had cōmaunded there should be a bill made of all the olde mens names and diseased persones that were in his campe to sende them home againe into their contry there was one Eurylochus AEGEIAN that made his name be billed among the sicke persons it was sound afterwardes that he was not sicke and confessed that he did it only to follow a young woman called Telesippa with whom he was in loue who was returning homewardes towardes the sea side Alexander asked him whether this woman were free or bond he answered him that she was a curtisan free borne Then sayd Alexander vnto Eurylochus I would be glad to further thy loue yet I can not force her to tarie but seeke to winne her by giftes and fayer wordes to be contented to tarie sithence she is a free woman It is a wonderfull thing to see what paines he would take to write for his frendes euen in such trifles as he did As when he wrote into CILICIA for a seruaunt of Seleucus that was fled from his master sending straight commaundement that they should carefully lay for him And by an other letter he commendeth Peucestas for that he had stayed and taken one Nicon a slaue of Craterus And by one other letter also vnto Megabizus touching an other bondman that had taken sanctuarie in a temple he commaunded him also to seeke to intise him out of the sanctuarie to laye hold on him if he could but otherwise not to meddle with him in any case It is sayd also that at the first when he vsed to sit in iudgement to heare criminall causes whilest the accuser went on with his complaint and accusation he alwayes vsed to lay his hande vppon one of his eares to keepe that cleane from the matter of accusation thereby reseruing it to heare the purgacion and iustificacion of the person condemned But afterwardes the number of accusations that were brought before him did so prouoke and alter him that he did beleue the false accusations by the great number of the true that were brought in But nothinge put him more in rage then when be vnderstoode they had spoken ill of him and then he was so fierce as no pardon would be graunted for that he loued his honor more then his kingdome or life Then at that time he went against Darius thinking that he ment to fight againe but vnderstanding that Bessus had taken him then he gaue the THESSALIANS leaue to departe home into their contrie and gaue them two thowsand talentes ouer and aboue their ordinarie pay Alexander had then a maruelous long hard and painefull iorney in following of Darius for in eleuen dayes he rode three thowsande three hundred furlong insomuch as the most parte of his men were euen wearie and done for lacke of water It chaunced him one day to meete with certaine MACEDONIANS that caried vppon moyles goate skinnes full of water which they had fetched from a riuer They seeing Alexander in manner deade for thirst being aboutnoone ranne quickely to him and in a headpeece brought him water Alexander asked them to whom they caried this water They answered him againe that they caried it to their children but yet we would haue your grace to liue for though we lose them we may get more children When they had sayd so Alexander tooke the helmet with water and perceiuing that the men of armes that were about him and had followed him did thrust out their neckes to looke vpon this water he gaue the water backe againe vnto them that had geuen it him and thanked them but dranke none of it For sayd he if I drinke alone all these men here will faint Then they seeing the noble corage and curtesie of Alexander cried out that he should lead them and therewithall beganne to spurre their horses saying that they were not wearie nor a thirst nor did thinke them selues mortall so long as they had such a king Euerie man was a like willing to followe Alexander yet had he but three score only that entred with him into the enemies campe There passinge ouer much golde and siluer which was scattered abroade in the market place and going also by many charriottes full of women and children which they found in the fields flying away at all aduenture they ranne vpon the spurre vntil they had ouertaken the foremost that fled thinking to haue founde Darius amongest them But at the length with much a doe they founde him layed along in a coche hauing many woundes vpon his bodie some of darts and some speares So he being almost at the last cast called for some drinke and dranke colde water which Polystratus gaue him To whom when he had dronke he sayd this is my last mishappe my frend that hauing receiued this pleasure I can not require thee howbeit Alexander will recompence thee and the goddes Alexander for the liberalitie and curtesie which he hath shewed vnto my wife and children whom I pray thee embrace for my sake At these last wordes he tooke Polystratus by the hande and so gaue vp the goast Alexander came immediatly after and plainely shewed that he was sorie for his death and misfortune and vndoing his owne cloke he cast it vpon the body of Darius After that hauing by good happe gotten Bessus into his hands he tare him in peces with two high straight trees which he bowed downewards and tied his legges to eche of them so that when the trees were let goe they gaue a sodaine cruell ierke vp and caried either tree a peece of his bodie with it Then Alexander hauing geuen Darius corse Princely buriall and embalned him he sent it vnto his mother and receiued his brother Exathres for one of his frendes From thence he went into the contrie of HYRCANIA with all the flower of his armie where he sawe the gulfe of the sea Caspium which he thought of no lesse greatnesse then the sea of PONTVS howbeit calmer then the other seas be He could not then certainly finde out what it was nor from whence it came but of likelyhoode he thought it was some breaking out of the lake or marrish of Meotin Yet some auncient naturall Philosophers seemed to know truely what it was For many yeares before Alexanders voyage and conquest they wrote that of the foure chiefest gulfes of the sea that commeth from the Ocean and doe entre within maine land that which is most northerly is the sea Caspium which they call also Hyrcanium As Alexander went through the contrie certaine barbarous people sodainely sette vppon them that led Bucephal his horse and tooke him but with that he was in such a rage that he sent a Heraulde into their contrie to proclaime open warres vppon them and that he would put man woman and childe to the sword if they brought him not his horse againe Whereuppon when his horse was returned home and that they yeelded vp their cities and fortes into his handes he did vse
curtesie of Pompey as could be deuised and in th end after he had geuen him great thankes for the honors he had done him he prayed him to afford him his aduise and counsell in his gouernment Cato answered him thus that he had not spoken any thing before that time in respect of any ill will he bare him neither that he deliuered this last opinion of his in respect of his frendshippe but wholly for the common wealthes sake howbeit otherwise that for his owne priuate affaires if he thought good to vse his aduise whensoeuer it pleased him to aske his opinion he would tell him the best he could But for common causes that he would alwayes tell what he thought though he neuer asked him and in fine he performed all he sayd For first of all when Pompey did set grieuous penalties new fines apon their heades which had bought the peoples voyces for money Cato counselled him to prouide for thinges to come and to let that alone which was already past For sayd he it is a hard thing to determine any certaine time in the which a man should seeke to reforme the faults that are past and furthermore if the punishments appointed were newer then the offences committed then they shoulde doe wrong vnto them that were already accused to punish them by a new law which they had not offended Afterwards also certaine men of good calling Pompeis frends being accused Cato perceiuing that Pompey grew remisse and yeelded in many things the sharply reproued and reformed him Furthermore where Pompey had by law taken away the praises which were wont to be spoken of the offenders that were accused he him selfe notwithstanding hauing wrytten an oration in the praise of Munatius Plancus sent it vnto the Iudges whilest his cause was a bearing Cato being one of the Iudges at that time stopped his eares with both his hands and would not haue it red Wherefore Plancus refused him for one of his Iudges after his cause was pleaded vnto howbeit he was condemned notwithstanding To conclude Cato was such a griefe and trouble vnto them that were accused that they coulde not tell well howe so deale with him For once they durst not lette him be any of their Iudges neither could they well also refuse him For there were many that were condemned which refusing Cato seemed vnto others that they were giltie many also were shamefully reproued bicause they would not accept Cato for their Iudge when he was offered them Thinges proceeding in this sorte at ROME Caesar remained in GAVLE with his armie where he made warres neuerthelesse betwenne him frends still in ROME by gifts and money and made him selfe very strong Now appeared Catoes predictions and forewarnings true vnto Pompey and began to quicken his spirits which had slept so long and made him then to consider of the daunger the which before he could not be perswaded to beleue But perceiuing his slackenes and feare withall douting howe to proceede to preuent Caesars practises Cato determined to sue to be Consul with intent either to make him leaue his army or else to finde out the practise he entended Catoes competitors they were both of theÌ„ very honest men also of the which Sulpitius had receiued great honor preferrement by Catoes credit and authoritie in respect whereof many thought that it was scant honestly done of Sulpitius to shew himselfe so vnthankfull as to stand against Cato in this sute Howbeit Cato neuer complained of the matter but sayd that it was no maruell he would geue place to no man in that sith it was the greatest good happe that euer came vnto him This notwithstanding he perswaded the Senate to make a law that from thence forth such as sued for any office they should them selues be suters to the people and not preferre their sute by others This caused the people to be more offended with him then before bicause thereby he did not only take away their fingering of money which they got by their voyces in elections but tooke from them the meanes they had also to pleasure many bringing them now into pouertie and contempt He therefore hauing no face to flatter the people and to curâ—ie fauor with them but rather sticking to his graue maner and modest life then to seeke the dignitie of a Consul by suche meanes made sute him selfe in person and would not suffer his frends to take the ordinary course which might win the peoples harts whereupon he was put from his Consulshippe This denyall was wont not only to haue made the parties refused very sorowfull but their frendes and kinsemen also greatly ashamed a long time after Howbeit Cato made no reckoning of that but went the next morning and played at tennis with his frends in the field of Mars and after he had dyned walked againe in the market place as his maner was without shooes on his feete and coate But Cicero blamed him much for that bicause the common wealth requiring then such a Consul as he he had not carefully endeuored him selfe by curtesie and gentle meanes to winne the fauor of the people neither woulde euer after make sute for it although at an other time he sued to be Praetor Thereunto Cato aunswered that for the Praetorship he was not denyed it by the good will of the people but rather for that they were bribed with money And for the election of the Consuls where there was no deceit vsed he knew plainly he went without it for his maners which the people misliked the which he thought were no wise mans parte to chaunge for any mans pleasure nor yet by making the like sute again to hazard the refusall Furthermore Caesar making warre with very stowt nations hauing with no small daunger trauell subdued them and hauing also set vpon the GERMAINES with whom the ROMANES were at peace and also slaine three huÌ„dred thowsand persons his frends made sute that the people should do solemne sacrifice to geue thankes vnto the gods But Cato in open Senate was of opinion that they should deliuer Caesar into their handes whome he had iniured to receiue such punishment as they thought good to thend the whole offence for the breach of peace might be cast vpon him that the citie might be no partaker of it sith they could not do withall Neuerthelesse sayd he we are to doe sacrifices vnto the goddes to geue them thankes for that they turned not the reuenge of the fury and rashnes of the Captaine apon our poore souldiers which were in no fault but haue pardoned the common wealth Caesar being aduertised thereof wrote a letter vnto the Senate contayning many accusations against Cato The letter being red Cato rose not as a man put in a chase with choller nor pricked with enuie but coldly and quietly as if he had long before premeditated what he would say declared that the accusations which Caesar heaped against him in his letters were but pretie
and tedious bene Specially sith that of so many good men men of skill as haue heretofore set hand to the translating of it there vvas neuer yet any one found that vvent through vvith it in any language at least vvise that I haue seene or heard of and that such as haue enterprised to translate it specially into Latin haue euidently vvitnessed the hardnesse thereof as they may easely perceiue vvhich list to conserve their translations vvith mine Neuerthelesse if also fortune that men find not the speech of this translation so flovving as they haue found some other of mine that are abroad in mens hands I beseech the readers to consider that the office of a fit translater consisteth not onely in the faithfull expressing of his authors meaning but also in a certaine resembling and shadovving out of the forme of his style and the mâ—â—â—â— of his speaking vnlesse he vvill commit the errour of some painters vvho hauing taken vpon them to dravv a man lively do paint him long vvhere he should be short and grosse vvhere he should be slender and yet set out the resemblance of his countenance naturally For hovv harsh or rude soeuer my speech be yet am I sure that my translation vvill be much easier to my contriemen than the Greeke copie is euen to such as are best practised in the Greeke tonge by reason of Plutarkes peculiar maner of inditing vvhich is rather sharpe learned and short than plaine polished and easie At the hardest although I haue not compassed my matters so happily as ye coulde haue vvished and desired yet do I hope that your Lordships in reading it vvill hold the parties good vvill excused vvhich hath taken such paines in doing of it to profit you And if my labor be so happie as to content you God be praised for it vvhich hath giuen me the grace to finish it THE TABLE OF THE NOBLE GRECIANS AND ROMANES COMPARED BY Plutarke of Chaeronea Theseus pag. 1. compared 41. Romulus pag. 20. compared 41. Lycurgus pag. 44. compared 82. Numa Pompilius p. 66 compared 82. Solon pag. 86. coÌ„pared 120. Publicola pag. 107. coÌ„pared 120. Themistocles pag. 123. Furius Camillus pag. 142. Pericles pag. 167. coÌ„pared 208 Fabius Maximus pa. 191 coÌ„pared 208 Alcibiades pag. 210. coÌ„pared 260 Coriolanus pag. 237. coÌ„pared 260 Paulus AEmylius pa. 263 coÌ„pared 306 Timoleon pag. 286. coÌ„pared 306 Pelopidas pag. 308. coÌ„pared 349 Marcellus pag. 330 coÌ„pared 349 Aristides pag. 352. coÌ„pared 391 Marcus Cato pag. 372. coÌ„pared 391 Philopoemen pag. 395. coÌ„pared 424 T.Q. Flaminius pa. 409 coÌ„pared 424 Pyrtus pag. 426. Caius Marius pag. 451. Lysander pag. 480. coÌ„pared 525 Sylla pag. 499. coÌ„pared 525 Cimon pag. 528. coÌ„pared 576 Lucullus pag. 544. coÌ„pared 576 Nicias pag. 579. coÌ„pared 622 Marcus Crassus pa. 600. coÌ„pared 622 Sertorius pag. 621. coÌ„pared 654 Eumenes pag. 641. coÌ„pared 654 Agesilaus pag. 655. coÌ„pared 719 Pompeius pag. 678. coÌ„pared 719 Alexander pag. 722. Iulius Caesar. pag. 763. Phocion pag. 797. Cato Vtican pag. 815. Agis Cleomenes pag. 848. compared 894 Tiberius and Caius Gracchi pag. 875. compared 894 Demosthenes pag. 897. coÌ„pared 938 Cicero pag. 912. coÌ„pared 938 Demetrius pag. 941. coÌ„pared 1011 Antonius pag. 970. coÌ„pared 1011 Artaxerxes pag. 1013. Dion pag. 1029. coÌ„pared 1081 Marcus Brutus pa. 1055 coÌ„pared 1081 Aratus pag. 1083. Galba pag. 1108. Otho pag. 1121. Annibal pag. 1131. coÌ„pared 1173 Scipio African pag. 1157. coÌ„pared 1173 Liues 50. THE LIVES OF THE NOBLE GRECIANS AND ROMANES COMPARED TOGETHER BY THAT graue learned Philosopher and Historiographer Plutarche of Choeronea Theseus LIKE as historiographers describing the world srende Sossius Senecio doe of purpose referre to the vttermost partes of their mappes the farre distant regions whereof they be ignoraunt with this note these contries are by meanes of sandes and drowthes vnnauigable rude full of venimous beastes SCYTHIAN I se and frosen seas Euen so may I which in comparinge noble mens liues haue already gone so farre into antiquitie as the true and certaine historie could lead me of the rest being thinges past all proofe or chalenge very well say that beyonde this time all is full of suspicion and dout being deliuered vs by Poets and Tragedy makers sometimes without trueth and likelihoode and alwayes with out certainty Howbeit hauing heretofore set foorth the liues of Lycurgus which established the lawes of the LACEDAEMONIANS and of king Numa Pompilius me thought I might go a litle further to the life of Romulus sence I was come so nere him But considering my selfe as the Poet AEschilus did VVhat champion may vvith such a man compare or vvho thinke I shal be against him set VVho is so bold or vvho is he that dare defend his force in such encounter met In the end I resolued to match him which did set vp the noble famous city of ATHENS with him which founded the glorious and inuincible city of ROME Wherein I would wishe that the inuentions of Poets and the traditions of fabulous antiquitie would suffer them selues to be purged and reduced to the forme of a true and historicall reporte but when they square too much from likelyhode and can not be made credible the readers will of curtesie take in good parte that which I could with most probability wryte of such antiquities Now surely me thinkes that Theseus in many thinges was much like vnto Romulus For being both begotten by stealth and out of lawful matrimony both were reputed to be borne of the seede of the goddes Both valiant vvere as all the vvorld doth knovv Both ioyned valiancy with gouernment The one of them built ROME and the other by gathering into one dispersed people erected the citie of ATHENS two of the most noble cities of the worlde The one and the other were rauishers of women and neither th one nor thother coulde auoyde the mischiefe of quarrell and contention with their frendes nor the reproch of staining them selues with the blood of their nearest kinsemen Moreouer they say that both the one and the other in the end did get the hate and ill will of their citizens at the least if we will beleue that reporte of Theseus which carieth greatest show of trueth Theseus of his fathers side was descended of the right linage of Erictheus the great and of the first inhabitants which occupied the contrie of ATTICA the which since were called Autocthones as much to say as borne of them selues For there is no memorie or other mention made that they came out of any other contry then that And of his mothers side he came of Pelops who was in his time the mightiest king of all the contrie of PELOPONNESVS not so much for his goodes and richesse as for the number of children which he had For his daughters which were many in number he bestowed on the greatest Lordes of all the contrie his sonnes also which likewise were many he dispersed into diuerse cities and free townes findinge meanes to
or daūger visited one another making great cheere as if out of the springing fountaine of Numaes wisedom many pretie brookes streames of good honest life had rōne ouer all ITALIE had watered it that the mildnes of his wisdom had frō hand to hand bene disparsed through the whole world Insomuch as the ouer excessiue speaches the Poets accustomably doe vse were not sufficiēt enough to expresse the peaceable raigne of that time There spiders vveaue their cobvvebbes daye and night in harnesses vvhich vvont to serue for vvarre there cancred rust doth fret the steele full bright of trenchant blades vvell vvhet in many a Iarre There mighty speares for lacke of vse are eaten vvith rotten vvormes and in that countrie there the braying trompe dothe neuer seeme to threaten their quiet eares vvith blasts of bloudy feare There in that lande no drovvsie sleepe is broken vvith hotte alarmes vvhich terrours doe betoken For during all king Numaes raigne it was neuer heard that euer there were any warres ciuil dissention or innouation of gouernment attempted against him nor yet any secret comitie or malice borne him neither any cōspiracie once thought on to reigne in his place And whether it was for feare of displeasing the godds which visibly seemed to take him into their protectiō or for the reuerent regarde they had vnto his vertue or for his prosperous good successe all the time he raigned I cannot tell howbeit he sought to keepe men still pure honest from all wickednes layed most open before the eyes of the whole world a very exāple of that which Plato long time after did affirme saye concerning true gouernmēt which was That the only meane of true quietnes remedy from all euill which euer troubleth men was when by some diuine ordinaunce from aboue there meteth in one person the right maiestie of a King the minde of a wise philosopher to make vertue gouernesse ruler ouervice For in deede happie is such a wise man more happy are they which maye heare the graue counsaill good lessons of such a mouthe And there me thincks needeth no force no cōpulsion no threates nor extremitie to bridle the people For men seeing the true image of vertue in their visible prince in the example of his life doe willingly growe to be wise of them selues doe fall into loue liking and friendshippe together and doe vse all temperaunce iust dealing and good order one toward another leading their life without offence and with the commendation of other which is the chiefe pointe of felicitie and the most happie good that can light vnto men And he by nature is best worthy to be a King who through his wisdome and vertue can graffe in mens manners such a good disposition and this Numa aboue all other seemed best to knowe and vnderstand Furthermore touching his wiues and children there are great contrarieties amōg the historiographers For some of them saye he neuer maried other wife then Tatia and that he neuer had any children but one only daughter and she was called Pompilia Other write to the contrarie that he had foure sonnes Pompo Pinus Calpus and Mamercus of euery one of the which by succession from the father to the sonne haue descended the noblest races and most auncient houses of the ROMAINES As the house of the Pomponians of Pompo the house of the Pinarians of Pinus the house of the Calphurnians of Calpus the house of the Mamerciās of Mamercus All which families by reason of their first progenitor haue kept the surname of Reges Kings There are three other writers which doe reproue the two first saying that they dyd write to gratifie the families making them falsely to descend of the noble race of king Numa Moreouer it is sayed he had his daughter Pompilia not by Tatia but by his other wife called Lucretia whom he maried after he was made king Howbeit they all agree that his daughter Pompilia was maried vnto one Martius the sonne of the same Martius which persuaded him to accept the kingdome of ROME For he went with him to ROME to remaine there where they dyd him the honour to receyue him into the number of the Senatours After the death of Numa Martius the father stoode against Tullus Hostilius for the succession of the Realme and being ouercome he killed him selfe for sorowe But his sonne Martius who maried Pompilia continued still at ROME where he begotte Ancus Martius who was king of ROME after Tullus Hostilius and was but fiue yere olde when Numa dyed Whose death was not so daine For he dyed consuming by litle and litle aswell through age as also through a lingring disease that waited on him to his ende as Piso hath written and Numa at his death was litle more then foure score yere old But the pompe and honour done vnto him at his funeralles made his life yet more happie and glorious For all the people his neighbours friendes kinsemen and allies of the ROMAINES came thither bringing crownes with them and other publicke contributions to honour his obsequies The noble men selues of the cittie which were called Patricians caried on their shoulders the very bedd on which the course laye to be conueyed to his graue The Priestes attended also on his bodie and so dyd all the rest of the people women and children in like case which followed him to his tumbe all bewaling and lamenting his death with teares sighes and mournings Not as a King dead for very age but as they had mourned for the death of their dearest kinseman and nearest friende that had dyed before he was olde They burnt not his bodie bicause as some saye he commaunded the contrarie by his will and testament but they made two coffines of stone which they buried at the foote of the hill called Ianiculum In the one they layed his bodie in the other the holy bookes which he had written him selfe much like vnto those which they that made the lawes among the GRECIANS dyd write in tables But bicause in his life time he had taught the priestes the substaunce of the whole conteined in the same he willed the holy tables which he had written should be buried with his bodie For he thought it not reasonable that so holy matters should be kept by dead letters and writings but by mens manners exercises And he followed herein they saye the Pythagorians who would not put their worckes in writing but dyd printe the knowledge of them in their memories whom they knew to be worthy men and that without any writing at all And if they had taught any manner of persone the hidden rules and secretes of Geometrie which had not bene worthy of them then they sayed the goddes by manifest tokens would threaten to reuenge such sacriledge and impietie with some great destruction and miserie Therefore seeing so many things agreable and altogether like betweene Numa
Iupiter Olympian only remained vnperfect so the wisdome of Plato amongest many goodly matters of his that haue come abroade left none of them vnperfect but the only tale of the Iles ATLANTIDES Solon liued long time after Pisistratus had vsurped the tyrannie as Heraclides Ponticus writeth Howbeit Phanias Ephesian writeth that he liued not aboue two yeres after For Pisistratus vsurped tyrannicall power in the yere that Comias was chief gouernour in ATHENS And Phanias writeth that Solon dyed in the yere that Hegestratus was gouernour which was the next yere after that And where some saye the ashes of his bodie were after his death strawed abroade through the I le of SALAMINA that seemeth to be but a fable and altogether vntrue Neuertheles it hath bene written by many notable authours and amongest others by Aristotle the philosopher The ende of Solons life THE LIFE OF PVBLIVS Valerius Publicola NOWE we haue declared what Solon was we haue thought good to compare him with Publicola to whom the ROMAINE people for an honour gaue that surname for he was called before Publius Valerius descended from that auncient Valerius who was one of the chiefest worckers and meanes to bring the ROMAINES and the SABYNES that were mortall enemies to ioyne together as one people For it was he that most moued the two Kings to agree and ioyne together Publicola being descended of him whilest the Kings dyd rule yet at ROME was in very great estimation aswell for his eloquence as for his riches vsing the one rightly and freely for the maintenaunce of iustice and the other liberally and curteously for the relief of the poore So that it was manifest if the Realme came to be conuerted into a publicke state he should be one of the chiefest men of the same It chaunced that king Tarquine surnamed the prowde being come to the crowne by no good lawfull meane but contrary lie by indirect and wicked wayes and behauing him selfe not like a King but like a cruell tyrante the people much hated and detested him by reason of the death of Lucretia which killed her selfe for that she was forcibly rauished by him so the whole cittie rose and rebelled against him Lucius Brutus taking vpon him to be the head and captaine of this insurrection and rebellion dyd ioyne first with this Valerius who dyd greately fauour and assist his enterprise and did helpe him to driue out king Tarquine with all his house familie Nowe whilest they were thincking that the people would chuse some one alone to be chief ruler ouer them in stead of a King Valerius kept him selfe quiet as yelding willingly vnto Brutus the first place who was meetest for it hauing bene the chief authour and worcker of their recouered libertie But when they sawe the name of Monarchie as much to saye as soueraintie alone was displeasaunt to the people and that they would like better to haue the rule deuided vnto two and how for this cause they would rather choose two Consuls Valerius then begāne to hope he should be the seconde persone with Brutus Howbeit this hope fayled him For against Brutus will Tarquinius Collatinus the husband of Lucretia was chosen Cōsul with him not bicause he was a man of greater vertue or of better estimation than Valerius But the noble men of the cittie fearing the practises of the Kings abroade which sought by all the fayer flattering meanes they could to returne againe into the cittie dyd determine to make such an one Consul whom occasion forced to be their hard and heauy enemie persuading them selues that Tarquinius Collatinus would for no respect yeld vnto them Valerius tooke this matter greuously but they had a mistrust in him as if he would not doe any thing he could for the benefit of his countrie notwithstanding he had neuer any priuate iniurie offered him by the tyrannes Wherfore he repaired no more vnto the Senate to pleade for priuate men and wholy gaue vp to medle in matters of state insomuch as he gaue many occasion to thincke of his absence and it troubled some men much who feared least vpon this his misliking and withdrawing he would fall to the Kings side and so bring all the cittie in an vprore considering it stoode then but in very tickle termes But when Brutus who stoode in iealousie of some would by othe be assured of the Senate had appointed them a daye solemnely to take their othes vpon the sacrifices Valerius then with a good cheerefull countenaunce came into the market place and was the first that tooke his othe he would leaue nothing vndone that might preiudice the Tarquines but with all his able power he would fight against them and defend the libertie of the cittie This othe of his maruelously reioyced the Senate gaue great assuraunce also to the Consuls but specially bicause his dedes dyd shortly after performe his wordes For there came ambassadours to ROME which brought letters from king Tarquine full of sweete lowly speaches to winne the fauour of the people with commission to vse all the mildest meanes they could to dulce and soften the hardened harts of the multitude who declared how the King had left all pryde and crueltie ment to aske nought but reasonable things The Consuls thought best to geue them open audience and to suffer them to speake to the people But Valerius was against it declaring it might perill the state much and deliuer occasion of new sturre vnto a multitude of poore people which were more affrayed of warres then of tyrannie After that there came other ambassadours also which sayed that Tarquine would from thenceforth for euer geue ouer and renounce his title to the Kingdome and to make any more warres but besought them only that they would at the least deliuer him and his friends their money and goods that they might haue wherewithall to keepe them in their banishment Many came on a pace and were very ready to yeld to this request and specially Collatinus one of the Consuls who dyd fauour their motion But Brutus that was a fast and resolute man and very fierce in his harte ranne immediately into the market place crying out that his fellowe Consul was a traytour and contented to graunt the tyrannes matter and meanes to make warre vpon the cittie where in deede they deserued not so much as to be relieued in their exile Hereupon the people assembled together and the first that spake in this assembly was a priuate man called Gaius Minutius who speaking vnto Brutus to the whole assembly sayed vnto them O noble Consul Senate handle so the matter that the tyrannes goods be rather in your custodie to make warre with them than in theirs to bring warre vpon your selues Notwithstāding the ROMAINES were of opinion that hauing gotten the liberty for which they fought with the tyrannes they should not disapoint the offered peace with keeping backe their goodes but rather
he had sayed doing lesse hurte to Cimon then any other of his accusers How is Idomeneus to be credited nowe who accuseth Pericles that he had caused the orator Ephialtes to be slaine by treason that was his friende and dyd alwayes counsell him and take his parte in all kinde of gouernment of the common weale only for the iealousie and enuie he dyd beare to his glorie I can but muse why Idomeneus should speake so slaunderously against Pericles vnles it were that his melancholy humour procured suche violent speache who though peraduenture he was not altogether blameles yet he was euer nobly-minded and had a naturall desire of honour in which kinde of men such furious cruell passions are seldome seene to breede But this orator Ephialtes being cruell to those that tooke parte with the Nobilitie bicause he would spare nor pardone no man for any offence whatsoeuer committed against the peoples authoritie but dyd followe and persecute them with all rigour to the vttermost his enemies layed waite for him by meanes of one Aristodicus TANAGRIAN and they killed him by treason as Aristotle writeth In the meane time Cimon dyed in the I le of CYPRVS being generall of the armie of the ATHENIANS by sea Wherefore those that tooke parte with the Nobilitie seeing Pericles was nowe growen very great and that he went before all other citizens of ATHENS thincking it good to haue some one to sticke on their side against him and to lessen thereby somewhat his authoritie that he might not come to rule all as he would they raised vp against him one Thucydides of the towne of ALODECIA a graue wise man and father in lawe to Cimon This Thucydides had lesse skill of warres then Cimon but vnderstoode more in ciuill gouernment then he for that he remained most parte of his time within the cittie where continually inuaying against Pericles in his pulpit for orations to the people in shorte time he had stirred vp a like companie against the faction of Pericles For he kept the gentlemen and richer sorte which they call Nobilitie from mingling with the common people as they were before when through the multitude of the commnons their estate and dignitie was abscured and troden vnderfoote Moreouer he dyd separate them from the people and dyd assemble them all as it were into one bodie who came to be of equall power with the other faction and dyd put as a man will saye a counterpease into the ballance For at the beginning there was but a litle secret grudge only betwene these two factions as an artificiall flower set in the blade of a sworde which made those shewe a litle that dyd leane vnto the people and the other also somwhat that fauored the Nobilitie But the contention betwene these two persones was as a deepe cut which deuided the cittie wholy in two factions of the which the one was called the Nobilitie and the other the communaltie Therefore Pericles geuing yet more libertie vnto the people dyd all things that might be to please them ordeining continuall playes and games in the cittie many feastes banckets and open pastimes to entertaine the commons with suche honest pleasures and deuises and besides all this he sent yerely an armie of three score gallyes vnto the warres into the which he put a great number of poore cittizens that tooke paye of the state for nine moneths of the yere and thereby they dyd learne together and practise to be good sea men Furthermore he sent into the countrie of CHERRONESVS a thousand free men of the cittie to dwell there and to deuide the landes amongest them fiue hundred also into the I le of NAXOS into the I le of ANDROS two hundred fiftie into THRACIA a thousand to dwell with the BISALTES other also into ITALIE when the cittie of SYBARIS was built againe which afterwardes was surnamed the cittie of the THVRIANS All this he dyd to ryd the cittie of a number of idle people who through idlenes beganne to be curious and to desire chaunge of things as also to prouide for the necessitie of the poore townes men that had nothing For placing the naturall citizens of ATHENS neere vnto their subiects and friendes they serued as a garrison to keepe them vnder and dyd suppresse them also from attempting any alteration or chaunge But that which deliteth most and is the greatest ornament vnto the cittie of ATHENS which maketh straungers most to wonder and which alone doth bring sufficient testimonie to confirme that which is reported of the auncient power riches and great wealthe of GRECE to be true and not false are the stately and sumptuous buildings which Pericles made to be built in the cittie of ATHENS For it is the only acte of all other Pericles dyd and which made his enemies most to spight him and which they most accused him for crying out vpon him in all counsailles assemblies that the people of ATHENS were opēly defamed for carying awaye the ready money of all GRECE which was left in the I le of DELOS to be safely kept there And although they could with good honestie haue excused this facte saying that Pericles had taken it from them for feare of the barbarous people to the ende to laye it vp in a more stronger place where it should be in better safetie yet was this to ouer-great an iniurie offered vnto all the rest of GRECE and to manifest a token of tyrannie also to beholde before their eyes howe we doe employe the money which they were inforced to gather for the maintenaunce of the warres against the barbarous people in gilding building and setting forth our cittie like a glorious woman all to be gawded with golde and precious stones and howe we doe make images and build vp temples of wonderfull infinite charge Pericles replied to the contrarie and declared vnto the ATHENIANS that they were not bounde to make any accompt of this money vnto their friendes and allies considering that they fought for their safety that they kept the barbarous people farre from GRECE without troubling them to set out any one man horse or shippe of theirs the money only excepted which is no more theirs that payed it then theirs that receyued it so they bestowe it to that vse they receyued it for And their cittie being already very well furnished and prouided of all things necessary for the warres it was good reason they should employe and bestowe the surplus of the treasure in things which in time to come and being throughly finished would make their fame eternall Moreouer he sayed that whilest they continue building they should be presently riche by reason of the diuersitie of workes of all sortes and other things which they should haue neede of and to compasse these things the better and to set them in hande all manner of artificers and worke men that would labour should be set a worke So should all the townes men
yet but a young man and was ruled altogether by Cleandrides counsell and direction whom the Ephores had placed about him to counsell direct him he sought priuilie to corrupt Cleandrides When he had wonne him sone with his money he persuaded him to drawe backe the PELOPONNESIANS out of their countrie of ATTICA and so he dyd But when the LACEDAEMONIANS sawe their armie cassed that the people were gone their waye euery man to his owne cittie or towne they were so mad at it that the King was condemned in a great some The King being vnable to aunswer his fine which was so extreme great he was driuen to absent him self from LACEDAEMON Cleandrides on the other side if he had not fled in time euen for spight had bene condemned to death This Cleandrides was Gylippus father that afterwards ouercame the ATHENIANS in SICILIA in whom it seemed nature bred couetousnes as a disease inheritable by succession from father to the sonne For he being shamefully conuicted also for certen vile partes he had played was likewise banished from SPARTA as we haue more amply declared in the life of Lysander And Pericles deliuering vp the accoÌ„pt of his charge and setting downe an article of the expense of renne talentes he had employed or should employe in needefull causes the people allowed them him neuer asking question how nor which waye nor whether it was true that they were bestowed Now there are certen writers amoÌ„g whom the philosopher Theophrastus is one who write that Pericles sent yerely vnto SPARTA tenne taleÌ„ts with the which he entertained those that were in authoritie there bicause they should make no warres with them not to buye peace of them but time that he might in the meane season with better commoditie and that leysure prouide to mainteine the warres After that as the armie of the PELOPONNESIANS were out of the countrie of ATTICA he returned again against the rebels passed into the I le of EVBOEA with fiftie sayle c fiue thousand footemen well armed there he ouercame all the citties that had taken armes against him and draue away the Hyppobates who were the most famous men of all the CHALCIDIANS aswell for their riches as for their valliantnes He draue awaye also all the HESTIAEIANS whom he chased cleane out of all the countrie and placed in their cittie only the citizens of ATHENS And the cause why he delt so rigorously with them was bicause they hauing taken a galley of the ATHENIANS prisoner had put all the men to death that were in her And peace being concluded afterwards betwene the ATHENIANS and LACEDAEMONIANS for thirtie yeres he proclaimed open warres against those of the I le of SAMOS burdening them that they being coÌ„maunded by the ATHENIANS to pacifie the quarrells which they had against the MILLESIANS they would not obaye But bicause some hold opinion that he tooke vpon him this warre against SAMOS for the loue of Aspasia it shall be no great digression of our storie to tell you by the waye what manner of woman she was what a maruelous gifte and power she had that she could entangle with her loue the chiefest rulers and gouernours at that time of the common weale and that the philosophers them selues dyd so largely speake write of her First of all it is certaine that she was borne in the cittie of MILETVM and was the daughter of one Axiochus she following the steppes and example of an olde curtisan of IONIA called Thargelia gaue her selfe only to entertaine the greatest persones chiefest rulers in her time For this Thargelia being passing fayer and carying a comely grace with her hauing a sharpe wit and pleasaunt tongue she had the acquaintaunce and friendshippe of the greatest persones of all GRECE and wanne all those that dyd haunte her company to be at the king of Persiaes commaundement So that she sowed through all the citties of GRECE great beginnings of the faction of the MEDES for they were the greatest men of power authoritie of euerie cittie that were acquainted with her But as for Aspasia some saye that Pericles resorted vnto her bicause she was a wise woman and had great vnderstanding in matters of state and gouernment For Socrates him selfe went to see her somtimes with his friends and those that vsed her company also brought their wiues many times with them to heare her talke though her traine about her were to entertaine such as would warme them by their fire AEschines writeth that Lysicles a grasier being before but a meane man and of a clubbishe nature came to be the chief man of ATHENS by frequenting the companie of Aspasia after the death of Pericles And in Platoes booke intituled Menexenus although the beginning of it be but pleasauntly written yet in that this storie is written truely that this Aspasia was repaired vnto by diuers of the ATHENIANS to learne the arte of rethorike of her Yet notwithstanding it seemeth most likely that the affection Pericles dyd beare her grewe rather of loue then of any other cause For he was maried vnto a kinsewoman of his owne and that before was Hipponicus wife by whom she had Callias surnamed the riche had afterwards by Pericles Xantippus and Paralus But not liking her companie he gaue her with her owne good will and consent vnto another and maried Aspasia whom he dearely loued For euer when he went abroad came home againe he saluted her with a kisse Whereupon in the auncient comedies she is called in many places the newe Omphale and somtimes Deianira and somtimes Iuno But Cratinus plainely calleth her whore in these verses His Iuno she him brought Aspasia by name vvhich vvas in deede an open vvhore and past all 〈…〉 of shame And it seemeth that he had a bastard for Eupotu in a comedie of his called Demosâ— bringeth him in asking Pyronides thus I praye thee is my bastard sonne yet alive And then Pyramides aunswered him A perfect man long sence he surely had bene founde if that this levvde and a naughty vvhore his vertue had not drovvnâ—e To conclude this Aspasia was so famous that Cyrus he that sought against king Artaxerxes his brother for the empire of PERSIA called Aspasia his best beloued of all his concubines which before was called Milto and was borne in PROCIDES being Hermotineus daughter And Cyrus being slayne in the field Aspasia was caried to the King his brother with whom afterwardes she was in great fauour As I was writing this life this storie came in my minde and me thought I should haue delt hardly if I should haue left it vnwritten But to our matter againe Pericles was charged that he made warres against the SAMIANS on the behalfe of the MILESIANS at the request of Aspasia for these two citties were at warres together for the cittie of Pâ—Iâ—NA but the SAMIANS were the stronger Now the ATHENIANS commaunded them
were maruelously offended with him he dyd what he could to comforte them and put them in harte againe but all was in vaine he could not pacifie them For by the most parte of voyces they depriued him of his charge of generall and condemned him in a maruelous great fine summe of money the which those that tell the least doe write that it was the summe of fifteene talentes and those that say more speake of fiftie talentes The accuser subscribed in this condemnation was Cleon as Idomeneus or Simmias saye or as Theophrastus writeth yet Heraclides Ponticus sayeth one Lacratidas Nowe his common grieues were sone blowen ouer for the people dyd easely let fall their displeasures towardes him as the waspe leaueth her stinge behinde her with them she hath stong But his owne priuate affayers and household causes were in very ill case both for that the plague had taken awaye many of his friendes and kinsemen from him as also for that he and his house had continued a long time in disgrace For Xanthippus Pericles sonne heire being a man of a very ill disposition and nature and hauing maried a young woman very prodigall and lauishe of expence the daughter of Isander sonne of Epilycus he grudged much at his fathers hardnes who scantly gaue him money and but litle at a time Whereupon he sent on a time to one of his fathers friendes in Pericles name to praye him to lend him some money who sent it vnto him But afterwardes when he came to demaunde it againe Pericles dyd not only refuse to paye it him but further he put him in sute But this made the young man Xanthippus so angrie with his father that he spake very ill of him in euery place where he came and in mockery reported howe his father spent his time when he was at home and the talke he had with the Sophisters and the master rethoritians For a mischaunce fortuning on a time at the game of throwing the darte who should throwe best that he that threwe dyd vnfortunately kill one Epitimius a THESSALIAN Xanthippus went pratling vp and downe the towne that his father Pericles was a whole daye disputing with Protagoras the Rethoritian to knowe which of the three by lawe and reason should be condemned for this murther The darte he that threwe the darte or the deuiser of that game Moreouer Stesimbrotus writeth that the brute that ranne abroade through the cittie howe Pericles dyd keepe his wife was sowen abroade by Xanthippus him selfe But so it is this quarrell hate betwext the father and the sonne continued without reconciliation vnto the death For Xanthippus dyed in the great plague and Pericles owne sister also moreouer he lost at that time by the plague the more parte of all his friends and kinsefolkes and those specially that dyd him greatest pleasure in gouerning of the state But all this dyd neuer pull down his contenaunce nor any thing abate the greatnes of his minde what misfortunes soeuer he had susteined Neither sawe they him weepe at any time nor mourne at the funeralles of any of his kinsemen or friendes but at the death of Paralus his younger and lawfull begotten sonne for the losse of him alone dyd only melt his harte Yet he dyd striue to showe his naturall constancie and to keepe his accustomed modestie But as he would haue put a garland of flowers vpon his head sorowe dyd so pierce his harte when he sawe his face that then he burst out in teares and cryed a mayne which they neuer sawe him doe before all the dayes of his life Furthermore the people hauing proued other captaines and gouernours and finding by experience that there was no one of them of iudgement and authoritie sufficient for so great a charge In the ende of them selues they called him againe to the pulpit for orations to heate their counsells and to the state of a captaine also to take charge of the state But at that time he kept him selfe close in his house as one bewayling his late grieuous losse and sorowe Howbeit Alcibiades and other his familiar friendes persuaded him to shewe him selfe vnto the people who dyd excuse them selues vnto him for their ingratitude towardes him Pericles then taking the gouernment againe vpon him the first matter he entred into was that he prayed them to reuoke the statute he had made for base borne children fearing least his lawfull heires would fayle and so his house and name should fall to the grounde But as for that lawe thus it stoode Pericles when he was in his best authoritie caused a lawe to be made that they only should be compted cittizens of ATHENS which were naturall ATHENIANS borne by father and mother Not long time after it fortuned that the king of EGYPT hauing sent a gifte vnto the people of ATHENS of forty thousand bushells of corne to be distributed among the cittizens there many by occasion of this lawe were accused to be base borne and specially men of the baser sorte of people which were not knowen before or at the least had no reckoning made of them and so some of them were falsely and wrongfully condemned Whereupon so it sell out that there were no lesse then fiue thousand of them conuicted and solde for slaues and they that remained as free men and were iudged to be naturall cittizens amownted to the number of fourteene thousand and fortie persones Now this was much misliked of the people that a lawe enacted and that had bene of suche force should by the selfe maker and deuiser of the same be againe reuoked and called in Howbeit Pericles late calamitie that fortuned to his house dyd breake the peoples hardened hartes against him Who thincking these sorowes smarte to be punishment enough vnto him for his former pryde and iudging that by goddes diuine iustice and permission this plague and losse fell vpon him and that his request also was tollerable they suffered him to enrolle his base borne sonne in the register of the lawfull cittizens of his familie geuing him his owne name Pericles It is the self same Pericles who after he had ouercome the PELOPONNESIANS in a great battell by sea neere vnto the Iles ARGINVSES was put to death by sentence of the people with the other captaines his companiōs Now was Pericles at that time infected with the plague but not so vehemently as other were rather more temperatly by long space of time with many alterations and chaunges that dyd by litle and litle decaye and consume the strength of his bodie and ouercame his sences and noble minde Therefore Theophrastus in his moralles declareth in a place where he disputeth whether mens manners doe chaunge with their misfortunes and whether corporall troubles and afflictions doe so alter men that they forget vertue and abandon reason that Pericles in this sicknes shewed a friende of his that came to see him I cannot tell what a
preseruing charme the women had tyed as a carkanet about his necke to let him vnderstand he was very ill since he suffered them to apply suche a foolishe bable to him In the ende Pericles drawing fast vnto his death the Nobilitie of the cittie and such his friendes as were left aliue standing about his bed beganne to speake of his vertue and of the great authoritie he had borne considering the greatnes of his noble actes and counting the number of his victories he had wonne for he had wonne nine foughten battells being generall of the ATHENIANS and had set vp so many tokens and triumphes in honour of his countrie they reckoned vp among them selues all these matters as if he had not vnderstoode them imagining his sences had bene gone But he contrarilie being yet of perfect memorie heard all what they had sayed and thus he beganne to speake vnto them That he marueled why they had so highly praysed that in him which was common to many other captaines and wherein fortune delt with them in equalitie a like and all this while they had forgotten to speake of the best most notable thing that was in him which was that no ATHENIAN had euer worne blacke gowne through his occasion And suer so was he a noble and worthie persone For he dyd not only shewe him selfe mercifull and curteous euen in most weightie matters of gouernment among so enuious people and hatefull enemies but he had this iudgement also to thincke that the most noble actes he dyd were these that he neuer gaue him selfe vnto hatred enuie nor choller to be reuenged of his most mortall enemie without mercy shewed towardes him though he had committed vnto him suche absolute power and sole gouernment among them And this made his surname to be Olympius as to saye diuine or celestiall which otherwise for him had bene to prowde and arrogant a name bicause he was of so good and gentle a nature and for that in so great libertie he had kept cleane handes vndefiled euen as we esteeme the goddes authors of all good and causers of no ill and so worthy to gouerne and rule the whole monarchie of the world And not as Poets saye which doe confounde our wittes by their follies and fonde faynings and are also contrarie to them felues considering that they call heauen which conteineth the goddes the euerlasting seate which trembleth not and is not driuen nor moued with windes neither is darkened with clowdes but is allwayes bright and cleare and at all times shyning equally with a pure bright light as being the only habitation and mansion place of the eternall God only happy and immortall And afterwardes they describe it them selues full of dissentions of enmities of anger and passions which doe nothing become wise and learned men But this discourse peraduenture would be better spoken of in some other booke Nowe the troubles the ATHENIANS felt immediatly after Pericles death made them then lament the losse of so noble a member For those who vnpaciently dyd brooke his great authoritie while he liued bicause it drowned their owne when they came after his death to proue other speakers and gouernours they were compelled then to confesse that no mans nature liuing could be more moderate nor graue with lenitie and mercie then his was And that most hated power which in his life time they called monarchie dyd then most plainely appeare vnto them to haue bene the manifest ramper and bullwarke of the safetie of their whole state and common weale suche corruption and vice in gouernment of the state dyd then spring vp immediatly after his death which when he was aliue he dyd euer suppresse and keepe vnder in suche sorte that either it dyd not appeare at all or at the least it came not to that hed and libertie that suche faultes were committed as were vnpossible to be remedied The ende of Pericles life THE LIFE OF Fabius Maximus HAVING already declared vnto you such things worthy memorie as we could collect and gather of the life of Pericles it is nowe good time we should proceede to write also of the life of Fabius Maximus It is sayed the first Fabius from whom the house and familie of the Fabians dyd descend being the greatest noblest house of all other in ROME was begotten by Herculos whom he gatte of a Nymphe or as other saye a woman of the coūtrie by the riuer of Tyber And some saye that the first of this house were called at the beginning Fodians bicause they dyd hunte wilde beastes with pittefalles and ditches For vnto this present the ROMAINES call ditches Fossae and to digge Fodere Since that time the two second letters haue bene chaunged and they haue called them Fabians But howsoeuer it was this is certaine that many noble men haue come out of that house and among other there was one of that house called Fabius Rullus whom the ROMAINES for his noble actes dyd surname Maximus very great After him Fabius Maximus whose life we haue now in hande was the fourth lineally descended of the same line and he was surnamed Verrucosus bicause of a certen birth marke he had vpon one of his lippes like a litle warte And he was also surnamed Ouicula a litle lamme for his softnes slownes and grauity of his doings whilest he was a childe But bicause of nature he was dull still and very silent and that he was seldome seene to playe at any pastime among the boyes and for that they sawe he was but of slowe capacitie and hard to learne and conceyue and withall that the boyes might doe to him what they would he was so lowly to his fellowes this made men iudge that looked not into him that he would proue a very foole and nigeot Yet other were of contrarie opinion of him who considering more deepely the man perceyued in his nature a certen secret constancie the maiestie of a lyon But Fabius selfe when he was called to serue the common weale dyd quickely shewe to the world that which they tooke for dullnes in him was his grauitie which neuer altered for no cause or respect and that which other iudged fearefullnes in him was very wisedome And where he shewed him selfe not hastie nor sodaine in any thing it was found in him an assured and setled constancie Wherefore when he came to consider the great soueraintie of their common weale and the continuall warres it was in he dyd vse his bodie to all hardnes and brought vp him selfe therewithall that he might be the better able to serue in the field and he gaue him selfe much to eloquence also as a necessary instrument to persuade souldiers vnto reason His tongue likewise dyd agree with his conditions and manner of life For he had no manner of affectation nor counterfeate finenes in his speach but his words were euer very graue and profounde and his sentences euen grafte in him by nature and as some saye were
haue absolute power ouer the people Fabius at his first comming bicause he would shewe the maiestie and dignitie of his office and that euery man should be the more obedient and readie at his commaundement when he went abroade he had foure and twentie sergeants before him carying the bundells of roddes and axes And when one of the Consulls came to him he sent a sergeant to commaund his bundell of roddes that were caried before him to be put downe and all other tokens of dignitie to be layed a side and that he should come and speake with him as a priuate man And first to make a good foundation and to beginne with the seruice of the goddes he delcared vnto the people that the losse they had receyued came through the rashenes and willfull negligence of their captaine who made no reckoning of the goddes nor religion and not through any defaulte and cowardlines of the souldiers And for this cause he dyd persuade them not to be afrayed of their enemies but to appease the wrath of the goddes and to serue and honour them Not that he made them hereby superstitious but dyd confirme their valiancy with true religion and godlines and besides dyd vtterly take awaye and aswage their feare of their enemies by geuing them certaine hope and assuraunce of the ayde of the goddes Then were the holy bookes of the Sibylles prophesies perused which are kept very secret and therein they founde certaine auncient prophecies and oracles which spake of the present misfortunes of the time But what were conteined therein it is not lawfull to be vttered to any persone Afterwards the Dictator before the open assembly of the people made a solemne vowe vnto the goddes that he would sacrifice all the profits and fruites that should fall the next yere of sheepe of sowes of milche kyne and of goates in all the mountaines champion countrie riuers or meadowes of ITALIE And he would celebrate playes of musike shewe other fightes in the honour of the goddes and would bestowe vpon the same the summe of three hundred three thirtie Sestercians three hundred three thirtie Romaine pence a third parte ouer All which summe reduced into Graecian money amownteth to foure score three thousand fiue hundred and foure score and three siluer drachmas two obolos Now it were a hard thing to tell the reason why he doth mention this summe so precisely and why he dyd deuide it by three vnles it were to extolle the power of the number of three bicause it is a perfect number by the nature and is the first of the odde numbers which is the beginning of diuers numbers and conteineth in it self the first differences and the first elements and principles of all the numbers vnited and ioyned together So Fabius hauing brought the people to hope and trust to haue the ayde and fauour of the goddes made them in the ende the better disposed to liue well afterwardes Then Fabius hoping after victorie and that the goddes would send good lucke and prosperitie vnto men through their valliantnes and wisdome dyd straight set forwards vnto Hannibal not as minded to fight with him but fully resolued to weare out his strength and power by delayes and tract of time and to increase his pouertie by the long spending of his owne money and to consume the small number of his people with the great number of his souldiers Fabius camped allwayes in the strong and highe places of the mountaines out of all daunger of his enemies horsemen and coasted still after the enemie so that when Hannibal stayed in any place Fabius also stayed if Hannibal remoued he followed him straight and would be allwayes neere him but neuer forsooke the hilles neither would he come so neere him as that he should be inforced to fight against his will. Yet allwayes he followed the enemie at his tayle and made him euer afeard of him thincking still that he sought to get the vantage to geue the charge vpon him Thus by delaying and prolonging the time in this sorte he became disliked of euery bodye For euery man both in his owne campe and abroade spake very ill of him openly and as for his enemies they tooke him for no better then a rancke coward Hannibal only excepted But he perceyuing his great reache and policie and foreseeing the manner of fight sawe there was no remedy but by playne force or slight to bring him to the fight for otherwise his delaye would ouerthrowe the CARTHAGINIANS when they should not come to handy strokes with him wherein only consisted all their hope and strength and in the meane time his souldiers should fall away and dye and his money was scante and him selfe should growe the weaker Thereupon Hannibal beganne to bethinke him and deuise all the stratageames and policies of warre he could imagine and like a cunning wrestler to seeke out all the trickes he could to geue his aduersarie the falle For sodainely he would goe and geue alarom to his campe by and by againe he would retire Another time he would remoue his campe from one place to another and geue him some aduantage to see if he could plucke his lingring deuise out of his head and yet to hazard nothing But as for Fabius he continued still resolute in his first determination that delaye of fight was the best waye so to ouerthrowe him Howbeit Minutius generall of his horsemen dyd trouble him muche For he being earnestly bent to fight without discretion and brauing of a lustie corage crept into opinion with the souldiers by his whotte furie and desire to fight Which wrought muche in them and so sturred vp their corages that they mocked Fabius altogether and called him Hanniballs schoolemaster and contrariwise they commended Minutius for a valliant captaine and worthie ROMAINE This made Minutius looke highe and haue a prowde opinion of him selfe mocking Fabius bicause he euer lodged on the hilles with saying the Dictator would make them goodly sportes to see their enemies waste and burne ITALY before their face Moreouer he asked Fabius friendes whether he would in the ende lodge his campe in the skye that he dyd clyme vp so highe vpon mountaines mistrusting the earthe or els that he was so affrayed his enemies would finde him out that he went to hyde him selfe in the clowdes Fabius friendes made reporte of these ieastes and aduised him rather to hazard battel then to beare suche reproachefull wordes as were spoken of him But Fabius aunswered them If I should yeld to that you counsell me I should shewe my selfe a greater coward then I am taken for now by leauing my determination for feare of their mockes and spightfull wordes For it is no shame for a man to stand fearefull and iealous of the welfare and safetie of his countrie but otherwise to be afeard of the wagging of euery strawe or to regard euery common prating it is not the parte of a
were priuie to the contentes of the same desired no other thing but his repaire thither These letters pretily quickned Fabius insomuch as he was determined one night to haue taken parte of his armie to haue gone to them But bicause the signes of the birdes dyd promise him no good successe he left of his purpose Sone after he vnderstoode they were counterfeate letters made by Hannibals fine deuise to haue drawen him out to haue intrapped him for whom him selfe laye in persone in ambushe neere the cittie looking and waiting for his comming but the goddes who would haue him saued were only to be thāked for his happy scape Furthermore concerning the reuolte of the citties that were subject vnto them and the rising of their allies friends against them Fabius thought it farre better to intreate them curteously making them ashamed without occasion to rebell against them rather then openly to suspect them and to deale straightly with those that were so to be suspected Now for this matter it is reported that Fabius had a souldier in his campe that was a MARSIAN borne by nation a valliant man of his persone also of as noble a house as any that were of all the allies of the ROMAINES who had practised with other his fellowes of the bande he serued in to goe serue the enemie Fabius hearing of this practise he went about gaue him no ill countenaunce for it but calling him to him he sayed I must confesse there is no reckoning made of you as your good seruice doth deserue wherefore for this time sayeth he I blame the pety captaines only which in such sorte doe bestowe their good will and fauour at aduenture and not by deserte But henceforth it shal be your owne faulte if you doe not declare your minde vnto me and betweene you and me make me priuie of your lacke necessitie When he had spoken these wordes to him he gaue him a very good horse for seruice and dyd rewarde him with other honorable giftes as men of good seruice desert haue commonly bestowed on them and this dyd so encorage the souldier thenceforth that he became a very faithfull and seruiceable souldier to the ROMAINES For Fabius thought it more fit that hunters riders of horses such like as take vpon them to tame brute beastes should sonner make them leaue their sauage churlishe nature by gentle vsage and manning of them then by beating and shackling of them And so a gouernour of men should rather correct his souldier by paciēce gentlenes and clemency then by rigour violence or seueritie Otherwise he should handle them more rudely and sharpely then husbandmen doe figge trees oliue trees wilde pomegarnets who by diligent pruning and good handling of them doe alter their harde and wilde nature cause them in the end to bring forth good figges oliues pomegarnets Another time certaine captaines of his brought him worde that there was one of their souldiers which would euer goe out of the cāpe leaue his ensigne He asked them what manner of man he was They aunswered him all together that he was a very good souldier and that they could hardly finde out suche another in all their bandes as he and therewithall they tolde him of some notable seruice they had seene him doe in persone Whereupon Fabius made a diligent enquierie to know what the cause was that made him goe so oft out of the campe in the end he founde he was in loue with a young woman and that to goe see her was the cause he dyd so ofte leaue his ensigne and dyd put his life in so great daunger for that she was so farre of When Fabius vnderstoode this he sent certaine souldiers vnknowing to the souldier to bring the woman awaye he loued and willed them to hyde her in his tente and then called he the souldier to him that was a LVCANIAN borne and taking him a side sayed vnto him thus My friend it hath bene tolde me how thou hast lyen many nightes out of the campe against the lawe of armes and order of the ROMAINES but therewithall I vnderstande also that otherwise thou art an honest man and therefore I pardone thy faultes paste in consideration of thy good seruice but from henceforth I will geue thee in custodie to such a one as shall make me accompt of thee The souldier was blancke when he heard these wordes Fabius with that caused the woman he was in loue with to be brought forth and deliuered her into his hands saying vnto him This woman hereafter shall aunswer me thy bodie to be forth comming in the campe amongest vs and from henceforth thy deedes shall witnesse for the reste that thy loue vnto this woman maye be no cloke of thy departing out of the campe for any wicked practise or intent Thus much we finde written concerning this matter Moreouer Fabius after suche a sorte recouered againe the cittie of TARENTVM and brought it to the obedience of the ROMAINES which they had lost by treason It fortuned there was a young man in his campe a TARENTINE borne that had a sister within TARENTVM which was very faithfull to him and loued him maruelous dearely now there was a captaine a BRVTIAN borne that fell in loue with her and was one of those to whom Hannibal had committed the charge of the cittie of TARENTVM This gaue the young souldier the TARENTINE very good hope and waye to bring his enterprise to good effect whereupon he reuealed his intent to Fabius and with his priuitie fled from his campe and got into the cittie of TARENTVM geuing it out in the cittie that he would altogether dwell with his sister Now for a fewe dayes at his first comming the BRVTIAN captaine laye alone by him selfe at the request of the mayde his sister who thought her brother had not knowen of her loue and shortely after the young fellowe tooke his sister aside and sayed vnto her My good sister there was a great speache in the ROMAINES campe that thou wert kept by one of the chiefest captaines of the garrison I praye thee if it be so let me knowe what he is For so he be a good fellowe and an honest man as they saye he is I care not for warres that turneth all things topsi turuey regardeth not of what place or calling he is of and still maketh vertue of necessitie without respect of shame And it is a speciall good fortune at such time as neither right nor reason rules to happen yet into the handes of a good and gratious lorde His sister hearing him speake these wordes sent for the BRVTIAN captaine to bring him acquainted with her brother who liked well of both their loues and indeuoured him self to frame his sisters loue in better sorte towards him then it was before by reason whereof the captaine also beganne to trust him very muche So this young TARENTINE sawe it was very easie to winne and
Thus they continued a longe space the one cryinge the other lystning yet could they not vnderstand one an other til at the last one of the company bethought him selfe to pill of a peece of the barke of an oke vpon that he wrote with the tongue of a buckle the hard fortune and necessity of the childe Which he tyed to a stone to geue it weight and so threw it ouer to the other side of the riuer other say that he did pricke the barke through with the point of a dart which he cast ouer The contrymen on the otherside of the riuer hauinge red what was wrytten and vnderstanding thereby the present daunger the childe was in felled downe trees in all the hast they could possibly bounde them together and so passed ouer the riuer And it fortune that the first man of them that passed ouer and tooke the child was called Achilles the residue of the contrymen passed ouer also and tooke the other that came with the childe and conueyed them ouer as they came first to hand And thus hauing escaped their haÌ„ds by easie iorneys they came at the length vnto Glaucias king of ILLYRIA whom they found in his house sitting by his wife and layed downe the childe in the middest of the flower before him The king hereuppon stayed a long time without vttering any one word waying with him selfe what was best to be done bicause of the feare he had of Cassander a mortall enemy of AEacides In the meane time the childe Pyrrus creeping of all foure tooke hold of the kinges gowne and scrawled vp by that and so got vp on his feete against the kings knees At the first the king laughed to see the childe but after it pitied him againe bicause the child seemed like an humble suter that came to seeke sanctuary in his armes Other say that Pyrrus came not to Glaucias but vnto the alter of the familiar gods alongest the which he got vp on his feete and embraced it with both his hands Which Glaucias imagining to be done by gods prouidence presently deliuered the childe to his wife gaue her the charge of him and willed her to see him brought vp with his owne Shortely after his enemies sent to demaunde the childe of him and moreouer Cassander caused two hundred talents to be offered him to deliuer the childe Pyrrus into his handes Howebeit Glaucias would neuer graunt thereunto but contrarily when Pyrrus was comen to twelue yeares olde brought him into his contry of EPIRVS with an army and stablished him king of the realme againe Pyrrus had a great maiesty in his countenaunce but yet in deede more fearefull then frendly He had also no teeth in his vpper iawe that stoode distinctly one from an other but one whole bone through out his gomme marked a litle at the top only with certaine riftes in the place where the teeth should be deuided Men helde opinion also that he did heale them that were sicke of the splene by sacrificinge a white cocke and touchinge the place of the splene on the left side of them that were sicke softely with his right foote they lying on their backes and there was not so poore nor simple a man that craued this remedy of him but he gaue it him and tooke the cocke he sacrificed for reward of the remedy which pleased him very well They say also that the great toe of his right foote had some secrete vertue in it For when he was dead and that they had burnt all partes of his body and consumed it to ashes his great toe was whole and had no hurt at all But of that we will wryte more hereafter Now when he was seuenteene yeares of age thinking him selfe sure enough of his kingdome it chaunced him to make a iorney into ILLYRIA where he maried one of Glaucias daughters with whom he had bene brought vp But this backe was no sooner turned but the MOLOSSIANS rebelled againe against him draue out his frends seruaunts and destroyed all his goods and yelded themselues vnto his aduersary Neoptolemus King Pyrrus hauing thus lost his kingdom seeing himself forsaken on all sides went to Demetrius Antigonus sonne that had maried his sister Deidamia who in her young age was assured to Alexander the sonne of Alexander the great and of Roxane and was called his wife But when all that race was brought to wicked ende Demetrius then maried her being come to full and able age And in that great battell which was striken neere to the citie of HIPSVS where all the kinges fought together Pyrrus being then but a young man and with Demetrius put them all to flight that fought with him and was worthely reputed for the valliantest prince amongest them all Furthermore when Demetrius was ouercome and had lost the battell Pyrrus neuer forsooke him but faithfully did keepe for him the cities of GREECE which he put into his hands And afterwards when peace was concluded betwixt Demetrius and Ptolomie Pyrrus was sent an ostage for Demetrius into the realme of AEGIPTE where he made Ptolomie know both in huntinge and in other exercises of his persone that he was very strong harde and able to endure any labor Furthermore perceiuing that Berenice amongest all king Ptolomies wiues was best beloued and esteemed of her husbande both for her vertue and wisedome he beganne to entertaine and honor her aboue all the rest For he was a man that could tell how to humble him selfe towardes the great by whom he might winne benefit and knewe also how to creepe into their credit and in like manner was he a great scorner and despiser of such as were his inferiors Moreouer for that he was found maruelous honorable and of fayer condicion he was preferred before all other young princes to be the husbande of Antigona the daughter of Queene Berenice whom she had by Philip before she was maried vnto Ptolomie From thenceforth growing through the allyance of that mariage more and more into estimacion and fauor by meanes of his wife Antigona who shewed her selfe very vertuous and louing towardes him he found meanes in the ende to get both men and money to returne againe into the realme of EPIRVS and to conquer it so was he then very well receiued of the people and the better for the malice they bare to Neoptolemus bicause he deâ—â— both hardly and cruelly with them That notwithstandinge Pyrrus fearinge least Neoptolemus would repaire vnto some of the other kings to seeke ayde against him thought good to make peace with him Whereupon it was agreed betwene them that they should both together be kinges of EPIRVS But in processe of time some of their men secretly made strife againe betwene them and set them at defyance one with an other and the chiefest cause as it is sayed that angered Pyrrus most grew apon this The kinges of EPIRVS had an auncient custome of great antiquity after
and lodged with him When night was come the LACEDAEMONIANS counselled together secretly determined to send away their wiues and litle children into CRETA But the women them selues were against it and there was one amonge them called Archidamia who went into the Senate house with a sword in her hand to speake vnto them in the name of all the rest and sayd that they did their wiues great wronge if they thought them so fainte harted as to liue after SPARTA were destroyed Afterwards it was agreed in counsell that they should cast a trenche before the enemies campe and that at both the endes of the same they should bury cartes in the ground vnto the middest of the wheeles to the end that being fast set in the ground they should stay the elephantes and kepe them from passing further And when they beganne to go in hand withall there came wives and maides vnto them some of them their clothes girte vp round about them and others all in their smockes to worke at this trenche with the old men aduising the young men that should fight the next morning to rest them selues in the meane while So the women tooke the third parte of the trenche to taske which was six cubittes broade foure cubits deepe and eight hundred foote long as Philarchus sayth or litle lesse as Hieronymus wryteth Then when the breake of day appeared the enemies remoued to come to the assault the women them selues fetched the weapons which they put into the young mens hands and deliuered them the taske of the trenche ready made which they before had vndertaken praying them valliantly to keepe and defend it tellinge them withall howe great a pleasure it is to ouercome the enemies fighting in view and sight of their natiue contry and what great felicity and honor it is to dye in the armes of his mother and wife after he hath fought valliantly like an honest man and worthy of the magnanimity of SPARTA But Chelidonida being gone a side had tyed a halter with ariding knot about her necke ready to strangle hang her selfe rather theÌ„ to fall into the hands of Cleonymus if by chaunce the city should come to be taken Now Pyrrus marched in person with his battell of footemen against the fronte of the SPARTANS who being a great number also did tary his comming on the other side of the trenche the which besides that it was very ill to passe ouer did let the souldiers also to fight steadely in order of battell bicause the earth being newly cast vp did yeld vnder their feete Wherefore Ptolomie king Pyrrus sonne passing all alongest the trench side with two thowsand GAVLES all the choyce men of the CHAONIANS assayed if he could get ouer to the other side at one of the endes of the trenche where the cartes were which being set very deepe into the ground and one ioyned vnto an other they did not only hinder thassaylants but the defendants also Howbeit in the end the GAVLES began to plucke of the wheeles of these cartes and to draw them into the riuer But Acrotatus king Areus sonne a young man seeing the daunger ranne through the city with a troupe of three hundred lusty youthes besides went to inclose Ptolomie behinde before he espied him for that he passed a secret hollow way till he came even to geue the charge vpon them whereby they were enforced to turne their faces towardes him one runninge in an others necke and so in great disorder were thrust into the trenches and vnder the cartes insomuch as at the last with much a doe and great bloodshed Acrotates and his company draue them backe and repulsed them Now the women and old men that were on thother side of the trenche saw plainly before their face howe valliantly Acrotatus had repulsed the GAVLES Wherefore alter Acrotatus had done this exployte he returned againe through the city vnto the place from whence he came all on a goare blood coragious and liuely for the victory he came newly from The women of SPARTA thought Acrotatus farre more noble and fayrer to beholde then euer he was so that they all thought Chelidonida happy to haue such a frend and louer And there were certaine olde men that followed him crying after him goe thy way Acrotatus and enioy thy loue Chelidonida beget noble children of her vnto SPARTA The fight was cruell on that side where Pyrrus was and many of the SPARTANS fought very valliantly Howbeit amongest other there was one named Phillius who after he had sought long and slaine many of his enemies with his owne handes that forced to passe ouer the trenche perceiuing that his hart fainted for the great number of woundes he had apon him called one of them that were in the rancke next behinde him and geuing him his place fell downe deade in the armes of his frendes bicause his enemies shoulde not have his body In the ende the battell hauinge continued all the day longe the night did separate them and Pyrrus being layed in his bed had this vision in his sleepe He thought he â—â—rake the city of LACEDAEMON with lightning and that he vtterly consumed it whereat he was so passing glad that euen with the very ioy he awaked And thereuppon foorthwith commaunded his Captaines to make their men ready to the assault and told his dreame vnto his familiers supposing that out of dout it did betoken he should in that approache take the citie All that heard it beleued it was so sauing one Lysimachus who to the contrary sayed that this vision like him not bicause the places smitten with lightning are holy and it is noâ— lawfull to enter into them by reason wherof he was also affraied that the goddes did signifie vnto him that he should not enter into the citie of SPARTA Pyrrus aunswered him that saied he is a matter disputable to fro in an open assembly of people for there is no maner of certainty in it But furthermore euery man must take his weapon in his hand set this sentence before his eyes A right good signe it is that he vvould hazard life In iust defence of masters cause vvith speare and bloody knife Alludinge vnto Homers verses which he wrote for the defence of his contry And saying thus he rose and at the breake of day led his army vnto the assault On thother side also the LACEDAEMONIANS with a maruelous corage magnanimity farre greater then their force bestirred them selues wonderfully to make resistaunce hauing their wiues by them that gaue them their weapons wherewith they fought and were ready at hand to geue meate drinke to them that needed and did also withdrawe those that were hurt to cure them The MACEDONIANS likewise for their parte endeuored them selues with all their might to fill vppe the trenche with wodde and other thinges which they cast vpon the dead bodies and armors lying in the bottome of the ditche the
LACEDAEMONIANS againe labored all that they could possible to let them But in this great broyle one perceiued Pyrrus a horse backe to haue lept the trenche past ouer the strength of the cartes and make force to enter into the city Wherfore those that were appointed to defende that parte of the trench cried out straight and the women fell a shreeking and running as if all had bene lost And as Pyrrus passed further striking downe with his owne handes all that stoode before him a CRETAN shot at him strake his horse through both sides who leapinge out of the prease for paine of his wounde dying caried Pyrrus away and threw him vppon the hanging of a steepe hill where he was in great daunger to fall from the toppe This put all his seruauntes and frendes about him in a maruelous feare and therewithall the LACEDAEMONIANS seeing them in this feare and trouble ran immediatly vnto that place and with force of shotte draue them all out of the trenche After this retyre Pyrrus caused all assault to cease hoping the LACEDAEMONIANS in the end would yeelde consideringe there were many of them slaine in the two dayes past and all the rest in maner hurt Howbeit the good fortune of the citie whether it were to proue the valliantnes of the inhabitantes them selues or at the least to shew what power they were of euen in their greatest nede and distresse when the LACEDAEMONIANS had small hope left brought one Aminias Phocian from CORINTHE one of king Antigonus Captaines with a great band of men and put them into the city to aide them and straight after him as soone as he had entred king Areus arriued also on thother side from CRETA and two thowsand souldiers with him So the women went home to their houses makinge their reckening that they should not neede any more to trouble them selues with warres They gaue the olde men liberty also to goe and rest them selues who being past allage to fight for necessities sake yet were driuen to arme them selues and take weapon in hande and in order of battell placed the newe come souldiers in their roomes Pyrrus vnderstanding that newe supplies were come grewe to greater stomake then before and inforced all that he could to winne the towne by assault But in the end when to his cost he founde that he wanne nothing but blowes he gaue ouer the siege and went to spoyle all the contry about determining to lye there in garrison all the winter He coulde not for all this auoide his destenie For there rose a sedition in the city of ARGOS betwene two of the chiefest citizens Aristeas and Aristippus and bicause Aristeas thought that kinge Antigonus did fauor his enemy Aristippus he made hast to sende first vnto Pyrrus whose nature and disposition was such that he did continually heape hope vppon hope euer taking the present prosperity for an occasion to hope after greater to come And if it fell out he was a loser then he sought to recouer him selfe and to restore his losse by some other newe attempts So that neither for being conqueror nor ouercomen he would euer be quiet but alwayes troubled some and him selfe also by reason whereof he sodainly departed towardes ARGOS But king Areus hauing layed ambushes for him in diuerse places and occupied also the straightest and hardest passages by the which he was to passe gaue a charge vppon the GAVLES and MOLOSSIANS which were in the tayle of his army Now the selfe same day Pyrrus was warned by a Soothsayer who sacrificing had founde the liuer of the sacrificed beast infected that it betokened the losse of some most neere vnto him But when he heard the noyse of the charge geuen he thought not of the forwarning of his Soothsayer but commaunded his sonne to take his household seruauntes with him and to go thither as he him selfe in the meane time with as great hast as he could made the rest of his army marche to get them quickely out of this daungerous way The fraye was very hotte about Ptolomie Pyrrus sonne for they were all the chiefe men of the LACEDAEMONIANS with whome he had to doe led by a valliant Captaine called Eualcus But as he fought valliantly against those that stoode before him there was a souldier of CRETA called Oraesus borne in the citie of APTERA a man very ready of his hande and light of foote who running alongest by him strake him such a blowe on his side that he sell downe dead in the place This prince Ptolomie being slaine his company began straight to flie and the LACEDAEMONIANS followed the chase so hottely that they tooke no heede of them selues vntill they sawe they were in the plaine field farre from their footemen Wherefore Pyrrus vnto whom the death of his sonne was newly reported being a fire with sorow and passion turned so dainly vpon them with the men of armes of the MOLOSSIANS and being the first that came vnto them made a maruelous slaughter among them For notwithstanding that euery where before that time he was terrible and inuincible hauing his sword in his hande yet then he did shewe more proofe of his valliantnes strength and corage then he had euer done before And when he had sette spurres to his horse against Eualcus to close with him Eualcus turned on the toe side and gaue Pyrrus such a blowe with his sword that he missed litle the cutting of his bridle hande for he cut in deede all the raines of the bridle a sunder But Pyrrus straight ranne him through the body with his speare and lighting of from his horse he put all the troupe of the LACEDAEMONIANS to the sword that were about the body of Eualcus being all chosen men Thus the ambition of the Captaines was cause of that losse vnto their contry for nothing considering that the warres against thē were ended But Pyrrus hauing now as it were made sacrifice of these poore bodies of the LACEDAEMONIANS for the soule of his dead sonne and fought thus wonderfully also to honor his funeralls conuerting a great parte of his sorow for his death into anger and wrath against the enemies he afterwardes held on his way directly towardes ARGOS And vnderstanding that king Antigonus had already seased the hills that were ouer the valley he lodged neere vnto the city of NAVPLIA and the next morning following sent a heraulde vnto Antigonus and gaue him defyance calling him wicked man and chalenged him to come downe into the valley to fight with him to trye which of them two should be king Antigonus made him aunswer that he made warres as much with time as with weapon furthermore that if Pyrrus were weary of his life he had wayes open enough to put him selfe to death The citizens of ARGOS also sent Ambassadors vnto them both to pray them to departe sith they knew that there was nothing for them to see in the city of ARGOS and that they would let
triumphed into the city with Catulus Luctatius meaning to shew himselfe curteous and moderate in so great prosperity and peraduenture also fearing Catulus souldiers who were in readinesse and prepared if Marius would haue depriued their Captaine of that honor to let him also of his triumphe And thus you see howe he passed his fift Consulshippe After that he made more earnest sute for the sixt Consulshippe then euer any other did for his first seeking the peoples goodwilles by all the fayer meanes he could to please them humbling him selfe vnto them not only more then became his estate and calling but directly also against his owne nature counterfeating a curteous populer manner being cleane contrarie to his disposition His ambition made him timerous to deale in matters of the state concerning the city For that corage and boldenesse which he had in battell against the enemy he lost it quite when he was in an assembly of people in the city and was easily put out of his byase with the first blame or praise he heard geuen him And though they reporte that on a time when he made a thowsande CAMERINES free of the city of ROME bicause they had done valliant seruice in the warres that there were some that did accuse him saying that it was a thing done against all law he aunswered them that for the noyse of the armor he could not heare the law Notwithstanding it seemeth that in dede he was greatly afeard of the fury of the people in an assembly of the city For in time of warres he euer stoode apon his reputacion and authority knowing that they had neede of him but in peace and ciuill gouernment bicause he would rather be the chiefest man then the honestest man he would creepe into the peoples bosomes to get their fauor and goodwil And thus through his euill behauior he brought all the nobility generally to be his enemies But he feared nor mistrusted none so much as he did Metellus for the great vnthankefull parte he remembred he had played him and the rather also bicause he knew him to be a iust true dealing man and one that was euer against these people pleasers and flatterers Marius therefore practised all the wayes he could to get Metellus to be banished ROME Wherfore to compasse his intent he fell in frendship with Glaucia and one Saturninus two of the most boldest most desperate and most hardbraind young men that were in all ROME who had all the rablement of rogues and beggers and such tumultuous people at their commaundement by whose meanes he made new populer lawes and caused the souldiers to be called home out of the warres mingled them with the people of the city in common assemblies to trouble and vexe Metellus Moreouer Rutilius an honest and true writer howbeit an enemy vnto Marius wryteth that he obtained his sixt Consulshippe by corruption of money which he caused to be distributed amongest the tribes of the people that he bought it for ready money to put by Metellus and to haue Valerius Flaccus not for his fellowe and companion in the Consulshippe but rather for a minister of his will. There was neuer ROMAINE to whome the people graunted the Consulshippe six times except it were vnto Valerius Coruinus only But for him they say that there was fiue and forty yeares betwene his first Consulship and the last Where Marius since the first yeare of his Consulshippe continued fiue yeares together by good fortune one after an other But in his last Consulship he wanne him selfe great hate and malice bicause he did many fowle faultes to please Saturninus withall as amongest others when he bare with Saturninus who murdered Nonius his competitor in the Tribuneship Afterwardes when Saturninus was chosen Tribune of the people he preferred a law for distribution of the landes among the common people and vnto that law he had specially added one article that all the Lords of the Senate should come openly to sweare that they should kepe and obserue from pointe to pointe that which the people by their voyces should decree and should not deny it in any iotte But Marius in open Senate made as though he would withstand this article saying that neither he nor any other wise man of iudgement would take this othe for said he if the law be euill then they should doe the Senate open wrong to compell them by force to graunt it and not of their owne goodwills But he spake not that meaning to do as he said for it was but a bayte he had layed for Metellus only which he could hardly escape For imagining that to tell a fine lye was a peece of vertue and of a good wit he was throughly resolued with him selfe not to passe for any thing he had spoken in the Senate And to the contrary also knowinge well enough that Metellus was a graue wise man who esteemed that to be iust and true as Pindarus sayd is the beginning and foundacion of great vertue he thought he would outreach him makinge him affirme before the Senate that he would not sweare knowinge also that the people would hate him deadly if he would refuse afterwardes to sweare And so in dede it happened For Metellus hauing assured them then that he would not sweare the Senate brake vp vppon it And shortly after Saturninus the Tribune calling the Senators vnto the pulpit for orations to compell them to sweare before the people Marius went thither to offer him selfe to sweare Whereupon the people making silence listned attentiuely to heare what he would say But Marius not regarding his large promise bragges made before the Senate sayed then his necke was not so long that he would preiudice the common wealth in a matter of so great importance but that he would sweare and obey the lawe if it were a law This shifting subtilty he added to it to cloke and couer his shame and when he had sayd so he tooke his othe The people seeing him sweare were maruelous glad and praised him with clapping of their hands but the nobility hanging downe their heads were ashamed of him and were maruelous angry in their hartes with him that he had so cowardly and shamefully gone from his word Therupon all the Senate tooke their othes one after an other against their wills bicause they were afrayed of the people Sauing Metellus whome neither parentes nor frendes perswasion and intreaty could once moue to sweare for any punishment that Saturninus had imposed vpon them which refused to take the othe but continued one man still according to his nature and would neuer yelde vnto it offering to abide any payne rather then to be brought to consent to a dishonest matter vnbeseming his estate And thereuppon went out of the assembly and talking with them that did accompany him told them that to do euill it was too easie a thing and to doe good without daunger it was also a
could not hide his men in time but use Sylipus as the first onset had taken a forte of his called Plemmyrion within the whiche lay the store and takell for many gallies a great masse of ready money which was wholly lost Besides in the same conflict also were many men slaine and many taken prisoners Yet further the greatest matter of weight was that therby he tooke from Nicias the great commodity he had to bringe his vittells safely by sea to his campe For while the ATHENIANS kepe this forte they might at their pleasure bring vittels without daūger to their campe being contened with the same but when they had lost it then it was hard for them so to do bicause they were euer driuen to fight with the enemies that lay at ancker before the forte Furthermore the SYRACVSANS did not thinke that their armie by sea was ouerthrowen bicause their enemies the stronger but for that their men had followed the ATHENIANS disorderedly and therefore were desirous once againe to venter in better sorte and order than before But Nicias by no meanes would be brought to fight again saying that it were a madnes looking for such a great nauy a new supply as Demosthenes was comming withall rashly to fight with a fewee number of shippes than they and but poorely furnished But contrarily Menander and Euthydemus newly promoted to the state of Captaines with Nicias being pricked forwards with ambition against the two other Captaines Nicias and Demosthenes that was then comming desired to preuent Demosthenes in performing some notable seruice before his arriuall thereby also to excell Nicias doinges Howbeit the cloke they had to couer their ambition withall was the honor reputacion of the city of ATHENS the which sayd they were shamed and dishonored for euer if they now should shew thēselues afraied of the SYRACVSANS who prouoked them to fight Thus brought they Nicias against his will to battell in the which the ATHENIANS were slaine and ouercome by the good counsell of a CORINTHIAN Pilot called Aviston For the left wing of their battell as Thucydides wryteth was clearely ouerthrowen and they lost a great number of their men Whereupon Nicias was wonderfully perplexed considering on the one side that he had taken maruelous paines whilest he was fole Captāine of the whole army and on thother side for that he had committed a foule fault when they had geuen him companions But as Nicias was in this great dispaire they descried Demosthenes apon a pere of the hauen with his fleete brauely set out and furnished to terrifie the enemies For he had three score and thirteene gallies and in them he brought fiue thowsande footemen well armed and appointed and of darters bowmen and hurlers with slinges about three thowsand and the gallies trimmed and set foorth with goodly armors numbers of ensignes and with a world of trompets howboyes and such marine musicke and all set out in this triumphant shew to feare the enemies the more Now thought the SYRACVSANS them selues againe in a pecke of troubles perceiuing they stroue against the streame and consumed them selues to no purpose whēby that they saw there was no likelyhoode to be deliuered frō their troubles And Nicias also reioyced that so great aide was come but his ioy helde not longe For so soone as he began to talke with Demosthenes of the state of thinges he found him bent forthwirth to set apon the SYRACVSANS and to hasard all with spede that they might quickely take SYRACVSA and so dispatche away home againe Nicias thought this more hast then good speede and feared much this foole hardines Wherupon he prayed him to attempt nothing rashely nor desperately and perswaded him that it was their best way to prolong the warre against the enemies who were without money and therefore would soone be forsaken of their confederates And besides if they came once to be pinched for lacke of vittells that they would then quickely seeke to him for peace as they had done afore time For there vpon many within SYRACVSA that were Nicias frendes who wished him to abide time for they were weary of warre and waxed angry also with Gylippus So that if they were but straighted a litle more with want of vittells they would yeelde straight Nicias deliuering these perswasions somwhat darkely and keping somwhat also from vtteraunce bicause he would not speake them openly made his colleagues thinke he spake it for cowardines and that he returned againe to his former delayes to keepe all in security by which manner of proceedinge he had from the beginning killed the hartes of his armie for that he had not at his first comming set apon the enemies but had protracted time so long till the corage of his souldiers was colde and done and himselfe also brought into contempt with his enemies Whereupon the other Captaines his colleagues and companions with him in the charge Euthydemus and Menander stucke to Demosthenes opinion wherunto Nicias was also forced against his will to yeeld So Demosthenes the selfe same night taking the footemen went to assault the fort of Epipolis where before his enemies heard any thing of his comming he slue many of them and made the rest flee that offered resistaunce But not content with this victory he went furder till he fell apon the BOEOTIANS They gathering themselues together were the first that resisted the ATHENIANS basing their pikes with such furie and lowde cries that they caused the former to retyre and made all the rest of thassailantes afrayed and amased For the formost flyinge backe came full vpon their companions who taking them for their enemies and their flight for a charge resisted them with all their force so mistaking one an other both were wounded and slaine and the hurt they ment vnto their enemies did vnfortunately light vpon their owne fellowes For this multitude meetinge thus confusedly together what through their great feare what for that they could not discerne one an other in the night the which was neither so darke that they could not see at all nor yet so cleere as they might certainly iudge by sight what they were that met them for then the moone declined a pace and the small light it gaue was diffused with the number of men that ran to fro the feare they had of the enemy made them mistrust their frendes All these troubles and disaduantages had the ATHENIANS and beside the moone on their backes which causing the shadow to fall forward did hide their number and glistering of armor and contrarily the enemies targets glaring in their eyes by the reflection of the moone that shone vpon them encreased their feare and making them seeme a greater number and better appointed than they were in deede At last thenemies geuing a lusty charge vppon them on euery side after they once beganne to geue backe and turne taile some were slaine by their enemies others by their owne company
About that time they say that Mithridates sawe that in a dreame which did prognosticate what should happen He thought that hauing the winde in the poope of his shippe he was vnder saile in the middest of the sea of Mare Bosphorum and that he was maruelous glad of it and reioyced with them that failed with him thinking him selfe certainly past all daunger yet sodainly againe that all this ioy left him and that he floted vp and downe the waues of the sea apon a litle peece of the shippe that was broken trusting to the mercy of the windes As he was troubled with this ill fauored dreame certaine of his familiars came to him and told him that Pompey was come so neere that there was no shift but they must needes fight to defend their campe Thereuppon his Captaines straight beganne to put his men in battell ray ready to fight Pompey vnderstanding they prepared to make defence was in dout to venter his men to fight in the darke thinking it better to compasse them in to keepe them from flying then in the morning to set vpon them more easily his men being the better souldiers But Pompeys olde Captaines were so earnestly in hand with him to perswade him they might fight that in the ende he was contented they should geue charge Now it was not so darke but they could somewhat see for the moone that was very low and vppon her setting gaue light enough to discerne the body of a man yet bicause the moone was very low the shadow which gaue out further farre then their bodies came almost euen to their very enemies which did let thē that they could not certainly iudge what space of ground was betwene them but imagining that they were hard by them they cast their dartes at the ROMANES but they hurte neuer a man for their bodies were a great way from them The ROMANES perceiuing that ran apon them with great cries But the barbarous people durst not abide their charge they were so affrayed but turned their backes and ranne away for life so that they were slaine downe right Thus were there tenne thowsand of the barbarous people slaine and more and their campe also taken As for Mithridates him selfe at the beginning of thonset he made a lane among the ROMANES with eight hundred horsemen and passed cleane through them But incontinently his men dispersed apon it some one way some an other way so that he was left alone but with three persons only whereof Hypsicratea was one of the number which had euer bene valliant and had a mans hart whereuppon for that cause Mithridates called her Hypsicrates She at that time being arrayed like a man of armes of PERSIA and mounted also on a horse after the PERSIAN maner was neuer weary with any long iorney the king made nor neuer left to waite vpon his person and to looke to his horse vntill such time as the king came to a strong castell called Inora where was great store of gold siluer and the kinges chiefest treasure Then Mithridates tooke of his richest apparell he had there gaue it amongest them that were about him at that time and a deadly poyson besides to euery one of his frendes to carie about them bicause they should not vnlesse they would them selues fall into their enemies handes aliue From thence he thought to take his iorney into ARMENIA vnto king Tigranes Howbeit Tigranes sent to let him and further proclaimed by trompet that he would geue a hundred talentes to him that could kill him Thereuppon passing by the head of the riuer of Euphrates he fled through the contry of CHOLCHIDE In the meane time Pompey inuaded the contry of ARMENIA at the request of Tigranes the younger who was reuolted against his father and went to meete with Pompey at the riuer of Araxes which hath his beginning almost about the head of Euphrates but it runneth towards the East and falleth into Mare Caspium So they both together marched on further into the contrie receiuinge such townes as yeelded vnto them But king Tigranes that not long before had bene consumed and destroyed by Lucullus vnderstanding that Pompey was of a mylde and gentle nature he receiued his garrisons into his strongest fortes and royall houses and went him selfe with his frendes and kinsemen to meete Pompey to yeeld him selfe vnto him Whē he came hard to his campe being a horse backe there came out two sergeaunts of Pompeys commaunded him to light and go in a foote for there was neuer man seene a horse backe within the ROMANES campe Tigranes did not only obey them but further plucked of his sword and gaue it them and in fine when he came almost to Pompey taking of his royall hatte frō his head he would haue layed it at Pompeys feete falling downe most shamefully on the ground imbased him selfe to imbrase Pompeys knees But Pompey him selfe preuented him and taking him by the hande made him to sit downe by him on the one side of him and his sonne on the other Then he sayd vnto them both as for the other losses you haue susteined heretofore you must thanke Lucullus for them who hath taken from you SYRIA PHOENICIA CILICIA GALATIA and SOPHENA but for that you haue left you till my comming I will let you enioy it paying to the ROMANES a fine of sixe thowsand talentes for the iniurie you had done them prouide also that your sonne haue the kingdome of SOPHENA for his parte Tigranes accepted the condicions of peace The ROMANES then saluted him king He was so glad thereof that he promised to geue euery souldier halfe a Mina euery Centener tenne Minas and to euery Colonell of a thowsand men a talent His sonne was very angry withall insomuch as Pompey sending for him to come to supper to him he aunswered againe that was not the frendshippe he looked for at Pompeys handes for he should finde many other ROMANES that would offer him that curtesie Pompey for his aunswere clapped him vp as a prisoner and kept him to be led in triumphe at ROME Shortly after Phrates king of PARTHIA sent Ambassadors to Pompey to demaunde this young Prince that was his sonne in law and to tell him that the riuer of Euphrates must be the vttermost confines of his conquestes Pompey aunswered againe that Tigraneshad more right to his sonne then the father in law and as for limiting of his borders that he would doe it with iustice So leauing Afranius in ARMENIA to keepe the contrie Pompey passed by other nations which inhabite about mount Caucasus hauing Mithridates in chace of which nations two of the chiefest and of greatest power are the ALBANIANS and IBERIANS The IBERIANS do stretch out vnto mount Moschiū to the realme of PONTVS The ALBANIANS lye towards the East and Mare Caspium These men first suffered Pompey to passe through their contrie apon his sending to thē
them all very curteously and moreouer did geue them money for the raunsome of his horse which they restored Departing thence he entred into the contrie of PARTHIA There hauinge leasure enough he beganne to apparell him-selfe after the facion of the barbarous people bicause he thought thereby the better to winne the harts of the contriemen framing him-selfe vnto their owne facions or else to trye the hartes of the MACEDONIANS to see how they would like the maner of the PERSIANS which he ment to bring them vnto in reuerencing of him as they did their king by litle and litle acquainting them to allow the alteracion and chaunge of his life This notwithstanding he would not at the first take vp the apparell of the MEDES which was verie straunge and altogether barbarous For he went not without briches nor did weare a long gowne trailing on the grounde nor a high coptanct hatte but tooke a meane apparell betwext the MEDES the PERSIANS more modest then theirs and more costly than the last and yet at the first he did not weare it but when he would talke with the barbarous people or else priuately amongest his frendes and familliars Afterwards notwithstanding he shewed him selfe openly to the people in that apparel when he gaue them audience This sight grieued the MACEDONIANS much but they had his vertues in such admiration that they thought it meete in some things he should take his owne pleasure sithence he had bene often hurt in the warres and not long before had his legge broken with an arrow and an other time had such a blow with a stone full in his necke that it made him spurre blinde a great while after and yet neuerthelesse he neuer eschewed any bodely daunger For he passed ouer the riuer of Orexartes which he tooke to be Tanais and hauinge in battell ouerthrowen the SCYTHIANS he followed them in chase abouea hundred furlong notwithstanding that at that instant he had a loosenesse of bodie Thither came vnto him as it is reported the Queene of the AMAZONES as many wryters doe testifie among the which are these Clitarchus Polycritus Onesicritus Antigenes and Hister But Chares Ptolomy Anticlides Philon THEBAN Philip the historiographer Hecateus ERBYRIAN Philip CHALCIDIAN and Duris SAMIAN all these doe wryte that it was not true and it seemeth also that Alexander selfe doth confirme it For wryting all things particularly vnto Antipater as they happened vnto him he wrote vnto him that the king of SCYTHIA offered him his daughter in mariage but there he maketh no mencion at all of any AMAZON It is also sayd that Onesicritus long time after that did reade vnto king Lysimachus the fourth booke of his historie where he did speake of the AMAZON Lysimachus smyling sayd vnto him why and where was I then But for that matter to credit or not credit it Alexanders estimacion thereby is neither impayred nor aduaunced Furthermore Alexander fearing that the MACEDONIANS being wearie with this long warre would goe no further he left all the rest of his armie behinde and tooke only twentie thowsande footemen and three thowsand horsemen of the choycest men of his armie and with them inuaded the contrie of HYRCANIA There he made an oration vnto them and told them that the barbarous people of ASIA had but seene them as it were in a dreame and if they should now returne backe into MACEDON hauing but onely sturred them and not altogether subdued ASIA the people offended with them woulde sette vppon them as they went home as if they were no better than women Neuerthelesse he gaue any man leaue to returne that would protesting therewith against them that would goe how they did forsake him his frends and those who had so good harts towards him as to follow him in so noble a iorney to conquer the whole earth vnto the MACEDONIANS This selfe matter is reported thus in a letter which Alexander wrote vnto Antipater and there he wryteth furthermore that hauing made this oration vnto them they all cried out and bad him leade them into what parte of the worlde he would When they had graunted their good wills it was no hard matter afterwards to winne the rest of the common sorte who followed thexample of the chiefest Thereuppon he did frame him selfe the more to liue after the facion of the contrie there and enterchaungeablie also to bring the men of that contrie vnto the manner of the MACEDONIANS being perswaded that by this mixture and enterchaunge of manners one with an other he should by frendshippe more then force make them agree louingly together when that he should be so farre from the contry of PERSIA For this purpose therefore he chose thirty thowsand of their children of that contry and set them to learne the Greke tongue and to be brought vp in the discipline of warres after the MACEDONIANS maner and gaue them schoolemasters and Captaines to traine them in ech facultie And for the marrying of Roxane he fancied her seeing her at a feast where he was which fell out as well for his turne as if he had with better aduise and counsell loued her For the barbarous people were verie prowde of this matche when they sawe him make alliance with them in this sorte insomuch as they loued him better then they did before bicause they saw in those things he was alwayes so chast and continent that notwithstanding he was maruelously in loue with her yet he would not dishonorably touche this young Ladie before he was maried vnto her Furthermore Alexander considering that of the two men which he loued best Hephastion liked well of his matche and went apparelled as him selfe did and that Craterus contrarily did still vse the MACEDONIAN manner he delt in all affayres with the barbarous people by Hephaestion and with the GRAECIANS and MACEDONIANS by Craterus To be short he loued the one and honored the other saying that Hephaestion loued Alexander and Craterus loued the king Hereuppon these two persons bare one an other grudge in their harts and oftentimes brake out in open quarrell insomuch as on a time being in INDIA they drewe their swordes and fought together and diuers of their frendes ranne to take part with either side Thither came Alexander selfe also who openly before them all bitterly tooke vp Hephaestion and called him foole and bedlem saying doest thou not know that whatsoeuer he be that should take Alexander from me he should neuer liue Priuatly also he sharply rebuked Croterus and calling them both before him he made them frendes together swearing by Iupiter Hammon and by all the other gods that he loued them two of all men liuing neuertheles if euer he founde that they fell out together againe they should both dye for it or him at the least that first beganne to quarrell So euer after that they say there was neuer fowle word nor deede betwene them not so much as in sport only There was
other letters from Caesar which semed much more reasonable in the which he requested that they would graunt him GAVLE that lyeth betwene the Mountaines of the Alpes ITALY ILLYRIA with two legions only then that he would request nothing els vntil he made sute for the second Consulship Cicero the Orator that was newly come from his gouernment of CILICIA trauelled to reconcile them together pacified Pompey the best he could who told him he would yeld to any thing he would haue him so he did let him alone with his armie So Cicero perswaded Caesars friends to be contented to take those two prouinces and six thowsand men onely that they might be friends at peace together Pompey very willingly yelded vnto it graunted them But Lentulus the Consul would not agree to it but shamefully draue Curio and Antonius out of the Senate whereby they them selues gaue Caesar a happy occasion culler as could be stirring vp his souldiers the more against them whē he shewed them these two notable men Tribunes of the people that were driuen to flie disguised like slaues in a cariers cart For they were driuen for feare to steale out of ROME disguised in that manner Nowe at that time Caesar had not in all about him aboue fiue thowsand footemen and three thowsand horsemen for the rest of his armie he left on thother side of the Mountaines to be brought after him by his Lieuetenants So considering that for th execution of his enterprise he should not neede so many men of warre at the first but rather sodainly stealing vpon them to make them affraid with his valiantnes taking benifit of the oportunitie of tyme bicause he should more easily make his enemies affraid of him comming so sodainly when they looked not for him then he should otherwise distresse them assailing them with his whole armie in giuing them leysure to prouide further for him he commaunded his Captaines and Lieuetenants to go before without any other armor then their swords to take the citie of ARIMINVN a great citie of GAVLE being the first citie men come to when they come out of GAVLE with as litle bloodshed and tumult as they could possible Then committing that force and armie he had with him vnto Hortensius one of his friends he remeyned a whole day together openly in the sight of euery man to see the sworde players handle their weapons before him At night he went into his lodging and bathing his body a litle came afterwards into the hall amongest them and made mery with them a while whome he had bidden to supper Then when it was well forwarde night and very darke he rose from the table and prayed his company to be mery and no man to sturre for he would straight come to them againe howebeit he had secretly before commaunded a fewe of his trustiest friendes to followe him not altogether but some one way and some an other way He him selfe in the meane tyme tooke a coche he had hyered and made as though he woulde haue gonne some other waye at the first but sodainely he turned backe againe towardes the citie of ARIMINVM When he was come vnto the litle ryuer of Rubicon which deuideth GAVLE on this side the Alpes from ITALY he stayed vppon a sodaine For the nearer he came to execute his purpose the more remorse he had in his conscience to thinke what an enterprise he tooke in hand his thoughts also fell out more doubtfull when he entred into consideration of the desperatnes of his attempt So he fell into many thoughts with him selfe and spake neuer a word wauing sometime one way sometime an other way and often times chaunged his determination contrary to him selfe So did he talke much also with his friends he had with him amongest whom was Asinius Pollio telling them what mischieues the beginning of this passage ouer that riuer would breede in the world and how much their posteritie and them that liued after them would speake of it in time to come But at length casting from him with a noble courage all those perillous thoughts to come speaking these words which valiant men commonly say that attempt daungerous and desperat enterprises A desperat man feareth no daunger come on he passed ouer the riuer and when he was come ouer he ranne with his coche and neuer staied so that before day light he was within the citie of ARIMINVM and tooke it It is said that the night before he passed ouer this riuer he dreamed a damnable dreame that he carnally knew his mother The citie of ARIMINVM being taken and the rumor thereof dispersed through all ITALY euen as if it had bene open warre both by sea land as if all the lawes of ROME together with thextreme bounds and confines of the same had bene broken vp a man would haue sayd that not onely the men and women for feare as experience proued at other times but whole cities them selues leauing their habitations fled from one place to another through all ITALY And ROME it selfe also was immediatly filled with the flowing repaire of all the people their neighbours thereabouts which came thither from all parties like droues of cattell that there was neither officer nor Magistrate that could any more commaund them by authoritie neither by any perswasion of reason bridle such a confused an disorderly multitude so that ROME had in maner destroyed it selfe for lacke of rule and order For in all places men were of contrary opinions and there were daungerous sturres and tumults euery where bicause they that were glad of this trouble could keepe in no certaine place but running vp and downe the citie when they met with others in diuers places that seemed either to be affraid or angry with this tumult as otherwise it is impossible in so great a citie they flatly sell out with them and boldly threatned them with that that was to come Pompey him selfe who at that time was not a litle amazed was yet much more troubled with the ill wordes some gaue him on the one side and some on the other For some of them reproued him and sayd that he had done wisely and had paid for his folly because he had made Caesar so great and stronge against him the common wealth And other againe did blame him bicause he had refused the honest offers and reasonable condicions of peace which Caesar had offered him suffering Lentulus the Consul to abuse him too much On thother side Phaonius spake vnto him and bad him stampe on the ground with his foote For Pompey beeing one day in a brauerie in the Senate sayd openly let no man take thought for preparation of warre for when he lysted with one stampe of his foote on the ground he would fill all ITALY with souldiers This notwithstanding Pompey at that tyme had greater number of souldiers then Caesar but they would neuer let him follow his owne
and affectation but stout full of wit and vehemency and yet in the shortnes of his sentences he had such an excellent grace withall that he maruelously delighted the hearers and furthermore shewing in nature a certaine grauetie besides it did so please them that he made them laugh He had a very full and audible voyce that might be heard of a maruelous number of people and such a strong nature besides that he neuer fainted nor brake his speache for many times he would speake a whole day together and was neuer wearie So when he had obtained his cause against the Tribunes he returned againe to keepe his former great silence and to harden his bodie with painefull exercises as to abide heate frost and snow bare headed and alwayes to goe a foote in the fielde where his frendes that did accompany him to rode a horsebacke and sometime he would come and talke with one somtime with an other as he went a foote by them He had a wonderfull pacience also in his sickenes For when he had any agew he would be alone all day long and suffer no man to come and see him vntill he perceiued his sit was of him and that he founde he was better When he supped with his frendes and familiars they drewe lottes who should choose their partes If he chaunced not to choose his frendes notwithstanding gaue him the preferrement to choose but he refused it saying it was no reason sith the goddesse Venus was against him At the first he did not vse to sitte long at the table but after he had dronke one draught only he would straight rise But when he came to be elder he sate long at the table so that oftentimes he would sit it out all night with his frends till the next morning But they seeking to excuse it sayd that his great busines and affaires in the common wealth was the cause of it For following that all the day long hauing no leasure nor time to studie when night came he delighted to talke with learned men and Philosophers at the bord Wherefore when Memmius on a time being in company sayed the Cato did nothing but drinke all night Cicero taking his tale out of his mouth aunswered him thou doest not adde this vnto it that all the day he doth nothing but play at dyse To be short Cato thinking that the maners and facions of mens liues in his time were so corrupt and required such great chaunge and alteracion that to goe vprightly he was to take a contrarie course in all thinges For he saw that purple red the lightest colours were best esteemed of he in contrarie maner desired to weare blacke And many times also after dinner he would goe abroade bare footed without shooes and without any gowne not bicause he would be wondered at for any suche straungenes but to acquaint him selfe to be ashamed only of shameles and dishonest things and to despise those which were not reproued but by mens opinions Furthermore land being left him to the value of an hundred talentes by the death of a cousin of his that likewise was called Cato he put it all into ready money to lend to his frendes that lacked and without vsury And there were some of his frends also that would morgage his land or his slaues to the chamber of the city for their owne priuate busines the which he him selfe would either giue thē to morgage or else afterwards confirme the morgage of them Furthermore when he was comen of age to marry hauing neuer knowen womā before he was made sure to Lepida This Lepida had bene precontracted vnto Metellus Scipio but afterwardes the precontract being broken he forsooke her so that she was free when Cato was contracted to her Notwithstanding before Cato maried her Scipio repenting him that he had refused her made all the meanes he could to haue againe so he had Cato tooke it so grieuously that he thought to goe to lawe for her but his frendes disswaded him from it Then seeing no other remedie to satisfie his angrie minde he wrote verses against Scipio in the which he reuiled him all he coulde vsing the bitter tauntes of Archilocus verses but not suche impudent lewde and childishe reproaches as be there After that he maried Attilia Soranus daughter being the first woman he euer knewe yet not the onely woman whome he did knowe as is reported of Lalius Scipioes frende who therein was counted the happier bicause all that long time wherein he liued he neuer knewe other woman but his first wife Furthermore in the warre of the bondemen otherwise called Spartacus warre one Gellius was chosen Praetor of the armie vnder whom Cato serued of his owne good will for the loue he bare vnto his brother Capio who in that armie had charge of a thowsand footemen Now Cato could not as he wished shewe his valliantnesse and good seruice bicause of the insufficiencie of the Praetor that gaue ill direction This notwithstanding in the middest of al the riot insolency of them in the campe he shewing him selfe a stayed man in all his doinges valliant where neede was and very wise also all men esteemed him to be nothing inferior vnto Cato the elder Whereuppon Gellius the Praetor gaue him many honors in token of his valliantnes which are giuen in reward of mens good seruice howebeit Cato refused them and sayd that he was nothing worthie of those honors These thinges made him to be thought a maruelous straunge man Furthermore when there was a lawe made forbidding all men that sued for any office in the common wealth that they should haue no prompters in any of the assemblies to blowe into their eares the names of priuate citizens he alone making sute to be Colonell of a thowsand footmen was obedient to the law committed all the priuate citizens names to memory to speake vnto euery one of them and to call them by their names so that he was enuied euen of them that did commend him For by how much they knew his deedes praiseworthie by so muche more were they grieued For that they could not followe them So Cato being chosen Colonell of a thowsande footemen he was sent into MACEDON vnto Rubrius Praetor there Some say that at his departure from thence his wise lamenting and weeping to see him go one Munatius a frend of his sayd vnto her take no thought Attilia and leaue weeping for I promise thee I will kepe thy husband for thee It is well sayd aunswered Cato Then when they were a dayes iorney srō ROME Cato after supper said vnto this Munatius thou must looke well to thy promesse thou hast made Attilia that thou wouldest keepe me for her therefore forsake me not night nor day Thereupon he commaunded his men that from thence forth they should prepare two beds in his chamber that Munatius also might lye there who was rather pleasantly him selfe looked vnto
with the motion aunswered him presently Munatius goe thy way vnto Pompey againe and tell him that Cato is not to be wonne by women though otherwise I mislike not of his friendship and withall that so long as he shall deale vprightly in all causes none otherwise that he shall find him more assuredly his friend then by any alliance of mariage yet that so satisfie Pompeys pleasure and will against his contry he wil neuer giue him such pledges The women and his friends at that time were angry with his aunswer refusall saying it was too stately and vncurteous But afterwardes in chaunced that Pompey suing to haue one of his friendes made Consul he sent a great summe of money to brybe the voyces of the people which liberalitie was noted spoken of bicause the money was told in Pompeys owne garden Then did Cato tell the women of his house that if he had now bene bound by allyance of mariage vnto Pompey he should then haue bene driuen to haue bene partaker of Pompeys shamefull acts When they heard what he had told them they all confessed then that he was wiser to refuse such alliance then they were that wished and desired it And yet if men should iudge of wisedom by the successe and euent of things I must needes say that Cato was in great fault for refusing of this allyance For thereby he was the cause of Pompeys matching with Caesar who ioyning both their powers together was the whole destruction of the Empire of ROME Whereas peraduenture it had not fallen out so if Cato fearing Pompeys light faultes had not caused him by increasing his power with another to commit farre greater faultes Howbeit those thinges were yet to come Furthermore Pompey being at iarre with Lucullus touching certain ordinances which he had made in the Realme of PONTVS bicause both the one and the other would haue their ordinances to take place Cato fauoured Lucullus who had open wronge Pompey therefore seeing that he was the weaker in the Senate tooke parte with the people and put forthe the lawe for diuiding of the landes amongest the souldiers But Cato stowtly resisting that lawe agayne he put it by and made Pompey thereby in a rage to acquaynte him selfe with Publius Clodius the moste seditious and boldest person of all the Tribunes and besides that made allyance euen at that tyme with Caesar whereof Cato him selfe was the onely Author Caesar returning out of SPAYNE from his Praetorshippe requyred the honour of tryumphe and withall made sute to bee Consull But beeing a lawe to the contrary that they that sued to bee Consulls shoulde bee present them selues in the citie and suche also as desired honour of triumphe shoulde bee without the citie he earnestly required the Senate that he myght sue for the Consulshippe by his friendes The moste parte of the Senate were willing vnto it but Cato was flatly agaynst it He perceyuing that the other Senatours were willing to gratifie Caesar when it came to him to deliuer his opinion he spent all the whole daye in his oration and by this pollicie preuented the Senate that they coulde not conclude any thinge Then Caesar letting fall his tryumphe made sute to be Consull and entring the citie ioyned friendshippe with Pompey Hereuppon he was chosen Consull and immediatly after maryed his Daughter Iulia vnto Pompey and so hauing made in manner a conspyracie agaynst the common wealth betweene them selues Caesar preferred the lawe Agraria for distributing the landes vnto the Citizens and Pompey was present to mainteyne the publicacion thereof Lucullus and Cicero on thother side taking parte with Bibulus the other Consull did what they coulde agaynst it but specially Cato who fearing muche this allyance of Caesar and Pompey that it was a pacte and conspirancie to ouerthrowe the common wealth sayde that he cared not so muche for this lawe Agraria as he feared the rewarde they looked for who by suche meanes dyd intise and please the common people Therewithall the Senate were wholly of his opinion and so were many other honest men of the people besides that were none of the Senate and tooke his parte maruailing muche and also beeing offended with Caesars greate vnreasonablenes and importunitie who by the authoritie of his Consulshippe did preferre suche thinges as the moste seditiousest Tribunes of the people were wont commonly to doe to currye fauour with the people and by suche vile meanes sought to make them at his commaundement Wherefore Caesar and his friends fearing so greate enemies fell to open force For to beginne withall as the Consul Bibulus was going to the market place there was a basket of donge powred vppon his heade and furthermore the Officers roddes were broken in their handes which they caryed before him In fine dartes were throwen at them out of euery corner and many of them beeing hurt they all at length were driuen to flye and leaue the market place But Cato he came laste of all keeping his wonted pace and often cast backe his heade and cursed such Citizens So they did not onely passe this lawe Agraria by voyces of the people but furthermore they added to it that all the Senate shoulde bee sworne to stablishe that lawe and bee bounde to defende the same if any attempted the alteracion thereof vppon greate penalties and fines to bee sette on his heade that shoulde refuse the othe All the other Senators sware agaynst their wills remembring the example of the mischiefe that chaunced vnto the olde Metellus who was banished out of ITALY bicause he would not sweare to suche a like lawe Whereuppon the women that were in Catoes house besought him with the teares in their eyes that he woulde yeelde and take the othe and so did also diuers of his friendes besides Howebeit he that moste inforced and brought Cato to sweare was Cicero the Orator who perswaded him that peraduenture he woulde bee thought vnreasonable that beeing but one man he shoulde seeme to mislike that which all other had thought meete and reasonable and that it were a fonde parte of him wilfully to put him selfe in so greate daunger thinking to hynder a matter already paste remedie But yet that besides all this a greater inconuenience would happen if he forsooke his contrye for whose sake he did all these thinges and left it a praye vnto them which sought the vtter subuersion of the same as if he were glad to bee ridde from the trouble of desending the common wealth For sayde he though Cato haue no neede of ROME yet ROME hath neede of Cato and so haue all his friendes of the which Cicero sayde he was the chiefe and was moste maliced of P. Clodius the Tribune who sought to driue him out of the contrye It is sayde that Cato beeing wonne by these like wordes and perswasions at home and openly in the market place they so sofetned him that he came to take his othe laste of all men but one
swollen with the blow he gaue one of his slaues when he hit him on the face All his seruaunts were glad to heare of that hoping then that he desired to liue Soone after came Butas backe againe from the hauen and brought him word that all were gone but Crassus who stayed about some busines he had and yet that he was going to take shippe howbeit that the sea was very roughe and winde exceeding great Cato hearing this sighed being sory for them that were upon the sea and sent Butas backe againe to the hauen to see if any man came backe for any matter they had to say vnto him The litle birdes began to chirpe and Cato fel againe in a litle slumber But thereuppon Butas returned brought him word that all was quiet in the hauen there was no sturre Then Cato bad him goe his way and shut to the dore after him and layed him downe in his bed as though he had ment to haue slept out all the rest of the night Butas backe was no sooner turned but Cato taking his naked sword in his hand thrust it into his breast howbeit the swelling of his hande made the blowe so weake that it killed him not presently but drawing on to his latter ende he fell downe vpon his bedde and made such a noyse with his fall ouerthrowing a litle table of geometry hard by his bedde that his seruaunts hearing the noyse gaue a great shreeke for feare Thereuppon his sonne and his friendes ranne into the chamber and found him all of a gore bloud and the most part of his bowells comming out of his bodye him selfe being yet aliue and seeing them They were all striken with such sorow to behold it that at the first they were so amased as they could not tel what to say to it His Phisitiō comming to him he went about to put in his bowels againe which were not perished and to sow vp his wound But Cato comming to him selfe thrust backe the Phisitian and tare his bowells with his owne handes and made his wound very great and immediatly gaue vp the ghost Whereuppon the three hundred ROMANES in lesse time then a man would haue thought Catoes owne houshold seruaunts could haue knowen of his death were at his dores and immediatly after all the people of VTICA also came thither and with one voyce called Cato their benefactor and sauior and sayd he onely was a free man and had an inuincible minde◠and this was done when they heard say that Caesar was not farre from VTICA Furthermore nether feare of the present daunger nor the desire to flatter the Conqueror nether any priuate quarrell amongest them selues could keepe them from honoring Catoes funeralls For sumptuously setting out his body and honorably accompanying his funeralls as might be they buryed him by the sea side where at this present time is to be seene his image holding a sworde in his hande After that they made their best way to saue them selues and their citie Nowe Caesar beeing aduertised by them that came vnto him howe Cato sturred not from VTICA nor fled not but sent all others away sauing him selfe and his sonne and a few of his friends that remained there being afraid of nothing he could not deuise what he ment by it Therefore esteeming Cato much he made haste with all the speede he could with his armie to come thether But when he vnderstoode that Cato had slaine him selfe writers doe reporte he sayd thus O Cato I enuy thy death sithe thou hast enuied mine honor to saue thy life For in deede had Cato beene contented Caesar should haue saued his life he had not so much impaired his owne honor as he had augmented Caesars glory And yet what Caesar would haue done men make it doubtful sauing that they coniecture well of Caesars clemencie Cato dyed when he was but eight and forty yeare old For his sonne Caesar neuer did him hurt howbeit it is reported of him that he was very idlely giuen and lasciuious besides For when he lay in CAPPADOCIA in a noble mans house of the kings bloud called Maphradates who had a fayre woman to his wife he taried longer there then he might well with honestie whereuppon he fell to be a laughing stoicke so the people and in mockery they sayd Cato will goe too morrow a thirty dayes hence And further that Maphradates and Porcius are two good friendes but they haue but one minde And the reason was bicause Maphradates wife was called Psyche which in the Greeke signifieth minde and Cato is a noble fellow and hath a princely mind howbeit his famous death did stoppe this infamous speech For he valiantly fighting against Augustus and Antebius at the battell of Philippes for the libertie of his contry their armie being ouerthrowen and fled he would neither flie nor hide him selfe but running in amongest his enemies he made them knowe what he was by incoraging those of his side which yet did defend them selues till he was slayne in the field to the great admiration of his valiantnes Furthermore Porcia the Daughter of Cato gaue no place vnto her father nether for chastitie nor greatnes of mind For she being maried vnto Brutus who slue Caesar was of the conspiracie and slue her selfe as courageously as became the vertue and nobilitie of her bloud from whence she came as we haue more amply declared in the life of Brutus Statilius also who had sayd he would ronne Catoes fortune as we haue tolde you before was kept from killing of him selfe by the Philosophers Demetrius and Apollonides But after that tyme hauing shewed him selfe very faithfull and seruiceable vnto Brutus in all his affayres he was slayne in the field also at the battell of Philippes The end of Catoes life AGIS AND CLEOMENES TRuely the fable of Ixion was not ill deuised against ambicious persons who imbracing a clowde for the goddesse Iuno begot as it is sayd the CENTAVRI For euen so ambicious men imbracing glory for the true image of vertue doe neuer any acte that is good nor perfect but beeing caried away with diuers fancies and following others humors with desire to please the people they may as the herdmen in the tragedy of Sophocles speaking of their cattell say VVe vvayt vppon their breasts though vve their Maisters bee And vvheresoeuer they become there also follovve vvee Such in deede are they compared to that gouerne common weales after peoples lust and fancy who doubtles are as their seruaunts obedient at call bicause they onely may enioy the glorious title and name of an Officer For like as in a shippe the Mariners that stande in the prowe doe better see before them then the Pilots that steere the helme in the poope and yet lookes alwayes backe vnto them to see what they commaunde euen so they that gouerne in the common wealth for honors sake are no better thē honorable slaues of the people hauing no more but
and minstrells that came from MESSINA he sette vp a stage within the enemies contrie made a game of 40. Minas for the victor and sate a whole day to looke apon them for no pleasure he tooke in the sight of it but more to despite the enemies withall in making them see how muche he was stronger then they to make such a Mayegame in their owne contrie in despite of them For of all the armies otherwise of the GRAECIANS or kinges in all GRAECE there was no armie onely but his that was without players minstrells fooles and iugglers for his campe only was cleane of such rabble and foolerie and all the young men fell to some exercise of their bodies and the old men also to teache them And if they chaunced to haue any vacant time then they would pleasauntly be one merie with an other in geuing some pretie fine mocke after the LACONIAN manner And what profit they got by that kinde of exercise we haue written it at large in Lycurgus life But of all these things the king him selfe was their schoolemaister and example shewing him selfe very temperate of life and plaine without curiositie no more then any priuate souldier of all his campe the which were great helpes vnto him in his enterprises he made in GRAECE For the GRAECIANS hauing cause of sute and negociacion with other kings and Princes did not wonder so much at their pompe and riches as they did abhorre and detest their pride and insolencie so disdainfully they would aunswere them that had to doe with them But contrarily when they went vnto Cleomenes who was a king in name and deede as they were finding no purple robes nor stately mantells nor rich imbrodered beddes nor a Prince to be spoken to but by messengers gentlemen vshers and supplications and yet with great a doe and seeing him also come plainly apparelled vnto them with a good countenaunce and curteously aunswering the matters they came for he thereby did maruelously win their harts and good wills that when they returned home they said he only was the worthy king that came of the race of Hercules Now for his dyet at his bord that was very straight and LACONIAN like keping only three bords and if he chaunced to feast any Ambassadors or other his frendes that came to see him he then added to two other bords and besides made his men to see that his fare should be amended not with pastrie and conserues but with more store of meate and some better wyne then ordinarie For he one day reproued one of his frendes that bidding straungers to supper he gaue thē nothing but blacke broth browne bread only according to their LACONIAN maner Nay said he we may not vse straungers so hardly after our maner The bord being taken vp an other litle table was brought with three feete whereupon they set a bolle of copper full of wyne and two siluer cuppes of a pottell a peece and certaine other fewe siluer pottes besides so euery man dranke what they lifted and no man was forced to drinke more then he woulde Furthermore there was no sporte nor any pleasaunt song soung to make the companie merie for it needed not For Cleomenes selfe would entertaine them with some pretie questions or pleasaunt tale whereby as his talke was not seuere and without pleasure so was it also pleasaunt without insolencie For he was of opinion that to winne men by gifts or money as other kings and Princes did was but base and cloynelike but to seeke their good wills by curteous meanes and pleasauntnes and therewith to meane good faith that he thought most fit and honorable for a Prince For this was his minde that there was no other difference betwext a frend and hyerling but that the one is wonne with money and the other with ciuility good entertainment The first therefore that receiued king Cleomenes into their citie were the MANTINIANS who opened him the gates in the night and helping him to driue out the garrison of the ACHAIANS they yeelded them selues vnto him But he referring them to the vse and gouernment of their owne lawes and libertie departed from thence the same day and went vnto the citie of TEGEA Shortly after he compassed about ARCADIA and came vnto PHERES in ARCADIA determining one of the two either to geue the ACHAIANS battell or to bring Aratus out of fauor with the people for that he had suffred him to spoyle and destroy their contry Hyperbatas was at that time Generall of the ACHAIANS but Aratus did beare all the sway and authoritie Then the ACHAIANS comming into the field with all their people armed and encamping by the citie of DYMES neere vnto the temple of Hecatombaum Cleomenes going thither laye betwext the citie of DYMES that was against him and the campe of his enemies which men thought a verie vnwise parte of him Howebeit valliantly prouoking the ACHAIANS he procured them to the battell ouerthrew them made them flie and slue a great number in the field and tooke many of them also prisoners Departing from thence he went and set apon the citie of LANGON and draue the garrison of the ACHAIANS out of it and restored the citie againe vnto the ELIANS The ACHAIANS being then in verie hard state Aratus that of custome was wont to be their Generall or at the least once in two yeares refused now to take the charge notwithstanding the ACHAIANS did specially pray and intreate him the which was in ill act of him to let an other steere the rudder in so daungerous a storme and tempest Therefore the ACHAIANS sent Ambassadors vnto Cleomenes to treate peace vnto whome it seemed he gaue a verie sharpe aunswere After that he sent vnto them and willed them only to resigne the signiorie of GRAECE vnto him and that for all other matters he would deale reasonably with them and presently deliuer them vp their townes prisoners againe which he had taken of theirs The ACHAIANS being glad of peace with these condicions wrote vnto Cleomenes that he shoulde come vnto the citie of LERNA where the dyet and generall assemblie shoulde be kept to consult thereupon It chaunced then that Cleomenes marching thither being very hotte dranke cold water and fell of suche a bleeding withall that his voyce was taken from him and he almost stifled Wherefore he sent the ACHAIANS their chiefest prisoners home againe proroging the parlament till an other time and returned backe to LACEDAEMON It is supposed certainly that this let of his comming to the dyet was the onely cause of the vtter destruction of GRAECE the which otherwise was in good way to haue risen againe and to haue bene deliuered from the present miseries and extreame pride and couetousnes of the MACEDONIANS For Aratus either for that he trusted not Cleomenes or for that he was affrayed of his power or that he otherwise enuied his honor prosperitie to see him risen to such
day by chaunce walking vpon the sandes he sawe Nicagoras landing out of his shippe being newly arriued and knowing him he curteously welcomed him and asked what wind had brought him into AEGYPT Nicagoras gently saluting him againe tolde him that he had brought the king excellent horse of seruice Cleomenes smiling told him thou haddest bene better haue brought him some curtisans daunsers for they would haue pleased the king better Nicagoras faintly laughed at his aunswer but within few dayes after he did put him in remembraunce of the land he sold him and prayed him then that he would helpe him to money telling him that he would not haue prest him for it but that he had susteyned losse by marchandise Cleomenes aunswered him that all his pension was spent he had of the king Nicagoras being offended with this aunswer he went and told Sosibius of the mocke Cleomenes gaue the king Sosibius was glad of this occasion but yet desiring further matter to make the king offended with Cleomenes he perswaded Nicagoras to write a letter to the king agaynst Cleomenes as though he had conspired to take the citie of CYRENA if the king had giuen him shippes money and men of warre When Nicagoras had written this letter he tooke shippe and hoysed sayle Foure dayes after his departure Sosibius brought his letter to the king as though he had but newly receiued it The king apon sight of it was so offended with Cleomenes that he gaue present order he should be shut vp in a great house where he should haue his ordinary dyet allowed him howbeit that he should keepe his house This grieued Cleomenes much but yet he was worse affraid of that which was to come by this occasion Ptolomy the sonne of Chrysermus one of the kings familliers who had oftentimes before bene very conuersant and famillier with Cleomenes and did franckly talke together in all matters Cleomenes one daye sent for him to praye him to come vnto him Ptolomy came at his request and familliarly discoursing together went about to disswade him from all the suspicions he had and excused the king also for that he had done vnto him so taking his leaue he left him not thinking that Cleomenes followed him as he did to the gate where he sharply tooke vp the souldiers saying that they were very negligent and careles in looking to such a fearefull beast as he was so ill to be taken if he once scaped their handes Cleomenes heard what he sayd and went into his lodging againe Ptolomy knowing nothing that he was behind him and reported the very wordes againe vnto his friendes Then all the SPARTANS conuerting their good hope into anger determined to be reuenged of the iniurie Ptolomy had done them and to dye like noble SPARTANS not tarying til they should be brought to the shambles like fat weathers to be sold and killed For it would be a great shame and dishonor vnto Cleomenes hauing refused to make peace with Antigonus a noble Prince and warrier to tary the kinges pleasure till he had left his dronckennes and daunsing and then to come and put him to death They beeing fully resolued hereof as you haue heard king Ptolomy by chaunce went vnto the citie of CANOBVS first they gaue out in ALEXANDRIA that the king minded to set Cleomenes at libertie Then Cleomenes friendes obseruing the custom of the kings of AEGYPT when they ment to set a prisoner at libertie which was to send the prisoners meate and presents before to their supper did send vnto him such manner of presents so deceiued the souldiers that had the keeping of him saying that they brought those presents from the king For Cleomenes him selfe did sacrifice vnto the goddes and sent vnto the souldiers that kept him parte of those presents that were sent vnto him and supping with his friendes that night made mery with them euery man being crowned with garlands Some say that he made the more haste to execute his enterprise sooner then he would haue done by meanes of one of his men that was priuye vnto his conspiracie who went euery night to lye with a woman he kept and therefore was affraid lest he would bewray them Cleomenes about noone perceiuing the souldiers had takē in their cuppes and that they were a sleepe he put on his coate and vnripping it on the right shoulder went out of the house with his sword drawen in his hand accompanied with his friends following him in that sort which were thirty in all Amongest them there was one called Hippotas who being lame went very liuely out with them at the first but when he saw they went faier and softly bicause of him he prayed them to kil him bicause they should not hinder their enterprise for a lame man that could doe them no seruice Notwithstanding by chaunce they met with a townes man a horsebacke that came hard by their dore whome they pluckt from his horse and cast Hippotas vppon him and then ranne through the citie and cryed to the people libertie libertie Now the people had no other corage in them but onely commended Cleomenes and wondred at his valiantnes but otherwise to follow him or to further his enterprise not a man of them had any hart in them Thus running vp and downe the towne they met with Ptolomy the same whome we sayde before was the sonne of Chrysermus as he came out of the Court Whereuppon three of them setting on him slue him presently There was also another Ptolomy that was gouernor and Lieuetenant of the citie of ALEXANDRIA who hearing a rumor of this sturre came vnto them in his coche They went and met him and first hauing driuen away his garde and souldiers that went before him they pluckt him out of his coche and slue him also After that they went towards the castell with intent to set all the prisoners there at libertie to take their part Howbeit the gaylers that kept them had so strongly locked vp the prison dores that Cleomenes was repulsed and put by his purpose Thus wandring vp and downe the citie no man neither came to ioyne with him nor to resist him for euery man fled for feare of him Wherefore at length being weary with going vp and downe he turned him to his friends and sayd vnto them it is no maruell though women commaund such a cowardly people that flye in this sort from their libertie Thereuppon he prayed them all to dye like men and like those that were brought vp with him and that were worthy of the fame of his so noble deedes Then the first man that made him selfe be slayne was Hippotas who dyed of a wound one of the younge men of his company gaue him with a sword at his request After him euery man slue them selues one after another without any feare at all sauing Panteas who was the first man that entred the citie of MEGALIPOLIS He was a faier younge man and had bene
NVMANTINES hearing of it first tooke his campe and then ranne after them that fled and setting vpon the rereward slue them and enuyronned all his armye So that they were driuen into straight and narrowe places where out they could by no meanes escape Thereuppon Mancinus dispayring that he could get out by force he sent a Herauld to the enemyes to treate of peace The NVMANTINES made aunswer that they would trust no man but Tiberius onely and therefore they willed he shoulde bee sent vnto them They desired that partly for the loue they bare vnto the vertues of the younge man bicause there was no talke of any other in all this warre but of him and partly also as remembring his father Tiberius who making warres in SPAYNE and hauing there subdued many nations he graunted the NVMANTINES peace the which he caused the ROMANES afterwardes to confirme and ratifie Hereuppon Tiberius was sent to speake with them and partly obteyning that he desired and partly also graunting them that they required he concluded peace with them whereby assuredly he saued the liues of twenty thowsande ROMANE Citizens besides slaues and other stragglers that willingly followed the campe This notwithstanding the NVMANTINES tooke the spoyle of all the goods they founde in the ROMANES campe amonge the which they founde Tiberius bookes of accompt touching the money disbursed of the treasure in his charge Tiberius beeing maruailous desirous to haue his bookes agayne returned backe to NVMANTIA with two or three of his friendes onely though the armye of the ROMANES were gone farre on their waye So comming to the towne he spake vnto the gouernors of the citie and prayed them to redeliuer him his bookes of accompt bicause his malicious enemies should not acouse him calling him to accompt for his doings The NVMANTINES were very glad of this good happe and prayed them to come into the towne He standing still in doubt with him selfe what to doe whether he should goe into the towne or not the gouernors of the citie came to him and taking him by the hande prayed he would thinke they were not his enemies but good friendes and that he would trust them Whereuppon Tiberius thought best to yeelde to their perswasion beeing desirous also to haue his bookes agayne and the rather for feare of offending the NVMANTINES if he shoulde haue denyed and mistrusted them When he was brought into the citie they prouided his dynner and were very earnest with him intreating him to dyne with them Then they gaue him his bookes againe and offered him moreouer to take what he woulde of all the spoyles they had gotten in the campe of the ROMANES Howebeit of all that he woulde take nothing but frankensence which he vsed when he did any sacrifice for his contry and then taking his leaue of them with thankes he returned When he was returned to ROME all this peace concluded was vtterly misliked as dishonorable to the maiestie of the Empire of ROME Yet the parents and friendes of them that had serued in this warre making the greatest part of the people they gathered about Tiberius saying that what faultes were committed in this seruice they were to impute it vnto the Consul Mancinus and not vnto Tiberius who had saued such a number of ROMANES liues Notwithstanding they that were offended with this dishonorable peace would that therein they should follow the example of their forefathers in the like case For they sent backe their Captaines naked vnto their enemies bicause they were contented the SAMNITS should spoyle them of that they had to escape with life Moreouer they did not onely send them the Captaines and Consuls but all those also that bare any office in the fielde and had consented vnto that condition to the ende they might lay all the periurie and breache of peace apon them Herein therefore did manifestly appeare the loue and good will the people did beare vnto Tiberius For they gaue order that the Consul Mancinus should be sent naked and bound vnto the NVMANTINES and for Tiberius sake they pardoned all the rest I thinke Scipio who bare great sway at the time in ROME and was man of greatest accompt did helpe him at that pinche who notwithstanding was ill thought of bicause he did not also saue the Consul Mancinus and confirme the peace concluded with the NVMANTINES considering it was made by Tiberius his friend kinsman But these mislikings grew chiefly through the ambition of Tiberius friendes certein learned men which stirred him vp against Scipio But yet it fell not out to open malice betwene them neither followed there any hurte apon it And surely I am perswaded that Tiberius had not fallen into those troubles he did afterwards if Scipio AFRICAN had bene present when he passed those thinges he preferred But Scipio was then in warres at the seege of NVMANTIA when Tiberius apon this occasion passed these lawes When the ROMANES in olde tyme had ouercomen any of their neighbours for raunsom they tooke oftentymes a great deale of their land from them parte whereof they solde by the cryer for the benefite of the common wealth and parte also they reserued to their state as demeane which afterwards was let out to farme for a small rent yearely to the poore Citizens that had no lands Howbeit the riche men inhaunsed the rents and so began to thrust out the poore men Thereuppon was an ordinance made that no Citizen of ROME should haue aboue fiue hundred acres lande This lawe for a ryme did bridle the couetousnes of the riche men and did ease the poore also that dwelt in the contry apon the farmes they had taken vp of the common wealth and so liued with their owne or with that their Auncestors had from the beginning But by proces of time their riche neighbours by names of other men got their farmes ouer their heads and in the end the most of them were openly seene in it in their own names Whereuppon the poore people being thus turned out of all went but with saint corage afterwards to the warre nor cared any more for bringing vp of children So that in shortime the free men left ITALY and slaues and barbarous people did replenish it whom the rich men made to plough those landes which they had taken from the ROMANES Caius Laelius one of Scipioes friends gaue an attempt to reforme this abuse but bicause the chiefest of the citie were against him fearing it would breake out to some vprore he desisted from his purpose and therefore he was called Laelius the wise But Tiberius being chosen Tribune he did forthwith preferre the reformation aforesayd being allured vnto it as diuers writers report by Diophanes the Orator and Blossius the Philosopher of the which Diophanes was banished from the citie of MITYLENE and Blossius the ITALIAN from the citie of CVMES who was scholler and famillier vnto Antipater of TARSVS at ROME by whome he was honored by certaine workes
by this meanes he got him out of the daunger of his office of Tribuneship for that yeare he made fayer weather with him as though he ment to reconcile him selfe vnto him and tolde him that he had cause rather to thinke ill of Terentia for that he had done against him then of him selfe and alwayes spake very curteously of him as occasion fell out and sayde he did thinke nothing in him nether had any malice to him howbeit it did a litle grieue him that being a friend he was offered vnkindnes by his friend These sweete wordes made Cicero no more affraied so that he gaue vp his Lieuetenancie vnto Caesar and beganne againe to pleade as he did before Caesar tooke this in such disdaine that he hardened Clodius the more against him and besides made Pompey his enemie And Caesar him selfe also sayd before all the people that he thought Cicero had put Lentulus Cethegus and the rest vniustly to death and contrary to lawe without lawfull tryall and condemnation And this was the fault for the which Cicero was openly accused Thereuppon Cicero seeing him selfe accused for this facte he chaunged his vsuall gowne he wore and put on a mourning gowne and so suffering his beard and heare of his head to growe without any coeming he went in this humble manner and sued to the people But Clodius was euer about him in euery place and streete he went hauing a sight of raskalls and knaues with him that shamefully mocked him for that he had chaunged his gowne and countenance in that sort and oftentimes they cast durt and stones at him breaking his talke and requests he made vnto the people This notwithstanding all the knights of ROME did in manner chaunge their gownes with him for companie and of them there were commonly twenty thowsand younge gentlemen of noble house which followed him with their heare about their eares were suters to the people for him Furthermore the Senate assembled to decree that the people should mourne in blacks as in a common calamitie But the Consuls were against it And Clodius on thother side was with a band of armed men about the Senate so that many of the Senators ranne out of the Senat crying tearing their clothes for sorow Howbeit these men seeing all that were nothing the more moned with pity and shame but either Cicero must needes absent him selfe or els determine to fight with Clodius Then went Cicero to intreat Pompey to ayde him But he absented him selfe of purpose out of the citie bicause he would not be intreated and laye at one of his houses in the contry neare vnto the citie of ALBA So he first of all sent Piso his sonne in lawe vnto 〈…〉 to intreate him and afterwardes went him selfe in person to him But Pompey beeing tolde that he was come had not the harte to suffer him to come to him to looke him in the face for he had bene past all shame to haue refused the request of so worthy a man who had before shewed him suche pleasure and also done and sayde so many thinges in his fauor Howbeit Pompey beeing the sonne in lawe of Caesar did vnfortunately at his request forsake him at his neede vnto whome he was bownde for so many infinite pleasures as he had receyued of him afore and therefore when he hearde saye he came to him he went out at his backe gate and woulde not speake with him So Cicero seeing him selfe betrayed of him and nowe hauing no other refuge to whome he might repayre vnto he put him selfe into the handes of the two Consuls Of them two Gabinius was euer cruell and churlishe vnto him But Piso on thother side spake alwayes very curteously vnto him and prayed him to absent him selfe for a tyme and to giue place a litle to Clodius furie and paciently to beare the chaunge of the tyme For in so doing he might come agayne another tyme to be the preseruer of his contry which was nowe for his sake in tumult and sedition Cicero vpon this aunswer of the Consul consulted with his friendes amonge the which Lucullus gaue him aduise to tary and sayd that he should be the stronger But all the rest were of contrary opinion and would haue him to get him away with speede for the people would shortly wishe for him agayne when they had once bene beaten with Clodius furie and folly Cicero liked best to followe this counsell Whereuppon hauing had a statue of Minerua a long tyme in his house the which he greatly reuerenced he caried her him selfe and gaue her to the Capitoll with this inscription Vnto Minerua Protector of ROME So his friends hauing giuen him safe conduct he went out of ROME about midnight and tooke his way through the contry of LVKE by lande meaning to goe into SICILE When it was knowen in ROME that he was fledde Clodius did presently banishe him by decree of the people and caused billes of inhibition to be sette vppe that no man should secretly receiue him within fiue hundred myles compasse of ITALY Howbeit diuers men reuerencing Cicero made no reckoning of that inhibition but when they had vsed him with all manner of curtesie possible they did conduct him besides at his departure sauing one citie onely in LVKE called at that tyme HIPPONIVM and nowe VIBONE where a SICILIAN called Vibius vnto whome Cicero before had done many pleasures and specially amonge others had made him Maister of the workes in the yeare that he was Consul would not once receyue him into his house but promised him he woulde appoynt him a place in the contry that he might goe vnto And Caius Virgilius also at that tyme Praetor and gouernor of SICILE who before had shewed him selfe his very greate friende wrote then vnto him that he shoulde not come neare vnto SICILE This grieued him to the harte Thereuppon he went directly vnto the citie of BRVNDVSIVM and there imbarked to passe ouer the sea vnto DYRRACHIVM and at the first had winde at will but when he was in the mayne sea the winde turned and brought him backe agayne to the place from whence he came But after that he hoysed sayle agayne and the reporte went that at his arryuall at DYRRACHIVM when he tooke lande the earth shooke vnder him and the sea gaue backe together Whereby the Soothesayers enterpreted that his exile shoulde not be longe bicause both the one and the other was a token of chaunge Yet Cicero notwithstanding that many men came to see him for the goodwill they bare him and that the cities of GRAECE contended who shoulde most honor him he was alwayes sadde and could not be merie but cast his eyes still towardes ITALY as passioned louers doe towardes the women they loue shewing him selfe faynte harted and tooke this aduersitie more basely then was looked for of one so well studied and learned as he And yet he oftentimes praied his friends not to call him Orator
strongest places of mount Taurus Then he sent vnto Seleucus first of all to pray him to suffer to conquer certaine barbarous people thereaboutes who liued according to their owne lawes and neuer had king to th end that he might yet there with safetie end the rest of his life and exile staying at length in some place where he might be safe Secondly if that liked him not then that it woulde yet please him to vittell his men for the winter time onely in the same place where they were and not to be so hard harted vnto him as to driue him thence lacking all needefull thinges and so to put him into the mouth of his most cruell and mortall enemies But Seleucus mistrusting his demaundes sent vnto him that he shoulde winter if he thought good two monethes but no more in the contrie of CATAONIA so he gaue him the chiefest of his frendes for ostages howbeit in the meane he stopped vp all the wayes passages going from thence into SYRIA Demetrius nowe seeing him selfe kept in of all sides like a beast to be taken in the toyle he was driuen to trust to his owne strength Thereuppon he ouertanne the contry thereaboutes and as often as it was his chaunce to haue any skirmish or conflict with Seleucus he had euer the better of him and sometime also when they draue the armed cartes with sithes against him he ouercame them and put the rest to flight Then he draue them away that kept the toppe of the mountaines and had barred the passages to kepe him that he should not goe into SYRIA and so kept them him selfe In fine finding his mens hartes lift vp againe and pretily encoraged his hart also grewe so bigge that he determined to fight a battell with Seleucus and to set all at sixe and seuen So that Seleucus was at a straight with him selfe and wist now what to doe For he had returned backe the ayde which Lysimachus sent vnto him bicause he was affrayed of him and mistrusted him On thother side also he durst not fight with Demetrius alone being affrayed to venter him selfe with a desperate man and also mistrusting muche his vnconstant fortune the which hauing brought him to great extremitie raised him vp againe to great prosperitie But in the meane space Demetrius fell into a great sicknesse the which brought his bodie very weake and low and had almost vtterly ouerthrowen his affaires For his souldiers some of them yeelded them selues to his enemies and others stale away without leaue and went where they lifted Afterwardes when he had hardly recouered his health and within forty dayes space was pretily growen to strength againe with those few souldiers that remained with him he seemed to his enemies that he would goe and inuade CILICIA But then sodainly in the night without sownding any trumpet he remoued his campe and went another way and hauing passed ouer mount Amanus he spoyled all the contry vnder it as farre as the region of CYRRESTICA But Seleucus followed him and camped hard by him Thereuppon Demetrius sodainly armed his men and went out by night to assault Seleucus and to take him sleping when he mistrusted nothing So that Seleucus knew nothing of his stealing on him but late enough vntil that certaine traitors of Demetrius campe that fled before went quickly to aduertise him finding him asleepe and brought him newes of the daunger he was in Then Seleucus in a mase and feare withall got vp and sownded the alarom and as he was putting on his hose and making him ready he cryed out speaking to his friends and familliers about him we haue now a cruell and daungerous beast to deale with Demetrius on the other side perceiuing by the great sturre noyse he heard in the enemies campe that his enterprise was discouered he retyred againe with speede and the next morning by breake of day Seleucus went and offred him battell Demetrius prepared him selfe to ioyne with him and hauing giuen one of his faithfull friends the leading of one of the wings of his armie him selfe led the other and ouerthrow some of his enemies on his side But Seleucus in the middest of the battell lighted from his horse and taking his helmet from his head he tooke a target on his arme and went to the first ranckes of his armie to make him selfe knowen vnto Demetrius men perswading them to yeeld them selues vnto him and to acknowledge in the end that he had so long time deferred to giue them battell rather to saue them then to spare Demetrius Demetrius souldiers hearing him say so they did him humble reuerence and acknowledging him for their king they all yeelded vnto him Demetrius hauing sundry times before proued so many chaunges ouerthrowes of fortune thinking yet to scape this last also to passe it ouer he fled vnto the gates Amanides which are certaine straights of the mount Amanus There he founde certaine litle thicke groues where he determined to stay all night with certaine gentlemen of his house and a fewe other of his houshold seruaunts officers which had followed him meaning if he could possible to take his way towards the citie of CAVNVS to goe to that sea coast hoping to heare of his shippes there But when it was tolde him he had no vittells nor prouision left onely to serue him that day he began then to deuise some other way At length one of his famillier friends Sosigenes came vnto him that had foure hundred peeces of golde about him in his girdell So hoping that with the same money he might flie to the sea they tooke their way by night directly to the toppe of the mountaine But when they perceiued that the enemies kept watch there and that there were great store of fires hard by them they then dispaired to passe any further least they should be seene So they returned to the selfe same place from whence they came not all of them for some of them fled neither had they that remayned also any life in them as before So one among the rest tooke vpon him to say that there was no other way to scape but to put Demetrius into Seleucus hands Demetrius therewithall drew out his sword and would haue slaine him selfe but his friends about him would not suffer him but perswaded him to yeld him selfe vnto Seleucus Thereuppon he sent vnto Seleucus to tell him that he yelded him selfe vnto him Seleucus was so ioyfull of the newes that he sayd it was not Demetrius good fortune that saued him but his owne who besides many other happy good turnes she had done him gaue him yet so honorable occasion and good happe as to make the world to knowe his clemencie curtesie Thereuppon immediatly he called for his officers of houshold and commaunded them to set vp his richest pauilion and to prepare all thinges meete to receiue him honorably There was one Appolonides a gentleman in Seleucus Court who sometime
fighting with their Emperor and Captaine Antonius hearing these newes being yet in ARMENIA commaunded Canidius to goe presently to the sea side with his sixteene legions he had and he him selfe with Cleopatra went vnto the citie of EPHESVS there gathered together his gallies and shippes out of all parts which came to the number of eight hundred reckoning the great shippes of burden and of those Cleopatra furnished him with two hundred and twenty thowsand talents besides and prouision of vittells also to mainteyne al the whole army in this warre So Antonius through the perswasions of Domitius commaunded Cleopatra to returne againe into AEGYPT and there to vnderstand the successe of this warre But Cleopatra fearing least Antonius should againe be made friends with Octauius Caesar by the meanes of his wife Octauia she so plyed Canidius with money and filled his purse that he became her spokes man vnto Antonius and told him there was no reason to send her from this warre who defraied so great a charge neither that it was for his profit bicause that thereby the AEGYPTIANS would then be vtterly discoraged which were the chiefest strength of the army by sea considering that he could see no king of all the kings their confederats that Cleopatra was inferior vnto either for wisedom or iudgement seeing that longe before she had wisely gouerned so great a realme as AEGYPT besides that she had bene so long acquainted with him by whom she had learned to manedge great affayres These fayer perswasions wan him for it was predestined that the gouernment of all the world should fall into Octauius Caesars handes Thus all their forces being ioyned together they hoysed sayle towards the I le of SAMOS and there gaue them selues to feasts and sollace For as all the kings Princes communalties peoples and cities from SYRIA vnto the marishes Maeotides and from the ARMENIANS to the ILLYRIANS were sent vnto to send and bringe all munition and warlike preparation they could euen so all players minstrells tumblers fooles and ieasters were commaunded to assemble in the I le of SAMOS So that where in manner all the world in euery place was full of lamentations sighes and teares onely in this I le of SAMOS there was nothing for many dayes space but singing and pyping and all the Theater full of these common players minstrells and singing men Besides all this euery citie sent an oxe thither to sacrifice and kings did striue one with another who should make the noblest feasts giue the richest gifts So that euery man sayd what can they doe more for ioy of victorie if they winne the battell When they make already such sumptuous feasts at the beginning of the warre When this was done he gaue the whole rabble of these minstrells such kind of people the citie of PRIENE to keepe them withal during this warre Then he went vnto the citie of ATHENS and there gaue him selfe againe to see playes and pastimes and to keepe the Theaters Cleopatra on the other side being ielous of the honors which Octauia had receiued in this citie where in deede she was maruelously honored and beloued of the ATHENIANS to winne the peoples good will also at ATHENS she gaue them great gifts and they likewise gaue her many great honors and appointed certaine Ambassadors to cary the decree to her house amōg the which Antonius was one who as a Citizen of ATHENS reported the matter vnto her made an oration in the be halfe of the citie Afterwards he sent to ROME to put his wife Octauia out of his house who as it is reported went out of his house with all Antonius children sauing the eldest of them he had by Fuluia who was with her father bewailing lamenting her cursed hap that had brought her to this that she was accompted one of the chiefest causes of this ciuill warre The ROMANES did pitie her but much more Antonius those specially that had seene Cleopatra who nether excelled Octauia in beawtie nor yet in young yeares Octauius Caesar vnderstanding the sodain wonderful great preparation of Antonius he was not a litle astonied as it fearing he should be driuen to fight that sommer bicause he wanted many things the great and grieuous exactions of money did sorely oppresse the people For all manner of men els were driuen to pay the fourth part of their goods and reuenue but the Libertines to were those whose fathers or other predecessors had some time bene bond men they were sessed to pay the eight part of all their goods at one payment Hereuppon there rose a wonderfull exclamation and great vprore all ITALY ouer so that among the greatest faults that euer Antonius committed they blamed him most for that he delayed to giue Caesar battell For he gaue Caesar leysure to make his preparacions and also to appease the complaints of the people When such a great summe of money was demaunded of them they grudged at it and grewe to mutinie vpon it but when they had once paied it they remembred it no more Furthermore Titius and Plancus two of Antonius chiefest friends and that had bene both of them Consuls for the great iniuries Cleopatra did them bicause they hindered all they could that she should not come to this warre they went and yelded them selues vnto Caesar and tolde him where the testament was that Antonius had made knowing perfitly what was in it The will was in the custodie of the Vestall Nunnes of whom Caesar demaunded for it They aunswered him that they would not giue it him but if he would goe and take it they would not hinder him Thereuppon Caesar went thither hauing red it first to him self he noted certaine places worthy of reproch so assembling all the Senate he red it before them all Whereuppon diuers were maruelously offended and thought it a straunge matter that he being aliue should be punished for that he had appoynted by his will to be done after his death Caesar chiefly tooke hold of this that he ordeyned touching his buriall for he willed that his bodie though he dyed at ROME should be brought in funerall pompe through the middest of the market place and that it should be sent into ALEXANDRIA vnto Cleopatra Furthermore among diuers other faultes wherewith Antonius was to be charged for Cleopatraes sake Caluisius one of Caesars friends reproued him bicause he had franckly giuen Cleopatra all the libraries of the royall citie of PERGAMVM in the which she had aboue two hundred thowsand seueral bookes Againe also that being on a time set at the table he sodainly rose from the borde and trode vpon Cleopatraes foote which was a signe giuen betwene them that they were agreed of That he had also suffred the EPHESIANS in his presence to call Cleopatra their soueraine Ladye That diuers times sitting in his tribunall and chayer of state giuing audience to all kings and Princes he had receiued loue
army spake to his people to encorage them to fight valliantly as if they were on maine land bicause of the steadines heauines of their ships commaunded the Pilots masters of the gallies that they should not sturre none otherwise then if they were at anker and so to receiue the first charge of their enemies and that they should not goe out of the straight of the gulfe Caesar betymes in the morning going out of his tent to see his ships thorough out met a man by chaunce that draue an asse before him Caesar asked the man what his name was The poore man told him his name was Eutychus to say fortunate and his asses name Nicon to say Conquerer Therefore Caesar after he had wonne the battell setting out the market place with the spurres of the gallies he had taken for a signe of his victorie he caused also the man and his asse to be set vp in brasse When he had visited the order of his armie thorough out he tooke a little pinnase and went to the right wing and wondered when he sawe his enemies lye stil in the straight sturred not For decerning them a farre of men would haue thought they had bene shippes riding at anker and a good while he was so perswaded So he kept his gallies eight furlong from his enemies About noone there rose a litle gale of winde from the sea and then Antonius men waxing angry with tarying so long and trusting to the greatnes and height of their shipps as if they had bene inuincible they began to march forward with their left wing Caesar seeing that was a glad man and began a litle to giue backe from the right wing to allure them to come further out of the straight gulfe to th end that he might with his light shippes well manned with water men turne and enuirone the gallies of the enemies the which were heauy of yarage both for their biggenes as also for lacke of watermen to row them When the skirmish began and that they came to ioyne there was no great hurt at the first meeting neither did the shippes vehemently hit one against the other as they doe commonly in fight by sea For on the one side Antonius shippes for their heauines could not haue the strength and swiftnes to make their blowes of any force and Caesars shippes on thother side tooke great heede not to rushe shocke with the forecastells of Antonius shippes whose proues were armed with great brasen spurres Furthermore they durst not flancke them bicause their points were easily broken which way soeuer they came to set vpon his shippes that were made of great mayne square peeces of tymber bounde together with great iron pinnes so that the battel was much like to a battel by land or to speake more properly to the assault of a citie For there were alwaies three or foure of Caesars shippes about one of Antonius shippes and the souldiers fought with their pykes halberds and darts and threw pots and darts with fire Antonius ships on the other side bestowed among them with their crosbowes and engines of battery great store of shot from their highe towers of wodde that were apon their shippes Now Publicola seing Agrippa put forth his left wing of Caesars army to compasse in Antonius shippes that fought he was driuen also to loose of to haue more roome going a litle at one side to put those further of that were affraid and in the middest of the battel For they were fore distressed by Aruntius Howbeit the battell was yet of euen hand and the victorie doubtfull being indifferent to both when sodainely they saw the three score shippes of Cleopatra busie about their yard masts and hoysing saile to flie So they fled through the middest of them that were in fight for they had bene placed behind the great shippes did maruelously disorder the other shippes For the enemies them selues wondred much to see them saile in that sort with ful saile towards PELOPONNESVS There Antonius shewed plainely that he had not onely lost the corage and hart of an Emperor but also of a valliant man that he was not his owne man prouing that true which an old man spake in myrth that the soule of a louer liued in another body and not in his owne he was so carried away with the vaine loue of this woman as if he had bene glued vnto her that she could not haue remoued without mouing of him also For when he saw Cleopatraes shippe vnder saile he forgot forsooke betrayed them that fought for him imbarked vpon a galley with fiue bankes of owers to follow her that had already begon to euerthrow him would in the end be his vtter destruction When she knew this galley a farre of she lift vp a signe in the poope of her shippe and so Antonius comming to it was pluckt vp where Cleopatra was howbeit he saw her not at his first comming nor she him but went and sate down alone in the prowe of his shippe and said neuer a word clapping his head betwene both his hands In the meane time came certaine light brigantynes of Caesars that followed him hard So Antonius straight turned the prowe of his shippe and presently put the rest to flight sauing one Eurycles LACEDAEMONIAN that followed him neare and prest vpon him with great corage shaking a dart in his hand ouer the prow as though he would haue throwen it vnto Antonius Antonius seing him came to the fore castell of his ship asked him what he was that durst follow Antonius so neare I am aunswered he Eurycles the sonne of Lachares who through Caesars good fortune seketh to reuenge the death of my father This Lachares was condemned of fellonie and beheaded by Antonius But yet Eurycles durst not venter on Antonius shippe but set vpon the other Admirall galley for there were two and fell with him with such a blowe of his brasen spurre that was so heavy and bigge that he turned her round and tooke her with another that was loden with very rich stuffe and cariage After Eurycles had left Antonius he returned againe to his place and sate downe speaking neuer a word as he did before and so liued three dayes alone without speaking to any man But when he arriued at the head of Taenarus there Cleopatraes women first brought Antonius and Cleopatra to speake together and afterwards to suppe and lye together Then beganne there agayne a great number of Marchaunts shippes to gather about them and some of their friends that had escaped from this ouerthrow who brought newes that his army by sea was ouerthrowen but that they thought the army by land was yet whole Thē Antonius sent vnto Canidius to returne with his army into ASIA by MACEDON Now for him self he determined to crosse ouer into AFRICK toke one of his carects or hulks loden with gold and siluer and other rich cariage
the garde of his chamber to strippe him naked whatsoeuer he was and then they gaue him an other gowne to cast vpon him but not his owne One day his brother Leptines going about to describe vnto him the scituacion of some place he tooke a halberd from one of the garde and with the point thereof beganne to drawe out a platte of the same vpon the ground Dionysius was terriblie offended with him and did put the souldier to death that gaue him his halberd He sayed he was affrayed of his frendes yea and of the wisest of them bicause he knewe that they desired rather to rule then to be ruled and to commaunde then to obey He flewe one of his Captaines called Marsyas whome he had preferred and had geuen him charge of men bicause he dreamed that he killed him saying that he dreamed of this in the night bicause that waking in the day he had determined to kill him Now Dionysius that was so timerous and whose mind through fearefulnes was still miserablie occupied he was notwithstanding maruelouslie offended with Plato bicause he did not iudge him to be the noblest and valliantest man aliue Dion therefore seeing as we haue sayd the younger Dionysius cleane marred and in manner cast away for lacke of good education perswaded him the best he coulde to geue him selfe vnto studie and by the greatest intreatie he coulde possiblie make to pray the Prince of all Philosophers to come into SICILE And then when through his intreatie he were come that he woulde referre him selfe whollie vnto him to th ende that reforming his life by vertue and learning and knowing God thereby the best example that can be possible and by whom all the whole world is ruled and gouerned which otherwise were out of all order and confused he shoulde first obteine great happines to him selfe and consequently vnto all his citizens also who euer after through the temperance and iustice of a father would with good will doe those thinges which they presentlie vnwillingly did for the feare of a Lorde and in doing this from a tyran he should come to be a king For the chaines of a diamant to keepe a realme in safetie were not force and feare as his father Dionysius helde opinion neither the great multitude of young souldiers nor the garde of ten thowsand barbarous people but in contrarie manner that they were the loue and good will of their subiectes which the Prince obteineth through vertue and iustice the which chaines though they be slacker then the other that are so hard and stiffe yet are they stronger and will last longer time to keepe a realme and kingdom in safetie And furthermore the Prince sayd he is not desirous of honor neither is a man that deserueth greatly to be praised and commended that onely studieth to weare sumptuous apparell and that glorieth to see his Court richelie furnished and him selfe curiouslie serued and in the meane time doth not frame him selfe to speake better to be wiser and to carie a greater maiesty then any other meane or common person not esteeming to adorne and beawtifie the Princely pallace of his minde as becommeth the royall maiestie of a king Dion oftentimes rehearsing these exhortacions vnto Dionysius and otherwhile enterlacing betwene some reasons he had learned of Plato he graffed in him a wonderfull and as it were a vehement desire to haue Plato in his companie and to learne of him So sundry letters came from Dionysius vnto ATHENS diuers requestes from Dion and great intreaty made by certaine Pythagorian Philosophers that prayed and perswaded Plato to come into SICILE to bridle the light disposition of this young man by his graue and wise instructions who without regard of reason led a dissolute and licentious life Therefore Plato as him selfe reporteth blushing to him selfe and fearing least he should geue men cause to thinke that it was but the opinion men had of him and that of him selfe he was vnwilling to do any worthie act and further hoping that doing good but vnto one man alone who was the only guide of all the rest he should as it were recouer all SICILIA from her corruption and sickenes he performed their requests that sent vnto him But Dions enemies fearing the chaunge and alteracion of Dionysius they perswaded him to call Philistus the Historiographer home againe from banishment who was a learned man and had bene brought vp and acquianted with the tyrans facions to th end he should serue as a counterpeace to withstande Plato and his Philosophie For this Philistus from the first time that the tyrannie beganne to be established did shew him selfe verie willing and conformable to the stablishment thereof and had of long time kept the castell and the voyce went that he kept the mother of Dionysius the elder and as it was supposed not altogether without the tyrans knowledge But afterwardes Leptines hauing had two daughters by one woman whom he intised to follie being an other mans wife he maried one of these his daughters vnto Philistus and made not Dionysius priuie to it before The tyranne therewith was so offended that he put Leptines woman in prison fast locked vp and draue Philistus out of SICILIA He being banished thus repayred vnto some of his frendes that dwelt about the Adriaticke sea where it seemeth he wrote the most parte of all his historie being then at good leasure For he was not called home againe during the life of Dionysius the elder but after his death the malice the Courtiers bare vnto Dion caused them to procure Philistus calling home againe as we haue told you as the man they thought would sticke stowtly in defense of the tyranny So Philistus no sooner returned but he stowtly began to defend the tyranny others in contrary maner deuised accusations to the tyran against Dion accusing him that he had practised with Theodotes and Heraclides to ouerthrowe the tyrannie of Dionysius For Dion in my opinion hoped by Platoes comming to bridle and lessen a litle the ouerlicentious and imperious tyrannie of Dionysius and thereby to frame Dionysius a wise and righteous gouernor But on the other side if he saw he would not follow his counsell and that he yeelded not to his wise instructions he then determined to put him downe to bring the gouernment of the common wealth into the handes of the SYRACVSANS not that he allowed of Democratia to wit where the people gouerne but yet certainly thinking that Democratia was much better then the tyrannie when they could not come vnto Aristocratia to wit the gouernment of a few of the nobilitie Now things being in this state Plato arriued in SICILE where he was maruelously receiued and honored by Dionysius For when he landed on the shoare leauing his galley that brought him there was readie for him one of the kings rich and sumptuous chariots to conuey him to the castell and the tyran made sacrifice
to geue the goddes thankes for his comming as for some wonderful great good happe chaunced vnto his seigniory Furthermore the wonderfull modestie and temperaunce that was begon to be obserued in feast and bankets the Court cleane chaunged and the great goodnes and clemencie of the tyran in all thinges in ministring iustice to euerie man did put the SYRACVSANS in great good hope of chaunge and euerie man in the Court was verie desirous to geue him selfe to learning and Philosophie So that as men reported the tyrannes pallace was full of sande and dust with the numbers of studentes that drewe plattes and figures of Geometrie Shortlie after Plato was arriued by chaunce the time was comen about to doe a solemne sacrifice within the castell at whiche sacrifice the Heraulde as the manner was proclaimed alowde the solemne prayer accustomed to be done that is woulde please the goddes long to preserue the state of the tyrannie and that Dionysius being harde by him sayd vnto him what wilt thou not leaue to curse me This worde grieued Philistus and his companions to the harte thinkinge that with time by litle and litle Plato would winne suche estimacion and great authoritie with Dionysius that afterwardes they shoulde not be able to resist him considering that in so short a time as he had bene with Dionysius he had so altered his minde and courage And therefore they nowe beganne not one by one nor in hugger mugger but all of them with open mowth together to accuse Dion and sayed that it was easie to be seene howe he charmed and inchaunted Dionysius through Platoes eloquence to make him willing to resigne his gouernment bicause he woulde transferre it to the handes of the children of his sister Aristomaché Others seemed to be offended for that the ATHENIANS hauing comen before into SICILIA with a great armie both by sea and land they were all lost and cast away and could not win the city of SYRACVSA that now by one only Sophister they vtterly destroyed and ouerthrewe the Empire of Dionysius perswading him to discharge the ten thowsand souldiers he had about him for his garde to forsake the foure hundred gallies the ten thowsand horsemen and as many moe footemen to goe to the Academy to seeke an vnknowen happines neuer heard of before and to make him happy by Geometry resigning his present happines and felicitie to be a great Lord to haue money at will and to liue pleasauntlie vnto Dion and his Neuewes By such like accusations and wicked tongues Dionysius began first to mistrust Dion and afterwardes to be openly offended with him and to frowne vpon him In the meane time they brought letters Dion wrote secretlie vnto the Gouernors of the citie of CARTHAGE willing them that when they would make peace with Dionysius they shoulde not talke with him vnlesse he stoode by assuring them that he would helpe them to set things in quietnes that all should be well againe When Dionysius had red these letters with Philistus had taken his aduise counsel what he should do as Timaeus said he deceiued Dion vnder pretence of recoÌ„ciliacioÌ„ making as though he ment him no hurt saying that he would become frends again with him So he brought Dion one day to the sea side vnder his castell and shewed him these letters burdening him to haue practised with the CARTHAGINIANS against him And as Dion went about to make him answere to cleere himself Dionysius would not heare him but caused him to be taken vp as he was and put into a pinnase commaunded the marines to set him a lande vpon the coast of ITALIE After this was done and that it was knowen abroad in the citie euerie man thought it a cruell parte of Dionysius insomuche that the tyrans pallace was in a maruelous pecke of troubles for the great sorowe the women made for the departure of Dion Moreouer the citie selfe of SYRACVSA began to looke about them looking for some sodaine great chaunge innouation for the tumult vprore that would happen by meanes of Dions banishment and for the mistrust also that all men would haue of Dionysius Dionysius considering this and being affrayed of some misfortune he gaue his frendes and the women of his pallace comfortable words telling them that he had not banished him but was contented that he should absent him selfe for a time being affrayed that in his sodaine angry moode he might peraduenture be compelled to do him some worse turne if he remained bicause of his obstinacie and selfewill Furthermore he gaue vnto Dions frends two shippes to carie as much goodes money and as many of Dions seruauntes as they woulde and to conuey them vnto him vnto PELOPONNESVS Dion was a maruelous rich man for the pompe of his seruice and sumptuous moueables of his house they were like vnto the person of a tyran All these riches Dions frendes brought abord vpon those shippes and caried them vnto him besides many other rich gifts which the women and his frends sent vnto him So that by meanes of his great riches Dion was maruelouslie esteemed among the GRAECIANS who by the â—iches of a banished citizen coniectured what the power of a tyranne might be But now concerning Plato when Dion was exiled Dionysius caused him to be lodged in his castell and by this meanes craftilie placed vnder cloke of frendshippe an honorable garde about him bicause he shoulde not returne into GRAECE to seeke Dion to tell him of the iniurie he had done vnto him Howbeit Dionysius often frequenting him companie as a wilde beast is made tame by companie of man he liked his talke so well that he became in loue with him but it was a tyrannicall loue For he woulde haue Plato to loue none but him and that he shoulde esteeme him aboue all men liuing being readie to put the whole realme into his handes And all his forces so that he woulde thinke better of him then of Dion Thus was this passionate affection of Dionysius grieuous vnto Plato For he was so drowned with the loue of him as men extreamelie gealous of the women they loue that in a moment he woulde sodainly fall out with him and straight againe become frendes and pray him to pardon him And to say truelie he had a maruelous desire to heare Platoes Philosophie but on the other side he reuerenced them that did disswade him from it and told him that he woulde spoyle him selfe if he entred ouerdeepelie into it In the meane time fell out warre and thereuppon he sent Plato againe away promising him that the next spring he woulde sende for Dion him But he brake promise therein and yet sent him his reuenues and prayed Plato to pardon him though he had not kept promise at his time appointed For he alleaged the warre was the cause and that so soone as he had ended his warre he woulde sende for Dion whome in the meane
time he prayed to haue pacience and not to attempt any sturre or alteracion against him nor to speake euill of him among the GRAECIANS This Plato sought to bring to passe and brought Dion to studie Philosophie and kept him in the Academy at ATHENS Dion lay in the citie of ATHENS with one Callippus whome he had knowen of long time howbeit he bought him a house in the contrie to lye there sometime for his pleasure the which he gaue afterwards at his returne into SICILIA vnto Speusippus that kept him company and was continually with him more then with any other frend he had in ATHENS through Platoes counsell who to soften and recreate Dions maners gaue him the company of some pleasaunt conceited man knowing that this Speusippus coulde modestlie obserue time and place to be pleasaunt and merie for which respect Timon in his Satyricall ieasts calleth Speusippus a good ieaster Nowe Plato him selfe hauing vndertaken to defray the charges of common playes in the dauncings of young children Dion tooke the paines to teache and exercise them and moreouer was him selfe at the whole charge of these playes Plato suffering him to bestowe that liberality and curtesie vpon the ATHENIANS the which wanne Dion a great deale more good will then Plato honor Dion kept not still at ATHENS but went also to see the other good cities of GRAECE passing his time away He being at common feastes and assemblies with the chiefest men and best learned in matters of state and gouernment neuer shewing any light partes nor signe of tyrannicall pride in his maner of life nor of a man that had bene brought vp with all pompe and pleasure but like a graue vertuous man and well studied in Philosophie whereby he grew to be generallie beloued and esteemed of all men the cities graunted him publike honors and sent him decrees of his glorie made in their counsells assemblies Furthermore the LACEDAEMONIANS made him a SPARTAN burges of the city not passing for Dionysius displeasure though at that time he had geuen them great aide in the warre they made against the THEBANS Some report that Dion on a time was intreated by Ptaeodorus MEGARIAN to come and see him at his house and Dion went thither This Ptaeodorus was a maruelous great rich man therefore Dion seeing a great number of people standing at his gates and that it was a hard thing to come and speake with him he had such great busines he turned vnto his frends that did accompanie him who were angrie they made him tarie so long at the gate and sayd vnto them what cause haue we to thinke euill of him sith we did the like when we were at SYRACVSA But Dionysius being incensed with enuie against him and fearing the good will the GRAECIANS bare him he kept backe his reuenue and would no more sende it him and seased all his goodes the which he gaue to his receiuers to keepe Furthermore bicause he would cleere him selfe of the infamie he had gotten amongest the Philosophers for Platoes sake he sent for diuers wise and learned men and vainly coueting to excell them all in wisedome he was driuen improperlie and out of time to alleage many wise sayinges he had learned of Plato Thereuppon he beganne againe wish for him and to condemne him selfe for that he had no wit to vse him well when he had him at his commaundement and that he had not heard so muche as he should haue done of him and like a tyranne as he was madlie caried away with light desires and easilie chaunging minde from time to time a sodaine vehement desire tooke him in the heade to haue Plato againe So he sought all the meanes and waies he could deuise to pray Archytas the Pythagorian Philosopher to tel him that he might boldly come and to be his surety vnto him for that he would promise him for first of all they were acquainted together by his meanes Therefore Archytas sent thither Archidamus the Philosopher Dionysius also sent certeine gallies and some of his frendes thither to pray Plato to come to him and he him selfe wrote speciallie and plainly that it should not goe well with Dion if Plato came not into SICILIA but if he would be perswaded to come that then he would doe what he would haue him Many letters and requests came vnto Dion from his wife and sister insomuche as Dion so vsed the matter that Plato obeyed Dionysius without making any excuse at all So Plato wryteth him selfe that he was driuen to come againe the third time into the straight of SICILIA To trie if once againe he could Charibdis daungers passe Nowe Plato being arriued in SICILIA he made Dionysius a great ioyfull man and filled all SICILIA againe with great good hope for they were all verie desirous and did what they could to make Plato ouercome Philistus and the tyrannie with his Philosophie The women of Dionysius Court did entertaine Plato the best they could but aboue all Dionysius seemed to haue a maruelous trust and affiance in him and more then in any other of all his frendes For he suffred Plato to come to him without searching of him and oftentimes offred to geue him a great summe of money but Plato would take none of it Therefore Aristippus CYRENIAN being at that time in the tyrannes Court in SICILIA sayd that Dionysius bestowed his liberalitie surelie For to vs that aske much he geueth litle and much vnto Plato that requireth nothing After Dionysius had geuen Plato his welcome he beganne to moue him againe of Dion Dionysius on the other side at the first did vse him with fine delayes but afterwards he shewed him selfe angrie in deede and at length fell out with Plato but yet so couertlie that others saw it not For Dionysius dissembled that and otherwise in all other things he did him as much honor as he could deuise practising thereby to make him to forsake Dions frendshippe Now Plato found him at the first that there was no trust to be geuen to his wordes and that all were but lyes and deuises he either sayd or did howebeit he kept it to him selfe and euer paciently bare all things hoping for the best and made as though he beleued him They two thus finelie dissembling with eache other thinking to deceiue all men and that none shoulde vnderstande their secrets Helycon CYZICENIAN one of Platoes frendes did prognosticate the eclipse of the sunne The same falling out as he had prognosticated the tyran esteemed maruelously of him and gaue him a siluer talent for his labor Then Aristippus sporting with other Philosophers sayd he could tell them of a straunger thing to happen then that So when they prayed him to tell them what it was I do prognosticate sayd he that Plato and Dionysius will be enemies ere it be long In th end it came to passe that Dionysius made porte sale of all Dions goodes and kept the
the better whether any of the souldiers were angry with him or wished his death By this pollicy Callippus straight foūd out those that bare Dion grudge that were already corrupted whom he drew to his conspiracy And if any man vnwilling to geue eare vnto him went and told Dion that Callippus would haue intised him to conspire against him Dion was not angrie with him for it thinking that he did but as he had commaunded him to doe Now as this treason was practising against Dion there appeared a great and monstruous ghost or spirit vnto him By chaunce sitting late one euening all alone in a gallerie he had and being in a deepe thought with him selfe sodainly he heard a noyse and therewith casting his eye to th end of his gallery being yet day light he saw a monstrous great woman like vnto one of the furies shewed in playes and saw her sweeping of the house with a broome This vision so amazed and affrighted him that he sent for his frends and told them what a sight he had seene and prayed them to tarie with him all night being as it were a man beside him selfe fearing least the spirite woulde come to him againe if they left him alone of the which notwithstanding he neuer heard more afterwards Howbeit shortly after his sonne being growen to mans state for a certaine light anger he had taken when he was but a boy he cast him selfe hedlong downe from the toppe of the house and so was slaine Dion being in this state Callippus went on still with his treason and spred a rumor abroade among the SYRACVSANS that Dion seeing him selfe nowe destitute of children was determined to send for Apollocrates Dionysius sonne to make him his heire and successor being cosin germaine to his wife and his sisters daughters sonne Then began Dion his wife and sister to mistrust Callippus practises and they were told of it by diuers sundrie and manifest proofes But Dion being sorie as I suppose for Heraclides death and inwardlie taking that murther in very euill part as a fowle blot to his life and doings he sayd he had rather dye a thowsand deaths and to offer his throate to be cut to any that would rather then he would liue in that miserie to be compelled to take heede as well of his frends as of his enemies Callippus then seeing the women so busie and inquisitiue of his doings fearing least he should be bewrayed he came weeping vnto them and told them it was nothing and that he was readie to assure them of it by any maner of way they would deuise The women then willed him to sweare by the great othe which was in this maner He that must take this othe commeth into the temple of the goddesses Thesmophores which are Ceres and Proserpina And after certaine sacrifices done he putteth on the purple chaplet of the goddesse Proserpina holding a burning torch in his hand and sweareth in this maner Callippus hauing done all these ceremonies and made the oth in forme as I haue told you he made so light accompt of the goddesses that he taried no lenger to do the murther he had determined but till the very feast day of the goddesse should come by whom he had sworne and slue him on the day of the feast of Proserpina Nowe I doe not thinke that he chose that day of sette purpose knowing right well that he did alwayes sinne against her what time soeuer he had killed his brother being by his meanes speciallie admitted to the societie and brotherhoode with him of the fraternity and misteries of Ceres Proserpina Of this conspiracie there were diuers For as Dion was set in his chamber talking with his frends where there were many beddes to sit on some compassed the house round about others came to the dores and windowes of his chamber and they that should doe the deede to dispatche him which were the ZACYNTHIAN souldiers came into his chamber in their coates without any sword But when they were come in they that were without did shut the dores after them and locked them in least any man shoulde come out and they that were within fell vpon Dion and thought to haue strangled him But when they saw they could not they called for a sworde Neuer a man that was within durst open the dores though there were many with Dion For they thought euery man to saue their owne liues by suffering him to be killed and therefore durst not come to helpe him So the murtherers taried a long time within and did nothing At length there was one Lycon a SYRACVSAN that gaue one of these ZACYNTHIAN souldiers a dagger in at the window with the which they cut Dions throate as a weather they had holden a long time in their handes euen dead for feare The murther being executed they cast his sister and wife great with childe into prison and there the poore Ladie was pitiefullie brought to bedde of a goodly boy the which they rather determined to bring vp then otherwise to doe any thing with the childe Their keepers that had the charge of them were contented to let them do it bicause Callippus began then a litle to grow to some trouble For at the first after he had slaine Dion he bare all the whole sway for a time and kept the citie of SYRACVSA in his hands wrote vnto ATHENS the which next vnto the immortall goddes he was most affrayed of hauing defiled his handes in so damnable a treason And therefore in my opinion it was not euill spoken that ATHENS is a citie of all other that bringeth forth the best men when they geue them selues to goodnes the wickedest people also when they doe dispose them selues to euill as their contrie also bringeth foorth the best honnie that is and hemlocke in like maner that quickely dispatcheth a man of his life Howbeit the gods and fortune did not suffer this treason and wicked man to raigne long hauing comen to the gouernment of a realme by so damnable a murther but shortly after they gaue him his payment he had deserued For Callippus going to take a litle towne called CATANA he lost the citie of SYRACVSA whereupon he sayd that he had lost a citie and got a cheese-knife Afterwards he went to assaile the MESSENIANS and there he lost a great number of his men and amongest them were slaine those that killed Dion Now Callippus finding no citie in all SICILIA that woulde receiue him but that they all did hate and abhorre him he went to take the citie of RHEGIO in ITALIE There being in great distresse and neede of all thinges and not able to maintaine his souldiers he was slaine by Leptines and Polyperchon with the selfe same dagger wherewith Dion before was slaine the which was knowen by the facion being short after the LACONIAN daggers and also by the workemanshippe vpon it that was very excellently wrought
the people dwelling alongest the sea coast commonlie called the riuer of CORINTHE who yeelded vp them selues holdes and townes into his hands he then intreuched in the castell of the Acrocorinthe with a great trench Furthermore when Aratus came to the citie of SICYONE many of the ACHAIANS gathered about him and holding a counsell and assemblie he was chosen their Lieutenaunt generall hauing absolute power and authoritie to doe what he would and gaue him of their owne citizens to gard his person So he hauing managed the affaires of the state and common wealth of the ACHAIANS the space of three and thirtie yeares together and hauing all that time bene counted of all men the chiefest man of power and authoritie in GRAECE he then found him selfe in poore estate forsaken and in great miserie as in the shippewracke of his contrie beaten with storme and in great daunger of him selfe For when he sent vnto the AETOLIANS for aide they flatly denied him and would send him none Furthermore the ATHENIANS being verie desirous to send aide for Aratus sake were disswaded from it through the practise of Euclidas Micion Aratus also had a house in CORINTHE where all his money was the which king Cleomenes at the first meddled not withall neither would suffer any other to touche it but sent for his frendes and officers and charged them to looke well to it to geue Aratus a good accompt of it afterwardes Furthermore he priuately sent Tripylus vnto him and his father in law Megistonus and offered him great gifts and speciallie an annuall pencion of twelue talents which was double as much as king Ptolomy gaue him who sent him yearely six talents Besides he only prayed the ACHAIANS that they would make him their Lieutenāt general also that the garrison in the castel of the Acrocorinthe might be deuided in common betwene them Aratus made aunswere that he had no absolute power in his hands and that it was in the ACHAIANS not in him Cleomenes thinking this but a deuise and excuse of Aratus he presentlie inuaded the contrie of the SICYONIANS and destroyed all as he came and continued the space of three moneths Aratus in the meane time stoode doutfull how to determine whether he should receiue king Antigonus or not bicause Antigonus would not aide him before he deliuered him the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his handes So the ACHAIANS meeting at the citie of AEGIVM to consult vpon it they sent for Aratus thither Howebeit it was daungerous comming thither bicause Cleomenes campe lay hard by the citie of SICYONE besides also that the citizens kept Aratus and helde him by force saying that they would not let him venter him selfe in such apparaunt daunger their enemies being so neere vnto them Moreouer the women and litle children hong about him weeping and compassing him about as their common father and sauior But Aratus comforting them bad them not be affrayed and so tooke his horse with ten of his frends and his sonne that was a young stripling growen and went towards the sea and imbarked in certaine shippes that roade at ancker Thence he sailed vnto AEGIVM where the diet or parlament was kept and there it was resolued that they should sende for Antigonus and deliuer the castell of the Acrocorinthe into his hands And so it was performed for Aratus sent thither his owne sonne among the other ostages The CORINTHIANS were so sore offended withall that they made hauocke of his goods and gaue his house he had in CORINTHE vnto king Cleomenes So king Antigonus being onwardes on his way to come into PELOPONNESVS with his armie bringing with him twentie thowsand footemen all MACEDONIANS foure hundred horsemen Aratus with the greatest states and officers of the ACHAIANS vnwitting to their enemies went to meete him as farre as the citie of PEGES hauing no great trust nor confidence in Antigonus nor the MACEDONIANS For he remembred verie well that he came first to his greatnes by the iniuries he had offered them and howe that the chiefest cause of his rising was the malice he bare vnto olde Antigonus Howbeit making vertue of necessitie and weying the instant occasion of their present extremitie of Gouernors to be driuen to be subiects he put him selfe in aduenture So when Antigonus was tolde that Aratus was comen in person to him hauing with good countenance after a common sort saluted those that came in his companie to Aratus selfe at his first comming he gaue him an honorable welcome and enterteinment Afterwardes also finding him a good and discreete man he fell into inward frendshippe and familiaritie with him For Aratus was not onely skilfull to geue direction in matters of state touching good order and gouernment but moreouer his companie conuersation was verie pleasaunt to entertaine a Princes leasure with Wherefore though Antigonus was but young at that time yet seeing throughly into Aratus nature and that he was a meete man to be well thought of and esteemed about a Prince he vsed his counsell and aduise more then any other mans in all matters not onely touching the affaires of the ACHAIANS but of the MACEDONIANS also And so all things came to passe which the goddes had promised in their sacrifices For in a beast that was sacrificed there were two galles wrapped in one selfe cawle the which the Soothsayers interpreted did prognosticate that two which before were mortall enemies should nowe become assured frendes But Aratus made no account of their prediction neither did also geue any credit to the sacrifices but trusted more to his owne determination So the warres afterwardes hauing good successe and Antigonus making a feast in the citie of CORINTHE where he had bidden many ghests he would nedes haue Aratus lye vpon him at the table and a litle while after commaunded his men to bring him a couerlet and turning to him asked him if he were not a colde Aratus aunswered him it freezed Then Antigonus bad him come neerer him when the seruaunts brought a couerlet for the king they cast it ouer them both Then Aratus remēbring the sacrifice fell a laughing and told their king what a wonder he had seene in the sacrifice what interpretation the Soothsayers made of it This was long after So Antigonus and Aratus being at that time in the citie of PEGES they were sworne brethren together and then went both with all speede against the enemies Thus there fell out hot skirmishes betwene them hard by the citie of CORINTHE For Cleomenes was verie well fortified and the CORINTHIANS valliantly defended them selues In the meane time Aristoteles of ARGOS Aratus frend secretlie sent him word that he would make the citie rebell if he came him selfe with any number of souldiers Aratus tolde it vnto king Antigonus who gaue him fifteene hundred men with the which he imbarked and passed ouer with great speede from the Isthmus or barre in the straight vnto the
honor and the slaue enfranchised had priuiledge giuen him to weare ringes of gold and he was called Martianus Vicellus who afterwards of all the infranchised bond men became the chiefest man about his Master Galba In the meane tyme Nymphidius SABINE began at ROME not couertly but with open sorce to take vpon him the absolute gouernment of the Empire perswading him self that Galba was so old that he could hardly be brought in a lytter vnto ROME being at the least three score and thirteene yeare olde besides also that the army of the PRAETORIANS which were in ROME did beare him good will of long tyme and then acknowledged none other Lord but him onely for the large promise he had made them for the which he receiued the thankes and Galba remained the debter So he presently commaunded Tigellinus his companion and Captaine with him of the army of the PRAETORIANS to leaue of his sword and disposing him selfe to bancketing and feasting he sent for all those that had bene Consuls Praetors or Proconsuls of prouinces and made them all to be inuited in the name of Galba So there were certaine souldiers gaue out this rumor in the campe that they should doe well to send Ambassadors vnto Galba to praye him that Nymphidius might be their onely Captaine still without any companion ioyned with him Furthermore the honor and good will the Senate bare him calling Nymphidius their benefactor and going dayly to visite him in his house procuring him to be Author of all their decrees passed in Senate and that he should authorise them this made him hie minded and the bolder by much insomuch that shortly after they that came to honor him in this sort did not onely hate and mislike his doings but moreouer he made them affrayd of him Furthermore when the Consuls had giuen to commoÌ„ purseuants any commissions vnder seale or letters pattents signifying the decrees of the Senate to cary them to the Emperor by vertue of which letters pattents when the officers of the citie doe see the seale they straight prouide the purseuants of coches and â—reshe horses to further their speede and hasty iorney Nymphidius was very angrye with them bicause they did not also come to him for his letters sealed by him and his souldiers to sende likewise vnto the Emperor But besides all this it is also reported that he was like to haue deposed the Consuls howbeit they excusing them selues vnto him and crauing pardon did appease his anger And to please the Commons also he suffred them to put any of Neroes friends to death they could meete withall Amonge other they slue a Fenser called Spicillus whome they put vnder Neroes statues which they dragged vp and downe the citie Another also called Aponius one of Neroes accusers they threw him to the ground and draue carts ouer him loden with stones And diuers others also whom they slue in that manner of the which some had done no maner of offence Hereuppon one Mauriseus one of the noblest men of the citie so esteemed sayd openly in the Senate I feare me we shall wish for Nero againe before it be long So Nymphidius being comen in manner to the fulnes of his hope he was very glad to heare that some repyned at him bicause he was the sonne of Caius Caesar that was the next Emperor after Tiberius For this Caius Caesar when he was a young man had kept Nymphidius mother which had bene a fayer young woman and the Daughter of one Callistus one of Caesars infranchised bond men whome he had gotten of a Laundres he kept Howbeit it is found contrary that this Nymphidius was borne before Caius Caesar coulde knowe his mother and men thought that he was begotten by a Fenser called Martianus with whome his mother Nymphidia fell in fancie for that he had a great name at that time in ROME and in deede Nymphidius was liker to him in fauor then vnto any other So he confessed that he was the sonne of this Nymphidia how beit he did ascrybe the glory of the death of Nero vnto him selfe and thought him selfe not sufficiently recompensed with the honors they gaue him nether also with the goods he enioyed nether for that he lay with Sporus whome Nero loued so dearely whome he sent for to Neroes funeralls whilest his bodye was yet a burning and kept him with him as if he had bene his wife and called him Poppaeus Furthermore all this did not content him but yet secretly he aspyred to be Emperor partly practising the matter in ROME it selfe by the meanes of certaine women and Senators which were secretly his friends and partly also through one Gellianus whome he sent into SPAYNE to see how all thinges went there Howbeit after the death of Nero all things prospered with Galba sauing Verginius Rufus only who stoode doubtfull yet and made him sorely mistrust him for that he was affrayd besides that he was generall ouer a great and puisant army hauing also newly ouerthrowen Vindex and secretly ruling the best parte of the Empire of ROME which was all GAVLE and then in tumult and vprore ready to rebell lest he would harken vnto them that perswaded him to take the Empire to him selfe For there was no Captaine of ROME at that tyme so famous and of so great estimation as Verginius and that deseruedly for that he had done great seruice to the Empire of ROME in tyme of extreamitie hauing deliuered ROME at one selfe tyme from a cruell tyranny and also from the daunger of the warres of the GAVLES This notwithstanding Verginius persiâ—ting still in his first determination referred the election of the Emperor vnto the Senate although that after the death of Nero was openly knowen the common sort of souldiers were earnestly in hand with him and that a Tribune of the souldiers otherwise called a Colonel of a thowsand men went into his tent with a sword drawen in his hand and bad Verginius either determine to be Emperor or els to looke to haue the sworde thrust into him Yet after that Fabius Vaelens Captaine of a legion was sworne vnto Galba and that he had receiued letters from ROME aduertising him of the ordinaunce and decree of the Senate in th end with much a doe he perswaded the souldiers to proclayme Galba Emperor who sent Flaceus Ordeonius to succeede him vnto whome he willingly gaue place So when Verginius had deliuered vp his army vnto him he went to meete with Galba on whome he wayted comming on still towards ROME And Galba all that time neither shewed him euill countenance nor yet greatly esteemed of him Galba him selfe being cause of the one who feared him and his friends of the other but specially Titus Iunius who for the malice he bare vnto Verginius thinking to hinder his rising did vnwittingly in deede further his good happe and deliuered him occasion to draw him out of the ciuill warres and mischieues the which lighted afterwards vpon
he could to leade his armie into some other prouince Furthermore he thought it would increase his estimacion much amoÌ„g strauÌ„gers also greatly encorage his owne people if he could make the power of the CARTHAGINIANS to seeme so great also their Captaine to be of so noble a corage as to dare to make warre so neere to the citie of ROME All things therefore set a part he marched with his campe by the mountaine Appenine and so comming through the contry of the LIGVRIANS he came into THVSCAN by the way that bringeth them into the champion contry to the marisses about the riuer of Arnus The riuer of Arnus at that time was very high and had ouerflowen all the fields thereabouts Annibal therefore marching with so great an army as he had could not avoyde it but that he must needes lose a number of his men horse before he could get out of those euill fauored marisses Insomuch that he him selfe lost one of his eyes by reason of the great paines he had taken day night without sleepe or rest and also through the euill ayer though he was caried vpon a high Elephants back which only was left him of all that he had brought with him In the meane time C. Flaminius Consul to whom the charge of SeÌ„pronius army was geuen he was come vnto ARETIVM against the Senates minde who were maruelously offended with him bicause he left his coÌ„panion Cn. Seruilius at ROME went vnto his prouince by stelth as it were without the furniture of a Consul his officers This was a very hasty man of nature one whom the people had brought to that dignity office so that he was become so prowde insolent that men might see he would hazard all things without wit or iudgement Annibal hauing intelligence hereof thought it the best way to anger the Consul to do what he could possible to allure him into the field before his fellow Consul should come to ioyne with him Therfore he marching forward with his campe through the contry of FESVLA ARETIVM he burnt spoiled all the contry thereabout filled them all with feare neuer leauing to destroy all before him vntil he came to the mountaines Cortonenses so to the lake called Thrasimene When he had viewed the place he went about to surprise his enemy by some ambush wherupon he conueied certen horsemen vnder the hills hard by the straight that goeth vnto Thrasimene and behind the mountaines also he placed his light horsemeÌ„ TheÌ„ he him selfe with the rest of his army came downe into the field supposing that the Consul would not be quiet and so it fell out For hot stirring heades are easely intrapped fall into the enemies ambush oftentimes do put all in hazard bicause they will follow no counsell nor good aduise C. Flaminius therefore seeing their contry vtterly spoiled the corne destroyed and cut downe and the houses burnt he made great hast to lead his armie against the enemie contrarie to all mens minds who would haue had him taried for his companion Cn. Seruilius the other Consul So euen at sunne set when he was come to the straightes of the lake of Thrasimene he caused his campe to stay there although his men were not wearie with the long iorney they had taken by the way So the next morning by breake of day making no view of the contrie he went ouer the mountaines The Annibal who long before was prepared for this did but stay for the oportunitie to worke his feate when he saw the ROMANES come into the plaine he gaue a signall vnto all his men to geue charge vpon the enemie Thereuppon the CARTHAGINIANS breaking out on euerie side came before and behinde and on the flanckes to assaile the enemie being shut in betwene the lake and the mountaines Now in contrarie maner the ROMANES beginning to fight out of order they â—ought inclosed together that they could not see one an other as if it had bene darke so that it is to be wondered at how and with what minde they fought it out so long considering they were compassed in on euerie side For they fought it out aboue three howres space with such fury and corage that they heard not the terrible earthquake that was at that present time neither did they offer to flie or stirre a foote vntil they heard that the Consul C. Flaminius going from rancke to rancke to encourage his men was slaine by a man of armes called Ducarius Then when they had lost their Generall and being voyde of all hope they fled some towardes the mountaines and others towards the lake of the which diuers of them flying were ouertaken slaine So there were slaine fifteene thowsand in the field there scaped about ten thowsand Furthermore the report went that there were six thowsande footemen which forciblie at the beginning of the battell got to the mountaine and there stayed on a hill till the battell was ended and at length came downe vpon Annibals promise but they were betrayed and slaine euery mothers sonne of them After this great victorie Annibal did let diuers ITALIAN prisoners goe free without raunsome paying after he had vsed them maruelous curteouslie bicause that the same of his clemencie curtesie should be knowen vnto all nations whereas in deede his owne nature was contrarie to all vertues For he was hastie and cruell of nature and from his youth was brought vp in warres and exercised in murther treason ambushes layed for enemies and neuer cared for law order nor ciuill gouernment So by this meanes he became one of the cruellest Captaines the most suttell and craftiest to deceiue and intrap his enemie that euer was For as he was alway prying to beguile the enemie so those whom he could not ouercome in warre by plaine force he went about to intrappe by slight and policie The which appeareth true by this present battell and also by the other he fought against the Consul Sempronius by the riuer of Trebia But let vs returne to our matter and leaue this talke till an other time Now when the newes of the ouerthrow and death of the Consul Flaminius was reported at ROME hauing lost the most parte of his armie there was great mone and lamentation made through all the citie of ROME Some bewailing the common miserie of the common wealth others lamenting their priuate particular losse some also sorowing for both together But in deede it was a woefull sight to see a world of men women to run to the gates of the citie euerie one priuatly asking for their kinne and frends Some do write that there were two women who being very sorie and pensife dispairing of the safetie of their sonnes dyed sodainly for the extreame ioy they had when beyond their expectacion hope they sawe their sonnes aliue and safe At the selfe same time Cn. Seruilius
against offices of perpetuity Cato woulde punish him selfe for offending That is to say vnderstanding For they iudged that the seate of reason was placed in the hart following Aristotles opinion Blushinge in younge man is a better taken then palenes A louer liueth in an other body Cato and Valerius Flaccus Consuls Catoes doings in Spayne Catoes abstinence from spoyle and bribery Discorde betwext Cato Scipio Cato ouercame the Lacetanians Catoes actes after his Consullshippe and triumphe The power of Antiochus the great Cato mocked Posthumius Albinus a Romaine for writing a story in the Greeke tongue Kinge Antiochus army Catoes doings against king Antiochus Mount Callidromus Catoos oration to his souldiers The boldenes and valliant attempt of Catoes souldiers Cato advertised of the streÌ„gth of king Antiochus campe Cato tooke the straight of Thermopyles Kinge Antiochus hurt in the face with a stone Catoes victory of kinge Antiochus Cato woulde praise his owne doings Manius sendeth Cato to Rome to cary newes of the victory Cato an accuser of men Cato fifty times accused The dignity and office of the Consor How the Censors were chosen The Senators and nobility bent all against Catoes sute Cato chosen Censor Catoes acts in his censorship Cato put Lucius Quintius Flaminius of the Senate The cause why Cato put Quintius of the Senate Lucius Quintius Flaminius wickednes cruelty Manilius put of the Senate for kissing his wife before his daughter Mery with maried men when Iupiter shundereth Banketing feastes put downe by Cato Catoes counsel for reforminge excesse at Rome Superfluous things reckened for riches Scopas goodes were all in toyes that did him no good Basilica Porcia built by Cato Catoes image set vp in the temple of the goddesse of health Honor chaungeth condition No maÌ„ should abide to be praised how for the common wealth VVhat Cato was at home in his house and towarded his wife and children Cato iudgeth the noble borne gentlewomen the best wiues Socrates patience commended bearinge with the sherwduts of his wife Catoes wife was nource to her owne childe Cato taught his sonne Chilo a grammarian VVhat exercises Cato brought vp his sonne in Catoes sonne was valiant Cato and younger maried Tertia Paulus AEmylius daughter Scipio the second was AEmylius naturall sonne Catoes discipline to his slaues Catoes opinion for sleepy meÌ„ Note how Cato altered his maner and opinion by wealth Catoes good husbandry for increasing his wealth Cato a great vserer He tooke extreame vsery by sea Carneades Diogenes Philosophers sent Ambassadors to Rome Cato misliked the Greeke tongue Catoes Phisicall booke Cato talketh with Salonius his clarke about the mariage of his daughter Catoes aunswere to his sonne of his seconde mariage Cato maried Salonius daughter being a very old man and had a sonne by her How Cato passed his age Catoes wrytinges and monuments Catoes reuenue Catoes company pleasant both to old young The table a good meane to procure loue and how table talke should be vsed Cato author of the last warres against the Carthaginians Scipio Nasica against Cato for the destroying of Carthage Catoes death Catoes posterity Aristides and Catoes accesse to the common wealth Cato in marshall affaires excelled Aristides Aristides and Catoes displeasures in the common wealth The power of innocency eloquence Oeconomia houserule The nature of oyle No man wise that is not wise to him selfe VVhether pouerty be an ill thing VVhether Aristides factes or Catoes did most benefit their contry Ambition a hatefull thing in the commoÌ„ wealth Cato reproued for his second wife Crausis Philopoemenes father Cassander Philopoemenes schoolemaister Ecdemus and Demophanes red Philosophy to Philopoemen Philopoemen the last famous maÌ„ of Greece Philopoemen taken for a seruinge man. Philopoemen hasty and wilfull Philopoemen delighted in warre martiall exercises Philopoemen did reproue wrestling Philopoemenes gaines how they were employed Philopoemenes study and care in tillage Philopoemenes delite to read Euangelus bookes of the discipline of warres Philopoemen saued the Megalopolitans from Cleomenes king of Sparta Philopoemen very sore hurt King Antigonus came to aide the Achaiads against Cleomenes king of Lacedaemon Philopoenes noble fact in the 〈…〉 against kinge Cleomenes Philopoemen hurt in fight Antigonus saying of Philopoemenes skill of a souldier Philopoemen chosen Generall of the horsemen of the Achaians Philopoemen slue Demophantus Generall of the horsemen of the AEtolians The praise of Philopoemen Aratus raised Achaia to greatnes Philopoemen and Aratus compared Aratus a sofe man in warres Philopoemen chaungeth tho Achaians order and discipline of wars Philopoemen turned all curiosity and dainty fare into braue riche armors Brauet armor incorageth mens mindes to serue nobly Philopoemen made warres with Machanidas tyran of Lacedaemon Battell fought betwene Philopoemen and Machanidas Philopoemen ouercame Machanidas army tyran of the Lacedaemonians Philopoemen slue Machanidas The onely name of Philopoemen made the Boeotians flee for feare Nabis tyran of Lacedaemon wanne the city of Messina Nabis fleeth Philopoemen Philopoemen deliuered the city of Messina from Nabis the tyran of Lacedaemon Philopoemenes seconde iorney into Creta discommanded Philopoemen made diuerse cities to rebell against the Achaians The Cretans politicke men of warre Philopoemen made Generall of the Achaians against Nabis Philopoemen ouercome by sea Nabis besiegeth the city of Gythium Philopoemen ouer came Nabis tyran of Lacedaemon in battell Titus Quintius emâ—ieth Philopoemen Nabis slaine by the AEtolians Philopoemen free from couetousnes Philopoemenes wise counsell to the Lacedaemonians howe they should bestowe their giftes Diophanes T. Quintius Flaminius do inuade Lacedaemonia Philopoemenes noble act Philopoemenes cruelty to the Spartans Philopoemen made the Spartans forsake Lycurgus law Antiochus solace and mariage as Chalcis Philopoemenes counsell against the Romaines Philopoemen chosen the eight time Generall of the Achaians being 70. yere olde Philopoemenes iorney against Dinocrates Mons Euander Philopoemenes misfortune Philopoemen taken Philopoemen poysoned by Dinocrates Philopoemenes last words Philopoemenes death The AchaiaÌ„s did reuenge Philopoemenes death Dinocrates slue him selfe Philopoemenes funerall Note the humanity of the Romaines keepinge their enemies monuments from defacing Titus Quintius first charge in warre Degrees of offices before one came to be Consull T. Q. Flaminius Sextius AElius Consulls T. Q. Flaminius maketh warre with Philip king of Macedon Titus curtesie ranne the Greecians more than his force T. Q. landed in Epirvs Apsus fâ—â— The descriptioÌ„ of the contry of Epirvs Charopus Machatas sonne the chiefe man of the Epirots T. Q. possessed the straightes of the mouÌ„taine The Macedonians flee Philips flying king of Macedon T. Q. Flaminius modesty sorbearing spoyle wanne him many frendes Pyrrus saying of the Romaines army King Attalus death The Boeotians yeld vnto the Romaines Quintius army King Philip and Quintius met with their armies neere Scotvsa Battell betwene Quintius and Philip kinge of Macedon The propertie of the Macedonian battell Quintius overcome Philippes army Mutinie betwixt the AEtolians the Romaines Alcaeus verses in disgrace of
of the Argiues Helenus Pyrrus sâ—nne The straunge loue of an Elephant to his keeper Kinge Pyrrus slaine with a tyle throwen by a woman Alcyoneus king Antigonus sonne Antigonus courtesie towards Pyrrus body and frendes Of the names of the Romaines Marius fauor Marius could no skill of the Greeke tongue Platoes saying to Xenocrates Marius parents maners and contry Marius first iorney vnto the warres Scipio Asricous iudgement of Marius Marius Tribune of the people Costa Consull Two sortes of AEdiles AEdilitas Curulis AEdilitas popularis Marius denyed to be AEdilis Marius chosen Praetor Sabacon put of the Senate Caius Herennius pleaded in Marius behalfe touching the patron client Marius actes in Spayne The opinioÌ„ of Spanyards in olde time Eloquence riches raised men to authority How Marius credit and estimacion grew Iulia Marius wife Marius temperaunce and pacience Caecilius Metellus Consull The Labours presence of the Generall maketh the souldiers worke willingly Marius the author of Turpilius false accusation death Vacca a great city The cause of the supposed treason against Turpilius Turpilius wrongfully put to death Displeasure betwixt Metellus Marius Marius first time of being Consull Marius offended the nobility Marius depriued Metellus of the honor of conquering of king Iugurthe Bocchus kinge of Numidia deliuereth Iugurthe vnto Sylla Lucius Sylla Quaestor vnder Marius The originall cause of the ciuill warres betwixt Marius and Sylla The comming into Italie of the Teutons and Cimbres The army of the Tevtons and Cimbres 300000 men Cimbri Cimmerij Marius chosen Consull the second time against the law Law must giue place for common benefit Marius triumphe into Rome for king Iugurthe How Marius trained his souldiers Marius moyles Marius commended for his iustice Marius third Consullshippe Manius Acilius Lieutenant of the army vnder Marius Lucius Saturninus Tribune Marius fourth Consullshippe with Catulus Luctatius Rhodanus fl Marius channell The Cimbres went through Germanie into Italie The Teutons and Ambrons fall apon Marius to passe into Italie through the territory of Genua Martha a wise woman or prophetesse The attier of Martha in time of sacrifice A wonder of the Vultures shewed to Marius VVonders seene Batabaces the priest of the mother of the goddes Aulus Pompeius Tribune The enemies campe were removing sixe dayes together Marius bolde wordes to his souldiers and their aunswer Battell betwixt the Ambrons Marius Marius ouercome the Ambrons The mannishnes of the women Marius seconde battell with the Teutons Marius victory of the Teutons and Ambrons Much veine followeth after great battells Marius the fift time Consull Athesis flu Catulus Luctatius the Consull flieth from the Cimbres Marius refused to enter in triumphe Marius goeth towardes Catulus Luctatius to helpe him Po flu Marius mocke to the Cimbres The Cimbres march against Marius Marius deuise for alteringe the darte in fight Baeorix king of the Cimbres Two and fiftie thowsand and three hundred men betwene Marius and Catulus The Romaines battell The battell of the Cimbres A dust raised that neither army could see one another The sunne ful in the Cimbres faces The fielde fought the 27. of Iuly Horrible cruelty of women Prisoners 60. thowsand Men slaine six score thowsand Might ouercoÌ„meth right Metellus against people pleasers Valerius Flaccus Consull with Marius the sixt time Valerius Coruinus sixe times Consull The law Agraria An article for the othes of the Senate to confirme what the people should passe by voyce Marius duble dealing To lye cunningly Marius taketh it for a vertue Timorous policy causeth periury Metellus constant in vertue Metellus wise saying touching well doing Metellus banishment Marius doble dealing betwene the nobilitie and people Marius procureth sedition at Rome No trust on the faith of the coÌ„mon people Metellus returne from banishement Marius iorney into Cappadocia and Galatia Marius prowd wordes to Mithridates The cause of the dissension betwene Marius Sylla The warre of the confederates Siloes stowts chalenge and Marius answer Mons Misenum Marius ambition Sulpitius gard of sixe hundred knightes Sulpitius boldness Marius sedition Marius flieth from Rome Marius the sonne flieth into Africke Marius found an ayrie of Eagles How many egges the Eagle layeth Liris fl Marius set a land and forsaken of the mariners Marine hidden in the marisses Marius takeÌ„ Fanniaes curtesie vnto Marius One hiered to kill Marius The Minturnians suffered Marius to go his way with sefety Marica Sylua Marius the elder flieth into Africke Marius wise answere of surtimes inconstancy Marius the younger esâ—apeth Hyempsals hands Cinna driuen out of Rome by Octauius Marius ioyneth force with Cinna Octauius negligence in defence of the citie of Rome against Cinna Marius Octauius too much geuen to Southsaiere Octauius vertue and imperfection Octauius slaine by Marius souldiers Agreas contrariety in astronomy Cinna and Marius entry into Rome Bardini Marius caused great murder in Rome Marius crueltie Small trust of frendes in aduersitie The faithfulnes of Cornutus seruaunts to their master M. Antonius the Orator betrayed by a tauerner The force of eloquence Catulus Luctatius killed himselfe The Bardiaeians slaine of their Captaines for their crueltie Marius seuenth Consulship Marius thoughtes and feare Deuise to winne sleepe Marius the fathers death Marius mad ambition a note against the ambitious Platoes words at his death note that in Syllaes life following to appeareth that Marius the younger was besieged in the city of Preneste and not in Perusia as ye rende here So as the city seemeth to be mistakeÌ„ in one of these liues Lysanders image Licurgus the anchor of wearing longe heare The commoditie of wearing longe heare Lysanders kinred The education of the Laconian children Lysanders manners VVise man he euer melancholye Lysander a despisor of riches Lysanders words of Dionysuis liberalitie Lysander admirall for the Lacedaemonians by sea Lysander enlargeth the citie of Ephesus Sardis a citie in Lydia Lysander tooke money for paye of his souldiers Lysanders victorie of the Athenians by sea Cherronesus a contrye in Thracia Callicratidas Lysanders successor in his office of admyraltie Playnenes coÌ„mended for a vertue but liked as an olde image of a god that had bene excellent faier The spighte of Lisander to Callicratidas Nothing estemed with the Barbarians but money Callicratidas pacience The death of Callicratidas Lysander crafty and deceitfull A wise saying of Lysander The wicked dissembling and double dealing of Lysander Lysander regarded no periâ—rie following the example of Polycrates the tyran of Somos Cyrus liberaâ—itie to Lysanders Lysanders artes by sea Philocles cruel advise vnto the Athenians Lysanders craft in marine fight Alcibiades gaue good aduise to the Captaines of the AtheniaÌ„s A copper target lift vp the signe of battell by sea Conon Admirall of the Athenians Lysanders victory of the Athenians Paralos the holy galley of Athens The starres of Castor and Pollux A stone fell out of the element AEgos st Anaxagoras opinion of the starres VVhat falling starres be Damachus testimonie of the fiery stone seene in the element
then power to ayde him The army power of Octauius Caesar against Antonius Antonius dominions Octauius Caesars dominions Antonius we which ruled by Cleopatra Antonius rode at anker at the head of ActioÌ„ where the citie of Nicopolis standeth * The grace of this taâ—â—â—it can not properly be expressed in any other tongue bicause of the equivocation of this word Toryne which signifieth citie Albania and also a Ladell to scoome the pot with as if she ment Caesar sat by the fire side scomming of the pot Domitius forsaketh Antonius goeth vnto Octauius Caesar. Amyntas and Deiotarus do both reuolt from Antonius and goe vnto Caesar. Antonius in daunger of taking as Actâ—um Antonius regardeth not the good counsell of his souldier Battel by sea as Actium betwixt Antonius and Caesar. A lucky signe vnto Octauius Caesar. Eutychus Nicon fortunate Conquerer Cleopatra flyâ—th The soule of a louer liueth in another body Antonius flyeth after Cleopatra Antonius lycenceth his friends to depart and giueth there a shippe loden with gold and siluer Antonius nauy ouerthrowen by Caesar. Antonius legions doe yeld them selues vnto Octauius Caesar Lucilius spokâ— of in Brutus life The fidelitie of Lucilius vnto Antonius The wonderful attempt of Cleopatra Antonius followeth the life and example of TimoÌ„ Misanthropus the Athenian Plato Aristophanes testimony of Timon Misanthropus what he was The epitaphe of Timon Misanâ—hropus Antonius rioting in Alexandria after his great losse ouerthrew Toge virilis Antillus the eldest sonne of Antonius by his wife Fuluia An order erected by Antonius and Cleopatra called Synapothanumenon reuoking the former called Amimetobion Cleopatra verie busie in prouing the force of poyson The property of the biting of an Aspick Antonius and Cleopatra send Ambassadors vnto Octauius Caesar Alexas treason iustly punished Pelusium was yeelded vp to Octauius Caesar. Cleopatraes monuments set vp by the temple of Isis. Straunge noises heard and nothing seene Antonius nauie doe yeeld them selues vnto Caesar. Antonius ouerthrowen by Octauius Caesar. Cleopatra flieth into her tombe or monument Eros Antonius seruant slue him selfe Antonius did thrust his sword into him selfe but died not presently Antonius caried vnto Cleopatraes tombe A lamentable sight to see Antonius and Cleopatra The death of Antonius Octauius Caesar lamenteth Antonius death Proculeius sent by Octauius Caesar to bring Cleopatra aliue Cleopatra taken Caesar tooke the citie of Alexandria Caesar greatly honored Arrius the Philosopher Philostratus the eloquentest Orator in his time for present speech vpon a sodaine Antyllus Antonius eldest sonne by Fuluia slaine The saying of Arrius the Philosopher CaesarioÌ„ Cleopatraes sonne put to death Cleopatra burieth Antonius Olympus Cleopatraes Phisition Caesar came to see Cleopatra Cleopatra a martired creature through her owne fassion and fury Seleucus out of Cleopatraes Treasorers Cleopatra bet her treasorer before Octauius Caesar Cleopatraes wordes vnto Caesar. Cleopatra finely deceiueth Octauius Caesar although she desired to liue Cleopatraes lamentation ouer Antonius tombe The death of Cleopatra Cleopatraes two waiting woman dead with her Cleopatra killed with the biting of an Aspicke The image of Cleopatra caried in triumphe at Rome with an Aspicke biting of her arme The age of Cleopatra and Antonius Of Antonius issue came Emperors The power of Demetrius Antonius Demetrius Antonius ambition to gouerne The liberalitie and bountie of Demetrius and Antonius Demetrius Antonius time Canobus and Taphosiris fl Demetrius Antonius wiues Antonius the first Romane that euer maried two wiues together Demetrius lasciuiousnes Dogges not suffred in Athens castle bicause of bitcherie The loue and impietie the faith falsehoode of Demetrius and Antonius Demetrius Antonius acts in warres The pareÌ„tage of Artaxerxes Mnemon The diuersâ—â— of natures betwixt Cyrus and Artaxerxes Arsicas surnamed Artaxerxes assigned to be king of Persia The maner of the consecrating of the kings of Persia as Pasargades Cyrus accused vnto his brother Artaxerxes Cyrus lay in waite to kill Artaxerxes Note the flatterie and dissimulation of a woman Antaxerxes curteous and easie to haue accesse vnto Artaxerxes liberalitie to apoore man that gaue him a litle water Tiribazus lightnes and Artaxerxes liberalitie Statira king Artaxerxes wife Cyrus maketh warre against his brother Artaxerxes Cyrus wonderfull promises Artaxerxes army of nyne hundred thowsand fighting men against his brother Cyrus Xenophon the Historiographer excellently describeth this battell betwixt Artaxerxes and his brother Cyrus Safetie in a generall requisite in battell Clearchus cowardlines reproued Pasacas Cyrus horse Artagerses the gouernor of the prouince of Cadusia giueth charge vpon Cyrus Cyrus slue Artagerses Dinons report of Cyrus death The Cariens be called cocks bicause they weare crests on their headpeeces Ctesias report of Cyrus death Artaxerxes hurt by Cyrus Cyrus hurt Cyrus miserable destiny King Artaxerxes being a thirst dranke stincking puddle water and sayd he neuer tasted sweeter The manner of the Persians in 〈…〉 against a traitor to the king Plutarch reproueth Ctesias for a lyer How Artaxerxes 〈…〉 the good and also punished the euill The punishment of them that slue Cyrus Parysatis straunge crueltie praising the Carian in 〈…〉 See the perill of bastâ—es rash aunswer The terrible death of offenders in boates or troughes among the Persians The miserable death of Mithridates The deuelish craft of Parysatis her great skill cunning at dyce Parysatis craft and cruelâ—ie Tisaphernes betrayeth the Captaines of Graece Clearchus other Captaines of Graece put to death by king Artaxerxes Ctesias vanity The cause of Parysatis hate vnto her Daughter in law Statyra Parysatis practiseth to poyson Queene Statira Ryntaces a bird of Persia that hath no excrements How Statira was poysoned The punishment for poysoners in Persia Agesilaus king of Lacedaemon maketh warre with the Persians The Persian coyne how it is stamped Artaxerxes dâ—aue the Lacedantonians from all their dominion by sea Gnidus Ins. Antalcidas peace Antalcidas Lacedaemonian greatly esteemed of Artaxerxes The persians full of vanitie and curiositie The death of Antalcidas Lacedaemonian Timagoras Athenian brybed by king Artaxerxes Timagoras was put to death for taking brybes and gifts of the king of Persia. King Artaxerxes killeth Tisaphernes Artaxerxes fell in againe with his mother Parysatis sent for her to come to the Court. Artaxerxes maried his eldest Daughter Atossa King Artaxerxes iorney against the Cadusians The contry of the Cadusians very barren Great famyne in Artaxerxes army Tiribazus stratageame saued Artaxerxes and all his army Note that soft apparell and riches maketh not a men cowardly and effeminate but a vile base mind that followeth euill aduise and counsell The corage of king Artaxerxes his great paynes in marching King Artaxerxes curtesie to his souldiers Darius and Ochus king Artaxerxes sonnes Artaxerxes proclaymeth his sonne Darius king Aspasia IuniaÌ„ one of Artaxerxes concubines The barbarous people can not 〈…〉 with â—inalitie in loue Tiribazus incruseth Darius against his father Artaxerxes Tiribazus maners and condicions Darius conspireth against Artaxerxes his father A