the night with all his Forces left the City and going on about eight mile encamped upon the Gabinian way As soon as day appeared Camillus came up with him excellently provided and his Souldiers full of courage and confidence and there engaging with him in a sharp Fight and which lasted a long while he overthrew his Army with great slaughter and took their Camp Of those that fled some were presently cut off by the Pursuers others of whom was the greatest number being scattered here and there the people of the Villages and neighbouring Cities came running out and dispatched them Thus Rome was strangely taken and more strangely recovered having been seven whole months in the possession of the Barbarians who entered her about the fifteenth day of July and were driven out about the fourteenth of February following Camillus triumphed as he deferved having saved his Country that was lost and brought the City back again to it self For they that had lived abroad together with their Wives and Children accompanied him in his triumph and they who had been shut up in the Capitol and were reduced almost to the point of perishing with hunger went out to meet him imbracing each other and weeping for joy and through the excess of the present pleasure scarce believing the truth of their deliverance But when the Priests and Ministers of the Gods appeared bearing those sacred Relicks which in their flight they had either hid there or conveyed away with them and now openly shewed that they were preserved it yielded a most joyfull and desireable spectacle to the Citizens who took it as if with them the Gods themselves were again returned unto Rome After Camillus had sacrificed to the Gods and purged the City the Priests leading the Procession and performing the customary Ceremonies he restored the present Temples and erected a new one to the God called the Speaker or Caller chusing the very same place in which that voice from Heaven came by night to Marcus Cedicius foretelling the coming of the Barbarian Army It was a business of great difficulty and an exceeding hard task amidst so much Rubbish to discover and set out the consecrated Places but by the unwearied diligence of Camillus and the incessant labour of the Priests it was at last accomplished But when the business came to the rebuilding the City which was wholly demolished an heartless despondency seised the Multitude and a backwardness to the work as those who wanted all necessary materials and had more need of some refreshment and rest from their labours than to toil and wear out themselves already broken both in body and fortunes Thus by leisure they turned their thoughts again towards Veii a City ready built and excellently provided of all things which gave occasion to many who sought to be popular by following and nourishing the humour to raise new tumults and many seditious words were flung out against Camillus that out of ambition and self-glory he withheld them from a City fit to receive them forcing them to live in the midst of Ruines and to raise such a pile of Rubbish that he might be esteemed not the chief Magistrate onely and General of Rome but setting Romulus aside the Founder also The Senate therefore fearing a sedition would not suffer Camillus though desirous to lay down his authority within the year though no other Dictatour had ever held it above six months Besides they endeavoured by kind persuasions and familiar addresses to appease and sweeten their minds and chear up their spirits Sometimes they would lead them to the Monuments and Tombs of their Ancestours often calling to their remembrance the sacred Oratories and holy Places which Romulus and Numa or any other of their Kings had consecrated and left unto them but amongst the chief of their holy Relicks they set before them that fresh and raw Head which was found in laying the foundation of the Capitol as a place destin'd by fate to be the head of all Italy What a shame would it be to them by forsaking the City to lose and extinguish that holy Fire which since the War was re-kindled by the Vestal Virgins to see the City it self either inhabited by Foreigners and Strangers or left a wild Pasture for Cattel to graze on Such reasons as these mixt with complaints and intreaties they used with the People sometimes in private taking them singly one by one and sometimes in their publick Assemblies But still they were afresh assaulted by the outcries of the multitude protesting and bewailing their present wants and inability beseeching them that seeing they were just met together as from a shipwreck naked and destitute they would not constrain them to patch up the pieces of a ruin'd and shattered City when they had another at hand ready built and prepared Camillus thought good to refer it to the Senate and he himself discoursed largely and earnestly in behalf of his Country as likewise did many others At last calling to Lucius Lucretius whose place was first to speak he commanded him to give his sentence and the rest as they followed in order Silence being made and Lucretius just about to begin by chance a Captain without passing by the Senate-house and leading his Company of the Day-guard called out with a loud voice to the Ensign-bearer to stay and fix his Standard for that was the best place to stay in This voice coming in that nick of time was taken as a direction what was to be done so that Lucretius embracing the Omen and adoring the Gods gave his sentence for staying as likewise did all the rest that followed Even among the common people it wrought a wonderfull change of affection every one heartning and encouraging his Neighbour and setting himself chearfully to the work proceeding not in any regular lines or proportions but every one pitching upon that plot of ground which came next to hand or best pleased his fancy by which haste and hurry in building they raised the City with narrow and intricate Lanes and Houses huddled together one upon the back of another For it is said that within the compass of the year the whole City was raised up anew both in its publick Walls and private Buildings But the persons appointed by Camillus to recover and set out the consecrated places in that great confusion of all things searching about the Palatium and coming to that place which is called Mars's Close it happened that whilst they were clearing the place and carrying away the rubbish they lit upon Romulus his magick Staff buried under great and deep heaps of Ashes This Staff is crooked at one end and is called Lituus They make use of this Lituus in quartering out the regions of the Heavens when they are upon that sort of divination which is made by the flight of Birds which Romulus himself also made use of being most excellently skilled in Augury But when he disappeared from among men the
visibly to rise and swell increasing to the feet of the Mountains and by degrees reaching to the very tops of them and all this without any violent tossing or agitation of its Waves At first it was the wonder of Shepherds and Herdmen but when the Earth which like a great Dam held up the Lake from falling into the lower grounds through the quantity and weight of Water was broken down and that in a violent stream it ran through the plow'd Fields and Plantations to discharge it self in the Sea it did not onely strike terrour in the Romans but was thought by all the inhabitants of Italy to portend some extraordinary events But the greatest talk of it was in the Camp that besieged Veii when once this accident of the Lake came to be known among them and as in long Sieges it is usual for parties of both sides to meet and converse with one another it happened that a Roman had gained much confidence and familiarity with one of the besieged a man well versed in ancient learning and had the reputation of more than ordinary skill in divination The Roman observing him to be overjoy'd at the story of the Lake and to mock at the Siege told him that this was not the onely prodigy that of late had happened to the Romans but that others more wonderfull than this had befallen them which he was willing to communicate to him that he might the better provide for his private affairs in these publick distempers The man greedily embraced the motion expecting to hear some wonderfull secrets but when by little and little he had drill'd him on in discourse and insensibly drawn him a good way from the Gates of the City he snatched him up by the middle being stronger than he and by the assistence of others that came running from the Camp seized and delivered him to the Commanders The man reduced to this necessity and knowing that destiny is not to be avoided discover'd to them the secret counsels of his Country That it was not possible the City should be taken untill the Alban Lake which now broke forth and had found out new passages was drawn back from that course and so diverted that it could not mingle with the Sea The Senate having heard and deliberated of the matter decreed to send to Delphos to ask counsel of that God the Messengers were persons of the greatest quality Cossus Licinius Valerius Potitus and Fabius Ambustus who having made their voiage by Sea and consulted the God returned with other answers particularly that there had been a neglect of some of their Country Rites relating to the Latine Feasts As for the Alban Water the Oracle commanded that if it was possible they should draw it from the Sea and shut it up in its ancient bounds but if that was not to be done then they should bring it down into Ditches and Trenches into the lower grounds and so dry it up which message being delivered the Priests performed what related to the Sacrifices and the People went to work and turned the Water And now the Senate in the tenth year of the War taking away all other Commands created Camillus Dictatour who chose Cornelius Scipio for his General of Horse and in the first place he made Vows unto the Gods that if they would grant a happy conclusion of that War he would celebrate to their Honour the great Sports and dedicate a Temple to the Goddess whom the Romans call Matuta the Mother but from the Ceremonies which are used one would verily think she was Leucothea for leading a Servant-maid into the secret part of the Temple they there buffet her and then drive her out again and they embrace their Brothers Children more than their own and in the matter of Sacrifices use the same ceremonies as to Bacchus his Nurses and what is customary in the sad case of Ino in remembrance of the Concubine Camillus having made these Vows marched into the Country of the Falisces and in a great Battel overthrew them and the Capenates their Confederates afterwards he turned to the Siege of Veii and finding that to take it by assault would prove a difficult and hazardous attempt he cut Mines under ground the Earth about the City being easy to break up and allowing as much depth as would carry on the Works without being discovered by the Enemy This design going on in a hopefull way he without gave assaults to the Enemy to divert them about the Walls whilst they that worked under-ground in the Mines were insensibly without being perceived got within the Castle under the Temple of Juno which was the greatest and most celebrated in all the City It is reported that the Prince of the Tuscans was at that very time at his Devotions and that the Priest after he had looked into the Entrails of the Beast should cry out with a loud voice That the Gods would give the victory to those that should finish those Sacrifices and that the Romans who were in the mines hearing the words immediately pull'd down the Floor and ascending with noise and clashing of Weapons frighted away the Enemy and snatching up the Entrails carried them to Camillus But this may look like a Fable The City being taken by storm and the Souldiers busied in pillaging and gathering an infinite quantity of Riches and Spoil Camillus from the high Tower viewing what was done at first wept for pity and when they that were by congratulated his good success he lift up his hands to Heaven and broke out into this Prayer O most mighty Jupiter and ye Gods that are Judges of good and evil actions Ye know that not without just cause but constrained by necessity we have been forced to revenge our selves on the City of our unrighteous and implacable Enemies But if in the vicissitude of things there be any calamity due to countervail this great felicity I beg that it may be diverted from the City and Army of the Romans and with as little hurt as may be fall upon my own Head Having said these words and just turning about as the custom of the Romans is to turn to the right when they worship or pray he fell flat to the ground to the astonishment of all that were present But recovering himself presently from the fall he told them that it had succeeded to his wish a small mischance in recompence of the greatest good fortune Having sacked the City he resolved according as he had vowed to carry Juno's Image unto Rome and the Workmen being ready for that purpose he sacrificed to the Goddess and made his supplications that she would be pleased to accept of their devotion toward her and graciously vouchsafe to accept of a place among the Gods that precided at Rome They say that the Statue answered in a low voice that she was ready and willing to go Livy writes that in praying Camillus touched the Goddess and invited her and that some of the standers
Priests took the Staff and kept it as other holy things not to be touched or defiled Now when they found that whereas all other things were consumed this Staff was not in the least perished by the flames they began to conceive joyfull hopes concerning Rome that this token did portend the everlasting safety and prosperity of it And now they had scarce got a breathing time from their troubles but a new War comes upon them the Aequi Volsci and Latins all at once invade their Territories and the Tuscans besiege Sutrium a confederate City of the Romans The Military Tribunes who commanded the Army and were encamped about the Hill Martius being closely besieged by the Latins and the Camp in danger to be lost send to Rome and Camillus is third time chosen Dictatour About this War there are two different relations I shall begin with the fabulous They say that the Latins whether out of pretence or real design to re-unite the ancient bloud of both Nations should send to desire of the Romans some of their free Maids in Marriage That the Romans being at a loss what to determine for on one hand they dreaded a War having scarce settled and recovered themselves on the other side they suspected that this asking of Wives was in plain terms nothing else but to gain Hostages though they covered it over with the specious name of marriage and alliance a certain Handmaid by name Tutula or as some call her Philotis should perswade the Magistrates to send with her some of the most youthfull and beautiful Damosels in the garb and dress of noble Virgins and leave the rest to her care and management that the Magistrates consenting should chuse out as many as she thought necessary for her purpose and adorning them with Gold and rich Clothes deliver them to the Latins who encamped nigh the City That at night the rest should steal away the Enemies Swords but Tutula or Philotis which you please getting to the top of a wild Fig-tree and spreading out a thick Garment behind her should hold out a Torch towards Rome which was the signal agreed on between her and the Commanders none other of the Citizens perceiving it which was the reason that the issuing out of the Soldiers was tumultuous the Officers pushing their men on and they calling upon one anothers names and scarce able to bring themselves into any order That setting upon the Enemies Works who either were asleep or expected no such matter they should take the Camp and destroy most of them and that this was done in the Nones of July which was then called Quintilis and that the Feast that is then observed is in remembrance of this action for first running out of the City in great crouds they pronounce aloud the most familiar and usual names as Caius Marcus Lucius and the like imitating thereby that calling to one another when they issued out in such haste In the next place the Maid-servants richly adorned run about playing and jesting upon all they meet and amongst themselves use a kind of skirmishing to shew they helped in the conflict against the Latins In the time of their feasting they sit shaded over with Boughs of wild Fig-tree and the day they call Nonae Capratinae as some think from that wild Fig-tree on which the Maiden held out her Torch for the Romans call a wild Fig-tree Caprificus Others refer most of what is said or done at this Feast to that accident of Romulus for on this day without the Gate he vanished out of sight a sudden darkness together with tempest overclouding him some think it an eclipse of the Sun and for this reason the day was called Nonae Capratinae for they call a Goat Capra and Romulus disappeared at a place called Palus Caprae or Goat Marsh whilst he was holding there an assembly as in his Life it is written But the general stream of Writers prefer the other account of this War which they thus relate Camillus being the third time chosen Dictatour and learning that the Army under the Tribunes was besieged by the Latins and Volsces he was constrained to arm not onely the youth but even such as age exempted from service and taking a large compass round the Mountain Martius undiscovered by the Enemy he lodged his Army on their back and then by many fires gave notice of his arrival The besieged encouraged herewith prepared to fall on and join battel but the Latins and Volsces fearing their Enemy on both sides drew themselves within their Works which they fortified with many Trees laid cross-wise and drove into the ground and so round their Camp drew a wall of Wood resolving to wait for more supplies from home and expect the assistence of the Tuscans their confederates Camillus perceiving their drift and fearing to be reduced to the same straits he had brought them to namely to be besieged himself resolved to lose no time and finding their Rampier was all of Timber and observing that a strong wind constantly at Sun-rising blew off from the Mountains after having prepared much combustable stuff about break of day he drew forth his Forces some of which he commanded to take their Darts and with noise and shouting assault the Enemy on the other quarter whilst he with those that were to fling in the fire went to that side of the Enemies Camp on which the wind lay directly and there waited his opportunity When the skirmish was begun and the Sun risen and a violent wind fell down from the Mountains he gave the signal of onset and pouring in an infinite quantity of fiery matter he filled all their Rampier with it so that the flame being fed in the close Timber and wooden Pallisados it went on and dispersed it self into all Quarters The Latins having nothing ready to keep it off or extinguish it the Camp being almost full of fire were reduced to a very small compass and at last forced by necessity to fall into their Enemies hand who stood before the Works ready armed and prepared to receive them of these a very few escaped but those that stayed in the Camp were all consumed by the fire untill such time the Romans to gain the pillage extinguished it These things performed Camillus leaving his Son Lucius in the Camp to guard the Prisoners and secure the Booty passed into his Enemies Country where having taken the City of the Aeques and reduced the Volsces to obedience he immediately led his Army to Sutrium having not heard what had befallen the Sutrians making haste to assist them as if they were still in danger and besieged by the Tuscans But they had already surrendred their City to their Enemies and being destitute of all things with their Garments onely about them they met Camillus on the way leading their Wives and Children and bewailing their misfortune Camillus himself was struck with the object and perceiving the Romans to weep and grievously resent
morning he brought down his main Body and set them in battel-array in the lower grounds being a numerous and courageous Army whereas the Barbarians had taken them for an inconsiderable and fearfull party The first thing that abated the pride and courage of the Gauls was that they were to fight when they least expected it and that their Enemies had the honour of being aggressours In the next place the light-armed men falling upon them before they could get into their usual order or range themselves in their proper squadrons did so force and press upon them that they were obliged to fight confusedly and at random without any discipline at all But at last when Camillus brought on his heavy-armed Legions the Barbarians with their Swords drawn went vigorously to engage them but the Romans opposing with their Javelins and receiving the force of their blows on that part of their Shield which was well guarded with steel they turned the edge of their Weapons being made of a soft and ill-tempered metal insomuch that their Swords immediately bent in their hands and stood crooked to the Hilts as for their Bucklers they were pierced through and through and grown so heavy with the Javelins that stuck upon them that forced to quit their own Weapons they endeavoured to make advantage of those of their Enemies so that gathering up the Javelins in their hands they began to return them upon the Romans But the Romans perceiving them naked and unarm'd presently betook themselves to their Swords which they so well used that in a little time great slaughter was made in the foremost ranks and the rest of them fled dispersing themselves all over the Champain Country for as for the Hills and upper Grounds Camillus had possessed himself beforehand of them and they knew it would not be difficult for the Enemy to take their Camp seeing through confidence of victory they had left it unguarded They say this Fight was thirteen years after the sacking of Rome and that from henceforward the Romans took courage and laid aside those dismal apprehensions they had conceived of the Barbarians thinking now that their first defeat was rather the effect of sickness and the strange concurrence of evil chances than the steddy courage or true force of their Enemy And indeed this fear had been formerly so great that they made a Law That Priests should be excused from war-like service unless in an invasion from the Gauls This was the last military Action that ever Camillus performed for as for the City of the Velitrani it was but a by accession to this victory it being surrendred unto him without any resistance But the greatest contention in civil Affairs and the hardest to be managed against the People was still remaining for they returning home full of victory and success violently insisted contrary to the ancient custom to have one of the Consuls chosen out of their own body The Senate strongly opposed it and would not suffer Camillus to lay down his Dictatourship thinking that under the shelter of his great name and authority they should be better able to contend for the power of the Nobility When Camillus was sitting upon the Tribunal dispatching publick affairs an Officer sent by the Tribunes of the people commanded him to rise and follow him laying his hand upon him as ready to seise and carry him away upon which such a noise and tumult followed in the Assembly the like was never heard of before some that were about Camillus thrusting the people from the Bench and the multitude below calling out to pull him down Being at a loss what to doe in this exigent of affairs yet he laid not down his authority but taking the Senatours along with him he went to the Senate-house but before he entred he besought the Gods that they would bring these Troubles to a happy conclusion solemnly vowing when the Tumult was ended to build a Temple to Concord A great contest arising in the Senate by reason of contrary opinions at last the most moderate and agreeable to the people prevailed which yielded that of two Consuls one of them should be chosen of the Commonalty When the Dictatour had proclaimed this determination of the Senate to the People they were immediately as it could not otherwise be pleased and reconcil'd with the Senate and for Camillus they accompanied him home with all the expressions and acclamations of joy and the next day being assembled together they voted a Temple of Concord to be built according to Camillus his Vow facing the Assembly and Market-place and to those Feasts which are called Latines they added one day more making them four Festivals in all and for the present they ordained that the whole people of Rome should sacrifice with Garlands on their heads In the election of Consuls held by Camillus M. Aemilius was chosen of the Nobility and Lucius Sextius the first of the Commonalty and this was the last of all Camillus's actions In the year following a pestilential sickness infected Rome which besides an infinite number of the common sort swept away most of the Magistrates among whom was Camillus Whose death cannot be called immature if we consider his great Age or greater Actions yet was he more lamented than all the rest put together that then died of that distemper The End of Camillus 's Life PERICLES Samos Collins sculp THE LIFE OF PERICLES Translated from the Greek By Adam Littleton D. D. CAesar on a time seeing belike some Strangers at Rome who were people of Quality carrying up and down with them in their Armes and Bosoms young Puppy-dogs and Monkeys and hugging and making much of them took occasion to ask whether the Women in their Country were not used to bear Children by that Prince-like reprimand gravely reflecting upon such persons who spend and lavish that affection and kindness which Nature hath implanted in us upon brute Beasts which is due and owing to humane Creatures those of our own kind Now inasmuch as even the Whelps and Cubs of Dogs and Apes have a kind of inclination to learning and knowledge and love to look about them and to take notice of things the Soul of Man hath by Nature a higher principle of Reason so as to find fault with those who make ill use of that inclination and desire upon idle discourses and sights that deserve no regard while in the mean time they carelesly pass by good and profitable things of that sort For indeed as to the outward Sense that being passive in receiving the impression of those objects that come in its way and strike upon it it is peradventure necessary for it the Sense to entertain and take notice of every thing that appears to it be it what it will usefull or unusefull but every man if he will make use of his Vnderstanding hath a natural power to turn himself upon all occasions and to change and shift with the greatest ease to what