to the knowledge of Curio's Father he took an occasion to dismiss Antony from his house Soon after this he engaged himself with Clodius the most insolent and turbulent disturber of the Government that that age had produced but not being able long to endure his madness and withal apprehensive of the powerful Cabal against Clodius he left Italy and travell'd into Greece where he spent his time in warlike Exercises and in the Study of Eloquence he affected much the Asiatick way of speaking which was most in fashion then and had most resemblance to his temper which was very Rhodomantade and brave very Ambitious and unequal After some stay in Greece he was invited by Gabinius the Proconsul to make a Compagne in Syria which at first he refused not being willing to serve in a private Character but receiving a Commission to Command the Horse he went along with him His first service was against Aristobulus who had prevail'd with the Jews to Rebel He himself was the first that scal'd the Walls and on the strongest side of the Town beat him from all his Forts and in a pitcht Battel overcame him though much inferior in number put most of them to the Sword and took Aristobulus and his Son Prisoners This War ended Gabinius was sollicited by Ptolomy to restore him to his Kingdom of Aegypt and a promise made of ten thousand Talents reward most of the Officers were against this enterprize and Gabinius himself did not much approve it though shrewdly tempted by the ten thousand Talents which had a powerful influence over him But Antony desirous of engaging in brave Actions and willing to gratifie a Petitioning King was resolv'd to use all his Interest to bring about Gabinius to undertake this Expedition all were of opinion that the March to Peleusium was of more dangerous consequence than any thing else that could probably happen in the way for they were to pass over a deep Sand where no fresh water was to be hop'd for all along the Marishes of Serbonis which the Aegyptians give out to be the hollow Canal through which Typhon takes his breath and is in truth an Eruption caused by the over-flowing of the Red-Sea which is separate from the Mediterranean but by a small Neck of Land But Antony being Order'd thither with a party of Horse did not only make himself Master of the passes but won Peleusium a strong City took in the Citadel and by this means rendred the March secure to the Army and the way to Victory not uneasie to the General The Enemy was sensible of Antony's generous disposition for when Ptolomy had entred Peleusium in great rage and malice against the Aegyptians designing to put them every one to the Sword Antony positively withstood him and hindred the Execution In great and frequent skirmishes and battels many were the proofs he gave of his personal Valor and Military Conduct but never did it more plainly appear than in that Action of his when wheeling about he attack'd the Rear of the Enemy and gave opportunity to them that charg'd the Front to obtain an intire Victory for which he received both rewards and honors Nor was his humanity less taken notice of towards the deceased Archelaus he had been formerly his Guest and Acquaintance as he was in duty bound he fought him bravely while alive but finding his dead body he buried him with all the Ornaments and Decency which were due to the quality of a King Upon these and many other considerations the Alexandrians spoke of him with infinite respect and the Roman Soldiers lookt upon him as one of most worthy qualifications to compleat all he was a Man of Excellent Shape and Mein his Beard was of a comely growth his Fore-head large his Nose was of the Roman Shape and something he had in his Countenance of Greatness that made him seem to resemble the Statues and Medals we have of Hercules and it was an ancient Tradition that the Antonies were descended of Hercules by a Son of his called Anteon and this Opinion he endeavored to confirm by affecting the likeness of him both in his Mein and Dress for whensoever he appear'd in publick he wore his Vest girt low about the hips a broad Sword on his side and over all a large course Plad or Mantle What might seem to some very insupportable as vain glory raillery drinking in publick frequenting the Common Soldiers Tables and eating places made him the delight and pleasure of the whole Army He was very agreeable in his Loves and gain'd many Friends by the assistance he gave them in theirs being very pleasant in his Raillery upon his own intrigues The generous temper which he was of in disposing of his gratuities with an open and liberal hand to the Soldiers and his Friends gave him a fair opportunity of making his fortune and was very advantageous to him in establishing him in his new honours and employments from which it is improbable he ever could have fallen but by a thousand follies which he was Master of One instance of his Liberality I must relate he had order'd to one of his Friends twenty five thousand Crowns and his Steward wondring at the extravagance of the sum laid all the Silver in a heap as he should pass by Antony seeing the heap ask'd what it meant His Steward reply'd the mony you have order'd to be dispos'd of to your Friend well perceiving the malice of the Action says he I thought I had order'd much more 't is too little pray let the sum be doubled but enough of this The Citizens of Rome were divided into two parties they that seemed to favor the Senate follow'd Pompey who was then present the others that consider'd the interest of the People sheltred themselves under the Authority of Caesar who was then making War in Gaul Curio the Friend of Antony having changed his party had devoted himself to Caesar and brought over Antony to his service the Authority which he had gain'd by his Eloquence and great expences which were constantly supply'd by Caesar gave him opportunity of making his Friend Antony first Tribune of the People and then Augur whose coming into the heat of business made him capable of rendring no small services to Caesar In the first place he oppos'd the Consul Marcellus who had designed some old Legions for Pompey with Commission to raise new ones making an order that they should be sent into Syria to reinforce Bibulus his Army who was then making War with the Parthians and that no one as they should answer it at their peril should give in their Names to serve under Pompey Next finding that Pompey's Faction would not suffer Caesar's Letters to be received or read in the Senate by vertue of his Office he read them publickly and succeeded so well that many were brought to change their mind and to declare that Caesar's demands were but just and reasonable at length two questions being started the one
whether Pompey should dismiss his Army the other if Caesar his some were for the former for the latter all except some few when Antony stood up and put the question if it would be agreeable to them that both Pompey and Caesar should dismiss their Armies which proposal was approv'd of with great acclamations and Antony desir'd after much honor receiv'd to put it to the Vote but this was oppos'd by the Consuls and Caesar's Friends making some new proposals which did not carry the least appearance of unreasonableness were brow beaten by Cato and Antony himself commanded to leave the Senate by Consul Lentulus He gave them many a bitter â—â—rse at his going out and disguising himself in a Servants habit accompanied only with Quintus Cassius in a hired Chariot he went straight away to Caesar they no sooner arrived but great were the Complaints they made that affairs at Rome were transacted without any order or justice that the privilege of speaking in the Senate was deny'd the Tribunes and that he that asserted the Common right of the People was in imminent danger of his life Caesar took hold of this pretence to march his Army into Italy and upon this hint it was that Cicero writes in his Philippicks that Antony was as much the Cause of the Civil War as ever Helena was of the Trojan But this is but a surmise for Caesar was not of so weak a temper as to suffer himself to be carry'd away by a passion into a Civil War with his Country upon the sight of Antony and Cassius seeking refuge in his Camp in mean habit and a Hackney Chariot without ever having thought or taken his measures in an affair of so great consequence this was to him that wanted a pretence of declaring War a fair and equitable occasion but the true motive was the same that formerly set Alexander and Cyrus at odds with all Mankind the unquenchable thirst of Empire and the distracted Ambition of being the greatest Man in the World which was impracticable for him unless Pompey were reduc'd So soon then as he had surprized Rome and driven Pompey out of Italy he purpos'd first to go against the Legions that Pompey had in Spain and then to have a Fleet in readiness to attend his Motions leaving the mean while the Government of Rome to Lepidus the Praetor and the Command of the Army to Antony Tribune of the People who was not long in getting the hearts of his Soldiers eating and drinking himself with them and making them presents to the utmost of his abilities But on the other side he wanted not his Enemies he was too lazy to inform himself in the Complaints of the injur'd and was impatient in any thing of business and his Familiarity with other peoples Wives gave him an ill reputation In short the Government of Caesar which in it self was little better than Tyrannical was by the indiscretion and insolence of his Friends render'd insupportable And Antony as he had the greatest power in the Army so he committed the most notorious Insolencies and had much to answer for But Caesar at his return from Spain wink'd at his faults not thinking fit to disoblige a Souldier that could suffer all Fatigue was very brave of his person and an experienced Commander Caesar going aboard at Brundusium sailed over the Ionian Sea with a few Troops and sent back the Fleet with Orders to Antony and Gabinius to embark the Army and Land as soon as might be in Macedonia Gabinius having no mind to put to Sea and being apprehensive of the Winter-Season was forc'd to March his Army round about by Land but Antony being more afraid lest Caesar might suffer some great inconvenience from the number of his Enemies who press'd him hard beat back Libo who was at Anchor with a Fleet in the Mouth of the Haven of Brundusium having Mann'd out several small Pinnaces and other Boats with which he encompassed each Galley and made them retire gaining thus an occasion of putting aboard twenty thousand Foot and eight hundred Horse and so set out to Sea The Enemy having espied him made up to him but this Danger he escaped by reason that the South-Wind was so high that the Enemies Fleet was not able to live in so rough a Water but. withal he had like to have fallen upon a Ridge of Rocks where the Sea wrought so high that there was no hope of escaping Ship-wrack when all on a sudden the Wind turn'd about to South-west and blew from land to the main Sea where Antony sailing in security saw the Coast all covered with the Wreck of the Enemies Fleet for the Gallies of Pompey had been miserably toss'd up and down and many of them sunk he took many Prisoners and much Booty he took also the Town of Lyssus and by the seasonable arrival of so great Recruit gave heart to the Affairs of Caesar There was no Engagement in which he did not signalize himself twice he stopt the Army in its flight led them back to a Charge and gained the Victory that not without reason his Reputation next to Caesar's was greatest in the Army and what opinion Caesar himself had of him did well appear when Pharsalia was to determine who should be Emperour of the World he himself chose to lead the right Wing committing the charge of the left to Antony as to the most experienc'd Officer of all that serv'd under him After the Battel Caesar being created Dictator went in pursuit of Pompey and sent Antony to Rome with the Character of Tribune of the People who is in Office and Power next to the Dictator when present and in his absence rules in Chief For upon the Election of a Dictator all other Magistrates cease to exercise any Authority in Rome The young Dolabella who was also Tribune of the People at that time and a great promoter of new Projects was for enacting a Law to rescind the register'd Debts and would needs perswade Antony to joyn with him who was his Friend and forward enough to promote any thing that was agreeable to the generality of the People Asinius and Trebellius were of the contrary Opinion and at the same time a grievous Fit of Jealousie possessing Antony that Dolabella was kinder than he desired to his Wife and taking it to heart he parted with her she was his Cousin-German and Daughter to Caius Antonius the Colleague of Cicero and taking part with Asinius declared War with Dolabella who had seiz'd on the Market-place in order to give Authority by force to his new Law Antony by a special Command of the Senate who had authoriz'd him to oppose Dolabella's breaking into the Market-place gave him Battel in the Fight many were lost on both sides and by this action he did incurr the displeasure of the common People and by reason of his Course of Life was not only not agreeable but as Cicero says had in detestation by the better sort of
bright and glorious yet it was overshadowed by Caesar's and advised him to keep himself far distant from that young Man for your Genius said he dreads his When absent from him yours is proud and brave but in his presence unmanly and dejected and the event did shew that the Aegyptian spoke truth for whensoever they play'd by drawing lots or at dice Antony was still the loser and as they often fought game Cocks or Quails Caesar's always had the Victory This gave Antony a sensible displeasure and made him put great confidence in the skill of his Aegyptian Astrologer so that having quitted the management of the home affairs to Caesar he left Italy and took Octavia along with him into Greece who had been lately brought to bed of a Daughter Whilst he winter'd in Athens he receiv'd the joyful news of Ventidius his Victory over the Carthians of Labienus and Charnapates the General of King Herod's Army being both slain for the celebrating of which he order'd a publick feast through Greece and at the prizes which were fought at Athens he himself chose to be Moderator and leaving at home the Ensigns that are carried before the General he made his procession in a long Gown and Slippers with the wands marching before which are usual in those solemnities and he performed his duty in parting the combatants when they had fought enough When he was upon marching his Army he made him a garland of the Olive Tree consecrated to Minerva and in obedience to some Oracle he fill'd a Vessel with the water of the Clepsidra to carry along with him Pacorus the Parthian Kings Son at this time made an inrode into Syria and was met by Ventidius who gave him Battel in the Country of Cyrrestica slew most of his Men and Pacorus among the rest This Victory gave great reputation to the Romans and redeem'd their honour which had suffer'd much ever since the defeat of Crassus the Parthians being oblig'd after the loss of three Battels successively to keep themselves within the bounds of Media and Mesopotamia Ventidius not being willing to push his good Fortune any further for fear of raising some jealousie in Antony but turning his Arms against them that had quitted the Roman interest he reduc'd them to their former obedience Among the rest he besieged Antiochus King of Commogena who made an offer of a thousand talents for his pardon and a promise to continue in a strict compliance to all Antony's commands but Ventidius told him that Antony was upon his march and that he must send his proposals to him for that he had no power to treat with him to the end that this small affair might be transacted in Antony's name that People might not think that he did nothing but by his Lieutenants The Siege grew very tedious for when they perceived that they could not make any reasonable composition they resolved to hold it out to the utmost extremity so that Antony was in great confusion to see how little he had done and repented himself that he had not accepted the first offer in the conclusion he was easily induc'd to make an accommodation with Antiochus for three hundred Talents and having given some orders for the affairs of Syria he return'd to Athens And having done Ventidius the honours he well deserved he dismiss'd him to receive his Triumph he was the only Man that ever triumphed for Victories obtained o'er the Parthians A Man of obscure Birth but by the means of Antony's friendship obtain'd an opportunity of shewing himself and doing great things and his making so good use of it gave great credit to an observation made by Caesar that Antony was much more successful in his Arms by his Lieutenants than in his own Person for Sossius Antony's Lieutenant in Syria had done miracles And Ventidius whom he left in Armenia had quieted all that Country and defeating the Kings of Albania and Ibeâ—ia had march'd victorious to the Mountains of Caucasus by which means the same of Antony's arms was grown very terrible to the barbarous Nations Antony was much incens'd against Caesar by reason of several reports that were made him of his unkindness so that he set sail with three hundred Ships for Italy and being refused harbour in the Port of Brundusium he made for Tarentum there his Wife Octavia that came from Greece with him obtain'd leave to visit her Brother she was then big of her third Child as she was on her way to Rome she met Octavius by the way his two great Friends Mecaenas and Agrippa in his company she took them aside and with great impressment told them that of the most fortunate Woman upon Earth she was in evident danger of becoming the most miserable Creature breathing that every ones eyes were fix'd upon her as the Wife and Sister of the two Men that did divide the whole World between them but that if rash counsels should prevail and war ensue I shall be miserable said she without redress for on what side soever Victory falls I shall be sure to be a loser Caesar was softened by the entreaties of his Sister so that he march'd in a peaceful manner to Tarentum They that were present at this Enterview were strangely delighted to see so great an Army drawn up by the Shore and so great a Fleet in the Harbour without doing any act of hostility nothing but kind Salutations and other expressions of joy and friendship passing from one Army to th' other Antony invited Caesar first to supper which he accepted of in consideration of Octavia At length an agreement was made between them that Caesar should give Antony two of his Legions to serve him in the Parthian War and that Antony should in return leave with him an hundred arm'd Galleys And Octavia did obtain of her Husband besides this twenty light Ships for her Brother And of her Brother a thousand Foot for her Husband So having parted very good friends Caesar went immediately to make War with Pompey to conquer Sicily And Antony leaving with him his Wife and Children and his Children by his former Wife Fulvia set sail for Asia Then it was that the worst of infectious diseases Love and the Love of Cleopatra which had lain quiet in his breast so long and seem'd to have given place to the temperate duties of Life upon his approach to Syria gathered strength again and broke out into a flame and unbridled Lust which Plato calls the horse of the Soul that has flung his Rider broke loose in defiance of all wholesom and serious Counsel He sends Fonteius Capito to conduct Cleopatra into Syria to whom at her arrival he made no small present for besides what he had given her he added the Provinces of Phoenicia the Lower Syria Cyprus great part of Cilicia and that side of Judea which produces the true Balm that part of Arabia where the Nabathaeans are by the Sea-side these profuse gifts did much displease the Romans for
was rather thought to be concern'd for his Friend than timorous He was afterwards made one of those Priests whom the Romans call Augurs in the room of Crassus the younger dead in Parthia and having by lot obtain'd the Province of Cilicia he set sail thither with twelve thousand Foot and two thousand six hundred Horse he had orders also to reduce Cappadocia to the love and obedience of Artobazanes their King which settlement he effected with great acceptance without Arms and perceiving the Cilicians by the great loss the Romans had suffer'd in Parthia and the Commotions in Syria grown insolent he reduced them into good Temper by a gentle Government He receiv'd no Presents tho sent him by Kings He remitted the Province the charge of Publick Suppers but entertained daily at his own House the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ingenious and accomplished Men of the better Quality not Sumptuously but Liberally His House had no Porter nor was he seen in Bed by any Man but early in the Morning standing or walking before his Door he courteously received those that visited him He never commanded any to be beaten with Rods nor to have their Garments rent He never gave contumelious Language in his Anger nor inflicted Punishment with Reproach When he found any of the Publick Monies purloin'd he enriched the Cities with it and those who voluntarily made Restitution without any further Punishment he preserved entire in their Reputation He made a little effort of War and drave out the Thieves which infested the Mount Amanus for which he was saluted by his Army Imperator To Caetius the Orator desiring him to send him some Panthers from Cilicia to be exposed on the Theatre at Rome with boasting reflecting on his own Actions he wrote that there were no Panthers in Cilicia for they were all fled to Caria in Anger that in so general a Peace they were left the only Subjects of his Arms. Leaving his Province for a time he touched at Rhodes but more willingly tarried at Athens with a desire of renewing his old Studies where he visited the most eminent Men of Learning and saluted his Friends and Familiars and being deservedly Honour'd in Greece he return'd to his own City where Affairs were just as it were in a flame breaking out into a Civil War When the Senate would have decreed him a Triumph he told them he had rather so Differences were accommodated follow the Triumphant Chariot of Caesar In private he gave Advice to both writing many things to Caesar and entreating several of Pompey mollisying perswading and exhorting each of them But when matters became incurable and Caesar was approaching Rome Pompey durst not abide it but with many honest Citizens left the City Cicero avoided the flight and seem'd to adhere to Caesar tho it is very evident he was in his Thoughts much divided and wavered betwixt both for thus he writes in his Epistles To which side should I turn Pompey has an honest and specious Pretence for War but Caesar has managed his Affairs better and is more able to secure himself and his Friends so that I know whom I should flee not whom I should fly to But when Trebatius one of Caesar's Friends by Letter signified to him that Caesar thought it was his Interest to secure himself on his side and to be partaker of his Hopes but if his Age would not permit that that he should retire into Greece and there abide and enjoy his Quiet remote from either Party Cicero wondring that Caesar did not write himself answer'd in Anger that he would do nothing unworthy of those things he had already done in Publick Affairs After this manner therefore he writes in his Epistles But as soon as Caesar was marched into Spain he immediately takes Shipping to go to Pompey and he was very acceptable to all the rest but Cato who taking him privately chid him for joyning himself to Pompey As for himself he said it had been very undecent to have forsaken that part of the Commonwealth which he had chosen from the beginning but he might have been more useful to his Country and Friends if remaining Neuter he had attended and governed the Event and not without Reason or Necessity have made himself an Enemy to Caesar and partner of so great Dangers By these sayings Cicero's mind was partly changed but principally because Pompey made no great use of him although indeed he was himself the cause of it by professing he repented his coming by deriding Pompey's Preparations by despising his Counsels and not forbearing Jeers and pleasant Reflections upon his Fellow-Soldiers For whilest he walked sowre and melancholy in the Camp he was always endeavouring to move Laughter to others who had as little reason to be merry as himself And here it may not be amiss to relate some few of those Jests To Demetrius preferring one to a Command who was no Soldier and saying in his defence that he was a Modest and Prudent Person he reply'd Why did not you keep him then for a Tutor for your Children Some commending Theophanes the Lesbian who was Master of the Works in the Camp for that he had excellently comforted the Rhodians after the loss of their Fleet What an extraordinary thing said he it is to have a Greek Officer When Caesar had done many things successfully and in a manner besieged Pompey Lentulus was saying it was reported that Caesar's Friends were melancholy You mean says Cicero they are wishing ill to Caesar To one Marcius newly come from Italy and telling them that there was a strong report at Rome that Pompey was block'd up he said And therefore you sail'd hither that you might see it with your own Eyes and believe it To Nonius encouraging them after a Defeat to be of good hope because there were seven Eagles still left in Pompey's Camp You encourage well said Cicero if we were to fight with Jack-daws Labienus demonstrating from Divination that Pompey was to be Conqueror Yes said Cicero and by trusting to this Stratagem we have already lost our Camp After the Battel of Pharsalia was over at which he was not present for want of Health and Pompey was fled Cato having considerable Forces and a great Fleet at Dyrrachium would have had Cicero Commander in Chief according to Law and the Precedence of his Consular Dignity But Cicero refusing the Command and wholly avoiding to joyn with their Arms was very near being slain young Pompey and his Friends calling him Traytor and drawing their Swords upon him had slain him had not Cato interposed and hardly rescued and brought him out of the Camp Afterwards arriving at Brundusium he tarried there some time in expectation of Caesar who linger'd because of his Affairs in Asia and Egypt and when it was told him that he was arrived at Tarentum and was coming thence by Land to Brundusium he hastened towards him not altogether without Hope and yet in some Fear of making experiment of the temper
and Caesar taking up Arms against one another the whole Government was turn'd into Confusion it was generally believ'd that he would have taken Caesar's side for his Father not long before had been put to Death by Pompey But he thinking it his duty to prefer the Interest of the Publick before his own private Resentments and judging Pompey's to be the better Cause took part with him tho' formerly he us'd not so much as to salute or take any notice of Pompey if he happen'd to meet him esteeming it a great crime to have the least Conversation with the Murtherer of his Father But now looking upon him as the General of his Countrey he listed himself under his Command and set Sail for Sicily in quality of Lieutenant to Sestius who had the Government of that Island But finding no opportunity there of shewing himself in any great Action and hearing that Pompey and Caesar were encamp'd near one another and were preparing to begin the Battle upon which the whole Empire depended he came of his own accord to Macedonia to partake in the Danger At his coming it is said that Pompey was so surpriz'd and so pleas'd that rising from his Chair in the sight of all his Guards he saluted and embrac'd him as one of the chiefest of his Party All the time that he was in the Camp expecting that which he spent in Pompey's Company he employ'd in Reading and in Study which he did not neglect even the day before the great Battle of Pharsalia It was the middle of Summer and the Heat was very great and the Camp sustain'd many inconveniencies by being lodged in a marshy Ground and they that carry'd Brutus his Tent had stay'd a long while before they came Yet tho' upon all these Accounts he was extremely harass'd and out of order having at last in the middle of the day scarcely anointed himself and eaten very sparingly whilst most others were either laid to sleep or were wholly taken up with the thoughts and apprehensions of what would be the issue of the Fight he spent his whole time till the evening in writing an Epitome of Polybius It is said that Caesar had so great a regard for him that he order'd his Commanders by no means to kill Brutus in the Battle but to spare him if possible and bring him safe to him if he would willingly surrender himself but if he made any Resistance to suffer him to escape rather than do him any Violence And this he is believ'd to have done out of a Tenderness to Servilia the Mother of Brutus for Caesar had it seems in his Youth being very intimate with her and she passionately in Love with him And considering that Brutus was born about that time in which their Loves were at the highest Caesar had some Reason to believe that he was begot by him There goes a Report too that when some great and weighty Matters concerning the Conspiracy of Catiline which had like to have been the Destruction of the Commonwealth were debated in the Senate Cato and Caesar tho' differing in their Opinions were placed near to one another In the middle of the Debate a little Note was deliver'd to Caesar from without which he took and read silently to himself Upon this Cato cry'd out aloud and accus'd Caesar for holding Correspondence and receiving Letters from the Enemies of the Common-wealth Many of the Senators being much concern'd and the House in an Uproar Caesar deliver'd the Note as he had receiv'd it to Cato who reading it found it to be a lewd Letter from his own Sister Servilia and threw it back again in Rage to Caesar with these words Keep it to your self you Sot And the Senate that had been interrupted fell afresh to the Business that was before them so publick and notorious was Servilia's Love to Caesar After the great Overthrow at Pharsalia Pompey himself having made his Escape to the Sea and Caesar's Army storming the Camp Brutus stole privately out of one of the Gates to a marshy Place full of Water and cover'd with Reeds from whence ventring out in the Night he got safe to Larissa From Larissa he writ to Caesar who express'd a great deal of Joy to hear that he was safe and having sent for him not only forgave him freely but honour'd and esteem'd him equal at least to his chiefest Friends Now when no-body could give any certain Account which way Pompey had fled Caesar took a little Journey alone with Brutus to try what was his Opinion herein and believing by some Discourses which pass'd between them that he could give a good guess which way Pompey had taken in his Flight laying aside all other thoughts he fell directly to pursue him towards Aegypt But Pompey having reach'd Aegypt as Brutus guess'd his Design was to do was there barbarously murder'd Brutus had so much power with Caesar that he pacify'd and reconcil'd him to his Friend Cassius nay when he pleaded in defence of the King of the Lybyans tho' he was overwhelm'd with the greatness of the Crimes alledg'd against him yet by his Entreaties and Applications to Caesar in his behalf he preserv'd to him agreat part of his Kingdom It is reported that Caesar when he first heard Brutus speak in publick said to his Friends I know not what this young man intends but whatever he intends he intends vehemently For his natural firmness of Mind not easily yielding or complying in favour of every one that entreated him when it was set on work by the Motives of right Reason and the Principles of Honesty which way soever it turn'd it self mov'd with great Vigour and Impetuosity and generally effected its Designs No Flattery could ever prevail with him to listen to unjust Petitions and reckon'd that to be overcome by the Impotunities of shameless and fawning Flatteries tho' some complement it with the Name of Modesty and Bashfulness was the foulest disgrace a great Man could suffer And he us'd to say That he shrewdly suspected that they who could deny nothing had not very honestly employ'd the flower of their Youth Caesar being about to take an Expedition into Africa against Cato and Scipio committed to Brutus the Government of Gallia Cisalpina to the great Happiness and Advantage of that Province For while those of other Provinces labour'd under the Violence and Avarice of their Governors and suffer'd as much Oppression as if they had been Slaves and Captives of War Brutus put an end to all such Insolencies here and by his easie Government made them amends for all their former Calamities and reconcil'd and fix'd all their Affections to Caesar insomuch that it was a most welcom and pleasant Spectacle to Caesar when in his Return he pass'd through Italy to see the Cities that were under Brutus his Command and Brutus himself increasing his Train and Honour and most obligingly attending him in his Progress Now several Praetorships being void it was all mens opinion that that of the
People abominating his Midnight-Revelling his wild Expences and his rowling from one little Whore to another his Naps in the Day and his Walks to digest his Debauches and then at Night again his Entertainments and Balls for the solemnizing the Nuptials of some Comoedian or Buffoon It is reported that drinking all night at the Wedding of Hippias the Comoedian and on the Morning being to harangue the People he ventur'd out over-charg'd as he was and vomited before them all one of his Friends receiving it in his Gown Sergius the Comoedian was he who had the greatest Power with him und Cytheries of the same Vocation the Woman that had his Heart She when he went his Progress accompanied him in a Litter and had her Equipage not in any thing inferiour to his Mother's the world was scandaliz'd at the great Pomp of his Travelling Plate which was more proper for the Ornaments of a Triumph than the Convenience of a Journey at his causing Tents to be set up every where in the way by Rivers sides and in Groves for his dining with all the Luxury imaginable and that he made his Chariot to be drawn by Lions and lodg'd his little Whores and singing Wenches wheresover he past in the Houses of serious Men and Women famous for their Matron-like Behaviour And it seemed very unreasonable that Caesar out of Italy should fare hard and with great fatigue and danger pursue the remainder of a dangerous War whilst others in pretending his Authority left no insolence unpractis'd upon their Fellow-Citizens and this undoubtedly was occasion of great Trouble in Rome and gave the Souldier encouragement to injure and plunder the People upon this it is probable that Caesar at his return acquitted Dolabella and being created the third time Consul took not Antony but Lepidus for Colleague Pompey's House being to be sold Antony would buy it but was much troubled at the paying for it This and that he thought his former Services had not been recompenced as they deserved made him not follow Caesar with his Army into Libya and it is apparent that Caesar's not countenancing his Follies was a great Means of his amendment being weary therefore of this Course of Life he marries Fulvia the Widow of Clodius the great Ring-leader of the People a Woman not born for Spinning or Houswifry nor one that could be content with the power of ruling a private Husband but a Lady capable of advising a Magistrate and of ruling the General of an Army so that Cleopatra had great Obligations to her for having taught Antony to be so good a Servant he coming into her hands tame and broken in all obedience to the Commands of a Mistress Antony had many Devices by which he used to entertain and divert her from her more serious way of Carriage As when Caesar after his Victory in Spain was on his return Antony among the rest went out to meet him and a Rumour being spread that Caesar was kill'd and the Enemy marching into Italy he return'd to Rome and disguising himself came to her by night as a Servant that brought Letters from Antony but she with great impatience before she receiv'd the Letter asks if Antony were well instead of an Answer he gives her the Letter and as she was opening it took her about the Neck and kiss'd her This little Story of many of the same nature we thought fit to give you by which you might guess of his humour There was no body of Quality in Rome that did not go some days journey to meet Caesar in his return from Spain but Antony was the best received of any admitted to ride the whole Journey with him in his Coach behind came Brutus Albinus and Octavian his Sister's Son well known afterward by the name of Augustus Caesar Caesar being created the fifth time Consul without any demur chose Antony for his Colleague but designing himself to quit the Consulat to Dolabella he acquainted the Senate with his resolution but Antony opposed it with all his might and saying all the bitter things of Dolabella and receiving as injurious Language in return Caesar could bear with the indecency no longer but referr'd the Consideration of this Matter to another time and the next time it was propos'd Antony proclaim'd that all Omens that were taken from the flight of Birds were against his promotion so that Caesar was constrain'd to leave Dolabella very much discompos'd and 't is credible that Caesar had no great opinion of either of them for when one accus'd them to have design'd against him 't is not the Men so well fed and so wall dress'd I fear but the pale and lean said he I dread meaning Brutus and Cassius who afterwards conspir'd his Death and murther'd him To whom Antony without designing any harm gave the most plausible pretence that could be wish'd for The Romans were celebrating their Festival called the Lupercalia when Caesar in his Triumphal Habit and seated on a kind of Throne in the Market-place was a Spectator of the Sports the Custom is that many young Noblemen and of the Magistracy anointed with Oyl and having Straps of white Leather in their hand run about and strike every one they meet Antony was sporting with the rest who as soon as the ancient Ceremonies were perform'd took a Lawrel Garland and having wreathed the Diadem about it made towards the Throne and being lifted up by his Companions would have put it upon the Head of Caesar as if by that Ceremony he were declared King but Caesar seemingly refused the Offer and was applauded by the People with great Shouts the Dispute betwixt Antony's offering and Caesar's refusing the Crown lasted some while Antony receiving but little encouragement from the Shouts of a few Friends and Caesar's Refusal being accompanied with the general Applause of the People and this is very remarkable that the People should endure patiently all that a Kingly Government could impose and at the same time dread the Name of King as the utter destruction of their Liberty Caesar very much discompos'd at what had past stept down in haste from the Throne and laying bare his Neck said he offer'd himself a willing Sacrifice to the People if so it were their Pleasure The Crown at last was put upon one of his Statues but the Tribunes took it off to the great satisfaction of the People who followed them home with continual Shouts and Applauses Caesar resenâ—ed this and afterwards turn'd them out of their Office These Passages gave great encouragement to Brutus and Cassius who in making choice of trusty Friends for such an Enterprize were thinking to engage Antony every one approved the Man but Trebonius who did inform them that Antony and he had been very intimate in the late Journey they took to meet Caesar and that he had let fall several Words concerning the Matter now in hand on purpose to sound him that Antony very well understood him but did not at all
approve of the Discourse howsoever the Matter was never reveal'd to Caesar but still kept as a great Secret The Conspirators then proposed that Antony should die with him which Brutus would in no wise consent to not thinking fit that an Action undertaken in defence of Justice and the Laws should be liable to so foul an Imputation Antony therefore who was to be considered as a Man of Bodily Strength and one that bore great Office in the State was at Caesar's Entry to the Senate to be amused without in a Discouse of pretended Business Just as it was ordered Caesar was slain and Antony surpriz'd at the Action took the Disguise of a Servant's Habit and retir'd but understanding that the Conspirators had assembled in the Capitol and had no further Design upon any one he gave them his Honour they might come down in safety and sent his Son for an Hostage That night Cassius supp'd at Antony's House and Brutus with Lepidus where they resolved the Senate should be call'd and having pass'd an Act of Oblivion for the settlement of Affairs Governments were assign'd to Cassius and Brutus and whatsoever Acts had passed during the Reign of Caesar were ratified with the consent of the whole Senate Thus Antony went out of the Senate with that Reputation and Esteem that never Man had gain'd before him for it was apparent to the World that he had taken away all the Grounds of a Civil War and had shewn himself an able Minister of State that knew how to unravel and compose Matters of so great Danger and Difficulty But these temperate Counsels were soon infected with the Pride of being Favourite of the Multitude and the Ambition of ruling in Chief by the supplanting of Brutus In order to this Caesar's Body being exposed in the Market-place as the Custom is while Antony made his Funeral-Oration perceiving the People to be infinitely affected with what he had said from his Praises he rais'd their Pity and enlarged upon every Point that could move Compassion to compleat all he took the Robe from off the dead Corps and held it up exposing it all bloody and pierced through with many Stabs calling the Conspirators Villains and bloody Murtherers his Harangue had so great an effect upon the Multitude that they would not deferr the Solemnities of the Funeral but making a Pile of Tables and Forms in the very Market-place set Fire to it and every one taking a Brand ran in great fury to the Conspirators Houses with a resolution to burn them alive Upon this Tumult Brutus and his whole Party left the City and Caesar's Friends joyned themselves to Antony Calphurnia Caesar's Wife trusted her self to his Conduct and the best part of her Estate four thousand Talents he got also into his Hands all Caesar's Papers wherein were contained Journals of all he had done and Draughts of what he designed to do which Antony made good use of for by this means he made what Officers he pleas'd brought whom he would into the Senate recall'd some from Exile freed others out of Prison and all this as ordered so by Caesar The Romans by way of Raillery call'd all that receiv'd any benefit by this Artifice Charonites who if put to prove their Patents must have recourse to the Registers of the Dead In short Antony's behaviour in Rome was very absolute he himself being Consul and his two Broâ—hers in great place Caius the one Praetor and Lucius the youngest Tribune of the People While Matters went thus in Rome the young Caesar Julius Caesar's Sister's Son and by Testament left his Heir arrived at Rome from Apollonia where he was when his Uncle was kill'd The first thing he did was to visit Anthony as one his Uncle had greatest Obligation to he spoke to him concerning the Money that was in his hands and reminded him of the Legacy Caesar had made of seventy five Drachms to every Roman Citizen Antony at first laughing at such Discourse from so young a man told him he wish'd he were in his Health and that he wanted good Counsel and good Friends to tell him the Burden of being Executor to Caesar would sit very uneasie upon his young Shoulders This was no Answer to him but still he insists to have the Money and other goods which were his Inheritance insomuch that Antony us'd him injuriously thwarted his Interest upon all Occasions oppos'd him in his Election of Tribune and when he urged the dedication of his Father's Golden Chair as had been Enacted he threatned to send him to Prison if he desisted not from soliciting the People This made the young Caesar apply himself to Cicero and all those that hated Antony by them he was recommended to the Senate while he himself courted the People and from their respective quarters took the old Soldiers and form'd them into a Body this made Antony so apprehensive that he gave him a meeting in the Capitol and after some words they came to an accommodation That night Antony had a very unlucky Dream fancying that his right hand was Thunder struck and some few days after he was inform'd that Caesar design'd upon his life Caesar would have justify'd himself but was not believ'd so that the breach was now made as wide as ever each of them posted day and night all about Italy to engage the old Troops that lay scatter'd in their Quarters and great were the promises that were made to the Legions that were yet standing Cicero was of great reputation in Rome and made use of all his Art to exasperate the People against Antony and at length perswaded the Senate to declare him a publick Enemy and to send to Caesar the Rods and Axes and all other Marks of Honour that are usually given to the Pretor and withal an Order was given to Hirtius and Pansa who were their Consuls to drive Antony out of Italy The Armies engag'd nigh to Modena and Caesar himself was present Antony was defeated though both the Consuls were slain Antony in his Flight was pursued by all the misfortune imaginable and the worst shape it appear'd in was famine but it was in these extremities that he naturally fell into a behaviour that made him appear a Man much above himself and Antony in misfortune was not easily distinguish'd from a vertuous Man It is no extraordinary matter for Men that fall into great difficulties to reason right and understand what by their duty and honour they are bound to do and suffer Yet there are but a very few who in great extremities have courage enough to trust to their own Judgment either to imitate what they admire or avoid what they Condemn but abandon themselves to their beloved Ease and for very want of industry become irresolute Antony was a most illustrious Example of patience to the Army who accustomed to so much Luxury and delicacy could be contented to drink stinking water and feed upon wild Fruits and Roots nay 't is reported they devoured the very
sent Cleopatra into Egypt and staid himself in a very solitary condition having no Company but two of his familiar friends the one Aristocraces a Grecian the other Lucilius a Roman We have already spoken of the last in the life of Brutus and how that to give him leisure to escape at the Battel of Philippi he suffer'd himself to be taken pretending to be Brutus Antony gâ—ve him his Life and he remained firm to him to his last day To add to the afflictions of Antony he understood that he who commanded for him in Libya to whose care he had committed all the Troops of that Country was gone over to Caesar there he had a great mind to kill himself but was hindred by his friends and coming to Alexandria he found Cleopatra busied in a most prodigious enterprise There is but a small space of Land which divides the Red Sea from the Mediterranean which also separates Asia from Africk and in the narrowest place is not much above thirty six miles over Cleopatra had formed a project of dragging her Gallies over this Neck of Land and of setting them on Float in the Red-Sea with all her riches aboard to seek some remote Country where she might live in peace secure from War and Slavery But the first Gallies which were carried over being burnt by the Arabians of Petra and Antony not knowing but that the Army before Actium stood yet firm she desisted from her enterprise and gave orders for the fortifying all the avenues of her Kingdom but Antony leaving the City and the conversation of his friends built him a house nigh Pharos upon a little Mount which he had cast up in the Sea and there secluding himself from the company of mankind he resolved to imitate the life of Timon because he had received the same hard usage and that for the ingratitude and injuries which he suffer'd from those he had obliged and esteemed his friends he would hate and mistrust all Mankind This Timon was a Citizen of Athens and lived in the time of the Peloponnesian War as may be seen by the Comedies of Aristophanes and Plato in which he is lashed as the hater and enemy of mankind This Man having a long time avoided and despised the converse of every Body and meeting Alcibiades a bold young Gentleman he civilly saluted him and embraced him Apemantus was astonish'd and demanding the reason Oh says Timon you cannot imagine what mischief this young Man will one day do the Athenians He never admitted any one into his Company but this Apemantus who was much of the same humour and a zealous imitator of his way of Life At the celebration of the Feasts for the Dead these two were eating together and Apemantus saying to him Oh Timon this is a pleasant Feast It would be so he answer'd if thou wert away One day he got up in a full Assembly into the Pulpit and a great silence being made by reason of so unusual a sight he began his Speech which was thus Ye Men of Athens I have a little Court-yard and in it grows a Fig-Tree on which many of your Citizens have been pleas'd to hang themselves and now having resolved to build in that place I could not omit the making publick Declaration of my design least I should prejudice any one by cutting down my Tree that has a mind to hang himself He died and was buried at Hales nigh the Sea which swells in that place and flowing round his Monument makes it inaccessible the Monument had this inscription The wretches heart who here does lie Did burst with grief and misery Ask him not his name to tell But God confound ye all farewel And this Epitaph was made by himself while yet alive that which is usually reported to be his was made by Callimachus Here Timon lies who hated man begon Curse mortal curse again but pray march on Thus much of Timon of whom much more might be said Canidius brought Antony word of the loss of his Army which was before Actium then he received news that Herod of Judea was gone over to Caesar with very considerable Troops that several great Commanders had deserted him and that his interest was quite ruin'd every where All this did not in the least move him but quitting all hope that he might be rid of all care and leaving his habitation by the Sea which he call'd the Timonium he was received by Cleopatra in the Palace and the whole City was diverted by him with feasting drinking and presents The Son of Caesar and Cleopatra was registred among the youths and Antyllas his own Son by Fulvia received the Gown without the purple border which was given to them that are come of age so that the Citizens of Alexandria did nothing but feast and revel for many days they broke up the order of the inimitable Livers and constituted another in its place nothing inferior to the former in splendor and luxury and called it the Diers together for all those that would die with Antony and Cleopatra gave in their Names passing their time in all manner of pleasures and treating one another by turns But Cleopatra was busied in making a collection of all manner of poysonous drugs and desirous to know which of them were the least painful in the Operation she sent them to be tried upon such as were condemn'd to die but finding that those poisons that had a quick effect caused sharp pains and great convulsions and that the milder were so very long a working she set her self to the examination of venomous Creatures applying one sort to one Body and another to others and this was her daily practice still finding that nothing was comparable to the bite of the Asp which without the least convulsion or groaning caused a great heaviness in the head and desire of sleep with a gentle sweat all o'er the Face the senses being stupify'd by degrees the patient in appearance being sensible of no pain but rather troubled to be disturb'd or awaken'd like those that are in a profound natural sleep They both sent Ambassadors to Caesar into Asia Cleopatra petition'd for the Kingdom of Egypt for her Children and Antony that he might have leave to live a private Man in Egypt and if that were thought too much that he might retire to Athens for want of friends so many having deserted and the remainder not deserving to be trusted Euphronius his Son's Tutor was sent of this Embassie For Alexas of Laodicea who by the recommendation of Timagenes came acquainted with Antony at Rome and had the greatest power over him of any of the Grecians and was of all the insinuating Spirits which Cleopatra made use of to perswade Antony the most successful and the only Man that could oppose Octavia's Counsels was sent to Herod to keep that King from desertion but he betraying his Master staid with him and confiding in Herod's interest had the impudence to come into Caesar's presence
Body Clodius putting the stress of his defence upon this point that he was not then at Rome but a far off in the Country Cicero testify'd that he came to his house that day and discoursed with him of several matters which thing was indeed true although Cicero was thought to testifie it not so much for the truths sake as to preserve his quiet with Terentia his Wife for she had a spite at Clodius upon the account of his Sister Clodia who had a mind to marry Cicero and manag'd the design by one Tullus a Friend and intimate of Cicero's in his greatest affairs And Cicero himself by frequently visiting and paying his Court to Clodia as a Neighbour had given Terentia ground to suspect him And she being a Woman of a sowre humour and having the ascendant of Cicero had provoked him to conspire and testifie against Clodius Afterwards many good and honest Citizens did give evidence against him for perjuries forgeries bribing the People and deflowering of Women Lucullus proved by his Maid-servants that he had lain with his youngest Sister when she was his Wife and there was a publick Fame that he did also converse with his two other Sisters in the same way Terentia whom Martius Rex and Clodia whom Metellus Celer had married the latter of them was called Quadrantula because one of her Lovers had deceived her with a purse of small brass money instead of Silver the smallest brass coyn being called a Quadrant Upon this Sisters account Clodius was principally defamed Notwithstanding all this when the common People appear'd in Tumults against the accusers and prosecutors of Clodius the Judges were so affrighted that a guard was placed about them for their defence tho the names were confusedly written upon the Tables yet it was evident that the greatest number did absolve him and it was said there was bribery in the Case and therefore Catulus meeting the Judges told them You did well in requiring a guard for your safety for fear your money should have been taken from you and when Clodius upbraided Cicero that the Judges did not believe his Testimony Yes said he five and twenty of them believ'd me for so many of them have condemned you but the other thirty did not believe you for they did not absolve you till they had receiv'd your Money But Caesar tho cited did not give his Testimony against Clodius nor pretended to be convinced of his Wife's Adultery but that he had put her away because it was fit that Caesar's Bed should not be only free of the evil fact but of the Fame too Clodius having escaped this danger and got to be chosen one of the Tribunes of the People immediately attack'd Cicero heaping up all matters and inciting all Persons against him the common People he wheedled with popular laws to each of the Consuls he decreed large Provinces to Piso Macedonia and to Galinius Syria He muster'd together a rabble of indigent Persons to serve his design and had always armed Slaves about him of the three Men then in greatest power Crassus was Cicero's open Enemy Pompey indifferently caressed both Caesar was going with an Army into Gallia Cicero applies himself to him th none of his firm Friends having had a suspicion of him ever since the conspiracy of Catiline of him he desires the Honour of being his Lieutenant General in that Province Caesar accepting him Clodius perceived that Cicero fled his tribunitian Authority and therefore pretends to be inclinable to a reconcilement lays the greatest fault upon Terentia makes always a favourable mention of him and treats him with kind expressions as one who had neither hatred nor ill will towards him and thus expostulating the matter moderately and friendly he so freed Cicero of all his fears that he resigned his Lieutenancy to Caesar and betook himself again to political affairs At which Caesar being exasperated he confirmed Clodius against him and wholly alienated Pompey from him he also himself declared in a publick assembly of the People that he did not think Lentulus and Cethegus with their accomplices were well and legally put to death without being brought to Tryal And this indeed was the crime charged upon him of which Cicero standing accused and prosecuted he changed his habit and in a sordid and untrimmed dress went about and supplicated the People but Clodius always met him in every corner having a pack of abusive and daring fellows about him who with insolence publickly derided his dress and change of habit and would often by throwing dirt and stones at him interrupt his supplications to the People Altho at first almost the whole Equestrian order changed their habits with him and no less than twenty thousand young Gentlemen followed him untrimm'd and supplicating with him to the People on his behalf Afterwards the Senate met to pass a decree that the People should change their habit as in time of publick sorrow But the Consuls opposing it and Clodius with armed Men besetting the Senate-house many of the Senators ran out shrieking and tearing their Cloaths but this sight moved neither shame nor pity in them for Cicero must either fly or determine it by the Sword with Clodius He intreated Pompey to aid him who was on purpose gone out of the way and resided at his Country-house near Albania and first he sent his Son-in-Law Piso to intercede with him but afterwards went himself of which Pompey being informed he durst not stay to see him for he had a great reverence for that Man who had contended in so many quarrels for him and had directed so much of his policy for his advantage but being Caesar's Son-in-Law at his instance he set aside all former kindness received from Cicero and slipping out at another door avoided his intercession Thus being forsaken by Pompey and left alone to himself he fled to the Consuls Gabinius was always surly to him but Piso treated him more civilly desiring him to yield and give place for a while to the fury of Clodius and to expect the change of times and to be once more a Saviour to his Country from those commotions and dangers which were raised upon his account Cicero receiving this answer consulted with his Friends Lacullus advised him to stay as being sure to prevail at last others to fly because the People would soon desire him again when they should have enough of the rage and madness of Clodius This last Cicero approv'd But first he took the Statue of Minerva which had been long set up in his house and worship'd with singular devotion and carrying it to the Capitol there dedicated it with this inscription MINERVAE VRBIS ROMAE PRAESIDI To Minerva the Patroness of Rome And receiving a safe convoy from his Friends about the middle of the night he left the City and went on foot through Lucania intending to reach Sicily But as soon as it was publickly known that he was fled Clodius procured of the People a decree of
chiefest Dignity which is call'd the Praetorship of the City would be conferr'd either upon Brutus or Cassius and some say that there having been some little difference upon former Accounts between them this Competition set them much more at variance tho' they were related to each other Cassius having married Junia the Sister of Brutus Others say that this Contention was rais'd between them by Caesar's means who had privately given each of them such hopes of his favouring their Pretensions as made them break out into this open Competition and Tryal of their Interest Brutus had only the Reputation of his Honour and virtue to oppose to the many and gallant Actions perform'd by Cassius in his Youth against the Parthians But Caesar having heard each side and deliberating about the Matter among his Friends said Cassius indeed pleads with most Justice but Brutus must have the first Praetorship So another Praetorship was given to Cassius but the gaining of this could not so much oblige him as he was incens'd for the loss of the other And in all other things Brutus was partaker of Caesar's Power as much as he desir'd for he might if he had pleas'd been the chief of all his Friends and had Authority and Command beyond them all but Cassius by his Conversation drew him off from Caesar and turn'd him to himself Indeed he was not yet wholly reconcil'd to Cassius since that Competition which was between them but yet he gave ear to Cassius his Friends who were perpetually advising him not to be so blind as to suffer himself to be soften'd and won upon by Caesar but to shun the Kindness and Favours of a Tyrant which they intimated that Caesar shew'd him not to express any Honour to his Merit or Virtue but to unbend his Strength and slacken the vigour of his Mind Neither was Caesar wholly without suspicion of him nor wanted Informers that accus'd Brutus to him but he fear'd indeed the high Spirit and the great Authority and the many Friends that he had but thought himself secure in his Honesty and Virtue When it was told him first that Antony and Dolabella design'd some Disturbance It is not said he the fat and the long-hair'd men that I fear but the pale and the lean meaning Brutus and Cassius Afterwards when some accus'd Brutus to him and advis'd him to beware of him taking hold of his Flesh with his Hand he said What do ye think that Brutus will not wait out the time of this little Body as if he thought none fit to succeed him in so great Power but only Brutus And indeed it seems to be without doubt that Brutus might have been the first Man in the Common-wealth if he could have had patience but a little time to be second to Caesar if he would have suffer'd his Power insensibly to decay after it was come to its highest pitch and the fame of his great Actions to die and wither away by degrees But Cassius a Man of a fierce Disposition and one that out of private Malice rather than Love of the Publick hated Caesar not the Tyrant continually fir'd him and stirr'd him up Brutus could not endure the Imperial Power but Cassius hated the Emperor and among other Reasons on which he grounded his Quarrel against Caesar the loss of his Lions which he had procur'd when he was design'd Aedile was not the least for these Caesar finding in Megara when that City was taken by Calenus seized to himself These Beasts they say were a great mischief to the Megarians for when their City was taking they broke open the Lions Dens and pull'd off their Chains and let them loose that they might run upon the Enemy that was entring the City but the Lions turn'd upon them themselves and running wildly about tore a great many of them to pieces so that it was a miserable spectacle even to their enemies to behold And this some say was the chief provocation that stirr'd up Cassius to conspire against Caesar but they are much in the wrong for Cassius had from his Youth a natural Hatred and Rancour against the whole race of Tyrants which he shew'd when he was but a Boy and went to the same School with Faustus the Son of Sylla for he speaking great words among the Boys and extolling the unlimited command of his Father Sylla Cassius rose up and struck him two or three Boxes on the Ear which when the Tutors and Relations of Faustus design'd to enquire into and to prosecute Pompey forbad them and sending for both the Boys together examin'd the matter himself And Cassius then is reported to have said thus Come on Faustus dare to speak before this man those words that provok'd me that I may strike you again as I did before Such was the Disposition of Cassius But Brutus by many Perswasions of his familiar Friends and many Letters from unknown Citizens was rouz'd up and push'd on to this Undertaking For under the Statue of his Ancestor Brutus that overthrew the Kingly Government they writ these words O that we had a Brutus now And O that Brutus were alive And Brutus his own Tribunal on which he sate as Praetor was fill'd each Morning with such Inscriptions as these You are asleep Brutus And You are not a true Brutus Now the Flatterers of Caesar were the occasion of all this who among other invidious Honours which they strove to fasten upon Caesar crown'd his Statues by night with an imperial Crown with a design to stir up the People to salute him King instead of Dictator But the quite contrary came to pass as I have more particularly shewn in the Life of Caesar When Cassius went about solliciting Friends to engage in this Design against Caesar all whom he try'd readily consented if Brutus would be Head of the Conspiracy for their opinion was that for this Enterprize they wanted not Hands or Resolution but the Reputation and Authority of a Man such as he was to lead them on and by his presence justifie the Undertaking that without him they should go about this Action with less heart and should lie under greater Suspicions when they had done it for if their Cause were just and honourable they were sure Brutus would not refuse it Cassius having consider'd these things with himself went to Brutus and made him the first Visit after their falling out and after the Complements of Reconciliation pass'd and former Kindnesses renew'd between them he ask'd him if he design'd to be present at the Senate on the Calends of March for it was discours'd he said that Caesar's Friends intended then to move that he might be made King When Brutus answer'd That he would not be there But what says Cassâ—s if they should send for us It is my Business then reply'd Brutus not to hold my peace but to stand up boldly and dâ—e for the Liberty of my Country To which Cassius with some Concern answer'd But what Roman will suffer you to
die What do you not know your self Brutus Or do you think that those Inscriptions that you find upon your Praetors Seat were put there by Weavers Victuallers or the vile Rabble and not by the first and most powerful Men of Rome From other Praetors indeed they expect Largesses â—nd Shows and Gladiators but from you they claim as an hereditary Debt the extirpation of Tyranny they are all ready to suffer any thing on your account if you will but shew your self such as they think you are and expect you should be Which said he fell upon Brutus and embrac'd him and after this they parted each to try their several Friends Among those of Pompey's Faction there was one Caius Ligarius whom Caesar had pardon'd tho' accus'd for having been in Arms against him This Man not being so thankful for having been forgiven as stomaching that Power which made him need a Pardon hated Caesar but was one of Brutus his most intimate Friends Him Brutus visited and finding him sick O Lygarius says he what a time have you found out to be sick in At which words Ligarius raising himself and leaning on his Elbow took Brutus by the Hand and said But O Brutus if you are on any Design worthy of your self I am well From this time they try'd the Inclinations of all their Acquaintance that they durst trust and communicated the Secret to them and took also into the Conspiracy not only their familiar Friends but as many as they believ'd bold and brave and despisers of Death For which Reason they conceal'd the Plot from Cicero tho' he was very much trusted and as well belov'd by them all leâ—t to his own Disposition which was naturally timorous adding the wariness and caution of old Age and weighing every Particular that he might not make one step without the greatest security he should blunt the edge of their forwardness and resolution in a Business which requir'd all the dispatch imaginable There were also two others that were Companions of Brutus Statilius the Epicurean and Favonius a Follower of Cato whom he left out of the Conspiracy for this Reason As he was discoursing one day with them at a distance and proposing some Questions to be disputed of as among Philosophers to try what opinion they were of Favonius declar'd his Judgment to be that a Civil War was worse than the most unjust Tyranny And Statilius held that to bring himself into Troubles and Danger upon the account of evil or foolish men did not become a man that had any Wisdom or Discretion But Labeo that was present contradicted them both and Brutus as if it had been an intricate Dispute and difficult to be decided held his peace for that time but afterwards discover'd the whole Design to Labeo who readily undertaking it the next thing that was thought convenient was to gain the other Brutus sirnam'd Albinus a man of himself of no great Bravery or Courage but considerable for the number of Gladiators that he bred up for the publick Shews and the great confidence that Caesar put in him When Cassius and Labeo discours'd with him concerning this Matter he gave them no Answer but meeting Brutus himself alone and finding that he was their Captain â—he readily consented to partake in the Action and the very Name of Brutus brought many others and those of the best Quality over to the Conspirators who tho' they neither gave or took any Oath of Secrecy nor us'd any other sacred Rite to assure their Fidelity to each other yet all kept their Design so close were so wary and manag'd it so silently among themselves that tho' by Prophesies and by wonderful Apparitions and Prodigies and by the Entrails of sacrific'd Beasts the Gods gave warning of the Conspiracy yet could it not be believ'd Now Brutus considering that the greatest Men of all Rome for Virtue Birth or Courage depended wholly upon him and surveying with himself all the Dangers they were to encounter strove as much as possible when abroad to keep his uneasiness of Mind to himself and compose his unquiet Thoughts but at home and especially at Night he was not the same Man but sometimes his working Care would make him start out of his Sleep and other times he was so taken up with Thoughts and so perplex'd in his Mind that his Wise that lay with him could not choose but take notice that he was full of unusual Trouble and had in Agitation some dangerous and difficult Affair Porcia as was before said was the Daughter of Cato and Brutus tho' her Cousin-german had marry'd her very young tho' not a Maid but after the Death of her former Husband by whom she had one Son that was nam'd Bibulus and there is a little Book call'd The Memoirs of Brutus written by him yet extant This Porcia being addicted to Philosophy a great lover of her Husband and full of Courage and Prudence resolv'd not to enquire into Brutus his Secrets before she had made this tryal of her self She turn'd all her Attendants out of her Chamber and taking a little Knife such as they use to cut Nails with she gave her self a deep gash in the Thigh upon which follow'd a great Flux of Blood and soon after violent pains and a dangerous Fever occasion'd by the anguish of the Wound Now when Brutus was mightily afflicted for her she in the heighth of all her pain spoke thus to him I Brutus being the Daughter of Cato was given to you in Marriage not like a Concubine to partake only in the common Civilities of Bed and Board but to bear a part in all your good and all your evil Fortunes and for my part when I look upon you I find no Reason to repent the Match but from me what Evidence of my Love what satisfaction can you receive if I may not share with you in bearing your most hidden Griefs nor be admitted to any of your Counsels that require Secrecy and Trust I know very well that Women seem to be of too weak a Nature to be trusted with Secrets but certainly Brutus a virtuous Birth and Education and a Conversation with the Good and Honourable are of some force to the forming our Manners and strengthening our natural weakness And I can boast that I am the Daughter of Cato and the Wife of Brutus in which two great Titles tho' before I put too little confidence yet now I have try'd my self and find that even against Grief and Pain it self I am invincible Which words having spoke she shew'd him her Wound and related to him the whole tryal that she had made of her own Constancy At which he being astonish'd lifted up his Hands to Heaven and begg'd the assistance of the Gods in his Enterprize that he might live to be a Husband worthy of such a Wife as Porcia So having comforted his Wife he left her A Meeting of the Senate being appointed at which it was generally believ'd that Caesar would be
the Valiant Greeks that served him in the Battel of Actium It is reported of Messala himself that when Caesar once gave him this Commendation That tho he was his fiercest Enemy at Philippi in the cause of Brutus yet he had shewed himself his most entire Friend in the Fight of Actium He answered You shall always find me Caesar on the best and justest side Now when Antony had found the Body of Brutus he commanded the richest Coat that he had to be thrown over it and afterwards the Coat being stolen he found the Thief and had him put to death and then sent the Ashes and Relicks of Brutus to his Mother Servilia As for Porcia his Wife Nicolaus the Philosopher and Valerius Maximus write That being desirous to die but being hindred by her Friends who continually watch'd her from killing her self she snatched some burning Coals out of the fire and shutting them close in her mouth stifled her self and dyed Though there is yet extant a Letter of Brutus to his Friends in which he laments the death of Porcia and accuses them for neglecting her so that she desir'd to die rather than languish with her Disease So that it seems Nicolaus was mistaken in the time For this Epistle if it indeed is Authentick and truly Brutus's gives us to understand the Disease and the Love of this Lady and the manner of her Death The End of the Life of Brutus The Comparison of Dion and Brutus SEeing then that these Men grew so very famous especially in that with inconsiderable helps they attain'd to such Power and Greatness On this score Dion has by far the Advantage For he had no Partner none to share the Glory as Brutus had of Cassius who was not indeed of that reputation for Vertue and Honour yet not inferiour for his Diligence his Courage and his Experience in the Toils of War And some there be who to him impute the rise and beginning of the whole Action saying that it was He who roundly to Brutus gave his Advice against Caesar Whereas Dion seems not only of himself to have provided Arms Ships and Souldiers but likewise Friends and Partners for the Enterprize Neither did he as Brutus gather to himself from the War any Strength or Riches but laid out of his own Substance and employ'd his private Necessaries for the Liberty of his Country Besides this Brutus and Cassius when they fled from Rome could not live safe or quiet condemn'd to Death and were pursued they were of necessity forced to take Arms and hazard their Lives in their own defence to save themselves rather than their Country On the coâ—â—rary Dion enjoyed more ease was more safe and his Life more pleasant in his Banishment than was the Tyrant's who had banished him when he flies to Action and runs the Risk of all to save Sicily But take notice it was not the same thing to free the Sicilians from Dionysius and to support Rome against Caesar because the former own'd himself a Tyrant and vex'd Sicily with a thousand Oppressions Whereas Caesar's Government in the modelling of it very much puzzled his Adversaries They who had addressed and they that were forc'd were both sensible truly of the Name and Appearance but Fact that was Cruel or â—â—â—annical they saw none only he held forth in that distemper of Affairs the necessity of a Monarchy as the gentlest Cure by God himself prescribed them Whereupon the Common People presently missed Caesar and grew enraged and implacable against those that kill'd him On the contrary Dion was hotly prosecuted by the Commons for having let Dionysius escape and for not having digged up the former Tyrant's Grave In all Actions of War Dion was a Commander without fault improving to the utmost those Counsels which himself gave and where others fail'd correcting and turning every thing to the best But Brutus when all at stake and to be decided by Battel seems to have shewed very indifferent Conduct Nor having done amiss knew he how to set things right again He wanted Heart and wanted Hope nor so much as Pompey could trust his Fortune when he had still ground 〈…〉 gh to relie on his Troops and was 〈…〉 ea 〈…〉 Master of all the Seas with his Ships The greatest thing charg'd on Brutus is that He a 〈…〉 whom he list of his Party being sa 〈…〉 by Caesar's kindness and he accounted a Friend and preferr'd above many did yet lay violent hands upon Caesar Nothing like this could be objected against Dion quite contrary whilst he was of Dionysius's Family and his Friend he did good Service and was useful to him but driven from his Country wrong'd in his Wife and his Estate lost he openly entred upon a War Just and Lawful However the Matter turns otherwise for the chief Glory of both was their hatred of Tyranny and abhorrence of Wickedness this was clear and sincere in Brutus For he had no private Quarrel with Caesar but put all to the Risk for the Liberty of his Country The other had he not been piqu'd had not fought This is plain from Plato's Epistles where it is shewed that he was turn'd out and did not forsake the Court to wage War upon Dionysius Moreover the Publick Good reconcil'd and made Brutus Pompey's Friend and Caesar's Enemy proposing for his Hatred and his Friendship no other End and Standard but Justice Dion was very serviceable to Dionysius whilst in favour when no longer trusted he grew angry and fell to Arms. Hereupon his Friends were not all of them satisfied with his Undertaking lest having overcome Dionysius he might not settle the Government by some softer Name cheating the People The very Enemies of Brutus would say That he had no other End or Aim from first to last save only to restore to the Roman People their Ancient Government Notwithstanding what has been said the Adventure against Dionysius was nothing â—â—ual with that against Caesar For none that was familiarly conversant with Dionysius but detested his perpetual Sotting with Wine Women and Dice Whereas it required an huge Soul and undaunted Courage to entertain but a Thought of vanquishing Caesar so formidable by his Reputation his Power and his Prosperity and whose Head so buzz'd with the Names of the Parthian and Indian Kings that he could not sleep Dion was no sooner seen in Sicily but thousands ran in to him and joyn'd him against Dionysius whereas the Renown of Caesar even when dead gave heart to his Friends And his very Name so heightened the Person that took it that from a simple Boy he presently became the Chief of the Romans And he used it for a Spell against the Malice and Popularity of Antony If any object That it cost Dion great trouble and difficulties to overcome the Tyrant whereas Brutus slew Caesar naked and unprovided This shews a work of vast Policy and Conduct to bring it about that a Man so guarded round and so fortified at all Points should be
Barks of Trees and in passing over the Alpes they lived upon the Flesh of Beasts that man had never before tasted of his design was to joyn Lepidus who commanded the Army on t'other side the Alpes who he imagined would stand his sure Friend he having done him many kind Offices to Julius Caesar he encamped near Lepidus his Army but receiving from him no sort of encouragement was resolv'd to push his Fortune and venture all His hair was very long and disorder'd nor had he shaved his beard since his last defeat in this guise and a mourning Mantle flung over he came into the Trenches of Lepidus and began to Harangue the Army some were moved at his habit others at his words that Lepidus liking it not ordered the Trumpets to sound that he might be heard no longer This rais'd in the Soldiers a greater sense of pity so that they resolv'd to send and conferr with him and drest Laelius and Clodius in Womens Cloaths and sent them to Antony they advis'd him presently to attack Lepidus his Trenches assuring him that a strong party should receive him and if so he thought fit kill Lepidus But Antony would not suffer that any injury should be done him and next morning he marched his Army to pass over the little River that parted the two Camps he was the first that gain'd the other side of the River where he espy'd Lepidus his Soldiers in great numbers reaching out their hands to help him and beating down the works to make him way Being entred the Camp and finding himself absolute Master he treated Lepidus with great civility and gave him the title of Father when he spoke to him and though he had every thing at his own Command he left him the honour of being called the General This fair usage brought over to him Munatius Plancus who was not far off with a considerable Force Thus being very strong he repass'd the Alpes and led with him into Italy seventeen Legions and ten thousand Horse besides six Legions he left in Garrison under the Command of Varius one of his familiar Friends that used to debauch with him and was therefore surnamed Cotylon which signifies a bottle Caesar perceiving that Cicero's intention was to re-establish the State in its former liberty did soon quit that party and by the Mediation of his Friends came once more to a good understanding with Antony They both met together with Lepidus in a small Island where the Conference lasted three days The Empire of the World was soon determin'd of it being divided amongst them as if it had been their paternal Inheritance That which gave them all the trouble was to agree who should be put to death every one intending to destroy his Enemies and to save his Friends The thirst of being revenged of their Enemies did in the end take off all manner of desire to preserve their Friends and Caesar sacrific'd Cicero to Antony Antony his Uncle Lucius to Caesar and both of them did easily grant to Lepidus the Liberty to murther his own Brother Paulus though there are those that say it was required of him I do not believe any thing was ever heard of so barbarous as this Composition for in this exchange of blood for blood they did not only murder those that were offer'd up unto their Fury but them also that they abandon'd to the range of others This Agreement being made the Army desir'd it might be confirm'd by some Alliance of Marriage so that Caesar married Claudia the Daughter of Fulvia Wife to Antony This affair being dispatch'd three hundred more were adjudg'd to dye by proscription Antony had given order to those that were to kill Cicero to cut off his head and right hand with which he had writ his invectives against him when they were brought before him he beheld them with an inward satisfaction not being able to contain himself from often smiling at so horrid a spectacle when he had satiated himself with the sight of them he ordered them to be hung up in the Court where the usual pleadings were not considering that the affront he design'd to the memory of the dead redounded to his own disgrace who by this barbarous Action rendred himself unworthy of that power he exercis'd His Uncle Lucius being closely pursued had taken refuge in his Sisters Chamber who when the murderers had broke into her house and were pressing into her Chamber she met them at the door and holding them by the hands cry'd out several times Ye shall never kill Lucius Caesar till you first dispatch me me that gave your General his life and being and she order'd the matter so well that she sav'd her Brother This Triumvirate was very hateful to the Romans and Antony was most of all to blame for he was Elder than Caesar and had greater Authority than Lepidus and withal was no sooner settled in his affairs but he return'd to his debauch and dissolute way of living Beside the ill reputation he had gained by his intemperance it was very disadvantageous to him his living in the house of Pompey the Great a Man as much celebrated for his temperance and honesty as ever he was admir'd for having Triumphed three times They could not without regret see the doors of that house shut against the Magistrates and Foreign Ministers who were shamefully refus'd admittance while it was open to Players Juglers and devouring Flatterers upon whom he spent the greatest part of his ill acquired Riches for they did not only take the Forfeiture of the Estates of such as were proscribed defrauding the poor Widows and Orphans and lay impositions upon all manner of Goods but hearing that several summs of money were by as well Strangers as Citizens of Rome deposited in the hands of the Vestal Virgins they went and took the money away by force Caesar perceiving how extravagant Antony was in his Expences demanded a division to be made of the Revenues The Army was also divided upon their march into Macedonia to make War with Brutus and Cassius they leaving the Command of the City to Lepidus having pass'd the Sea they encamped nigh the Enemy Antony nigh Cassius and Caesar nigh Brutus Caesar did nothing worth relating but success and Victory did still wait on Antony In the first Battel Caesar was routed by Brutus all his Baggage taken and he himself very narrowly escaping by Flight but as he himself writes in his Memoirs he retir'd before the Charge by reason of a dream of one of his Friends Antony overcame Cassius but as some write he himself was not present at the Engagement but that he joyn'd them afterwards in the pursuit Cassius with earnest entreaty had perswaded his faithful Friend Pindarus not knowing any thing of Brutus his good Fortune to kill him Shortly after they fought another Battel in which Brutus lost the day and slew himself Caesar being sick Antony had the honour of the Action who finding Brutus his Body among the
often came home very scurvily treated and sometimes beaten severely Though this sort of behaviour was very unpleasing to some yet the Alexandrians were well satisfy'd in his frolicks and jovial humour saying pleasantly that they had great obligations for Antony who diverted them with a Comical Countenance and reserv'd the Tragical for the Romans It would be very tedious to be more particular in his follies but his fishing must not be forgot He went out one day to angle with Cleopatra and being so unfortunate as to catch nothing in the presence of his Mistress he fell into a great passion and gave secret orders to the Fishermen to dive under water and put Fishes that had been fresh taken upon his hooks he drew so fast that the subtil Aegyptian perceiv'd it but feigning great admiration she told every body how dexterous Antony was and invited them next day to come and see him again so soon as he had let down his hook one of her Servants was too nimble for his Divers and fixed upon his hook a salted Fish taken in the Pontick Sea who when he felt his Line give drew up the prey which as one may easily imagine gave great occasion of Laughter which she turning very agreeably said Allow us brave Sir poor inhabitants of Charos and Canopus the reputation to be skilful in this Art your Game is Cities Provinces and Kingdoms Whilst Antony was thus amused in his Childish recreations two Messengers arrive the one from Rome who informs him that his Brother Lucius and his Wife Fulvia after many quarrels among themselves had joyn'd to resist Caesar but having lost all were forc'd to fly out of Italy The other brought little better news how that Labienus at the head of the Carthians had over-ran Asia from Euphrates and Syria all along to Lydia and Ionia scarce could he be rowsed from this sleep but at length as it were recovering from a drunken Fit he sets onward for Parthia and having got as far as Phaenicia upon the receipt of most lamentable Letters from Fulvia he turn'd his Course with two hundred Ships to Italy and in his way receiving such of his Friends as fled from Italy he was given to understand that Fulvia was the sole cause of the War a Woman of a restless Spirit and very bold and withal her hopes were that the commotions in Italy would force Antony from Cleopatra But it happen'd that Fulvia as she was coming to meet her husband fell sick by the way and dy'd at Sicyon by which reason an accommodation with Caesar was easily made for those that were Friends to them both seeing Antony arriv'd in Italy and nothing laid to his charge but what he disown'd and shifted off upon Fulvia they would not suffer that the time should be spent in justifying and accusing they made them both Friends and so proceeded to the division of the Empire the Eastern Provinces were given to Antony to Caesar the Western and Affrick left to Lepidus and an agreement was made that every one in their turn as they thought fit should make their Friends Consuls when they took it not themselves this Agreement was well approv'd of but yet 't was thought a Stronger tye would be very necessary and here Fortune was propitious for Caesar had an elder Sister not of the whole blood for Accia was his Mothers name hers Ancharia this Sister he lov'd intirely and a Lady she was of a Noble Character the Relict of Caius Marcellus and Antony was now a Widower by the death of Fulvia for though he did not disavow the passion he had for Cleopatra yet he disown'd any thing of Marriage Love and Reason still debating in his Breast what was to become of the fair Aegyptian Queen Every body was for promoting this Marriage it being the general expectation that a Lady of so much Honour Beauty and Prudence being perpetually with Antony and having great credit with him as might reasonably be expected affairs would easily be so order'd that no difference should arise betwixt him and Caesar Both parties being agreed they went to Rome to celebrate the Nuptials the Senate dispensing with the Law by which a Widow was not permitted to marry till ten Months after the death of her Husband Sextus Compeius was in possession of Sicily who with his Ships under the command of Menas and Menecrates two famous Pirates infested the Italian Coast that no Vessels durst venture into those Seas Sextus had behaved himself with much humanity towards Antony having kindly receiv'd his Wise and Mother in their Flight and it was judg'd fit that he should be receiv'd into the peace they met nigh to the Promontory of Misenum upon a point of Land that runs into the Sea Pompey's Fleet being at anchor in the Road and Antony and Caesar's Army drawn up all along the Side over against them There it was concluded that Sextus should quietly enjoy the Government of Sicily and Sardinia he conditioning to scowre the Seas of all Pirates and to send so much Corn every year to Rome This agreed on they invited one another to supper and by lot it fell to Pompey's turn to make the first entertainment and Antony asking where it was to be there said he pointing to the Admiral for that is the only House that Pompey is Heir to of his Fathers And this he said reflecting upon Antony who then was in possession of his Fathers House Having cast Anchor and made a Bridge from the promontory into the Galley he received them very gallantly when they began to grow warm which occasion'd many pleasant passages upon the subject of Antony's and Cleopatra's loves Menas the Pirate whispers Pompey in the ear Sir said he will you be pleas'd that I cut the Cable which will not only make you Master of Sicily and Sardinia but of the whole Roman Empire Pompey having for a while considered what was propos'd return'd him this answer Menas this might have been done without acquainting me in 't now let us make the best of our present condition for I cannot break my word And so having been treated by the other two in their turns he set fail for Sicily As soon as matters were concerted Antony dispatch'd Ventidius into Asia to put a stop to the inroads of the Carthians and he to make a complement to Octavius accepted of the Office of being Priest to the deceased Caesar and in all occasions of common civility as also in matters of the highest concernment they both behaved themselves with a great deal of easiness and friendship But Antony could not suffer with patience that Caesar in all little plays which they frequently diverted themselves with should be constantly victorious He had usually with him an Aegyptian skilful in the calculation of Nativities who either to make his Court to Cleopatra or that by the rules of his Art he found it so to be did declare to him that though the Fortune that did attend him was
had seen Cleopatra who was not preferable to Octavia neither for Youth nor Beauty Caesar having an account what great Preparations Antony had made was afraid lest the War should be begun that Summer for he wanted many Necessaries and the People grudged very much to pay the Subsidies for they that were obliged to pay the Fourth of what their yearly Revenue was and the Libertines who paid an Eighth did do it with such reluctancy that great Troubles had like to have ensued throughout all Italy and this is looked upon as one of the greatest of Antony's Oversights that he did not then press the War for he gave Caesar leisure to provide himself and satisfie the People for while that Money is squeezing out of the People they are very mutinous but when they have parted with it they are well enough satisfied to be quiet Titus and Plancus Men of Consular Dignity and Friends to Antony having been ill us'd by Cleopatra whom they opposed in her Design of being present in the War came over to Caesar and being acquainted with the Contents of Antony's Testament did inform him it was deposited in the hands of the Vestal-Virgins who did deny to deliver it up but sent him word if he pleased he might come and seize it himself which he did and reading it over to himself he noted those Places that were most for his purpose and having summoned the Senate did read them publickly Many were scandalized at the Proceeding thinking it very hard that they should think of punishing a man for what was not to be till after his Death He did more urgently press what Antony had left in his Will concerning his Burial for he had order'd that though he died in the City of Rome his Body should be solemnly carried through the Market-Place and sent to Cleopatra at Alexandria Calvisius a Dependant of Caesar's urg'd other Crimes against Antony committed in the favour of Cleopatra that he had given her the Library of Perg 〈…〉 um wherein were two thousand distinct Volumes That at a solemn Feast he had risen from the Table and treading upon her Foot had given her a manifest Assignation that he had suffered the Ephesians to salute her by the name of their Queen That he had frequently at the publick Audience of Kings and Princes receiv'd amorous Messages written in Tablets made of Onyx and Chrystal and read them openly that when Turnius a man of great Authority and Eloquence among the Romans was pleading Cleopatra happening to pass by in her Chair that Antony should leave them in the middle of their Cause and wait upon her home But Calvisius was look'd upon as the Inventer of most of these Accusations Antony's Friends went up and down the City to gain him Credit and sent Geminius to him to let him know his Affairs did require he should be more circumspect that he was in danger to have all his Governments taken from him and be proclaim'd publick Enemy to the City of Rome but Geminius no sooner arriv'd in Greece but he was look'd upon as one of Octavia's Spies he was scurvily rallied and set at the lower end of the Table but this he bore very well seeking only an occasion of conferring with Antony but once at Supper being demanded what his Business was he came about He answered that his Business might very well deserve a serious Conference but one thing he had to deliver which might be spoke either full or fasting which was that Matters would bear much a better Face if Cleopatra would return into Egypt Antony being very angry Gleopatra told him Geminius you have done very well to tell us this important Secret without a Rack Geminius took an occasion to make his escape and got to Rome Many more of Antony's Friends were driven from him by the insolent usage they could not bear from Cleopatra's Flatterers amongst the which were Marcus Syllanus and Dellius the Historian The last declared he was asraid of his Life and that Glaucus the Physician had inform'd him of Cleopatra's Design against him She was angry with him for having said that Antony's Friends were serv'd with sour Wine and that at Rome Sarmentus Caesar's Minion's little Serving-Boy drank Falernum Caesar was no sooner in readiness but he declared War against Cleopatra and Antony's Government was taken from him for being ruled by a Woman Caesar added that he had drank Potions that had bereav'd him of his Senses that the War◠would be manag'd against them by Mardion the Eunuch Photinus and Iras Cleopatra's waiting Woman and Charmion who were become Antony's chief Counsellors These Prodigies were said to forebode the War Pisaurum where Antony had settled a Colony near the Adriatick Sea was swallowed up in an Earthquake a Marble Statue of Antony that was at Alba did sweat for many days together and though it were often wip'd it continued to sweat When he himself was in the City of Patras the Temple of Hercules was burnt by lightning At Athens Bacchus was by a great Wind blown out of the Battel of the Giants and the Gods and laid flat upon the Theatre for Antony did derive himself from Hercules as we said before And in imitating Bacchus in his way of living was called young Bacchus the same Whirlwind at Athens did bring down from amongst many others the great Statues of Eumenes and Attalus which were called the Antonine Statues And in Cleopatra's Admiral which was called Antonias a dismal prodigy did happen some Swallows had built in the Stern of the Admiral but other Swallows came beat the first away and destroy'd their Nests Preparations being made on both sides Antony had no less than five hundred Gallies well appointed most of them had eight and ten Banks of Oars so very rich that they seem'd designed for Triumph He had a hundred thousand foot and twelve thousand Horse he had of Vassal Kings attending Bacchus of Lybia Tarcondemus of the Upper Cilicia Archelaus of Cappadocia Philadelphus of Paphlagonia Mithridates of Commagena and Adallas King of Thracia all these attended him in the War Out of Pontus Polemon sent him considerable Forces as did also Manchus from Arabia Herod out of Jury and Amyntas King of Lycaonia and Galatia and the Median King sent their Troops to joyn him Caesar had two hundred and fifty stout Gallies fourscore thousand Foot and the number of Horse equal to the Enemy Antony had under his Command all that tract of Land that lies betwixt Euphrates and the Ionian Sea and great part of Illyria Caesar's Government extended from Illyria to the Westward Ocean and from the Ocean all along the Tuscan and Sicilian Sea as for the division of Africk Caesar had all the Coast that was opposite to Italy Gaul and Spain and Antony the Provinces from Cyrene reaching up into Aethiopia He was so besotted with the Love of Cleopatra that although he was much Superior to the Enemy in Land Forces yet out of complaisance to his Mistress he
rather chose to engage him by Sea and that when he could not but see how ill his Navy was supply'd his Captains for want of Mariners pressing every one they met Carriers Ostlers Laborers and Boys and for all this the Vessels had not their complement but remained in a very ill plight for Sailing Caesar on the other side had his Navy contriv'd not for shew but for service no pompous Galleries but built light and well mann'd with experienc'd Sailers from Tarentum and Brundusium from thence he sent to Antony not to draw out the time in delays but that he would bring up his Forces that he would give him secure Ports for his Fleet and that for his Land Forces he would give him as much ground to encamp in as a horse could run over from the Sea-side up the Continent Antony on the other side bravely challeng'd him to a single Combat though he were much the older and that being refused propos'd to meet him in the Pharsalian Fields where Julius Caesar and Pompey had fought before Whilst Antony was at Anchor before Actium where now stands Nicopolis Caesar crost the Ionian Sea and gain'd Toryne a place in Epirus upon which Antony's Soldiers were ready to mutiny in consideration that their Land Forces were a great way off but Cleopatra turning it into a jest indeed said she we ought to tremble now Caesar is sate down before Toryne On the morrow at break of day Caesar appears his Fleet drawn up in a Line ready to engage which Antony perceiving and not being assured that his Gallies so ill provided would be able to stand the shock he armed all the Rowers and made a shew upon the Decks of being in readiness to engage the Oars were mounted on each side of the Vessels and so he Sailed up into the mouth of the Port of Actium as though he were in all points provided for an engagement And Caesar deceiv'd by this stratagem retir'd He also cut off the Water from the Enemy by making of Trenches and Forts the water not being plentiful in those parts nor very good His carriage to Domitius was very generous and much against the will of Cleopatra for when he had made his escape in a little Boat to Caesar having then an Ague upon him altho Antony could not but resent it highly yet he sent after him his whole Equipage with his Friends and Servants and Domitius as if he would have given a Testimony to the World how asham'd he was of his base desertion dy'd soon after Among the Kings also Amyntas and Deiotarus went over to Caesar his Fleet was so unfortunate in every thing that was undertaken and so unready upon every design that Antony was constrain'd to lay his stress upon the Land Forces Canidius too who commanded the Legions when he saw how things stood chang'd his opinion and now was of advise that Cleopatra should be sent back and that retiring into Thracia or Macedonia the quarrel might be decided in a Land fight and that Ditomes the King of the Getes was in a readiness to attend him with a great Army and that it was not in the least any disparagement to him to quit the Sea to Caesar who in the Sicilian Wars had gain'd so great experience in Sea affairs but that it would seem very ridiculous for Antony the greatest Captain of the World to make no use of his well disciplin'd and stout Troops but to scatter them and render them useless in the defence of a Navy but for all this Cleopatra prevail'd that a Sea-fight should determine of all having then an eye to flight and ordering all her affairs not as if she had the least thought of victory but how she might when all was lost make her escape with greatest safety There was a long neck of Land which from the Camp ran into the Sea where the Fleet rid at anchor here Antony used to walk without suspecting any danger but Caesar upon information from a Servant that it was not difficult to surprize him laid an ambush which rising up somewhat too hastily seized the Man that came just before him he himself escaping narrowly by flight when it was resolved to stand to a Fight at Sea they set fire of all but sixty of the best Egyptian Vessels and these he mann'd with twenty thousand armed Men and two thousand Archers Here it is reported of a foot Captain well experienc'd in War and one that had fought often under Antony and had his Body all mangled with wounds that he should cry out O most noble General why do you mistrust these Wounds and Swords you see to put your confidence in rotten Wood let Egyptians and Phoenicians contend at Sea give us the Land where we will die upon the spot or gain the victory To which he answer'd nothing but by his look and motion of his hand seeming to bid him be of good courage he passed forwards having no opinion of the posture of affairs and when the Masters propos'd the leaving of Sails behind them he commanded they should be put aboard for we must not said he let one Enemy escape That day and the three following the Sea was so rough they could not engage but on the fifth there was a calm and then they fought Antony commanding with Publicola the right and Celius the left Squadron Marcus Octavius and Marcus Justius the middle Squadron Octavius had given the charge of the left Squadron to Agrippa commanding in person the right As for the Land Forces Canidius was General for Antony Taurus for Caesar both Armies being drawn up in great order all along the Shoar Antony in a small Vessel went from one Ship to another encouraging his Soldiers and advising them to stand firm and that the largeness of the Ships would render the fight as fix'd as if they were at Land To the Masters he order'd that they should receive the Enemy lying still as at Anchor and maintain the entrance of the Port which was a dangerous Pass They relate of Caesar that going out of his Tent before day in order to visit his Fleet that he met a Man driving an Ass and asking his name he told him it was Eutychus which signifies fortunate and my Ass says he is called Nicon which is Conquerour and afterwards when he disposed the Beaks of the Ships in that place in token of his Victory the Statue of this Man and his Ass in Brass were placed amongst them having viewed his whole Fleet and from the right Squadron discovering the Enemies posture he much admired the quiet order they were in for in all appearance they seemed as if they had been at Anchor and therefore he slack'ned his course for they were not above half a League from one another about noon a gentle Southern Wind did blow and then Antony's Men being weary of expecting the Enemy so long and trusting to their large tall Vessels as if they had been invincible began to advance the left
from a Window she let down Cords to which Antony was fastned and she and her two Women which were all that was susfered to enter the Monument drew him up 'T is reported that nothing was more sad than this Spectacle to see Antony cover'd all over with Blood just expiring still holding up his hands to her and lifting up his body with that little force was left nor was the Women's an easier task Cleopatra taking great pains and straining hard with her head to the ground tugging at the Rope they that stood below encouraging her and pitying her Condition When she had got him up she laid him on the Bed tearing all her Cloaths which she spread upon him beating her Breasts with her hands and wiping the Blood from off his Face she call'd him her Lord her Husband her Emperour and seemed to have forgot her own miserable condition she was so intent upon his Misfortunes Antony comforted her as well as he could and called for Wine to drink either that he was thirsty or that he imagined that it might put him the sooner out of pain when he had drank he advised her to take her own Affairs into consideration and as far as it would consist with her Reputation to compose them and that among all the Friends of Caesar she should apply her self to Proculeius that she should not pity him in this late turn of Fate but rather rejoyce in remembrance of his past happiness who had been of all men that ever liv'd the most illustrious and powerful and in the end had bravely fought like a Roman and been by a Roman overcome Just as he breath'd his last Proculeius arrived from Caesar For when Antony gave himself his Death's Wound and was carried in to Cleopatra Dercetaeus one of his Guards took up Antony's Sword and hid it and when he saw his opportunity stole away to Caesar and brought him the first News of Antony's death and withall shewed him the bloody Sword Caesar upon this news retir'd into his Closet and paying some tears to the memory of one that had been his Kinsman Partner and faithful Companion in so many Wars and Dangers he came out to his Friends and bringing with him many Letters he read to them with how much reason and moderation he had always treated Antony and in return what fierce and arrogant Answers he receiv'd From thence it was he sent Proculeius to use his utmost endeavours to get Cleopatra alive into his Power for he was afraid of losing a great Treasure and besides she would be no small Addition to the Ornaments of his Triumph but she refused to conferr with him but from within her Monument he standing on the outside of the Door which was strongly barr'd but so that they might well enough hear one another's voice her demand was that her Kingdom might be dispos'd to her Children he still insisting that she would be of good Courage and leave intirely to Caesar the consideration of her Affairs he having taken particular notice of the place return'd to Caesar who sent Gallus to parly with her the second time who being come to the Door did on purpose prolong the conference while Proculeius had fix'd his scaling Ladders in the Window through which the Women had pull'd up Antony and being follow'd by two Servants he went streight down to the Door where Cleopatra was discoursing with Gallus one of the Women who was shut up in the Monument with her was heard to cry out Oh wretched Cleopatra thou art taken alive she turn'd quick and spying Proculeius drew out her Dagger to stab her self but Proculeius running up to her and seizing her with both his hands for shame said he Cleopatra you wrong your self and Caesar much who would rob him of so fair an occasion of shewing his clemency to the whole World and in this unjust action of yours would seem to accuse the most courteous and worthiest of Men of being implacable and not fit to be confided in and disarming her he examined her Robe for fear of any poyson that might be hid therein After this Caesar sent Epaphroditus one of his Servants with order to treat her with all the gentleness and civility imaginable but withal to be very intent that he left her no opportunity of making her self away In the mean while Caesar makes his entry into Alexandria with Areius the Philosopher by his side holding him by the hand and talking with him that he receiving so great honours from him might be the more considered by his fellow Citizens then entring the open place where they usually perform'd their Exercises he mounts the Throne which was there on purpose erected from whence he commanded the Citizens who in great fear and consternation lay prostrate at his Feet to stand up and told them That he forgave the People of Alexandria all their Crimes they had committed First for the sake of Alexander who built their City then for the City's sake it self the largest and most beautiful in the World and Thirdly to gratifie his friend Areius These honours did Caesar confer upon Artius by whose intercession many others lives were sav'd amongst the which was Philostratus a Man of all the Professors of Eloquence the most ready and fam'd for his extemporary Speeches but he having insinuated himself without any merit into the Academy and his morals being detested by Caesar had his Petition rejected He with a long white Beard and a black Cloak was always at Aâ—eius his Heels repeating this Verse The wise Men will the wise Men save If that the wise Men wisdom have Which Caesar hearing gave him his pardon to prevent rather the ill report might be rais'd of Areius than in any consideration of Philostratus Of Antony's Children Antyllus by Fulvia betray'd by his Tutor Theodorus was put to death while the Soldiers were murd'ring him his Tutor contriv'd to steal a precious Jewel which he wore about his Neck and put it into his Pocket which he denying was convicted of Theft and hang'd Cleopatra's Children with their Governours had a Guard set on them and were treated very honourably Caesario who is reported to have been the Son of Caesar the Dictator was sent by his Mother with a great Sum of Money through Ethiopia to pass into India but his Tutor being as honest as Theodorus had perswaded him to turn back to Rhodes for that Caesar design'd to make him a King Caesar consulting what was best to be done with him 't is reported of Areius that he should say * plurarity of Caesars is not safe and afterwards he was put to death so soon as Cleopatra was dead Many Kings and great Commanders made petition to Caesar for the body of Antony to give him his Funeral rights but he would not dispose of his Corps from Cleopatra who buried him with her own hands with all splendor and magnificence it being granted to her to employ what she pleas'd in his Funeral In this extremity
at Rome a Nation at that time in a distressed condition and very uneasie under the Roman Government These Lentulus and his party adjudging useful instruments to move and seduce Gallia to revolt admitted into the Conspiracy and they gave them Letters to their own Magistrates and Letters to Catiline in those they promised liberty in these they exhorted Catiline to set all Slaves free and to bring them along with him to Rome they sent with them to Catiline one Titus a Native of Croton who was to carry those Letters to him These being the Counsels of inconsidering Men and such as conversed together with Wine and Women Cicero pursued with industry consideration sobriety and great prudence having besides several Emissaries abroad who observed and traced with him all they did he also conferr'd privately with and confided in many who were thought engaged in the Conspiracy he knew all the discourses which passed betwixt them and the strangers and lying in wait for them by Night he took the Crotonian with his Letters the Allobroges Embassadors being in private Consult with him By break of day he summoned the Senate into the Temple of Concord where he read the Letters and examined the discoverers Junius Syllanus added that several had heard Cethegus say that three Consuls and four Pretors were to be slain Piso also a Person of Consular dignity testified other matters of the like nature and Caius Sulpicius one of the Pretors being sent to Cethegus his house found there a great quantity of Arrows Arms Swords and Daggers all newly furbished At length the Senate decreeing indemnity to the Crotonian upon discovery of the whole matter Lentulus was convicted abjured his Office for he was then Pretor and put off his Robe edged with purple in the Senate changing it for another garment more agreeable to his present circumstance He thereupon with the rest of his confederates present was committed to the Pretor in free Custody It being evening and the common People in crowds expecting without Cicero went forth to them and told them what was done and then attended with them went to the house of a Friend and near Neighbor for his own was taken up by the Women who were celebrating with secret rites the Feast of the Goddess whom the Romans call Bona or the good the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for a Sacrifice was annually performed to her in the Consuls house either by his Wife or Mother in the presence of the Vestal Virgins Cicero being got to his Friends house privately a few only being present fell to deliberate with himself how he should treat these Men the severest punishment and such indeed as was fit for so great crimes he was afraid and shie of executing as well from the Clemency of his Nature as also least he should be thought to exercise his authority too insolently and to treat too rudely Men of the Noblest Birth and most powerful friendships in the City and yet if he should use them more mildly he had a dreadful prospect of danger from them for there was no likelyhood if they suffered less than death they would be reconciled to him but rather adding new rage to their former wickedness break forth into all manner of insolence whilst he himself should gain thereby the repute of a cowardly and timorous Person upon other accounts not thought over valiant by the Vulgar Whilst Cicero was doubting what course to take in these matters a portentous accident happened amongst the Womens sacrificing for on the Altar where the fire seem'd wholly extinguished a great and bright flame issued forth from the Ashes of the burnt Wood at which others were affrighted but the holy Virgins call'd to Terentia Cicero's Wife and bid her hast to her Husband and command him to execute what he had resolved for the good of his Country for the Goddess had given great light to his Safety and Glory Terentia therefore as she was otherwise in her own Nature neither pitiful nor timorous but an ambitious Woman who as Cicero himself saith would rather thrust her self into his publick Affairs than communicate her domestick to him told him these things and incensed him against the Conspirators the same did also Quintus his Brother and Publius Nigridius one of his Companions in Philosophy whom he often made use of in his greatest and most weighty Affairs of State The next day a debate arising in the Senate about the punishment of these Men Syllanus being the first who was asked his Opinion said It was fit they should be all sent to Prison and there suffer the utmost Penalty to him all consented in order till it came to Caius Caesar who was afterwards Dictator he was then but a young Man and had only gain'd the Beginnings of his future Rise having directed his Hopes and Policy that way by which he afterwards changed the Roman affairs into a Monarchy his guilt was unknown to others yet to Cicero he had given many suspicions though no sufficient proof to convict him and there were some indeed that said tho' he was very near being discovered yet he had escaped him but others were of opinion that Cicero voluntarily overlookt and neglected the evidence against him for fear of his friends and power for it was very evident to every body that these would be rather a means of Caesar's escape than Caesar's guilt an occasion of their punishment When therefore it came to Caesar's turn to give his opinion he stood up and declared that the Conspirators should not be put to death but their Estates confiscated and their Persons sent to such Cities in Italy as Cicero should approve there to be kept Prisoners till Catiline was conquered To this Sentence being the most moderate and he that deliver'd it a most powerful Speaker Cicero himself gave no small weight for he stood up and turning the scale on either side he spake sometimes in favour of the former sometimes of Caesar's Sentence But all Cicero's Friends judging Caesar's Sentence most expedient for Cicero because he would incur the less blame if the Conspirators were not put to death chose rather the latter so that Syllanus also changing his Mind retracted his Opinion and said he had not declared for capital but only the utmost punishment which to a Roman Senator is Imprisonment Caesar having given his Sentence Catulus Luctatius was the first who contradicted it him Cato seconded and in his Oration cast such a vehement suspicion upon Caesar and so fill'd the Senate with anger and resolution that a Decree was pass'd for the execution of the Conspirators but Caesar opposed the confiscation of their Goods not thinking it fit that those who had rejected the mildest part of his Sentence should make use of the severest Many insisting for it he appeals to the Tribunes but they would not be ruled by him till Cicero himself yielding remitted that part of the Sentence about confiscation After this Cicero went out with
acquit for thy own sake but because I so overshadowed the light that the Court could not perceive thy guilt When from the Rostra he had made Encomiums of Crassus with good applause and within fews days after had again as publickly reproached him Crassus call'd to him and said Didst not thou thy self in this place lately commend me no says Cicero I only exercised my Eloquence in declaiming upon a bad Subject At another time Crassus saying that none of the Crassi in Rome liv'd above Threescore years and afterwards recalling himself and saying what was in my Head to say so Cicero reply'd Thou knowest the Romans were glad to hear it and therefore thou saidst it to wheadle the People when Crassus said that he was pleased with the Stoicks because they assert the good Man is always Rich nay rather says he because they affirm all things belong to the Wise for Crassus his covetousness was very notorious When one of Crassus his Sons who was generally thought very like Axius and for which cause his Mother lay under an ill publick Fame made an Oration with good applause in the Senate Cicero being asked what he thought of him answered in a Greek Clinch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crassus being to go into Syria resolved to leave Cicero rather his Friend than his Enemy and therefore one day kindly saluting him told him he would come and Sup with him which the other as courteously received Within few days after some of Cicero's acquaintance interceding for Vatinius as desirous of reconciliation and Friendship for he was then his Enemy reply'd and will indeed Vatinius also come and Sup with me And thus he used Crassus Vatinius pleading with Scrophulous Tumours in his Neck he call'd him the Swoln Orator having heard that he was dead and presently after that he was alive again may that rascal perish says he who told so ill a lye Caesar attempting a Law for the division of the Lands in Campania amongst the Soldiers many in the Senate opposed it amongst the rest Lucius Gellius one of the oldest Men in the House said it should never pass whilst he lived Let us defer it till then says Cicero for Gellius does not require a very long day To one Octavius supposed an African born saying to Cicero pleading that he did not hear him Cicero reply'd as yet your ear is not bored When Metellus Nepos told him that he had destroy'd more as a Witness than he had saved as Advocate I confess it says Cicero for I have much more Truth than Eloquence To a young Man accused of giving a poisoned Cake to his Father and confidently threatning that he would bespatter Cicero with reproaches he said I had much rather have those than your Cake Publius Sestus having amongst others retain'd Cicero as his Advocate in a certain cause and yet desirous to talk all for himself and allow no body to speak for him when he was ready to be acquitted by the Judges and the Ballets were passing Cicero call'd to him Sestus use thy time to day for to morrow thou wilt be but a private person He cited Publius Colla to bear testimony in a certain Cause one who affected to be thought a Lawyer tho ignorant and unlearned to whom when he had said I know nothing of the matter he answer'd Thou thinkest perhaps we ask thee about a point of Law To Metellus Nepos in a dispute betwixt them often repeating who is thy Father O Cicero he reply'd Thy Mother has made the answer of that question to thee more difficult for Nepos his Mother was accounted a lewd Woman This Nepos was one of a very uncertain humour for on a sudden he left the Tribuneship and fled into Syria to Pompey and immediately after return'd again with less confidence than he went now he burying his Tutor Philager with more than ordinary curiosity had set up over his monument a Marble Crow which Cicero observing told him Thou hast done wisely in this for thy Tutor has rather taught thee to fly than speak When Marcus Appius in his preamble to a Plea had said that his Friend had desired him to employ all his Industry Eloquence and Fidelity in that Cause Cicero answer'd then thou hast been very hard to thy Friend in not performing one of those things he had desired of thee To use this bitter raillery against Opposites and Antagonists in pleading seems allowable Rhetorick at a Bar but to fall upon every body only to move laughter this created him great hatred A few of which passages I shall relate Marcus Aquilius who had two Sons in Law in Exile he call'd Adrastus Lucius Colla an intemperate Lover of Wine was Censor when Cicero pretended to the Consulship Cicero being dry at the Election his Friends stood round about him whilst he was drinking You have reason to be affraid says Cicero least the Censor should be angry that I drink water Meeting one day Voconius with his three very ugly Daughters he cry'd out This Man has sown his seed Without Apollo's leave or aid When Marcus Gellius who was reputed the Son of a Slave had read several Letters in the Senate with a very shrill and loud voice Wonder not says Cicero for this fellow is one of the Cryers When Faustus Sylla the Son of Sylla the Dictator who had during his Dictatorship by publick bills proscribed and condemned several Citizens had so far wasted his Estate and got into debt that he was forced to publish his bills of sale Cicero told him That he liked these bills much better than those of his Father By these things he became very odious to many But Clodius's Faction conspired against him upon this occasion Clodius was one of a Noble Family in the flower of his youth and of a bold and resolute humour he being in Love with Pompeia Caesar's Wife got privately into his House in the habit and dress of a Minstrel for the Women were then offering that Sacrifice in Caesar's house which is neither to be heard nor seen by Men and there was no Man present but Clodius being a Youth and beardless hoped to get to Pompeia among the Women without being taken notice of but entring that great house by Night he was lost in the passages where Aurelia one of Caesar's Mothers Women spying him wandring up and down inquir'd his name thus being necessitated to speak he told her he was seeking for one of Pompeia's Maids by name Aura she perceiving it not to be a Womans Voice shrieked out and call'd in the Women who presently shutting up the Gates and searching every place at length found Clodius fled into the Chamber of that Maid with whom he came in This matter being noised abroad Caesar put away his Wife Pompeia and Clodius was prosecuted for prophaning the holy Rites Cicero was at this time his Friend for he had been useful to him in the conspiracy of Catiline as one of his forwardest assistants and guard of his
event of these things was inclined to go as Lieutenant with Dolabella into Syria But Hircius and Pansa being designed Consuls after Antonius good Men and Lovers of Cicero intreated him not to leave them undertaking to suppress Antonius if he were present But he neither wholly distrusting nor trusting them left Dolabella to go without him promising Hircius that he would go and spend his Summer at Athens and return again when he entred upon his Office So he took his Voyage by himself but lingring in his Passage such News came to him from Rome as is usual in such cases that Antonius repented and was strangely changed doing all things and managing Publick Affairs at the Will of the Senate and that there wanted nothing but his Presence to reduce things to a happy Settlement and therefore blaming himself for his great Cowardice he return'd again to Rome and was not deceived in his hopes at the beginning For such multitudes flock'd out to meet him that the Complements and Civilities which were paid him at the Gates and at his entrance into the City took up almost one whole day's time On the Morrow Antonius convened the Senate and summoned Cicero thither he came not but kept his Bed pretending to be ill of his Journey but the true reason seem'd the fear of some Design against him upon a suspicion and intimation given him on his way to Rome But Antonius took this Affront very hainously and sent Souldiers commanding them to bring him or burn his House but many interceding and supplicating for him he was contented only to accept Sureties for the payment of his Mulct for absence Ever after when they met they pass'd one another with silence and continued reserved till Caesar the younger coming from Apollonia entred upon the Inheritance of Julius Caesar and had a Controversie with Antonius for two thousand five hundred Myriads which he detained of that Estate Upon this Philip who married the Mother and Marcellus the Sister of this Caesar came with the young Man to Cicero and agreed with him That Cicero should assist with his utmost Power in Eloquence and Politicks with the Senate and People and Caesar give Cicero the defence of his Riches and Arms for at this time the young man had a great Party of the Veterane Souldiers of Caesar about him and Cicero 〈…〉 em'd very willing to embrace the Friendship of Caesar For it seems while Pompey and Caesar were yet alive Cicero in a Dream seem'd to summon some Sons of the Senators into the Capitol as if Jupiter design'd to declare one of them for a Governour of Rome the Citizens with curiosity running stood about the Temple and the Youths sitting in their Purple Robes kept silence On a sudden the Doors opened and the Youths arising one by one in order passed round the God who review'd them all and dismist them displeased but this Youth passing by the God stretched forth his right hand and said O ye Romans this young Man when he shall be Lord of Rome shall put an end to all your cruel Wars It is said that Cicero by this Vision in his Dream had framed the perfect Idea of the Youth and preserved it in his Mind though he did not then know him The next day going down into Campus Martius he met the Boys returning from their Exercise and the first that Cicero saw was he just so as he appear'd to him in his Dream Being astonished at it he ask'd him who were his Parents And it prov'd to be this young Caesar who had for his Father Octavius one of the most eminent Citizens for his Mother Actia the Sister of Caesar and therefore Caesar wanting Children of his own made him by Testament Heir of his Estate and Family From that time it is said that Cicero very studiously saluted the Youth whensoever he met him and he as kindly received the Civility and by Fortune he happened to be born when Cicero was Consul These were the pretended Reasons but it was principally Cicero's Hatred of Antonius and a Temper unable to resist Honour which fastned him to Caesar with an opinion of uniting Caesar's Power to his publick Designs for he had so insinuated himself into the young Man that he call'd him Father at which thing Brutus was so highly displeased that in his Epistles to Atticus he reflected on Cicero saying That it was manifest by his courting Caesar for fear of Antonius he did not intend Liberty to his Country but design'd a bountiful Master to himself Notwithstanding Brutus took Cicero's Son then studying Philosophy at Athens gave him a Command and by his Advice directed much of his Affairs At this time Cicero's Power was at the greatest height in the City and he did whatsoever he pleased for he had suppressed and driven out Antonius and sent the two Consuls Hircius and Pansa to follow him with an Army but perswaded the Senate to decree to Caesar the Lictors and Praetorian Ensigns as fighting for his Country But after Antonius was defeated and both the Consuls slain the Forces which came from the Battel joyn'd themselves with Caesar The Senate fearing the young Man and his extraordinary Fortune endeavoured by Honours and Gifts to call off the Souldiers from him and to lessen his Power pretending there was no further need of Arms now Antonius was put to flight This giving Caesar an Affright he privately sends some Friends to intreat and perswade Cicero to procure the Consular Dignity for them both together and that he should manage the Affairs as he pleased have the Supreme Power and govern the young Man who was only desirous of Name and Glory And Caesar himself confessed That in fear of Ruine and in danger of being deserted he had seasonably made use of Cicero's Ambition perswading him to stand with him assist and joyn his Votes for the Consul-ship And thus was old Cicero wheedled and gull'd by the young Man to bring over his Suffrages and engage the Senate on his â—ide His Friends soon blamed him for it and within a little time after he himself perceived he was ruin'd by it and had betray'd the Liberty of the People for the young Man was so exalted by obtaining the Consular Authority that he bid Cicero Farewell and reconciling himself to Antonius and Lepidus united his Power with theirs and divided the Government with them as if it had been part of a common Estate Thus united they made a Schedule of above two hundred Persons who were designed to be put to Death But the Proscription of Cicero made the greatest Contention in all their Debates For Antonius was inclinable to no Agreement till he was first killed To Antonius Lepidus consented but Caesar opposed them both Their Meetings were held alone by themselves remote from Company for three days near the City of Bononia The Place where they met was over against the Camp encompassed with a River Caesar as it is said very earnestly contended for Cicero the
and other consecrated houses so that they seem'd to burn the Body in a kind of Sacred Solemnity As soon as the fire flam'd out the multitude flocking in some from one part and some from anoother snatched the brands that were half burnt out of the Pile and ran about the City to fire the houses of the Murderers of Caesar But they having before-hand well fortify'd themselves escaped this danger There was a kind of a Poet one Cinna not at all concern'd in the guilt of the Conspiracy but on the contrary one of Caesar's friends This man dreamt that he was invited to Supper by Caesar and that he deni'd to go but that the Emperor entreated and prest him to it very earnestly and at last taking him by the hand led him into a very deep and dark place whither he was forc'd against his will to follow in great Consternation and Amazement After this Vision he had a Fever the most part of the Night nevertheless in the morning hearing that the body of Caesar was to be carried forth to be Interr'd he was ashamed not to be present at the Solemnity but came abroad and mingled himself with the People that was thus stirr'd up and enraged by the Speech of Antony The multitude perceiving him and taking him not for that Cinna who indeed he was but for him that a little before in a Speech to the People had reproach'd and inveigh'd against Caesar fell upon him and tore him to peices This Action chiefly and the alteration that Antony had wrought so alarm'd Brutus and his Party that for their safety they retir'd from the City The first stay they made was at Antium with a design to return again as soon as the fury of the People had spent it self and was abated which they expected would soon and easily come to pass in an unsettled Multitude apt to be carried away with such sudden and impetuous Passion especially since they had the Senate so favourable to them Which though it took no notice of those that had torn Cinna to pieces yet made a strict search and apprehended in order to punishment those that had assaulted the houses of the Conspirators By this time also the People began to be dissatisfied with Antony who they perceiv'd was setting up a kind of Monarchy for himself they long'd for the return of Brutus whose Presence they expected and hop'd for at the Games and Spectacles which he as Praetor was to exhibit to the publick But he having intelligence that many of the old Soldiers that had bore Arms under Caesar by whom they had had Lands and Colonies given them lay in wa 〈…〉 for him and by small Parties at a time had stolen into the City would not venture to come himself however in his Absence there were most magnisicent and costly Shows exhibited to the People for having bought up a great number of all sorts of wild Beasts he gave positive order that not any of them should be return'd or â—av'd but that all should be kill'd at the Publick Spectacles He himself made a Journey to Naples to procure a considerable number of Comedians and hearing of one Canutius that was very much â—ry'd up for his acting upon the Stage he writ to his Friends to use all their entreaties to bring him to Rome for being a Grecian he could not be compell'd he writ also to Cicero begging him by no means to omit being present at the publick Shows This was the posture of assairs when another sudden alteration was made upon Octavius his coming to Rome he was Son to the Sister of Caesar who adopted him and leâ—t him his 〈◊〉 by his Will At the time when the Murther was committed he was following his Studies at Apollonia where he stay'd expecting to meet Caesar in his expedition which he had design'd against the Parthians but hearing of his Death he immediately came to Rome and to ingratiate himself with the People taking upon himself the name of Caesar and punctually distributing among the Citizens the Money that was left them by the Will he soon got the better of Antony and by Money and Largesses which he liberally dispers'd amongst the Soldiers gather'd together and brought over to his Party a great number of those that had serv'd under Caesar Cicero himself out of the hatred which he bore to Antony sided with Octavius which Brutus took so ill that he treated him very sharply in his Letters telling him That he perceiv'd Cicero could well enough endure a Tyrant but was afraid that he who hated him should be the Man that in writing and speaking so well of Octavius he shew'd that his only aim was to enjoy an Easy and a Gentle Slavery But our Fore-fathers said Brutus could not brook even gentle Masters Further he added That for his own part he had not as yet fully resolv'd whether he should make War or Peace But that as to one point he was fixed and settled which was never to be a Slave that he wondred Cicero should fear the danger of a Civil War and not be much more afraid of a dishonorable and infamous Peace That all he could hope for in destroying the Tyranny of Antony was to make Octavius the Tyrant And this is the Substance of Brutus his first Letters to Cicero The City being now divided into two Factions some betaking themselves to Caesar and others to Antony the Soldiers selling themselves as it were by publick Out-cry and going over to him that would give them most Brutus began to despair of any good event of such Proceedings and resolving to leave Italy passed by land through Leucania and came to Elea by the Sea-side From hence it was thought convenient that Porcia should return to Rome she was overcome with grief to part from Brutus but strove as much as was possible to conceal it but in spight of all her manly Resolutions a Picture which she found there accidentally betray'd it The Story of it was that parting of Hector from Andromache when he went to engage the Greeks giving his young Son Astyanax into her Arms and she sixing her Eyes upon him with an earnest and affectionate look As soon as she espy'd this Piece the Resemblance it bore to her own concern made her burst out into Tears and several times a day she walkt where that Picture hung to gaze at it and weep before it Upon this occasion when Acilius one of Brutu's Friends repeated out of Homer these Verses wherein Andromache speaks to Hector Be careful Hector for with Thee my All My Father Mother Brother Husband fall Brutus smiling reply'd But I must not answer Porcia as Hector did Andromache Mind you your Wheel and to your Maids give Law For tho' the natural weakness of her body hinders her from acting what only the strength of Men can perform yet she has a mind as valiant and as active for the good of her Country as the best of us This Relation is in the Memoirs of
ended his Speech with the Proverb That dead Men don't bite The Council agreed to his Opinion and Pompey the Great an Example of incredible and un-foreseen Events was slain and slain by the Rhetorick and Eloquence of Theodotus as that Sophister himself had the impudence to boast Not long after when Caesar came to Aegyt some of the Murtherers receiv'd their just Reward and were put to death as they deserv'd But Theodotus though he had gain'd from Fortune a little time for a poor despicable and wandring Life yet could not lye hid from Brutus as he pass'd through Asia but being seiz'd by him and executed had his Death made more memorable than his Life About this time Brutus sent to Cassius to come to him at the City of Sardis and when he was on his Journey went forth with his friends to meet him and the whole Army being in array saluted each of them with the Name of Emperour Now as it usually happens in business of great concern and wherein many Friends and many Commanders are engag'd several Jealousies of each other and private Accusations having pass'd between Brutus and Cassius they resolv'd before they entred upon any other business immediately to withdraw into some private Apartment where the Door being shut and they two alone they began first to expostulate then to dispute hotly and accuse each other after that from the liberty of speech and hard words that pass'd between them they were transported into Passion and at last burst out into Tears Their Friends who stood without were amaz'd hearing them loud and angry and fear'd lest some mischief might follow but yet durst not interrupt them being commanded not to enter the Room But Marcus Favonius one that had been a follower of Cato and not so much for his Reason or Wisdom as for his wild and frantick Carriage would pass for a Philosopher was rushing in upon them but was hindred by the Attendants but it was a hard matter to stop Favonius where ever his wildness hurried him for he was fierce and violent in all his behaviour And though he was a Senator yet thinking that one of the least of his Excellencies he valued himself more upon a sort of Cynical liberty of speaking what he pleas'd which sometimes was diverting enough to those that would interpret in jest his importunate scurrility This Favonius breaking by force through those that kept the Doors entred into the Chamber and with a mimical voice pronounc'd this Verse that Homer makes Nestor use Be rul'd for I am elder than you both This made Cassius laugh but Brutus thrust him out calling him impudent and counterfeit Cynick But yet for the present this put an end to their Dispute and they both parted Cassius made a Supper that Night and Brutus invited his Friends thither when they were sat down Favonius having bath'd came in among them Brutus call'd out aloud and told him that he was not invited and bid him go sit at the lower end of the Table But he violently thrust himself in and sat down in the middle where he diverted the whole Company all the time of their Entertainment with Drollery and Philosophy The next day after upon the accusation of the Sardians Brutus publickly disgraced and condemned Lucius Pella one that had been Censor of Rome and employ'd in Offices of Trust by himself for having embezell'd the Publick Money This Action did not a little vex Cassius for but a few days before two of his own Friends being accus'd of the same Crime he only in private admonish'd them but in publick absolv'd them and continued them in their Office and upon this occasion he accus'd Brutus of too much rigour and severity of Justice in a time which required them to use more gentleness and favour In Answer to this Brutus bid him remember the Ides of March the day when they kill'd Caesar who himself did neither vex nor grieve all Mankind but was only the support and strength of those that did he bid him consider that if there was any colour for Justice to be neglected it had been better to have suffered the injustice of Caesar's Friends than to give impunity to their own for then said he we could have been accus'd of Cowardise only whereas now we are liable to the accusation of Injustice after all our pain and dangers which we endure By which we may perceive what was Brutus's purpose and the Rule of all his Actions About the time that they had design'd to pass out of Asia into Europe it was said that a wonderfull Apparition was seen by Brutus He was naturally given to much Watching and being us'd to great moderation in his Diet and having perpetual Employment he allow'd but a very small portion of time for sleep He never slept in the day time and in the Night then only when all his business was finish'd and when every one else being gone to rest he had no body to discourse with him But at this time the War being begun having the whole state of it to consider of and being very careful and sollicitous of the Event after his first sleep which he took moderately just after Supper he spent all the rest of the Night in managing his most urgent Affairs which if he had dispatch'd in time he employed himself in Reading till the third Watch at which time the Centurions and Tribunes were used o come to him for Orders Thus one Night before he passed out of Asia he was very late all alone in his Tent with a dim Light burning by him all the rest of the Army being husht and silent and musing with himself and very thoughtful as he turn'd his Eye to the Door he saw a terrible and strange Appearance of a prodigious and frightful Body coming towards him without speaking Brutus boldly ask'd it What art thou Man or God Or upon what Business dost thou come to us The Spirit answered I am thy Evil Genius Brutus Thou shalt see me at Philippi To which Brutus not at all disturb'd replied Then I will see thee As soon as the Apparition vanish'd he call'd his Servants to him who all told him that they had neither heard any Voice nor seen any Vision From that time he continued watching till the Morning and then went to Cassius and related to him the Apparition he had seen He being bred up in the Principles of Epicurus's Philosophy and being often us'd to dispute with Brutus concerning Matters of this Nature spoke to him thus upon this Occasion Brutus It is the Opinion of our Sect that all that we feel or see is not real and true but that our Sense is a most slippery and deceitful thing The Mind which is more quick and subtile moves and varies That into all manner of Idea's which have no real existence in Nature as readily as we imprint any form upon Wax so that it is easie for the Soul of Man which has in it self both that which forms and that
O Brutus that this day we may overcome and that all the rest of our time we may live a happy Life together But since the greatest of humane Concerns are the most uncertain and since it will be very difficult for us ever to see one another again if the Battel should go against us tell me what is your resolution concerning Flight and Death Brutus answer'd When I was young Cassius and unskilful in Affairs I was engaged I know not how into an Opinion of Philosophy which made me accuse Cato for killing himself as thinking it an irreligious act against the Gods nor any way valiant among Men not to submit to Divine Providence nor to be able fearlesly to receive and undergo whatever ill shall happen but to fly from it But now in the midst of danger I am quite of another mind for if Providence shall not dispose what we now undertake according to our wishes I resolve to try no faâ—ther hopes nor make any more preparations for War but will die contented with my Fortune For I already have given up my Life to the Service of my Country on the Ides of March and all the time that I have lived since has been with Liberty and Honour Cassius at these words smil'd and embracing Brutus said With these Resolutions let us go on upon the Enemy for either we our selves shall Conquer or have no cause to fear those that do After this they discoursed among their Friends about the Ordering of the Battel And Brutus desired of Cassius that he might Command the Right Wing though it was thought that this was more fit for Cassius in regard both of his Age and his Experience Yet even in this Cassius comply'd with Brutus and placed Messala with the valiantest of all his Legions in the same Wing Brutus immediately drew out his Horse excellently well equip'd and took the same care of bringing up his Foot after them Now Antony's Souldiers were casting a Trench from the Marsh by which they were encamped to cut off Cassius's passage to the Sea Caesar was at a distance in his Tent not being able to be present himself by reason of his Sickness but his Soldiers not expecting that the Enemy would come to a set Battel but only make some excursions with their Darts and light Arms to disturb those that were working in their Trenches nor taking enough notice of them that were coming directly upon them ready to give Battel were amaz'd when they heard the confus'd and the great out-cry that came from the Trenches In the mean while Brutus sent his Tickets in which was the Word of Battel to the Captains and himself riding about to all the Troops encouraged the Souldiers but there were but few of them that understood the Word before they engaged and the most of them not staying for it with great fury and shouting ran upon the Enemy This disorder caus'd a great confusion in the Army and the Legions were scatter'd and dispersed one from another That of Messala first and afterwards the next went beyond the left Wing of Caesar and having cut off and pass'd that Wing with the slaughter of not many of the Enemy fell directly into Caesar's Camp Octavius himself as his own Commentaries shew had but just before been conveyed away upon the perswasion of Artorius one of his Friends who had dreamt that he saw a Vision which commanded Caesar to be carried out of the Camp And it was believed that he was here slain for the Souldiers had pierc'd his Litter which was left empty in many places with their Darts and Pikes There was a great slaughter in the Camp that was taken and two thousand Lacedaemonians that were newly come to the Assistance of Caesar were all cut off together The rest of the Army that had not gone round by the left Wing of Caesar but had engaged his Front easily overthrew them being in great Consternation for the loss of their Camp and slew upon the place three Legions and being carried on with the stream of Victory pursuing those that fled fell into the Camp with them Brutus himself being there But they that were conquered took the Advantage of what the Conquerours did not consider for they fell upon that part of the main Body which they found shatter'd and unguarded the right Wing being broke off from them and furiously carried away in the pursuit yet they could not break into the midst of their Battel but were receiv'd with strong resistance and obstinacy Yet they put to flight the left Wing where Cassius commanded being in great disorder and ignorant of what had passed on the other Wing and pursuing 'em to their Camp they pillaged and destroyed it though neither of their Generals were present For Antony as they say to avoid the fury of the first On-set had retir'd into the Marsh that was hard by and Caesar was no where to be found after his being convey'd out of the Tents But some of the Souldiers shew'd Brutus their Swords bloody and pretended that they had kill'd him describing his Person and his Age. Now the midst of Brutus's Battel had routed all that resisted them with great slaughter and Brutus was every where as plainly Conquerour as on the other side Cassius was conquered And this one mistake was the ruine of their Affairs That Brutus did not come to the relief of Cassius thinking that he as well as himself was Conquerour and that Cassius did not expect the Relief of Brutus thinking that he too was overcome For a Proof that the Victory was on Brutus's side Messala urges his taking of three Eagles and many Ensigns of the Enemy without losing any of his own Brutus now returning from the pursuit after having destroyed Caesar's Camp wonder'd that he could not see Cassius's Tent standing high as it was wont and appearing above the rest nor any of the others appearing round about it For they were immediately overturn'd and pillaged by the Enemy upon their first falling into the Camp But some that had a more quick and discerning sight than the rest acquainted Brutus that they saw a great deal of shining Armour and Silver Targets moving to and fro about Cassius's Tents and that they thought that by their Number and their Armour they could not be those that they left to Guard the Camp but yet that there did not appear so great a number of dead Bodies thereabouts as is probable would have been after the defeat of so many Legions This first made Brutus suspect Cassius's Misfortune and leaving a Guard in the Enemies Tent call'd back those that were in the pursuit and rallyed 'em together to lead 'em to the relief of Cassius who was now in this condition First he was angry at the first On-set that Brutus his Souldiers made without the Word of Battel or Command to Charge Then after they had overcome he was as much displeased to see them all rush on to the Plunder and Spoil and neglect to
taken naked and unprovided For it was not on the sudden nor alone nor with a few that he fell upon and killed Caesar but after long concerting the Plot and Confidence in a great many Men not one of whom deceiv'd him for he either presently discern'd the best Men or by confiding in them made them good But Dion either making a wrong Judgment trusted himself with ill Men or else by his employing them made ill men of good either of the two would be a Reflection on a Wise Man Plato is severe upon him for chusing such for Friends as betray'd him Besides when Dion was kill'd none appear'd to revenge his Death Whereas Brutus even amongst his Enemies had Antony that buried him splendidly Caesar also took care his Honours should be preserved There stood at Mediolanum in Gallia Cisalpina a Brazen Statue representing Brutus and curiously wrought Caesar passing that way made a Halt and in the hearing of many commanded the Magistrates to come before him He told them Their Town had broken the League with him harbouring an Enemy At the first they denied the thing and not knowing what to say looked upon one another When Caesar turning towards the Statue and wrinkling his Brow Pray says he Is not that our Enemy who stands there They were all in Confusion and had nothing to answer But he smiling much commended the Gauls as who had been firm to their Friends though in Adversity and so commanded that the Statue should remain standing as he found it SER. SULPICIUS GALBA Disce Militare Miles THE LIFE OF GALBA Translated from the Greek By ANDREW TAYLOR MA. Late Fellow of King's College in CAMBRIDGE IPhicrates the Athenian suppos'd that a Souldier of Fortune ought to be covetous and sensual to put him upon bold Adventures to to lay in a stock to gratifie his Lusts but most were of Opinion that the Body of an Army as well as the natural one though never so strong should make no Efforts apart but in compliance with their Head Wherefore they tell us that Paulus Aemilius recruiting his Forces in Macedonia and finding them talkative and impertinently busie as though they were all Commanders issued out his Orders that they should have only ready Hands and keen Swords and leave the rest to his Care and Conduct But Plato observing nothing succeed well under a brave General unless the Army were also sober and agreeable judg'd that to obey orderly as well as to command required a generous temper with constant Discipline and Exercise chiefly to allay their hot Spirits and active Humour with Gentleness and Civility And indeed sundry sad Instances elsewhere as well as amongst the Romans after the Death of Nero are plain proofs that nothing is more dangerous than a Military Power unskilfully managed therefore Demades after the Death of Alexander compared the Macedonian Army to the Cyclops Polyphemus after his Eye was out seeing their many disorderly and giddy motions But the Roman Government he likened to the Giants that assailed Heaven whose force return'd upon it self and with a great deal of bustle only wrought its own ruine not so much by the Emperour's Ambition as the Covetousness and Extravagancy of the Souldiers making them push out one another for their advantage Thus Dionysius in Raillery said of Pheraeus enjoying the government of Thessaly only ten Months He acted a pretty short Part and so exit Pheraeus but the Royal Palace at Rome received four Emperours in less time one making room for another to enter This was the only satisfaction of the distressed that they needed not require any other Justice on their Oppressors seeing them thus murder each other first of all and that most justly he that ensnared them first and taught them to expect such great Matters as he had promised at Caesar's Death sullying that brave Action viz. the revolting from Nero turning it into scandalous Treachery by his Bribery for Nymphidius Sabinus Captain of the Guards together with Tigellinus after Nero's Circumstances were known and that he designed to fly into Egypt perswaded the Army to declare Galba Emperour as if Nero had been already gone promising to all the Souldiers as well those abroad as the Home-Guards so round a Summ for a Largess that it was unpossible any one could raise but he must be infinitely more exacting than ever Nero was This presently dispatch'd Nero and soon after Galba too they murdered the first in expectation of the promised Summ and not long after the other because he kept not touch with them according to his Word thus vainly enquiring who would purchase at such a rate they destroyed themselves by Treachery and Rebellion before they obtained their Expectations But to give you a particular Relation of all that passed would require too large a History But I ought not pass by what is most material what the Caesars both did and suffered Sulpitius Galba is owned by all to be the richest of a private Person that ever came to the Imperial Seat besides the additional Honour of being of the Family of the Servii he valued himself for his relation to Catulus a Person of Eminence in his time both for Vertue and Renown tho' he voluntarily yielded to others for Power and Authority Galba was also a-kin to Livia Wife to Augustus by whose interest he was by the Court preferr'd to the Consulship 'T is said of him that he honourably discharged his Command in Germany and being made Pro-consul in Libya he gained that Reputation few ever had But his thrifty narrow Entertainments beneath the dignity of a General was a great diminution and only afforded him the mean credit of being call'd an orderly sober Gentleman He was intrusted by Nero with the Government of Spain when he had not yet learned to revere the great Citizens in Authority To the Opinion they had of his mild Natural Temper his old Age occasioned a Belief that he would act too cautiously And although he had the management of Nero's Officers in his own hands who with savage cruelty harrass'd the Provinces 〈…〉 gave them this only ease and consolation that he seem'd plainly to sympathize with the poor injur'd Slaves as a fellow-sufferer And when Lampoons were made upon Nero and sung every where about he neither prohibited them nor shewed any indignation as the Procurators did for which indeed he was the more beloved as also that he was well acquainted with them having been in chief power there eight years at which time Junius Vindex General of the Forces in Gaul began to make Head against Nero and 't is reported that Letters came to him before it fully broke out into Rebellion which he seemed neither to give credit to nor thwarted nor in the least acquainted Nero whereas other Officers had informed him according to what came to their hands and so spoiled the Design as much as in them lay who afterwards sharing in the Conspiracy confess'd they had been treacherous to themselves as
down Galba's Statues and utterly defaced them afterwards having sworn in the name of the Senate and People they departed But their Commanders now feared Anarchy and Confusion as much as their Apostacy and Rebellion whereupon one of them stepping forth thus accosted them What will become of us my fellow Soldiers if we neither set up another General nor retain the present one seeming not so much to rescue our selves from Galba as to decline all subjection and be under no Command Let us a while permit Flaccus Hordeomus as a cypher a mere shadow and image of Galba But Vitellius chief Commander of the lower Germany is but one days March distant whose Father was Censor and thrice Consul and as I may say in a manner Co-Emperor with Claudius Caesar he of all Men in so great imploy gives the clearest proof of his â—ounty and largeness of mind viz. his poverty how despicable soever it seems to some Him let us make choice of that all may see we know how to choose an Emperor better than either the Spaniards or Lusitanians Which motion whilst some assented to and others gainsaid a certain Ensign slip'd out and carried the News to Vitellius whilst he was treating much company by Night This taking air soon past through the Army and Fabius Valens a principal Commander riding before his full Troops next day saluted Vitellius Emperor He seemed to decline it pretending a dread he had to undertake the Weight of the Government but the next day by noon being well incouraged by a plentiful repast he began to yield and submitted to take on him the Title of Germanicus they gave him but desired to be excused as to that of Caesar immediately Flaccus's Soldiers laying aside their specious popular Oaths imposed by the Senate they swore obedience to Vitellius as Emperor and to observe whatever commanded Thus Vitellius was publickly owned Emperor in Germany which News coming to Galba's Ear he no longer deferred his adoption yet knowing many of his Friends were inclined to Dolabella but more to Otho neither of whom he well approved of on a sudden without any ones privity he sent for Piso who was nearly related to Crassus and Piso whom Nero slew in whose natural temper eminently appeared much modesty and gravity and indeed all virtuous inclinations Going then into the Camp he declared him his Successor to the Empire But immediately many prodigious Omens appeared from Heaven and when he began to make a Speech to the Souldiers the frequent Claps of Thunder and flashes of Lightning and a dismal black storm covering both the Camp and City were plain discoveries that the Heavens did not favour this adoption The Souldiers also seemed dissatisfied by their sullen looks seeing nothing of the wonted distributions on such occasions Those that were present and observed Piso's Countenance and Voice admired to see him no more surprized tho he seemed not insensible of so great a favour On the other hand Otho appeared full of sadness and disturbance at his disappointment as being once thought worthy and e'en ready to be invested in his good Fortune and now to be put by was a shrewd sign of the displeasure and ill will of Galba toward him This filled him with fears and jealousies and grievously perplexed his Mind whilst he dreaded Piso hated Galba and was full of wrath and indignation against Junius But the Chaldeans and South-sayers about him would not permit him to lay aside his hopes or quit his design chiefly Ptolomaeus much relying upon a Prediction that Nero should not murder him but he himself should die first and Otho succeed as Emperor Now the first proving true he thought he ought not distrust the rest but none exasperated him more than those that seemed privately to pity his hard Fate to be so ungratefully dealt with by Galba especially Nymphidius's and Tigillinus's Creatures who were now cast off and reduced to their former state these seemed highly to resent this indignity put upon him amongst whom were Veturius and Barbius the one termed Optio the Captain assistant the other Tesserarius the Person intrusted with setting the Watch and giving the Word Amongst them Onomastus one of Otho's Freemen went to the Camp to tamper with the Army and brought over some with Money others with fair promises which was easily done they being already corrupted and only wanting a fair pretence it had been otherwise more than the work of Four days which happened betwixt the Adoption and Massacre thus totally to have infected a sound Army so as to cause a general revolt They were aslassined Feb. 15. on which Day in the Morn Galba Sacrificed in his Palace in the Presence of his Friends when Vmbricius the Priest taking up the entrails and predicting not darkly and by conjecture but manifest ill boding Omens of great troubles ensuing and dangerous Snares laid for the Life of the Emperor Thus Otho had e'en been discovered by the Finger of God but being just behind Galba attending diligently to the South-sayers Lecture his countenance changed for fear and he betrayed no small concern which Onomastus observing acquainted him that one of the Master Builders waited for him at home now that was the signal for Otho to meet the Souldiers pretending then that he had purchased an old house and was going to shew the defects to those that sold it he departed and passing by Tiberius's house as they called it he stept into the Market Place nigh the Golden Pillar where all the several Italian ways center where 't is reported no more than twenty five received him and saluted him Emperor which put him to a stand tho not out of any effeminacy being in his nature bold and hardy enough in hazardous adventures but the Soldiers that were present would not suffer him to recede but with their drawn Swords about his Chair commanded the Bearers to take him up whom he hastned on though in the mean time he said to himself I am a lost Man Those who over-heard him rather admired than were concerned at the inconsiderable number that attempted such an enterprise But as they marched on about as many more met him and here and there three or four at a time adjoyned themselves Thus returning towards the Camp with their Arms in their hands they cryed out a Caesar a Caesar whereupon one Martius who commanded the Guards who was no ways privy to it being surprized at the unexpectedness of the thing permitted him entrance and afterwards no Man made any resistance for they that knew nothing of the design being purposely encompassed by the Conspirators as they were stragling here and there first sub 〈…〉 ed for fear and after were perswaded into a compliance This came presently to 〈◊〉 ear in his Palace whilst the Priest was intent on the Sacrifice as yet holding the entrails in his hand so that they who usually slighted those matters were astonished and began to admire the prodigious Omen The Mobile ran confused from the Market upon