brought into question and notwithstanding they called unto the Tribunes for to assist them with interposing their negative yet there was not one of them would succour and releeve them but presentment was taken against them and they indited Then the Nobility I meane not them alone who were in trouble but generally the whole Gentrie of the City at once pleaded That they were not the naturall true Noblemen indeede who were to be touched and charged with this crime who if it were not for sinister and indirect courses had easie and open accesse unto all honourable places and promotions but certaine new upstarts and Gentlemen of the first head saying That it was the very case of the Dictator himselfe and his Generall of horse who were rather parties guiltie and offenders themselues than sufficient inquisitors and competent judges and that should they well know and understand when they were once out of their place and office This made Manius to bestirre himselfe who mindfull rather of his good name and reputation than respectiue of his high place and absolute government went up into the common place of audience before all the people and spake to this effect My maisters and friends all Citizens of Rome well assured I am that privie ye are to the whole cariage and course of my former life and besides that even this very honor and dignitie which you have bestowed upon me is able to testifie and approve mine innocencie For to sit upon these inquisitions there was not to be chosen now for Dictatour as oftentimes heretofore according to the dangerous occasions and necessitie of the time a man reputed the best and noblest warrior of all other but such a one as throughout his whole life hath most of all misliked and condemned ambitious conventicles Howbeit for as much as certaine persons of noble linage for what cause it is more meet for you to deeme and judge than for me being a Magistrate to speake without booke as they say and upon no sure ground first have endevoured with all their might and maine to overthrow the processe of the inquisition it self and afterwards seeing they were not able themselves to bring that about notwithstanding they were Patrity have fled to the holds of their very adversaries even the protection of the Tribunes and their negative rather than to justifie themselves and stand to the triall of their cause and at last having there also a repulse thinking all meanes safer than to approve their innocencie have fallen upon us and bashed not privat men as they are to accuse and touch the person of him that is Dictatour to the end therfore that both God and man and all the world may know that as they have assaied to compasse that which they are not able to bring to passe namely to avoid the rendering an account of their life and demeanor so I am readie to set forward their accusations to offer my selfe unto mine adversaries and giving them meanes to call mee to mine answere here I resigne up my Dictatourship And I beseech you ô Consuls if so bee this charge bee laid on you by the Senate to proceed in examination against mee first and this gentleman the Generall of horse M. Fellius that it may appeare how we through our owne innocencie alone and not by the countenance and priviledge of our dignitie and high calling are protected and safe from these slanders and intended crimes Herewith hee gave over his place of Dictatour and after him incontinently M. Fellius yeelded up his roume likewise of Generall over the horse These persons were the first who being charged and put to their triall judicially before the Consuls for to them by order from the Senate was the commission directed notwithstanding all the depositions and testimonies of the Patritij were in every point found unguiltie and acquit P. Philo also albeit hee had so many times attained to the supreme dignities of state after he had atcheeved so many worthie deeds as well in peace as warre yet a man malliced or envied rather of the Nobilitie was put to plead for himselfe and finally absolved But this inquirie into such men of name and qualitie lasted no longer in force as it is usually seene than whiles it was fresh and in the first heat therof From them it began to fall to persons of lesse reckoning and baser account untill such time as by the same conventicles and factions against which it was devised it fell to the ground and was troden underfoot The bruit of these things and more than that the hope of the Campaines revolt whereto certaine had conspired and sworn as ye have heard recalled the Samnites backe againe to Caudium who were turned bent wholly into Apulia that from thence being so neer at hand unto Capua they might if haply any insurrection and trouble presented the ouverture and opportunitie seize upon it and take it perforce from the Romanes Thither came the Consuls with a strong and mightie armie and at the first they staied and lingered about the passes and streights having on the one side the other an ill way of passage unto the enemies Afterwards the Samnites fetching a short compasse about came downe with their armie through the open places into the plains I mean the champaine countrie and fields about Capua And that was the first time that the enemies had a fight one of the others campe Whereupon by light skirmishes on horsebacke oftener than on foot they tried maisteries on either side neither were the Romans one jot discontented with the issue event thereof nor repented of the delay wherby they drew the warre alength Contrariwise the Samnite captaines perceived their forces to weare daily by small losses and their courage to coole and decay evidently by that lingering war Wherupon they came abroad into the field and devided their Cavallerie into wings with a speciall charge to have a more carefull eie backward toward their campe for fear of any impression and assault that way than to the maine battaile which would be guarded safe enough by the infanterie The Coss. marshalled themselves in this manner Sulpitius led the right point of the battel and Petilius the left the right side wheras the Samnits also were arraunged in thinner ranks and files of purpose to compasse and environ the enemies or not to bee compassed and enclosed themselves shewed itself more broad open They on the left hand besides that they stood thicker and more close were by occasion of a suddain policie of Petilius the Cos. further strengthened For those cohorts bands which were reserved apart in the rereward for help at any need kept fresh against all occurrents and hazards of long fight he advanced presently to the forefront in the vaward with all his forces at once charged the enemie at the first encounter forced him to recule When the footmen of the Samnites were thereby troubled and disarraied the horsemen followed close and
Tyrrhene the Adriatike seas These Tuscanes bending to both seas inhabited those countries consisting of twelve citties having sent before on this side Apennine toward the nether sea and afterwards beyond the Apenine as many Colonies in number according to the princes at the first beginning and held in possession all those parts beyond the Po unto the Alpes except that Angle onely of the Venetians that are seated about the gulte of the Adriaticke sea And doubtlesse the nations about the Alpes especially the Rhetians had their beginning thus whom the verie countrie itselfe made savage so as they reteined nothing of old but the sound of their language and the same broken and somewhat corrupted Now for the comming of the Gaules over into Italie thus much we have learned In the daies of Priscus Tarquinius king of Rome the the Celtes which are a third part of the Gaules were under the rule of the Bituriges who chose a king over the Celtes named Ambigatus a great potentate and mightie both in regard of valour and vertue and also of his owne private wealth and publicke weale for that under his regiment Gaule was so fertile of corne and grewe so populous that the exceeding number of the people could not well be governed This man being of great age and desirous now to disburthen his Realme of that pestering multitude declared that he would send Bellovesus and Sigovesus his sisters sonnes two forward young men to seeke adventures into what lands soever the gods and goddesses should by their tokens direct them giving them commission to gather what number of men they would to the end that no nation might withstand their comming So it fell to Sigovesus lot for to enter the forrest and woodland countrie of Hercinia Bellovesus his fortune was a good deale better to take his way by the gods guidance unto Italie And he levied of the Bituriges Averni Senones Hedui Ambarri Carnutes and Aulerci those that might be spared out of those countries setting forward with a mightie power of footmen and horsmen came unto the Tricastines Now stood the Alpesfull against them in their way which I mervaile not were thought insuperable and impassable as having not as yet any way made over them so farre as anie constante record maketh date unlesse we list to beleevâ— the tales of Hercules Now when as the Gauls there were hemmed in as it were on everieside with those high mountaines and that they looked everie way about them how they might get over those high hils reaching up to the heavens so passe as one would say into an other world they were staied there and went no further upon scruple of conscience for that it was reported that certaine strangers seking land to inhabite were by the people of Sallies set upon and assailed These strangers were the Massilians who sailed from Phocis This the Gaules supposing to be a fortunate ossing of their successe helped them forward and tooke part with them so as what place first they gat after they were landed they fortified within the wide or broad forrests They themselves passed through the countrie of Taurini and over the streightes of the Alpes called Iulia and having vanquished the Tuscanes in fight not farre from the river Ticinus hearing that the countrie wherin they abode and setled was called Insubrium after the name of a territorie and shire of the Heduans they following and imbracing the luckie name of that place so conformable to the other of their owne builded a cittie and called it Mediolanum Afterwards another power of Germanes with their captaine Elitovius following the steps of the former Gaules by the same streights with good leave favour of Bellovesus passed over the Alpes remained there and where now Brixia Verona two towns stand the Libuâ— then inhabited those parts made their abode After these the Saluvij passed over who expelled all the Ligurians that dwelt on this side the river Ticinus but onely the Levi an ancient nation After them the Bâ—â—â— and Lingones passed over the hill Peninus dispossessed the Tuscanes and the Vmbrians of their territorie yet so as they kept them within Apenninus Then the Senones which were the last commers of these strangers inhabited the countrie from the river Vfens unto Athesis This nation I find to have come to Clusium and afterwards from thence to Rome mary it is not certaine whether this nation alone came or that they were aided by all the Gaules that dwelt on this side the Alpes The Clusinos terrified with this new warre advising well both their number and the unaccustomed looks and visages of the men which they had not seene afore and their strange armour withall and hearing besides that the legions of the Tuscanes both on this side the Po beyond had bene often times by them discomfited Albeit in the Romanes they had no interest at all in regard of any league or amitie onely this that they had not maintained their kinsfolke the Veientes against the Romanes sent their Embassadours to Rome to crave aide of the Senate Aid they obtained none Embassadours there were sent three the sonnes of M. Fabius Ambustus who in the name of the Senate and people of Rome should treate with the Gaules and persuade with them not to set upon the confederates and friends of the people of Rome namely such as at whose hands they had received no wrong saying moreover that if they would put the Romanes to it the Romanes were to defend them by warre howbeit they thought it better if it might be to have no wars at all but that the Gaules a new come nation should grow into knowledge and acquaintance rather by peace than by warre The embassage was mild and modeâ—t enough but the Embassadours themselves were over fierce and hastie and more like Gaules than Romanes Who having done their message in the assemblie of the Gaules were thus againe answered Although the name of the Romanes was but of late heard of yet theywere persuaded that they were hardie men at whose handes the Clusines in their feare sought and requested succour And whereas they choose rather to defend their allies by way of embassage than by open warre they likewise neither disdained nor refused peace which they offered If the Clusines would grant the Gaules which wanted ground to inhabite a part of their marches whereof they held in possession more than they did well people and occupie Otherwise no peace would be had And hereof would they have an answere whiles the Romanes were in place and if they were denied ground they would also fight even before the Romanes face that they might make report at home how much the Gaules went beyond other men in valour and chivailrie And when as the Romanes demaunded againe what right they had to require ground of the owners or to threaten warre
For what interest or title had the Gaules in Tuscane They againe stoutly made answere That they caried their right in their swords point and that valiant men were lords of all the world So they were on both sides so set on fire that they ran to their weapons and skirmished with the Tuscanes Then against all law of nations a thing that hastened the destruction of the Romane cittie the Embassadours tooke armes Neither could this be so secret but it was known For even before the ensignes of the Tuscanes there were sene three most noble valiant knights of the Romanes for to fight so farre exceeded the valor of those strangers above all the Clusines Moreover and besides Quintus Fabius riding out of the battaile on horsebacke charged his lance upon the captaine of the Gaules as he fiercely assailed the ensignes and battaile of the Tuscanes ran him through and slue him and as he rifled and disarmed him the Gaules tooke knowledge of him and throughout the whole host notice was given that it was an Embassadour of the Romanes So leaving their quarrell against the Clusines they sound the retreat and threatened the Romanes There were of them that thought good presently to advance forward to Rome but the elder sort prevailed that there should be sent Embassadors first to complaine of the iniuries and to require that for the law of armes broken the Fabij should be yeelded unto them Whenas the Gaule Embassadours had declared their message according to their commission the Senate nothing liked of the Fabians deed and thought the barbarous Gaules required nothing but just and reason Howbeit suit of friends and private respectes would not permit to make an Act of that in personages of so great marke and nobilitie which they deemed meet and requisite Therfore to the end it might not be imputed to them and they blamed if peradventure any foile or overthrow should happen unto them by warring with the Gaules they referred the hearing discussing of the Gaule demands unto the people Where might and favour so much prevailed that even they who were in question to be punished were created for the yeare folowing Tribunes Militarie in Consuls authoritie At which the Gauls being offended as good cause they had with open threats menaces of warre returned again to their companie There were with the three Fabij P. Sulpitius Longus Quintus Servilius the fourth time P. Servilius Maluginensis Whenas now so great danger was toward neere at hand see how fortune blindeth mens eies when as she will have her sway and not be hindered that cittie which against the Fidenate and Veient enemie other nations bordering therby tried the utmost help oftentimes made a Dictatour now being threatned with a strange enemie never heard of before comming to war upon them from the Ocean sea and the farthest parts of the world sought neither for governour nor helpe more than ordinarie Even those Tribunes by whose rash dealing that war was first caused had the managing of all made no more choise nor mustering of soldiors than usually had been in common wars making but a light matter of it and of no consequence and setting little by and elevating the rumour of the warre The Gaules in the meane time having heard how for the nonce those breakers of humane law were soone advanced to honour and how their embassage was deluded and dalied with all on a fire as they are a nation that way impatient and in anger outragious pluckt up their standards forthwith and marched with all expedition on their voiage At whose noise and hurliburly as they passed by in such hast when as the townes thereby were put in feare and ran to their weapons and the countrie pesants fled away they with open mouth gave out and signified that they went to Rome All the way as they journeied what with horse and men both in length and breadth they tooke up a mightie roome in their march But what with the fame that went before and the messengers of the Clusines and of other people that followed one at the heeles of another this speedie comming of the enemies brought right great feare and terrour to Rome For notwithstanding that they went with a power of men in all hast sodainly mustered hardly met they them at eleven miles end where as the river Allia running downe from the hils of Crustuminum with a very deepe channell not much beneath the highway dischargeth it selfe into the Tyber And now by this time the whole countrie before them and all the coasts about were overspread with the enemies And as they are a nation naturally given to vain tumults and therein born bred with an hideous and dissonant kind of singing like a blacke Santus they filled all about with a fearefull and horrible noise There the Tribunes Militarie without getting aforehand a convenient place to pitch their tentes in without fortifying the same with any trench or rampiers whereunto they might safely be take themselves even without any regard of God whom at leastwise they should have been mindfull of if they had forgotten man without Auspices and bird-tokens without reconciliation to God by sacrifice full unhappily and in an ill houre ranged their battell devided into wings for feare of being compassed with multitude of enemies Yet might not the vaward answere the breadth of the enemies notwithstanning they made their rankes and files so thin that the middle ward of the battaile was weake and skant joyning close together On the right hand there was a little higher ground where they thought to bestow men for supplie which as it gave the first occasion of feare and running away so was it the onely safetie of them that flâ—d For Brennus the Duke or prince of the Gaules fearing exceedingly in that small number of the Romanes some stratageme and supposing that the higher ground was for this purpose kept That when the Gaules should have encountred with the forefront of the legions then the rescues would charge them both upon their backes and their flankes displaied and advanced his standerds against those in rescue nothing doubting but if he had once driven them from their holde upon higher ground on the plaine he should soone have the victorie considering that in number he overwent them See how the Barbarians had not onely lucke but pollicie also on their sides Contrariwise the Romans in their camp were nothing like themselves either for captains or souldiors Their mindes were so possessed with feare thinking of running away and so forgetfull besides that the greater part of them chose rather to flie to Veij their enemies citie although the Tyber were full in their way than to take the streight course to Rome to their wives and children For a while the advantage of the ground defended those that were for rescue but in the rest of the hoast so soone as they that were next heard the shout from the sides and those that were farthest off from
this for some few dayes whiles their Generall was under cure of his hurt they lay at siege rather than followed the assault In which meane time as they rested from skirmish so they ceased not to invent new devises and to prepare new fabricks Whereupon the assault began againe more hote than before and in many parts at once they fell to raise rolling mantelets so many so thick that some places would not receive them and withall to drive the Ram against the walls Anniball had men good store for it is thought he was 150000 in campe strong The townesmen with devising meanes to defend and fee to every place began to have their hands full but all would not serve For now were the walls beaten with the rams and many parts thereof shaken and battered and at one place above the rest by continuall batterie there was such a breach as the towne lay open and naked to the enemie After that three turrets and all the courtine betweene fell downe with a mightie and horrible crash in somuch as the Carthaginians thought verily that with that rush the towne had bene woon By which breach as if the wall had protected both parties before they ran forth together on each side to fight The battaile was not like to a tumultuarie skirmish such as are wont to be about assaults of cities by the occasion and advantage of the one part or the other but a very set and raunged field as it were in an open ground betweene the breaches of the wall and the houses of the towne that stood a pretie way distant within-forth Of one side they were pricked forward with hope on the other with despaire whiles Anniball thought verily that he was maister of the towne already if he held on but a little longer and the Saguntines seeing their towne bare and voyd of walls opposed their bodies in the breach not one stepping back a soote least in the space betweene he should let in the enemie The more fiercely therefore and the thicker and closer that they fought together on both parts the more were wounded and there was not a dart could light in vaine betweene their bodies and their armour but it did mischiefe The Saguntines used a weapon called Falarica in manner of a dart which they let slie launced from them having a long shaft or steale round and even every where but toward the one end where it was headed with iron bound about with towe smeared with pitch The yron head was three foote long that it might pierce both harnesse and bodie through But the greatest skare that it did was this although it stuckfast in the targuet and entred nor into the bodie that being driven and flung when the middle part was set on fire by the motion thereof as it flew it gathered much more fire forced the souldier to forsake his armour and exposed him disarmed and naked to the shot following Well the fight continued doubtfull a long time by reason that the Saguntines tooke better heart unto them because they had rested beyond their hope and expectation and the Carthaginians toke themselves vanquished for that they had not gotten the victorie and better hand whereupon the townesmen all at once set up a crie and beat the enemies back to the very breaches and ruines of the wall and from thence thrust them out cleane whiles they were thus encombred and affrighted yea and at last discomfited them put them to flight and chased them as farre as their campe In this meane while newes came that there were embassadors arrived from Rome unto whom Anniball dispatched certaine messengers to meete with them at sea side and to give them to understand That neither they might safely with securitie of their persons come among the broiles of so many barbarous fierce nations nor their maister Anniball amid those dangerous and troublesome affaires had any leysure to attend or give audience unto embassages He knew full well that the embassadors being not received and enterteined would straight to Carthage Whereupon he addressed aforehand his letters and courriers to the chiefe of the Barchine faction to frame and prepare the minds of that side so as they of the other part might not gratifie or do any thing in favour of the Romanes By which meanes besides that they were neither admitted by Anniball nor audience given them that embassage also was in vaine tooke no effect at Carthage Onely Hanno notwithstanding the whole bodie of the Senate was against him spake with great silence and assent of the hearers by reason of his authoritie and reputation and pleaded to the point of the breach of league in this wife I have quoth he foretold and warned you in the name and for the love of the gods who are the witnesses and judges of covenants and confederacies I have I say admonished you that ye should not send Amilcar his sonne or any of his breed unto the campe for that neither the ghost and spirit nor the progenie and race of that man can rest and be quiet nor the Romans league will ever be assured and established so long as there remained one alive of the Barchine name and familie But sent ye have for all my words unto your armies a youth boyling in ambition inflamed with a covetous desire of being a King and one that seeth no other way thereto but by bruing one warre after another to live garded with armies and legions about him In which action of yours ye have as it were ministred dry fewell and put oyle to the fire ye have I say sed that fire wherewith ye now all are set a burning Your armies now besiege Saguntum from which by covenant and vertue of the league they are debarred Within a while and shortly will the Romane legions lve in siege before Carthage under the conduct and guidance no doubt of those gods by whose support and aid in the former warre they were revenged for the breach of the accord and alliance What know ye not yet either your enemie or your selves or the fortune of both nations This good Captaine and gentle Generall forsooth of your making would not admit and receive into his campe Embassadours comming from our allies and in the behalfe also of our allies wherein he abolished the law of Nations Howbeit they having taken a repulse from whence even the very Embassadours of enemies are not wont to be repelled are come unto you and by vertue of their league demaund amends of trespasse and restitution of satisfaction for their domages And presuppose the State bee not touched nor culpable in this Action they require no more but to have the authour himselfe in person who is the offender The more gently they deale and the longer it is ere they begin the more obstinate they will be and continue with greater rigor I fear me if they once begin Set before your eies the Islands Aegates Eryx and what for these
the foot of the Alpes for any trouble from the peasants that there inhabited And albeit he had some knowledge of the Alpes before by report which useth to make things that are uncertain much more than indeed and truth they are yet seeing now neere at hand the heigth of those thils and the snowes entermingled along with the skie the rude and mishapen houses set upon rockes the cattell sheepe oxen and horses singed with cold the people with long shagd haire and without any trimming both living and livelesse creatures even parched stiffe and starke with frost and all things else moâ—e strange and ilfavoured than can be spoken then began his souldiours to feare afresh So soone as they advaunced forward and began to march up the first cliffes there appeared over their heads the mountaine people who had seized the hils who if they had kept the secret and hidden vallies and suddainly all at once charged upon them they would have made a foule slaughter of them put them to flight Then Anniball commaundeth the ensignes to stand stil and sent certaine Gaules afore as espials by whom he understood that there was no passage that way whereupon he pitched his campe amongst those craggie and steepe rough places upon as large a plaine and valley as hee could find Then by the same Gaules who much differed not in tongue and manners from the other and had entermingled themselves in talke with the mountainers he understood that they kept the passage but in the day time and slipt away in the night every one to his owne harbour So at the break of day he mounted those steepe hils as if he would openly in the day time march through the streights Thus having spent the day in making semblance and shew of one thing and intending another hee encamped himselfe strongly in the place where hee had rested and staied and so soone as hee perceived that the mountaine people were departed from the steepe hils and kept not so streight watch and ward after that hee had made shewe of fires more than for the number of those that remained behind and left with the Cavallerie all the bag and baggage with the greatest part of the footmen himselfe in person took unto him the nimblest most active and valiant souldiours lightly appointed and with all speed passed through the streights aforesaid and encamped on the very hils which the enemies before held and beset Then in the morning betime his campe dislodged and the armie behind began to march and set forward By which time the mountainers at the ordinarie signall given came foorth out of their castles and fortes and met at the usuall place of their accustomed guards but then all at once they might see some of the enemies over their heads to have gained their own fortresse others also marching in the way Both which objects at one time presented to their eye made them blanke and to stand still in a muse a good while But afterwards when they saw Anniball his armie distressed in the streights and in great trouble and disorder among themselves in the march by reason especially the horses were so affrighted supposing that the least fear and terror besides that they could procure would bee ynough for their enemies overthrow and confusion they crossed the rockes overthwart and as they were accustomed and used to them ran to and fro up and down through the blind and unhaunted bywaies But then verily the Carthaginians were much encombred as well by their enemies as also by the disadvantage of the place more ado there was among them whiles every one strived avie who should first escape the daunger than with the enemie There was nothing that disordered and troubled the armie in the match so much as their owne horses which by reason of the dissonant and divers cries that the ecchoes betweene the woods and vallies redoubled were affrighted and also if any of them chaunced to bee stricken gauled or wounded they kept such winsing and flinging about them that they overthrew and made great havocke of men and of all sorts of carriage Besides the preasse was so great and the streights of both sides so steepe and craggie that many a man was throwne down headlong a mightie heigth yea and some of them armed and the sumpter horses and beastes for carriage especially tumbled downe amaine with their load as if a house or castle had come downe with a mischeefe Which although it were terrible to behold yet Anniball for a while stood still and kept his owne men together for feare of encreasing this disorder and affright But after that hee saw his armie disbanded and marching in disarray and that it was to no purpose to lead his armie safe through the streights if hee lost the carriages for feare hereof hee ran downe from the higher ground and albeit with the violence of his charge hee discomfited the enemie yet he encreased the trouble and feare of his owne people But that was soone appeased in a verie moment after the waies and passages were once cleared by reason of the mountainers that were fled so that within a while the whole hoast passed through not onely at ease and leasure but also in a manner without anie noise at all This done hee seized upon a castle which was the cheefe strength of that countrie with other villages lying about it and for three daies space hee victualled and maintained his whole armie with the cattell of his prisoners And for that hee was now neither molested with the mountainers who were at the first discomfited nor greatly encombred with the difficulties of the waies in those three daies hee rid a good deale of ground and journeied a great way into the countrey untill at the length hee came to anâ—â—her coast well peopled for such mountaine and hillie quarters where hee had like to have been overtaken not by open force but even in his owne professed cunning first by a subtile practise and after by a secret ambush Certaine auncient men the rulers and governours of the castles repaired unto Anniball as Oratours saying That they having beene taught and made wise by the profitable example of other mens harmes made choise rather to trie the amitie than proove the force of the Carthaginians and therefore were willing to doe his commaundement and bee at his devotion requesting him to take at their hands victuals and guides for their journey yea and hostages also for better assurance of promises to bee performed Anniball neither overhastily and rashly beleeving them nor yet churlishly distrusting and refusing their offer least being rejected and cast off they might become open and professed enemies gave them good language and a courteous answere received the hostages whom they gave accepted victuals which they had brought with them to maintaine his armie by the way and followed their guides but so as his armie was not disarraied in their march as if hee had beene amongst his friends and in a
of the Coss. with newes that the enemies were fled in such feare as they left their tents standing entire and had quit the campe wholly and to the end their flight should be more secret and not descried they had left light fires burning in everie place Then began they all to crie call upon the Coss. for to command the standerds and ensignes to be brought abroad and to lead forth in pursuite of the enemies without any stay to make spoile and havock of their campe And in truth one of the Coss. was no wiser than the common soldiors But Paulus replied told them ever anon that they were to be circumspect and warie to looke about them what they did for feare of an ambush Yet seeing in the end no remedie and that otherwise hee could neither staie the mutinie nor rule the captaine thereof he sent out M. Statilius the Provost marshall with a troupe of Lucane horsemen in espiall to discover the coasts see all were cleare who having ridden hard to the gates and given order to all the rest for to stay without the fortifications himselfe with two horsemen besides entred within the rampire and having looked and searched every corner advisedly 〈◊〉 tired and made relation That past all peradventure there were knaves abroad a peece of 〈◊〉 cherie was in hand for why there are fires made qd he on that side only of the campe that â—â—â—ked toward the enemie the pavilions stand open and all things of price value which they 〈◊〉 most store by are left at randon even to fit our hands we have seen besides in divers places silver plate and coine scattered along the way here and there as it were a bair laid to traine us to a bootie These circumstances reported of purpose to withdraw their minds from covetous and greedie desire of pillage set them on kindled them the more And the soldiors had no sooner cried aloud that unlesse the signall were given they would set forwards without Commandersâ— but they had a captain straight at hand to lead them the way for immediatly Varro founded the march Paulus who of himselfe made slow hast and perceived besides that the birds in taking the Auspice approved not this enterprise nor gave good tokens of happy speed gave order straightwaies that his Collegue should be advertised of the unluckie Auspice who was readie now to set out of the gate with his standerd and that in any wise he should stay Wherwith albeit Varro was not wel content yet the late misfortune of Flaminius the memorable overthrow at sea of Claudius Pulcher Consull in the Punick war wrought some scruple of conscience and feare in his heart But it was even the faire grace of the gods if a man may so say and nothing else which put by and deferred rather than impeached and inhibited the danger and destruction that hung over the Romanes heads For as good hap was it chaunced at the very instant when the Consull commanded the ensignes to be brought into the campe the soldiors would not obey him that two slaves who served sometime two horsemen the one a Formian and the other a Sidicine and who in the year when Servilius and Atilius were Consuls among other foragers were taken prisoners by the Numidians made an escape and fled that day to their old maisters again Who being brought before the Coss. advertised them constantly that the whole armie of Anniball lay close in embuscado on the farther side of the mountaines The comming of these bondslaves so right and jump as they did caused the souldiors to obey their Coss. Whereas the one of them by his ambitious courting and seeking unto them at the first for a Consulship and afterwards by his unseemely indulgence and pleasing of them had lost all his majestie and reputation among them Anniball when hee saw that the Romanes rather began to stirre without advise than still to run rashly on head to the full and that his craftie devise was disclosed and tooke no effect returned againe into his campe Where hee could not for want of come make abode many daies and besides not onely souldiors who were not all one mans children but a mingle mangle and medley of all Nations began daily to plot and enter into new dessignements but also their captaine himselfe was of many minds For whereas they began with muttering and grumbling and afterwards with open mouth to demaund and call for their due wages complaining first of the death of victuals and in the end of meere hunger and famine and withall a rumour ran that the mercenarie souldiours and the Spaniards especially were minded and intended to give him the slip and to turne to the enemie Anniball likewise be thought himselfe otherwhiles as it was said how he might flie into Gallia but so as he would leave his Infanterie behind him at sixe and seven and so bee gone with his Cavallerie alone As men I say were thus plotting and devising in the campe he resolved at length to dislodge from thence and to remove into the hotter countries of Apulia where the harvest was more timely considering with all that the farther hee went from the enemies his souldiours who were by nature light-headed and unconstant would not so easily revolt and flie from him So he tooke his way by night and made fires likewise left a fewe tents standing in sight that the Romanes fearing the like traines and ambush as before might keepe in and not stirre abroad But when as the same Statilius the Lucane having scoured all the coasts both beyond the campe and the other side of the hils and brought word that he had discovered the enemies a farre off dismarching then began they the morrow after to thinke and consult of making after him with hote pursute But albeit both Consuls continued as ever before the same men still that is to say diversly minded and persisting in their severall resolutions but so as all in a manner accorded with Varro and none agreed unto Paulus but onely Servilius the Consull of the former yeere yet according to the opinion and counsull of the Maior pars they went both together for what might bold that which fatall necessitie driveth to make Cannae much renowned and famous for the notable overthrow and defeature of the Romanes Neere this village Anniball had encamped under the wind Vulâ—arnus and had it on his backe which wind when the fields are skorched and burnt with drought is wont to bring with it clouds as it were of dust Which as it was good and commodious for the very campe it selfe so it was like to serve in speciall steed when they should raunge their battaile in order and fight with the wind blowing on their backe against the enemie whose eies the dust was readie to put out flying with the wind full in their faces so abundantly The Consuls having diligently searched the waies and tried the passages ever before them
al'arme they ran to their weapons on all hands that the Pretours amid this garboile were fain to ride away as fast as they could gallop toward Syracuse But although they were fled the mutinie neverthelesse continued and was not appeased for the soldiors fell upon the Syracusians that were in the camp amongst them and they had all drunke of the same cup and not one escaped but that Epicides and Hippocrates came betweene and opposed themselves against the multitude in this their furious rage not upon any pittifull compassion that was in them or regard of common humanitie but because they would not cut themselves from all hope of returne and besides they were not onely desirous to have the souldiours themselves affectionate unto them and faithfull and withall in steed of hostages but also purposed by this so great desert first to gain and win unto them the kinsfolke and friends of those souldiours and afterwards to oblige and bind them fast by so good a pawne and gage remaining still among them And having good experience with how small a puffe and gale of wind the common people turneth every way they suborned a soldiour one of them who was besieged within the citie of Leontium to carrie newes to Syracusa suting with those false tidings that were reported at the river Myla yea and to aver the same confidently upon his owne knowledge and tell things that were doubtfull as if they were most certain and by himselfe seene and knowne thereby to stirre up men to anger and indignation This fellow was not onely credited of the common multitude but also being brought into the Counsell house he greatly mooved the Senate insomuch as some of them more light of beleefe than others gave it out openly and said That it was happie that the avarice and crueltie of the Romans was thus discovered among the Leontines And God blesse us from them here For if they set foot once within Syracusa they would commit the like outrages yea and worse too a great deale more horrible as they should find there greater matter to work upon to satisfie their covetous and greedie appetite to the full Whereupon they agreed in generall to shut the gates and to stand upon their guard and defend the cittie But they all feared not alike nor hated the same persons For the martiall men in a manner every one and a great part of the common people abhorred the name of the Romanes the Pretours and some few of the principall citizens albeit they were in the huffe and possessed with the false report aforesaid yet they had more regard to provide for a mischiefe that was more imminent and neere and readie presently to fall upon their heads And now by this time Hippocrates Epicides were come before Hexapylos Within the citie the kinsfolk and friends of those citizens which were in the armie drew together in conventicles conferred among themselves to set the gates open and agreed to have the common countrie of them all to be defended against the violence of the Romanes Now when one onely wicker of Hexapylos was opened and they readie to enter in thereat the Pretours came upon them in the manner And first they commaunded by word of mouth and threatened them after that by vertue of their place and authoritie they seemed to fright and terrifie them and last of all seeing nothing could prevaile forgetting their owne dignitie and majestie of their calling they fell to pray intreat them not to betray their countrie to those who aforetime were the instruments and supposts of the Tyrant and now the corrupters of the armie But so deafe care gave all the multitude in this their rage and furious fit unto the Pretours that they within as well as without set their hands to by all forcible meanes to burst downe the gates and so when they were all broken open the armie was let in safe and received within the Hexapylos The Pretours fled for refuge with the youth and strength of the citizens into Acradina The mercenaries the fugitives and all the souldiours that were left in Syracusa of them who served the king joined to the armie and augmented their forces And so Acradina also was upon the first assault woon All the Pretours but those that escaped by flight and saved themselves in the mids of this hurrie were slaine and the night comming upon them staied the massacre The day following all bondslaves were called to receive the cap and made free the prisons were set open and the prisoners let goe at large And this confused rable and multitude of all sorts created Hippocrates and Epicides Pretours And thus Syracusa having for a short time libertie shining favourably upon it fell backe againe into her old servitude When newes hereof came to the Romanes incontinently they dislodged and removed the campe from Leontium and marched directly toward Saracose It hapned the same time that the embassadors sent from Appius by the way of the haven were embarked in a galeace of five banks of ores but another galley of foure banks which was sent before was not so soone entred into the mouth of the harbour but it was taken and the Embassadours hardly and with much adoe escaped in the other And now the world there was growne to this passe that no lawes of peace no nor so much as the very laws of arms were observed but broken clean at what time as the Romane armie lay in campe a mile and an halfe from the citie at Olympium the temple of Iupiter For when it was thought meet to send Embassadours from thence Hippocrates and Epicides with their followers encountred them without the gate and charged them upon their perrill not to enter the cittie The Romane Oratour alleadged and said That he came not to proclaime warre against the Syracusians but to bring aid and helpe as well unto those who having escaped out of the middest of the slaughter fled unto the Romane campe as also unto them who being kept under with fear endure bondage and thraldome more miserable than banishment yea and death it selfe Neither will the Romanes saith hee put up that shamefull and cruell murder of their allies without due revenge And therefore if those persons who were fled for succour unto them may returne home safely into their countrie if the authors of that massacre above said be delivered into their hands and if the Syracusians may enjoy againe their libertie together with their lawes there shall not need anyhostilities or warre But in case these conditions bee not performed they would persecute with fire and sword all such as shall hinder and stand against the same whosoever To this Epicides framed his words in this wise If saith hee yee had any message and commission to parle with my brother and mee wee would returne you an answere accordingly In the meane while yee were best be gone for this time and returne againe when the citie and state of Syracuse shall be under
Anniball in hand with the Cannusines and sollicited them to revolt But hearing once that Marcellus approched hee dislodged from thence The countrie thereabout was plaine and open without any covert places to bestow an ambush and to lay traines in therefore he began to retire himselfe from thence into the wood-land parts Marcellus tracked him still and followed him hard at heeles and encamped close unto him and ever as hee had fortified and entrenched himselfe he brought forth his men into the field readie for battaile Anniball entertaining small skirmishes with certaine comets and troupes of horsemen and with light appointed footemen that launced darts and javelines thought it not necessarie yet to come unto a pight set battaile and venture all upon one throw Howbeit he was drawne to a fight maugre his head howsoever he labored to avoid it For being gone afore one night Marcellus overtooke him upon a plaine and open ground and as hee was pitching his tents he kept him from fortifying by charging his pioners and labourers on every side Wherupon they came to a very battel fought with all the forces they had on both sides and when it grew toward night they depatted asunder on even hand but before it was darke they had encamped not farre one from another and in great hast made shift to fortifie themselves The next morning by day light Marcellus came foorth into the field with all his power neither refused Anniball the chalenge having with many words comforted and encouraged his soldiers to remember Thrasymenus Cannae to cut the comb beate down tame this fell stomacke and lustie courage of the enemie who preaseth still qd he and seeketh upon us not suffering us to march on quietly in our journey nor to pitch our tents giving us no leave to breath our selves nor time to looke about us There is not a morning but so soone as the sunne is up in the horison to give light to the world the Romane armie is out in the field to give us battaile If we could draw bloud of him once and set him out of the field with bloud about his eares he would for ever after fight more quietly and take better leisure with him With these and such like comfortable words and effectuall remonstrances they were well animated as also provoked seeing themselves thus molested by the enemie who day by day never ceased to chalenge and brave them still whereupon they began a fierce and cruell battaile They had now continued fight above two houres and then began the Romane Cavallerie from the right wing and the extraordinarie souldiours that flanked the maine battaile to give ground and dismarch Which Marcellus perceiving he brought forward the eighteenth legion in the vaward And whiles some recule backe fearfully others come forward but slowly the whole battaile was put out of order and disaraied and so at length it was discomfited and for that feare surmounted shame they turned their backes and fled away a good Slaine there were in the conflict and in the rowt togither some 2700 citizens and allies one with another among whome there were foure Romane Centurians and two Colonels Marcus Licinius Marcus Fulvius Of militarie ensignes there were foure lost of that right wing which first shrunke lost ground and two others of that legion which came to succour their fellowes that gave backe and reculed Marcellus after that he was returned into the campe welcommed his souldiors with such a bitter sharpe Oration that the very words of the Generall in his angel and wrath were more heavie grievous unto them than the medley it selfe which they had unfortunatly endured all the day long before I yeeld praise yet and render thankes to the immortall gods quoth he as I may in such a case that our enemies having vanquished conquered you in the field and driven you in so great feare to run headlong within your trenches gates came not with all at once to assaile the camp For surely in the same fearful fright that you forsooke battel you would likewise have abandoned your tents pavilions What fearfulnes is this Whence commeth this terror What means this oblivion of yours How commeth it to passe that ye should so forger al on a sodain both your own selves them with whom ye have to fight Why surely they are the same enimies and no other whom the summer past you did nothing but either vanquish overcom or else pursue and follow in chase whom for these certain daies past ye have bene redie to tread on their heels as they fled and ran away before you both by day night whom in light skirmishes ye have discomfited whom no longer ago than yesterday you suffred neither to march forward nor to pitch their campe I forbear to speak I passe in silence those things which in good right ye may stand upon and make your boast I say nothing of that wherof ye ought to be ashamed and displeased with your selves namely how but even yesterday ye brake off the fight on even hand and retired out of the field when the enemie had gotten no advantage What hath this one night or what hath one day cut you off Are either your forces in this mean time abridged diminished or your enemies augmented encreased Now surely me thinkes I speak not to mine own armie nor to Roman soldiers Only yee carrie about you the same bodies and armor that ye were wont For if ye had born the same minds and hearts with you should the enemies ever have seene your backes should they have taken either banner from any companie or ensigne from cohort and squadron As yet the enemie never vaunted and made boast of the defeature of our Romane legions You are the very first that this day have given him the honour of discomfiting and putting to flight our armie Then they all cried out and besought him to pardon that daies default and to make triall once againe of his souldiours courages when and wheresoever hee would Mary and that I will quoth he my souldiours I will put you to it even to morrow I will bring you abroad into the field and after yee have gotten the victorie yee shall obtaine that pardon which now yee crave So he gave order that those cohorts which had lost their ensignes should have their allowance of barley in stead of wheat and as for those Centurions of the bands or companies whose banners were lost them he degraded in this manner Hee caused them to bee disarmed and their skeines to be drawne naked and taken from them and so let them go shake their eares And withall he made proclamation that the next day they should all present themselves in readines as well footmen as horsemen Which done hee dismissed the audience and they all confessed and acknowledged that they were justly and worthily thus checked and rebuked and that there was not that day one man in the Romane
should passe the seas into Italie Scipio after he was returned to Rome was created Consull And when hee made sute to have the province of Africke Q. Fabius Max. withstood him and so he had the government of Sicilie but with commission to saile over into Affricke in case hee thought it good for the Common-weale Mago the sonne of Amilcar from the lesser Balcare Iland where he had wintered tooke the seas and sailed over into Italie WHen it seemed that Spaine was eased as much of warre as Italie charged therewith by the voiage of Asdruball thither behold all of a suddaine there arose other troubles there equall to the former And as for the provinces of Spaine at that time they were possessed between Romanes and Carthaginians in this manner Asdruball the sonne of Gisgo was retired with his power farre within the countrie even to the Ocean and Gades But the coasts bordering upon our sea and in maner all Spain bending toward the East was held by Scipio and subject to the Roman empire Hanno the new General being passed out of Affricke with a fresh armie entred into the roume of Asdruball the Barchine joined with Mago and when he had put in armes within a short time a great number of men in Celtiberia which lieth in the middest betweene the two seas Scipio sent foorth against him M. Syllanus with tenne thousand foot and five hundred horsemen This Syllanus made such speed by taking as long journies as possibly he could considering how much hindred and troubled he was both by the roughnesse of the waies and also by the streights environned with thicke woods and forrests as most parts of Spaine are that notwithstanding all those difficulties hee prevented not onely the messengers but also the very same and rumour of his comming and by the guidance of certaine fugitive revolts out of Celtiberia hee passed forward from thence to the enemie By the same guides hee had intelligence and was for certaine advertised being now some tenne miles from the enemie that about the very way where hee should march there were two campes namely on the left hand the new armie abovesaid of Celtiberians to the number of more than nine thousand lay encamped and the Carthaginians on the right As for this leaguer it was well defended and fortified with corps de guards with watch and ward both night and day according to the good order and discipline of warre But the other was as much neglected dissolute loose and out of order like as commonly barbarous people and raw souldiours are and such as fear the lesse by reason they are at home within their own countrie Syllanus thinking it good pollicie to set upon them first gave commaundement to march under their ensigns colours and beare toward their left hand as much as they could for fear of being discovered in some place or other by the guards and sentinels of the Carthaginians And himselfe in person having sent before certain vaunt-courriers espials with his armie advaunced apace directly toward his enemie Now was hee approched within three miles of them unespied and not descried at all For why a mountaine countrey it was full of roughs and crags overspread and covered with woods and thickets There in a hollow valley betweene and therefore secret for the purpose hee commaunded his souldiours to sit them downe and take their refection In this meane time the espials came backe and verified the words of the fugitives aforesaid Then the Romanes after they had piled their packes their trusses and baggage in the middest armed themselves and in order of battaile set forward to fight When they were come within a mile of the enemies they were discovered by them who began suddainely to be affraied Mago at the first outcrie and al'arme set spurres to his horse and rode a gallop out of his campe to succour Now there were in the armie of the Celtiberians foure thousand footmen targettiers two hundred horse This troupe being in manner the flower and very strength of the whole armie as it were a full and complete legion he placed in the vaward all the rest which were lightly armed he bestowed in the rereward for to succour and rescue As he led them foorth thus ordered and arraunged they were not well issued without the trench but the Romanes began to launce their javelines and darts against them The Spaniards to avoid this voley of shot from the enemies couched close under their shields and defended themselves afterwards they rose up at once to charge again upon them But the Romanes standing thicke as their manner is received all their darts in their targuets and then they closed man to man and foot to foot began to fight at hand with their swords Howbeit the ruggednesse of the ground as it nothing availed the swiftnes of the Celtiberians whose guise is to run to and fro in skirmish and keepe no ground so the same was not hurtfull at all to the Romanes who were used to a set battell and to stand to their fight onely the streight roume and the trees and shrubs growing betweene parted their ranckes and files asunder so as they were forced to maintaine skirmish either singlie one to one or two to two at the most as if they had been matched to cope together even And look what thing hindered the enemies in their flight the same yeelded them as it were bound hand and foot unto the Romans for to be killed Now when all these targettiers welneere of the Celtiberians were slaine their light armed souldiours and the Carthaginiaus also who from the other campe ran to succour were likewise disarraied discomfited and hewne in peeces So there were two thousand footmen and not above and all the horsemen who scarce began battell fled with Mago and escaped As for Hanno the other Generall together with them who came last and to the verie end of the fray was taken alive But Mago fled still and all the Cavallerie with as many as remained of the old footmen followed after and by the tenth day arrived in the province of Gades and came unto Asdruball The Celtiberians that were but new souldiours slipt into the next woods out of the way and so from thence fled home This fortunat victorie happening in so good a time not so much stifled the present war in the very birth as it cut off the matter and maintenance of future troubles in case the enemies had been let alone and suffered to sollicite and stirre other nations to take armes like as they raised the Celtiberians alreadie Whereupon Scipio having highly commended Syllanus and conceived great hope withall to dispatch quite and make an end of the warres in case himselfe lingered not the matter made long stay pursued the remnant behind and set forward into the utmost province of Spaine against Asdruball But Asdruball who happened then to lie encamped in Boetica for to keepe his allies in obedience and faithfull
the Romanes went first in hand withall to reduce into the nature of a province yet it was the last of all others that was subdued and but lately in our daies even under the conduct and happie fortune of Augustus Caesar. There at that time Asdruball the sonne of Gisgo the greatest and noblest Captaine in all these warres next after the Barchine house returned from Gades and hoping by the help of Mago the sonne of Amilcar to wage warre afresh tooke musters throughout the farther part of Spaine and armed to the number of fiftie thousand foote 4500 horse And as for the Cavallerie all writers in manner do agree but for the Infanterie some write there were 70000 brought unto the citie Silpia There upon the open plaines fate these two Carthaginian captaines downe because they would not seeme to fall off and refuse battaile Sciâ—io when newes came unto him of so puissant an armie levied supposed that neither with the Romane legions he was sufficient to march such a multitude unlesse he opposed the aids of the Barbarous nations if it were no more but for shew and outward apparance nor yet was to repose such assured confidence in them as in the fundamentall strength of his armie that in case they should give him the slip when the time came the onely occasion of the overthrow of his father and unckle they might doe much hurt to the maine chaunce and totall summe of all And therefore he sent Sylianus before unto Colcas a lord over the signorie of eight twentie towns for to receive of him those horse foot which he had promised to levie in the winter time Himselfe departed from Taracon gathered some small aids of his allies that inhabit along the way as he marched and so came to Castulo Thither Syllanus brought also certaine auxiliaries to the number of three thousand foot and five hundred horse From thence he went forward to the citie Baetula being in all of cittizens and allies with footmen and horsemen togither one with another 45000 strong As they were pitching their tents and encamping Mago and Masanissa with all their Cavallerie set upon them and no doubt had troubled them mightily as they were making their defences but that certaine troupes of horsemen hidden behind an hill whom Scipio fitly for the purpose had there bestowed suddainly at unawares ran upon them and recharged them as they were losely ridden forward without order and array These had not well begun skirmish with them but they discomfited the forwardest of them and such especially as engaged themselves neere to the trench to impeach and annoy the pioners and laborours at worke but with the rest that kept to their colours and went orderly in their rankes the fight was longer and for a good while continued doubtfull But when the squadrons which stood readie appointed in their guards and stations were first brought forth and after them the soldiors also from their worke and fortifications were willed to take armes and still more and more continually came fresh and in hart in place of those that were wearied so as now from all parts of the campe there was gathered togither a full power and ran to the battaile then the Carthaginians Numidians turned their backs plaine and fled And at the first they went away by troupes and companies keeping their order and array still and not disbanded for hast or feare But afterwards when the Romanes began once more eagerly to play upon the hinmost of them so as now their furious violence could no longer be resisted then without all regard of rankes or files they forgat their array and ran on all hands by heapes seeking every man the next way he could to escape And albeit by this skirmish the Romanes were more encouraged a good deale the enemies hearts much daunted yet for certaine daies ensuing there never ceased excursions and bickerings mainteined by the horsemen and those that were lightly armed Now when by these small skuflings they had made sufficient triall on both sides of their strength Asdruball first lead forth his forces into the field then the Romans likewise came forward readie to receive them But when both armies stood without their campe arranged in battaile array neither of them gave the charge when the day drew toward sun-setting Asdruball first retired with his men into the campe and after him the Romane Generall likewise Thus continued they for certain daies togither Astruball was evermore the first that came abroad and the first againe that sounded the retreat to his souldiours wearied with long standing But of neither side they made out to skirmish or discharged any shot or gave alarmes set up a crie Of the one part the Romans on the other the Carthaginians togither with the Africanes stood in the maine battaile the allies of either side kept the wings those were Spaniards as well in the one armie as the other But in the front of the Carthaginian battel were the Elephants placed who afar off made a shew as if they had bene castles And throughout both armies this word went for currant that when the time came they would so fight as they stood day by day arranged namely that the maine battailes of the Romans and Carthaginians between whom was the quarell and occasion of the war with like courage of heart and force of armes would encounter and cope togither Scipio perceiving this once to go for good to be stifly setled in their opinions altered all for the nonce against the day that he minded indeed to give battaile And overnight hee gave a watch-word and token throughout all the campe that both horse and man should take their dinner before day and that the horsemen in armes readie appointed should hold their horses sadled and bridled Now before it was broad day light he sent out all the Cavallerie togither with the light armour to charge upon the Corps de guard and standing watch of the enemies And himselfe straight after advanced forward with the whole strength of the legions armed at all peeces And clean contrarie to the conceived opinion persuasion both of his own men and also of his enemies he strengthened the wings with Romanes and marshalled the maine battaile with the allies Asdruball raised with the clamour and shout of the horsemen leapt forth of his pavilion and perceiving a tumultuous alarme fearfull stirre of his owne men before the rampiar and trench and seeing afarre off the glittering ensignes of the legions and all the plaines over-spread with enemies presently made forth all his Cavallerie against their foresaid horsemen Himselfe with the battaile of footmen issueth out of the campe and made no chaunge nor alteration at all in the marshalling of the battailons otherwise than he had used the daies past The horsemen continued the fight along time doubtfully neither could it bee determined by it selfe because evermore as any of them were put backe which hapned on both
spare of that which was brought out of Italie the old ships he newly repaired and rigged and with them he sent Lelius into Africke for to prey upon the countrie and fetch in prizes the new which rid at Panormus hee drew up to land that they might all winter long lie upon drie gound and be seasoned because they were made in hast of greene timber When he had prepared all things necessarie for warre hee came to the cittie of Saracose which as yet was not in good order and well quieted since the great troubles of the late warres For the Greekes made claime for their goods granted unto them by the Senat of Rome which certaine of the Italian nation deteined and with-held from them by the same violence wherewith in time of warre they had possessed themselves thereof He supposing it meete and requisite to mainteine above all things the credit of the state partly by vertue of an edict commaundement and partly by a civill course and processe of law against such as were obstinate and avowed their wrongs done hee forced them to make restitution to the Syracusians This act of his pleased not onely them but also all the states of Sicilie and therefore they were more willing and forward to helpe him in the warres The same summer there arose in Spain great troubles raised by the meanes of Indibilis the Hergete for no other occasion or reason in the world but because in regard of the high admiration of Scipio all other captaines besides whatsoever were but despised Him they supposed to be the onely Generall that the Romanes had left now that all the rest were slaine by Anniball And hereupon it was thought they that when the two Scipioes were killed they had no other to send into Spaine but him and afterwards when the wars grew hot in Italie he was the onely man sent for over to match with Anniball And over and besides that the Romans had now in Spaine no captains at all but in bare name shew the old experienced armie also was from thence withdrawn All things are out of frame and in great confusion and none there but a disordered sort of raw freshwater soldiors And never they looked to have again the like occasion and opportunitie to recover Spaine out of their hands For hitherto they had been ever in subjection to that day either to the Carthaginians or the Romanes and not alwaies to the one or the other by turnes but otherwhiles to both at once And like as the Carthaginians have beene driven out by the Romanes so may the Romanes bee expelled by the Spaniards if they would hold together So that in the end Spaine being freed from all forraine warre might be restored for ever to the auncient customes and rights of the countrie With these and such like suggestions and discourses hee sollicited and raised not onely his owne subjects and countriemen but the Ausetanes also a neighbour-nation yea and other States and citties that bordered upon his and their confines so as within few daies there assembled together into the territorie of the Sedetanes according to an edict published abroad thirtie thousand foot and fast upon foure thousand horsemen The Romane captaines likewise for their part L. Lentulus and L. Manlius Acidinus least by neglect of the first beginning the warre might grow to a greater head joined their forces together and marching through the countrie of the Ausetanes as peaceably as if they had ben friends notwithstanding they were knowne enemies came to the very place where they were encamped and pitched themselves within three miles of the enemies At the first they assaied by way of Embassage to deale with them and to persuade them to lay aside all armes and hostilitie but they laboured in vaine Afterwards when as the Spanish horsemen gave charge suddainely upon certaine Romanes that were a foraging the Romanes also sent out from their Stations and corps de guard their Cavallerie to rescue so the horsemen skirmished but no memorable act to speake of was effected on the one side or the other The next morrow by sun rising the enemies all shewed themselves armed and in order of battell and braved the Romanes within a mile of their campe The Ausetanes were marshalled in the maine battaile the Ilergetes in the right point and certaine other Spanish nations of base meane account in the left between both those wings and the battell of either hand they left certaine wide and void places whereas when the time served they might put foorth their horsemen The Romanes having embattailed and put themselves in array after their old and usuall manner yet in this one thing followed the example of the enemies in leaving out certaine open waies between the legions for the men of armes to passe through But Lentulus supposing that the use of the horse service would be advantageous to that part which first should send out their Cavallerie into the battaile of the enemies that lay so open with spaces betweene gave commaundement to Ser. Cornelius a knight Marshal or Tribune to will and charge the Cavallerie to set to with their horses and to enter those open lanes betweene the enemies battaillons And himselfe having sped but badly in beginning the fight with footmen so rashly staied no longer but untill hee had brought the thirteenth legion which was set in the left wing opposite to the Ilergetes out of the rereward into the vaward for to succour and strengthen the twelfth legion which alreadie began to shrinke and give ground After that once the skirmish there was equall and fought on even hand hee advaunced forward to L. Manlius who in the forefront of the battell was busie in encouraging his men and sending supplies and succours into all parts where hee saw needfull shewing unto him that all was well and hole in the left point and that he had sent out Cornelius who with his horsemen would like a tempestuous storme come upon them and soon overcast and bespread the enemies round about The word was not so soon spoken but the Roman horsemen were ridden within the thickest of the enemies and not onely disordered the arraies and companies of the footmen but also at once shut up the waies and passages that the Spaniards could not make out with their horsemen And therefore the Spaniards leaving to fight on horsebacke alight on foot The Romane Generals seeing the rankes and files of the enemies disarraied themselves in fright and feare and their ensignes waving up and downe every ways fell to exhorting yea to entreating of their owne infanterie to recharge them with all their force whiles they were thus troubled and disbanded and not suffer them to come into order and reenforce the battell againe And surely the barbarous people had never beene able to abide their violent impression but that Indibiles himselfe their prince and lord together with the men of armes that were now dismounted on foot made head against the ensignes of the
expectation eased and lightened their harts considering with all how neere by all likelyhood and apparence the Roman armada was to amischeefe and finall destruction had not the captaines of their owne gallies foreflowed so much and Scipio come in time to helpe It fortuned about the same time that Laelius and Masanissa were come within 15 daies into Numidia the Masaesylians rendered Masanissa the auncient realme belonging to him by inheritance from his father and received him with joy as their king whom they had long time desired Syphax seeing his captaines and garrisons disseized and displaced kept himselfe within the auncient limits of his owne kingdome but was not like to be long at rest and quiet For this wives father on the one side and his wife againe on the other set him on and pricked him forward continually to take armes against the Romans and so doted he upon her in excessive love that needs he must yeeld to her there was no remedie Besides so mightie hee was in numbers of men and horse that the puissance of a kingdome flourishing so many yeares together offering and presenting it selfe daily to the cie had ben ynough to have made a prince proud that was not so barbarous and uncivile as he and had some better rule and maistrie of his affections than himselfe had When he had assembled together as many as were able for service hee furnished them with horses and with armour as well offensive as defensive The Cavallerie hee sorted and devided into small troupes and corners the infanterie into cohorts and squadrons according as hee had learned long since of the Roman centurions And thus having raised an armie equall for number to the former but standing all together in manner of new and untrained souldiours hee put himselfe on his journey against the enemies And after hee had encamped neere unto them at the beginning some few light horsemen advaunced forward from before the corps de guard in espiall so neere as they might with safetie but being set backe from thence with arrowes and javelines they retired unto their companies After this they began of both sides to make out one against another and to maintaine light skirmishes and when of any part they had taken the foile they would for anger returne againe in greater number which is the wonted manner to kindle a battell betweene horsemen for whiles the winners hope still of better the loosers chase for having the worse the companie ever encreaseth on both sides And thus now afteer some few had scuffled and blowed the coales at length the whole armie of either part came forth into the field eager of sight and to strike a set battell So long as the horse-service lasted the Masaesylians were so many as there was hardly any dealing with them Syphax sent them out in such great troupes but after that the Romance footmen once had suddainly entred betweene the cornets of their horsemen which gave way as they came and had gotten sure footing and made head and so frighted the enemie charging so freely upon the spurre as he did then the Barbarians began to ride their horses more easily and within a while gently to stand still and seeme as it were amased at this strange and new kind of fight and in the end not onely to give ground unto the footmen but also to recule from the horsemen who now were the more bold and hardie being flanked with a guard of footmen And now by this time the standerds of the legions advaunced forward and approched neere hand But then the Massaesyli were so farre from receiving enduring their first charge that they might not abide the very sight so much as of their ensignes and armour so mightily wrought with them either the remembrance of former over throwes alreadie passed or the present feare of imminent daunger Where Syphax whiles he rode bravely in the face of the enemies troups and squadrons if happily for very shame or for the perill of his owne person hee might stay his men from running away had his horse under him sore wounded and being cast off his backe to the earth was over pressed with the number taken prisoner and brought alive unto Laelius for to represent unto Masanissa above all others a goodly shew and joifull sight to behold Now was Cirtha the head citie of all the kingdom of Syphax and thither after the flight be tooke themselves a mightie multitude of people The slaughter in this battaile was lesse in proportion than the victorie because the horsemen onely maintained the medley Not above five thousand were slaine and not halfe so many taken prisoners And when they had made an assault upon the camp whither the frighted multitude after the losse of their king had retired Masanissa came unto Laeius and said That for the present there could bee nothing more pleasing and honourable unto him than upon his victorie to visit and see his fathers kingdome which he had recovered woon again after so long a time But as in adversitie so likewise in prosperitie qd he tract of time delaies are never good In case therfore Laelius would permit him and his horsemen together with conquered Syphax to goe before unto the citie Cirtha he would surprise them on a suddain finding all out of frame and to seeke by reason of this so suddaine and unexpected feare and Laelius with his footmen might travell faire and softly come after by easie journies Laelius graunted hereunto Whereupon being gone afore unto Cirtha he commaunded the principall cittizens of Cirtha to bee called foorth unto a parle But all the whiles that they were ignorant of the kings unhappie fall and so long as Masanissa uttered nothing of that which was happened hee might not prevaile either with threats or faire words and persuasions until he presented the king before them a bound prisoner Then at so heavie an object and miserable spectacle they lift up apittifull crie and made great lamentation And so partly for feare they abandoned the defence of the walls and partly by a generall consent to court the conquerour and to seeke for grace and favour at his hands they set the gates open Then Masanissa after hee had bestowed about the gates and in convenient places of the walls certaine strong guards to keep that no man should stirre and make an escape he rode a gallop to the roiall pallace for to bee possessed of it As hee entred within the fore-gates therof even in the very entrance of the porch Sophonisba the wife of Syphax and daughter of Asdruball the Carthaginian met him on the way espying in the mids of the armed traine Masanissa full gorgeously dight as well in his brave armor as in other goodly array and ornaments imagining him to be the king as he was indeed she fell downe prostrat at his feet and spake in this wife True it is quoth she ô Masanissa that the gods above together with your owne vertue and felicitie
themselves make readie their armour plucke up their spirits and addresse themselves to a finall triall of the quarrell where if they sped well they were to be victours not for one day but for ever and aye For before the morrow next at night they should know whether Rome or Carthage should give lawes unto all nations of the earth And as neither Affrick nor Italie but the whole world shall be the prize guerdon of the conquerours so they whose hap were to loose the field must make account of daunger and domage equall to the winnings and gaine of the other For as the Romanes had no way to escape nor place of safe retreat being in a strange and unknowen land so Carthage having laid all upon this one cast if they now missed made accompt that all was gone and present destruction at hand So the next day there advanced forward to this doubtfull and daungerous triall two most noble and renowned captaines of two right mightie and puissant states two most valiant and hardie armies came forth into the field resolute that day either to winne the spurres or loose the saddle to gaine more glorie to their former honour or else to loose all that ever they had gotten Thus therefore between hope and feare their minds were perplexed and distracted and beholding one while their own forces another while their enemies power measuring rather by their eye than weighing by reason their strength they had at once presented unto them objects of joy content as well as of sorow and heavinesse And look what the soldiers themselves could not thinke upon those things their leaders put them in mind of suggesting unto them by way of admonition and exhortation whatsoever was thought expedient and good Anniball rehearsed his noble acts atchieved in Italie for the space of sixteene yeeres he reckoned up how many Romane captains he had slaine how many armies he had defeated and put to the sword and ever as he met with any souldiers of note and marke for some worthie and memorable battaile he put them in remembrance of their honourable service and good deserts Scipio related the conquest of Spaine recounted the fresh foughten fields in Affricke alledged the verie confession of the enemies who neither for feare could doe other but seeke for peace nor yet upon an inbred falshood imprinted in their hearts continue long in the same Besides he inferred the communication speech of Anniball had with him in secret and apart from others which according as hee was disposed to devise he might turn at his pleasure to fit his purpose And for as much as the gods had shewed unto them as they went out into the field the same signes and tokens of birds by direction wherof their fathers before them fought in times past before the Ilands Aegates hee ossed and presaged that the warre was come to an end all daungers and troubles overblowne that the spoile and pillage of Carthage was at their devotion and they at the point to returne home unto their countrey their parents wives children and domestical gods And this hee spake with such a lostie gesture of his bodie with so pleasant and lovely a countenance withall that a man who had seene him would have thought verily he had atchieved the victorie alreadie Then he embattailed first his Hastati or speares in the vaward behind them the Principes and the rereward he guarded and fortified with the Triarij Neither marshalled he whole cohorts thrust thick and close together in the head of the battaile before their ensignes but divided them into squadrons distant a pretie way asunder one from the other to the end there might be roume space to receive the elephants of the enemies that they should not breake the arraies and rankes As for Laelius whom he had emploied before as lieutenant but that yeare in qualitie of a Questor by a speciall order and direction from the Senat and not by choice of lot him with the Italian Cavallerie he put in the left point Masanissa with the Numidian horsemen in the right The open waies and void spaces betweene the squadrons aforesaid placed in the front before the ensigns hee filled with the Velites or Iavelotiers who at that time were light armed souldiers with this commandement that presently upon the violent charge given by the elephants they should either retire behind the files or els runne to a side both on the right hand and the left and joyne close to the formost ranks and make the elephants way to run upon their shot from the one side and the other Anniball to strike a terrour into the enemies first arraunged the elephants in the front who were in number foure score and more than ever he had before in any battaile Then be embattailed the aid souldiers of the Ligurians and Frenchmen with the Baleare slingers and the Mores intermingled amongst them In the maine battaile he placed the Carthaginians and Affricans with the legion of the Macedonians behind whome leaving a little space betweene he set in array the battailon of the Italian souldiers in the rereward for succour those were most part of them Brutij who followed him more perforce and by constraint than of any good will when he departed out of Italie The Cavallerie also he displaied and spred round like wings about the two points whereof the Carthaginians kept the right and the Numidians the left Sundry and divers were the exhortations throughout the armie amongst so many men whose language was dissonant whose complexions far unlike whose manners and conditions were divers who differed in lawes and customs whose armours were not all one whose raiment and apparell not sutable and finally whose quarrell and cause of war was not one the same The auxiliaries aid-soldiers fed themselves with the hope of ready and present paiment and wages for the time past yea and with a duple triple augmentation thereof to boot out of the spoile and pillage The Frenchmen upon a speciall hatred of their own and the same deeply setled were soone kindled and enflamed against the Romans The Ligurians who were brought out of the rough and craggie mountains and whose teeth watered at the fruitfull and plenteous fields of Italie were quickly by him mooved to hope after victorie The Mores and Numidians he frighted with the proud and tyrannicall rule of Masanissa under which they should ever after live Before the Carthaginians he presented the walles of their native citie their houses and house gods the sepulchres and tombes of their ancestors their children and parents yea and their timorous and fearefull wives hee set before their eies either finall destruction of all those things and slaverie of their persons or else the empire and soveraigne dominions of the whole world and no meane betweene these extremities either of feare or hope When as the Generall was most busie thus in exhorting the Carthaginians and the captains of the straungers amongst the souldiours
others againe be named and yet order taken that they without deliverie should be free but only for this purpose that those cities which are in Asia should beset free because they be farre off and therefore in more safetie but those that are in Greece being not precisely named should be seised upon by them to wit Corinth Chalcis and Oreum with Eretrias and Demetrias And to say a truth this finding fault of theirs was not altogether srivolous and without ocasion geven for some doubt there was of Corinth Chalcis and Demetrias because in the order and act of the Senate by vertue whereof those ten Delegates aforesaid were sent from the citie all other cities of Asia and of Greece were doubtlesse in plaine termes freed but as touching the three before named the Delegates had in commission to take order as they should see it stand with the good of the Common-wealth according to their owne judgement and discretion and the trust that was committed unto them For well they wist that king Antiochus would passe over into Europe so soone as ever he could bring his affaires about to his mind and unwilling they were on any hand that these cities so commodious for his dessignes should lye open and readie to his hand for to seise upon at his pleasure So Iuintius together with the ten Delegates sailed from Elatia to Anticyra and from thence to Corinth where they held their counsaile and consulted of their affaires Iuintius would est soones say unto them That all Greece might be delivered and set at libertie if they could restreine the tongues of the Aetolians if they were willing that their good affection should be deemed sincere and the majestie of the Romane name mainteined among all finally if they would pretend and make it knowne abroad that they were passed the seas to set Greece free and not after they had shaken off the seignorie of Philip to translate it unto themselves The other againe contradicted nothing as touching the libertie of those cities howbeit they made remonstrance that it was the safer course for them to remaine awhile under the protection and safegard of the Romanes than that in steed of Philip they should receive Antiochus for their Lord. In conclusion decreed it was That Corinth should be rendred to the Achaens but yet so that there should be a Romane garison in the highest quarter of the citie called Acrocorinthus Item That Chalcis and Demetrias should be reteined still untill such time as they were no more in feare and doubt of Antiochus Now approched the ordinarie solemnitie of the Isthmian games unto which at all times usually there was great recourse of people as well in regard of the naturall disposition of that nation desirous to see such sports and pastimes wherin was represented the triall of maistries in all kind of arts in all feates either of agilitie and nimblenes of the bodie as also in respect of the commodious seate of the place whereunto from all parts of Greece they repaired thither by two divers and sundrie seas But being amused in expectation to know what the estate of Greece and what their owne particular condition would be hereafter divers men not only devised secretly with themselves but also gave out and whispered in their speech and talke Well the Romanes were set to behold this solemnitie and the publick Crier with a trumpetter went forth into the mids of the Cirque of shew place from whence the manner was to proclaime the sports and games aforesaid in a solemne set forme of words and after he had by sound of trumpet made silence he pronounced with a loud voice in this maner Be it knowne unto all men that the Senate of Rome and Q. Iuintius the Generall of their armie having vanquished king Philip and the Macedonians do ordeine that the Corinthians the Phocensians and the Locrensians be all free and delivered from all taxes whatsoever and to live according to their owne lawes Item That the Isle Euboea the Magnesians Thessalians Perrhaebians Acheans and Phthiotes do enjoy the like freedome and immunitie And consequently he rehersed all the nations which had bene in subjection to Philip. Vpon this proclamation of the beadle there was such joy that men were not able to conceive and comprehend it Every man could hardly beleeve that had heard the thing which he so wished and desired asore to heare one looked upon another wondring at the matter as if it had ben a vain vision or illusion of some dreame and well they trusted not their own cares in hearing that which particularly concerned every one but enquired of them that stood next unto them The crier was called back againe such a desire had each one not only to heare the glad tidings but also to behold the happie messenger of this their libertie and no remedie there was but once againe he must publish pronounce the same Now when their joy was once confirmed they set up such a shour followed it so with clapping of hands redoubling the same so often as evidently it appeared how there is no earthly good in the world more pleasing and welcome unto a multitude than is libertie After this the games were perfourmed in such hast that neither the mind of any man was bent to intend nor the eye to behold the sight thereof so wholly had that one joy possessed them and forestalled the sence of all other pleasures and delights But when the pastime were once ended they all in manner ran apace to the Romane Generall in such sort that his person was in some daunger of the multitude crowding so hard upon him alone for desire they had to come unto him touch his right hand and to cast garlands of flowers and labels of sundrie colours upon him but beeing a man fast upon three and thirtie yeeres of age both the vigour of youth and also the joy that he tooke for the accomplishment of so glorious an act affourded him strength enough to abide the prease of the people This gladnes of all men shewed itselfe not onely for the present but continued also for many daies space entertained not onely in thankful minds but expressed also in joyfull discourses namely That there was one nation yet in the world which at their proper cost and charges with their owne paine and perill made warre for the freedome of others who affourded this favour and pleasure not to neighbours and borderers onely or to those that were joyned neere to them in the continent and firme land but passed over the seas to the end that throughout the whole world there should be no unjust and tyrannicall government but in all places right reason and law might prevaile most and carry greatest sway Loe how by the onely voice of one Bedle all the cities of Greece and Asia are set free To conceive and enterprise so great a thing proceedeth from a brave mind and noble heart but to effect the same is a singular vertue and
the people of Rome might if they would send their Colonies at his departure from thence toward Rome to an undoubted and assured triumph licensed his armie with commaundement to meet him there and give their attendance upon his triumph-day The morrow after that he was come the Senat had summons to assemble in the temple of Bellona where after he had discoursed of his actes and deeds atchieved he required that he might be permitted to enter the citie riding in triumph P. Sempronius Blaesus a Tribune of the Commons for the time being stopped forth said That his advise was that Scipio should not flatly be denied the honour of a triumph but to put it off unto a farther day And why The warres quoth he of the Ligurians have alwaies beene joyned and linked with those of Gaule which nations being so neere togither use ever mutually one to succour another If P. Scipio after the Boians deffeited in battell had followed the traine of victorie and either himselfe in proper person with his brave conquering army passed into the territory of the Ligurians or but sent part of his forces to Q. Minutius who now for three yeers or fast upon hath ben deteined within those quarters in a warre of doubtfull issue we might have seene an end ere this of the Ligurian warre also But now forsooth his souldiours are dismissed and brought home to accompanie him and to solemnize his triumph who might well have beene employed still and done good service to the Common-weale yea and may doe yet if the Senate be so disposed by deferring the time of triumph for to make amends and regaine that which by over-hastinesse of triumph hath beene over-slipped And therefore in my opinion quoth hee they should doe well to commaund the Consull to goe his waies back againe and take his armie with him into his province and to doe his best and utmost devoir to subdue the Ligurians also For unlesse they be brought under and made subject unto the people of Rome the Boians by yee sure will not long be quiet either we must have peace of warre at once in both places And so P. Cornelius in qualitie of Proconsull as many others before him who in their full magistracie triumphed not may after some few months have his triumph To this the Consull answered again and said That neither the Province of the Ligurians was any part of his charge by lot neither warred he at all with the Ligurians ne yet demaunded to triumph over them As for Q. Minutius quoth hee I hope that shortly after he hath subdued them he both will require his due triumph and shall likewise obtaine the same For mine owne part I seek no more but to triumph over the Boians in Gaule whome I have vanquished in plaine battell beaten out of the field and campe whose whole nation within two daies after the fight and their generall discomfiture yeelded and rendred themselves into my hands from whome I have caried away hostages for assured pledge of future peace nay that which is much more than all this I have had the killing of so many Gaules in open battell and fought with so many thousands of Boians as no Generall ever did before me the better halfe of 50000 men are fallen upon the edge of the sword many a thousand taken prisoners so as the Boians have none left but old folke and young children Can any man make a woonder then why a victorius armie leaving no enemie behind in the province is come to Rome to honour the triumph of their Consull Whose emploiment if the Senat be disposed to use in any other service and province Whether of these two waies thinke they will make them more willing and readie to put themselves into new daungers and enter into other fresh labour and travell either to pay them without delay content them with the due and deserued hire of their former peril and pain or to send them away with bare hope only in stead of the substance for to expect still without effect since they have beene once alreadie put by and disappointed of their first hope and expectation Now for mine owne part I obtained honour ynough that day on which the Senat sent me deemed declared the best man in all the city to receive that great goddesse dame of Ida. This title alone without any other addition of triumph shall be sufficient to recommend to all posteritie for honestly and honor both the image of P. Scipio Nasica This said not only the whole Senat themselves condescended generally to graunt him triumph but also with their countenance and authoritie compelled the Tribunes of the Commons to give over their hold surcease their interposition of a negative voice So P. Cornelius the Consull triumphed over the Boians In which triumph he caused to bee carried for shew in French chariots armor ensigns spoils of all sorts also French vessels of brasse copper He commaunded likewise to be led in pomp a number of horses taken together with noblemen and gentlemen captives Of chains of gold he made a shew of 1470. Besides there was born in pomp of gold 245 pound weight of silver unwrought and wrougth into plate not unworkmanly after their maner namely in sundry French vessels 2340 pound weight lastly of bigats in coin 234. To his soldiors that followed his triumphant chariot he gave 225 Asses a peece double as much to a Centurion triple to an horsman The next day after he called the people to a generall assembly where after he had discoursed again of his exploits complained of the wrongs that the Tribune had offered unto him in that he would have tied him to the war of another with intent to defraud himselfe of the fruit of his own victorie he cassed his soldiors discharged them quite Whiles these affaires thus went in Italie Antiochus remaining at Ephesus rested very secure and carelesse of the Romane warre as if the Romanes had no purpose nor intention to passe over into Asia This securitie of his was occasioned by many of his friends who partly upon ignorance and partly upon flatterie persuaded him so Onely Anniball who at that time was of greatest credite and might doe most with the king said unto him That hee rather marvelled much why the Romanes were not alreadie in Asia than doubted of their comming For a neerer cut quoth he it is by sea out of Greece into Asia than out of Italy into Greece and a greater motive to warre is Antiochus than the Aetolians And as for their valour and power as hardie they are and mightie at sea as on land and their fleet hath hovered a good while alreadie about Malea Moreover I heard say of late that new ships be arrived and a new Generall come out of Italie to follow and performe this warre And therefore let Antiochus seede no longer upon a vaine hope and promise himselfe a permanent peace for shortly hee must
beginning of the spring and so encamped upon the frontiers of the Lacedaemonians This done hee sent his embassadours to demaund the deliverie of them into his hands who were the authours of the revolt promising withall that if they would so doe their citie should remaine in peace without any molestation and they suffer and sustain no harm before they had answered for themselves in open audience All the rest for feare kept silence and said not a word only they whom he had challenged by name made offer of them selves to go undersafe conduct received from the embassadours and faithfull promise that no violence should be done upon their persons untill they had pleaded their answer Accompanied they were with divers noble personages of great marke and name both as advocates unto them in their particular quarrels and also in regard of the Commonweale as farre as their private cause any way touched and concerned it Never had the Achaeans before time brought the Lacedaemonians exiles with them into the confines of Lacedaemon because they supposed that nothing might so much alienate and estrange the hearts of the whole citie as that But then the whole head as it were of the vaward were no other but those banished persons And as the Lacedaemonians abovesaid were comming who should meet and affront them arraunged in order of battell at the very gate of the campe but they At the first they welcommed them with chiding and railing after that they fell to bitter words and brauiles and their bloud was up on both sides insomuch as those of the banished crew who were of hotest spirit and sharpest mettall made no more adoe but ran upon the Lacedaemonians whereupon they called the gods to witnesse and cried to the embassadours for protection who together with the Pretour himselfe came between voided the prease and the safeguarded the persons of the Lacedaemonians empeaching and staying some of their hands who were alreadie about to bind them and make them sure But the tumult still encreased and the multitude was all up on a hurrey The Achaeans ran first to see onely what the matter was and to be lookers on But afterwards when the exiles began with a loud voice to crie out and report what wrongs and injuries they had sustained beseeching them of their helpe and avouching withall right confidently that if they let slip this opportunitie they should never have the like againe alleadging moreover That the league first made in the Capitoll after renued at Olympia and last of all confirmed by a sacred oth in the castle of Athens had ben broken and disannulled by them and therefore the guiltie and culpable parties were to be punished accordingly before they entreed into any bond of new accord At these words the multitude was incensed and by occasion of one mans voice who cried to strike and knocke them downe fell to flinging stones at them And by this meanes seventeene of them who during the garboile chaunced to be tied in bonds were stoned to death The rest to the number of sixe and thirtie were the next morrow apprehended whom the Pretour had sheelded and protected from violence not for any desire hee had to save their lives but because hee would not have them miscarie and perish before they were heard These were presented and exposed as a prey to the unruly and angrie multitude when they had made some small speech unto them from which they turned away their eares they were all condemned and delivered over to bee led to execution When the Lacedaemonians were once put in this feare then they were commaunded Imprimis To demolish and breake downe their walls Item That all forraine auxiliarie souldiours who were waged and served for pay under the tyrants should avoid out of the Laconian countrey Item That all the slaves whom those tyrants had set free and of such there was a great number should depart before a certaine day and that it might be lawfull for the Achaeans to attach the bodies to sell and carrie away as many as staied and remained behind Item That they should abolish the lawes ordinances and customes of Lycurgus and frame themselves to live after the fashions and manners of the Achaeans for so they should be incorporate into one civile bodie and better accord and sort together in all things They condesended to none of all these conditions more willingly and sooner than to the raising of their walls and nothing troubled them so much and vexed their heart as the restoring of the banished persons Howbeit there passed an act at Tegea for their restitution in a generall Counsell of all the Achaeans there held In which assembly upon a report and mention made that the mercenarie straungers above specified and the new enrolled Lacedaemonians called Ascripti for so they tearmed them who by the tyrants were enfranchised and endued with freedome had abandoned the citie and were departed sundry waies into the countrey it was thought good before the armie was dissolved and called that the Pretor should go with a companie lightly armed and appointed to lay hold upon all that sort of people and make sale of them as of a prize and bootie gained from the enemies Many of them were apprehended and sold. And with the money raised of them that porch or gallerie at Megalopolis which had been ruinate by the Lacedaemonians was by the permission unjustly held in the possession was laid againe to that citie according to an old decree of the Achaeans which was made during the reigne of king Philip sonne of Amyntas The citie of the Lacedaemonians by this meanes much enseebled continued a long time in subjection and thraldome under the Achaeans But their State received dammaged by no one thing so much as by the abolishing of the discipline of Lycurgus to which they had beene used and accustomed for the space of seven hundred yeares Presently after the holding of this Diet wherein the Achaeans and Lacedaemonians debated their causes before the Consull M. Fulvius repaired to Rome for that the yeare was almost expired against the solemne election of new magistrates wherein he created for Consuls M. Valerius Messala and C. Livius Salinator and gave the repulse to M. Aemylius Lepidus his enemie who that yeere made suite also to be Consull This done there were Pretours also chosen to wit Q. Martius Philippus M. Claundius Marcellus C. Stertinius C. Catinius P. Claudius Pulcher and Lo. Manlius Acidinius When this election was ended at was thought expedient that M. Fulvius should returned into his former province to the armie there and not only he but his colleague also Cn. Manlius had their commission revived and they continued in government another yeere The same yeere according to the direction of the Decemvirs there was brought into the temple of Hercules the statue of the same god and within the Capitoll were set up by Cn. Cornelius sixe steeds in gold drawing a chariot with this inscription That he being Consull gave that
compasse through by-waies and blind forrests and so to charge upon their backs But before they could wheele about the enemies camp the battaile was begun wherein the Dardanians had the overthrow and were driven to put themselves within their citie which was almost twelve miles distant from the campe of the Bastarnae The conquerors followed the traine of victorie and incontinently invested the towne making full account that the next day either the enemies would yeeld or else they should be able to win the place by fine force In the meane time the other regiment above said of the Dardanians which cast about knowing nothing at all of their fellowes diffeature began to assaile the campe of the Bastarnians left without a sufficient guard for defence As the manner of kings was he sate in a stately throne of Ivorie to heare pleas and decided of the finallest and most tristing matters So transported was he and carried away with an humor of levitie and spirit of inconstancie so distracted and wandering in all the course of his life that he was never setled and well contented in any condition of state whatsoever in such sort as neither he knew his owne selfe nor any man else wist well what to make of him He would not seeme to speake unto his friends and hardly was seene to laugh familiarly among those of his neerest acquaintance Hee made a foole of himselfe and mocked others likewise such was his unordinate and irregular munificence To men of honour standing highly upon their worth and reputation his manner was to bestow childish trifies as sugar-plums to eat or to play withall toyes and gewgawes instead of great and pretious presents others againe that looked for nothing those he enriched And therefore some deemed that he knew not what hee did others gave it out that he did all in plaine mockage and there were againe that let not to say how he was out of his right wits and cleane besides himselfe Yet in two things which were both great and laudable he carried with him a princely and royall mind indeed to wit in adorning citties with stately gifts and honouring the gods with divine worship He promised the Megapolitans in Arcadia to raise a wall about their citie and in truth the better part of the money to destay the charges there of he sent unto them He went in hand to build a magnificent Theatre of marble at Tegaea at Cizicum he gave freely to the Prytaneum a faire hall by it selfe in the heart of the citie where at the common charges certaine had their diet of free-cost by way of honourable reward a cupbord of golden plate sufficient for the furniture and service of one table As for the Rhodians I cannot say what one speciall gift singular above the rest hee bestowed upon them so liberally minded was hee to them-ward and his hand ever open to give them of all forts whatsoever they needed or required Now his magnificence in honouring the gods what it was if there were nothing else the temple of Iupiter Olympius begun by him in Athens so answerable every way to the majesty of that great god that the like to it is not to be found again in the whole world may testifie sufficiently Moreover hee beautified Delos with goodly seaensigns and with a great number of statues and images Likewise he promised to edisie at Antiochia a stately temple in the honour of Iupiter Capitolinus not onely arched above-head with a golden embowed rouse but seeled all over the wall sides with plates of gold besides many other things in divers places which by reason that he reigned but a very short time he could not finish and performe In magnificence also of playes publicke shewes and pageants of every sort he over-went all the kings his progenitors before him as well in regard of Grecian actors and gamesters whereof hee had many about him as of the rest who were acquainted with the fashions of his owne countrey He represented the fight of sword-players at the sharpe with unrebated swords after the custome of the Romans with greater terror and feare at first than pleasure and delight of men who were not used to behold such sights but afterwards by often exhibiting the same in such manner as sometime they drewblood one of another yea and otherwhiles gave not over so but fought to the utterrence even to death hee made it a familiar exercise and a pleasant spectacle to the eye and thereby set an edge upon the courage of many yong gallants and emboldened them to embrace chivalrie and follow feats of armes So as in processe of time he that was wont at the beginning to send as farre as Rome for these sensers and to hire them for great wages and reward now with his owne L. Cornelius Scipio had the jurisdiction over forreiners To M. Attilius the Pretour the government of Sardinia by lot was fallen but he was enjoyned to passe over into Corsica with the new legion which the Consuls had enrolled consisting of five thousand foot and three hundred horse And during the time that he should be employed there in the warres Cornelius had commission to continue in his charge and place of commaund within Sardinia Vnto Cn. Servilius Caepio for low Spaine and P. Furius Philus for the higher were assigned three thousand Romane footmen and an hundred and fiftie horse but of Latine allies five thousand of the one and three hundred of the other As for L. Claudius he was appointed to Sicilie without any supply at all Moreover the Consuls had commaundement to enroll two legions besides with the full number as well of foot as horse and to charge the Latine allies with the setting out and maintenance of a thousand foot men and six hundred horse This levie and taking of musters the Consuls went through with in more difficultie by reason of a great mortalitie which beginning the y eere before with a morrein of kine and oxen turned this yeere into pestilent epidemiall diseases of men Looke who fell sicke once lightly they died before the seventh day and those that overlived and escaped that crisis lay long sicke by it and commonly of the quartane ague The most that went of this maladie were slaves whose breathlesse carkasses lay ordinarily along everie street unburied and more than that men were not able to enterre so much as the dead bodies of free persons they died so thicke in such sort as they putrified and rotted above ground for neither hungrie dog not greedie gripe would once touch them And for certaine it was knowen and noted that neither all that yeere nor in the former during the mortalitie of man and beast there was not a vultur or grype any where to bee seene Divers prelats and priests of State dropt away of this plague and namely Cn. Servilius Caepio a bishop the father of the Pretour Tib. Sempronius Longus the sonne of Titus one of the Decemvirs for sacrred rites and divine service P.
skot and lot yea and displaced them out of their tribes And looke whomsoever the one of them noted with disgrace and ignominie he was not relieved nor allowed againe by the other This Fulvius dedicated the temple of Fortuha equeslris now six yeers after he had vowed the same in a battaile which he fought with the Celtiberians at what time as he was Proconsull in Spaine likewise the exhibited the stage-plaies for foure daies togither and one day in the cirque or shew-place Corn. Lentulus a Decemvir for the holy rites and sacrifices that yeer died in whose roume was substituted A. Posthumius Albinus There were such mightie drifts and clouds as it were of locusts brought sodainly at once by a wind from the sea into Apulia that with their swarmes they overspread all the field farre and neere For the riddance of which noisome vermine consuming the fruits of the earth Cn. Sicinius Pretour elect was sent with his full commission of commaund into Apulia who assembled a mightie number of people for to gather them up and emploied a great time thereabout In the beginning of the yeere ensuing wherein C. Popilius and P. Aelius were Consuls the remnant of the debates which arose the yeere before was set on foot againe The LL. of the Senat would have had the matter proposed debated again as touching the Ligurians and the ordinance of the Senat in that behalfe renewed But as Aelius the one Consul put up a bill therof so Popilius the other was an earnest suiter and besought both his collegue and also the Senat in the behalfe of his brother nay he proceeded so far that he gave the house to understand in case they went about any such decree prejudicial unto him he would crosse revoke the same by which countenance of his he affrighted his colleague but the LL. were offended so much the more and stormed against both the Consuls yea and persisted still in their enterprise And therfore when it was debated in counsell as concerning the provinces albeit the Coss. made meanes to be sent into Macedonie because the war of Perseus was so neere at hand yet Liguria was assigned to both of them for the LL. protested and said That they would not passe a decree for the government of Macedonie unlesse the case of Popilius were propounded and an act therof entred Afterwards when they demanded a warrant to enroll new armies or at least-wise to levie a supply for making up the old both the one motion and the other was denied The Pretors also who required to have a supplement with them into Spain had a nay and namely M. Tinius into the hither province and P. Lucretius into the fatther As for C. Licinius Crassus to him there fell by lot the jurisdiction within the citie over citizens and to Cn. Sicinius that other over forreiners C. Memmius was alloted to Sicilie and Sp. Cluvius to Sardinia The Consuls for these causes being highly offended and angrie with the Senate caused the Latine feasts and holidaies to be published against the very first day that possibly they might with an intimation that they would goe straight into their province and not attend the managing of any affaires touching the State but onely that which directly pertained to their government Valerius Antias writeth that in these Consuls yeere Attalus the brother of K. Eumenes came in embassage to Rome to enforme criminous matter against Perseus and to give the particulars of the preparation that he made for warre But the Annales of many other writers more worthie of credit than he deliver unto us that K. Eumenes presented himselfe in proper person where he was received with such honour as the people of Rome thought not onely meet and agreeable for his deserts but also fit and surable to their owne favours and benefits which they had in ample manner conferred and in great number heaped upon him And then he had audience given him in the Senate where he shewed the cause of his comming to Rome what it was namely besides and servent desire that he had to see those gods and men by whose grace and favour he enjoyed so good estate as better hee durst not wish because hee gladly would advertise the Senat by word of mouth to prevent and withstand the designes of Perseus And beginning his speech with the platformes and enterprises of Philip hee recounted withall how it cost his soone Demetrius his life for that he stood against the warre with the Romanes moreover how he had caused the whole nation of the Bastarians to quit their owne countrey where they were born and bred to the end that by their aid he might passe over into Italie but whiles quoth he these matters he projected and cast in his head his time was come and arrested he was by death but he left his kingdome to him whom he knew to be the most despiteous enemie that the Romanes had And therfore Perseus having received this war as a man would say by way of inheritance left him by his father even together with the crown scepter from the very first day of his raigne doth nought els but entertaine foster and promote the same by all the meanes and devises that possibly he can Mightie and puissant he is besides in number of young lustie and able men for service who during the time of long peace have sprung up and multiplied exceedingly In wealth and riches a great potentate he is and besides in his flourishing years and the best time of his age which as it is accompanied with the very strength and vigor of his bodie so his spirit and mind is inured and hardened with skilfull experience and long practise of martiall seats For from his very infancie nuzzled hath he been in the field and campe conversing ordinarily within the roiall tent and pavillion of his father acquainted with the warres not onely waged against neighbour nations but also against the Romans and that which more is emploied by his father in many and sundrie expeditions and executions of service But since that himselfe entered upon the kingdome and swaied the regall scepter in his owne hand hee hath exploited and accomplished many things with mervellous felicitie and successe which his father Philip before him could never compasse and effect notwithstanding he tried and assaied all means as well of open force as secret sraud To augment this greatnesse of his he hath purchased alreadie that authoritie and reputation in the world which others hardly in continuance of long time and by many favors and ample benefits attaine unto and namely throughout the States of Greece and Asia all men reverence his majestie For what good turns for what pleasures done for what bountie of his they should thus doe and honour him so much neither see I neither can I say for certaintie whether it happen by a speciall gift and fortune that hee hath of his owne or that which I am myselfe afraid to speake it
there remained no meanes else for them but to have passed through the mids of the enemies at Dium for to escape and pierce into Macedonie an adventure no doubt if the gods had not berest the king of his right wits most difficult and dangerous unto them For it being so that from the foot of the mountain Olympus unto the sea there is little above a mile space betweene the one halfe whereof is taken up with the mouth of the river Bophyins which in this place spreadeth very broad and large and another part of the plaine either the temple of Iupiter or the towne it selfe occupieth the rest besides being but a verie small place might have been enclosed and made fast against them with a little trench and rampier◠besides such store there was of stone readie at hand and of timber out of the forest that they might either have raised a mure or framed turrets and such like fabricks in their way But the king whose spirit understanding was blinded with sodain fear fore-seeing none of all these things but diffurnishing every fort of their garisons made open passage for the current of war fled himselfe to Pydna The Consull perceiving that he had gotten great advantage and many hopes by the follie and negligence of his enemie dispatched a currier back toward Larissa unto Sp. Lucretius willing him to seize those forts into his hands about Tempe which were abandoned by the enemie and after he had sent Popilius before in spiall to discover all the passages about Dium and perceived that the avenues were open in all parts hee marched forwards himselfe and by the second gift came to Dium where he commaunded to encampe under the very temple to the end that no violent outrage should be committed in that holy place Himselfe in proper person entred into the citie which as it was not great so it was garnished with faire publick buildings beautified with a number of goodly images and passing well fortified besides in so much as he could not well beleeve that things of such importance were abandoned for nothing but that there was some secret deceit and treacherie lurking underneath After hee had staied there one full day to espie and see that all coasts were cleere the dislodged and marched on and supposing verily that he should be provided of sufficient store of graine he advanced forward that verie day to the river named Mytis The morrow after he tooke possession of the citie Agassa which the inhabitants willingly rendred unto him And to win the hearts of all other Macedonians contenting himselfe onely with hostages he promised to leave them their citie cleere without a garrison and to permit them to live under their owne lawes without paiment of any tribute Being marched onward one daies journey from thence hee pitched downe his tents fast upon the river Ascordus but feeling and finding still the farther he went from Thessalie more and more want of all things he recited backe to Dium and then all men saw plainly and made no doubt to what streights hee should have been driven in case he had been cleane shut out from Thessalie considering that it was not safe for him to remove far from thence where he was Perseus having rallied all his forces and assembled his captaines into one place checked and ratled up the captains of the garrisons and guards aforesaid over the passages but above all he rebuked Aschepiodosus and Hippius most saying that those two had betraied unto the Romanes the port gates into Macedonie whereas indeed no man was more justly to be blamed for that than his owne selfe The Consull after he had discovered a farre off from sea a fleet of Romane ships conceived good hope that vessels were comming charged with provision of victuals for now in his campe the dearth was great and brought they were alreadie to extreame want and fearsitie But hee was advertised by them who were entred within the harbour that the hulkes and ships of burden were left behind at Magnesia Whereupon being in great doubt what to doe so hard went all things with him for the present that hee had worke ynough to wrestle with that onely difficultie without being farther encombred with any empeachment from the enemie be hold-in happie time 〈◊〉 were brought unto him from Sp. Lucretius importing thus much That hee was master of all the forts and holds planted upon Tempe and round about Phila where he had found great plentie of corne and other necessaries The Consull right joious for these good tidings set his 〈◊〉 on foot from Dium to Phila as well to strengthen the garison there as also to deale corne among his souldiours which would have required a long time ere it could have beene brought over to them at Dium That departure and journey of his was nothing wel spoken off for some gave out that the Generall reculed from the enemie for very feare because that if he had staied there still he should have been forced to a battaile others said that he had no skill in warre neither in those occurrents which fortunes wheele turning about altereth every day offering one new thing or other who when occasions and opportunities were presented unto him let the same slip out of his bands which soone after might not possibly he recovered againe And verily he had not so soon 〈◊〉 the possession of Dium but he 〈◊〉 and wakened the enemie and put in his head now at length to regain those matters which had ben lost before through his own default For hearing than the Consull was departed he returned immediatly to Dium where he repaired whatsoever had been demolished and ruinate by the Romans the battlements of the wals which were cast downe he set up againe in the right place and in all parts fortified the mure and bulwarks of the citie Which done he encamped five miles off on this side Enipeus intending that the river it selfe which is verie hard to be passed over should serve him in stead of a rampier and trench of defence This river runneth out of the vale from under the mountaine Olympus and in sommer season is small and shallow but in winter it riseth high and spreadeth broad by reason of raine running also with a forcible current and streame it surmounteth great rockes and among those stonie crags and shelves maketh many whirlpits by occasion likewise that from thence it carrioth away with it into the sea store of earth there are many gulfes of exceeding depth and by reason that it hath eaten a hollow channell in the mids the banks of ech side are verie high and steep upright Perseus supposing that by the meanes of this river the enemies were debarred from all passage purposed in his mind to hold off and drive out the rest of the sommer in that fort But the Consull in the meane while sent Popilius from Phila into Heraclea with two thousand armed fighting men This Heraclea standeth about five miles from Phila situate in
order But may some man say True it is our battaile in deed wee should have had much out of square and shufled in great confusion yet our campe was well fortified we had forecast and provided for good watering the passage thereto was good and safe by reason of strong guards placed every way and all coasts were cleered about us by our espials Nay ywis but contrariwise nothing to lay truly was ours but the bare and naked plaine field where we were to fight Your auncestors in times past esteemed a campe fortified with rampiars and trenches as good as a port and harbour of sure refuge for an armie against all chaunces and misfortunes whatsoever from thence to yssue forth and thither to retire for safetie after they had bin tossed and beaten with the tempest of a battaile And therefore when it was empaled round about with good defences they had a care also to reenforce and strengthen it with strong guards for as much as he that hath lost his camp and is turned out of it is ever holden for vanquished notwithstanding he woon the day and had the better in the field The hold of a campe serveth for a place of retrait to the conqueror and of refuge to the conquered How many armies could I recken which having sped but badly in the battaile were driven to take their leaguer yet afterwards seeing their time and spying their vantage otherwhiles sallied forth and in the turning of an hand repulsed and discomfited the enemie for all his former victorie This seat and retrait of souldiours in time of warre resembleth as a man would say another native countrie of theirs the rampier serveth in fleed of walls the tent and pavilion is to every souldior his house home And should we have fought in deed like vagabonds without any place of mansion whereunto we might betake our selves after victorie But against these difficulties and empeachments of giving battaile this one thing is objected How and if the enemie say some had gone his waies last night between what a soule deale of trouble and sorrow should we have endured againe in pursuing him as far as to the heart nay to the very farthest frontiers of Macedonie But I for my part verily hold this for certaine that if he had ever ment and resolved to have started from hence he would never have staied thus heere as he hath done nor brought his forces out into the field For how much more easie was it for him to depart and be gone when we were farther off than now when we are readie to tread upon his heeles and goe over his backe Surely he could not possibly have given us the slip but wee should have bene ware of his dislodging either by day or night But say he had gone his waies what could we have wished more at the gods hands than to set upon the taile back part of the enemies in the open plaine ground departing in disarray disbanded one from another as they abandoning their fort strong hold whose camp situate most sure upon an exceeding high and steepe banke of a river fortified also with a rampier many a sconce and turret beside wee gave the venture to assault Loe what the causes were why the battaile was put off from yesterday to this present For I must tell you I am as willing my selfe to trie the fortune of a field as any other and to that end because the advenues to the enemie over the river Enipeus were stopped up against us I have found a new way through another pase streight by disseazing the guards of the enemies there left and never will I give over untill I have defaited him quit and brought this war to an end After this oration all kept silence parly for that many of them were woon to his opinion and partly because they feared to find fault to no purpose so to give offence when a thing howsoever once past and forslipt cannot be recalled and amended But that day neither was there battaile sought for any great desire that the Cos. or king had therto The king wished it not because he was now to charge his enemies not weary of their way as the day before nor troubled about their embattailing in such sort hardly at the last brought into ordinance The Consull againe had no great stomacke thereto for that his campe newly pitched was provided neither of fewell nor forrage brought in and laid up alreadie and for the purveiance thereof out of the villages and fields neere at hand many of the souldiors were gone abroad forth of the campe And thus when neither of the Generals were willing thereto meere chaunce and fortune which is more powerfull than all the counsell and pollicie of man made means and gave occasion of a battaile There was a river not very great neere to the enemies campe whereat both Romanes and Macedonians watered and on either banke side certain guards kept their stations for the safetie and securitie as well of the one part as the other Two cohorts there were for the Romanes of Marrucines and Pelignians footmen two troupes or cornets besides of Samnite horsemen all commaunded by M. Sergius Sylus a lieutenant Over and besides another standing corps de guard quartered before the camp conteining three cohorts namely of Firmian Vestine and Cremonian footmen together with two troupes of Placentine and Essernian horsemen all conducted by lieutenant Cluvius Now whenall was well and quiet about the river and no side provoked or challenged other it fortuned that a sumpter horse of the Romanes about the fourth houre of the day brake from the hands of those that had the tending and keeping of such tooke the river made toward the banke of the farther side and when three souldiors followed after crosse the water almost knee-deepe to catch him the Thracians began to traine the jade from the mids of the river to their banke side but after one of them was slaine the Romanes recovered the beast againe and retired to their owne guard Now there was a strong corps de guard of eight hundred Thracians upon the banke which the enemies kept from whencesome fewe at first taking it to the heart that a countriman of theirs should thus be killed before their face traversed over the river in pursuit of those that had slaine him afterwards more and more and in the end all followed after and together with that guard ****** leadeth to the battaile Men were moved with a reverence of the majestie of his place as he was L. Generall also with respect of the honour glorie of the man otherwise above all with the regard of his age for that being about threescore yeers old he did undergo the offices and parts of young men in the adventures of greatest travell and daunger That void space which was between the light targuetiers called Cetrati and the thicke battailons named Phalanges the legion tooke up cleane and broke within the
mightie grew they especially after the discomâ—ture of the Tuscanes that neither upon the death of Aeneas nor during the time of a womans governement nor all the while that the young prince learned to bee a king durst either Mezentius or the Tuscanes or anie other of the borderers once stirre or rise in armes But peace was concluded upon these tearms That the river Albula which now they call Tyberis should divide the Tuscanes from the Latines and limit to either of them their owne bounds After this raigned Silvius the sonne of Ascanrus born by chance within the forrests who begat Aeneas Silvius and he had issue Latinus Silvias by whom were certaine Colonies or pettie townships erected the inhabitants named Prisei Latini And from thenceforth all the kings of Alba continued the sâ—irname of Sylvius This Latinus begat Alba of Alba came Atâ—s Aâ—s begat Capis and of Capis descended Capetus whose sonne Tyberinus in ferrying over the river Aâ—bula was drowned and by his name renowned that river unto al posteritic Next to him raigned Agrippa his sonne and after him succeeded Romulus Sylvius in his fathers kingdome who being strucken dead with a thunderbolt left the crowne to Aventinus This Aventinus was buried in that hill which now is part of the cittie of Rome and breareth his name The raigned Procas who had two sonnes Numitor and Amulius And unto Numitor because hee was the elder he bequeathed by his last will and testament the auncient kingdome of the Sylvians line Howbeit might preuailed more than either the will of the father or the reverent regard of elder brother For Arnulius hauing driven out Numiter raigneth himselfe and not herewith content heapeth one mischeese upon another For first he murdered the issue male of his brother then by making Rhea Sylvia his brothers daughter a vestall Nun and that under colour of honour and dignitie by perpetuall vowed virginitie he berest her of all hope of childbearing But it was a fatal thing and as I thinke which God would have that so great a cittie should be built for to yeeld the ground and beginning of that Empire which next under the gods is most mightie For behold the Vestall virgin was by force defloured and after delivered of two twins and were it that shee thought so in very deed or because the name and credite of a god might carrie away and cloke the fault more cleanely shee fathered her bastard children vpon Mars But neither god nor man was able to save her selfe or her children from the kings crueltie For the Votarie was committed to close prison and there kept bound in yrons as for the babes he commanded they should bee cast into the stream of the river But as God would by good hap the Tyber ouerflowed the banckes and the standing waters on either side was nothing rough yet so as there was no comming to the deepe current or channell of the very river and they that brought the infants hoped well they might be drowned in anie place of the water were it neuer so full and low So to fulfill after a sort the kings commandement they laid the children in the next plash they came to even where as now standeth the figtree Ruminalis called as they say Romularis but all that ground then was nothing but wast desarts and a very wildernesse The report yet goeth that when the ebbe and shalow water was gone had left on drie ground the floting trough or vessel wherin the babes were put forth a shee Wolfe from out of the mountaines thereby being a thirst turned towards the children crie and with their pendant teates so gently gaue the infants sucke that Faustulus the head Reeue and overseer of the kings cattell found her licking them with her tongue who brought them to his homestall and gaue them to his wife Laurentia to be fostered There be that thinke that Laurentia being a common strumpet among these heardmen and sheepeheards was vsually called Lupa Whereupon arose the occasion of this strange tale and wondrous miracle Well so were they borne and so brought vp And as soone as they grew once to some bignesse it was no boot to keepe them within dores nor to set them idlie to tend the cattell for they would use to hunt abroad in the forrest whereby having gotten strength of bodie and courage withall they were able now not onely to withstand the violence of wild beasts and to kill them but also to set upon common robbers by the high waies side laden as they were with booties and to spoile them thereof yea and diuide the prey among the sheepeheards and as the number of yonkers dailie encreased with them to keepe hollidaies to make merrie and follow their disports And even in those daies as men say was the feastivall pastime Lupercal used in mount Palatine which of Palanteum a cittie in Arcadia was first called Palantium and after Palatine wherein Evander who descended from the Arcadians long before raigned in that country and ordained a solemne game and recreation yearely to be held as aforetime in Arcadia in this manner that young men in the honour of Pan Lycaeus whom the Romans after called Inuus should loosely and wantonly run naked Now whilest they were busily occupied in this kind of sport which by vow yearely they performed there lay in ambush the robbers aforesaid in reuenge and for anger of the prizes which they had lost Where Romulus manfully quit himselfe but Remus they tooke prisoner and being thus taken they brought him before king Amulius accusing him greevously and laying especially to his charge that he with others invaded and made rodes into Numitor his land and with a power of Iustie youths assembled in warlike sort had forraied and spoiled the same Thus was Remus delivered unto Numitor to bee put to death Now had Faustulus even since the first day concieved some hope that there were in his house softer children of roiall blood For well hee wist that both by the kings commandement the babes were cast forth to perish and also that the time when hee tooke them up fell out fitly thereunto marie this would hee in no wise should bee knowne in hast and before due time unlesse it were either upon good occasion or great necessitie Necessitie happened first and so for very feare hee was driven to reveale the whole matter to Romulus It happened also that Numitor himselfe having Remus in durance and hearing they were brethren twins by comparing their age and avising withall their very countenance and towardnesse proceeding from no servile and base parentage bethought himselfe of his sisters children and by farther enquirie and computation came so farre as hee seemed welneere to acknowledge Remus for his nephew Thus on all hands were meanes wrought to circumvent and surprise king Amulius For Romulus on the one side not accompanied with a troope of tall fellowes for
he was not able in open fight to make his part good but giving the heardmen his supposts in charge to come at a time appointed some one way and some another to the kings pallace hee set upon the king On the other side Remus with another crue from Numitor his house came to second him and so they slew the king Numitor at the first uprore giving out eftsoones that the enemies had entred the cittie and assailed the kings pallace and thereupon having called the youth of Alba into the Citadell to keepe it by force with a good guard and espying the two young men after the murther done comming towards him with ioy forthwith assembled the people together and declared openly before them all the wicked dealings of his brother against him the parentage of his nephews the manner of their birth and bringing vp and how they came to be knowne after that hee reported the murther of the Tyrant and tooke it vpon himselfe as the authour thereof The two young men passing with their companies through the middest of the people saluted their grandsire king whereat the whole multitude also with one accord and voice ratified the same so was his roiall name and estate by them established Thus was the whole regiment or kingdome of the Albanes committed to Numitor. Then Romulus and Remus had a great desire to found themselues a cittie in the verie place where they had beene cast forth and fostered Now were there of Albanes and Latines both very manie that might be spared besides a number also of heardmen who all set together put them in good hope that Alba and Lavinium too would bee but small Citties in comparison of what which now was a building Whilest they were devising of these things an old canker came betweene to marre all even desire of rule and soveraigntie the same which had troubled their grandsires before them and thereupon a soule fray which arose from a smal and slight occasion For as much as they were both twins at one birth and the respect of their age might yeeld no choice and difference it was thought good and agreed upon that the gods who had the tuition of those places should by Augurie or slight of birds declare and shew whether of the twaine should both name the citie and also rule the same Romulus chose the mount Palatine and Remus the Aventine for their temples or religious quarters to marke the birdsight and each one apart to receive their Augurie First as they say had Remus appearing in slight sixe vultures or gripes and as tidings came unto him of this Augurie it happened that the number unto Romulus was presented double whereupon they were both of them by their supposts and favourites saluted kings The one side tooke the vantage of the time the other of the number for the prerogative of the kingdome Thus they fell to hot words first and from chollerike words to blowes and bloodshead in which sturre and preasse of the people Remus was wounded and slaine in the place The more common report goeth that Remus inscorne of his brother leapt ouer the new wals wherevpon Romulus in great choler slue his brother with his owne hands and in menasing wife added these words withal So perish he what ever else he be that shal once dare to leape over my wals Thus Romulus alone became king and the Cittie new built of the founders name was called Rome Wherein first hee fortified mount Palatine in which he was himselfe reared To all the rest of the gods he sacrificed after the rule and custome of the Albanes onely to Hercules after the manner of the Greekes according to the first institution of Evander For the same goeth that Hercules vpon a time after hee had slaine Geryon drave that way exceeding faire Oxen and neere the riuer Tybris where hee had swum ouer with his drove asore him laid him downe in a faire greene meddow as well to refresh himselfe being wearie of his way as also to rest and bait his cattell in so plentifull grasse and forage There falleth he into a sound sleepe as having well charged himselfe with wine and viands and one Cacus a sheepeheard dwelling thereby a man right fierce and bearing him prowdly of his strength being greatly in love with the fairenesse of the beasts had a good will and minded to fetch away that bootie but for that if hee had driven the beasts into his owne cave the verie trackes would have led the owner of them thither hee drew the goodliest and biggest of them backeward by their tailes into his hole Herculs earely in the morning when he awoke and beheld his droue and missed some of his count went on toward the next cave if haplie their footing would traine him thither But seeing all traces from wards and leading no other way as one troubled in spirit and doubtfull what to doe he began to drive farther out of that theevish and dangerous corner But as some of the Oxen in driving missed their fellowes behind and honing after them bellowed as their nature is Herculs chanced to heare them loow again and answere from out of the cave wherein they had been bestowed whereat he turned backe and made in hast thither But as Cacus forciblie made head against him and would have kept him from entrance Hercules smote him with his club and for all his calling upon other heardmen for helpe slew him outright At the same time Evander who fled out of Peloponnesus governed that Countrey rather by a kind of countenance and authoritie than by force and lordly command A man much honoured for his wonderfull invention of letters a strange and rare thing among those rude and vnlearned sort but more honoured for the opinion that the people had of his mother Carmenta reputed to bee a goddesse whom for her spirit of prophesie those countries before that Sibylla came into Italie had in great revence and admiration This Evander being raised with the concurse of the sheepheards affrighted about the stranger guiltie of manifest murther and hearing of the fact committed and the occasion thereof avising well there with the person of the man his feiture and favour more stately a good deale and carrying a greater majestie than the ordinarie proportion of men demandeth of him who he was And as soone as he understood his name his father and native countrey O Hercules quoth he the soone of Iupiter All haile my mother a most true prophetesse hath foreshewed vnto me that thou shalt encrease the number of heavenly wights and that in this place an altar shall be reared and dedicated vnto thee which the most mightie and richest nation one day of the world shall name Maxima and honour according to the ceremonies by thee ordained In a good houre be it spoken quoth Hercules and the osle I gladly accept and so giving him his hand faithfully promised to accomplish the will of the