which struck a Damp into the Chiefs of the Conspiracy the more because their Conference was long They already began to make signs to one another that they must now kill him before he arrested them but in the Sequel of the Discourse observing Laena to use rather the Gesture of a Suppliant than an Accuser they deferred it till in the end seeing him return thanks to Caesar they took Courage It is the Custom of the Chief Magistrates entring the Palace first to consult the Divines and here as well as in the former Sacrifices Caesar's first Victim was found without a heart or as some say without the Chief of the Entrails The Divine hereupon telling him it was a mortal Sign he replyed laughing that when he went to fight against Pompey in Spain he had seen the like and the other having replyed that then likewise he had run hazard of losing his Life but that at present the Entrails threatned him with greater danger He commanded they should sacrifice another Victim which fore-boding nothing but ill he fearing to seem tedious to the Senate and being pressed by his Enemies whom he thought to be his Friends without considering the danger entred the Palace for it was of necessity that the Misfortune to befall him should befal They left Trebonius at the Gate to stop Anthony under pretence of discoursing some Business with him and as soon as Caesar was seated the other Conspirators surrounded him according to Custom as Friends having each his Dagger concealed At the same time Attilius Cimber standing before him began to intreat him to grant the Return of his Brother who was in Exile and upon his Refusal under pretence of begging it with more humility he took him by the Robe and drawing it to him hung about his Neck crying out Why do you delay my Friends Thereupon Casca first of all reaching over his Head thought to strike his Dagger into his Throat but wounded him only in the Breast Caesar having disengaged himself from Cimber and caught hold of Casca's hand leaped from his Seat and threw himself upon Casca with a wonderful force but being at Handy Gripes with him another struck his Dagger into his Side Cassius gave him a Wound in the Face Brutus struck him quite through the Thigh Bucolianus wounded him behind the Head and he like one enraged and roaring like a Savage Beast turned sometimes to one and sometimes to another till strength failing him after the Wound received from Brutus he threw the Skirt of his Robe over his Face and suffered himself gently to fall before Pompey's Statue They forbore not to give him many Stabs after he was down so that there were three and twenty Wounds found in his Body And those that slew him were so eager that some of them through vehemence without thinking of it wounded each other After this Murder committed in a Hallowed Place and on a Sacred Person all the Assembly took their Flight both within the Palace and without in the City In the Croud there were several Senators wounded and some killed There were slain likewise other Citizens and Strangers not with design but without knowing the Authors as happens in a publick Tumult for the Gladiators who were armed in the Morning to give Divertisement to the People ran from the Theatre to the Senators Houses the Spectators affrighted dispersed as fast as their Legs would carry them the Commodities exposed to Sale were made Plunder of the Gates were shut and many got upon the Roofs of their Houses to secure themselves from Violence Anthony fortifyed himself in his House judging they had a design upon his Life as well as upon Caesar's And Lepidus General of the Horse hearing upon the place what had passed made haste to the Island in the River where he had a Legion which he drew into the Field of Mars that he might be in readiness to execute the Orders of Anthony for he yielded to him both in the Quality of Caesar's Friend and Consul The Soldiers would very willingly have revenged Caesar's death so basely murdered but that they feared the Senate who favoured the Murderers and expected the Issue of things Caesar had no Soldiery with him for he loved not Guards but contented himself with Ushers Besides he was accompanied with a great number of People of the Robe and whole Troops of as well Citizens as Strangers with Freed Men and Slaves followed him from his House to the Palace but in a moment all these Crouds were vanished there remained with him only three unhappy Slaves who putting him in his Litter and taking it upon their Shoulders carried him who but a little before was Master both of Sea and Land The Conspirators after the Execution had a mind to have said something in the Senate but no body staying to hear them they twisted their Robes about their left Arms instead of Bucklers and with thier bloody Daggers in their Hands ran through the Streets crying out they had slain the King and the Tyrant causing to march before them a Man carrying a Cap on the Head of a Pike which is the Badge of Liberty they exhorted likewise the People to the restoring the Commonwealth putting them in mind of the first Brutus and the Oath wherein he had engaged the Citizens and with them their Posterity There were several others who were not of the Conspiracy who took Daggers and went with them through the City of the number of which were Lentulus Spinther Favonius Aquinius Dolobella Murius and Petiscus who instead of the Honour they expected received the same Punishment with those had been guilty but none of the People joyned with them which begot in them both trouble and fear As for the senate though all the Senators who knew not of the Plot had in the Tumult taken their Flight yet they hoped well from them either because they were Kindred or Friends to most of that Order or because they knew they themselves had an aversion for the Tyranny but they had an ill Opinion of the People and of Caesar's Soldiers of whom there were great numbers in the City some newly dismissed to whom he had given Lands others distributed by Colonies some time before who were returned to follow him They were likewise fearful of Lepidus because he was Master of the Legion of the City and doubted lest Anthony against the Authority of the Senate should engage the People to destroy them Things being in this posture they with the Gladiators seized the Capitol where in their first Consultation it was agreed that they should tempt the People with Gifts for they hoped that some of the People beginning to praise the Action others would follow their Example out of love to Liberty and desire the restore the Commonwealth and they imagined that the Roman People were still the same as they had heard tell they were in the time of first Brutus who drave out the Kings but they considered not that they desâ—red two things
sudden an eruption he returned into the City with Men and Horses taken from the Enemy On the morrow he posted himself in the same station without being followed by those of Pergamus any more than the day before Seleucus faced him with some Bodies of Horse offering him Battel but he moved not thereat kept firm his ground near the Walls waiting an opportunity and when he perceived about noon Seleucus Horsemen were returning to the Camp quite tyred he furiously charged them in the Rear and after having put them to the rout and slain some of them he retreated into the City he made many such like attempts for they could neither go out to Forrage nor to cut Wood but he was still at the backs of them till at last he harrassed them in such manner that Seleucus was forced to withdraw his Camp out of the Territories of Pergamus and at last was quite driven out of Eumenes's Kingdom Sometimes after happened a Sea fight between Polexenidas and the Romans near Myonesa Polexenidas having fourscore and ten Ships of War and Regulus the Roman Admiral fourscore and three of which five and twenty were Rhodians commanded by Eudorus He was appointed to fight on the left hand but perceiving that Polexenidas was stronger on the right and ready to encompass the Romans he made head with all his Ships which were very nimble and forthwith opposed him with those which carried Firebals so that he durst advance no further for fear of burning but as he tack'd he exposed the broadsides of his Ships to the Rhodians who charging upon them sunk some of them till such time as one of the Rhodian Ships having run his Beakhead with such violence against a Sidonian that the Anchor fell into the Rhodian they were grappled fast together and now they began a Fight as on firm Land and a great number of Vessels thronging in both of one side and the other to the assistance of these grappled Ships the Fight was very bloody but one half of the Kings Ships being divided from the rest of their Companions were oppressed by the Romans before the others perceived it and as soon as they saw it they betook themselves to flight The King lost nine and twenty Ships of which thirteen were taken with all their crew The Romans lost only two besides one of Rhodes which Polexenidas carried with him to Ephesus Thus ended the Sea Fight which was fought near Myonesa Mean while the King strengthened the Chersonesus and fortified Lysimachia judging well as true it was that the Romans would find it difficult to pass into Thrace without having a firm alliance with Philip. But being of an inconstant Spirit and variable on matters of no moment as soon as he heard of this loss near Myonesa he began to fear and believed he had some God to his Enemy since all things succeded so ill that the Romans were become Masters of the Sea where he thought he had the greatest advantage that Hannibal was blocked up in Pamphilia and that Philip who he thought should have remembred the injuries he had received did himself conduct the Enemy through ways inaccessible Frighted with all these disorders and God blinding his judgement as it happens in weighty calamities he most imprudently abandons the Chersonesus without staying so much as for a sight of the Romans or without either transporting or burning all those Provisions and Munitions he had heaped together whether of Corn Arms Engines or Money but leaving them intire to the service of his Enemies Nay so senceless he was that when those of Lysimachia went to him weeping with their Wives and Children he took no notice of it He had now no other thoughts but how to hinder the Romans from entring into Abidos on which he hence forward placed all his hopes and yet as if the Gods had more and more blinded him he never took care to guard that passage nor so much as placed a Garrison in it but made a swift retreat into the Inland designing there to expect the Enemy The Scipio's having intelligence of his departure made haste to possess themselves of Lysimachia and having siesed on all the Treasure and Provisions the King had left in Chersonesus they forthwith passed the Hellespont which they found defenceless and overtook Antiochus at Sardis before he any thing doubted it This diligence of theirs so much astonished him that beginning to torment himself and making Fortune a party in the faults he had committed he presently dispatched away Hâ—raclides the Bizantine to the Scipio's to treat of Peace offering them Smyrna Alexandria upon the Granick Lampsacus which had been the cause of their difference with half the charge of the War He had likewise Orders to grant them all the Cities of Ionia and Aeolia which had held of their party and in short whatever they demanded These Conditions he was to propose publickly but in private he had Commission to offer to Publius Scipio a great sum of Money with promise to restore him his Son without Ransom for the King had taken him prisoner in Greece as he passed from Chalcis to Demetriade This is that Scipio who afterwards took and demolished Carthage and was the second that bore the sirname of African He was the Son of that Paulus who took Perseus of Macedon Grand-child to Scipio by the Mother side she being his Daughter and afterwards became his Son by Adoption The Scipio's made answer to Heraclides in full assembly That if Antiochus desired Peace he must not only quit all Ionique and Eolique Cities but likewise all Asia on that side Mount Taurus and besides that pay all the Expence of this War which had been begun through his fault And in particular Publius told the Byzantine That if the King had offered these Conditions whilst he held Lysimachia and the Chersonesus nay it 's possible before he had passed the Hellespont the Romans might have accepted them but seeing he had suffered them to pass and that now they beheld themselves Masters not only of the Bridle but of the Horseman they knew not what else to say to him However he was highly obliged to him for his kindness and should be more when he sent him his Son but as Affairs at present stood he advised him as his friend to receive these Conditions e'er something worse befel him After this he was carried sick to Aelea leaving Cn. Domitius Lieutenant to his Brother As for Antiochus he was of the same opinion Philip of Macedon had formerly in the like case been that though he were absolutely defeated they could not demand more and therefore applied himself to rally his Forces in the Country of Thyatira very near the Enemy However he sent Scipio his Son to Aelea in acknowledgement of which Scipio sent him word by those which brought him his Son that he advised him not to give Battel till he was returned to the Army The King perswaded by the Authority of that great Man went and incamped
return to Carthage but were driven by storm to the place where Scipio lay encamped his Admiral took them and sent to him to know what should be done with them Nothing said he of what the Carthaginians have done and so without any more ado they were sent home The Ancients of Carthage that is to say a body of the most prudent and honest men hearing of this Excellent goodness of Scipio's and comparing the injury they had done to the Romans with the favor they had received began to declaim against the rashness of their fellow Citizens and to Counsel them they would yet observe the treaty which might still be done if they ask'd Scipio pardon for their fault and submitted to pay a fine but the people already animated against the Senate by reason of the miseries of the war which they imputed to the ill Conduct of that Noble body and set on likewise by some seditious spirits suffered themselves to be transported with vain hopes and caused Hannibal to advance with his Army That Captain considering the importance of this war perswaded the Carthaginians to call Asdrubal with those forces he had to their assistance Whereupon Asdrubal was by the Senate absolved of those crimes he stood charged with having first consigned over his Army to Hannibal Yet he durst not publickly show himself in the City for fear of the people but kept concealed in the house of one of his friends Mean while Scipio caused his Fleet to lie before Carthage that he might hinder all provision coming by Sea and the in-land could furnish no great quantity by reason that during the war they could not till the ground About the same time happened a fight near Zama between Hannibal and Scipio's horse in which the Romans had the advantage After which happened several skirmishes for some days together but of little consequence till such time as Scipio understanding that Hannibal wanted provisions and that he expected a supply caused a Tribune called Thermus to march in the Night to intercept them who having taken an advantagious post upon an eminence near unto a strait they must of necessity pass slew four thousand Africans took as many Prisoners and brought the Conway to Scipio In so much that Hannibal beholding himself reduced to an extream necessity and considering what he should do in such a conjuncture resolved to send messengers to Masanissa to represent to him that he had been bred in Carthage and had there passed a considerable part of his life entreating him to labor a peace between Scipio and him by beseeching him to believe that if any thing of ill had happened the fault was to be imputed to the people or to some particular men more foolish then the people Masanissa remembring that he had indeed been bred and brought up in that City whose Majesty he still reverenced and where he likewise had a great many particular friends besought Scipio with so good a grace that he consented the Treaty should be renewed on condition that the people of Carthage would restore to the Romans the ship men and provisions they had taken or pay for what could not be restored at the price whereas Scipio should value them and for a fine deposite one thousand talents These Conditions being agreed on a Truce was granted till such time as the Articles should be carried to Carthage Thus Hannibal saved himself beyond his own hopes When the Senate of Carthage saw this agreement they approved it and intreated the people to give their consent by representing to them the long train of miseries would else ensue and the deep necessities they were in of men mony and provisions But the Populacy as it is the Custom of the Vulgar believed that the Chiefs in making this peace labored only their private interest that being fortified with the friendship of the Romans they might become more powerful in the Country That Hannibal had now done the same thing Asdrubal did before who having first by night betrayed his Army would afterwards have surrendred himself to Scipio having for that end approached his Camp and lay now concealed in the City These discourses raised a Tumult among the people with terrible crys and Exclamations and many of them leaving the assembly ran presently to find out Asdrubal who a little before was retired into the Sepulchre of his Father having first poisoned himself But they drew him thence dead as he was cut off his head and setting it on a Pike carried it through the City Thus was Asdrubal first banished without having deserved it afterwards Hanno accused him falsely and at last his own Citizens forced him to become his own Murderer and when he was dead exposed his body to a thousand indignities After having treated Asdrubal in this manner they forthwith sent to Hannibal to break the truce and make war with Scipio ordering him to give him battel as soon as he could because of the scarcity they were in As soon as the truce was broke Scipio presently took a great City called Partha and that done went and encamped near Hannibal who immediately discamped He had three several times sent spies into the Roman Camp who being discovered and taken Scipio would not put them to death according to the Law 's of war but made them be carried through the whole Camp that they might view his Stores his Engines of War and his Army imbattelled and so without doing them any injury sent them back to Hannibal to give him an account of what they had seen The Carthaginians surprized at this manner of proceeding demanded a conference which being granted he told Scipio That the people of Carthage could not perform that treaty because of the too great sum of money demanded of them but if he would please to remit any thing of that demand and that the people of Rome would content themselves with Sicily Spain and the Islands they now held the peace would become both firm and lasting To which Scipio answered That Hannibal would be fully recompensed for having by flight quitted Italy if those propositions were agreed to adding not a word more but the forbidding him to send any further Messages So after some threats on one part and the other each retired to his Camp There was not far distant a City called Cilla near which was a rising ground very proper to encamp in Hannibal having designed to lodge himself there sends his vanguard before to possess it whilst he followed with the rest of the Army But finding Scipio had first siesed it he was forced to pass away all that night in the midst of a dry plain sorely pestered to sink wells where after all the Army had wrought hard and thrown up mountains of sand their mighty pains was recompensed with the finding but of one well and that of troubled water of which the Souldiers drank greedily without eating or any other conveniency There were likewise many of them stood in Arms all night Scipio who knew
at the Rails placed like a Bar before the Tribunal from whence the Consuls commanded them to make their Proposals They began then in a deplorable manner to recount the ancient Treaties had been between the two people the antiquity of Carthage the multitudes of people in it the power they had had and the former great extent of their Dominions adding that they spoke not this out of vanity for it was no time to be vain when they were miserable but to the end that the Example of a change so great and so sudden might oblige the Romans to treat them with humanity and moderation of which they could not give any more illustrious evidence than by having commiseration of the afflicted besides those who exercise their power well in other mens misfortunes may hope the like from their Conquerours if they should fall into the same disgrace It would be piety in you said the Chief of the Deputies to consider the miserable condition of our affairs and unless we have indeed met with Enemies pitiless and inexorable you should in all reason rest satisfied with our calamities we have lost all the Dominion we had both by Sea and Land we have delivered up our Ships to you and have not sought to build others we have forborn hunting of Elephants we have both formerly and at present delivered you good Hostages We have paid you the Tribute we ought you at the time limited we that use to receive from others Certainly Sirs your Predecessors after having vanquished us contented themselves with thus much they received us into their alliance and friendship on these conditions which we have solemnly sworn to maintain on one part and the other They faithfully kept the Peace they granted after long Wars and you against whom we never took up Arms what is it you complain of what part of the Treaty has not been observed that you so suddenly decreed this War and bring it to our doors before you declare it Have we not paid you your Tribute have we any Ships have we any Elephants Do we not seem worthy of your compassion after the so late loss of fifty thousand men by famine You will say we made War upon Masanissa 'T is true but 't was not till he had usurped our Lands which we for a long time suffered with patience till he setting no bounds to his avarice committed a thousand cruelties in the Country about the Empories where he was brought up and educated and not content with that he has attempted to snatch from us what we had remaining and at last has gone so far as to trouble the peace we had with you But because we feared to displease you that we might remove all pretence of making this War we have by publick Edict declared even our own Defenders Criminal we have sent Deputies to Rome to make our excuses and now again afresh sent other Deputies with full Authority to renew the Peace on what conditions soever you should think fit What need was there then of this Fleet or this Army against people who though innocent submit themselves to whatsoever you shall ordain You may easily judge we make not these offers to deceive you and that you cannot impose upon us any penalty we will not undergo whilst we have surrendred up as Hostages to you the most considerable of our Children as you desired without staying out the months time you gave us for the sending them Besides the Decree of the Senate declares that provided we delivered those Hostages Carthage should remain free in the enjoyment of what we possess After the Deputy had thus spoken Censorinus broke silence and answered him in these terms 'T is needless to repeat to you the occasion of this War your Deputies have already heard it from the Senate themselves But as to what you falsely object to us 't will be easie to reply for it is decreed by the Ordinance you speak of and we told it you before in Sicily when we received your Hostages that at Utica should be proposed to you the farther intentions of the Senate We cannot but praise you that you have sent your Hostages so readily and such chosen ones But if you so passionately desire Peace what need have you of Arms. Wherefore bring all you have as well belonging to the publick as private persons all your Darts Crossbows and other Arms and deliver them into our hands The Deputies answered that they were willing to obey in this too but then they could not tell how to hinder Asdrubal's entry into the City whom they had condemned to death and who was now at the head of twenty thousand men which he had new raised However when the Consuls had replied that the Senate and people of Rome would take that into their care they promised to surrender their Arms and Scipio Nasica and Cn. Cornelius Hispalus were sent to receive them They had Arms for two hundred thousand men an infinite Number of piles and darts two thousand as well crossbows as other engins for the lancing of javelins and casting of great stones And it was a wonderful thing to see the carriages loaden with them conducted by the enemies themselves who were followed by the Deputies Senators Officers Priests and Nobility hoping to move the Consuls either out of respect to their dignity or out of compassion to their misfortune When they were come before the Tribunal each man habited according to their degree they all stood attentive and Censorinus who was more eloquent then his colleague once more breaking silence spoke to them in this manner Certainly we have good reason to applaud that ready obedience you have manifested in delivering your Hostages and surrendring up your Arms but it is fruitless to make long discourses where necessity presses Hearken with patience to the remaining Orders of the Senate withdraw your selves from the City of Carthage and transfer your habitation into whatever place you please of your Dominion provided it be fourscore furlongs from the Sea for we are resolved to rase it The Consuls words were interrupted by the outcrys of the Carthaginians who began to lift up their hands to heaven calling the gods to witness of the treaties violated railing reviling and reproaching the Romans Some desired death others became furious some provoked the Romans against the Deputies others cast themselves on the ground beating the pavement with their hands and face and others in a rage tore not only their cloaths but their very flesh but after this first agitation was past over you might behold them overwhelmed with sorrow standing still without speaking a word as if they had been dead The Romans were astonished at the spectacle and the Consuls could not take it ill that this consternation caused by an unexpected command had raised such storms in the brests of the Carthaginians till their heat of anger was over for they considered that mighty calamities do on the sudden create a boldness in the heart of men
sent to entreat Scipio as his friend by succession from his Ancestors to come and see him and to consult with him about dividing his Kingdom among his Children he immediately posted away but ere he could arrive Masanissa had given up the ghost having laid his Commands on his children to obey Scipio in what manner soever he should divide the succession amongst them Those were the last words of this great man happy in all things for by divine favor he reconquered his own Kingdom which Syphax and the Carthaginians had seized on and enlarged it in such manner that from Mauritania which lies upon the Ocean he extended the bounds of his Dominion into the Continent as far as Cyrene giving Laws to an infinite number of people and teaching them a sweeter manner of living for before the Numidians lived only on herbs and despised tillage He left great store of Silver in his Coffers and many warlike Troops whom himself had exercised in revenging himself of his enemies He took Syphax with his own hand and brought the Carthaginians so low that the Romans had not afterwards so much difficulty to destroy them He was tall of Stature and very strong so that though far advanced in years he would be present at all occasions so long as he lived and ever mounted on horseback without a saddle but the greatest sign of his vigorous constitution was that though he had many Children died before him yet he never had less then then ten living at a time after once he had arrived that number and being now fourscore and ten years old he left his youngest only four years old That great age had he advanced to and bore it out well but at length of force he must die Scipio did with honor cause the liberality of their father to be given to the bastard Children divided the mony among the legitimate Children together with the Revenues and willed that they should all bear the title of King As for the charges of State he distributed them to every one according to their capacity and inclination He gave as by priviledge of birth-right to Micipsa the Eldest who loved Peace the City of Cirtha the ancient residence of the Kings to Gulussa the second who was a Soldier the Command of the Armies and to Mastaball the third who was a Scholar the charge of Justice Having made this division of the Goods and Kingdom of Masanissa Scipio forthwith brought Gulussa along with him to assistance of the Romans who having presently discovered the place where Phameas concealed himself and from whence he issued out to surprise them soon rid them of that inconvenience One day Scipio and Phameas met in a place where there was only a water-course between that was impassible Scipio who was doubtful of some ambuscades advanced only with three of his people to make discovery and Phameas came forward on the other side accompanied only with one which made Scipio judging he had a desire to speak with him advance likewise only with one to attend him when they were nigh enough to hear each other he spake thus to the African Why do not you labour for your particular safety since you can do nothing for your Country to which the other answered and what safety can I expect in the Estate to which Carthage is reduced after having done you so much mischief Assuredly replyed Scipio if you believe I have any power and that I am a man of Faith and Honor I dare promise you in the name of the Romans not only grace and pardon but acknowledgements The African thanked him that had more confidence in him than in all others and told him I will think of it and if I believe it may be done I will give you notice and with that they parted Now Manlius to wipe away the stain of his first expedition to Nucera returned thither and having taken provisions for fifteen days encamped and fortified himself as Scipio had counselled him to do the first time but he was a long time without doing any thing which blasted his fame the more besides the hazard he ran the Army into of being beaten by Asdrubal upon their return to Carthage Whilst he lay thus in an incertainty what to do one of Gulussa's people brought a packet to Scipio who keeping it sealed till he came to the full Council of War there broke it open and found writ in it to this effect Such a day I will come to such a place meet me there with what force you please and give Order to those who are upon the Guard to receive me if I come by night To this purpose were the contents of the Letters which had no name subscribed but Scipio perceived well that it was an invention of Phameas Though Manlius was fearful lest Scipio might be deceived by that politick man yet seeing he had a good opinion of him he permitted him to go to the place assigned with Orders to receive an Oath of Fidelity from Phameas without assuring him any set reward but only promising that the Senate would recompence him according to his deservings But there was no need of these promises for as soon as Phameas was come to the place appointed he said that he put his own safety into the hands of Scipio and for recompence he referred himself to the judgment of the Senate and people of Rome and the morrow after having given his parol he drew up all his Troops in battalia and being advanced to the head of them with the Officers as if he were about to consult of something of importance he spoke to them in this manner If there remained any hopes to relieve our Country I should be ready to die with you but seeing it in the Condition in which you all know it I am resolved to take Order for my own affairs I have assurance given me for my self and those that will follow me Now you are to think what you have to do Having thus spoken the Captains and those who were under their command to the Number of two thousand two hundred Horse declared for the Romans the rest stood firm by vertue of the authority and perswasion of Hanno surnamed the White As Scipio returned to the Camp accompanied with Phameas all the Army came forth to meet him receiving him with a general acclamation as in a Triumph But Manlius above all expressed extraordinary joy and no longer fearing his retreat might be shameful because he believed Asdrubal startled at the Revolt of Phameas durst not follow him he discamped for want of Provisions not the fifteenth day after his departure but the seventeenth And because he had yet three days march through troublesome ways Scipio took Phameas and Gulussa with their Horse and made an inroad into the Country which the inhabitants of the place call the Great Abyss from whence they returned at night to their quarters with a great booty and good store of Provisions Manlius having advice that Calphurnius
near Mount Sipyle where he fortified his Camp with a strong Wall and was besides defended by the River Phrygia which parted the two Armies This Post he made choice of that he might not be obliged to fight against his will But Domitius covetous of Glory had a great desire to fight whilst he had the Command He therefore couragiously passed the River and came and encamped within twenty furlongs of the Enemy doing all he could for four days together to draw him to a Battel he every day drew out his Army before his Trenches and the other did the like but neither the one nor the other would begin the engagement The fifth day Domitius drew forth his Army and took the Field hoping Antiochus would come to meet him but seeing he moved not he came and encamped close by him and having let pass one day more he caused it to be published throughout his Army so loud that the Enemy might hear it that on the morrow he would fight whether Antiochus would or no This King committed another mighty fault upon this occasion for he might have stood upon the Ditch of his Camp or have kept himself within his Trenches till Publius had been recovered but he thought it a shame for him to refuse Battel when he was the strongest he therefore prepared himself and about the last Watch both Armies took the Field and drew up in Array They were Marshalled in this Order Domitius placed his right wing composed of about ten thousand Roman Foot on the Bank of the River on the side of them were ten thousand other Italian Foot both parties divided into Vanguard Battel and Rear Next the Italians stood Eumenes his Army and three thousand Acheans armed with Bucklers The right Wing composed of the Latin Roman and Eumenes his Cavalry which amounted to about three thousand Horse between whose Ranks there were placed some light armed Foot and Archers and besides there were four Squadrons which Domitius kept near his person and all these made not above thirty thousand Men the right Wing was commanded by Domitius the Battel by the Consul and the left Wing by Eumenes They had likewise some Elephants which were come to them from Lybia but they believed they should not be able to make use of them because they were too few and besides being small as all the Lybian Elephants are they would be apt to be frightned when they saw greater wherefore they placed them behind in the Rearguard Such was the order of the Roman Army Antiochus had an Army of seventy thousand Men whose main strength consisted in the Macedonian Phalanx composed of sixteen thousand Footmen which according to the institution of the Ancient Kings Philip and Alexander were divided into ten Battalia's each of fifty Ranks and in each Rank two and thirty Men Their Front represented the Walls of a City because between every Body stood an Elephant like a lofty Tower it was covered on the Flanks with two bodies of Horse the one of Galatians armed at all points and the other of these chosen Macedonians whom they call Agenia In the right Wing were the light armed Soldiers the Argyraspides and two hundred Archers on Horse-back In the left Wing were the Gallograecian Foot the Tectosages the Trocmes the Tolostiboges some Cappidocians whom Ariarathes had send to the King and a great multitude of Mercenaries which were sustained by other Cavalry armed Back and Brest and by the Band called Soccale lightly armed Thus had Antiochus ordered his Forces placing his principal confidence according to all appearance in his Cavalry which in part covered the Front of his Battel but he had committed an irreparable fault by having too closely lock'd up his Phalanx on which he should have placed his chief reliance being all old Soldiers He had besides all these another Body composed of Slingers Archers and Men with Darts and Targets of divers Nations Phrygians Lydians Pamphylians Cretans Triballians Cilicians armed after the manner of Crete together with Archers on Horseback Dacians Mysians Elymans and Arabes who mounted on Dromedaries extremely swift vexed the Enemy from above with the shot of their Arrows and when they were to fight nigh at hand made use of long and narrow Swords There were some Chariots armed with Scythes which were placed in the head of this multitude with Orders to retire after having made the first charge Antiochus Army appeared upon a view of it to be as it were two the one to assail the Enemy and the other to stand their ground as if they had been an Ambuscade and certainly both the one and the other were capable of striking terrour both for their number and their order The King was upon the right hand he gave the left to his Son and Mendis Zeuxis and Philip Master of the Elephants had the charge of the middle Battel The day was very misty so that the obscurity hindred the Enemies from discovering their Forces and besides the moistness slackned the Bow-strings and made limber and slippery the Thongs with which they lanced their Darts which Eumenes having observed found nothing else to be concerned at his only care was now for the Chariots which he extremely feared He therefore command the Slingers Darters and other light armed Soldiers to charge them and on every side to throw their Darts and Javelins only at the Horse for they being once beaten down the Chariot was useless or would serve rather to break the Ranks of their own party than hurt the Enemy And indeed it happened so for the Chariot-horses being wounded turned towards their own Cavalry so that the Dromedaries that followed the Chariots were the first broken then the armed Horsemen who could not shun the Encounters of the Scythes by reason of the weight of their Armour And thus was the whole Army put into a greater disorder then there was any reason for or the occasion merited for it having begun in the middle of the Field of Battel spread it self to both ends and the extent thereof being large amidst the confuâ—ion of different Voices and a general fear those which were near the danger sooner felt the blow than foresaw it and all the rest were terrified with the expectation of some great mishap Eumenes seeing his first onset had succeeded so well and that the place where the Chariots and Dromedaries had stood was void he pressed forward his Horse and those of Italy against the Galatians Cappadocians and other Mercenaries crying aloud to his people that they should go fall upon those unskilful people whom their Protectors had forsaken They obeyed and charged with so much violence that they put to flight both them and the Men of Arms that were behind them whom the defeat of the Chariots had already put in disorder and because the weight of their Arms hindred their saving themselves they were almost all cut in pieces Whilst Eumenes thus bore down the Horse in this Wing Antiochus having broke and put
loosing all if he went to the succour of his Son yet he loved him and therefore was in doubt whether he should go to his relief or endeavour to save the rest At last he caused the Army to March towards the Enemy who presently appeared to meet them witnessing by their loud and terrible shouts that they had gained the Victory and letting the Romans know by the confused noise of their Drums that they must again prepare to fight Thus they made their approach bearing the Head of Publius upon the end of a Lance and asking by way of derision who were the Parents of that young Man and of what Family he was for they could not believe that Crassus the basest of all men could beget a Son so Brave and Valiant This sight cast down the spirits of the Romans more than all the Calamities they had suffered and instead of stirring up in them that indignation and desire of revenge which it ought overwhelmed them with horror and fear However Crassus Valour appeared upon this occasion extraordinarily he cryed out as he marched on Horse back through the Ranks The Oration of Crassus THis Misfortune concerns me only fellow Soldiers the glory and felicity of our Country remains yet intire whilst you are in a condition to defend it And if you have any compassion upon me for having lost a Son of that Value discharge your anger on your Enemies and deprive them of their joy by punishing their cruelty Loose not your Courage for the misfortune happened to me whoever pretends to great recompences is subject to like disgraces Lucullus did not Vanquish Tigranes nor Scipio Antiochus without the expence of blood Our Fathers lost a thousand Ships in the Conquest of Sicily and in Italy it self many Generals and Captains have perished whose loss hath not hindred their party from gaining the Victory for the Roman Empire is not mounted to this Greatness and Power by the good Fortune of the Romans but by their Patience and height of Courage in Adversity After these words Crassus perceiving that most of the Soldiers received them but coldly commanded to give a great shout all together which made but their inward grief the more known for they shouted with weak and discordant Voices whilst the Barbarians answered them in a Tone high and Harmonious The Fight presently began wherein the Enemies light Horse wheeling about the Romans galled them in Flank with showrs of Arrows whilst the Lanciers who assailed them in Front made them recoyl and croud close together However some out of fear of the Arrows drew off from the gross to charge nearer at hand but they did their Enemies littleâ—hurt and were presently killed by their Lances whose Iron head entring the Body was followed by a thick Staff thrust forward with so great violence that often times it went through and through both Horse and Man After the Battel had thus lasted till night the Parthians retreated saying That they gave that night to Crassus to bewail his Son unless he made choice of the better way and had rather go and present himself to Arsaces than be carried And having said these words they went and lodged in a place hard by with full hopes the next Morning to put an absolute end the Victory The Romans on the contrary had but an ill night of it they had no thoughts either of burying their dead or dressing their wounded of which some lay dying every one bewailed his own self for there was no hopes of safety whether they staid in that place till day or whether whilst it was dark they set forward cross those vast Plains for the wounded if they carried them would hinder their flight and if they forsook them the cryes of those miserable Creatures would give notice to the Enemy of their departure And though they imputed all their misfortune to Crassus they wished notwithstanding they might either see or hear him but he had withdrawn himself and with his head bound up had cast himself on the ground in the dark Whereby he became a great Example of the inconstancy of Fortune to the Vulgar and of rashness and ambition to the Learned having suffered himself to be so far transported by those two failings that he could not content himself to be one of the Prime among so many thousands of Citizens but believed himself miserable because he was accounted but the third Man in Rome Octavius his Lieutenant and Cassius his Quaestor having found him in this posture roused him up and entreated him to take courage but seeing he was in utter despair by advice of the Tribunes and Centurions they themselves published the Deaf March and began to discamp without noise but when the sick and wounded perceived that they were about to forsake them with their cryes and roarings they spread a general trouble throughout the Army even those who were already got into the Plain took the Alarm as if the Enemy had been ready to fall on wherefore they made many halts putting themselves in order to fight and perplexed with the great numbers of the wounded that followed them of which they took up some and left others they made but little way save only three hundred Horse that fled away by themselves with whom Ignatius arrived about Midnight at Carres where having called in Latin to those were upon the Guards of the Walls he bid them go and tell Coponius the Governour of the place that there had been a great Fight between Crassus and the Parthians and without explaining himself farther or so much as telling his name advanced towards the Bridge the truth is he saved those Horse but he was blamed by all the World for forsaking his General not but that Crassus had some benefit by Coponius having this advice for the Governour conjecturing by the ambiguity of his words and by the suddenness of his departure that the Messenger brought no good news immediately drew to Arms what Force he had and when he had advice that the General was upon the way went out to meet him and gathering up as many of the Soldiers as he could conducted them to the City As for the Parthians though they knew well that the Romans were dislodged yet they would not pursue them by night but as soon as it was day they run to their Camp and cut the throats of all those they had left which amounted to no less than four thousand and then pursued the rest of whom they took great numbers whom they found dispersed in the plain besides four Cohorts under the conduct of the Lieutenant Vargonteius who having stragled in the March by night fell into their hands enclosed in a strait where having valiantly defended themselves they were all cut in pieces except only twenty Soldiers who with their Swords in their hands opened themselves a passage through the midst of their Enemies and whose courage the Enemies themselves admiring suffered them to pass at an easie rate to Carres without pursuing
of Mithridates was defeated by those who going to assist their Companions without any Orders occasioned the Rout. It was an easiy Victory to Pompey for he had nothing to do but to kill or to take Prisoners those unhappy disarmed wretches engaged among the Rocks there were about ten thousand slain the Camp was taken and all Mithridates Baggage and Munitions who escaping himself behind his Camp accompanied only with his Guards found by chance some Mercenary Horse and about three thousand Foot with whom with all speed he got to the Fort of Synorega where he had abundance of Mony And having given both a largess and a whole years Pay to the Companions of his flight he carried with him about six thousand talents taking his way towards the springs of Euphrates that from thence he might get to Colchis he made such hast that in four day march he passed the Euphrates where he stayed three days to refresh his Men and Arm those other Troops he had gathered together he thence entred into the Country of Cotenea which is a Province of Armenia where he defeated the Coteneans and Iberians who would have stopt his passage and from thence gained the River Aspara Some say that the Asiatick Iberians are descended from the European that is to say the Spaniards others on the contrary say the Spaniatds came from these Asiatiques others again that there is nothing common between the one and the other but the name there not being the least conformity either in their Language or Manners Now Mithridates having taken up his Winter quarters at Dioscuriade which is a City said to be founded by the Argonautes and Castors in the voyage they made began no more to have mean thoughts nor that savored of the fugitive he laid a design to march along the banks of the Euxine Sea and by the Scythians neighboring on that Sea and the Palus Moeotis that so he might this way arrive at Bosphorus and after having driven thence his ingrateful Son Machares he might thence renew the War against the Romans and from Europe transport his Arms into Asia which are only divided by a strait which some believe to have taken its name from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because Io transformed to a Cow passed there flying from the jealous Iuno Though these designs were extraordinary and scarce credible Mithridates attempted to put them in Execution he marched through all the Scythian Nations whether Enemies or unknown partly by force and partly by sufferance He was still both respected and feared fugitive and miserable though he were The Heniochians willingly gave him passage but the Acheans endeavoring to oppose his march he forced it It is said that these people being cast by Tempest on the Coasts of the Euxine Sea as they returned from Troy were ill treated by the Barbarians because they were Greeks and that having demanded some Ships from the Cities of their Country and being refused them they conceived such an indignation or rather such a rage that all the Greeks they could catch they made Sacrifice off at first without any distinction sometime after chusing out the fairest and at last drawing them by lot But let thus much suffice concerning the Scythian Achaeans Now Mithridates being entred into the Country bordering upon the Palus Maeotis which is divided among many petty Kings there was not one but out of respect to the great reputation of his actions and of his Kingdom received him favorably and gave him passage through their Lands they likewise made him presents and he ordered things so that having drawn them into alliance with him and given some of his Daughters in Marriage to the most powerful of them there entred into his thoughts a wonderful Expedition He formed a design to March through Thrace and so through Macedon and thence by the way of Pannonia to pass the Alpes and enter into Italy Machares his Son understanding that in so short a time he had traversed all those Salvage Nations and those which are called the Straits of Scythia where never Man before him had passed sent Ambassadors to make his excuse that out of fear he had made an accommodation with the Romans but knowing him implacable he fled towards the Pontique Chersonesus after having burnt all the Ships he had to hinder his Father from pursuing him but his Father sending a Fleet after him he slew himself As for Pompey he pursued Mithridates as far as Colchis but never imagining that he would take the way we have spoken of or that a fugitive Prince would attempt any thing Great he went through all that Province well-pleased to see the Country whither the Argonautes and Castor and Pollux had made their Voyage and particularly the Rock where they say Prometheus was chained on Mount Caucasus There are in this Mountain several springs that cast forth Grains of Gold but so small that they are scarce perceivable Wherefore those of the Country put into the streams skins covered with wooll by which means they get the golden sands which gather in the fleece And possibly that famous golden fleece of Aaete is nothing else As Pompey passed through the Country to see these rarities all the neighboring Nations came to wait on him and be his Conductors Only Oreses and Artocus Kings of the Albanians and Iberians laid an Ambush for him with seventy thousand men near the River Cyrus which discharges it self into the Caspian Sea by nine Navigable Channels and into which a Multitude of other Rivers loose themselves among which the Araxes is the greatest of all The Roman General having intelligence hereof caused a Bridge to be laid over the River crossed it and drove the Barbarians into the Wood from whence they being accustomed to fight sallying out as from a fortress and when they were least thought of renewing the charge Pompey having placed People round about the wood set fire to it and as they came forth gave them chase till such time as coming to give him presents and hostages they served likewise as matter for his Triumph He found among the Hostages and Prisoners many Women who had received no less wounds then the Men. They deemed them to be Amazons whether the Nation of the Amazons who are not far off had sent assistance to those Kings or whether the Barbarians by a general name call all Warlike Women Amazons Pompey returning after this Victory marched his Army into Armenia against Tigranes as the Allie of Mithridates taking the way of Artaxata the ordinary Residence of those Kings But Tigranes was not for War He had had three Sons by Mithridates Daughter two of which he had slain with his own hand one for turning his back in the fight and the other as he was hunting because he happening to fall his Son had not vouchsafed to help him up but on the contrary had taken off his Diadem as he lay upon the ground and put it on his own head As for his third Son
he could to hasten their coming And therefore out of impatience that the rest of his Army came not from Brundusium he resolved himself to go privately over thinking they would sooner follow him than any other wherefore without discovering his design to any one he sent three of his Slaves to a River not above twelve Furlongs distant to secure some very light Boat and a good Pilot as if he had an intention to send him upon some design and feigning himself ill rose from Table where he desired his Friends to continue and taking the habit of a private man mounting his Chariot came to the Boat as Caesar's Messenger He had given orders to his Slaves to command the Mariners what they had to do whilst he kept himself concealed under coverlids and the darkness of the night Though the wind were contrary and very raging the Slaves made the Pilot put off bidding him be of courage and make use of his time to escape the Enemy who were not far from them they laboured so hard that by force of Oars they got the Mouth of the River where the Waves of the Sea beating against the stream of the River the Pilot who on the other side was afraid of falling into the Enemies hands did all was possible for man to do till seeing they gained nothing and the Seamen not able to pull any longer he left the Helm Then the Consul discovering his Head cryed out Courage Pilot fear no storm for thou carriest Caesar and his fortune Whereupon the Pilot and his crew astonished at these words redoubling their force passed the Mouth of the River got out to Sea but because the Winds and the Waves still drove them towards the Lee shore in spite of all their endeavours and day approaching the Mariners fearing to be discovered by the Enemy Caesar angry at fortune that envyed him suffered the Pilate to ragain the River and the Boat presently running afore the Wind came to the place from whence they set out Caesar's Friends admired at his boldness others blamed him for having done an action more proper for a private Soldier than a General and he seeing his design had not succeded and that it was impossible for him to pass over without being known sent Posthumius in his place He first had charge to tell Gabinius that he should presently embark the Army and bring it to him and if he refused then to address himself to Anthony and at last to Calenus and if none of these three had spirit enough to execute these orders he had a Letter for the Army in general by which the Soldiers were exhorted to come over and follow Posthumius landing at any place they could without regarding the Ships for he had more need of Men than Ships so much confidence had he in fortune indeed more than in prudence Pompey then judging he ought no longer to delay drew out his Army in Battalia and caused them to advance against Caesar but two of his Soldiers being entred into the River to sound the Ford and one of Caesar's Men having slain them both he took this as an ill presage and led back his Forces into the Camp though many lamented the loss of so fair an occasion As for the Forces at Brundusium Gabinius refusing to follow the orders brought by Posthumius with all that would follow him went the way of Illyria by Land taking such long Marches that his Men being quite tired the Inhabitants of the Country cut them all in pieces for which Caesar could not yet be revenged being engaged in affairs of more importance Anthony shipped away the rest and having the Wind right aft passed in sight of Apollonia with a merry Gale but about Noon the Wind beginning to slacken they were discovered by twenty of Pompey's Galleys who made up towards them they were fearful lest the Stems of the long Ships running on board them should pierce through and sink them however they were preparing to fight every Man laying hold of his Sling his Javelin or Arms of the like nature when on a sudden there sprung up a fresher gale than the former so that Anthony setting his low Sails went â—pooning away before whilst the others not able to bear Sail were tossed too and fro where the Winds and Waves pleased and at length driven into the Narrows and cast upon Lee shores where there were neither Port nor Harbour Thus Anthony safely recovered the Port of Nymphaeum without losing more than two Ships which unfortunately running upon the Flats were taken by the Enemies Caesar having now with him all his Forces as well as Pompey they pitched their Camps in sight of each other upon eminencies where each entrenched themselves raising out Forts which were often attacqued by one Party and the other one General still striving to block up the others Army and cut them off from Provisions so that there happened many Skirmishes In this new mode of making War as Caesar's Men one day proved the weaker in a Fort assailed by the Enemy a Centurion called Sceva famous before for many gallant actions being wounded in an eye leaped from the Rampart and making a sign with his hand for silence as if he had something to say he called to one of the Centurions of the contrary Party a Man of Reputation to whom he said Save the life of one of thy own quality save the life of thy Friend send some body to lead me by the hand thus wounded as I am Whereupon two Soldiers stepping in to receive him as a Runaway he slew one before he suspected the deceit and knocked the other down He did this action out of pure despair he was in of being able to defend the place but it succeeded better than he imagined for this happy success so raised the courage of his Companions that they repulsed the Enemy and remained Masters of the Fort. Minutius who commanded had a great share in the Glory as well as in the danger of this Assault for 't is said his Buckler was six and twenty times pierced through and he was wounded in the eye as well as Sceva so Caesar honoured them both with many Military Recompences Mean time he had formed intelligence in Dyrrachium and upon hopes the place would be delivered to him he came with a small company to the Gate which is near the Temple of Diana but his design being discovered came off again without doing any thing The same Winter Scipio Father-in-law to Pompey bringing him another Army out of Syria was set upon in Macedon by C. Calvisius whom he defeated and slew him a whole Legion fourscore Soldiers only escaping There came now no more Provisions to Caesar by Sea Pompey being the stronger wherefore the Soldiers were forced to make Bread of a certain kind of Herbs pieces of which being by some Runaways brought to Pompey thinking it would be to him a joyful present instead of rejoycing at it What sort of Beasts said he have we to
in Battel from whence some making reflexion on these words which on a suddain heat escaped him have believed that if he had been Victorious he would have made himself Master of the Commonwealth Now to give an Account of the number of the Forces on both Parts without having recourse to that Multitude of Authors who so ill agree in this Point I will follow the gravest of the Romans who report exactly the number of the Italians as the principal Force of the Army and make little mention of the Auxiliaries whom indeed they had but little consideration of Caesar had about two and twenty thousand Men of whom about a thousand were Horse and Pompey had half as many more of whom about seven thousand were Horse So that most credible Authors say that there were about seventy thousand Italians in both Armies those who are most modest say sixty thousand and those who are boldest four hundred thousand of whom some say Pompey's made more than half others that Caesar's were but one third so difficult it is exactly to know the truth But however it were both the one and the other Party placed their chief Relyance on those of that Nation Not but that Caesar had good Auxiliary Forces he had French Cavalry and a great number of Transalpine Gauls and Grecian Light Armed Foot of the Acarnanians Etolians and Dolopes But Pompey had a great multitude of all the Oriental Nations as well Horse as Foot out of Greece the Lacedemonians with their Kings the other Peloponnesians and Boeotians and even the Athenians came to this War Though both Parties had caused it to be proclaimed by the publick Cryer that all Persons were forbid touching them being Priests to Ceres the Inventor of Laws yet would they come to bear Arms that they might have the Honour to fight for the Roman Empire After the Greeks came Troops of almost all Nations lying upon the Sea-Coasts of the Levant Seas from Thrace from the Hellespont from Bithynia Phrygia Ionia Lydia Pamphilia Pisidia Paphlagonia Cilicia Syria Phaenicia Iudaea Arabia Cyprus Rhodes with Slingers from Crete and all the other Isles There were likewife Kings and Sovereigns with their Forces Deiotarus Tetrarch of Gallograecia and Ariarathes King of Cappadocia Taxiles lead the Armenians from this side the Euphrates and Megabates Lieutenant of King Artabasus those from beyond that River besides several little Sovereigns that brought what Forces they had They say likewife that Cleopatra and her Brother yet a Child sent sixty Gallies whose Forces were not at the Fight no more than those of the rest of the Fleet who lay doing nothing at Corcyra And most certain it is that Pompey was not so prudent as he ought to have been in not making good use of his Naval Forces in which he was so strong that he might always have hindred the bringing from any place Provisions to his Enemy but chusing rather to fight on Land against Men hardened to Labour and accustomed to Victory But it is apparent that the Victory at Dyrrachium made him slacken his Care and that nothing could have been more advantageous to Caesar than that loss for Pompey's Soldiers grown proud with that Success would no longer obey and marched against their Enemies hand over head But decreed it was he should commit this fault to give Birth to that Empire which extends it self so far over the Nations of the Earth The Armies being disposed and ready to fight the two Generals by words endeavoured to encourage their Men And Pompey spoke to his in this manner The Oration of Pompey AT length Soldiers you are put in a posture to fight rather by commanding me than doing what I command For whereas I was resolved to destroy Caesar by temporizing you would needs fight him Since you therefore are the Enactors of this Battel and the Arbiters of it shew what you are to those Enemies you so far surpass in number Despise them as young and vigorous Conquerors should the Vanquished surcharged with Age and tired with Labour Besides your advantage over them lies not only in your Preparations and Forces but in the Testimony of your own Consciences and in the Iustice of your Cause since we fight for Liberty for our Country for the Laws for Glory for so many Senators and so many Roman Knights against a Man who aims at Dominion by his Thefts and Robberies Let us go on then in good hopes whither your Courage leads you and remember the Day of Dyrrachium when we put to flight the same Enemy and what a great number of Colours you in one day brought away your Prize Caesar in like manner encouraged his Men in words to this purpose The Oration of Caesar. THe most difficult part of our Labours is now at an end Fellow Soldiers we are no more to fight with Hunger and Want we have now only Men to deal with aud this day will put an end to all provided you do but remember the promise you made me at Dyrrachium and in what manner you swore to one another in my presence never to return from the Fight without Victory These are the Men we are come to seek from as far as the Pillars of Hercules those who durst not stand us but fled before us out of Italy these who after we had fought ten Years together for the Glory of our Country after that we had gained a multitude of Victories and added to the Roman Empire four hundred Nations in Spain Gaul and Brittany would have deprived us of the Honours due to us of the Triumphs and other Recompences our Services merited In a word these whom I could never move neither by the Iustice of my Right nor by the Favours I have done them for you know how many of them I have set free without doing them the least injury in hopes they would do things reasonable for me Remember then their Injustice and if ever you did believe I had any kindness or good will for you if you if you have ever experienced my Liberality or received my Largesses let this Day 's Actions make good your Acknowledgments It is no hard matter for Old Soldiers to overcome Hot-headed Young sters unskilled in the Mystery and who like Children come to the business in disorder and despising their General for I am certainly assured he himself leads them trembling and sore against his mind to this Battel for seeing his Fortune grow old he is himself grown slothful and stupid and does not so much command as obey the Command of others Hitherto I have yet spoke to you only concerning the Italians for the Strangers I would not have you trouble your selves nor account them for any thing nor would I have you go to charge the Slaves of Syria Lydia and Phrygia only born for Flight and Servitude I know it certainly and you shall see it that Pompey will not give them any place in his Battel Engage therefore only the Italians and if the Strangers come to
therefore proposed to him either Egypt or King Iuba the later they thought not of sufficient Reputation but all counselled his Retreat into Egypt They alledged that it was not far off that it was a Powerful Kingdom an Excellent Country where he would want neither Shipping nor Provisions nor Money and whose Kings though yet but Minors were obliged to serve him because of the good Offices he had done their Father So by those Reasons he was perswaded to bend his Course towards Egypt There was at present a Division in the Royal Family Cleopatra who before reigned joyntly with her Brother Ptolemy being driven out now raised Forces about Syria and Ptolemy her Brother was encamped near Mount Cassia on the Frontiers of Egypt to hinder her Re-entry into the Kingdom It happened that the Wind drove Pompey into that place who seeing so great an Army on the Shore stopped and because he judged as it proved true that the King was there he sent one to give him advice of the Cause of his coming and to remember him of his Friendship with his Father He was yet but thirteen Years of Age and had for Overseers Achillas in what concerned Affairs of War and Photinus the Eunuch for the Treasury Those began to consult betwixt them what they should do in this Conjuncture and having called to counsel with them Theodatus the Rhetorician School-Master to the Infant King He proposed to them an execrable Advice which was to cut off Pompey to gain the favour of Caesar Which being resolved on under pretence that in that place the Sea was full of Shoals so that greater Vessels could not approach they sent him a wretched Boat in which there were some Officers of the Royal House and with them a certain Roman Soldier called Sempronius who now bore Arms in Egypt but had formerly served under Pompey He presented him his hand on the Part of Ptolemy inviting him to enter and go with him to his Friend who waited for him Mean while the Army was drawn up in Battel on the Sea Shore in the midst of which appeared the King clad in his Royal Robes as if to do Honour to his Guest Though Pompey had already some cause to distrust considering this Army in Battel the pittifulness of the Boat that the King came not in Person to meet him nor sent any Person of Quality yet he went into the Skiff repeating to himself these Lines of Sophocles To Tyrants Courts the Valiant and the Brave Though free they enter soon become their Slave When he saw that after he was got some distance from his Ships no Person spoke to him his suspition increased Wherefore either knowing Sempronius for a Roman or a Soldier that had served under him or conjecturing it because he only stood up according to the Discipline of the Romans which permits not Soldiers to sit before their General he said turning towards him Surely I have known you Fellow Soldier Which Sempronius having acknowledged as soon as he turned away he gave him the first blow which was followed by many others that took away his Life His Wife and Friends seeing afar off this Murther began to cry out and lifting up their hands to Heaven imploring the Gods Revengers of violated Hospitality with all speed took their Flight Photinus's People cut off Pompey's Head which he kept to present to Caesar when he should arrive in Egypt out of hopes of a great Reward but he revenged this Murther as became him Some one having found the Trunk of his Body buried it upon the Sea-Shore raising over it a little Tomb upon which some other wrote this Inscription Scarce should a Temple to hold that suffice Which huddled in a little Sand here lies This Sepulchre being in process of time quite covered over with Sand the Emperour Adrian visiting that Country caused it in these our times to be sought for and after having found it with the Copper Images which the Inhabitants of these Coasts had dedicated to Pompey which were fallen with age in the ruines of a Temple he caused the Rubbiâ—â— to be removed made the Sepulchre visible and set up the Images Thus ended this great Man his days after having fortunately put an end to many Wars of great Importance and augmented the Roman Empire by which he got the Title of Great Never before had he been vanquished and from his very youth began to be happy in all his undertakings for from the three and twentieth to the eight and fiftieth year of his age he had in effect the power of a King though he took upon him only the quality of a private Citizen because of the dispute for preheminence between him and Caesar. Lucius Scipio his Father-in-law and all the rest of the persons of Quality that escaped from the Battel of Pharsalia retired to Corcyra where they had of purpose left Cato with other Forces and three hundred Galleys There having divided the Fleet among Pompey's chief Friends Cassius sailed towards Pontus to engage Pharnaces to take up Arms against Caesar Scipio and Cato went into Africa relying upon those Forces Varus had and the assistance they hoped for from Iuba King of the Moors And Pompey's Eldest Son with Labienus Scapula and another part of the Army went by great Journeys to Spain with design to draw that Province to their Party to raise other Forces of Spaniards Celtiberians and even of Slaves and to make the greatest Preparations they possibly could so great were yet the Wrecks of Pompey's Power which by a prodigious blindness he deserted and fled The Soldiers in Africa offered Cato the chief Command but he refused it because there were there present Lieutenants of Consular Quality and he had never arrived to higher Dignity in the City than the Charge of Pretor Wherefore L. Scipio being chosen General of that Army he laboured likewise in these Quarters to encrease and exercise his Forces so that there were raised at the same time two powerful Armies against Caesar one in Africa and the other in Spain He for his part stayed at Pharsalia but two days after the Victory that he might sacrifice to the Gods in the Field of the Battel and suffer the Soldiers take some repose tired with the Toil of that Great Day He likewise granted Liberty to the Thessalians who had served him faithfully upon this Occasion And the Athenians coming to demand his Pardon he forgave them with these words How often must the Glory of your Predecessors with-hold you from falling down those Precipices whither your own faults lead you The third day he marched towards the East whither he understood Pompey was fled As he passed the Hellespont upon little Boats for want of Ships in the middle of the Strait Cassius in his way to Pharnaces suddainly comes up with a great number of Gallies and though he might with so many Bottoms have easily defeated his Enemy who was infinitely the weaker yet such was the prodigious good Fortune
upon it Crowns and other Military Presents they set fire to it and about it the People spent all the Night They forthwith erected an Altar and at present there is a Temple where Caesar is adored as a God for after that Octavius his Adopted Son who changed his Name into that of Caesar had following his steps taken upon him the Government of the State he mightily strengthened and augmented that Monarchy of which he had laid the Foundations which endures to this day and to pay him all possible Honours ranked him in the number of the Gods From this Example it is that to this day the People give the Title of Gods to their Emperors after their death if they have neither been Trants nor manifestly guilty of great Crimes they who formerly would not suffer them to take the name of King whilst living Thus fell Caesar on the Day which the Romans call the Ides of March an Augur had told him that day would be fatal to him but he laughed at it and the very same morning told him jesting The Ides of March are come to which the other without surprize made answer But not yet gone Yet the great Assurance of the Augur nor many other Presages could not hinder him from going to the Assembly where he was murdered in the fifty sixth Year of his Age Happy in all things Magnificent and with just reason comparable to Alexander for they were both beyond measure Ambitious Warlike ready in the Execution of what they had resolved and hardy in Dangers they spared not their Bodies and in War relyed not so much upon their Conduct as upon their Bravery and good Fortune The one went a long journey in a Countrey without Water to go to Hammon happily crossed over the bottom of the Pamphilian Gulf the Sea being retired as if his Genius had locked up the Waters As another time marching in the Champian it caused it to cease from raining Navigated an unknown Sea Being in the Indies first scaled the Walls of a City and leaped down alone into the midst of his Enemies receiving thirteen Wounds was always Victorious and whatever War he was engaged in he ended it in one or two Battels In Europe he subdued many Barbarous People and reduced them under his Obedience together with the Grecians a fierce People and Lovers of Liberty who never before obeyed any Person but Philip who commanded them for some time under the Honourable Title of General of the Greeks He carried his Arms almost through all Asia with an incredible Celerity And to comprize in a word the Happiness and Power of Alexander all the Countries he saw he conquered and as he was designing to conquer the rest he died As for Caesar passing the Ionian Sea in the midst of Winter he found it calm as well as the British Ocean which he passed without any knowledge of it in a time when his Pilots driven by Storm against the English Rocks lost their Ships Another time embarking alone by Night in a little Boat and rowing against the Waves he commanded the Pilot to hoist Sail and rather to consider the Fortune of Caesar than the Sea He threw himself more than once all alone into the midst of his Enemies when his Men were all struck with Panick Fear and is the only General of the Romans that ever fought thirty times in Pitch'd Battel against the Gauls and subdued in Gaul forty Nations before so dreadful to the Romans that in the Law dispensing with Priests and Old Men from going to the War the Wars against the Gauls are excepted and the Priests and Old Men obliged to bear Arms. Before Alexandria seeing himself alone inclosed upon a Bridge he laid down his Purple threw himself into the Sea and pursued by his Enemies swam a long time under Water only by Intervals lifting up his head to take breath till coming near his Ships he held up his hands was known and so saved For the Civil Wars which he either undertook out of Fear as himself says or out of Ambition he had to deal with the greatest Generals of the Age fighting at the Head of many great Armies not Barbarians but Romans encouraged by their former Actions and by their good Fortune yet he defeated them all and not one of them but he ruined in a Fight or two But we cannot say of him as of Alexander that he was never overcome for he suffered once a great loss against the Gauls under the Conduct of Triturius and Cotta his Lieutenants In Spain his Army was so near blocked up by Petreius and Afranius that he wanted but little of being besieged At Dyrrhachium and in Africa they turned their Backs and in Spain against the young Pompey the fled But for Caesar himself he was always undaunted and whatever War he engaged in came off in the end Victorious and the Roman Empire which now extends it self by Sea and Land from the Euphrates to the Atlantick Ocean was brought under his Power partly by his Valour and partly by his Clemency He setled himself much better than Sylla and governed himself with more moderation for being King in effect in spite of all the World he took not that name At last making his Preparations for other Wars he was surprized by death as well as Alexander Their Armies were also alike for the Soldiers of both were chearful in Fight and hardy but stubborn and mutinous when over-wrought with Labour The Deaths of both of them were equally mourned and lamented by their Armies who attributed to them Divine Honours They were both well made in Body and of Noble Aspects both descended from Iupiter one by Eacus and Hercules and the other by Anchises and Venus Though they were inflexible when resisted they were easle to pardon and be reconciled and likewise to do good to such as they had vanquished contenting themselves with the Victory Hitherto the Comparison is just save only that their Beginnings were not equal for Alexander began with the Quality of a King in which he had been before instructed by his Father Philip but Caesar was only a Private Man and though he were of an Illustrious Race yet his Fortunes were much incumbred They both despised the Presages that threatned them without injuring those Divines foretold their death and almost the same Signs happened to them and a like Event for in the Sacrifices made by one and the other twice they found not the Chief of the Entrails of the Victims the first time they were only threatned with great Danger Alexander's happened when besieging the Oxidrakes being mounted first upon the Wall and the too great weight breaking the Ladders behind him he beheld himself deserted by his Men and threw himself into the midst of his Enemies where having received many Wounds on his Breast and a great blow on the Neck he was ready to die when the Macedonians touched with shame broke open the Gates and relieved him The like happened to
expose your selves to so many dangers you had an evidence I had then no ambition when I refused the Office of Pretor offered by you but now there is but one only way to preserve us all It is by your means I may obtain the Consulate then will be confirmed to you the benefits received from my Father then will be given you Colonies and other rewards due to you and I will proceed in judgment against the Murderers and dispense with you from going to any other Wars These Words were attended with a general Acclamation of the whole Army who presently deputed their Centurions to Rome to demand the Consulate for Caesar. The Senate objecting that he was not of age required by Law they answered as they were prepared that Corvinus was formerly created Consul as young as he and Scipio after him who as young as they were had both done signal service for their Country They alledged likewise the fresher examples of Pompey and Dolobella besides that a Decree had already passed permitting the same Caesar to demand the Consulate ten years before the appointed age Whilst the Centurions resolutely offered these reasons some of the Senators offended at the freedom of their speech interrupted them by saying they talked too high for People of their Quality which being reported to the Army so highly incensed the Soldiers that they desired to be led directly to the City where themselves holding the Assembly they would make Caesar's Son Consul to whom at the same instant they gave a thousand praises Caesar seeing them thus disposed presently drawing together his Army raises the Camp with eight Legions good Horse and all other things necessary passes the Rubicon that divides Gaul from Italy from whence formerly his Father had begun the Civil War There he divides his Army into two Bodies leaving one in the Rear to follow him at leisure and at the Head of the other who were all chosen Men marching by great journies directly towards Rome that he might surprise his Enemies before they could be prepared Having advice by the way that upon the same Road Commissioners sent by the Senate with the Soldiers Money were coming to meet him he was jealous lest any of his Men might be tempted by this reward wherefore he privately sent Scouts towards them who so terrified them that away they fled with their Money The news of his approach filled all the City with Tumult and Terrour some run through the Streets in disorder others carried away their Wives Children and choicest Goods into the Country or to the strongest places of the City For it not being certainly known if he only demanded the Consulate upon the rumour that he came in a hostile manner at the Head of an angry Army every thing appeared dreadful to them Especially in the Senate the consternation was great because they had not at present any Army to defend them Some as it happens ever in like Allarms accused others either that they had injuriously taken from him the Legions they had given him to make War upon Anthony or that they had denyed him the Triumph due to him or that out of envy to him when they sent the ten Commissioners to pay the Army they had not so much as named him for the eleventh or that they had not payed the Money promised the Soldiers either not in time or at least not in full and thereby had given them cause to revolt But that which they most of all blamed was the disobliging Caesar in an ill Conjuncture Brutus and Cassius being at a great distance and as yet but meanly prepared and Anthony and Lepidus both at hand and ready to fall upon the City who if they entertained but the thoughts of making an Accommodation with Caesar might complete its ruine Cicero himself who appeared most officious in all other matters now shewed not his Head insomuch that in a moment the face of all things was so utterly changed that instead of two thousand five hundred Drams offered to every Soldier it was ordered by Decree of the Senate that five thousand should be payed them not for two Legions only but for eight of which Caesar himself should have the distribution and the ten Commissioners As for Caesar though he were absent they gave him the Consulate and dispatched away Commissioners post to carry him the news of it But scarcely were they got out of the City when the Senate repented most of them began to cry out that it was a shame they should so cowardly suffer themselves to be trod under foot and suffer the setting up of a new Tyranny without shedding of Blood or should accustom pretenders to the Consulate to demand it with Arms in their hands and Soldiers to command their Country That therefore they ought presently to arm and oppose the authority of the Laws to those who offered them violence and if they repented them not as it was not credible they would endure a Siege expecting the coming of Plancus and Decimus to relieve the City and in the mean time fight to the last gasp rather than submit to servitude without defending themselves They alledged hereupon example of things which their Predecessors had undertaken executed and suffered to maintain their Liberty and when they saw the two Legions they had sent for out of Africa arrive at the Port that very day they thought the Gods concern'd themselves in their defence insomuch that they confirmed themselves in their repentance and Cicero beginning to appear the Decree was absolutely changed They made a Roll of all the youth capable to bear Arms to joyn with the two Legions newly come from Africa a thousand Horse and another Legion which Pansa had left them they gave Quarters to all these Troops one part guarded the Ianiculum with the Riches there stored up another the Bridge over Tiber under the Command of the Pretors of the City and others kept within the Port Boats and Vessels laden with Money ready if necessity required to flie towards the River and gain the Sea making these preparations with a countenance of defending themselves they hoped Caesar might take his turn to be in fear or that they should perswade him to come and demand the Consulate without bringing his Army or that at last they should repulse him by force and that the question being the preservation of common liberty all contrary Parties might unite But when after having made a long search both publickly and privately for Caesar's Mother and Sister and not finding them their fears returned beholding themselves robbed of such mighty Hostages it being unlikely that those of Caesar's Party would joyn with them in the common defence who had so well concealed his best Friends Whilst Câ—esar was yet in conference with the Deputies came other to tell him that the Senate had changed their resolution so that the first returned loaden with shame and confusion and he with an Army incensed at these proceedings marched towards the City troubled
while secure till such time as his own Son having some doubt he was gone thither shewed the way to the Executioners of the Proscription In reward whereof the Triumvirs gave him his Father's Estate and the Office of Aedile but he enjoyed not either long for returning drunk from a Debauch upon some reviling words given to the Soldiers who had killed his Father they killed him too For Thoranius who was not Pretor but had been he was Father to a wretchless Youth who yet had a great deal of power over Anthony He therefore entreated the Centurions to delay his death but so long till his Son had begged him of the Triumvir To which they laughing answered He has already begged you but it is in another manner Which the Old Man hearing prayed them but to give him so much time as to see his Daughter and having seen her forbad her from pretending any thing to his Estate leâ—t her Brother should beg her likewise of Anthony The end of this wicked Son was no better than the others for after having consumed his Patrimony in all sorts of Debauchery he was accused of Theft and condemned to Banishment As for Cicero who had ruled in the Assemblies of the People after Caesar's death he was proscribed with his Son his Brother and all their Servants Clients and Friends He was embarked on a small Boat to make his Escape by Sea but not able to endure the tossing of the Waves he returned to a Meadow that belonged to him near Capua which upon occasion of writing this History I would needs see As he reposed himself and that those that sought him were not far off for of all the Proscripts Anthony caused him to be sought with most diligence a Flock of Crows flying over the place where he slept waked him with their Cries and began with their Beaks to pull the Covering from off him till his Slaves thinking it an Advertisement of the Gods returned him into his Litter and took their way towards the Sea through the thickest of the Forest. Presently after several Soldiers coming to that place one after another and demanding of those they met if they had not seen Cicero they all out of the compassion they had for him answered that he was embarked and was already a good way off at Sea But a Shoo-maker called Cerdo a Creature to Clodius formerly a mortal Enemy to Cicero having shewed the Centurion Laena followed but by a few Soldiers the way he had taken he presently pursued him Cicero was accompanied with more people disposed to defend him than Laena had with him to assault him Wherefore having overtaken him he made use of policy and began to cry out as if he had called to other Centurions behind him Come on Gentlemen come on Whereupon the people of the Proscript imagining that they were about to be over-pressed by numbers grew fearful and deserted him Then Laena though Cicero had formerly pleaded for him in a Cause wherein he overcame drew his Head out of the Litter and cut it or rather hewed it off at three blows so unhardy he was He likewise cut off the Hand wherewith he had writ the Orations accusing Anthony of Tyranny which after the example of Demosthenes he called the Philippicks And at the same instant dispatching away Expresses both by Sea and Land to carry this pleasing News to Anthony he himself followed them to Rome where finding Anthony in the place seated in the Tribunal he shewed him at a distance the Head and Hand of Cicero And he ravished with joy put a Crown upon the Centurion's Head and gave him for a Reward two hundred and fifty thousand Attick Drams as having freed him of the greatest of all his Enemies and from whom he had received the highest injuries His Head and Hand stood a long time for a Spectacle before the Tribunal where he used to make his Orations And more flocked now thither to see him than did before to hear him It is said likewise that Anthony at a Collation caused the Head to be set upon the Table that he might contemplate it more at leisure and satiate himself as we may so say with the view of it Thus was Cicero slain to this day in great Esteem for his Eloquence And who when he acted in the Quality of Consul had done signal Services to his Country yet after his death he was thus unworthily treated by his Enemies His Son was already escaped to Brutus in Greece but his Brother and Nephew were unhappily taken by the Soldiers The Father begged he might die before his Son and the Son requested he might die before his Father and they having promised to satisfie them both took them apart and slew them at the same instant But Egnatius and his Son embracing each other died together and their Heads being both struck off at one blow the two Bodies kept still their hold of each other Balbus designing to escape with his Son by Sea sent him before thinking that by not going together they would not so easily be known and himself soon after set forward to follow him at a distance but some one either out of malice or mistake having told him that his Son was taken he returned of his own accord to offer himself to the Excutioners and his Son perished by Ship-wrack So much did fortune contribute to the Calamities of these times Aruntius had a Son that could not resolve to fly without him yet at length he prevailed so far as to perswade him that being young he ought to survive him The Mother having been his Guide as far as the City Gates returned speedily to give Burial to her Husband whom they had slain And some days after hearing her Son was starved to death at Sea she slew her self Hitherto we have proposed Examples of good and evil Children As for Brothers Those two called Ligarii proscribed together lay hid in an Oven till such time as being betrayed by their Slaves one was slain at the same time and the other who slipped from the Executioners knowing his Brother was dead cast himself from the Bridge into the River Some Fisher-men that thought he fell in by mischance and not designedly came in to save him from which he defended himself some time by plunging himself to the bottom of the Water till such time as they pulling him out do what he could he told them You do not save me but lose your selves with a Proscript Yet say what he could they were resolved to save his Life But the Soldiers who had the Guard of the Bridge understanding he was a Proscript came in and cut off his Head Of two other Brothers one having cast himself headlong into the River his Slave after having sought the Body five days at length found it and in the condition he was being hardly to be known cut off his Head and carried it to the Tribune to have the Reward The other being hid in a Privy was betrayed
these words the Old Man let not go his Hand but wet it with his tears which Cassius could not see without blushing and yet at last he made this Answer Cassius's Answer to Archelaus IF you disswaded not the Rhodians from affronting me you have affronted me your self and if you told them your thoughts because they did not believe you I will revenge you Now it is manifest they have affronted me first in refusing that Assistance I demanded in which they have despised me Me that have been bred and educated in their City Secondly In preferring Dolobella before me who was neither fed nor bred there And what is yet more odious whilst Brutus and I and all the rest of the Senators that fly from Tyranny labour as you see to restore our Country to Liberty and that Dolobella and others whose Party you favour oppress it You Gentlemen of Rhodes that are such mighty Lovers of Liberty you make a pretence that you will not concern your selves in our Civil Wars though this be no Civil War since we pretend not to the Sovereignty It is a declared War against Tyrants and the Republick demands your Assistance you decline it by desiring to be left in Liberty under colour that you have Alliance with the Romans and yet have no compassion for so many Romans unjustly condemned to death and proscribed with Confiscation of their Goods feigning that you expect the Orders of the Senate now so oppressed that it is in no power of defending it self Yet it is a long time since you received those Orders by Decree commanding all the Oriental Provinces to obey Brutus and I. As for you Archelaus you set a great value upon the Services the Rhodians have done us in the increase of our Empire and of which you have received ample Recompence But you say nothing to what you owe to our Assistance now that we fight for Liberty and the Safety of our Country though the Dorians had we never had any Commerce together ought to gain the Romans Friendship defend from Oppression the Roman Commonwealth If without considering any of these Reasons you stand upon the terms of Alliance made between us by Julius Caesar the Founder of the Tyranny it expresly says that the People of Rome and the People of Rhodes shall assist one the other in necessity Assist therefore the Romans in the Extremity wherein they now are Cassius summons you to it according to the terms of the Treaty He is a Roman and Commander over the Romans authorized by Decree which commands all the People of the East to receive his Orders Brutus requires the Execution of the same Decree and Pompey too appointed by the Senate to the Superintendence of Sea Affairs Add to these the Prayers of all the Senators who are escaped part to Brutus and me and part to Pompey though by the Treaty the Rhodians are to help any single Roman that calls to them for Aid But if you take not us either for Pretors or so much as for Romans but treat us like Strangers or Fugitives or as the Tyrants call us for condemned Men you have indeed no Alliance with us but with the People of Rome But we Strangers that are not comprehended in this Treaty will make War upon you till you pay us an absolute Submission After this Answer Cassius dismissed Archelaus with much Civility And after his Return Alexander and Mnaseus the Commanders of the Rhodians went to Myndus with their three and thirty Ships to out-brave Cassius and it may be too they had some hopes of Victory the remembrance how they dealt with Mithridates near this place begetting thoughts in them that they might now likewise come off with success The first day they were satisfied with shewing their skill at the Oar and so returned to Gnidus The next day they came again resolved to fall upon Cassius Fleet The Romans wondring at their boldness weighed and went to meet them and now they fought bravely on both sides The Rhodians by nimble rowing hither and thither with their lighter Vessels charged the Romans sometimes in the Bow and sometimes on the Broad-side but when the Romans â—ould grapple with them they fought with them hand to hand as if upon firm Ground At last Cassius having a greater number of Ships than the Enemy surrounded them in that manner that they could no more turn about in that nimble manner as before but if charging the Romans a Head they went presently off again they must needs come to dammage being closely blocked up And the Rhodian Prows not being able to pierce the strong built Roman Ships whereas the Roman gave shrewd shocks whenever they joyned Board and Board to the lighter Rhodians So that at last they had three Ships taken with all their Gang and two sunk the rest escaped to Rhodes but in an ill condition and the Romans retreated to Myndus where they refitted several of their Ships that had come to dammage Such was the Success of the Sea-fight between the Romans and Rhodians near Myndus where Cassius was not in person but beheld it from the top of a Hill After he had refitted his Ships he came to Loryma a Fort standing upon the Continent but by the Sea side and belonging to the Rhodians From hence he transported his Land Army commanded by Fanius and Lentulus upon Ships of Burthen into the Island and himself with fourscore Galleys went and anchored near the City besieged now by Sea and Land where he for some time remained without doing any thing in hopes the Enemy would submit But they charged him as fiercely as at first and again with the loss of two Ships found themselves invested on all sides The Walls were immediately lined round with Soldiers to defend themselves from Fanius who at the same time stormed the City by Land and from Cassius who approached with his Fleet and all things necessry for an Attack For foreseeing he should stand in need of them he had brought along Towers of Wood ready framed which were soon set together and mounted Thus Rhodes after the ill success of two Fights was beleagured by Sea and Land unprepared to sustain a Storm as is usual in unexpected Surprizes so that in all likelihood the Enemy would in a short time become Master of it either by Force or Famine The most prudent of the Inhabitants had no doubt of it and were already capitulating with Fanius and Lentulus when they were all astonished to see Cassius with the choicest of his Forces in the midst of the City without perceiving any Violence or that he had made use of any Scaling Ladders Many thought and not without reason that some of his Friends in the City had opened him the Wickets to save it from Plunder or before it should be forced yield for want of Provisions Rhodes being thus taken Cassius seated himself in a Tribunal upon which was fixed a Spear as if he had taken the City by Force and having drawn up