nor indeed lawful before the Gods to forsake Scipio and divers other Men of consular Dignity dispers'd throughout Greece and Thessaly who must necessarily fall into Caesar's Hands together with all their Wealth and greater Forces Then as to his Care for the City of Rome that would most eminently appear by removing the Scene of War to a greater distance whereby she being every way insensible of those Calamities that attend a War might in Peace expect the Return of her Conqueror With this determination Pompey march'd forwards in pursuit of Caesar firmly resolv'd with himself not to give him Battel but rather to Besiege and distress him by keeping close at his heels straitning his Quarters and cutting off all necessary Reliefs Now there were other Reasons that made him continue this Resolution but especially a Combination among the Roman Knights that came to his Ear wherein they design'd as soon as Caesar was overthrown to humble him too and therefore some report it was for this Reason that Pompey never employ'd Cato in any Matter of consequence during the whole War yet now when he pursued Caesar he left him to guard his Baggage by Sea fearing if Caesar should be taken off lest by Cato's means he likewise not long after should be forc'd to lay down his Commission Whilst he was thus slowly attending the Motions of the Enemy his Friends began to charge upon him many Reproaches and Imputations as if he did not use this Stratagem to deceive Caesar but his Country and the Senate that he might always continue in Authority and never cease to keep those for his Guards and Servants who themselves were worthy to govern the World besides that scoffing way of Domitius Aenobarbus continually calling him Agamemnon and King of Kings render'd him very odious And Favonius his unseasonable Raillery did him no less injury than those that took upon them a greater liberty of Speech when in Drollery he cry'd out My Masters you must not expect to gather any Figs in Tusculan this year But Lucius Afranius who had lain under an imputation of Treachery in Betraying the Army in Spain when he perceiv'd that Pompey did industriously decline an Engagement declar'd openly That he could not but admire why those who were so ready to accuse him did not go themselves and fight that Merchant of their Provinces With these and many such like Speeches they wrought upon Pompey a Man of that Honour and Modesty that he could not bear a Reproach neither would he disoblige his Friends and forc'd him to break his Measures so that he forsook his own prudent Resolution only to follow their vain Hopes and Desires Now if such an unsteady Conduct is blameable in the Pilot of a Ship how much more in an Emperor or the Soveraign Commander of such an Army and so many Nations but he though he has often commended those Physicians who did not comply with the humorous Appetites of their Patients yet himself could not but yield to the Diseased part of his Army rather than he would use any severity in the Cure and indeed who would not judge it Insanity and want of a Cure in those Men who went up and down the Camp suing already for the Consulship and Office of a Praetor Nay Spinther Domitius and Scipio made Friends rais'd Factions and even quarrell'd among themselves who should succeed Caesar in the Dignity of his High-Priesthood esteeming all as lightly as if they were to engage only with Tigranes King of Armenia or some petty Naâ—athaean King not with that Caesar and his Army that had Storm'd a 1000 Towns and subdued more than 300 several Nations that had fought innumerable Battels with the Germans and Gauls and always carried the Victory that had taken a Million of Men Prisoners and Slain as many upon the Spot in pitcht Battels But as soon as they came to the Fields of Pharsalia they grew very tumultuous so that they forced him by their Pressures and Importunities to call a Counsel of War where Labienus General of the Horse stood up and first took the Sacrament swearing That he would not return out of the Battel until he had seen the Backs if his Enemies and all the rest took the same Oath That Night Pompey Dream'd That as he went into the Theater the People receiv'd him with great Applause and that he himself adorn'd the Temple of Venus the Conqueress with many Spoils This Vision partly encourag'd and partly disheartned him â—â—â—â—ing lest that Splendor and Ornament to Venus should be made with Spoils taken from himself by Caesar who deriv'd his Family from that Goddess besides there was a certain Panick Fear run through the Camp with such a Noise that it awak'd him out of his Sleep And about the time of renewing the Watch towards Morning there appear'd a great Light over Caesar's Camp whilst they were all at rest and from thence a Ball of flaming Fire was carried into Pompey's Camp which Caesar himself said he saw as he was walking his Rounds Now Caesar having designed to raise his Camp before break of day whilst the Soldiers were busie in pulling down their Tents and sending away their Cattle and Servants before them with all their Bag and Baggage there came in Scouts who brought word that they saw several Arms carried to and fro in the Enemies Camp and heard a noise and running up and down as of Men preparing for Battel Not long after there came in other Scouts with farther Intelligence That the first Ranks were already set in Battel Array Thereupon Caesar when he had told them That the wish'd for day was come at last wherein they should Fight with Men not with Hunger and Famine he presently gave Orders for the Red Colours to be set up before his Tent for that was usually the Signal of Battel among the Romans As soon as the Soldiers saw that they left their Tents and with great Shouts of Joy ran to their Arms The Officers likewise on their parts drawing up their Squadrons in order of Battel every Man fell inâ—o his proper Rank without any trouble or noise as quietly and orderly as if they had been in a Dance Pompey himself led up the right Wing of his Army against Anthony
his own The young Lady hearing this fell down all along in a Swoon and continu'd so a long time sensless and speechless she was scarce well recover'd of her Senses again but being conscious to her self that this was no time for Lamentation and Tears she started up and ran through the City towards the Sea-side where Pompey meeting and embracing her in his Arms as she was just fainting away and falling into a Swoon she vented her passion in this manner This is the effect of my Fortune dear Sir not of yours that I see you thus dejected and reduced to one poor Vessel who before your Marriage with the unfortunate Cornelia was wont to ride Admiral of these Seas with a Fleet of 500 Sail why therefore should you come to see me or why not rather have left her to a severer Fate who has been the Cause and Author of all your Misfortunes How happy a Woman had I been if I had breath'd out my last before that fatal News from Parthia of the Death of Publius to whom I was wedded in my Virginity and how prudent if I had follow'd his Destiny as I design'd But I was reserv'd for a greater Mischief even the ruine of Pompey the Great Thus they say Cornelia spoke to him and this was Pompey's Reply Dear Cornelia Thou hast hitherto known only one kind Fortune which perhaps has deceiv'd thee in this that she has been constant to me beyond her usual Custom but it behoves us who are Mortals born to bear with these Afflictions and try our Fortune once again neither ought we to despond and rest hopeless for that 't is as possible to retrieve our former Happiness from this unlucky state as it was to fall from that into this present Calamity Thereupon she sent for her Goods and Servants out of the City the Citizens also of Mitylene came out to salute and invite Pompey into the City but he refused advising them to be obedient to the Conqueror and fear not for that Caesar was a Man of great Goodness and Clemency Then turning to Cratippus the Philosopher who came among the rest out of the City to visit him he began to repine and argue somewhat with him touching the Dispensations of Providence but Cratippus very modestly declin'd the Dispute putting him in better Hopes only lest by opposing he might seem too sharp or unseasonable For when Pompey had put him a certain Question touching Providence and demonstrated how necessary it was that the Commonwealth should be turn'd into a Monarchy because of their ill Government in the State he return'd the Question But how oh Pompey and by what token or assurance may we be induc'd to believe that if the Victory had been thine thou wouldst have us'd thy Fortune better than Caesar But Providence is a point of Divinity belonging to the Gods and ought to be let alone to act after its own method Thus Pompey having taken his Wife and Friends aboard set Sail making no Port nor touching any where but when he was necessitated to take in Provisions or fresh Water The first Place he arriv'd at was Attalia a City in Pamphylia and whilst he was there there came some Gallies thither to him out of Cilicia together with a few Bands of Soldiers and there he had almost 60 Senators with him again Then hearing that his Navy was safe too and that Cato had rallied a considerable Body of Soldiers after their Overthrow and pass'd with them over into Africa he began to complain and blame himself and his Friends too in that they had forc'd him to engage by Land without making use of his other Forces in which he was undoubtedly the stronger and had not kept near enough to his Fleet that failing by Land he might have reinforced his Troops from the Sea and presently drawn out a Power equal and able enough to encounter the Enemy so that in truth neither did Pompey during all the War commit a greater Oversight nor Caesar use a more subtil Stratagem than by drawing the Fight so far off from their Naval Forces Now Pompey being at present constrain'd to attempt and act somewhat according to his small Ability he dispatch'd his Agents as Ambassadors to some of the neighbouring Cities and himself sail'd about in Person to others requiring their Aid in Money and Soldiers to Victual and Man out his Ships however fearing lest the sudden Approach of the Enemy might prevent his Preparations he began to consider what Place would yield him the safest Refuge and Retreat at present Thereupon a Consult being held it was generally agreed upon That no Province of the Romans was secure enough and touching Foreign Kingdoms he himself was of opinion That Parthia must needs be the fittest both to receive and defend them in their present Distress as well as to aid and furnish them with the greatest Forces Others of the Council were for going into Africa and to King Juba but Theophanes the Lesbian thought it madness to leave Aegypt that was but a Voyage of three days Sailing and forsake Ptolomy who was just come of Age and highly oblig'd to him for that Friendship and Favour which he had lately shewn to his Father only to put himself under the Parthian and trust the most Treacherous Nation in the World Or what is worse to subject himself to the Tyranny of Arsaces the King of Parthia and make him his Lord a Power which he was not able to compass in the Life-time of Crassus rather than try the Clemency of a Generous Roman and one that had been his Father-in-Law to whom if he would but yield to be Second he might assure himself to be the first and chief over all the rest Besides he thought it would be great Cruelty to expose a young Lady descended from the Noble Family of the Scipio's among such a barbarous People who govern by their Lusts and measure their Greatness by their Power to commit Affronts and Insolencies from whom though she suffer no Dishonour yet it would be thought she did being in the Hands of those who had the power to do it This Argument alone they say was so perswasive as to divert his Course that was design'd towards Euphrates if it were so indeed that any Counsel of Pompey's and not his own Fate made him take this other way As soon therefore as 't was resolv'd upon that he should fly into Aegypt he setting Sail from Cyprus in a Galley of Seleucia together with Cornelia and the rest of his Company some in Long-Boats and others in Ships of Burthen sailing by pass'd over the Sea without danger But when he understood that King Ptolomy was sate down with his Army in the City of Pelusium making War against his Sister he steer'd his Course that way and sent a Messenger before to acquaint the King with his Arrival and humbly crave his Protection Ptolomy himself was a very young Man and therefore Pothinus the principal Minister of State having
the sole Administration of all Affairs in the Government call'd a Council of the chiefest Men at Court those being the greatest whom he pleas'd to make so and commanded them every Man to deliver his Opinion touching the Reception of Pompey Now 't was a horrid thing to consider That the Fate of Pompey the Great should be determin'd by such a Crew as Pothinus an Eunuch Theodotus of Chios a mercenary Rhetorician that taught Oratory as a Schoolmaster for Reward and Achillas an Aegyptian for these with others of his Bed-Chamber and some of those who had a share in his Education were the chief and leading Men in the Council Pompey who thought it dishonourable to owe his Safety to Caesar riding at Anchor a great way distant from Shore was forc'd to wait the Result of this honourable Council It seems they were different in their Opinions Some were for sending the Man away and others again for calling and receiving him but Theodotus to shew the power of his Eloquence and Rhetorick undertook to demonstrate That neither the one nor the other was safe in that Juncture of Affairs for if they entertain'd him they would be sure to make Caesar their Enemy and Pompey their Master Or if they dismiss'd him they might render themselves hereafter obnoxious to Pompey for that inhospitable Expulsion and to Caesar for the Escape so that the most expedient Advice would be to send and take away his Life for by that means they would ingratiate themselves with the one and have no reason to fear the other adding as 't is reported with a Smile That a dead Man cannot bite This Advice being approv'd of they committed the execution of it to Achillas He therefore taking with him as his Accomplices one Septimius a Man that had formerly commanded a Brigade under Pompey and Salvius another Centurion with three or four Officers more made up towards Pompey's Galley in the mean time all the chiefest of those who accompanied Pompey in this Voyage were come into his Ship to see the event of their Embassie But when they saw the manner of their Reception that in appearance it was neither Princely nor Honourable nor indeed any ways answerable to the Hopes of Theophanes or their Expectation for there came but a few Men in a Fisherman's Boat to meet them they began to suspect the meaness of their Entertainment and gave warning to Pompey that he should turn back whilst he was out of their reach and launch out into the main Sea By this time the Aegyptian Boat drew near and Septimius standing up first saluted Pompey in the Latin Tongue by the Title of Imperator or General Then Achillas saluting him in the Greek Language desir'd him to come aboard his Vessel telling him That the Sea was very shallow towards the Shore and that a Galley of that Burthen could not avoid striking upon some Shelve or Quick-sand At the same time they saw several of the King's Galleys well mann'd and all the Shore cover'd with Soldiers so that if they had chang'd their Minds it seem'd impossible for them to escape and besides their Distrust would have giv'n the Assassinates a colourable pretence for their Cruelty Pompey therefore taking his leave of Cornelia who lamented his Death before-hand bid two Centurions Philip one of his Free-men and a Slave call'd Sâ—ynâ—s go aboard of the Aegyptian's Boat before him and as some of the Ships Crew belonging to Achillas were reaching out their Hands to help him he turn'd about towards his Wife and Son and repeated those Iambicks of Sophocles He that once falls into a Tyrants Power Becomes a Slave though he were Free before These were the last words he spoke to his Friends and so he went aboard When Pompey perceiv'd that notwithstanding there was a considerable distance betwixt his Galley and the Shore and yet none of the Ships Company had spoke a kind word to him all the way he look'd earnestly upon Septimius and spoke to him Methinks I should know thee Friend have not we been formerly Fellow-Soldiers and serv'd together in the Wars But he only nodded with his Head making no Reply at all nor shewing any other manner of Civility Since therefore they continu'd silent Pompey took a little Book in his Hand wherein was written a Greek Oration which he intended for King Ptolomy and began to read it Afterwards when they drew near to the Shore Cornelia together with the rest of her Friends in the Galley was very impatient to see the Event and began to take Courage at last when she saw several of the Court coming to meet him imagining that it might be for a more honourable Reception but in the mean time as Pompey took Philip by the hand to rise up more easily Septimius came first of all behind with his Sword and run him thorow next after him likewise Salvius and Achillas drew out their Swords Wherefore Pompey taking up his Gown with both Hands hid his Face and neither saying nor doing any thing unworthy of himself only groaning a little manfully endur'd the Wounds they gave him and so ended his Life in the 59th Year of his Age the very next day after the day of his Birth Cornelia with her Company from the Gallies seeing him Murder'd gave such a Shriek that it was heard to the Shore and weighing Anchor with all speed they hoisted Sail and fled The Wind serv'd them favourably from ashore and assisted their Flight with a brisk Gale whereby they presently got the main Sea so that the Aegyptians failing of their aim desisted from pursuing them But they cut off Pompey's Head and threw the rest of his Body over-board leaving it naked upon the Shore to be view'd by any that had the curiosity to see such a miserable Spectacle Philip stay'd by and watch'd his Corps till they had glutted their Eyes in viewing it and then washing it with Sea-water and having nothing else he wrapt it up in one of his own Shirts for a Winding-sheet then seeking up and down about the Sands at last he found some rotten Planks of a little Fisher-Boat not much but yet enough to make up a Funeral Pile for a naked Body and that not quite entire As Philip was busie in gathering and putting these old Planks together an old Roman Citizen who from his Youth had serv'd in the Wars under Pompey came to him and demanded Who he was that was preparing the Funerals of Pompey the Great And Philip making Answer That he was his Free-man Nay said he but thou shalt not have this Honour alone let even me too I prithee have my share in such a pious Office that I may not altogether repent me of this Pilgrimage in a strange Land but that in compensation of all my Misfortunes I may obtain this Happiness at last even with my own Hands to touch the Body of Pompey and pay my Devotion at the Obsequies of the greatest General among the Romans And in this manner
Master of Greece as he was walking up and down at Delphos and looking on the Statues at the sight of that of Alexander he was suddenly struck with Horrour and shook all over his Eyes rowl'd his Head grew dizzy and he had much ado to recover himself When once Alexander gave way to Superstition his Mind grew so disturb'd and timorous that if the least unusual or extraordinary thing happen'd he would needs have it thought a Prodigy or a Presage and his Court was throng'd with Diviners and Priests whose business was to Sacrifice and Purifie and foretel the future So horrid a thing is Incredulity and Contempt of the Gods on one hand and no less horrid is Superstition on the other which like Water always creeping on the Ground invades us with servile Fear and Folly as it did now Alexander himself But upon some Answers which were brought him from the Oracle concerning Hephestion he had laid aside his Sorrow and fell again to Sacrificing and Drinking and having given Nearchus a splendid Entertainment after he had bath'd as was his Custom just as he was going to Bed at Medius his Request he went to Supper with him Here he drank all that night and the next day to such excess as put him into a Fever which seiz'd him not as some write after he had drank of Hercules his Bowl nor was he taken with a sudden pain in his Back as if he had been struck with a Lance for these are the Inventions of some Authors who thought it became them to make the conclusion of so great an Action as tragical and moving as they could Aristobulus tells us That in the rage of his Fever and a violent Thirst he took a draught of Wine upon which he fell into a Frenzy and died the 30th of June But in his Journals we have this account of his Sickness That the 18th of June by reason of his Illness he lay in his Bathing-room where it first seiz'd him that when he had bath'd he remov'd into his Chamber and spent that day at Dice with Medius In the evening having wash'd and sacrific'd he eat with a good Stomach and had his Fever that night The 20th after the usual Sacrifices and Bathing he kept his Bed in the same Room and heard Nearchus his Relation of his Voyage and the Observations he had made of the Ocean The 21st he pass'd in the same manner his Fever still encreasing and had a very ill night of it The next day he had a severe Fit and caus'd himself to be remov'd and his Bed set by the great Bath and then discours'd with his principal Officers about filling up the vacant Charges in the Army with Men of tryed Valour aud Experience The 24th being much worse he was carried out to assist at the Sacrifices and gave order that his chief Commanders should wait within the Court whilst the Colonels and Captains kept Watch without doors The 25th he was remov'd to his Palace on the other side the River where he slept a little but his Fever abated not and when the Commanders came into his Chamber he was speechless and continued so the following day Then the Macedonians supposing he was dead came with great Clamours to the Gates and menac'd his Friends so that they were forc'd to admit them and let them all pass through unarm'd along by his Bed-side The same day Python and Seleucus being sent to Serapis his Temple to enquire if they should bring Alexander thither were answer'd by the God that they should not remove him The 28th in the Evening he Died. This Account is most of it word for word as it is written in his own Diary At that time no body had any suspicion of his being poyson'd but upon a discovery made six years after they say Olympias put many to death and threw abroad the Ashes of Jollas who was dead as if he had given it him But those who affirm Aristotle counselled Antipater to do it and that by his means wholly the Poyson was brought produce one Agnothemis for their Author who heard King Antigonus speak of it and tell us that the Poyson was Water deadly cold as Ice distilling from a Rock in the Territory of Nonacris which they gather'd like a thin Dew and kept in an Asses Hoof for it was so very cold and penetrating that no other Vessel would hold it However most are of opinion that all this is false no slight evidence of which is that during the Dissentions among the Commanders which lasted a great many days the Body continued clear and fresh without any sign of such Taint or Corruption though it lay neglected in a close sultry place Roxana who was now with Child and upon that account much honour'd by the Macedonians being Jealous of Statira sent for her by a Counterfeit Letter as if Alexander had been still alive and when she had her in her power kill'd her and her Sister and threw their Bodies into a Well which they fill'd up with Earth not with out the Privity and assistance of Perdiccas who at this time under the shelter of Arideus whom he carried about with him for his own security bore the greatest sway of any Arideus himself who was Philip's Son by one Philinna an obscure common Strumpet was a man of weak Parts by reason of his Indisposition of Body which was neither natural to him nor contracted of it self for in his Childhood he was quickwitted and hopeful enough but caus'd by Drinks that Olympias gave him which not only impair'd his Health but weakned his Understanding C. IVLIVS CAESAR 〈…〉 THE LIFE OF Julius Caesar Englished from the Greek by Mr. Smalridge of Christchurch AS soon as Sylla had made himself Master of Rome he resolved to force Cornelia Daughter to Cinna the late Usurper from Caesar her Husband but being unable to compass it either by hopes or fears confiscated her Dowry The ground of Sylla's hatred to Caesar was the alliance between him and Marius for Marius the elder Married Julia Caesar's Aunt by the Fathers side and had by her the younger Marius who consequently was Caesar's Cousin-german And thô at first in the heat of his Tyranny and hurry of business Caesar was overlook't by Sylla he could not lie still but presented himself to the People as a Candidate for the Priesthood thô he was yet under Age. But Sylla by his under-hand management so carried it that Caesar fell short of his pretensions and in a Consult of Friends to take him off when it was urged by some that it was not worth his while to contrive the death of a Boy he answered that They knew little who did not see many Marius's in that Boy Caesar upon notice of this lay concealed a long while among the Sabines often changing his Quarters till one night as he was removing his Lodging for his health he fell into the hands of Sylla's Soldiers who
were searching those parts in order to apprehend such as had absconded Coesar by a Bribe of two Talents prevailed with Cornelius their Captain to let him go and was no sooner dismist but he put to Sea and made for Bithynia After a short stay there with Nicomedes the King in his passage back he was taken near the Island Pharmacusa by some Pirates who at that time with some great Ships and a vast number of smaller Vessels infested those Seas When at first they demanded of him 20 Talents for his Ransom he smiled at them as not understanding the value of their Prisoner and voluntarily engaged to give 'em 50. He presently dispatched those about him to several places to raise the Money till at last he was left among those bloody Villains the Cilicians only with one Friend and two Attendants Yet he made so little of them that when he had a mind to sleep he would send to them and command silence For 38 days with all the freedom in the World he used Exercise and Gamed amongst them as if they had not been his Keepers but his Guards He wrote Verses and Speeches and made them his Auditors and those who did not admire them he called to their faces illiterate and barbarous and would often in raillery threaten to hang ' em They were mightily taken with this and attributed his free way of talking to a kind of Simplicity and Juvenile Humor As soon as his Ransom was come from Miletus he paid it and was discharged soon after which he Mann'd some Ships at the Milesian Port and went in pursuit of the Pirates whom he surprized as they were yet at an Anchor and took most of them Their Money he made Prize and the Men he secured in Prison at Pergamus and presently applied himself to Junius who was then Governor of Asia to whose Office it belonged as Praetor to determine their Punishment Junius having his Eye upon the Money for the Sum was considerable said He would think at his leisure what to do with the Prisoners upon which Caesar took his leave of him and went for Pergamus where he ordered the Pirates to be brought forth and Crucified the Punishment he had often threatened them with whilst he was in their hands and they little dream't he was in earnest In the mean time Sylla's Power declined and Caesar's Friends advised him to return to Rome but he went off to Rhodes and entred himself in the School of Apollonius Molon's Son a famous Rhetorician one who had the reputation of a well-tempered Man and had Cicero at that time for his Auditor Caesar was by Nature excellently framed for a perfect States-Man and Orator and took such pains to improve his Genius this way that without dispute he might challenge the second place amongst Men of that Character More he did not aim at as chusing to be first rather amongst Men of Arms and Power and therefore never rose up to that pitch of Eloquence to which Nature would have carried him being diverted by those Expeditions and Designs which at length gain'd him the Empire And he himself in his Answer to Cicero's Panegyric on Cato desires his Reader not to compare the plain Discourse of a Soldier with the Harangues of an Orator who had not only fine Parts but had employed his whole Life in this one Study When he was returned to Rome he accused Dolabella of Male-Administration and many Cities of Greece came in to attest it Dolabella was acquitted and Caesar in return of the favours he had received from the Grecians assisted them in their prosecution of P. Antonius for Bribery before M. Lucullus Praetor of Macedonia In this Cause he prevailed so far that Antonius was forced to appeal to the Tribunes at Rome alledging that in Greece he could not have fair play against Grecians In his Pleadings at Rome he appeared with all the graces of an Orator and gained much upon the Affections of the People by the easiness of his Address and Conversation in which he was accomplisht beyond what could be expected from his Age. His Interest grew still insensibly greater by the open House he kept and the magnificence of his Entertainments His Enemies slighted the growth of it at first in expectation it would soon fail when his Money was gone whilst in the mean time it was firmly setled among the Common People When his Power at last was fixt and not to be controll'd and now openly tended to the altering of the whole Constitution they were aware too late that there is no beginning so mean which continued application will not make considerable and that small dangers by being despised at first become at last irresistible Cicero was the first who had any suspicions of his designs upon the Government and as a good Pilot is apprehensive of a Storm when the Sea is calmest saw the designing temper of the Man thrô this disguise of good humor and affability and said upon it In all his other actions and intrigues I plainly discover the air of a Tyrant but when I see his Hair lie in so exact order and him so often adjusting it I cannot imagine it should enter into such a Man's thoughts to subvert the Roman State But of this more hereafter The first Proof he had of the People's good Will to him was when he carried a Tribuneship in the Army against C. Popilius A second and clearer instance of their Favour appeared upon his making an Excellent Oration in praise of his Aunt Julia Wife to Marius publickly in the Forum at whose Funeral he was so bold as to bring forth the Images of Marius which no Body durst produce since the Government came into Sylla's Hands Marius's Party having from that time been declared Enemies to the State For when some upon this Occasion exclaimed against Caesar the People on the other side were taken with the Action and received it with very great applause admiring him for having revived in the City those Honors of Marius which for so long time had been buried It had always been the custom at Rome to make Funeral Orations in praise of Ancient Matrons but there was no precedent of any upon young Women till Caesar first made one upon the death of his own Wife This also procured him Favour and by this shew of Affection he got the Hearts of the People who lookt upon him as a Man of great Tenderness and extraordinary good Nature When he had buried his Wife he went Quaestor into Spain under one Votus who was Praetor whom he Honoured ever after and made his Son Quaestor when he himself came to be Praetor When he was out of that Office he Married Pompeja his third Wife having then a Daughter by Cornelia his first Wife whom he afterwards match'd to Pompey the Great He was so profuse in his Expences that before he had any publick Employment he was in debt 1300 Talents Some thought that by being at so great a charge to be
no disturbance during his Praetorship only what misfortune he met with in his own Domestick Affairs P. Clodius was a Person well descended eminent both for his Riches and Eloquence but in Lewdness and Impudence exceeded the very worst of those who were remarkable for their Debauchery He was in love with Pompeja Caesar's Wife and she had no aversion to him But there were strict Guards on her Apartment and Caesar's Mother Aurclia who was a discreet Woman being continually about her made an Interview very dangerous and difficult The Romans have a Goddess which they call Bona the same which the Greeks call Gynaecea The Phrygians who claim a peculiar Title to her say she was Mother to Midas The Romans pretend she was one of the Dryads and Married to Faunus The Grecians affirm that she is that Mother of Bacchus whose Name is not to be utter'd For this Reason the Women who celebrate her Festival cover the Tents with Vine-branches and according to the Fable a Consecrated Dragon is plac'd by the Goddess It is not lawful for a Man to be bye nor so much as in the House whilst the Sacred Rites are celebrated but the Women by themselves perform such Holy Offices as are much aâ—kin to those us'd in the Solemnities sacred to Orpheus When the Festival comes the Husband who is always either Consul or Praetor and with him every Male-creature quits the House the Wife then taking it under her care sets it in order and there are great Solemnities all night attended with Dancing and several sorts of Musick As Pompeja was at that time celebrating this Feast Clodius who as yet had no Beard and so thought to pass undiscover'd took upon him the Habit and Disguise of a Singing-Woman having the Air of a young Girl and so came thither Finding the Doors open he was without any stop introduc'd by a young Maid who was in the Intrigue She presently ran to tell Pompeja but being from him a great while he grew uneasie in waiting for her and therefore left his Post and travers'd the House from one Room to another still taking care to avoid the Lights till at last Aurelia's Woman met him and invited him to such Recreations as the Women use among themselves He refus'd to comply but the presently pull'd him forward and ask'd him who he was and whence Clodius told her he waited for Aura one of Pompeja's Maids and as he said so betray'd himself by his Voice Upon which the Woman shrieking ran into the Company where there were Lights and cried out she had discovered a Man The Women were all in a fright Aurelia presently threw a Vail over the Ceremonies put a stop to the Orgia and having order'd the Doors to be shut ran about with Lights to find Clodius who was got into the Maids Room that he had come in with and was seiz'd there The Women knew him and drave him out of Doors and presently thô it was yet night went home to tell their Husbands the Story In the morning it was all about Town what an impious attempt Clodius had made and all agreed he ought to be punish'd as an Offender not only against those whom he had affronted but also against the Publick and the Gods Upon which one of the Tribunes accus'd him of profaning the Holy Rites and some of the Principal Senators came in and witness'd against him that besides many other horrible Crimes he had been guilty of Incest with his own Sister who was Married to Lucullus But the People set themselves against the Interest of the Nobility and defended Clodius which was of great service to him with the Judges who were at a stand being afraid to provoke the Commonalty Caesar presently dismist Pompeja but being summon'd as a Witness against Clodius said He had nothing to charge him with This looking like a Paradox the Accusers ask'd him why he parted with his Wife Caesar replied Because I can't bear that my Wife should be so much as suspected Some say that Caesar spake this as his thoughts Others that he did it to gratifie the People who were very earnest to save Clodius So Clodius got clear of the Indictment most of the Judges giving their Opinions in confus'd terms that they might not be in danger from the People by condemning him nor in disgrace with the Nobility by acquitting him Caesar in the mean time being out of his Praetorship had got the Province of Spain but was in ill Circumstances with his Creditors who as he was going off came upon him and were very pressing and importunate which made him apply himself to Crassus who was the richest Man in Rome but wanted Caesar's vigor and warmth to set up against Pompey Crassus took upon him to satisfie those Creditors which were most uneasie to him and would not be put off any longer and engag'd himself to the value of 830 Talents Upon which Caesar was now at Liberty to go to his Province In his Journey as he was crossing the Alps and passing by a small Village of the Barbarians which was stock'd with but few Inhabitants and those wretchedly poor his Friends smil'd and ask'd him by way of raillery If there were any canvasing for Offices there any contention which should be uppermost or fewds of great Men one against another To which Caesar made answer very seriously For my part I had rather be the first Man among these Fellows then the second Man in Rome 'T is said that another time being retir'd from Business and reading the History of Alexander he sat a great while very thoughtful and at last burst out into Tears His Friends were surpris'd and ask'd him the Reason of it Do you think said he I have not just cause to weep when I consider that Alexander at my Age had conquer'd so many Nations and I have all this time done nothing that is memorable As soon as he came into Spain he was very active and in a few days had got together 10 new Companies of Foot to those 20 which were there before With these he march'd against the Gallaeci and Lusitani conquer'd them and advancing as far as the Ocean subdu'd those Nations which never before had been subject to the Romans Having manag'd his Military Affairs with good success he was equally happy in the Course of his Civil Government For he establish'd a good Understanding amongst the several States and took especial Care to heal the differences betwixt Debtors and Creditors He order'd that the Creditor should receive two parts of the Debtor's yearly Income and that the other part should be manag'd by the Debtor himself till by this method the whole Debt was at last discharg'd This Conduct made him leave his Province with a fair reputation being rich himself and having enrich'd his Soldiers who therefore Complimented him with the Title of Emperor There is a Law among the Romans that whoever desires the Honor of a Triumph must stay without the City and expect
he engag'd he kill'd one and took a second He was so much Master of the good Will and hearty service of his Soldiers that those who in other Expeditions were but ordinary Men carried with them a force not to be resisted or shaken when they went upon any danger where Caesar's glory was concern'd Such an one was Acilius who in a Sea-fight before Marseilles had his Right Hand struck off with a Sword yet did not quit his Buckler out of his Left but gaul'd the Enemies in the Face with it till he defeated them and made himself Master of the Vessel Such another was Cassius Scaera who in a Battle near Dyrrhachium had one of his Eyes pick'd out with an Arrow his Shoulder pierc'd with one Javelin and his Thigh with another and having receiv'd 130 Darts upon his Target call'd to the Enemy as thô he would surrender himself but when two of them came up to him he cut off the Shoulder of one with a Sword and by a blow over the Face forc'd the other to retire whilst with the Assistance of his own Party he made his escape Again in Britain when some of the chief Officers were accidentally faln into a Morass full of Water and there assaulted by the Enemy a common Soldier whilst Caesar stood and look'd on threw himself into the midst of them and after many and signal demonstrations of his Valour rescu'd the Officers and beat off the Barbarians At last he took the Water and with much ado partly by swimming partly by wading pass'd it but in the passage lost his Shield Caesar admir'd him and went to meet him with joy and acclamation but the Soldier very much dejected and in tears threw himself down at Caesar's feet and beg'd his pardon that he had let go his Buckler Another time in Afric Scipio having taken a Ship of Caesar's in which Granius Petronius one lately made Questor was passing he gave the other Passengers as free prize to his Soldiers but thought fit to give the Questor his Life But he said it was not usual for Caesar's Soldiers to take but give Life and having said so â—an upon his Sword and kill'd himself These Principles and Notions of Honour were inspir'd into them and cherish'd in them by Câ—sar himself who by his liberal distribution of Money and Honours shew'd them that he did not from the Wars heap up Wealth for his own Luxury or the gratifying his private Pleasure but that he took care to settle a sure Fund for the reward and encouragement of Valour and that he look'd upon himself only rich in that which he gave to deserving Soldiers There was no danger to which he did not willingly expose himself no labour from which he pleaded an exemption His contempt of danger was not so much admir'd by his Soldiers because they knew how much he lov'd Honour But his enduring so much hardship which he did to all appearance beyond his Natural Strength very much astonish'd them For he was a spare Man had a soft and white Skin was distemper'd in the Head and subject to an Epilepsie which 't is said first seiz'd him at Corduba But he did not make the weakness of his Constitution a pretext for his Ease but us'd War as the best Physick against his Indispositions whilst by unwearied Travels course Diet and frequent lodging in the Fields he strugled with his Diseases and prepar'd his Body against all attacks He slept generally in his Chariots or Litters and employ'd even his Rest in pursuit of Action In the day he was carried to Castles Garisons or Fortifications in his Chariot one Servant riding with him who us'd to write down what he dictated as he went and a Soldier attending behind with his Sword drawn He drove so briskly that when he first set out from Rome he arriv'd at the River Rhoan within 8 days He had been an expert Rider from his Childhood for it was usual with him to hold his hands close behind him and to put his Horse to full speed But in the Wars he had improv'd himself so far as to dictate Letters from on Horseback and to direct himself to two who took Notes at the same time or as Oppius saith to more And 't is thought that he was the first who found out a new way of Conversing with his Friends by Cyphers when either through multitude of business or the large extent of the City he had not time for a Personal Conference about such Incidents as requir'd a sudden dispatch How little nice he was in his Diet we have this remarkable Instance When Valerius Leo invited him one night to Supper and Treated him with a Sparagus upon which in stead of Oyl he had pour'd a sweet Oyntment Caesar fed on it without any disgust and reprimanded his Friends for finding fault with it For it was enough said he not to eat what you did not like but he who reflects on another Man's want of breeding shews he wants it as much himself Another time upon the Road he was driven by a Storm into a poor Man's Cottage where he found but one Room and that such as would afford but a mean Reception to a single Person and therefore he told his Companions that the most Honourable Places ought to be given to the best Men but the most Necessary Accommodations to the weakest and accordingly order'd that Oppius who was infirm should lodge within whilst he and the rest slept under a Shed at the Door His first War in Gaul was against the Helvetians and Tigurines who having burnt 12 of their own Towns and 400 Villages would have march'd forward through that part of Gaul which was under the Roman Province as the Cimbrians and Teutons formerly had done Nor were they inferior to these in Courage and in Numbers they were equal being in all Three hundred thousand of which One hundred and ninety thousand were fighting Men. Caesar did not engage the Tigurines in Person but Latienus who was Commission'd by him routed them about the River Arar But the Helvetians surpriz'd Caesar and unexpectedly set upon him as he was conducting his Army to a Confederate Town However he manag'd it so as to get into a place well fortified where when he had muster'd and marshal'd his Men his Horse was brought to him upon which he said When I have won the Battel I 'le use my Horse for the Chase but at present let us go against the Enemy Accordingly he charged them furiously on foot After a long and sharp Engagement he drove the main Army out of the Field but found the toughest work at their Carriages and Ramparts where not only the Men stood and fought but the Women also and Children defended themselves till they were cut to pieces insomuch that the Fight was scarce ended till midnight This Action in it self very great Caesar crown'd with another more glorious by gathering in a Body all the Barbarians that had escap'd out of the Battel above
from all parts and the vast Funds of Money laid up for this purpose and the strength of Towns and situation of places by which they were inaccessible It being Winter the Rivers were frozen the Woods cover'd with Snow and the Fields overflow'd so that in some places the Ways were lost through the depth of the Snow in others the overflowing of Bogs and Brooks made the passage very dangerous All which difficulties made it seem impracticable to Caesar to make any attempt upon the Rebels Many States had revolted together the chief of them were the Arverni and Carnutes the General who had the Supream Command in War was Vercingetorix whose Father the Gauls had put to death on suspicion he affected absolute Government He having dispos'd his Army in several Bodies and set Officers over them drew over to him all the Country round about as far as those that lie upon Arar and having Intelligence of the Opposition which Caesar's Affairs now found at Rome thought to engage all Gaul in the War Which if he had done a little later when Caesar was taken up with the Civil Wars Italy had been put into as great fears as before it was by the Cimbri But at this time Caesar who was of a Genius naturally fitted to make a right use of all advantages in War as soon as he heard of the Revolt return'd immediately the same way he went and shew'd the Barbarians by the quickness of his march in such a tempestuous season that the Army which was advancing against them was invincible For in time that one would have thought it scarce credible that a Courier or Express should have come so far he appear'd with all his Army in his march he ravaged the Country demolish'd the Forts and receiv'd into his protection those who declar'd for him till at last the Hedui oppos'd him who before had styl'd themselves Brethren to the Romans and had been much honour'd by them but now joyn'd the Rebels to the great discouragement of Caesar's Army Wherefore he remov'd thence and past the Country of the Lingones desiring to touch upon the Territories of the Sequani who were his Allies and are situate next to Italy upon the Confines of Gaul There the Enemy came upon him and surrounded him with many Myriads whom he was eager enough to engage and had the advantage of them upon all accounts and at last through the length of time and terrour of his Name quite defeated them But he seems to have made some false steps at first and the Arverni shew you a Sword hanging up in a Temple which they say was taken from Caesar This Caesar saw afterwards and smil'd at it and when his Friends advis'd it should be taken down would not permit it because he look'd upon it as consecrated After the defeat a great part of those who had escap'd fled with their King into a Town call'd Alexia which Caesar besieged though for the heighth of the Walls and number of those who were in Garison it seem'd impregnable During the Siege he met with greater danger without the Town then can be exprest For the choice Men of Gaul pick'd out of each Nation and well Arm'd came to relieve Alexia to the number of Three hundred thousand nor were there in the Town less than 170 thousand So that Caesar being shut up betwixt two such Armies was forc'd to raise two Walls one towards the Town the other against the new Supplies as knowing if these Forces should join his Affairs would be intirely ruin'd The danger that he underwent before Alexia did justly gain him great Honour and gave him an opportunity of shewing greater Instances of his Valour and Conduct than any other Battle ever did One would wonder very much how he should engage and defeat so many thousands of Men without the Town and not be perceiv'd by those within but much more that the Romans themselves who guarded their Wall which was next the Town should be Strangers to it For even they knew nothing of the Victory till they heard the cries of the Men and lamentations of the Women who were in the Town and had from thence seen the Romans at a distance carrying into their Camp a great quantity of Bucklers adorn'd with Gold and Silver many Breast-plates stain'd with Blood besides Cups and Tents made after the Gallic mode So soon was so vast an Army dissipated and vanish'd like a Ghost or Dream the greatest part of them being kill'd upon the spot Those which were in Alexia having given themselves and Caesar much trouble surrendred at last and Vercingetorix who was the chief Spring of all the War with his best Armour on and well mounted rode out of the Gates and took a Turn about Caesar as he was sitting then quitted his Horse threw off his Armour and laid himself quietly at Caesar's feet who committed him to Custody to be reserv'd for a Triumph Caesar had long since design'd to ruine Pompey and Pompey him for Crassus who had hitherto kept them in Peace being slain in Parthia the one wanted nothing to make himself the greatest Man in Rome but the fall of him who was so Nor had the other any way to prevent his own ruine but by being before-hand with him whom he fear'd But Pompey had not been long under such apprehensions having till that time despis'd Caesar as thinking it no difficult matter to crush him whom he himself had advanc'd But Caesar had entertain'd this design from the beginning against his Rivals and had retir'd like an expert Wrestler to prepare himself for the Combat He had improv'd the strength of his Souldiery by exercising e'm in the Gallic Wars and had heighten'd his own glory by his great Actions so that he was look'd on as one that vied with Pompey Nor did he let go any of those advantages which were now given him both by Pompey himself and the times and the ill Government of Rome whereby all who were Candidates for Offices publickly gave Money and without any shame brib'd the Pople who having receiv'd their pay did not contend for their Benefactors with their bare Suffrages but with Bows Swords and Slings so that they seldom parted without having stain'd the place of Election with the Blood of Men kill'd upon the spot by which the City was brought to confusion like a Ship without a Pilot so that the Wiser part wish'd things which were carried on with so much Tumult and fury might end no worse then in a Monarchy Some were so bold as to declare openly that the Government was incurable but by a Monarchy and that they ought to take that Remedy from the Hands of the gentlest Physician meaning Pompey who though in words he pretended to decline it yet in reality he made his utmost Efforts to be declar'd Dictator Cato perceiving his design prevail'd with the Senate to make him sole Consul that he might not aim at the Dictatorship being taken off with the offer of a more
but retreated after he had shut up the Enemy within their Camp Caesar upon his return said to his Friends The Victory to day had been on our Enemies side if they had had a General which knew how to conquer When he was retir'd into his Tent he laid himself down to sleep but spent that night the most melancholy that he ever did any being perplex'd in his thoughts for his ill conduct in this War for when he had a large Country before him and all the wealthy Cities of Macedonia and Thessaly he had neglected to carry the War thither and had sat down by the Sea-side whilst his Enemies had such a powerful Fleet so that he seem'd rather to be besieg'd with want of Necessaries then to besiege others with his Arms. Being thus distracted in his thoughts with the view of the ill posture he stood in he rais'd his Camp with a design to advance towards Scipio who lay in Macedonia for he hop'd either to draw Pompey where he should fight without the advantage he now had of supplies from the Sea or over-power Scipio if not assisted This animated Pompey's Army and Officers so far that they were for pursuing Caesar as one that was worsted and flying But Pompey was afraid to hazard a Battle on which so much depended and being himself provided with all Necessaries for a considerable time thought to tire out and waste the vigor of Caesar's Army which could not last long For the best part of his Men though they had much Experience and shew'd an irresistible Courage in all Engagements yet by their frequent marches changing their Camps assaulting of Towns and long watches were so broken and so much exhausted with Age that their Bodies were unfit for Labour and their Courage cool'd by their years Besides 't is said that a Pestilential Disease occasioned by their irregular Diet rag'd in Caesar's Army and what was of greatest moment he was neither furnish'd with Money nor Provisions so that in a little time he must needs fall of himself For these Reasons Pompey had no mind to fight him and was thank'd for it by none but Cato who was pleas'd with it out of his zeal to preserve his Fellow-Citizens For when he saw the dead Bodies of those which had faln in the last Battle on Caesar's side to the number of a thousand he went away cover'd his Face and wept The rest reproach'd Pompey for declining to fight and call'd him Agamemnon and the King of Kings as One that had no mind to lay down his Sovereign Authority but was pleas'd to see so many great Commanders attending on him and paying their â—â—â—endance at his Tent. Favonius who affected Cato's free way of speaking his mind complain'd bitterly that they should eat no Figs that year at Tusculum by reason of Pompey's ambition to be Monarch Afranius who was lately return'd out of Spain and by reason of the ill Campagne he had made was suspected by Pompey to have betray'd the Army for Money ask'd him Why he did not fight that Merchant who had made such purchases Pompey was compell'd by this kind of Language to give Caesar Battle though against his own Sentiments and in order to it pursu'd him Caesar had found great difficulties in his march for no Country would supply him with Provisions his Reputation being very much sunk since his last Defeat But when he came to Gomphi a Town of Thessaly he not only found Provisions for his Army but Physick too For there they met with plenty of Wine which they took off very freely heated with this and fir'd with the God they jollily danc'd along and so shook off their Disease and chang'd their whole Constitution When the two Armies were come into Pharsalia and both encamp'd there Pompey's thoughts ran the same way as they had done before against fighting and the more because of some unlucky Presages and an odd Vision he had in a Dream Yet some who were about him were so confident of success that Domitius Spinther and Scipio as if they had already conquer'd quarrel'd which should succeed Caesar in the Pontificate And many sent to Rome to take Houses fit to accommodate Consuls and Praetors as being sure of entring upon those Offices as soon as the Battle was over The Cavalry especially were eager to fight as being well Arm'd and bravely mounted and valuing themselves upon the clean shapes of their Horses and the advantage of their numbers for they were 5000 against 1000 of Caesar's Nor was their Infantry better match'd there being 45000 of Pompey's against 22000 of the Enemy Caesar drew up his Soldiers and told 'em that Cornificius was coming up to them with two Legions and that 15 Companies more under Calenuâ— were posted at Megara and Athens he ask'd 'em whether they would stay till these join'd them or would hazard the Baâ—â—le by themselves They all cried ouâ— against delaying and were eager to engage as soon as possible When he sacrific'd to the Gods for the lustration of his Army upon the death of the first Victim the Augur told him within 3 days he should come to a decisive Action Caesar ask'd him Whether he saw any thing in the Entrails which promis'd an happy Event That saith the Priest you can best answer your self for the Gods signifie a great Alteration from the present posture of Affairs if therefore you think your self happy now expect worse Fortune if unhappy hope for better The night before the Battle as he walk'd the Rounds about Midnight he saw a Light in the Heaven very bright and flaming which seem'd to pass over Caesar's Camp and fall into Pompey's and when Caesar's Soldiers came to relieve the Watch in the morning they perceiv'd a Panic fear among the Enemies However he did not expect to fight that day but decamp'd as if he design'd to march towards Scotusa But when the Tents were taken down his Scouts rode up to him and told him the Enemy would give him Battle With this he was very much pleas'd and having perform'd his Devotions to the Gods set his Army in Battalia dividing them into 3 Bodies Over the middle-most he plac'd Domitius-Calvinus Antony commanded the Left Wing and he himself the Right being resolv'd to fight at the Head of the 10th Legion But when he saw the Enemies Cavalry planted against him being struck with their Bravery and their Number he gave private Orders That six Companies from the Reer of the Army should advance up to him whom he posted behind the Right Wing and instructed them what they should do when the Enemies Horse came to charge On the other side Pompey commanded the Right Wing Domitius the Left and Scipio Pompey's Father-in-law the Main Body The whole Weight of the Cavalry was in the Left Wing who design'd to attack the Right Wing of the Enemy and press that part most which the General himself commanded For they thought no Body of Foot could be so deep as to bear such a
measur'd out to them Photinus told them They must like it since they were fed at another's Cost He order'd that his Table should be serv'd with wooden and earthen Dishes and said Caesar had carried off all the Gold and Silver Plate under pretence of Arrears of Debt For the present King's Father ow'd Caesar 1750 Myriads of Money Caesar had formerly remitted to his Children the rest but thought fit to demand the thousand Myriads at that time to maintain his Army Photinus told him That he had better go then and attend his other Affairs of greater Consequence and that he should receive his Money at another time with Thanks Caesar replied That he did not want Aegyptians to be his Councellors and soon after privately sent for Cleopatra from her Retirement She took a little Skiff and one of her Confidents Apollodorus along with her and in the dusk of the evening landed near the Palace She was at a loss how to get in undiscover'd till she thought of putting her self into the Coverlet of a Bed and lying at length whilst Apollodorus bound up the Bedding and carried it on his Back through the Castle-gates to Caesar's Apartment Caesar was first taken with this fetch of Cleopatra as an Argument of her Wit and was afterwards so far charm'd with her Conversation and graceful Behaviour that he reconcil'd her to her Brother and made her Partner in the Government A Festival was kept for joy of this Reconciliation where Caesar's Barber a busie pragmatical Fellow whose fear made him inquiâ—itive into every thing discover'd that there was a Plot carrying on against Caesar by Achillas General of the King's Forces and Photinus the Eunuch Caesar upon the first intelligence of it set a Guard upon the Hall where the Feast was kept and kill'd Photinus Achillas escap'd to the Army and rais'd a troublesom War against Caesar which it was not easie for him to manage with so small a Force against so powerful a State The first difficulty he met with was want of Water for the Enemies had turned the Pipes Another was that when the Enemy endeavour'd to cut off his Communication by Sea he was forc'd to divert that Danger by setting fire to his own Ships which when it had burnt the Harbor spread it self so far as to destroy the famous Library of Alexandria A third was that in an Engagement near Pharos he leap'd from the Mole into a Skiff to assist his Soldiers who were in danger When the Aegyptians press'd him on every side he threw himself into the Sea and with much difficulty swam off He had then many Papers in his hand which though he was continually darted at and forc'd to keep his Head often under Water yet he did not let go but held them up safe from wetting in one hand whilst he swam with the other His Skiff in the mean time was quickly sunk At last the King having got off to Achillas and his Party Caesar engag'd and conquer'd them many fell in that Battel and the King himself was never seen after Upon this he makes Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt who soon after had a Son by him whom the Alexandrians call'd Caesarion and then departed for Syria Thence he passed to Asia where he heard that Domitius was beaten by Pharnaces Son of Mithridates and fled out of Pontus with an handful of Men and that Pharnaces pursu'd the Victory so eagerly that though he was already Master of Bithynia and Cappadocia he had still farther aims to take in Armenia the less in order to which he invited all the Kings and Tetrarchs there to rise Caesar immediately marched against him with three Legions fought him near Zela drove him out of Pontus and totally defeated his Army When he gave Amintius a Friend of his at Rome an Account of this Action to express the smartness and dispatch of it he used these three words Veni Vidi Vici which Latin words having all the same Cadence carry with them an air of brevity which in this place is very lucky and graceful Hence he went for Italy and came to Rome at the end of that Year for which he was a second time chose Dictator though that Office had never before lasted so long and was elected Consul for the next He was ill spoke of because upon a Mutiny of Soldiers who kill'd Cosconius and Galba who had been Praetors he gave them only that slight Reprimand of calling them Citizens instead of Fellow-Soldiers and after gave each Man a thousand Drachms besides a share of some Lands in Italy He was also reflected on for Dolabella's Extravagance Amintius's Covetousness Anthony's Debauchery and Corfinius's Profuseness who pull'd down Pompey's House and re-built it as not Magnificent enough for the Romans were much displeased with all these But Caesar for the carrying on his Designs though he knew their Characters and disapprov'd them was forc'd to make use of such Instruments After the Battel of Pharsalia Cato and Scipio fled into Afric and there with the Assistance of King Juba got together a considerable Force which Caesar resolv'd to engage In order to it he pass'd into Sicily in the very midst of Winter and to remove from his Officers all hopes of delay there encamp'd by the Sea-shoar and as soon as ever he had a fair Wind put to Sea with 3000 Foot and a few Horse When he had landed them he went back privately under great apprehensions for the better part of his Army but met 'em upon the Sea and brought them all to the same Camp There he was inform'd That the Enemies rely'd much upon an ancient Oracle That the Family of the Scipioes should be always Victorious in Afric There was in his Army a Fellow otherwise mean and contemptible but of the House of the Africani and his Name Scipio Sallustio This Man Caesar put in the Head of his Army with the Title of General which he did either in raillery to ridicule Scipio who commanded the Enemy or seriously to bring over the Omen to his side He was oblig'd often to set upon the Ememy and skirmish with them for he wanted both Victualling for his Men and Forage for his Horse so that he was forc'd to feed 'em with a Sea-weed which he mix'd with Grass to take off its saltness and to give it a more agreeable Taste He was forc'd to make this shift because the Numidians in great Numbers and well Hors'd commanded the Country Caesar's Cavalry being one day out of Employ diverted themselves with seeing an African who entertain'd 'em with a Dance and play'd upon the Pipe to admiration They were so taken with this that they lighted and gave their Horses to some Boys when on a sudden the Enemy briskly surrounded them kill'd some pursu'd the rest and fell in with 'em into their Camp and had not Caesar himself and Asinius Pollio came in to their Assistance and put a stop to their flight the War had been then at an end In another
Engagement where the Enemy had again the better Caesar took an Ensign who was running away by the Neck and forcing him to face about said Look that way is the Enemy Scipio flush'd with this Success at first had a mind to come to one decisive Action Wherefore he leaves Afranius and Juba in two distinct Bodies not far distant and marches himself towards Thapsacus where he built a Fort which might serve for a Security to them and a Retreat to himself Whilst Scipio was taken up with this matter Caesar with an incredible dispatch made his way through thick Woods and an unpassable Country surrounded one Party of the Enemy and charg'd the other other in the Front When he had defeated these he improv'd this Opportunity and the course of his good Fortune so far that in one moment he took Afranius's Camp and destroy'd that of the Numidians Juba their King being glad to save himself by flight so that in a small part of a day he made himself Master of three Camps and kill'd 50000 of the Enemy with the loss only of 50 Men. This is the Account some give of that Fight Others say He was not in the Action but that he was taken with his usual Distemper just as he was setting his Army in Battalia He perceiv'd the approaches of it before it had too far disorder'd his Senses and as soon as he began to shake took care to be remov'd into a neighbouring Fort where he repos'd himself Of the Great Men that were taken after the Fight some Caesar put to Death others prevented him by killing themselves Cato had undertaken to defend Utica and for that reason was not in the Battel The desire which Caesar had to take him alive made him hasten thither upon notice that he had dispatch'd himself 't is certain Caesar was much discompos'd but for what reason is not so well agreed yet this he said Cato I envy thee thy Death because thou enviedst me the honour of saving thy Life Yet after all this the Discourse he wrote against Cato after his Death is no great sign of his kindness or that he was thorowly reconciled to him For how is it probable that he would have been tender of his Life who was so bitter against his Memory Yet from his Clemency to Cicero Brutus and many others who fought against him some have guess'd that Caesar's Book was not compos'd so much out of harted to Cato as in his own Vindication Cicero it seems had written an Encomium upon Cato and call'd it by his Name a Discourse written by so great a Master upon so excellent a Subject was sure to be in every ones hands This touch'd Caesar who look'd upon a Panegyric on his Enemy as no better then a Satyr against himself and therefore he made in his Anti-Cato a full Collection of whatever could be said in that Great Man's derogation Those Discourses had each of them their several Admirers as Men were differently inclin'd to the Parties Caesar upon his return to Rome did not forget to entertain the People with a large Account of his Victory telling them That he had subdu'd a Country which would supply the Publick every year with 200000 Bushels of Corn and 3000000 weight of Oyl He was allow'd three Triumphs for Aegypt Pontus and Afrric the last not for the Conquest of Scipio but Juba whose little Son was then led in Triumph the happiest Captive that ever was who of a barbarous Numidian came by this means to be reckon'd among the most Learned Historians of all Greece After these Triumphs he distributed Rewards to his Soldiers and treated the People with Feasting and Shews At one Feast he had 22000 Tables and entertain'd the People with Gladiators and Sea-Fights in honour to his Daughter Julia long since dead When those Shews were over an Account was taken of the people who from 320000 were now reduc'd 150000. So great a waste had the Civil War made in Rome alone not to mention what the other parts of Italy and the Provinces suffer'd He was now chosen a fourth time Consul and went into Spain against Pompey's Sons they were but young yet had got together a great Army and shew'd they had Courage and Conduct to command it so that Caesar was in extreme danger The great Battel was near Munda in which Caesar seeing his Men hard press'd and making but a weak Resistance ran through the Ranks among the Soldiers and crying out ask'd them Whether they were not asham'd to deliver him into the hands of Boys At last with great difficulty and the best efforts he could make he forced back the Enemy killing 30000 of them though with the loss of 1000 of his best Men. When he came back from the Fight he told his Friends that he had often fought for Victory but this was the first time he had ever fought for Life This Battel was won on the Feast of the Bacchanals the very day in which Pompey four years before had set out for the War The younger of Pompey's Sons escap'd and Didius some days after the Fight brought the elder 's Head to Caesar This was the last Battel he was engag'd in The Triumph he made for this Victory displeas'd the Romans beyond any thing For he had not defeated foreign Generals and barbarous Kings but had ruin'd the Children and Family of one of the greatest Men of Rome though unfortunate and it did not look well to triumph over the Calamities of his Country and to rejoyce in those things for which no better Apology could be made to the Gods and Men then their being absolutely necessary Besides that hitherto he had never sent Letter or Express of any Victory over his Fellow-Citizens but had seem'd rather to be asham'd of the Action then to expect Honour from it For all this the Romans taking the same side with Fortune gave the Rein into his hands and hoping that the Government of a single Person would give them time to breathe after so many Civil Wars and Calamities made him Dictator for Life This was a down-right Tyranny for his Power now was not only absolute but perpetual too Cicero propos'd to the Senate to confer such Honours upon him as were indeed in some measure within the bounds of modesty Others striving which should deserve most carried them so excessively high that they made Caesar odious to the most indifferent and moderate sort of men by the haughtiness and extravagance of those Titles which they decreed him His Enemies are thought to have had some share in this as well as his Flatterers it gave them more advantage against him and laid him more open to their Calumnies for since the Civil Wars were ended he had nothing else that he could be charg'd with And they had good reason to decree a Temple to Clemency in token of their Thanks for this mild use he made of this Victory for he not only pardon'd many of those who fought against him but farther
to some gave Honours and Offices as particularly to Brutus and Cassius who both of them were Praetors Pompey's Images that were thrown down he set up again upon which Cicero said that by raising Pompey's Statues he had fix'd his own When his Friends advis'd him to a Guard and several offer'd their Service he would not hear of it but said It was better to suffer Death once then always to live in fear of it He look'd upon the Affections of the People to be the best and surest Guard and therefore entertain'd them again with publick Feastings and general Distributions of Corn and to gratifie his Army he sent out many Colonies to several places of which the most remarkable were Carthage and Corinth which as before they had been ruin'd at the same time so now they were restor'd and peopl'd together As for the Men of Quality he promis'd some that they should be Consuls or Praetors others he satisfied with Offices or Titles to all he gave hopes of his Favour as being desirons to rule by Love So that upon the Death of Maximus one day before his Consulate was ended he made Caninius Rebellius Consul for that day When many went to pay their Complements to the new Consul as is usual â—icero said by way of raillery Let us make haste lest the Man be gone out of his Office before we come Caesar was born to do great things and had a love of Honour nor did the many Noble Exploits he had done invite him to sit still and reap the fruit of his past labours but were Incentives and Encouragements to go on and rais'd in his Soul the Ideas of still greater Actions and a desire of new Glory as if the present were all spent This Passion was a kind of aemulous struggle with himself as it had been with another how he might out-do his past Actions by his future In pursuit of these thoughts he resolv'd to make War upon the Parthians and when he had subdu'd them to pass through Hircania thence to march along by the Caspian Sea to Mount Caucasus and so on about Pontus till he came into Scythia then to over-run all the Countries about Germany and Germany it self and to return through Gaul into Italy till he had finished the whole Circle of his intended Empire and bounded it on every side by the Ocean While Preparations were making for this Expedition he attempted to dig through the Isthmus on which Corinth stands Afterthat he had a Design to divert the Rivers Apien and Tiber and to carry them by a deep Channel directly from Rome to Circaeum and so into the Sea near Tarracina that there might be a safe and easie Passage for all Merchants who traded to Rome Besides this he intended to drain all the Marshes by Nomentum and Setium and gain ground enough from the Water to employ many Thousands of Men in Tillage He propos'd farther to make great Mounds on the Shoar nighest Rome to hinder the Sea from breaking in upon the Land to cleanse the Ostian Shoar of such hidden Shelves and Rocks as made it unsafe for Shipping and to build Ports and Harbors fit to receive such large Vessels as used to ride thereabouts These things were design'd without taking effect but his Reformation of the Kalendar in order to rectifie the irregularity of Time was not only ingeniously contriv'd but brought to perfection by him and prov'd of very great use For it was not only in ancient Times that the Romans wanted a certain Rule to make the Revolutions of their Months fall in with the Course of the Year whereby their Festivals and solemn days for Sacrifice were remov'd by little and little till at last they came to be kept at a Season quite contrary to what they had been formerly but even at this time the People had no way of computing right the Course of the Sun only the Priests had the knack and at their pleasure without giving any notice clapt in an intercalary Month which they call'd Mercedonius Numa was the first who put in this Month but his Invention was too narrow and short to correct all the Errors that rose from their Computation of the Year as we have shewn in his Life Caesar call'd in the best Philosophers and Mathematicians of his Time to settle this Point and upon Principles there propos'd establish'd a more exact and proper Method of correcting the Kalendar which the Romans use to this day and seem to err less then any other Nation in the Reduction of this inequality of Months to the Year Yet even this gave Offence to those who envy'd his Grandeur and were weary of his Power for Cicero the Orator when one of the Company chanc'd to say The next morning Lyra would rise reply'd Yes by vertue of the Edict as if Men were forc'd by Authority to receive this new Scheme But that which brought upon him the most apparent and mortal hatred was his affectation of being King which gave the Common People the first Occasion to quarrel with him and prov'd the most specious pretence to those who had been his secret Enemies all along Those who would have procur'd him that Title gave it out That 't was foretold in the Sibylls Books that the Romans should conquer the Parthians when they fought against them under the Conduct of a King but not before And one day as Caesar was going from Alba to Rome some were so bold as to salute him by the Name of King but he finding the People disrelish it seem'd to resent it himself and said His Title was Caesar not King Upon this they forbore their Acclamations and he past on with an air that express'd much sullenness and dissatisfaction Another time when the Senate had conferr'd on him some extravagant Honours he chanc'd to receive the Message as he was sitting on the Rostra where though the Consuls and Praetors themselves waited on him attended by the whole Body of the Senate he did not rise but behav'd himself to them as if they had been private Men and told them His Honours wanted rather to be retrench'd than increas'd This Carriage of his offended not only the Senate but Commonalty too for they thought the affront upon the Senate equally reflected upon the whole Republick so that all who could decently leave him went off much dejected Caesar perceiving the false step he had made immediately retir'd home and laying his Throat bare told his Friends That he was ready to stand fair for any man that would do him the kind Office Afterwards he excus'd his sitting by his Distemper under pretence that those who are affected with it have their senses discompos'd if they talk much standing that they presently grow giddy fall iuto Convulsions and quite lose their Reason But all this was feign'd for he would willingly have stood up to the Senate had not Cornelius Balbus one of his Friends or rather Flatterers hinder'd him Don't you remember saith he you are Caesar and
will you abate any thing of that Honor which is due to your Dignity He gave still a fresh occasion of resentment by his affront to the Tribunes The Lupercalia were then celebrated a Feast at the first Institution peculiar as some Writers say to the Shepherds much of the same nature with the Arcadian Lycaea Many young Noblemen and Magistrates run up and down the City naked striking all they meet with leathern Thongs by way of sport Many Women of the best Quality place themselves in the way and hold out their Hands to the Lash as Boys in a School do to the Ferula out of an Opinion that it procures an easie Labour to those who are with Child and makes those conceive who are barren Caesar drest in a Triumphal Robe seated himself in a golden Chair upon the Rostra to view this Ceremony Anthony as Consul was one of those who ran this Course when he came into the Forum the People made way for him whilst he presented Caesar with a Diadem wreath'd with Lawrel Upon this there was a small shout made only by those few who were planted there for that purpose but when Caesar refus'd it there was an universal applause Upon the second offer very few and upon the second refusal all again clapp'd Caesar finding it would not take rose up and order'd the Crown to be carried into the Capitol Caesar's Statues were afterwards found with Royal Diadems on their Heads Flavius and Marullus two Tribunes of the People went presently and pull'd them off and having apprehended those who first saluted Caesar as King committed them The People follow'd them with acclamations and call'd them Brutus's because Brutus was the first who cut off the Succession of Kings and transferr'd the Power which before was lodg'd in One into the hands of the Senate and People Caesar so far resented this that he displac'd Marullus and Flavius and as he inveigh'd against them at the same time ridicul'd the People telling them He confess'd those Men were indeed properly call Bruti and Cumaei Beasts and Sots This made the Multitude place their hopes on M. Brutus who by his Father's side was thought to be descended from that first Brutus and by his Mother's side from the Servilii another Noble Family being besides Nephew and Son-in-law to Cato But the Honours and Favours he had receiv'd from Caesar took off the edge from those eager Desires he naturally had to subvert the Monarchy for he had not only been pardon'd himself after Pompey's Defeat at Pharsalia and had procur'd the same Grace for many of his Friends but was one in whom Caesar had a particular Confidence He had at that time the most honourable Praetorship of the Year and was nam'd for the Consulship four years after being preferr'd before Cassius his Competitor Upon the Dispute between them Caesar said That Cassius had the fairest Pretensions but that he could not pass by Brutus Nor did he afterwards hearken to those who accus'd Brutus as engag'd in a Conspiracy against him but laying his hand on his Body said to the Informers Brutus will stay for this skin of mine intimating that he was worthy of Empire on account of his Vertue but would not be base and ungrateful to gain one But those who desir'd a Change and look'd on Him as the only or at least the most proper person to effect it durst not discourse the matter with him but in the Night-time laid Papers about his Chair of State where he us'd to sit and determine Causes with Sentences in them to this import You are asleep Brutus you are no longer Brutus Cassius when he perceiv'd his ambitious Soul a little rais'd upon this was more instant then before to work him yet farther having himself a private grudge against Caesar for some Reasons that we have mention'd in the Life of Brutus Nor was Caesar without suspicions of him so that he took occasion to say to his Friends What do you think Cassius drives at I don't well like him he looks so pale And when it was told him that Anthony and Dolabella were in a Plot against him he said He did not fear such fat jolly Men but rather the pale lean Fellows meaning Cassius and Brutus But neither was his Fate so much unexpected as it was unavoidable for there were many strange Prodigies and Apparations which were Presages of it As to the Lights in the Heavens the Phantoms which walk'd in the Night and the wild Birds which perch'd upon the Forum these are not perhaps worth taking notice of in so great a Case as this Strabo the Philosopher tells us that many as they went along seem'd to be all on fire and that a Soldier 's Servant seem'd to throw a great quantity of flame out of his hand so that they who saw it thought he must be burnt but that after all he had no hurt As Caesar was sacrificing the Victim was seen to want an Heart which was a very ill Omen because a Creature can't subsist without an Heart Many add that a Soothsayer bid him prepare for some great Danger on the Ides of March When the day was come Caesar as he went to the Senate met this Soothsayer and said to him by way of raillery The Ides of March are come who answer'd him calmly Yes they are come but they are not past The day before this Assassination he supp'd with M. Lepidus as he was signing some Letters there arose a Dispute what sort of Death was the best At which he immediately before any one could speak said A sudden one After this as he was in Bed with his Wife all the Doors and Windows of the House flew open together he was startled at the Noise and the Light which brake into the Room and sat up in his Bed where by the Moon-shine he perceived Calpurnia fast asleep but heard her utter in her Dream some indistinct words and inarticulate groans She fancied at that time she was weeping over Caesar and holding him butcher'd in her Arms. Others say This was not her Dream but that she dreamt a Pinacle which the Senate had order'd to be rais'd on Caesar's House by way of Ornament and Grandeur was broken down which was the occasion of her tears and groans When it was day she begg'd of Caesar if it were possible not to stir ou◠but to adjourn the Senate to another time and if he slighted her Dreams that he would be pleas'd to consult his Fate by Sacrifices and other kinds of Divination Nor was he himself without some suspicion and fears for he never before discover'd in Calpurnia any Womanish Superstition whom he now saw under such terrible apprehensions Upon the Report which the Priests made to him that they had kill'd several Sacrifices and still found them inauspicious he was resolv'd to send Anthony to dismiss the Senate D. Brutus whose Sirname was Albinus one whom Caesar had such confidence in that he made him his second Heir thô
at the same time he was engag'd in the Conspiracy with the other Brutus and Cassius fearing lest if Caesar should put off the Senate to another day the business might get wind took care to expose the Pretenders to Divination and blam'd Caesar for giving the Senate so just Occasions of quarrelling with him by casting such a slur on them for that they were met upon his Summons and were ready to vote unanimously that he should be declared King of all the Provinces without Italy and might wear a Diademin any other place but Italy by Sea or Land If any one should be sent to tell 'em they might break up for the present and meet again when Calpurnia should chance to have better Dreams what would his Enemies say or who could with any patience hear his Friends if they should pretend to defend his Government as not Arbitrary and Tyrannical But if he was possess'd so far as to think this day unfortunate yet it were more decent to go himself to the Senate and to adjourn it in his own Person Brutus as he spoke these words took Caesar by the hand and conducted him forth He was not gone far from the door when a Servant made towards him but not being able to come up to him by reason of the Crowd who press'd about him he made shift to get into the House and committed himself to Calpurnia begging of her to secure him till Caesar return'd because he had matters of great importance to communicate to him Artemidorus a Cnidian who taught the Art of Sophistry in Greek and by that means was so far acquainted with some about Brutus that he had got into the Secret brought Caesar in a little Schedule the Heads of what he had to depose He had observ'd that Caesar as he receiv'd any Papers presently gave 'em to the Servants who attended on him and therefore came as near to him as he could and said Read this Caesar alone and quickly for it contains great Business and such as concerns you Caesar receiv'd it and went to read it several times but was still hindred by the Crowd of those who came to speak to him However he kept it in his hand by it self till he came into the Senate Some say it was another who gave Caesar this Note and that Artemidorus could not get to him being all along kept off by the Crowd All these things might happen by chance but the place where the Senate met which was chose out for the Scene of this Murther was the same in which Pompey's Statue stood and was one of the Edifices which Pompey had rais'd and dedicated with his Theatre to the use of the Publick which plainly shew'd that there was something of a Deity which guided the Action and order'd it to be in that particular place Cassius just before the Assassination look'd towards Pompey's Statue and silently implor'd his Assistance though he was an Epicurean in his Principles but this Occasion and the instant Danger shook his former Notions and made him a perfect Enthusiast As for Anthony who was firm to Caesar and a lusty Person Brutus Abinus kept him without the House and entertain'd him with a long Discourse contriv'd on purpose When Caesar entred into the House the Senate stood up in respect to him of Brutus's Confederates some came about his Chair and stood behind it others met him pretending to supplicate with Metellus Cimber in behalf of his Brother who was in Exile and they follow'd him with their joynt Petitions till he came to his Seat When he was sat down he refus'd to comply with their Requests and upon their urging him farther reprimanded them severally when Metellus laying hold of his Robe with both his hands pull'd it over his Neck which was the Signal for the Assault Casca gave him the first Cut in the Neck which was not mortal nor dangerous as coming from one who at the beginning of such a bold Action was probably very much disturb'd Caesar immediately turn'd about and laid his Hand upon his Dagger and both of 'em at the same time cry'd out He that receiv'd the Blow in Latine Wicked Casca what dost thou mean and he that gave it in Greek to his Brother Brother help Upon the first Onset those who were not conscious to the Design were astonish'd and their Horror at the Action was so great that they durst not fly nor assist Caesar nor as much as speak a word But those who came prepar'd for the Business enclos'd him on every side with their naked Daggers in their Hands Which way soever he turn'd he met with Blows and saw their Swords levell'd at his Face and Eyes and was baited on all sides like a Beast taken in a Toyl For it was agreed they should each of them make a Thrust at him and flesh themselves with his Blood wherefore Brutus gave him one Stab in the Groin Some say that he fought and resisted all the rest and mov'd off from one place to another calling out for Help But when he saw Brutus's Sword drawn he cover'd his Face with his Robe and quietly surrendred himself till he was push'd either by Chance or by Design of the Murtherers to the Pedestal on which Pompey's Statue stood which by that means was much stain'd with his Blood so that Pompey himself may seem to have had his share in the Revenge of his Enemy who fell at his Feet and breath'd out his Soul through his multitude of Wounds for they say he received Three and Twenty The Assassinates themselves were many of them wounded by each other whilst they all levelled their Blows at the same Person When Caesar was dispatch'd Brutus stood forth to give a Reason for what they had done but the Senate would not hear him but flew out of doors in all haste and fill'd the People with so much Fear and Distraction that some shut up House others left their Counters and Shops All ran one way or other some to the Place to see the sad Spectacle others back again after they had seen it Anthony and Lepidus Caesar's best Friends got off privately and absconded themselves in some Friends Houses Brutus and his Followers being yet hot with the Murther marched in a Body from the Senate-House to the Capitol with their drawn Swords not like Persons who thought of escaping but with an Air of Confidence and Assurance As they went along they call'd to the People to resume their Liberty and complimented those of better Quality which they met Some of those went along with them and joyn'd Company with the Conspirators pretending to the Honour of the Action as if they had born a part in it Of this number was C. Octavius and Lentulus Spinther These suffer'd afterwards for their Vanity being taken off by Anthony and the younger Caesar but they lost the Honour they desir'd as well as their Lives which it cost them since no one believ'd they had any share in the Action for neither
and gave no disturbance to any body but if there were no Inn they went to the Magistrates and desired them to help them to Lodgings and were always satisfied with what was allotted to them His Servants thus behaving themselves toward the Magistrates without noise and threatning were often not credited or neglected by them so that Cato did many times arrive before any thing was provided for him And indeed he himself was often despised and made little account of for sitting silent by himself on his Carriages he was looked upon as a contemptible Man and one of a mean Spirit therefore he would sometimes call the Townsmen together and say Ye ill-natured Men lay aside this inhospitable Humour you should by Courtesie endeavour to break the power of those Men who desire but a pretence to take from you by force what you give with such Reluctance While he travelled in this manner a pleasant Accident befell him in Syria As he was going into Antioch he saw a great multitude of People without the Gates ranked in order on either side the way here the young Men with long Cloaks there the Children decently dress'd others wore Crowns and white Garments which were the Priests and Magistrates Cato presently imagining all this was to do him Honour and for his Reception began to be angry with his Servants that were sent before for suffering it to be done then making his Friends alight he walked along with them on Foot As soon as he came near the Gate a reverend old Man who seemed to be Master of these Ceremonies with a Staff and a Crown in his Hand comes up to Cato and without shewing him any respect ask'd him Where he had left Demetrius and how soon he thought he would be there This Demetrius was Pompey's Servant and by all those who hoped for any Favour from Pompey he was highly honoured not for his own Desert but for his great Power with his Master Upon this Cato's Friends fell out into such a Laughter that they could not restrain themselves while they passed through the Crowd he himself much out of Countenance cryed O unhappy City and said no more yet afterward he used to tell this Story and laugh at it himself Pompey likewise after that made the People ashamed of their Ignorance and Folly for Cato in his Journey to Ephesus went to pay his Respects to him who was the elder Man had gained much Honour and was then General of a great Army Yet Pompey would not receive him sitting but as soon as he saw him rose up and going to meet him as the more honourable Person gave him his Hand and embraced him very kindly He said many things also in commendation of Cato's Virtue both in his presence and when he was gone away So that now all men began to respect Cato and admired him for the same things for which they despised him before having well considered the mildness of his Temper and the greatness of his Spirit Moreover the Civility that Pompey himself shewed him appeared to come from one that rather honoured than loved him For it was observed he was very kind to Cato while he was present with him but very glad when he was gone from him And when other young men came to see him he usually importuned and entreated them to continue with him Now he did not at all invite Cato to stay but as if his own Power were lessened by the other's Presence he very willingly dismiss'd him Yet to Cato alone of all those that went for Rome he recommended his Children and his Wife who was also her self allied to Cato After this all the Cities through which he passed strove and emulated each other in shewing him Respect and Honour They invited him to great Entertainments at which he desired his Friends to be present and take care of him lest he should make good what was said by Curio who tho' he were his familiar Friend yet disliking the austerity of his Temper asked him one day If when he left the Army he designed to see Asia And Cato answering Yes by all means You do well replied Curio and I hope you will return thence a litle more softned and less an Enemy to Pleasure Those were his words Deiotarus being now an old Man had sent for Cato with design to recommend his Children and Family to his Protection and as soon as he came brought him Presents of all sorts of things which he begg'd and entreated him to accept This so displeased Cato that tho' he came but in the evening he stay'd only that night and went away early the next morning After he was gone one days Journey he found at Pessinuns a greater number of Presents provided for him there and also Letters from Deiotarus entreating him to receive them or at least to permit his Friends to take them who for his sake deserved something And indeed Cato's own Estate was not very great yet he would not suffer it tho' he saw some of them were willing to receive such Gifts and ready to complain of his Severity But he told them That at this rate Corruption would never want pretence and for his Friends they should share with him in what-ever he could get justly and honestly so he returned the Presents to Deiotarus When he took Ship for Brundusium his Friends would have perswaded him to put his Brother's Ashes into another Vessel but he said He would sooner part with his Life than leave them and so he set Sail. 'T is said he passed the Sea not without some danger tho' others at the same time went over very safely After he was returned to Rome he spent his Time for the most part either at home in Conversation with Athenodorus or at the Forum in the service of his Friends When the Office of Quoestor was allotted to him he would not take the Place till he had perfectly studied the Laws concerning it and diligently enquired of experienced Men the Duty and Authority belonging to it Being thus instructed as soon as he came into the Office he made a great Reformation among the Clerks and under-Officers of the Treasury For they being well versed in the Records and Methods of the Office into which continually succeeded new Quoestors who for their Ignorance and Unskilfulness were fit only to learn and not able to manage the Business These Officers therefore had taken to themselves all the Power and were in effect the Treasurers Till Cato applying himself roundly to the Work had not only the Title and Honour of a Quoestor but an insight and understanding of whatever belonged to the Office So that he used the Clerks and under-Officers like Servants as they were reprehending them that were corrupt and instructing those that were Ignorant Yet being bold impudent Fellows they flattered the other Quoestors his Collegues and by their means made great opposition against Cato But he caught the chiefest of them dealing dishonestly in the division of an Estate and turned
all in Commotion and raising Tumults in the City At this all the rest fell into Despair lamenting and bewailing their condition but Cato endeavour'd to comfort them and sent to the three hundred desiring them to have a little patience Then the Officers of the Horse returned with no very reasonable Demands They said they did not desire to serve Juba for his Pay nor should they fear Caesar while they follow'd Cato but they dreaded to be shut up with the Uticans Men of a traiterous Nature and Carthaginian Race for tho' they were quiet at present yet as soon as Caesar should appear without doubt they would conspire together and betray the Romans Therefore if he expected they should joyn with him he must drive out of the Town or destroy all the Uticans that he might receive them into a Place void both of Enemies and Barbarians This Cato thought very cruel and barbarous but he mildly answered He would consult the three hundred Then he returned to the City where he found the Men not framing Excuses or dissembling out of Reverence to him but openly refusing to make War against Coesar which they said they were neither able nor willing to do And some there were who muttered out something about retaining the Senators till Coesar's coming but Cato seemed not to hear this for he was a little deaf At the same time came one to him and told him The Horse were going away Cato fearing least the three hundred should take some desperate Resolution concerning the Senators he presently went out with some of his Friends and seeing they were gone some way he took Horse and rid after them They when they saw him coming were very glad and receiv'd him very kindly entreating him to save himself with them At this time 't is said Cato shed Tears while earnestly begging for the Senators and stretching out his Hands some of their Horses he stopp'd and hung upon their Arms till he had prevailed with them out of Compassion to stay only that one day to procure a safe Retreat for the Senators Having thus persuaded them to go along with him some he plac'd at the Gates of the Town and to others gave the charge of the Citadel Now the three hundred began to fear they should suffer for their Inconstancy and sent to Cato entreating him by all means to come to them but the Senators flocking about him would not suffer him to go and said They would not trust their Guardian and Saviour to the Hands of perfidious Traitors At this instant in my opinion did most evidently appear to all in Vtica the Excellence the Clearness and admirable Simplicity of Cato's Virtue how sincere untainted and free it was from any mixture of Self-regard that he who had long before resolv'd on his own Death should take such extream pains toil and care only for the sake of others that when he had secured their Lives he might put an end to his own for 't was easily perceived that he had determined to die tho' he did endeavour not to let it appear Therefore having pacified the Senators he hearkened to the Request of the three hundred and went to them alone without any Attendance They gave him many thanks and entreated him to imploy and trust them for the future but in that they were not Cato ' s and could not come up to his greatness of Courage they begg'd he would pity their weakness and told him they had decreed to send to Caesar and entreat him chiefly and in the first place for Cato and if they could not prevail for him they would not accept of pardon for themselves but as long as they had breath would fight in his defence Cato commended their good Intentions and advised them to send speedily for their own safety but by no means to ask any thing in his behalf for those who are conquer'd must submit and those who have done wrong beg pardon for himself he was never overcome in all his Life but rather so far as he thought fit had got the Victory and had conquered Caesar in what was just and honest And indeed Caesar might be look'd upon as one surpriz'd and vanquish'd for he was now forc'd to discover and own those Designs which he had so long deny'd and always practised against his Countrey When he had thus spoken he went out of the Assembly and being informed that Coesar was coming with his whole Army Alas said he does he come against us as against men Then he went to the Senators and urged them to make no delay but hasten to be gone while the Horsemen were yet in the City So ordering all the Gates to be shut except one toward the Sea he appointed Ships for those that were to depart and gave Money and Provision to those that wanted All which he did with great Order and Exactness taking care to suppress all Tumults and that no wrong should be done to the People Marcus Octavius coming with two Legions encamped near Vtica and sent to Cato to treat about the chief Command Cato return'd him no Answer but said to his Friends No wonder all goes ill with us who are so much taken up with Ambition even upon the point of our Ruine In the mean time word was brought him that the Horse were going away and about to spoyl and plunder the Vticans Cato ran to them and from the first he met snatch'd what they had taken the rest threw down all they had gotten and went away silent and asham'd of what they had done Then he called together the Citizens of Vtica and requested them in behalf of the three hundred not to exasperate Coesar against them but all to seek their common Safety together with them After that he went again to the Port to see those who were about to imbark and there he embrac'd and dismiss'd those of his Friends and Acquaintance whom he had persuaded to go As for his Son he did not counsel him to be gone nor did he think fit to persuade him to forsake his Father But there was one Statyllius a young Man in the flower of his Age one of a brave Spirit and very desirous to imitate the invincible Constancy of Cato who entreated him to go away for he was a noted Enemy to Coesar but he refused to go Then Cato looking upon Apollonides the Stoick Philosopher and Demetrius the Peripatetick It belongs to you said he to bring down this young man's Spirit and to make him know what is good for him Thus having dismiss'd all the rest he returned to his Affairs gave Audience and dispatch'd Business in which he spent that night and the greatest part of the next day Lucius Coesar a Kinsman of Julius Coesar's being appointed to go Deputy for the three hundred came to Cato and desired he would assist him to make a persuasive Speech for them And as to you your self said he I shall not scruple to kiss the Hands and fall at the Knees of
again to see if any of them should happen to return for any thing they wanted and to acquaint him therewith Now the Birds began to sing and Cato again fell into a little Slumber At length But as came back and told him All was quiet in the Haven Then Cato laying himself down as if he would sleep out the rest of the night bid him shut the Door after him But as soon as But as was gone out he took his Sword and stabb'd it into his Breast yet not being able to use his Hand so well by reason of the Swelling he did not immediately die of the Wound but struggling fell out of the Bed and throwing down a little Mathematical Table that stood by made such a noise that the Servants hearing it cry'd out And immediately his Son and all his Friends came into the Chamber where seeing him lie weltring in his Blood great part of his Bowels out of his Body himself not quite dead but looking ghastly they all stood amazed The Physician went to him and would have put in his Bowels which were not pierced and sow'd up the Wound Cato hereupon coming to himself thrust away the Physician pluck'd out his own Bowels and tearing open the Wound immediately expired In less time than one would think his own Family could have known this Accident all the three hundred were at the Door And a little after the People of Vtica flock'd thither crying out with one Voice He was their Benefactor and their Saviour the only free and only invincible man At the very same instant they had News that Caesar was coming yet neither fear of the present Danger nor desire to flatter the Conquerer nor the Commotions and Discord among themselves could divert them from doing Honour to Cato for they sumptuously set out his Body made him a magnificent Funeral and buried him by the Sea-side where now stands his Statue holding a Sword Which being done they returned to consider of preserving themselves and their City Coesar had been advertised that Cato stay'd at Vtica and did not seek to fly that he had sent away the rest of the Romans but himself with his Son and a few of his Friends continued there very unconcernedly so that he could not imagine what might be his Design but having a great Consideration for the Man he hastned thither with his Army When he heard of Cato's Death 't is reported he said these words Cato I envy thee thy Death for thou hast envy'd me the preservation of thy Life And indeed if Cato would have suffer'd himself to be preserved by Coesar 't is like he would not so much have impar'd his own Honour as augmented the others Glory yet what would have been done we cannot know but from Coesar's usual Clemency we may guess what was most likely Cato was forty eight years old when he Dy'd His Son suffered no Injury from Coesar but 't is said he grew idle and debauch'd with Women In Cappadocia he lodg'd at the House of Marphadates one of the Royal Family who had a very handsom Wife where staying longer than was decent he was reflected on by some that made such Jests as these upon him Cato goes to morrow after thirty days and Porcius and Marphadates are two Friends that have but one Soul for Marphadates Wife was named Psyche i. e. Soul and Cato is very well born and an illustrious Man for he has a Royal Soul But all these Stains were clearly wip'd off by the Bravery of his Death for in the Battle of Philippi where he fought for his Countrey 's Liberty against Caesar and Antony when the Army was broken he disdaining to fly or to escape called out to the Enemy shew'd them who he was and encouraged those of his Party to stay At length he fell and left his Enemies in admiration of his Valour Nor was the Daughter of Cato inferiour to the rest of her Family for Prudence and greatness of Spirit She was married to Brutus who killed Caesar was acquainted with that Conspiracy and ended her Life as became one of her Birth and Vertue All which is related in the Life of Brutus Statyllius who said he would imitate Cato was at that time hindred by the Philosophers when he would have put an end to his Life He afterward follow'd Brutus to whom he was very faithful and very serviceable and died in the Field of Philippi AGIS AND CLEOMENES 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 MBurg sculp THE LIFE OF AGIS Translated from the Greek by Sir Robert Thorald THe Fable of Ixion who imbracing a Cloud instead of Juno begot the Centaurs was ingeniously enough invented to represent to us ambitious Men whose Minds doting on Glory which is a meer Image of Vertue produce nothing that is genuine or uniform but born away by violent and contrary Passions their Actions being the off-spring of such a Conjunction must needs be deform'd and unnatural and they may say with the Hersdmen in the Tragedy of Sophocles We follow those whom we ought to govern And they command us tho' th' are dumb That is indeed the true condition of those ambitious Men who to gain a vain Title of Magistracy are content to subject themselves to the Humours of the People for as they who row in the fore-part of the Ship may seem to guide the Motions of it yet have continually an eye on the Pilot who sits at the Helm and must proceed in the Course he will steer so these Men steer'd as I may say by popular Applause tho' they bear the Name of Governours are in reality Slaves to the Mobile The Man who is compleatly wise and virtuous regards not Glory but only as it disposes and prepares his way to great Attempts A young Man I grant may be permitted to glory a little in his good Actions for as Theophrastus says his Vertues which are yet tender and as it were in the bud cherish'd and supported by Praises grow stronger and take the deeper root but when this Passion is exhorbitant 't is dangerous in all men and especially in those who govern a Commonwealth for being joyn'd with an unlimited Power it often transports men to a degree of Madness so that now they no more seek Glory by Vertue but will have those Actions only esteem'd good that are glorious As Phocion therefore answered King Antipater who sought his Approbation of some unworthy Action I cannot be your Flatterer and your Friend so these men shou'd answer the People I cannot govern and obey you lest it shou'd happen to the Commonwealth as to the Serpent in the Fable whose Tayl rising in rebellion against the Head complain'd as of a great Grievance that it was always forc'd to follow and pray'd it might be permitted by Turns to lead the way which being granted but for a day quickly discover'd the Folly by the Mischiefs which befell the whole Body and particularly to the Head in following contrary to Nature a